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Informer - Term 4 Week 9

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

We are once again at our last newsletter for the year. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were in 2010 let alone 2023!

It has been a very busy year. We have had some wonderful times throughout the year along with some sadness that will always be with us. To everyone who has contributed to the growth of our children, I would like to thank you on behalf of the St John’s community. At our final school Assembly, we will be acknowledging some of our staff and community members who will be moving on to new challenges next year.

I would like to take this chance to thank Miss Deanne Moller for the contribution that she has made during her time at St John’s and we wish her the very best on this next step in life’s journey.

To everyone involved in our Spirit Night concert, thank you for what was a wonderful evening. Our kids were absolutely brilliant. A special thanks to all our teachers for coordinating the concert. All the children I have spoken to enjoyed performing and having the opportunity to be the centre of attention.

I hope families have arrangements in place for a wonderful holiday. I know that students are counting the days to a well earned break. To all our families I say, "Thank you for your contribution to our school this year." I hope everyone has a safe and restful holiday and a Happy and Holy Christmas. I look forward to seeing families again in 2024.

Stay safe on the roads over the break and may the peace of the Christ Child be with you and those that you love.

Have a great holiday and hug your kids.

Regards
Jamie Emerick

Spirit Night - Thanks

To our wonderful St John's community, we thank you for sharing in our Annual Spirit Night. What a glorious celebration it was of family, community, connection and sharing in the true Spirit of Christmas.

End of Year Mass

All classes and families are invited to our End of Year Mass; especially parents of students in Years 5 and 6. The Awards and 2024 leadership Ceremony will be held after Mass.

When: Thursday 30 November
Where: Nazarene Place
Time: 11:40am
Theme: Fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5: 22-26

Last Day of Term - Friday 1 December

Running Order:

8.40am Parade (approximately 20 minutes)
- Prayer.
- Holiday Birthdays.
- Irish Blessing for Staff Leaving .
- Irish Blessing for Students leaving (who are not in Year 6) .

11.30am – 12.00pm Assembly
- Year 6 Students to stage for Irish Blessing.
- Year 6 depart Nazarene Place with whole school Guard of Honor.
- Dismissal of Prep – Year 5 students back to class.

12.00pm End of Assembly
- Families are welcome to take their children home after this event.

Supervision for Remainder of the Day
- Provided for remaining students until 3pm in the library.
- Children attending OSHC will be picked up from the library.
- Supervised pick ups will operate as normal from Laner St and Oval until 3:20pm.

Semester 2 Report Cards

Semester 2 Report Cards for all students will be available through Parent Lounge on Thursday 30 November from 9.00am.

School Fees

Thank you to families who have finalised school fees for this year.

Term 4 school fees were due for payment by Friday 27 October 2023, with the yearly fees (2023) to be finalised no later than Friday 1 December 2023. For families paying via direct debit, this is still current and the statement is for information purposes only, showing recent payments and charges.

Statements are available through our online Parent Lounge Site:
https://402sjg.rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge

Payments may be made by cash, cheque, direct debit, internet banking, EFTPOS or through Parent Lounge, either in full or in instalments (weekly, fortnightly or monthly). When making payments by internet banking, it is imperative to use your “School Fee Account Number” ONLY as the reference. This will ensure payments are allocated to the correct account.

The school office does not carry cash. If this is your preferred method of payment please endeavour to have the correct amount on hand.

If you are experiencing difficulties in making this payment, please contact Melissa Jackson in the office to discuss options.

School Office Hours:
Mon – Thurs 8.00 am – 4.00 pm
Fri 8.00am – 3.30 pm

Lost Property

Have your lost a hat, a lunch box, a water bottle or maybe a jacket? Come and check the lost property basket in the office before Thursday. All unnamed items not collected by Thursday will be given to St Vinnies.

Is Your Family Leaving St John's?

If you know that you will be leaving at the end of this year, could you please notify the office as soon as possible.

As we have many students on our waiting list and our total enrolment drives many aspects of our school (staffing, budget, class sizes and structure) it is important that we try to be as accurate as possible in predicting the school enrolment for 2025.

Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.

Christmas Tree Appeal - for St Vinnies

The St John's Christmas Tree has been set up in the front office!

This is an opportunity for our school community to build awareness for children in families who are less fortunate than ours. Each year we ask families to consider buying a gift for a child or young person and placing it under the tree. There are gift tags hanging from the tree with the gender and age of a child written on the back e.g. girl aged 3 years. These ages range from 6 months to 15+.

It is a great way to discuss the meaning of Christmas, to give rather than to receive. It is worth considering the Christmas story Christians around the world believe, that God gave us his son in the hope of building a close relationship with each of us. Ultimately the gift of God's grace and love.

We hope your family feels the love, joy and peace of the Christmas season.

St Vinnies Christmas Hamper Appeal

https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nt/christmas-appeal-nt

St John's has a proud tradition of supporting St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal. Our focus is on donations of non-perishable food to support Central Queensland families. If you can provide food with at least a three-month 'in date' stamp your donation will help others in need during the festive season.

