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Informer Term 2 - Week 2 - 2025

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families,

As I sat in Perth airport, I saw a t-shirt that said: "show me how you spend your time and I will show you what you value."

It made me stop and think, because I can be very guilty of using the "I don't have time to fit that in" excuse often during my week.

In thinking about this, it is interesting the shuffle and rearranging we can do when we want to fit in something that we are really keen about. Yet often when it is our significant other or our kids, we have just "too much on to be able to make that happen."

It is not the greatest experience to sit and reflect on that, because I can think of many times when I have not wanted to do things and dragged out the "very busy" or "need to do this now" excuse.

Former American president Dwight Eisenhower had a sign on his desk that said: "not everything that is important is urgent and not everything that is urgent is important".

I am a great believer in the concept of the emotional bank account and if we are going to make withdrawals from the accounts of those close to us, we also need to make deposits. One of the growing tragedies I see in society today is our addiction to our devices. We prioritise our time on social media or games over those sitting next to us in the car or at the table. We seem to be losing the ability to communicate with each other more and more each year. At times it is a necessary part of life, but in the coming weeks a challenge for us all is to be present to those around us rather than being on a device.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

School Photo Days & Timetable

Cross Country: Wednesday 30 April

Leg-Marking: Year of Birth

To assist with the hectic nature of our Cross Country morning, parents are asked to mark their child’s leg with their date of birth prior to arriving to school on Wednesday 30 April.

This is only for Year 3-6 students born in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013.

See photo for size and positioning requirements.

Parking

Families need to be aware that sections of the Laner Street carpark and surrounding grass verges will be roped off for the Cross Country event on Wednesday 30 April. Please be considerate of this, as it is for the safety of all of our students.

If families do secure a park within the Laner Street rear carpark which is not roped off, it is asked that you do not exit the carpark until after the event has concluded (10.45am).

If you know you will be leaving the carpark before the end of the Cross Country event, please park in another area.

All requests are made to ensure the safety of our students.

General Information

Wednesday 30 April starting at 8.40am sharp.

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 is NO Parade.
Students to wear their school polo or a sun safe shirt in their house colour, sports shorts, runners, sunscreen, school hat and a large water bottle.

The first race starts at 8.40am sharp (Year 1 Girls – with House Captains).

Prep – Year 1 students complete the Fun Run Track course (approx. 500m) and our House Captains run with the P-1 students.

Year 2 and younger Year 3 students born in 2017 (only) compete the half course (approx. 1km).

Students born in 2016 - 2013 compete in their year of birth and complete the full course (approx.2km).

Parents, under no circumstance, are to be on or crossing the track. This interferes with students who are running and causes safety issues. Please respect all barricades.

All students (P-6) receive a ribbon if they place 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th

Students born 2013 - 2016 receive points towards Athletics Age Champion if they finish 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd.

Students born 2013, 2014 and 2015 may 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 student return to their normal school day.

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 Captain 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 2017 only)

9.21am Girl’s 2016 Race

9.29am Boy’s 2016 Race

9.37am Girl’s 2015 Race

9.45am Boy’s 2015 Race

9.53am Girl’s 2014 Race

10.01am Boy’s 2014 Race

10.09 am Girl’s and Boy’s (combined) 2013 Race

Fitness Club Postponed

Parents & Friends News ...

Learn to Pray

ANZAC Day Liturgy

On Thursday St John’s commemorated ANZAC Day as a school community.

Mr Emerick spoke about the horrors of war. He connected the need for forgiveness and tolerance to begin with us, everyday, in the playground and classroom. The choices and decisions we make each day can be the difference between situations escalating or being managed appropriately.

We appreciated the talents of Poppy during our liturgy as she played The Last Post and The Rouse. It was a sombre and reverent occasion. Our St John’s students make us very proud.

ANZAC Day

Staff and students participated in the Day March on Friday to recognise the efforts of veterans and current service people.

Their attendance was appreciated, and their reverence was clearly demonstrated.

Lest We Forget.

ANZAC Day In Our School Library ...

Family Memorabilia on Display

Thank you to Mr. Andrew Perrett for sharing family memorabilia with our school community.

There was a display in the library last week for students to view a plethora of photos, letters, service sheets from the Perrett Family archives.

It brings home how much war can impact on everyday people.

Prep 2026 Sibling Enrolments: ENROL NOW

2026 Prep Enrolment interviews have begun. Please remember to bring your child's original birth certificate to your interview.

If you have already had your enrolment interview and forgotten to bring in any documents i.e. original birth certificate, current immunisation schedule, pediatric reports, speech pathology assessments etc., please do so as soon as possible.

If you have not yet applied for enrolment, please do so now.

Interested in Learning the Flute?

Flute_Letter_Parents_Oct_2025ab.pdf

Gladstone Independent Schools Music Assoc.

GISMA Music workshops this year run from 23-25 June 2025:

Gill Group - Advanced - 23 June
Collins Group - Intermediate - 24 June
Maxwell Group - Beginners - 25 June
Concert - 25 June.

GISMA will allocate students to the appropriate group with advice from music teachers.

Please find below links to register:

Instrumental music workshop registration form (early bird closes 30th May, standard registrations close 11th June. Form and money must be received to secure registration). 2025 GISMA Instrumental Workshop
Shirt order form (form and money due 7 May - we must get a minimum of 10 orders for this to proceed). 2025 GISMA Shirt Order Form
Parent helper form for workshop. Parent Help GISMA 2025

2026 Combined Schools Musical: Vote

Votes Are Open!

Families are invited to vote for the 2026 Combined School Musical production. There are two choices…Mary Poppins or The Addams Family.

Both have been carefully considered from a variety of factors relating to licencing costs, cast size, ensemble and orchestra size plus costuming.

The Gladstone community has the opportunity to vote via Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre Facebook page. Vote now as your input is appreciated.

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)

Student Council Book Stall

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 14 Oct - Year 3 Kangaroos
Wednesday 15 Oct - Year 3 Platypus
Thursday 16 Oct - Year 2 Yabbies
Friday 17 Oct - Prep Owls

Thank You!

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