Informer - Term 1 Week 5

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

We are well and truly into Lent this week.

Lent is a 40-day period of time leading up to Easter that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The word "lent" comes from the old English word ‘lencten’ that means lengthen - referring to the season of spring and longer daytime. The length of Lent represents the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before beginning his ministry. Lent is a time of spiritual renewal and reflection in preparation of observing Good Friday, the death of Jesus and celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus.

The purpose of Lent is to draw closer to God through prayer, repentance and self-examination. During Lent, many Christians choose to fast or give up certain indulgences as a form of self-discipline and penance. This may include abstaining from certain foods, activities or habits.

That may be the official definition, but what does Lent mean for us and our kids on a day to day basis? For a number of years, we went through the model of what am I doing for Lent, rather than what am I giving up? While this is a good strategy, the focus still needs to be what am I doing to make a change in my life?

We can do the most severe fasting we can think of, give up every treat or favourite thing we do, go out of our way to do jobs we don’t like for 40 days and if does not change us or our relationship with God and those around us, it is a waste of time.

I read an article once of a businessman who at the end of his life, when looking back with regret, said it was easier to give up cigarettes for Lent than it was to make time for his family. Regardless of whether you do Lent or not, how do we make those around us know that they are the centre of everything we do?

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,

Jamie Emerick,
Principal.

Uniform, Hair, Shoes, Jewellery

Stations Of The Cross

2024 School & House Captains

2024 School & House Captains

Sch00l Captains - Amelia Mullins and Bailey Pimm

Jordan House Captains - Lucy Hodge & Charlie Beresford

Cummins House Captains - Hayden Anderson & Indianna Groth

Philps House Captains - Maverick Nassar & Ruvarashe Tembo

Wallace House Captains - Hudson Brown & Scarlett Breslin

Counsellor's Corner

This year, the school has begun offering a number of group counselling opportunities to support children through various challenges. Programs offer a unique opportunity for children to work collaboratively to build on and develop new skills to support them emotionally and foster a sense of belonging within our school community. Children will develop a toolbox of coping strategies they can use to help with emotional regulation.  Each of the groups will explore the following:

• Managing Anxious/Angry Feelings: emotional literacy, body awareness, reframing and challenging negative thoughts, problem solving.
• Building Confidence and Self-esteem: emotional literacy, body awareness, positive character strengths, reframing and challenging negative thoughts, affirmations.
  
• Drumbeat: a model of practice combining rhythmic music and cognitive reflection, with additional elements of Positive Psychology and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, designed specifically to meet the group’s needs.

While confidentiality is strongly encouraged within each group, it cannot be guaranteed due to the collaborative nature of the groups.  If you would like your child to attend one of these group counselling programs throughout the year, please complete counselling consent forms at the office.

Volunteers Please - iPad Screens & Cases

Can you spare 30 minutes or 3 hours on Thursday, 22 February to help put iPad screens and covers on our newly purchased devices? Please meet at the Library on Thursday, 21 February at 8.50am.

Volunteer Inductions

If you wish to volunteer in any capacity at St John's and you have not yet completed one of our 2024 Volunteer Induction sessions, it is essential that you attend one of the session times listed below. You do not need to pre-register; just arrive at the school library 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Project Compassion

During Lent, Project Compassion is a major focus for Catholic schools and parishes. This is led by Caritas, a Catholic service organisation. Project Compassion provides weekly stories throughout Lent. These always have a positive outlook and intent. The aim is to increase awareness of the circumstances of others and to walk in their shoes for a moment. The strength shown by people in other communities is always inspiring. Please take the time to view this 4-minute video and discuss it with your children, family and friends. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89bJV-w_wXk 

Thank You - Shrove Tuesday

Our sincere thanks to Jessica Pailthorpe, our tuckshop staff and all our volunteers for your assistance with preparing, cooking and plating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, for our entire school community. Your generous donation of time and energy is greatly appreciated. Thank you also to all families who donated pancake mix. Your generosity is also much appreciated.

Fitness Club

Health & Physical Education Update ...

Following on from last week's update, we challenge parents to practice the below 7 exercises with your children at home and improve your fitness too!

Our students complete the following weekly:

• Beep Test (20m shuttle run)
• 1-minute sit-ups
• 1-minute burpees
• 1-minute dips
• 1-minutes side jumps
• 1-minute skipping
• Sit and reach

Week 4 Beep Test Results:

Girls:    Kaylee Lette             Year 6    8.8
Boys:   Charlie Warrener    Year 3   10.2

A special mention to the following students who are recording great results:

• Will Bebendorf            Year 5   10.1
• Harper Halliwell         Year 5    8.2
• Harry Roberts             Year 4    9.6
• Campbell Robb            Year 3    9.7
• Lucinda Schumacher Year 3   7.1

The majority of students are continuing to improve their results weekly!

2025 Prep Sibling Enrolments: OPEN NOW

If you have not already completed your child's Prep 2025 enrolment application, please do so NOW!

Interviews will take place this term.

Visit our school website to complete the online enrolment application.  
https://enrol.sjgrok.catholic.edu.au/primary-school-enrolment/start

Library News ...

Author Review:  Michael Morpurgo

“Stories make you think and dream; books make you want to ask questions.” Michael Murporgo

An Elephant in the Garden

The story begins in a nursing home in Canada with Lizzie, an aging woman who feels compelled to tell her life story to a 9-year-old boy, the son of one of the nurses.  Lizzie describes her life in Dresden, where her mother works as a zookeeper at the local zoo and is worried about the zoo animals as the war gets closer.  She knows all the zoo animals must be destroyed if the Allies begin bombing.  One day Karl & Lizzie’s mother brings home an elephant (Marlene) and puts her in their garden. The elephant settles in their life and the children take the elephant for walks with a leash to the surprise of their neighbours!  When the bombs begin to fall the family flees into the countryside with their elephant.  Their journey across Germany changes the lives of this family and the elephant in unexpected ways.  This is a heart-warming story of courage, friendships, love, and war.

Little Manfred

Little Manfred is a short children’s book about a German P.O.W. who is interned in England and who stays for a few years after the war to work on a farm.  (This was not a choice, but a part of his punishment before being repatriated.)  Many years later he returns to England to try to bring closure to his experience. It’s a sweet story of friendship despite very real barriers.  In a small way, it’s a tale of hope and healing.  It’s what Morpurgo does best.  He takes a big story about War and skilfully weaves people’s smaller stories into it, resulting in a lovely story.

'Where on Earth am I’ Competition
Congratulations to Mitchell 5E and Mack 5K
for winning our ‘Where on Earth am I’ competition last week.
The answer to the clues given…….. Finland of course!!!

Port Curtis Sport Update ...

Congratulations to the following students upon their selection in the Port Curtis AFL team:

Fabian Royston
William Bebendorf
Harley Stokes (not in photo)
Brody Stokes (not in photo)

St John's Way Awardees

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu

Tuckshop Volunteers Needed

Can you spare 30 minutes or 3 hours on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning to volunteer in our tuckshop - anytime from 8am to 2pm?

Our lovely tuckshop staff will provide training. Volunteers need to have completed our school Volunteer Induction Session.

Please call the office if you are able to help out. 

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.

Star of the Sea Parish - Position Vacant

Instrumental Music Tutor - Position Vacant

OSHC Easter Vacation Program

Challenging Behaviour Workshop

Chanel College 2025 Enrolments

Paint The Port Art Competition

Sparks Hockey Club Sign On

Meteors Hockey Sign On