St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Clinton eNewsletter

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

As we head rapidly towards the end of 2024, we are all feeling the effects of a hectic year along with the summer heat. The planning for 2025 continues with Prep enrolments, staffing and budgets accounting for much of our time at the moment. I fielded a couple of questions during the week in relation to fees for 2025 and thought it timely just to put this simplified information out again.

The all-inclusive fee takes effect as of January and we will see many changes as the entire Student Resourcing Standard (SRS) now comes fully to schools. As you would have heard and seen this year, the SRS is the amount that the Federal government determines is the minimum amount required to educate a child in a primary school. It is generated by the funding we receive from both Federal and State government funding along with the $2,700 in school fees contributed by families. In 2025, the Federal government has determined the SRS amount will be $13,994. Our school’s all-inclusive fee will include all costs other than uniforms, stationery and individual items into the all-inclusive fee.

The ongoing provision of Technology and IT devices will be a priority for schools. The digital world our children will need to operate in will not be going anywhere in the coming years. The SRS would expect that this is an expected cost in the education of an Australian student and one the schools will meet.

Each year we invest significant amounts of money into making sure both staff and students have appropriate access to devices that meet their needs. 2025 will be no different and we have budgeted to make sure that we have sufficient devices across the whole school.

Currently our school runs a 1 to 1 iPad program in years 4 to 6. This will continue in 2025 but with some changes. There will be further communication about this later in the week for students in these classes.

Camps and excursions will continue next year, subject to the usual risk assessments and compliance guidelines. Again, these are covered as part of the SRS and not an additional fee.

The School Building Fund (SBF) will continue to operate, schools cannot use funding received as part of the SRS to pay for Capital costs. The SBF continues to support the cost of providing appropriate facilities both now and into the future.

I am more than happy to chat or provide more information about fees or processes for 2025 if there are further questions or concerns.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards
Jamie Emerick
Principal

2025 Booklists

The 2025 P-6 Student Booklists can now be found on Parent Lounge.

As always, we try to ensure the smoothest and most cost-effective way for purchasing booklist requirements.

Families can choose to use the pre-costed booklist provided by Office National, Gladstone, or take the blank Booklist to a supplier of their choice.

Both versions of the Booklist and a cover letter with all information can be found on Parent Lounge.

Please do not return any paperwork to the school office.

As always, there will be a 2025 Book Drop-Off opportunity prior to the school year commencing, which will be from 8.40am – 9.10am on Friday 24 January, 2025.

If you have any questions about the 2025 booklists, please contact Mrs Jakki Graham.

2025_Term_Dates_and_Book_Drop_Off.pdf

Iron+Clay - Artist in Residence: Fri, 22 Nov

On Friday 22 November, Iron+Clay will be performing at St John’s.

For over 25 years, Iron+Clay have been touring in Australian schools and other settings. A team of musicians, with a focus on mission, they aim to build future leaders through stories and music.

The day will begin with a short concert, and we will seat P-2 students to the back of Nazarene Place due to noise sensitivities. Kids who require headphones are encouraged to wear these to the concerts.

Years 4-6 will meet with the team to foster leadership qualities. The day will end with a whole school concert from 2pm and we invite parents to attend.

Locks for Bikes and Scooters Are Essential

It is wonderful to see so many of our students riding and scootering to school each day.

Please ensure that your child brings a lock to school each time they ride or scooter to school to lock either their bike or scooters to the racks provided.

While we will do everything we can to ensure the security of property on our grounds, locking of student's bikes and scooters enhance the security from potential theft.

Stop Drop Go Reminders

Please be reminded of the following for the J Hickey and Laner St pick-up/drop-off areas:

These are 2 minute (max) pick-up/drop-off areas. Parents are NOT to park and leave their car under any circumstance.
For safety reasons, children MUST exit vehicles on the footpath side of the car, NOT the road side.

Is Your Family Leaving St John's?

If you know that you will be leaving at the end of this year, could you please notify the office as soon as possible.

As we have many students on our waiting list and our total enrolment drives many aspects of our school (staffing, budget, class sizes and structure) it is important that we try to be as accurate as possible in predicting the school enrolment for 2025.

Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.

P & F Meeting: TODAY

Year 3 - 6 Swimming Carnival Information

Swimming_Carnival_General_Information_for_Year_3_6_Swim_for_students.pdf

2024_Swimming_Carnival_Outline_School_Community.pdf

Swimming Lessons- Prep to Year 2

Prep - Year 2 Families have been emailed information regarding swimming lessons. Please accept/decline your child's attendance via Parent Lounge by today. Lessons will take place over four consecutive days (25 November to 28 November) at the John Dahl Swimming Pool. More information can be found in the letter sent to parents.

Save The Date: Prep - Year 2 Wet Day: 2 Dec

Our Prep – Year 2 Wet Day occurs each year at the end of our Swimming Block and as a wonderful celebration to the end of the school year for our younger students.

This year’s wet day is on Monday 2 December on the school oval. The school day will begin at 8.40am as usual, with classes moving out with their teacher at timetabled junctures throughout the morning.

Students are to come to school with sunscreen applied and wearing ‘boardies’ or togs with a sun safe shirt and school hat. Thongs are allowed during wet play. Please don’t forget a towel!

All students must have their school hat and a sun shirt. If students forget either of these, they will not be able to join in.

All students must bring a towel, change of dry clothes (school uniform, including shoes and socks) to change in afterwards.

Students return to their individual class at the end of the wet day activities.

Please see your class teacher for any questions.

St John's Christmas Tree Appeal

The St John's Christmas Tree has been set up in the front office.

The aim is to build opportunities within our school community about Gladstone families who are less fortunate.

Each year we ask families to consider buying a gift for a child or young person and placing it under the tree. There are gift tags hanging from the tree with the gender and age of a child written on the back e.g. girl aged 3 years. These ages range from 6 months to 16 years old.

It is a great way to discuss the meaning of Christmas, to give rather than to receive. It is worth considering the Christmas story Christians around the world believe, that God gave us his son in the hope of building a close relationship with each of us. Ultimately the gift of God's grace and love.

We invite you to provide a gift, within your means, and to attach a gift tag to this. There is no need to wrap the gift as this assists Saint Vincent de Paul at the warehouse when they distribute any donations.

We hope your family feels the love, joy and peace of the Christmas season and that we can bring these same emotions to others in need.

St Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2024

St John's has a proud tradition of supporting St Vincent de Paul each Christmas. Our focus is on donations of non-perishable food to support Central Queensland families. If you can provide food with at least a three-month 'in date' stamp your donation will help others in need during the festive season.

Items could include packaged fruit cake, pudding, biscuits, crackers, lollies, pasta, rice, baked beans, tinned food, dry/tinned pet food or play items. Perhaps a box of Christmas crackers will bring a smile to a Gladstone family. Thank you to the Year Two Cohort who have been collecting items over the past two weeks.

Donations can be left in the front office in the collection boxes, with the front office ladies: Vicki, Melissa J, Mel D or Helen, or in the box upstairs with Year Two. 😊

Thank you for your continued support.

St John's Way Awardees

Students who have embodied faith, dignity and integrity within our school.

We view our school as one body, with many parts, each in its own way contributing to our common mission

(1 Corinthians 12: 12-26)

Is your Grade 2, 3 or 4 child interested in learning to play the flute?

There are 2 smaller flutes available for hire from St John's, with available lesson spots for 2025.

Please collect a form from the office or print the form below and complete if interested.

Mrs Perrett 😊 🎶

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).