Our School Patron & Houses

Our School Houses

Students belong to two house teams that promote connections to our Catholic story and a deeper sense of belonging. Houses are used for sporting events, assemblies and gatherings.

Malachi House is named after Sister Malachi Reardon who was the first of the Sisters of St Joseph to teach 28 students at St John's (formally known as St Joseph's Convent School) in 1910. The colour of Malachi House is red. 

Williams House is named after Father Richard Williams who was appointed as the first Parish Priest in 1917. The colour of Williams House is green. 

Our School Patron

Our school is named after St John the Evangelist, also known as John the Apostle. He was born in  6 AD  and died in 100 AD. St John was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He was the youngest Apostle and the son of Zebedee and Salome. His brother James was another of the Twelve Apostles. The Church Fathers identify him as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder, and the Beloved Disciple, and testify that he outlived the remaining apostles and was the only one to die of natural causes. John the Apostle is traditionally held to be the author of the Gospel of John. 

Our School Charism 

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop is Australia's patron Saint.  Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The Sisters went on to open St John's Primary School (St Joseph's Convent School) in 1910. 

Mary MacKillop and her sisters shared the life of the poor, offering care to women and children. She is remembered for her eagerness to discover GGod'swill in all things, her charity, and her abiding trust in God. 

Her legacy continues today in countless ways. In its many facets, education is still a strong ministry for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Mary inspires us to be courageous and hopeful and to have a deep faith in our God who provides.

Mary MacKillop has shown us how to forgive and how to be compassionate; she teaches us to never see a need without doing something about it.