Informer Term 3, Week 5

From Our Principal ....

Dear Families

The motto of the modern Olympic Games is Citius. Altius. Fortius., which translates as Faster Higher Stronger. It was initiated by Baron Pierre De Coubertin who founded the modern Olympics. It was meant as a constant reminder to continue to strive to be the best.

The history of the Olympics gives us examples of individuals who though not the best in the world, have reached to be the best they can.

Eric Moussambani Malonga is a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea. Nicknamed Eric the Eel by the media, Moussambani won brief international fame at the 2000 Summer Olympics for an extremely unlikely victory. Moussambani, who had never seen an Olympic-sized (50 meters) swimming pool before, swam his heat of the 100m freestyle on 19 September in a time of 1:52.72. This was the slowest time in Olympic history by far, and Moussambani had trouble finishing the race, but he won his heat after both his competitors were disqualified due to false starts. Although Moussambani's time was still too slow to advance to the next round, he set a new personal best and an Equatoguinean national record. He later became the coach of the national swimming squad of Equatorial Guinea.

In these current Olympics, Israel Madaye, is an archer from Chad. For over a decade, since he was 19 years old, he has trained by himself, even sacrificing his career as an electrician. He had won gold at the 2023 African Archery Championships, which earned his entry to the Paris Olympics, despite competing without a chest guard to protect his body from the bow’s string. Though he was forced out of the tournament, Madaye revealed that he was proud for competing with the world’s top archers in an interview afterward, saying he felt accomplished to be on the Olympic stage.

Growth does not just happen; it is a constant challenge to better ourselves each and everyday. It is a great model for our children to see and to talk with us about. How do we as adults model this for our own kids and let them see some of the struggles we deal with?

Have a great week and hug your 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

Volunteer Induction - Wednesday, 7 August

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 this session on Wednesday, 7 August. You do not need to pre-register; just arrive at the school library 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Grandparents Day - Friday 9 August

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!!

Father's Day Stall: Orders close Fri 16 Aug

Learn to Pray...

St Vincent De Paul Winter Warmers Appeal

Thank you to our generous school community for their donations to St Vincent de Paul and the Winter Appeal.

The Gladstone Co-ordinator, Peter Dougherty, collected the donations today at assembly. These were gratefully received because the recent cool days has resulted in the warehouse being depleted of resource. Our Year 2 students looked as ‘snug as a bug in a rug’ and we pray others in need will feel as warm. Future donations can be left at the St Vinnie’s warehouse on Off Lane if you find more goodness to share.

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

God bless all of you.

St John's Way Awardees ...

Counsellors' Corner

Library News...

Featuring Author/Illustrator Kelly Canby

Kelly was born in London, England. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia.  Her book ‘Timeless’ published last year features in Shortlist of books in line for the CBCA awards later this term.  We have a small collection of her wonderful titles for you to borrow.

Littlelight

When bricks start to go missing from the town of Littlelight, the mayor whips his citizens into a frenzy of aggravation. But when the townspeople find the thief, and her motive, they discover perhaps it is the mayor who is the problem.  Illustrated in moody black and white with dynamic neon highlights, this is a
thought-provoking tale of tolerance and acceptance.

A Leaf Called Greaf

Bear is all alone until he finds the greenest, most beguiling leaf he has ever seen. A leaf called Greaf.

Bear holds Greaf tight throughout the days and nights that follow. Bear can barely remember a time before Greaf. It is as if things have always been this way. Until one day, they aren’t. Greaf changes with the seasons, and so does Bear. As Greaf leaves him, Bear feels a lightness and warmth that he had almost forgotten. Greaf has gone, but Bear knows its memory will hold a special place in his heart forever.

Timeless

Emit (whose parents turned back time to name him) is surrounded by busyness. Dad is too busy to read stories, Mum is too busy to play games and Emits brother and sister are simply too busy doing nothing at all to do anything, at all. What the family needs, Emit decides, is more of what they lack: time. So, he sets off to find some. He tries to catch it (because time flies) and wait for it (because time stands still) but it’s not until Emit tries to buy some time that he learns the secret which is, if you want time, you must make it.

Signing Club

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 Ordering Information

The following information will ensure the efficient ordering of tuckshop for your child/ren:

• Tuckshop must be ordered online via QuickCliq www.quickcliq.com.au  Orders will not be accepted at the Tuckshop or Office.
• Orders must be placed by 8:10am. Tuckshop can be ordered weeks in advance. Simply click on the day/s that tuckshop is required.
• QuickCliq operates very slowly at very busy times i.e. close to 8:10am.  During these times the system may boot you off and require you to log back in. Late orders put a lot of pressure on our tuckshop staff and volunteer helpers.
• If you miss the ordering cut off time, your order will be transferred to the following day.  You will be notified of this on the screen.
• Parents MUST check confirmation email to ensure the order has been processed for the correct food on the correct day.

If you have any problems with the online ordering system please contact QuickCliq via 1300 11 66 37, or email: support@quickcliq.com.au

Our tuckshop operates every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (first and second breaks).

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

Tuckshop Menu

Capricornia Sport

Boyne Smelters Limited Ecofest Colouring Competition Winner

Congratulations!

Izabella Schultz (Yr 2 Yabbies)
Izabella recently won a monetary prize for St John's
in the Boyne Smelters Ecofest colouring competition. 
Well done and thank you Izabella!

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.

Position Vacant - LOTE Teacher St Francis

Position Vacant - Parish Admin Officer

Applications for the below position close on Friday, 9 August 2024.

School Dental Clinic: Forms due by Thur 15 August to School Office

Encounter School of Ministry

Casual Relief Teachers

Uniform Shop Hours

Free Community Cultural Event: An evening in the Japanese Tea Gardens

CQ Health Sport and Recreation Expo

Gymnastics Come & Try

Women's Wellbeing Expo