ENewsletter

Tuesday May 5th 2026

Letter from the Principal, Kelli Johnston

Dear Families,

This Sunday 10th May we take the opportunity to celebrate and give thanks to our wonderful Mums, Nannas, special people and all that they bring to our lives. Wishing all Mothers a wonderful Mother’s Day. May your day be filled with love and surrounded by those you hold dearest to your hearts.

Prayer for Mothers

Heavenly Father, we come before You with thankful hearts for the gift of mothers. Thank You for the women who carried us, cared for us, and loved us with patience and tenderness. Thank You for their sacrifices, for the sleepless nights they endured, and for the countless ways they placed the needs of their children before their own. Lord, many mothers quietly give without asking for recognition. Today we lift them before You and ask that You bless them richly.

We thank You for the wisdom mothers share when they guide their children through life. We thank You for the comfort they give when hearts are broken and the encouragement they offer when hope seems distant. Lord, may every mother know that her efforts are not unseen. May she feel the warmth of Your presence and the assurance that her love reflects Your own heart.

Bless every mother with joy, peace, and strength. Let her home be filled with laughter and unity. Protect her health, refresh her spirit, and reward her kindness. May her children grow to honor her and remember the lessons she has taught them. Lord, may the love she gives continue to shape generations. Amen

Mother's Day Stall

Today our students excitedly purchased gifts in preparation for Mother’s Day on Sunday. This year we were exceptionally blessed to share the creative talents of a number of our wonderful community through their handmade gifts. We thank the following families for their generous gifts made and shared; Davies, Burns, Morse, Bagnoux, Jenkins, Hatter, Barrett, Dow, Raydan, Ulrich-Field and Grmishaw. We thank our amazing P & F team for their work in preparing and selecting additional gifts for our students to have such an amazing selection of gifts to choose from. Last but by no means least, thank you to our Dads who set up and led our Mother’s Day Stall. Thank you to Andrew Davies, Tim Grimshaw, Lionel Croning, Chris Ulrich-Field, Wade Palmer, Geoff van Wamel and James Morse for overseeing this year’s Mother’s Day Stall. Such a wonderful sense of SJB community at work.

Mother's Day Afternoon Tea & Classroom Activity

We look forward to our SJB Mums, Nannas & special people coming together this Friday from 1:30pm for afternoon tea followed by a special Mother’s Day family activity in classrooms at 2:30pm. We ask our Mums to move to allocated classrooms for 2:30pm to complete a family Mother’s Day activity.

Families are asked to note on the map below the classroom their child/ren will be located in based on the initial letter of their surname.

Confirmation

Thanks and congratulations to our Year 6 students who are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation later this month. Last weekend they attended our weekend Masses and made their Commitment Promises before our parishioners who were asked to pray for this year's candidates.

Confirmation Stoles - Embroidery

Leanne is again offering her services to embroider stoles for Confirmation. As she is heading overseas in May she needs to get things organised now.

Pick up will be Friday afternoon May 8th and returned on Tuesday 12th PM. There will be no more orders after this date.

Please email leanne and she will be in contact - leanne@technisew.com.au

(Please note - this is just an example, not the design Leanne does)

Open Days for 2027 Prep Children

St John the Baptist Open Days for 2027 Prep Children

Let your neighbours, friends and relatives know St John’s School Open Days are set for May/June.

School Open Days will be held on:

Thursday 7th May

Saturday 9th May - morning

Tuesday 2nd June

Use this link to book a place on one of our open days - https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/65r6w

Alternatively families can book tours by phoning the office, through the school website. Every day is Open Day at St John the Baptist School!! Please come and see us in action.

Enrolments for 2027 are filling quickly.

We request that parents already with children in the school enrol as early as possible.

