St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Clinton eNewsletter

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

This week marks the start of Holy Week. It is the most sacred and important week in the Christian calendar. It can be very easy to get caught up in the symbols that the commercial world has focussed on as the meaning of Easter. I struggle with Hot Cross Buns on sale the week after new year and shopping centres that advertise lobster and prawns as perfect for Lent. The symbols are important and have a place. We need tangible things to latch on to either as teachable moments and reminders .

Amidst all the chaos of lunch boxes, missing hats and tired children, we have a world full of other distractions that take our focus away from the message of Easter.

Chocolate eggs and the Easter bunny are important for our kids and can be the stuff that memories are made of. They also provide opportunities to talk to our children about the meaning of Easter; new life and rising from the tomb. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn-out conversation, but the passing reminders of why we do what we do builds knowledge. They will process this in their own way and will ask their own questions.

It has been long and busy term for the children. I hope the break is chance for you to reconnect with them and recharge batteries. A big thank you as well to our P&F association for the Easter giveaway happening this week.

May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you and those that you love.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

2024 Girls' School Captain

Please see below letter emailed to all families today.

2024_Girls_Captain_Election_Letter.pdf

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

Harmony Morning Tea: RSVP by 28 March

Many of our families have a diverse cultural and language background. Leaving your country and extended family can be isolating for people. We would like to welcome new and existing families who speak a language other than English.

Please join Mrs. O’Brien and members of the ladership team for a morning tea on Thursday 18 April on the staffroom verandah from 9:00-10:00am. It will be a fabulous opportunity to chat and mingle with you all.

RSVP by Thursday 28 March to Melissa Davies – melissa_davies@rok.catholic.edu.au

World Harmony Day

Last Thursday was World Harmony Day. Our theme was: ‘Kind Hands Can Make A Kind World’ – using our hands to wave, be brave, bring comforting, help, applaud, blow a kiss etc.

Under the guidance and expertise of our fabulous Art teacher Mrs Miller, our Prep classes have been working on these lovely pots of flowers – created with a cut out of each of their hands which they have carefully decorated.

Thank you Preps and Mrs Miller.

God of all people, God of love,

Just as the colours of a rainbow
Blend and merge to form one rainbow,
So too may the colours of our different cultures and beliefs,
blend and merge in our families, our communities and throughout our world,

through mutual respect and acceptance,
so that we may come together in true harmony.

What Is Holy Week?

The Season of Lent is ending. The Catholic liturgical calendar moves into Holy Week and the Easter Season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdrPhxqRP9I

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which was yesterday, Sunday 24 March.

The 2^nd Rite of Reconciliation is available for people today. This is a celebration of Penance which includes a communal liturgy of repentance followed by the opportunity for individual confession and absolution. This is a Church tradition prior to Easter. All welcome at Star of the Sea (SOS) Church at 5.30pm this evening.

We also welcome our school community members to attend Mass this coming Easter weekend:

Mass Times:

Thursday 28 March Mass of the Lord’s Supper 6:30pm at SOS church

Friday 29 March Stations of the Cross 10am SOS Church
10am St Peter Chanel, Tannum
10am St Patrick's, Calliope
10:30am Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Mt Larcom

Friday 29 March Service of the Lord’s Passi 3pm at SOS church

Saturday 30 March The Easter Vigil 6:30pm at SOS Church

Sunday 31 March Easter Sunday 8am SOS Church
8am St Peter Chanel, Tannum
10am St Patrick’s, Calliope
11am St Agnes, Agnes Water

Project Compassion

“A merciful heart sees opportunities for compassion” Pope Francis

Lent is an opportunity to prepare our hearts.

We wish to extend gratitude to the staff, students and families within our school community. This is for their growing awareness of the plight of others in our world, the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes and to be proactive in our endeavours.

The students have raised funds through their Project Compassion boxes and our Book Stall. They have donated boots to the community of Woorabinda and hopefully by being the hands and feet of Christ can demonstrate the heart of God…this is love.

A huge thank you to the student council representatives and Mrs. Mitchell for their fantastic organisation of the book stall.

A prayer…

God of all hope,
we pray for our world
with all its beauty and need.

