St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

For Pope Leo XIV’s October prayer intention, we pray for those involved in mental health ministry in the Church. We commemorate World Mental Health Day on October 10.

This is an important moment to raise awareness of mental health, reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support when they need it.  

It’s also an opportunity to pause, check in with ourselves and those around us, and reflect on how we can look after our own mental health and wellbeing. 

Whether at home, at work, at school, in the community or online, this Mental Health Month we're encouraging everyone to start conversations, share their stories and strengthen the connections that help us thrive.  

The 2026 theme for Mental Health Month and World Mental Health Day is Together we Thrive. This aligns with our SJB Theme for the year - Empowered to Thrive.  It recognises that while life can often feel overwhelming, connection remains one of the most powerful ways to support our mental health and wellbeing.  

When we come together – through small, everyday moments of care, kindness, conversation and connection – we can help each other to truly thrive. 

We thoroughly enjoyed the return to school for Term 4. Our students returned fresh and ready for their final term of learning for the year. It is wonderful to see our students and welcome them back for another term.

As a school we are looking forward to many wonderful events alongside a great term of learning. Events for Term 4 include Year 5/6 Summer Sports Gala, Year 3 - 6 Swimming Carnival, Dads and Kids Gilwell Park camping weekend, Remembrance Day Prayer Celebration, Advent Prayer Services, Prep Transition session, Classes for 2027 created, Move Up days, End of Year Mass, Grade 6 Fun Day, Graduation and Mass and more.

Term 4 is filled with many wonderful events that we look forward to participating in as a community.

A big thank you to all families for supporting our newly planted garden area. Our students have been wonderful in staying off the garden beds and caring for this area. This will be an ongoing focus throughout the term. We thank everyone for their support in 

developing beautiful school grounds for all to enjoy.

During Week 4 our students will be participating in dance lessons run by Dance Curriculum.  During the daily lessons, each year level will learn a challenging, age-appropriate dance routine, along with a full-school dance. The sessions will focus on developing coordination, timing, and performance skills in preparation for our evening concert on Thursday 29th October. 

We have divided our families into 2 groups and you will receive an email tomorrow to let you know which group your family is in and what time your concert will be.

We look forward to an entertaining experience that allows our students to showcase what they can achieve in a short period of time. 

Last Wednesday our Year 5/6 students enjoyed a day of summer sports participating in either volleyball, basketball or cricket playing against schools from around the local area. Once again our students represented SJB in an exemplary manner throughout their day.

We thank Mr John Mitchell, Mrs Susan Smith and Mrs Franca Paduano for their planning, organisation and support of our students throughout the day.

Thank to parents and family members who took time out of their schedules to encourage and support our students.

Fee statements are coming home with your child today to families with an outstanding balance. Please ensure your fees are paid by the due date.  Families with direct debit/automatic credit card arrangements, please check your payments are being processed as per your request and that they will cover any outstanding amounts by the end of the year. 

If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the office or email Kelli Johnston - principal@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

In the beginning weeks of Term 4 the staff begin the process of putting together class lists for the 2027 school year.  The process will be completed with consideration given to:

• The social and academic distribution of the children within the same level across classes

• A gender balance in each class

• Children’s requests for friendship groupings

• Specific placement of siblings and children with individual needs, inclusive of emotional, learning, physical and behavioural needs

• The social needs of children including the working relationships of all children and the desired separation of children who do not have a positive social or learning influence on each other

• An awareness of teachers in the previous academic year.   

To support the placement of our children we ask each child to name classmates who they work well with.  Children will be reminded to consider children from their current class and from other class settings.  Classes will then be structured with the aim to have each child with at least one nominated friend.  However if the class teacher feels that the choices are not in the best interest of the child then the child will be asked to nominate others.  Parents please note that it is sometimes commented that, ‘My child didn’t get any of their friendship requests’. It is often in this situation that a child’s actual friendship group has slightly or significantly changed from October through to the end of the year and as a result the child feels that their requests weren’t taken into account. 

With approximately 22 children in each class each child is provided with 21 opportunities to either further develop existing friendships or the opportunity to develop new friendships.  To be highly successful participants in our social, school and future working environments it is a most important skill to create new friendships each year, not be reliant on the same close friendships each year.  We make every effort to support our children by providing them with supportive environments but at the same time we wish for some form of challenge so that our children can further develop personal life skills by negotiating new friendships. 

As detailed above, there is a significant level of care and consideration that goes into establishing the best learning environments, along with social interactions, for our children.     

Parent Requests - Meeting with Leadership

We are aware that some parents may have valid reasons to have input into the placement of their children for the forthcoming year. Should there be numerous requests from parents then the ability for staff to make positive and professional judgements for the best learning environments for our classes is compromised.  Given this, if parents have any relevant information that you believe is essential to the grade placement process, I invite you to make contact with myself (kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au) or  Ursula De Corrado (udecorrado@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au) to share your thoughts for the 2027 year.  Should we need to gain greater clarity on the request as made we will make contact with you to make an appointment to share your thoughts or concerns.   We will evaluate all requests and make a professional decision on the placement of the child in question. The final decision rests with the school. 

