Informer Term 1 Week 3 - 2025

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families,

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do.”

A habit is often an unconscious action. It can be as simple as doing exercise each morning or putting lunch boxes away or hanging up a towel after a shower. It is what you do on a consistent, repetitive basis.

Routines are conscious ways of doing things repetitively and in a specific order, like making your coffee, then brushing your teeth, getting dressed and making your bed every morning before you leave the house to go to the gym. Routines are often made up of many habits, or action steps taken towards accomplishing a particular goal.

I remember reading many years ago a US military general telling a group of teenagers that the first thing you should do every day is get up and make your bed. Your chance of getting things done improved massively if you made this simple start.  It was something we incorporated into our family routine and one that took hold as our kids saw us doing this as well.

The list below is an interesting article that may be of use.

Looking forward to catching up with families at the P&F Welcome BBQ on Friday afternoon. Please remember to fill in the survey that came out last week to assist P&F with catering. It's due today.

Have a great week and hug your kids

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

Seven Benefits of Using Routines with Your Kids

1. Routines eliminate power struggles.
Routines eliminate power struggles because you aren't bossing the child around. This activity (brushing teeth, napping, turning off the screen to come to dinner) is just what we do at this time of day. The parent stops being the bad guy, and nagging is greatly reduced.

2. Routines help kids cooperate.
Routines help kids cooperate by reducing stress and anxiety for everyone. We all know what comes next, we get fair warning for transitions, and no one feels pushed around, or like parents are being arbitrary.

3. Routines help kids learn to take charge of their own activities.
Over time, kids learn to brush their teeth, pack their backpacks, etc. without constant reminders. Kids love being in charge of themselves. This feeling increases their sense of mastery and competence. Kids who feel more independent and in charge of themselves have less need to rebel and be oppositional.

4. Kids learn the concept of "looking forward" to things they enjoy...
...which is an important part of making a happy accommodation with the demands of a schedule. He may want to go to the playground now, but he can learn that we always go to the playground in the afternoon, and he can look forward to it then.

5. Regular routines help kids get on a schedule.
Regular routines help kids get on a schedule, so that they fall asleep more easily at night.

6. Routines help parents build in those precious connection moments.
We all know that we need to connect with our children every day, but when our focus is on moving kids through the schedule to get them to bed, we miss out on opportunities to connect. If we build little connection rituals into our routine, they become habit. Try a snuggle with each child when you first see them in the morning, or a "recognition" ritual when you're first reunited:

"I see you with those beautiful grey eyes that I love so much!" or a naming ritual as you dry him after the bath: "Let's dry your toes...your calf...your knee...your thigh...your belly ..."

Rituals like these slow you down and connect you on a visceral level with your child, and if you do them as just "part of the routine" they build security as well as connection and cooperation.

7. Schedules help parents maintain consistency in expectations.
If everything is a fight, parents end up settling: more TV, skip brushing teeth for tonight, etc. With a routine, parents are more likely to stick to healthy expectations for everyone in the family, because that's just the way we do things in our household. The result: a family with healthy habits, where everything runs more smoothly!

Upload Parent Orbit App NOW!

Instructions regarding how to upload our new Parent Orbit App were emailed to all families on Wednesday, 29 January.  Please upload now.

From Friday, 21 February no new information will be uploaded to our old Schoolzine SZapp.

Parent Info PowerPoints On Parent Lounge

Last week, Parent Information PowerPoints were uploaded to Parent Lounge and our new Parent Orbit App.  If you haven't already, please make time to have a look at your child/s year level, so that you can familiarise yourself with what is planned for the year ahead, including: Curriculum Overview, Homework Expectations, Behaviour Management, Communication Channels and General Information.

Student Free Day: Friday 21 February

Students DO NOT attend school on Friday 21 February.

All staff will be participating in Bishop's Inservice Day professional development training on this day.

Year 1 -6 Parent Teacher Interview Bookings Close Thurs 20 Feb @ 3pm

In Week 5 (Monday 24 February – Friday 28 February) we will host our Semester One, Parent Teacher Interviews for our Year 1 - Year 6 families. 

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 17 February (Week 4) at 8.00am and will close on Thursday 20 February (Week 4) 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.

Beep Test Results: Week 2

Girls:
Laiken Knott                Year 4             8.8
Maddie Butler              Year 4             8.5
Harper Halliwell         Year 6             8.1

Boys:
Harry Robert                Year 5           11.7
Baxter Briskey              Year 5          10.7
Will Bebendorf             Year 6          10.6

Port Curtis (PC) Sport Trials

The process for Port Curtis trials can be somewhat confusing and in-depth, so we have simplified the process to share with families.  Please see Mr Langdon or Mrs Graham if you require any further clarification.

All PC trials are a pathway for selection in Capricornia and Queensland School sport teams and events.

• PC Sport emails all schools regarding any up-coming trials 3-4 weeks prior to a trial.
• Once this is received, Mrs Graham or Mr Langdon inform students at Parade that this trial is open. Students are instructed to go to the office (generally at 1^st break) to add their name to an ‘Interest in Trialing’ form.
• If there are more than 5 St John’s students wishing to attend a PC Trial, then an ‘In School’ trial needs to occur. PC sport guidelines limit number at trials. St John’s are only allowed to send 5 players to any trial.
• At an ‘In-School’ trial, students will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and playing abilities. A second ‘in-school’ trial may be held to allow students the best opportunity where interest numbers are very high.
• The 5 students who demonstrate the strongest skills and playing abilities at the ‘In-House’ trials are given paperwork to attend the PC Trial.
• These 5 players will receive a PC Trial Information form which outlines the date, time, venue, equipment, cost and link to the Student Permission Booklet.
• Parents of trialing students must download the link to the Student Permission Booklet and return the filled in booklet to the office by the due date for signing (by the Principal or his/her delegate) and uploading to the PC official nomination spreadsheet. Student Permission Booklets that are returned after the due date cannot be processed; therefore the student is unable to attend trial.
• This signed booklet (by the Principal or delegate) will then be returned to the student via their class pigeonhole for the student to collect and take to the trial.

Points to Consider

• A Port Curtis timetable of trials for the year is displayed outside the St John’s office and was in included in Weeks 1 and 2 Newsletter.
• Please ‘follow’ Port Curtis Sport on Facebook for all current updates.
• PC Sport will not allow students to trial if they are not on the PC Sport nomination excel sheet (this is generally due to students not returning their Student Permission Booklet by the due date).
• For insurance reasons, if a student does not take the completed and signed Student Permission Booklet to the trail, PC Sport will not allow the student to trial.
• Generally, PC Trials are open to students aged 10 - 12 years.

Strings Group Term 1: Expression of Interest

Beginner Strings Group

We are excited to offer a Beginner Strings Group (i.e. violin, viola, cello and double bass) for Year 3-6 students this year. This is a free activity, instructed by Mrs Milic which will occur once a week during a lunch/play break (tbc). Due to limited instruments (both in number and size), places are limited.

If your child is successful in joining the Beginners String Group, an instrument will be loaned to them (via the Library) to use free of charge for the term.

Before your child applies to join the Beginner Stings Group, please note the following:

• Participants are to attend the group lessons every week unless a valid reason is provided.
• If a participant consistently misses the group lessons their spot in the group may be offered to another student and their instrument returned. Parents will be notified if practices are consistently missed.

At the end of the term, the Beginner Group will perform the piece that they learnt in the school setting in some capacity (tbc).

Year 3-6 students who are interested in joining the Beginner Stings Group students are to pick-up an Expression of Interest form from the office this week and return it to the office by Monday 17 February. The Expression of Interest form will contain required details and expectations on loaned instruments.

Once your expression of interest has been received, depending on instrument and size available, you will be notified if your child was able to start this term or not. If we are not able to provide an instrument this term, your child's name will be placed on the list for Term 2.

Library News ...

In celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day.

The 'Love umbrella' is an analogy for invisible, protective, omnipresent love. The story is simple, no matter what challenge children may face, they can always rely on the love umbrella above them.

Mommy," said Lucy. "Can I have a hug before I go to bed?" When Mommy jokes that she only has one hug left, Lucy decides she must keep Mommy's last hug safe. ...

I wish I had a tiger, a tiger from the zoo. A tiger of my own to love - a tiger just like you. A funny story about a little girl and a troublesome (but lovable) tiger.

P&F Welcome BBQ: Friday 14 February

Pre-Loved Uniform Shirt Sale

Our school leaders have been busy sorting shirts for our Preloved Uniform Shirt Sale that will take place at our Welcome BBQ on Friday 14 February. Bring along gold coins and find a bargain! A variety of sizes will be available.

Thank you Mack, Aria, Charlotte, Elise, Jayce and Sonny for your efforts!

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)

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 Ordering Information & Menu

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

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

Uniform Shop Hours

Parish News

Central Football