May all creation know your
compassion this Lent and may
we take courage to share it,
especially with those who don’t
have what they need.

Move us to act in the company
of your Spirit, showing
compassion and acting for
justice to renew the face of
the Earth, now and for all
future generations.

Project Compassion Bookstall: Thank you!

Thank you to our families who kindly donated books for our bookstall. Our Student Leadership manned the stall last week, which raised a massive $550.35 for Project Compassion. Thank you!

This money can help a community in the Phillipines with education training. It can also provide hand sanitiser to families in Samoa to help combat disease.

Footy Boots Thankyou!

Our donated football boots are on the move!

We have combined your generous donations of boots to the cache at Chanel College. These will be donated to the children in Woorabinda for the football season. What a way to complete our whole school focus on Project Compassion.

Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

In gratitude we are human; in generosity we are divine:
"You received without pay, give without pay" (Mt. 10:8)

Whole School Beep Off - Tues 26 March

Our Whole School Beef Off is on tomorrow morning at 9:00am WEATHER PERMITTING.

Students may wear sports shorts. They may also bring running joggers to wear for the Beep Off, but MUST change back into school shoes after competing.

All Things Cross Country...

Our Prep - Year 6 St John’s Cross Country is on Thursday 28th March for all students starting at 8.40am sharp.

General Information is as follows:

Prep – Year 1 to meet teachers in their classroom from 8.20am
Year 2-6 students are to put their school bags at their classrooms and move to their House Tents on oval from 8.20am. There will be NO Assembly.
Students to wear their school polo or choose a sun safe shirt in house colour, sports shorts, runners, sunscreen, school hat and a large water bottle.
The first race starts at 8.40am sharp (Year 1 Girls)
Prep – Year 1 students complete the Fun Run Track course (approx. 600m)
Year 2 and younger Year 3 students born in 2016 (only) compete the half course (approx. 1km).
Students born in 2015 - 2012 compete in their year of birth and complete the full course (approx 1.6km).
All students (P-6) receive a ribbon if they place 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th
Students born 2012 - 2015 receive points towards Athletics Age Champion if finish 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd
Students born 2012, 2013 and 2014 can be selected in the school Cross Country team to attend Port Curtis trials if they finish 1^st– 5^th.
All races finish at approx. 10.45am and students return to their normal school day.
All parent volunteers are always welcome! Please email Courtney McVean at Courtney_mcvean@rok.catholic.edu.au if you would like to help out.

Coloured Wrist Bands and Year of Birth

To help distinguish age groups per Cross Country race, we use both wristbands and date of birth on lower legs in some age groups.

Please note the following:

Coloured wristbands will be used for 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 age groups and will be supplied at the start line. Wrist bands to be returned via classroom teacher at end of event.
Year of birth needs to be written on front of lower leg in marker pen, preferably at home prior to students coming to school for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012. See example in photo:

Girl’s Year 1 Race	Neither required
Boy’s Year 1 Race	Neither required
Girl’s Prep Race	Neither required
Boy’s Prep Race	Neither required
Girl’s Year 2 Race	Neither required
Boy’s Year 2 Race	Neither required
Girl’s and Boy’s Yr 3 Race (born 2016 only)	Red Wristband - supplied at start line 2016 written on lower leg before arriving to school
Girls and Boys 2015 Race	Blue Wristband - supplied at start line 2015 written on lower leg before arriving to school
Girls and Boys 2014 Race	Green Wristband - supplied at start line 2014 written on lower leg before arriving to school
Girls and Boys 2013 Race	Yellow Wristband - supplied at start line 2013 written on lower leg before arriving to school
Girls and Boys 2012 Race	No Wristband required 2012 written on lower leg before arriving at school

2024 Cross Country Courses

Prep – Year 1

Extended Fun Run Track

Starting line at Year 1-3 Playground area
Run down the straight, turning left behind the football posts at the J Hickey end of oval towards Year 4-6 playground.
Run behind Year 4-6 Playground, past the top of the Nature Playground and down the Fun Run track towards the carpark path.
Run along path in front of the groundsmens’ shed, taking a slight left turn into the carpark, roped off area.
Run to the end of the roped off area, turn left up the hill on to the oval up the hill onto oval and to the finish line.

