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Informer Term 2 - Week 4 - 2025

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families,

A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.

“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

Source: Unknown

I know I have used this story before for a newsletter, and whether it is true or not, it is such a great example for us.

Oftentimes what might appear to be an incredible weakness, can in fact be the greatest strength we possess if we apply it in the right way and at the right time.

We need to challenge ourselves and our kids to look beyond our perceived limitations and focus on what you have and what you can control. Always enter the arena of life with a positive, life-giving mindset, it will put you on the front foot from the get-go.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

School Fees: Now OVERDUE

Term 2 2025 School Fee Accounts were emailed Wednesday 30 April. Statements are also available through our online Parent Lounge Site:

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

Please note, Term 2 school fees were due on Friday 9 May.

For families paying via direct debit, this is still current, and the statement is for information purposes 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 Vicki Walsh or Melissa Jackson in the office to discuss options.

School Office Hours:
Mon – Thurs: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm
Fri: 8.00am – 3.30 pm

Mother’s Day Stall - the Warmest of Thank Yous!

Our St John’s community would like to give the biggest thank you to Mrs Tracey Roberston and her wonderful helpers who made our annual Mother’s Day Stall an overwhelming success again this year.

Without this wonderful group of volunteers who sourced, purchased and wrapped 1117 gifts (no that is not a typo) and work tirelessly for 2 full days, our students would not have the opportunity to choose something for their beautiful mums on Mother’s Day.

Our students take great delight and care in choosing that something special for their mum and I hope that all of our St John’s mums felt extra special this Mother’s Day.

Exhibition of Blessed Carlo Acutis: 15 May

Date Claimer for Thursday 15th May 2025!

An exhibition of the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis will be held in the Parish Hall 9am - 9pm on Thursday 15th May.

A first class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis will be available for veneration. A Liturgical Reception of the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis will be held at Star of the Sea Church from 5:30pm. This will include Vespers (Evening Prayer).

For more information on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, please see the official website: https://www.carloacutis.com/en/association/presentazione

For more information, please see Star of the Sea Parish facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Bu2mnNDx/

Learn to Pray

Athletics Carnival – Student Roll Marking

When students arrive at school between 8.10am and 8:40am for this year’s Athletics Carnival (Friday 6 June), all students are to put their bags on the bag racks outside their classroom and move to normal morning supervised areas.

At the 8.38am bell, ALL students are to return to their classrooms for roll marking. There will be NO Friday parade on Friday 6 June.

Just after 8.40am, when class rolls are marked, class teachers will direct their students to where they need to be in preparation for the first event of the day.

Any students arriving after the 8:40am roll marking, MUST be signed in by their parent at the office.

If parents wish to take students home early (prior to 3.00pm), students MUST be signed out via the office by their parent.

Fitness Club - Wednesdays 7:45am

Port Curtis Sport

New School Bus for Preps

We have a new bus in our Prep Playground and our Preppies love it!

Thank you to our groundsmen for installing it for us.

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)

Clean Up Club

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.

P&F School Disco: Friday 23 May

Parents were emailed on Thursday, 15 May. If you are coming to our school disco and have not already ordered, please indicate your food preferences by Wednesday 21 May via the below link.

https://forms.gle/MrzaywKvvd2n1MX57

This will assist with quantity of food to order.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Student Council Book Stall

Chanel Year 7 - 2026: Enrolments Close Soon

The first round of Applications CLOSE 23 May 2025.

Information packs are available from the College Office.

Apply at www.chanelcollege.qld.edu.au under the Enrolment Tab.

If you have any enquiries, please contact our Enrolments Officer: Mrs Jo Constable on 4994 8925 or email enrolments@chanelcollege.qld.edu.au

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

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