Inform and Empower

We are most fortunate to partner with Marty and Carley McGauran from Inform and Empower to provide families with an online session focusing on ‘Raising Kids in a Digital World’. Marty and Carley provide valuable insights into the digital world that children are navigating. They provide families with an understanding of the current digital climate, along with how to educate, support and raise conversations and awareness with children.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience as an eLearning educator and psychologist leading the evening, this is a session that is most beneficial to all families. Navigating the digital world in partnership at home and school provides our students with education and support they need to become digitally responsible citizens.

SJB Cross Country

On Friday 1st May our Year 3-6 students participated in Cross Country at Kings Park in Ferntree Gully. Students in Years 3-6 competed for their House colour and to gain a place to run at the District Cross Country event on Friday 22nd May.

Congratulations to the following students on achieving a place in the District Cross Country event. We wish you all the best for competing in the upcoming District Cross Country event.

Olivia B, Jenna G, Amelia R, Ruby E, Ella O'C, Bella E, Olivia J, Olivia H, Lacey H, Eliza H, Isla P, Charlotte W, Mya C, Harriet H, Stella P, Chelsea B, Pippy R, Keira M, Isla H, Jade P, Valentina N, Neve S, Siella G, Freja DeM, Jeremy G, Kayden C, Judd P, Henry W, Brendan M, Bryce S, Johan H, Oliver S, Xavier M, Archie L, Hudson T, Flynn B, Jake C, Carter R, Ethan N, Harvey L, Ethan M, Madden T, Jay O'C, Seamus McD, Thomas B, James H, Mack L & Frankie G

Term 2 Closure Dates

Families are asked to note in their calendars Friday 5th June as a School Closure Day followed by Monday 8th June as the King’s Birthday public holiday.

The Village Circle

Athletics Day - Thursday May 14th

Exciting times as we prepare for the SJB 2026 Athletics Day. This year we look forward to unveiling our house team names. In 2025 the Year 6 leaders researched significant people in the history of St John the Baptist Parish and School to select names for each house. We look forward to sharing the house names selected by our students.

This year’s Athletics Day will be held at Knox Athletics Track, Bunjil Way, Knoxfield. Details for this year’s Athletics Day is outlined below -

When: Thursday May 14th

Where: Knox Athletics Track

Bunjil Way, Knoxfield

Time: Year 3-6 students 9:45am - 2:15pm

Prep - Year 2 students 10:30am - 12:50pm

Announcement of house places will take place on return to SJB.

Students are encouraged to join in the excitement of the day. Students may dress in the colour of their house, wear ribbons, nails, coloured zinc or hair (this is to be done prior to arriving at school). We ask families to prepare for the day prior to arriving at school. (The school toilets are not an area for coloured zinc or hairspray). House posters may be created & brought along for team spirit and cheering. These are the responsibility of students. (Coloured streamers are not to brought as these create a significant & time consuming mess to clean up at the end of the day.)

Seeking Community Expertise and Assistance

We would love to have a netball ring set up on the lower carpark to provide our budding netballers with the opportunity to practice at school!

If we have any parent/s that would have the equipment and skill to cement in a sleeve for a netball ring into the asphalt we would love to hear from you.

Car Parking Reminders

Kiss & Go - Families may access Kiss & Go from either the Forest Road or Selman Avenue car parks. We ask that families remain in their car ready to move along Kiss & Go in both areas.

Families may choose the loop Kiss and Go car park on Forest Road. Alternatively, the two car parks closest to the maintenance shed on Selman Ave are also Kiss and Go car parks. We ask that families wishing to leave vehicles to collect children use the car parking in the centre of both the Forest Road and Selman Avenue car parks.

Term 2 Winter Uniform Transition

Students should now be transitioning to Winter uniform as we prepare to move into cooler weather.

Please see updates of the SJB uniform as outlined below.

Winter Uniform

Winter Girls

Navy Pants or winter tunic (only available from Beleza Uniform Shop)

Maroon tracksuit jumper with School Logo

Long sleeved, sky blue polo neck shirt (ie, collar shirt with tab front) OR Navy tights OR knee-high navy socks

Black leather T-Bar OR lace up/velcro school shoes (no boots, track shoes or runners)

Winter Boys

Long navy gabardine pants

Long sleeved, sky blue polo shirt (ie. collar shirt with tab front)

Maroon tracksuit jumper with School Logo

Navy anklet socks

Black leather lace up/velcro school shoes (no boots, track shoes or runners)

Unisex Sports Uniform

All Year Levels

Navy blue microfibre sports shorts – no bike shorts, no netball skirts

Sports polo shirt with collar

Navy sports socks

Runners

St. John’s maroon tracksuit top (jumper)

St John’s school hat - Terms 1 & 4

St. John's School Bag is recommended and available.

Jewellery

Only studs/sleepers and a watch may be worn (Smart watches are not to be worn).

Hair Accessories

Permitted are: maroon ribbons, headbands, scrunchies or blue & white check, summer school uniform material only. Available in Uniform shop.

Warburton Family Camping Weekend 2027

After another successful Family Camping Weekend this year our terrific P & F team have made an early bird booking for next year’s weekend away. Please see details below and book now for 2027.

Child Safe Practices - Working with Children Checks

St John the Baptist School is committed to providing a child safe environment and takes active steps to ensure any person authorised to conduct ‘child connected works’ does not pose a risk to their safety or welfare. To achieve this, the school implements screening processes, including Working With Children Checks (WWCC), to assess and verify their suitability.

St John’s School ensures that non-teaching staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors are of suitable character and do not have a relevant criminal record that poses an unjustifiable risk to children.

Teaching Staff & Casual Relief Teachers who are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) undergo criminal record checks via their annual registration.

Volunteering to Assist with School Programs- WWCC

Parents would be aware that to assist with any of our school programs, all volunteers, parents/guardians/family members are required to have a current Working With Children Check on our school records.

Family members are to provide a copy of the WWCC to the school office.

MACS Care Parent/Carer Newsletter

Child Safe Standard 4

Download

Tuning in to Kids

Wishing everyone a fabulous week ahead.

Kelli Johnston

Term 2 Dates

May

7th - Mater Christi & St Joseph's Production - Year 4 students

7th- Open Day Tours at 9am, 10am, 4pm & 5pm

8th - Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea @ 1:30pm

9th - Open Day Morning - Saturday

10th- Mother’s Day

11th - St Joseph’s Lighthouse Program

13th - Prep Level Mass @ 9:15am - families welcome

14th - Inform and Empower Raising Kids in a Digital World parent session

14th - St John the Baptist Athletics Day - Knox Athletics Track

15th - Assembly @ 2:45pm Year 3/4RA prsenting

15th - Year 4 Mater Christi & St Joseph's College Taster Day

18th - Yr 6 Confirmation Reflection Day

18th - Inform and Empower Prep session

22nd - District Cross Country for Yrs 3-6

25th - St Joseph’s Lighthouse Program

26th - National Sorry Day Prayer Service

29th - Assembly @ 2:45pm - 1/2B presenting

29th - Sacrament of Confirmation

31st - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

June

1st - Parents and Friends meeting @ 7pm

2nd - Open Day - Tours 9am, 10am, 4pm & 5pm

2nd - Division Cross Country - Yarra Valley Racecourse

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

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 - 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

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Thank you to everyone who has donated uniform to the 2nd Hand Uniform shop last term. The cupboard is now well stocked. The 2nd Hand Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays 2:45 - 3:15pm. Cash only. Come in and see if we have what you need.

Janice

Tuckshop News

CLOSED TERM 2, 2026

Parish News - Youth Group Mother's Day Nutella Pie Sale

Our Parish Youth Group will be raising funds for the 2027 World Youth Day by selling nutella pies on the 9th/10th of May. Please pre-order your pie for a perfect Mother's Day surprise! Whole pies will be $25, please text Sofia on 0414 264 116 to place your order.

Please dm us on Instagram @sjtb.youth or email us at sjtbyouth@gmail.com if you would like to know more or if your have any queries.

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter