St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully Newsletter

Letter from the Principal

Tuesday March 30th 2021

Dear Families

Congratulations and thank you to everyone in our community for a very successful Term 1. Our children, the stars of our show have been fabulous once more. We have seen them grow and develop with their academic outcomes and personal and social capabilities. Our staff have shown incredible dedication as always to ensure the children placed in their care thrive under their guidance. I really am in awe as I watch our staff in action. Our families have been a great support to us. As the first educators of your children you are truly doing a remarkable job. Together as a community we can take a well deserved holiday break confident in the knowledge that together we make a great team supporting our most precious children. 

Garden Upgrade and Development

We have a very exciting garden project that will take place over these school holidays. This project supports our commitment to advancing our sustainability practices in the school. It will ensure our children have greater access to planting, growing and cooking vegetable produce. We will also create an outdoor learning space outside the school hall to support student learning. All our fundraising efforts for this year will go towards funding this project. We have also been generously given a donation from the Albisser-Bennett family to ensure this garden project can come to fruition. It will be wonderful to see the children’s excitement as they return to school after the holidays to enjoy this new aspect to our school grounds. 


Holy Week

On Thursday 1st April we will Pray the Stations of the Cross commencing at 9.00am for Prep BK, 1/2BR, 1/2BE & 3/4FM and at 9.30am for Prep G, 1/2S & 3/4SK.The children will attend the prayer stations with their class and reflect on each station and  what it means for us as christians today. All parents are welcome to attend with their child’s class. 

School Review

This year our school will take part in the MACS School Review Process.

The Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools' (MACS) School Review process occurs every four years and is a key component of the School Improvement Framework (SIF).

The MACS School Review is conducted using the SIF Rubric as the core tool. It promotes an evidence and research based approach to planning for improvement within the school context and across all spheres (or domains) of a Catholic school. Schools incorporate ongoing monitoring, deep learning and focus on their impact in order to enable continuous school improvement.

Our school Reviewers name is Gaynor Robson-Garth (she was formerly the Principal of Siena College in Camberwell). Gaynor will be visiting our school on:

Tuesday 20th April: VRQA check (This is a compliance day for school registration).

Tuesday 27th April: Review Day 1 (meeting with staff/parents/students and visiting classrooms).

Thursday 29th April: Review Day 2 (meeting with staff/parents/students and visiting classrooms).

Monday 10th May: Dialogue & Engagement Day: Sharing Review Findings: Meeting with the Leadership Team

I would like to extend an invitation to any families who would like to meet with Gaynor and share your insights into the strengths and areas for improvement for our school. You would need to be available on Tuesday 27th April from 2.00pm-2.30pm. If this is something you would like to be part of please contact me via email -

cmason@sjferntreegully.catholic.edu.au

If you would like to be part of this parent focus group meeting but are unavailable at the time that has been allocated please let me know and we may be able to open up an alternative time on Thursday 29th April. 

We really welcome and value your input. 

Canteen News

Last Friday was a marathon effort for Tracey and her wonderful helpers as they filled 93 lunch orders. This was an all time record number. With our increase in lunch orders the cut off time for ordering on flexischools will now be at 8.15am on the day. This extra 15 minutes will give Tracey and her team the time needed to prepare lunches for our hungry children!

Last Day Term 1 and Start of Term 2

Just a reminder that our last day for this term is Thursday 1st April. School will finish for the children on this day at 2.30pm. Term 2 will begin on Monday 19th April at 8.50am.

Winter Uniform

As we may still experience some warm weather at the start of Term 2 the official changeover to our Winter School Uniform will be Monday 3rd May. Over the first two weeks of Term 2 parents may choose whether the children are in Summer or Winter Uniform depending on the weather. All children need to be in their Winter School Uniform as of Monday 3rd May. Our uniform shop is open on Monday morning from 8.30am-9.00am and Friday afternoon from 2.30pm-3.00pm. 

Winter Uniform Girls

Blue Winter tartan  tunic or blue winter tartan skirt

Navy trousers

Short or long sleeve sky blue polo top with school logo

Maroon tracksuit top with school logo

Navy tights, navy knee high socks

Black leather school shoes (runners are only to be worn on PE/class sport days)

Winter Uniform Boys

Grey school shorts or long pants

Short or long sleeved sky blue polo top with school logo

Maroon tracksuit top with school logo

Grey ankle or knee high socks

Black leather shoes (runners are only to be worn on PE/class sport days)

Early Dates Term 2

Monday 19th April: Term 2 begins (8.50am)

Tuesday 20th, 27th and 29th April: School Review

Wednesday 21st April: Alleluia Day Mass: 9.15am. All welcome!

Wednesday 5th May: School Photos (all children in winter uniform)

All Term 2 dates are on our google calendar which you can access via our website under the current parent tab www.sjferntreegully.catholci.edu.au

Sustainability Expo

Our sustainability leaders will be presenting a Sustainability Expo in the hall for our students in the last week of term on Wednesday March 31st at 1.00-2.00pm.  Each of the sustainability leaders will host a small stall promoting a sustainable action of their choice.  Some students will be presenting on worm farms, recycling, reducing plastic, vegetable seedlings and recycled products.  Make sure you ask your child how the expo was when they get home!

Diary Dates


Week 10April
Thurs 1st

Holy Week Prayer

Stations led by 5/6


Last day of Term 1 - 2.30pm Dismissal
Fri 2ndGood Friday


Term 2, 2021 commences on Monday, April 19th


Anzac Day

Sunday April 25th is ANZAC Day

The following items are available to be purchased from the school office to support this year's ANZAC Appeal.

Badges $2 & $5

Wrist Bands $3

Pens $5

Key Chain $4

Bag Tag $4

Canteen News

Canteen Helpers Roster


Wednesday March 31st 

Ange MacKinnon

More helpers required please, 

see below

Friday April 2nd

GOOD FRIDAY


Hot Cross Buns

Tomorrow in the Canteen - Helpers Needed

Tomorrow is Hot Cross Bun day in the canteen.  This is instead of normal canteen, so children will need to bring their own lunch on this day.  

Any helpers available in the morning to assist with preparing hot cross buns would be very much appreciated. Just pop into the canteen.

Parents & Friends News

Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser

Packs will be available for collection on Wednesday March 31st.  A trestle table will be set up near the office in the undercover area from 2.45pm.  Orders can be collected at anytime from then to the end of the school day.

A Choir for Mums

Mama's Bag Womens Choir

The songs we'll learn in choir will be well known contemporary songs. 

Absolutely no music experience needed, all you got to do is read lyrics and you'll be taught harmonies by Bec to copy. Bec is Etta's Mum, she's in grade 1/2B at SJB. Bec was a professional singer for many years before having 2 children, she's taught singing and directed high school choirs for many years and is now currently teaching primary school music.

 Cost: $80 a term or you can pay $10 casually every time you rock up. (If you're keen to join and the cost is not doable right now, please let us know as we want this open to every Mama, the more the merrier).

Time: 7:30 - 8:30

Day: Every Tuesday in school terms

Where: SJB school hall

How the night will run: We'll warm-up our voices, learn a song or two, finish the night with a cuppa and chat. 

If you'd like to trial a night to see if you like it first, please just rock up in Term 2, no payment required.

 Benefits of singing:

·       Relieves stress

·       Stimulates the immune response

·       Helps with sleep

·       Natural anti-depressant

·       Improves lung function

·       Develops a sense of belonging and connection

·   Enhances mental alertness, especially memory in people with dementia

‘For me singing is a way of escaping. It's another world. I'm no longer on earth’.

Edith Piaf

Entertainment Membership is Back!

Entertainment Membership – not sure you’ll get your money’s worth? Even if we aren’t able to travel more than 5km from home we don’t have to!

Takeaway - Rapture, Mad Patties, Cheesecake Shop, Forage, KFC, McDonalds, Subway, Sushi Hub, Pancake Parlour…over $100 in savings here

Activities - Knox Leisureworks, Zone Bowling, Bayswater Roller City, Goodlife Health Clubs, Curves, Genesis Health Clubs, Kreationz Cheer and Dance, Cameo Cinemas, Tunzafun, Timezone…over $150 in savings

Something for you - Salts of the Earth, Strike A Pose Photography, Urban Float, Big W, Cellarmasters, Woolworths, Dan Murphy’s, The Iconic, Country Road and JB HiFi…unlimited savings here!

Every membership sold contributes to our School’s fundraising. It’s a WIN WIN!

Entertainment Link

And from Tuesday 16 February until Monday 15 April you will receive a $10 or $20 Woolworths or JB HiFi eGift voucher.

Parish News

Holy Week

Combined Catholic Parishes Raffle 2021

Tickets are being sold from our school office.  All proceeds from the sale of these tickets will be split between the Social Justice Group and St Vincent de Paul. Tickets $2.00 each  or $20.00 per book.


Camp Australia News

Community Notices

P&F Sponsors

St John the Baptist Ferntree Gully