Dear Parents and Carers,

 It is almost unbelievable that this is our final full week for the year. 2019 has been an exciting and tumultuous year for St John the Evangelist, but it has never been lacking in community spirit, energy and the motivation to be ‘church in action.’

On Friday, our students will be promoted to their new class for 2020 and have the opportunity to meet their new teacher and the classmates who will journey with them during 2020.

A complete staff list will be sent home next week.

As we make preparations to begin a new school year by finalising the staff and students for 2020, we do this with the knowledge that we will be farewelling some of the existing members of our community.

Last night, our Year 6 students completed a significant milestone in their lives, and celebrated the completion of their Primary Education. For the majority of these students St John’s has been the only school they have ever known. As these students leave us to begin the next phase of their journey I thank them for sharing their special gifts with all of us here at St John’s.

 Year 6 please be assured that each of you takes with you our love and prayers and you leave with us the memory of the special, unique person that each of you are.

For many of our families their association with the St John’s community will be coming to an end. I take this opportunity to thank these families for living out their commitment to the school and for contributing to the building of this wonderful community in a multitude of ways. We farewell to the following families at the end of 2019; Axougas, Bartosek, Basile, Bognar, Bong, Borg, Browne, Casey, Cook, Dempsey, Dooley, Dowse, Duck, Feehan, Fergie, Fernandez, Filipo, Gargoles, Goodsell, Grados, Heggie, Hughes, Hunt, Inthavong, Jenkins, Jino, Limbrey, Lockwood, Maningas, Moy, Muliaga, Omaye, PalPal Latoc, Pereira, Rogers, Sacco, Star, Steley, Sualibious, Triggs, Webb

Many of our staff will be beginning or continuing new adventures in 2020. My Wayne Sly has relocated to Western Australia with his family for 2020. Mrs Jillian Crescini, who has been a member of staff at St John’s for the past 12 years has been successful in gaining a permanent position at St Francis Catholic College Edmondson Park. Jill has taught a variety of grades and made a positive contribution to the lives of many students, staff and parents. She has also been an integral part of the school leadership team as a Middle Leader 2 for the past two years. To both of these valued staff we say ‘thank you’ for the contributions they have made and for making a difference to the lives of our students. We wish each of them abundant blessings as they begin new adventures in 2020.

Congratulations to the following staff members who will be returning to St John's in 2020:  Miss Titone, Mrs Shea and Miss Davidson 

On a more personal note, Mother Teresa once said ‘I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot, together we can do great things.’

 At this time of great personal reflection I realise how strongly I can relate to this statement.

As I am about to leave St John the Evangelist, I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that being part of this wonderful community has afforded me. These opportunities have assisted me to develop both personally and professionally and I leave here a much better person and a much better leader than I was when I first came here six years ago.

 It is largely because of this place and more importantly, through the relationships with it’s people – the staff, clergy, students, parents and parish that I have the courage to take the step to move on and experience a new role as Principal of another school community. And so, I wish to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for providing me with such a rich environment for growth. St John the Evangelist will always hold a very special place in my heart in terms of my experience within a Catholic educative community. I look forward to the challenges my new appointment as Principal at Our Lady Help of Christians Rosemeadow will bring but I do this in the knowledge that once part of the St John’s family one forever remains so.

I look forward to continuing this connection and hearing of the successes of the students, families and school in years to come.

I thank you each in particular for having the confidence and trust that you have shown in me as Assistant Principal and more recently as Acting Principal during my six years at St John’s. It has been wonderful to journey with you through all the ups and down that life brings.

Much love and gratitude is extended to each of you, and you will forever hold a special place in my heart as my St John the Evangelist family.