St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Tuesday June 2nd 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

On Friday evening we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation with our Year 6 school and parish candidates. The students led by Bishop Les Tomlinson, Father Thomas and Father Peter presented themselves in a most reverent and respectful manner as they took their next step in their faith journey. 

Throughout the term the students explored the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these are seen at work in themselves and others. On their reflection day the students reflected on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in their session with Bishop Thinh and Father Thomas.

We look forward to seeing our newly confirmed students enact the seven gifts of the spirit in their day to day lives as they are called to walk in the steps of Christ.

Congratulations to all of our newly confirmed candidates.

HAVE YOU ENROLLED YOUR CHILD FOR PREP 2027?


If you have a child ready for Prep 2027, we ask you to please put in an enrolment form as soon as you are able. This will assist us with preparing for Prep 2027. To access an enrolment form:

  • Drop into the school office to collect one

  • Email office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au and ask for a form to be sent home

  • Visit the enrolment section of our school website and download a form

Specialist Timetable Change for Week 7

District Cross Country

Good Luck to the following students attending Division Cross Country today at Yarra Valley Racecourse.

Judd P, Flynn B, Ethan N, Xavier M, Ethan M,  Mya C,

Jade P and Keira M

School Disco - Friday 19th June

It is time for students to start to prepare their disco moves and outfits as we look forward to a fun evening at the annual SJB Disco.

This year’s school disco is booked for Friday 19th June. We look forward to students having an opportunity to dance the afternoon/evening away with their friends.

To streamline this year’s process and maximise student dance time, families can purchase their Disco tickets via Flexischools. Disco tickets are now available for purchasing.

Families are asked to respond to the nForma form outlining Disco attendance expectations.

Community Assistance - Photography Talent


A big thank you to the Davies Family who have offered to assist with our SJB 90th Anniversary aerial shot.  This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our 90 years as well as creating history for future generations.

Term 2 Closure Dates - This Friday and Monday

This Friday 5th June is a School Closure Day followed by Monday 8th June as the King’s Birthday public holiday. 

Beyond Educare Out of Hours School Care - This Friday June 5th

Beyond Educare will be offering OHSC on Friday 5th June for families wishing to access care. Please see the flyer below.

Please contact the team at Beyond Educare to book your attendance.

Pupil Free Day - Booking Form


Download

Tuckshop

Tuckshop will continue to be open on Fridays for families wishing to put in tuckshop orders.

We are most grateful to have Mrs Tracey Walker & her team of helpers on a Friday creating tuckshop lunches for our students. 

Term 2 Working Bee

Our Term 2 working bee will be on Saturday 13th June from 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Our focus for this day will be weather dependent. If you are available to assist on this day we would greatly appreciate your help.

Below is a list of jobs that we hope to complete on the day.

  • Painting of After School Care decking

  • Staining of After School Care decking

  • Top Asphalt area- Remove leaves around gutters on top playground, sweep mulch back in, clear rubbish, cut back trees/shrubs from parking bays

  • Clean all cobwebs from buildings

  • Bottom Carpark / Oval - clear gutters on carpark area, weed around slides and creek bed, clear rubbish

  • Paint drainpipe outside of B2

  • Sip and Snip in Meeting Room in Admin building

  • Fire extinguishers in OHSC need to be 1200mm from floor

  • Fire blanket in kitchen moved from behind the fridge

    Weeding garden areas in newly landscaped area and across the school.

    • Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

    Parent/teacher/student interviews will be held on Tuesday 23rd June and Wednesday 24th June.  We encourage all students to attend interviews with their families. The focus of interviews is to celebrate the hard work students have undertaken throughout the semester, as well as the growth they have made as a result of their efforts. Families are able to book their interview times now through the School Interviews site - link below.

    https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/2d3kw

    Interviews will be held on: 

         Tuesday 23rd June 2:30-6:00pm

         Wednesday 24th June 3:30-5:30pm

    Parent Teacher Interviews Optional Early Finish - Tuesday 23rd June - 1:30pm

    To assist with supervision and the interview schedule with the Parent Teacher Interviews we will have an optional early finish at 1:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June.  To assist with planning and numbers for the afternoon we ask families to outline if they will be picking their child/ren up at 1:30pm through the nForma portal. Students finishing early will move to the administration area at 1:30pm to be collected by their family.

    QR Code - Parent/Teacher Interviews

    Chickens and Reading Sessions

    Wellbeing, Sustainability & Literacy powers combined!

    Last week, a small group of our Grade 3/4 students took part in a special “Read to Chickens” session. Students had the opportunity to spend time reading aloud to our school chickens in a calm and relaxed environment.

    While it may sound a little unusual, research shows that reading to animals can help build children’s confidence, fluency and enjoyment of reading. Animals provide a non-judgemental audience, helping students feel more comfortable taking risks, practising expression and developing their reading skills without the pressure they can sometimes feel when reading to adults or peers. Most importantly, the students absolutely loved the experience! There were plenty of smiles, gentle pats and enthusiastic storytelling as our feathered friends listened patiently to every page.

    We look forward to continuing this wonderful initiative and giving more students the opportunity to grow in confidence as readers. 

    Mr der Kinderen, Mrs DeCorrado and Mrs Johnson. 

    Sustainability Leader, Literacy Leader & Deputy Principal and Wellbeing & Mental Health Leader. 

    Lost Property


    We have recently had an item handed into the office that was found on the yard that we are hoping to return to its owner. The Shoes and Sox voucher is in the office for collection.

    Thank you to our lovely community members for handing this in to the office.

    Second Hand Uniform Shop

    The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop has had some rearranging to make it easier to look through the items. Donations of size 8 and 10 would be greatly appreciated and can be left at the office when convenient for you. The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays 2:45 - 3:15. All items $5.00, cash only. 

    Janice

    Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead.

    Kelli Johnston

    Victorian Premiers'Reading Challenge 2026

    The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and we’re excited to be taking part!

    All children from Prep to Year 6 are welcome to join in.

    This year’s Challenge theme is ‘Stories to discover. Stories to tell’. Stories can inspire and challenge us, and help us grow. They open our eyes to new worlds and new ways of thinking. 

    All children who complete the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former premiers.

    If you would like your child to take part please email me

    udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au and I will register them.

    Once registered your child will bring home a username and password for you to access the website and record the books they are reading.

    To learn more about the Challenge, visit - 

    https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge 

    Happy reading!

    Ursula DeCorrado

    Student Awards - Friday May 29th

    Term 2 Dates

    June

    5th - School Closure Day

    8th - King’s Birthday School Closure

    10th - Year 5/6 Level Mass - 9:15am

    11th - Regional Cross Country - Yarra Valley Racecourse

    12th - Village Circle in School Hall at 9.00am - join us for a cuppa

    13th - Term 2 Working Bee

    15th - PSGs

    17th - PSGs

    19th - PSGs

    19th - SJB School Disco

    19th - School Assembly @ 2:45pm

    19th - Semester 1 Reports shared

    23rd - Optional early finish @ 1:30pm

    23rd - Parent/Teacher interviews - 2:30pm - 6pm

    24th - Parent/Teacher interviews - 3:30pm - 5:30pm

    24th - Feast of St John the Baptist

    26th - Feast of St John the Baptist Celebration - Mass @ 11am

    26th -  Term 2 concludes @ 2pm

    Tuckshop News

    OPEN THIS FRIDAY

    Canteen Roster

    Friday June 5th 

    School Closure Day

    Friday June 12th

    Melinda Price

    Carrie Canton

    Jessica Carmichael

    Community News

    St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully