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Informer Term 3 - Week 4

From Our Principal...

Dear Families,

I know I have used this image before, but it is one that really speaks to me.

After finally shaking of what was a potentially fatal case of man flu last week, it does give you a very fresh, new perspective of just the simple joy of health. With so many bugs around at the moment, there are any number of issues that can affect us.

I still bring it back to the choice we are given each day to choose our attitude. Regardless of everything happening, we still have control over this. It may not be easy or a fun choice, but the choice is still ours and one our children need to see us making.

Have a great week and hug you kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

Student After School Pick Ups - Chapman Drive Shopping Complex

While we understand that it is a family decision where to meet your child after 3.00pm for pick-up to go home, we still want to ensure the behavioural choices of our students, at all times, are safe and respectful.

Many of our St John’s families choose to have their child/ren walk to the shopping complex on Chapman Drive (where the gym, Golden Chicken etc are situated).

We have had several phone calls from various business owners in this complex, concerned about the safety and behaviour of St John’s children in the last week.

Reports of St John’s students playing in a garden area (with a 2m fall), playing handball outside of stores (and chasing balls into the car park), walking/riding in between and behind cars and running in and out of shops while waiting for parents are all very concerning. The choices of our students should be safe and respectful at all times.

As always, we want our students to be safe and no one plans to have an accident. Last week, Mrs Graham has spoken to children about these unsafe choices and the potential for children to get hurt, but we would continue to remind families that they also need to speak with their children about safe and respectful choices while waiting for parents.

The two pick-up areas at St John’s (J Hickey Av and Laner St) are supervised until 3.20pm daily and are the safest places to wait for afternoon pick-up.

Term 3 School Fees - Now Overdue

TERM 3 SCHOOL FEE ACCOUNTS

Term 3 2024 School Fee Accounts have been issued and emailed. Statements are also available through our online Parent Lounge Site:

https://402sjg.rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge

Please note, Term 3 school fees are due by Friday 2 August 2024. For families paying via direct debit, this is still current and the statement is for information purpose only, showing recent payments and charges.

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).

The school office does not carry cash. If this is your preferred method of payment please endeavour to have the correct amount on hand. When making payments by internet banking, it is imperative to use your “School Fee Account Number” as the reference. This will ensure payments are allocated to the correct account.

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

School Office Hours:

Mon – Thurs 8.00 am – 4.00 pm

Fri 8.00am – 3.30 pm

School Fee Communication Advice 4

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please find attached Advice #4, developed to inform our Catholic Education families of the school fee structure, from 2025 onwards. Previous Advice pieces outlined the new Federal Government Funding model (Gonski model), the impact on School Fees for Catholic Schools, and the need to align with the Federal Government’s means-tested Capacity to Contribute assessment of the school community.

As outlined in Advice #4, CEDR School Fees will be presented as an “All-Inclusive Fee”, rather than the previous school fees model of Tuition Fees, plus several school-based levies and charges.

Circular 2024-130 Att 1School Fee Advice #4.pdf

Census Privacy Collection Notice

NEWSLETTER_2024_Census_privacy_collection_notice_4_1_.pdf

Parent Teacher Interviews Year 1 - 6 this week. Bookings have now closed.

Semester Two Parent Teachers Interviews

Week 4 (Monday 29 July – Friday 2 August)

In Week 4 (Monday 29 July – Friday 2 August) we will host our Semester Two, Parent Teacher Interviews for our Year 1 - Year 6 families.  Prep Interviews will occur later this term. Prep families will receive further information from their child’s teacher.

Parent Teacher Interviews are imperative to ensure strong home and school relationships as well as providing a wonderful opportunity to discuss the progress of your child, celebrate successes and set goals for the coming year.

Interview times OPEN for parents to book on Monday 22 July (Week 3) at 8.00am and will close on Thursday 25 July (Week 3) at 3.00pm. 

All Parent Teacher Interviews MUST be booked via Parent Lounge within this timeframe.  No bookings will be made from the office or via your child’s teacher.

Interview times can be reserved by accessing your Parent Lounge account via https://402sjg.rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge.

Student Expectations During Parent Teacher Interview Week For Duty of Care

Due to Public Liability and Duty of Care any students attending the Parent Teacher Interviews with their parent/s are to wait quietly and directly outside the classroom where their parents are, reading a book (or similar calm activity) quietly.
Students are under no circumstance to be playing on the oval or playgrounds, playing handball outside the classroom or moving around the school. This is for the safety of all our children at St John’s.

Grandparents Day - Friday 9 August

St John's Got Talent - Semi Finals

St John’s Got Talent – it is Semi-Finals Time!

After 78 performances over the last 3 weeks we are now at the semi-finals stage!

This week, over 3 days, we will see 24 semi-finalists performing, keeping our play breaks very entertaining!

The semi-finals timetable was communicated with students and teachers last week and we remind performers of the following:

All props, instruments, must etc must be supplied and organised on stage by performer/s or their helpers.
All music must be supplied and played by performer/s on their own device and lyrics must be appropriate.
Performances must not exceed 2 minutes and all performances must be safe

We continue to wish all of our performers the best of luck as they progress to the semi-finals.

*The Grand Final will be on Wednesday 21 Aug @ 8.40am.

Healthy Gut, Healthy Mind

Australian foods have more than 350 additives and preservative approved and used in our daily foods. I ask myself frequently, what are the long-term effects considering the huge range of foods they exist in, especially for our children.

The more we know about them, the more empowered we are to make better-informed choices. There are far too may additives and preservatives to list here, but I thought I would try to bring your attention to some to spark your curiosity to the effects.

For me fresh whole foods are the way to go wherever possible and if there are numbers in the ingredients list or words you have never heard of, I would just put them back on the shelf and walk away!!!

Mullen Health is a space where I have learnt a lot about the effects of additives and preservatives and below are just some examples, to get you thinking!

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to spot an additives and preservatives – they go by unfamiliar names, numbers and are often omitted from labelling.

Artificial Colours are additives that effect our children, in a variety of ways.

Tartrazine (102) – can induce hives and asthma

Allura red (129) – linked to hyperactivity

Cochineal Red (124, E124) – linked to hyperactivity, (and is actually banned in America)

Preservatives are another big issue and are most often used to gain longer shelf life at our health expense. Some to keep a close eye on are:

Sorbates – commonly used in fruit-based sauces, drinks, baked goods, cured meats and flavoured yoghurts, all which are linked to migraines and hypersensitivity reactions.

Benzoates – commonly added to soft drinks, cordials and fruit drinks and may trigger allergic reactions.

Propionates – added to breads, cakes and pastries (to inhibit mould growth) and are linked to hyperactivity, irritability, restlessness, inattention and sleep issues.

Artificial sweeteners are used so frequently in daily store purchased foods and have many health implications.

Aspartame (951) – found in diet (low sugar, low fat) foods and soft drinks and linked with migraines, insomnia, depression, anxiety, rashes and heart palpitations.

Flavour Enhancers are an alarming food additive for our children as they trigger a neurological response that keeps us coming back for more – creating an addiction if you will.

MSG (621) – added to soups, stocks, sauces, instant noodles, chips and snack foods is linked to headaches, numbness and tingling.

High fructose cane sugar – obviously used to make food taste sweeter and can be listed as one of over 50 different names! This additive raises blood sugar and insulin levels causing energy to spike and then crash leading to mood swings, anxiety and an inability to concentrate.

So as I said above, instead of being ‘freaked out’ by the information above, think of it as empowering knowledge to make informed choices.

Spaghetti Bolognaise Muffins…….an easy, ‘left-overs’ lunchbox idea for busy families.

Ingredients

4-5 cups cooked leftover spaghetti bolognaise
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup grated zucchini
1 cup corn
3 eggs, lightly whisked
½ cup cheese

Get Going………

Preheat oven to 180°c.
Combine spaghetti bolognaise, vegetables, eggs and cheese in a bowl.
Evenly distribute the mixture throughout the muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes or until set.

Easy peasy! A good one for the kids to make themselves.

St Vincent De Paul Society Winter Appeal

Learn to Pray...

Counsellor's Corner

One of our St John's Counsellors, Danni Vince, will be away for the next 5 weeks. During this time, there will be no 1-1 counselling sessions. Group sessions will continue, and resources and support will be available where required.

Inclusion & Belonging at the Local School Workshop

Interested families are invited to attend this workshop. Registration closes Wednesday, 31 July 2024.

St John's Way Awardees ...

Queensland School Sport

Port Curtis Sport

Book Week Dress-Up

We are getting in early with a date claimer for our BOOK WEEK DRESS-UP. We are encouraging all students to come dressed as their favourite book character on FRIDAY 23 AUGUST. This year's theme is 'Reading is Magic" so this may give your child/ren and you some food for thought!!

Chess Club....

St John the Baptist Chess Club practice has changed to every Wednesday first break with Father Peter and Mrs Milic in the Music room. Chess club is open for students year 2 to year 6. Come for training games or just to have game for fun. Please email Mrs Milic, Irene_Milic@rok.catholic.edu.au for further information.

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

2024_Tuckshop_Menu.pdf

Port to Park Fun Run - Raises Funds for Our School

Gladstone Ports Corporation’s (GPC) Port to Park Fun Run can help us raise important funds for our school community and we’d love as many of our students and families to participate on Sunday 18 August.

The event will run in GPC's beautiful parklands, highlighting all three areas - East Shores, The Gladstone Marina and Spinnaker Park.

This year there will be three races for participants to choose from including the 10 kilometre Koongo Dash, the new 5 kilometre Koommonka sprint and the 3 kilometre Yallarm Family Run. The race names recognise the language of the Traditional Owners of the land - the Bailai and Gooreng Gooreng, and Gurang nations, with Koongo meaning place of water and Yallarm meaning place of shells and Koommonka meaning Possum.

Students can register to participate in Port to Park as individuals or with their family for the 3km, 5km and/or 10km events and their registration fee will be directed back to our school. Make sure you nominate our school when registering!

So get your runners ready and start limbering up so we can raise some vital funds for our school.

You can register here at Port to Park.

Port to Park is proudly supported by a number of local corporations including Gladstone Industry Leadership Group, Squadron Energy, Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre and Gladstone Regional Council, Santos GLNG and SMIT Lamnalco.