Welcome back to Term 4. It is great to return to school with sunshine and warmer weather. It certainly puts a spring in our step! We hope that all families enjoyed their holidays and the opportunity to take a break from routines and quality time together.
In the final two weeks of Term 3 the Outer East Principal Group travelled to Italy for a two week Pilgrimage with a focus on Saints of Italy. The group were guided by Australian Catholic University Professor Peta Goldburg throughout the two weeks.
To travel to Italy as a group in a Jubilee Year for a Faith Formation learning opportunity was a most humbling experience. A Jubilee Year is a sacred period of spiritual renewal which occurs every 25 years in the Catholic Church. It is a "Holy Year" of grace and conversion, marked by special rituals and events like the opening of the Holy Doors in Rome, and is a call to deeper connection with God, offering hope and reconciliation. The current Jubilee Year is 2025, themed "Pilgrims of Hope," which began on Christmas Eve 2024 and concludes on January 6, 2026.
Throughout the two week period the principal group travelled to the following locations with a learning focus on the Saints outlined below:
Rome (3 nights) • San Giovanni Rotondo (2) • Monte Sant’Angelo • Lanciano • Assisi (2) • Siena • Florence (2) • Padua • Venice (2)
FEATURED SAINTS: St Peter • St Paul • St John • St Pope John Paul II • St Padre Pio
• St Michael the Archangel • St Francis • St Clare • Saint Carlo Acutis
• St Catherine • St Anthony • St Mary Major • St Mark
I thank Ursula DeCorrado and the SJB Staff for their work and support of our students and each other during my period of enrichment leave.
We ask that families please be aware of the following dates for the remainder of the year.
Monday 3rd November - School Closure - Assessment & Reporting
Tuesday 4th November - School Closure - Melbourne Cup Day Public Holiday
Monday 17th November - School Closure - Staff Professional Learning day
Tuesday 16th December - Final Day for 2025 School Year 3:15pm finish time
Our SRC leaders chose to celebrate this special day and have each selected a class activity for their grades to enjoy. These activities will help students learn more about local habitats and the special role every living thing plays in keeping them healthy.
To support this important message, Knox Environment Society will be holding a plant stall after school. Indigenous plants will be available for purchase at low cost, helping families create healthy habitats in their own backyards.
All money raised will go to the Knox Environment Society to support their ongoing work in creating and protecting habitats across our local area.
Together, we can care for God’s Creation and help our environment—and all its creatures—thrive.
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You can still complete the form for your child to attend the school nursing program in October.
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As the weather warms up students are required to wear a school hat at each recess time. Students without a hat will be required to sit under the undercover shelter areas at recess times. As a school we will have a week grace of settling students back into wearing hats. As of Week 2 a ‘No hat no play’ policy will be enacted. To assist students with keeping track of their hats we ask that families ensure that students have their name on their hat.
We are in desperate need for more tuckshop volunteers to keep it operational - if you are able to help, even just once a term, please contact Tracey Walker on 0408 101 100.
Volunteers are only required for a couple of hours in the morning, we can roster you on with a friend. There is no handling of cash involved.
We are delighted to announce that Online Music Solutions will be the new music provider for St John the Baptist Primary School, bringing instrumental lessons back to the school community for the first time since the COVID lockdown.
Online Music Solutions has been providing high-quality music programs in Melbourne schools since 1987. The program at St John’s will be led by Justin Forster and Lynne McKelvie, both highly experienced teachers with over 20 years of working with primary-aged students. Together, they are passionate about making music engaging, fun, and rewarding for every child.
To celebrate, there will be a music demonstration at the school assembly on Friday, 7 November, followed by an after-school “instrument discovery” session. Families are warmly invited to stay, meet the teachers, ask questions, and even try out a variety of instruments.
Regular lessons will begin Term 1, 2026, offering keyboard, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, saxophone, clarinet, flute, and trumpet for students from Prep to Year 6.
The Online Music Solutions team looks forward to being part of the St John’s community and sharing the joy of music with all students!
SIGN UP NOW FOR MUSIC LESSONS AT SCHOOL IN 2026
Lessons for keyboard, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, sax, clarinet, flute and trumpet are available for students from Years Prep-6. Lessons will be held at school on Tuesdays through Online Music Solutions (OMS). Group lessons (keyboard & guitar) cost $18 with 1:1 & 2:1 lesson options also available for all instruments from $28.
Parents of students wishing to participate in any of these programs please email oms@bigpond.net.au for an ENROLMENT PACK.
Further enquiries phone Justin 0410 678 584.
Our Parish Recipe Book is at the printers. Avoid disappointment and order now. Pre-paid in cash $20.00 per copy. $8.00 is going to support our parish community. Prep-paid orders taken after weekend masses, at the Parish Office and the School Office from:-
13th September - 17th October
Delivery mid-November
Envelopes available from the office.
A sample is available in the school office.
Reflecting on the PAST
Embracing the PRESENT
Growing towards the FUTURE
Living in the SPIRIT
Responding to GOD in all.