St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Wednesday November 4th 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families,

We hope that all families enjoyed the extended break over the Melbourne Cup weekend.  The Melbourne Cup weekend is always a great opportunity for families to take a break prior to moving into the final weeks of the school year.  True to form Melbourne delivered all seasons over the four days!! The remaining weeks of the school year are filled with many exciting events as we work towards the end of a productive year of learning and commence preparations for a new school year.

We look forward to the following events:

  • Remembrance Day Prayer Service

  • Prep 2026 Transition sessions

  • SJB Carols Evening

  • Year 6 Fun Day

  • Year 6 Graduation

  • End of Year Thanksgiving Mass

  • 2027 Move Up sessions

  • 2026 Semester 2 Reports shared with families

Monday 16th November - School Closure Day

Beyond Educare OSHC - Pupil Free Day Programs Monday November 16th

Monday November 16th at St John the Baptist

SJB Tuckshop

Families are asked to note that the Tuckshop will be closed on Wednesdays from Wednesday 4th November - 18th November. The Tuckshop will be open on Fridays during this period. The Tuckshop will return to full operation on Wednesday 23rd November.

SJB Carols BBQ

Plans are now underway for the annual SJB Carols evening and BBQ.  We are seeking assistance from members of our community to assist with setting up, packing up, prepurchasing and cooking the BBQ.  If you are able to assist in anyway we would be most grateful. 

Prep 2027 Important Dates

We look forward to welcoming our 2027 Prep families and students as they start their journey with us at St John the Baptist. The following dates below are important dates for our Preps and their families:

School Concert

Last Thursday our students proudly presented their year level and school dance to their families in the SJB hall. The students demonstrated to all what they were capable of in one week over four lessons.  It was wonderful to see the confidence, engagement and joy in our students as they shared a love of dance. We are extremely grateful to Tyrone from Dance Curriculum for his work with our students throughout the week. Our students thoroughly embraced the opportunity to enjoy a love of dance.

A big thank you to the many parents who assisted with packing over 200 chairs and returning the hall to its usual set up.

We greatly appreciate your assistance.

SJB Mental Health Awareness Fun Run

Our students thoroughly enjoyed participating in Friday’s Mental Health Awareness Fun Run. It was terrific to see our students and SJB community embrace the importance of mental health and the benefits of being active, as well as moving together to build a sense of belonging, connection and community.

A big thank you to our Parents and Friends group for your support, parents helpers, the SJB staff for their work in Social Emotional Learning as well as the Fun Run.

Our afternoon was a perfect mix of being active outdoors in the sunshine embracing green time, friendship, community and healthy eating.

Thank you to ‘Be You’ ‘Beyond Blue’ for supplying wrist bands to promote Mental Health awareness and Ferntree Gully Woolworths for supplying fruit for our students at the conclusion of their run to promote healthy eating.

World Teachers' Day

A big thank you to all of our families for thinking of our team and taking time to thank them for their work. A big thank you to the Portbury, Croning, Lawson and Davies families for your generous morning tea gifts.  They were greatly appreciated and enjoyed.

Remembrance Day Service

Dear Families,

On Wednesday, 11th November, we will hold St John the Baptist School - Remembrance Day Service.

Weather permitting, classes will gather at 10:40am at the school’s flagpole. All families and friends are welcome to join us.

As you may know, traditionally flowers are laid at memorials to honour those who have died as a sign of respect. In keeping with tradition, any children wishing to bring flowers to school on Wednesday will be invited to present these during the service. Please note that these could be a posy of flowers cut from their own gardens.

With thanks, 

Marialisa Mandarino 

Religious Education Leader

Remembrance Day - November 11 - Poppy Appeal


The RSL's annual Poppy Appeal raises vital funds to support veterans and their families.

Buy a badge and wear it with pride

Poppies can be purchased at the school office now.

Martial Arts SJB participation opportunity

We are excited to announce from Wednesday 4th November Golden Cobra Martial Arts will be operating in the SJB School hall on the following days and times until December 12th.

  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6:30pm to 8:30pm and:

  • 9:00am to 12:30pm on Saturdays.  With potential for two longer days on Saturdays to 3:00pm

Golden Cobra has made a most generous offer to the SJB community for any students wishing to try Martial Arts with them over the coming weeks that students may attend free. Families wishing to accept this generous offer are asked to contact Dale Nitz via email to organise participation.

