Translate

Informer - Term 1 Week 6

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

Over the past few weeks, we have had a number of near misses around the school. Cars have inherent issues with drivers not able to see everything in their vicinity and children are blessed with an impulsive nature that has no concept of thinking about consequences.

No one plans to have an accident, but we have had a number of near misses that we need to address. We have a range of strategies at St John’s to keep our kids and all pedestrians safe.

No child should be entering the carpark in Laner Street unsupervised. There is a significant amount of traffic moving through this space both in the morning and afternoon.

The front carpark near the Admin block is not for student pickup or drop off. As of today, this carpark will be blocked off from 2.40pm until 3.15pm. We have a significant number of children moving through this area in the afternoon to cross at the Chapman Drive lights.

A reminder that in Queensland you cannot make a U turn at traffic lights unless it is signed. There is no sign at these lights, so a U turn is not permissible. We are again having cars queueing back into the intersection. This is illegal and dangerous. Children are trying to cross with the lights while cars are standing in the crossing zone.

Please be aware that Queensland Police have been present at school sites across Gladstone over the past few weeks. Their consistent message is that the consequences of traffic issues have the potential to be tragic.

Thank you for your patience and support with this matter.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal

Admin Car Park CLOSED DAILY at 2:40pm

For the safety of our students the front Administration car park will be closed daily at 2:40pm. This car park is NOT for before/after school student drop-off and pick-up.

Students must be picked-up and dropped off in the allocated, supervised areas as detailed below.

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.

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.

Orange Sky and an Authentic Christian Life

The current Religious Education curriculum learning outcome is – How can we live an authentic Christian life? A major part of enabling this to happen is for people to look outwards and beyond themselves and their needs.

Jasmine from Orange Sky spoke with the Year Five students today. She shared how the organisation began and how it provides a platform for everyday Australians to connect in a safe, positive and supportive environment, connecting with the CST of every human being.

Gladstone has now been provided with this laundry service, having a laundry pod at the Phillip Street Community Centre. It is run by volunteers and through their genuine and non-judgemental conversation, they listen and have great conversations with the less fortunate of our community. What started as an idea by two 20-year-old men from Brisbane to improve hygiene standards and restore dignity to people doing it tough, has now evolved into something much bigger and more powerful.

We can’t wait to see what the students identify as an area of need and let their creativeness and innovation grow. Last year, Year 5 Eagles were able to support thirty children in out-of-home care with a backpack of comfort items.

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

Fitness Club

Beep Test Results - Week 5

Girls: Penny Hale Year 6 8.7
Boys: Charlie Warrener Year 3 11.1

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

Harper Halliwell Year 5 8.4
Izabella Kerr Year 3 7.3
Claudia Schumacher Year 1 6.1
Liam Warrener Year 6 10.9
Ethan Maitland Year 5 10.5
Carter Reynolds Year 2 7.1

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 ...

Fire away St John’s!!! We all know how important our Fire Services personnel are to our community.

Our fabulous Fire display in the library this week features not only a few of the titles in our collection, but also a repurposed fire hydrant loaned to us by the Simpson family. Our very own Mrs Simpson and her family are avid collectors of all things unique and the repurposing of fire hydrants is one thing that they love to work on.

Have a fabulous week.

Port Curtis Sport

Congratulations to the following students for their selection in the Port Curtis Touch team:

Lilly-Rose Whitehouse
Zeanna Stokes
Hudson Kerr

St John's Way Awardees ...

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.

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Our Tuckshop is OPEN Four Days a Week
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - BOTH Breaks

Please remember our online ordering closes at 8:10am sharp

This Week's Tuckshop Volunteer Roster is:

Tuesday 29 April - Year 1 Quolls
Wednesday 30 April - Year 5 Eagles
Thursday 1 May - Year 6 Bandicoots
Friday 2 May - Prep Turtles

Thank You!

Tuckshop Menu

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.