 ‘Teacher Shopping’ -  At SJB School we are blessed with a highly skilled and enthusiastic staff team and we are confident that all teachers will meet the needs of your children. Parents making requests simply as ‘Teacher Shopping’, without any foundation, may not necessarily receive their requests for the new year.  The reference to ‘teacher shopping’ means that, for example, parents have heard positive comments about teachers in the school from other parents and think that that teacher may be good for their child.  Likewise a sibling may have had a teacher previously and a parent wishes for their next child to also have that teacher.  We would love to meet all requests but there are other elements around class placements, as detailed previously, which may take priority over a request as such.  As stated above, parents are invited to meet with leadership to discuss thoughts that may be pertinent to 2027 class placements but we ask that you take on board all of the above information before making your request.

Classes for 2027

As we plan ahead for 2027 classes, we ask any families who know that they will not be returning to SJB in 2026 to inform the school as soon as possible. kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

This year’s Dads and Kids camping weekend at Gilwell Park has been scheduled for two nights away due to popular request. Families can purchase their tickets via Flexischools. Tickets are $40 per person. 

Dads mark the date in your calendar and save the date for a terrific weekend with your children and SJB community.

As we move into warmer weather we now transition into summer uniform. 

Students are to wear sports uniform only on their designated days.  Please check your child’s level newsletter for clarity of days.  Students are to wear navy socks and black school shoes with their regular uniform. Runners are not to be worn with regular uniform.

Students with hair that is able to be tied back are to have hair tied. Jewellery accepted is small sleepers or stud earring. A necklace with a cross may be worn, however this is to be tucked under polo tops or school dresses.

We thank all families for ensuring students wear the correct uniform and our students for wearing their uniform with pride.

Girls

Blue and white check dress

Maroon tracksuit top with School Logo

Navy blue anklet socks

Black leather T-Bar OR Lace up/velcro school shoes (flat soled)

St John’s school hat

Boys

Navy school shorts

Short sleeved, sky blue polo shirt with school logo

Navy ankle socks

Black leather lace up/velcro school shoes (flat soled)

St John’s school hat

Please see the summer uniform outline below:

ParentZone Eastern provides resources for parents, carers, and professionals in the Eastern Region. We offer a range of in-person and online parent education programs.

Our programs are not one-size-fits-all. Many are co-designed with parents to reflect their unique needs, challenges, and strengths. Recognising that every child and family is different, we tailor our programs to provide practical, relevant support that works for them.

All our programs are free of charge.

Find out more on our website. You’ll find details about programs near you, our ParentZone podcasts, and an option to subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.

The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open Tuesdays 2:45pm - 3:15pm. Donations are always welcome and can be dropped at the office when convenient for you. 

October

16th - Assembly @ 2:45pm 5/6SJ

19th - Inform & Empower session - Year 1/2

19th - School Nurse Visit

20th - School Nurse Visit

20th - Year 3/4 Excursion

21st - Inform & Empower session - Year 5/6

21st - School Advisory Council

23rd - Assembly @ 2:45pm Prep PS

26th - School Concert Week

28th - Prep 2027 Information Evening

29th - All Saints Day - 9:15am Mass - Whole School with Parish

29th - SJB 2026 School Concert Evening

30th - World Teachers' Day

November

2nd - School Closure Day

3rd - Melbourne Cup Day - School Closed

4th - Year 3/4 Level Mass @ 9:15am

6th - Gilwell Park Dads and Kids weekend - Friday & Saturday night

9th - Inform & Empower session - Year Prep

10th - Year 3/4 Incursion Mini Boss

11th - Remembrance Day (Prayer Service)

12th - Prep Transition # 1- 9:00am - 10:30am

13th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

16th - School Closure Day

19th - Prep Transition # 2 - 9:00am - 10:30am

24th - SAC & P&F Thanksgiving evening

26th - Prep Transition #3 - 9:00am - 10:30am

26th - Carley McGauran Psychologist presentation Prep 2027 families 9:00am-10:30am

27th - PSGs

27th - Assembly @ 2:45pm

29th - First Sunday of Advent - Hope

30th - PSGs

December

1st - Online Music School - Concert Performance @ 6:30pm

3rd - SJB Carols

4th - PSGs

6th - Second Sunday of Advent - Peace

8th - Year 3 - 6 Life Ed. Human Development Sessions

8th - Reports live to families

10th - Year 6 Graduation @ 6pm

13th - Third Sunday of Advent - Joy

14th - Year 6 Fun Day

15th - End of year Thanksgiving Mass @ 9:15am

15th - Final Day 2026 School Year - school concludes @ 3:15pm

20th - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Love

25th - Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day

Orders are to be placed via Flexischools - www.flexischools.com.au

Friday October 16th

Wade Palmer

Belinda Bond

Friday October 23rd

Mark Molan

Nelson Serrao

Friday October 30th

Katrina Horne

Mel Price