St Johns Newsletter - 8 October 2025

Principals Report

Welcome back, I hope you had a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends. Term 4 is very busy and this year is no exception! Please make sure to read the newsletter and check the calendar in PAM for event details etc.

We welcome back Bianca Deane and Chantelle Walsh after their time on parental leave. 

Summer uniform/hats compulsory: It is now compulsory for all children to wear a broad brimmed hat when outdoors during school activities. Please ensure your child has their own clearly named school hat at all times, children without hats will play in shaded areas. 

SOCKTOBER  is our Social Justice focus for October. Socktober is an initiative of Catholic Mission and one way our school can fundraise and engage in supporting Catholic Mission during World Mission Month in October. Classes are invited to fill a sock with loose change during the month of October and Monday 20th October is Crazy Sock Day (gold coin donation) - see flyer below for full details. 

October also sees the start of our Foundation Transition/Orientation program. Our program is designed to introduce next year’s Foundation children to the classroom environment, our staff and learning programs in a fun and exciting way. Children get the opportunity to attend classes and actively participate in learning activities. Our first session is on Monday 13th October, commencing at 11:30am - full details were sent to families in September. Please contact the office if you have any queries.

Our whole school Art Show is also happening this Term, on the evening of Thursday 6th November. More information will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Marching: During October, we will be practising in preparation for our annual House Marching Competition held on Grandparents’ Day, 7th November. Coordination and timing are key, so be prepared for a lot of ‘left, right, left’. See flyer below for full details of Grandparents Day. 

Regards 

Chris Dortmans, Principal

Religious Education News

This term, our students will be diving into the powerful question: “How am I called to serve?”

This topic is centered on exploring the teachings and example of Jesus. We'll be investigating how we can follow in his footsteps by showing love, compassion, and practical care for our neighbors and the wider world. Over the coming weeks, each class will study key aspects of Jesus’ life to understand and ultimately answer God’s call to serve others in our modern world.

A core element of this learning is understanding the Catholic Social Teaching Principle of The Common Good. We'll explore the idea that a true community is achieved when we work together to better the well-being of all people, both locally and globally.

To put our learning about 'Service' into action, we are excited to launch our annual Socktober fundraiser! The funds we raise will support vulnerable children in Zambia by providing them with better health, nutritional, and educational outcomes.

We'll be celebrating our efforts on Monday, October 20th with a fun Crazy Sock Day! Please encourage your children to participate and support this important cause

Sacrament of Reconciliation

This term, our Grade 3 students will be preparing for and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is a very special time as students experience God's love and forgiveness in a profound way. Reconciliation allows us to reflect on our choices, seek forgiveness for our sins, and be reconciled with God and the community. It is an important step in their faith journey, and we are proud to support our students as they grow in their understanding of this beautiful sacrament. Please keep our Grade 3 students in your prayers during this sacred time

Pray Together

The Resilience Project

Stress, Worry and Anxiety in Children

As we transition back into the school routine after a lovely term break, it’s a good idea to reflect on our children’s mental health and wellbeing.

For kids, stress is a response to an external trigger like a busy schedule, while worry is a feeling or thought about something specific, often time-bound. Anxiety is when the worry becomes overwhelming, persistent, and interferes with daily life, causing significant distress and physical symptoms like stomach aches, even without an obvious stressor.

It's normal to experience stress and worry, but if these feelings become chronic and interfere with a child's ability to function, it could indicate an anxiety disorder, and professional support may be needed. The flowchart below can help parents identify the differences and, of course, if you are unsure, seek the advice of your child’s teacher, the wellbeing team here at St John’s or your local GP. 

Crazy Sock Day - Monday 20 October

Italian Day ~ Tuesday 28 October - Orders close Monday 20 October

In conjunction with the students Italian lessons we will be holding Italian Day on Tuesday 28 October. 
Students are asked to wear the colours of the Italian flag on this day or traditional Italian costume (if you have this). 
Activities for students during the course of the day will include:

• Special  performance
  
• Italian themed photo opportunities
• Pizza & Gelato Lunch orders (pre-order only)

Italian Day Lunch is available now via CDFpay ~ please ensure orders are placed before 9am Monday 20 October to allow for catering (late orders cannot be accepted).

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events shows events for the next 4 weeks, for events further ahead please see the calendar in PAM. 

St Johns Art Show - Save the Date!!

Grandparents Day - Friday 7 November

Note: Ordering will open via CDFpay by Friday 10 Oct, dietary options are available when ordering. 

Uniform Ordering - Beleza

St Johns uniform is sold through Beleza both in their Pakenham store and online - see links below for online shop  or shop location/contact details. 

Koo Wee Rup Catholic Parishes in Partnership

OSHC (Out of School Hours Care)

After School Hours Care operates out of the St Johns hall before and after school.

Please contact OSHC directly for all enquiries:     1300 946 337

To enrol in OSHC please use the online enrolment form via this link:  Enrolment Form

For all other information in regard to OSHC please follow the link below to their website: 

Out of School Hours Care | Windermere

Alternatively you can visit them in the hall before or after school to enquire. 

Community News