St John's
Heidelberg
Our School
St John's Catholic Parish Primary School
Welcome to St John’s Primary School — a school with a long and proud tradition and an excellent reputation in the community.
At St John’s, we deliver the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, providing students with a comprehensive and contemporary education. Our teaching and learning programs are also guided by MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World, a strategic plan that unites all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools. This vision empowers us to embrace the unique strengths of Catholic education, ensuring we make a meaningful and lasting impact in our classrooms, staffrooms and wider school community.
The learning experience is further enriched through a comprehensive Literacy program, Mathematics extension groups, Literacy and Numeracy Intervention, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program (SAKGP), Performing Arts, LOTE (Italian), Physical Education, inquiry-based excursions and incursions, inter-school sport, and camps for Years 5 and 6.
Our school also offers a range of optional extra-curricular activities to support and extend our students’ learning experiences. We provide a quality Before and After Care program for busy families, along with opportunities for music tuition and out-of-school-hours tennis coaching. Please note that these programs involve an additional fee.
At St John’s, we take pride in being a Positive Behaviours School. This means we foster a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where positive behaviour is taught, encouraged and celebrated. Our approach helps every student feel respected, connected and ready to learn, ensuring that all members of our community can flourish together.
Parent engagement is an important part of our school, and parents are invited and encouraged to participate in the life of the school through the School Advisory Council, the PIC (Partners in Community) program, the Parish Pastoral Council, Student-Led Conferences, Parent/Teacher Interviews and other parent engagement opportunities.
We welcome the opportunity to partner with parents in the responsibility and privilege of supporting their children’s spiritual, academic, physical and emotional development.
School History
St John's Catholic Parish Primary School
Our History
St John's Catholic Parish Primary School
St John’s Catholic Primary School, located in Heidelberg, is situated in the northeastern corridor of Melbourne, approximately 13 kilometres from the CBD and within the City of Banyule municipality. With a history dating back to 1851, it is one of the oldest continuously operating Catholic schools in Melbourne.
Historical Perspective
St John's Catholic Parish Primary School
We at St John’s School acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which our school is located.
The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation have lived, cared for, and celebrated this land for tens of thousands of years. In the area now known as Heidelberg, they camped along the Birrarung (Yarra River), sustained by its resources and guided by a deep spiritual connection to Country. We honour their enduring presence and continued contribution to the life of this region.
For more information about the Wurundjeri, please click here.
St John’s Catholic Primary School in Heidelberg, Victoria, holds a distinguished place in Melbourne’s educational and religious history. Established in 1851, it is one of the city's oldest continuously operating Catholic schools.
The school was originally a weatherboard chapel called St Monica’s. This chapel served the spiritual needs of the local farming community and laid the groundwork for establishing the school. In 1871, a new school building was constructed. This heritage-listed building, now surrounded by newer school buildings, serves as the school's library.
A significant development occurred in 1910 when the Sisters of Mercy arrived to manage and conduct the primary school. They also established the district’s first Catholic secondary school, Our Lady of Mercy College. The two schools, on opposite sides of Cape Street, still maintain a strong connection.
Today, St John’s continues to thrive as a vibrant educational community. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum and maintains strong ties with the local parish, upholding its Catholic identity while embracing a diverse student body.
The enduring legacy of St John’s Catholic Primary School reflects its commitment to faith, learning, and community engagement over more than 170 years.