Email:  Dale.Nitz@team.telstra.com

Student Free Days 2027

We are pleased to be able to confirm the final 3 student free days for 2027. Please see the additional dates in blue. We hope that this assists families with planning for 2027.

Please see the term dates for 2027 outlined below:

Term 1: Wednesday 27th January - Thursday 25th March

Term 2: Monday 12th April - Friday 25th June

Term 3: Monday 12th July - Friday 17th September

Term 4: Monday 4th October - Friday 17th December

School Advisory Council 2027 Expressions of Interest

The School Advisory Council is a group consisting of the Parish Priest, Principal, Deputy Principal and parents from the school community. School Advisory Council tenure is for a period of three years with the opportunity for further extension.

The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and community perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the Principal and Parish Priest as the custodian of mission for the good of school and parish where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.

The role of the School Advisory Council is to provide assistance and advice on school matters to support the Principal in their leadership role. School Advisory Councils do not have a legal identity and do not become involved in the day-to-day management of the school. The School Advisory Council must act within the parameters of the MACS Terms of Reference.

The following are some examples of the many ways the School Advisory Council may support the school and the Principal:

·   articulating and enacting the school’s vision and mission

·   promoting the school’s Catholic ethos and culture

·   promoting faith formation and development

·   supporting school policies as required

·   giving advice to the Principal on issues such as school improvement plans and enrolment trends

We are seeking expressions of interest for members of the SJB community to join our highly effective, well considered and valued School Advisory Council for the period of 2027 - 2029. Should you wish to undertake a role as a member of the SJB School Advisory Council for 2029 please email Kelli Johnston. kjohnston@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au    

Working with Children Check - Updates and Changes

This October a new online platform titled Working With Children Connect was created to support organisations to meet their obligations when engaging people in child-related work in Victoria.

Schools are now required to enter WWC Connect to check all workers and volunteers when they start and stop engaging in child related work on their site. This allows schools to keep relevant records up to date and receive notifications should WWC clearance status change.  

All families are asked to notify the school office when they renew their WWCC to ensure that their details are updated and listed on the WWC connect platform.

Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the office. office@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au 

Sacraments 2027

Families wishing for their child to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2027 are asked to make contact with the Parish Office this term if their child has yet to be baptised. 

To ensure there is plenty of time for children to be baptised prior to the Sacrament of Reconciliation families are requested to contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Dads & Kids Camping Weekend - this Friday - Sunday


Bookings for this weekend's Dads & Kids Camp close TODAY. 

If you have not yet booked your place, please do so now. 

Final numbers are required for catering etc.

CAN YOU HELP? SNIP & SIP HAPPENING ANY DAY AND TIME

We’re almost there!!!  We still have more resources to prepare, therefore our Snip & Sip sessions  are continuing in Term 4.

We understand that parents and carers have busy schedules, therefore next term we will continue to have a box of resources ready to go every day.  Just come to the Office, and Cynthia and Andi will get you started.

We mainly have lots of laminating still to do, as well as cutting and labelling.

Any time you can give is greatly appreciated!

Alternatively, if you are unavailable to help out onsite and would still like to help out in some way, please feel free to contact Jill Palermo.  (jpalermo@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au) 

Second Hand Uniform Shop

I will be holding a 2nd Hand Uniform stall at a Prep Transition session in November and it would be great to have a big range of items to offer the new Prep parents. It would also be great to re-stock the cupboard in larger sizes too, so if you have any official SJB uniform items in good condition that your children no longer need, they would be gratefully received at the office at a time convenient to you.

Call out for donations of Book Wallets for the 2nd Hand Uniform Shop!

If you have one of these book/ document wallets stashed away that your child no longer uses, we’d love them at the uniform shop to offer to the 2027 Prep parents. They can be dropped into the office when convenient for you (or get the kids to drop them in!) Any other donations of official SJB uniform items also gratefully accepted.

Janice 

Term 4 Dates

November

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

Child Safe Standard 10

Parent/Carer Newsletter 10


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Tuckshop News

Open Wednesdays & Fridays

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

Canteen Roster - Term 4

Friday November 6th

Jess Carmichael

Amy Chan

Reeda Raydan

Friday November 13th 

Jess Carmichael

Amy Chan

Cassy Croning

Friday November 20th 

Jess Carmichael

Amy Chan

Belinda Davies


The Entertainment Book is back as an App! Every membership sold, benefits the school

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St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully