St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

On Wednesday 26th November as a school we celebrated the blessing/opening of the new school building and play area. We were fortunate to be joined by Daniela De Martino - MP for Monbulk, members from MACS, Crosier Scott Architects, Baxter Building Group, SAC members and parish members with our school to celebrate this wonderful milestone. Father Thomas and our Year 6 School Captains led us through a beautiful prayer ceremony followed by the cutting of the ribbon to symbolise the official opening of the building.

We were also exceptionally fortunate to be joined by Angus, Kate and Ash Potter. In 2020 Angus gifted SJB a beautiful piece that he designed and created as his thank you and farewell gift to the staff and school. Angus designed and created the school logo on the wall of the Administration building. 

When working with Crosier Scott Architects it was important to us as a school to continue key features that represent and celebrate our Catholic Faith and Tradition. We reached out to Angus to seek his permission to replicate his art work and have it represented on our new building. We were delighted when he accepted our request. 

We were most excited to hear that Angus has been selected as a School Captain at St Joseph’s next year as he moves into Year 12. Congratulations Angus on this wonderful achievement. St Joseph’s are very fortunate to have such an outstanding young man as one of their School Captains.  On behalf of SJB thank you for your generosity and wonderful support. We wish you all the best in 2026.

We are excited to announce our Year 6 leadership roles for 2026.  Last week our Year 5 students did a terrific job of presenting their speeches for leadership positions for next year. To present to your peers and teachers takes great courage and is a wonderful opportunity to build the skills of public speaking. We congratulate all students on the manner in which they presented themselves during their speeches and for supporting each other as leadership positions were announced.

Congratulations to all.

We are excited to announce staffing for 2026. 

Prep

Mrs Chantelle Santamaria - Mon/Tues & Mrs Jill Palermo Wed-Fri

Mrs Karen Joustra 

Year 1/2

Mrs Michelle Bearder

Mrs Emily Johnston

Mrs Gisella Koroknai Mon-Thurs & Mrs Christine Barcham - Friday 

Year 3/4

Mrs Tracey Ryan - Mon-Thurs & Mrs Renee Armstrong - Friday

Mrs Amanda Heidenrijk - Mon-Wed & Mr Christian der Kinderen - Thurs/Fri

Mr Wayne Daniell - Mon-Thurs & Mrs Marialisa Mandarino - Friday

Year 5/6

Mrs Lisa Giuliano - Mon-Thurs & Mr John Mitchell - Friday

Ms Melissa Davey

Mrs Brylie Johnson - Mon-Tues & Mrs Susan Smith - Wed-Fri

Specialist Staff

LOTE Italian - Mrs Marialisa Mandarino

Physical Education - Mr John Mitchell

Performing Arts - Mrs Sue Cahill

Visual Arts - Mrs Renee Armstrong

Learning Support Staff

Mrs Angela Cavarra

Mrs Sue Davey

Miss Sophie Ryan

Miss Danielle Cooke

Mrs Anita Arslanian

Mr Brodie Jacobs

Maintenance Officer

Mr John O’Halloran

Canteen Officer

Mrs Tracey Walker

Religious Education Leader - Mrs Marialisa Mandarino

Learning Diversity Leader - Mrs Franca Paduano

MHiPS/Wellbeing Leader - Mrs Brylie Johnson

Sustainability Leader - Mr Christian der Kinderen

Numeracy Leader - Mrs Jill Palermo

eLearning Leader - Mr Wayne Daniell

Social Media Leader - Mrs Lisa Giuliano

Administration Staff: Cynthia Schouten - Mon - Wed  

                                     Andrea Hayman - Tues, Thurs & Fri

Deputy Principal/Learning & Teaching/Literacy Leader - Mrs Ursula DeCorrado

Principal - Mrs Kelli Johnston

Exciting times ahead as students prepare to meet their class and teachers for the 2026 school year.  The ‘Move Up’ days for this year will be Tuesday 9th December 2:15pm and Friday 12th December at 10:40am.

Places are still available for this year’s Dads and Kids Camping Weekend at Gilwell Park. This year’s event will take place this week - 6th & 7th December.

Families wishing to attend are able to make payment through Flexischools or contact the school office. Tickets can still be purchased until Monday 1st December.

The SJB Christmas Carols evening will be held on Thursday. We look forward to a great evening and seeing our students shine.   

Our terrific P & F will be preparing a BBQ for families to order sausages in bread and drinks between 5:30 - 6:30pm prior to Carols commencing. 

Flexischools is now open for families to place their sausage or vegetable burder in bread, as well as drinks orders in. Families will place their entire order via Flexischool and then simply collect their order on the evening.  This will streamline the process and remove payment on the night. We ask families to please be aware that payment on the evening will be unavailable.

Please see the flyer attached for details. 

We warmly welcome all members of the St John the Baptist community to join us in giving thanks and celebrating the many volunteers and contributions so generously shared throughout the 2025 school year. We welcome classroom helpers, tuckshop helpers, P & F members, SAC members, Working Bee participants and more to our Thanksgiving Mass. We are most fortunate to have an active and vibrant community consisting of parents, grandparents, guardians and members of the community.

After Mass we would like to extend a further warm welcome to our helpers to come together in the hall for Morning Tea.  We would like to thank you all for everything that you have so generously contributed throughout the year.

We are noticing stones being scattered outside the hall area on the paved area.  This has become a slipping hazard for people using the area. We ask our community to please support with ensuring the stones remain in their designated area to ensure a safe environment for all.

Our school is excited to be participating in the Knox City Council Futuristic Wasteland Expo. As part of this event, students are creating a large collaborative artwork that explores two possible futures — one optimistic and one pessimistic — shaped by the choices we make today.

Thank you to our families for the generous donation of boxes; we now have plenty.

We are still seeking toy cars, mini construction vehicles, small figurines, and other small toys that could be incorporated into the final piece.Donations can be left outside the Art Room in the large plastic tub.

Each year schools are now required to carry out a number of Literacy and Numeracy learning tasks to monitor student progress and growth.  These tasks are valuable in providing staff with information in relation to students' understanding, growth and areas for future teaching and learning focus. Whilst these learning tasks are most valuable, they require time and staff resourcing to be completed.  To complete these learning tasks in a timely manner and minimise time away from classroom teaching St John the Baptist staff will use the first 2 student days to carry out the required tasks.

In the coming weeks families will be able to make a booking through School Interviews for their children to each have a 30 minute learning interview with their classroom teacher. 

We ask families to familiarise themselves with the dates below in relation to commencement dates for 2026.

Tuesday 27th January - Staff Professional Learning day

Wednesday 28th January - Preps commence  8:45 - 1:30pm. 

                                    - Students Year 1 - 6 individual 30 minute learning interviews

Thursday 29th January - Preps onsite  8:45 - 1:30pm. 

                                         - Students Year 1 - 6 individual 30 minute learning interviews

Friday 30th January - Prep - Year 6 all students commence full time

Families are asked to be aware that from the commencement of 2026 grey shorts and pants will no longer be part of the school uniform.  The light blue socks for girls will also no longer be a uniform item.

At the commencement of 2026 all students are required to wear navy shorts or pants.  Socks will also be navy for all students.

Students are able to continue with the current skorts and sports shorts as these are navy.  Over a period of time these will naturally be phased out with these items being replaced with the new navy items. 

It’s time to get creative!! The Barry Plant Boronia office has a Christmas colouring competition open for children aged under 12. The name of the winner of this fabulous prize ($300 Toymate voucher) will be drawn out of a Santa hat and announced on Thursday 18th of December at 12pm.

The artwork can be dropped into the Barry Plant Boronia office at 69 Boronia Road, Boronia, via email or at any of our Open for Inspections.

Happy colouring & good luck!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

Kelli Johnston

December

4th - SJB Carols Evening @ 7pm

6th - Gilwell Park Dad's & Kids Camping Weekend

8th - Prep - Year 2 Swimming

9th - Reports emailed to families

9th - Move Up morning 2026 classes

9th - Year 3-6 FTG Library Performance @ 6pm

11th - Year 6 Graduation Mass

12th - Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival

15th - Year 6 Fun Day

16th - End of Year Assembly

16th - Last day of 2025 school year concludes at 3.15pm

The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open Wednesdays 2:45 - 3:15pm. Cash sales only. Thank you to the families who have recently donated some items. Clean, offical SJB uniform donations are always gratefully received and can be left at the office when convenient to you. 

Janice

Tuckshop orders can be placed via http://www.flexischools.com.au

Orders must be placed no later than 7.30am on the Wednesday or Friday.

      Friday December 5th 

Mark Molan

Wade Palmer

Friday December 12th

Closed