Items could include packaged fruit cake, biscuits, lollies, pasta, rice, baked beans, tinned food, dry/tinned pet food or play items. Perhaps a box of Christmas crackers will bring a smile to a child's face.

Donations can be left in the front office in the 'jelly bins' or with the front office ladies: Vicki, Melissa J, Mel D or Helen 😊

Thank you for your continued support.

2024 Booklists

2024 Booklists are now available on Parent Lounge.

As always, we try to ensure the smoothest and most cost-effective way for purchasing booklist requirements. To ensure this, you have two options for filling your child’s 2024 booklist requirements:

OPTION 1: Purchasing from Office National Gladstone

Office National Gladstone is our online (and in-store) provider.
Office National Gladstone have already pre-priced your child’s 2024 booklist requirements at competitive rates and offer free home delivery (orders over $50).
You can order online via booklist.officebrands.com.au/aucklandst or you can drop-off or email your order form to Office National Gladstone.

OPTION 2: Purchasing from a local news agency of your choice

Simply take your child’s 2024 booklist to a news agency of your choice.
Local news agencies have been provided with our generic 2024 booklist

Please go on to Parent Lounge as of Monday 13 November to find all information and forms relating to your child’s 2024 booklist.

There will be a 2024 Book Drop-Off opportunity prior to the school year beginning next year, which is from 8.40am – 9.10am on Friday 19 January, 2024 ONLY.

If you have any questions about the 2024 booklists, please contact Mrs Jakki Graham at the school office.

Student Council Request

If you are cleaning out your cupboards, please consider donating specific items to the School Student Council please?

We are eager to have books in good condition donated to the school for a Project Compassion Stall in 2024. We are also looking for football and soccer boots you may have grown out of. These will be used in a Books, Boot and Biscuit Stall in Term 1, 2024.

Boots need to be clean and donated in a clear large snap lock bag with the size recorded on it.

Thank you for your generosity.

Parish Upcoming Events

Our Parish extends a warm wlecome to these upcoming events:

Well Done - Year 5

No, the Lord has told us what is good.
What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love,
and to live in humble fellowship with our God.
(Micah 6:8)

Robotics News ...

On Saturday, November 25, The Infinity Squad participated in the National North's FIRST Lego League Competition at Chanel College. Despite not securing a trophy, the team showcased outstanding problem-solving abilities, resilience and a commitment to learning. The event featured 38 teams from across Queensland, challenging The Infinity Squad's coding skills in various rounds of robot games. Despite unforeseen challenges, the team maintained a positive spirit, cheering each other on and displaying gracious professionalism toward fellow competitors. Congratulations to The Infinity Squad for their commendable efforts—we are proud of their achievements.

St John's Way Awardees

Caritas Global Christmas Gifts

Christ The King

Christ_the_King.pdf

Sacrament of Confirmation - Save the Date

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Michael at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Friday 14 June and Saturday 15 June.

Families with children intending to take the sacrament need to keep either of those dates free.

Formation sessions for the Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on the following dates:

First Formation Session – Saturday 18 May 2024 OR Sunday 19 May 2024
Second Formation Session – Saturday 1 June 2024 OR Sunday 2 June 2024

These are held either before or after mass for one hour.

Library News ...

Congratulations to Jaxon (5K)
The correct title of our term four Book in a Bottle was
‘The Far Away Tree’

Congratulations also go out also to Lila (5E)
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
was the correct answer for our term four Anagram Smash it doily crash!!!

Thank you St John’s students!

A sincere ‘Thank you’ to each child who has generously given their time to volunteer in our library either as Library Monitors during first break, calling through on their way past in the morning to see if I need help or assisting in the printing, cutting and applying tuckshop orders to brown paper bags. It can be a rather long, laborious task but these students have risen to the challenge with vim and vigour!

Kind regards
Mrs Skelhorn

Clean Up Club Thanks

P & F News ...

The school community's generosity shone brightly during our recent Family Fun Afternoon, where donations were collected for the Starlight Foundation. A heartfelt thank you is extended to all contributors.
The P & F have announced that a total of $400 was raised, a testament to the collective spirit of giving in our school community. This generous sum has been promptly forwarded to the Starlight Foundation, where it will undoubtedly be instrumental in providing life-changing gifts to children battling illness. Thank you once again for your heartfelt contributions.

Save the Dates
P & F Meeting -Monday 29 January at 5.30pm in the staffroom.
AGM - Monday 5 February 2023 at 5.30pm in the staffroom.

ALL WELCOME!

Tuckshop News ...

As the school year draws to an end and we reduce our stock, we ask that you continue checking Quickcliq for available options and menu changes. Our online menu will be updated daily.

The last tuckshop day for 2023 is Thursday 30th November.

We would like to thank each person who has helped and supported the tuckshop throughout the 2023 school year.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2024.