Year 2 and Year 3’s born 2016

Starting line at Year 1-3 Playground area.
One full lap of oval (anti-clockwise) and back down the straight to the small gate at J Hickey Av.
Run down J Hickey footpath and left into bushland.
Follow the bush track until reaching ‘’junction’’. Turn left and run up the hill until exit track at Laner St.
Follow the footpath up to the school car park, toward groundsmens’ shed, up to the Fun Run track, around the 4-6 Playground and on to the 80m track to finish line.

Students born 2015 – 2012

Starting line at Year 1-3 Playground area
One full lap of oval (anti-clockwise) and back down the straight to the small gate at J Hickey Av
Run down J Hickey footpath and left into bushland.
Follow the bush track until you reach the ‘’junction’’.
Turn right down the hill, across the bridge, turning left to run up the grass verge to Aramac Dr.
Turn left on the grass path of Aramac Dr until you reach the bridge at J Hickey Av.
Take a hard left turn and run on the grass track behind the houses until you reach the exit at Laner St.
Follow the footpath up to the school car park, toward groundsmens’ shed, up to the Fun Run track, around the 4-6 Playground and on to the 80m track to finish line.

Approximate Race Times:

8.40am Girl’s Yr 1 Race (Girl House Captains run with Yr 1 girls)

8.45am Boy’s Yr 1 Race (Boy House Captains run with Yr 1 boys)

8.50am Girl’s Prep Race (Girl House Captains run with Prep girls)

8.55am Boy’s Prep Race (Boy House Capt run with Prep boys)

9.00am Girl’s Year 2 Race (regardless of Year of Birth)

9.05am Boy’s Year 2 Race (regardless of Year of Birth)

9.13am Girl’s and Boy’s Combined Year 3 Race (born 2016 only)

9.21am Girl’s 2015 Race

9.29am Boy’s 2015 Race

9.37am Girl’s 2014 Race

9.45am Boy’s 2014 Race

9.53am Girl’s 2013 Race

10.01am Boy’s 2013 Race

10.09 am Girl’s and Boy’s (combined) 2012 Race

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.

Tips for the School Holidays

School holidays can provide unique opportunities to connect with, listen to and spend quality time with your kids. The following tips can help to optimise connection, create some calm and bring flow to your holidays.

Connection – while some children may need a little break from social connection, maintaining connection with friends and family can help to build existing relationships and be a point of support and play.
Physical activity - can help relieve stress and frustration, provide a good distraction from worrying thoughts, improve concentration and improve mood. Also a great way for kids to explore nature, practice rules and boundaries, and get some fresh air!
Maintain some routine – while perhaps on the count down to having a break from routine, maintaining some routines like sleep, can help kids to feel focused, energised and motivated. Embrace the opportunities for teaching new skills and self-reliance, developing independence and enjoying some slow mornings.
Healthy eating habits – not only helpful for physical health, but aids good sleep, moods, energy levels, general health and wellbeing
PLAY!

Arguably one of the most important! Devoting time to just having fun can help to recharge yours and your child’s battery, reduce stress and anxiety, build relationships, reduce behavioural challenges. Unstructured time and time away from electronic devices is also good for children to experience, to help them navigate feelings of boredom and to promote creativity and imagination.

Don't forget your own self-care... Ask for help, reach out for support, it takes a village!

Art Project

On Friday, four talented St John’s artists presented a big project they have been working on in the Art Room – a lifesize fibreglass cow sculpture.

Our Art Teacher, Mrs Miller, entered St John’s into the draw to receive a sculpture and was lucky enough to be chosen. The program is called Picasso Cows and it’s a part of a program from Dairy Australia to educate primary school children about the Australian dairy industry.

Our talented group of artists, under the guidance of Mrs Miller, designed the painting themselves. They were inspired by Artist Romero Britto and also wanted to include images of things that happen at St John’s, such as friendship, reading and sport, but still wanted to have her recognised as a traditional dairy cow.

“Payten the Cow” will be a permanent artwork at St John’s and will go into our school veggie garden.

Well done to all involved. She looks “udderly” amazing!