Informer Term 2 - Week 6 - 2025

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families,

There is a great story told of former Australian Test cricketer Keith Miller. Miller was member of the 1948 Invincibles and had been a fighter pilot during the war. He was a larrikin, a wag and a great character of the game and until Shane Warne came along, his was the only portrait of an Australian in the Long Room at Lords. I really believe the effects of the Second World War had a huge impact on him and his attitude to life. He was once asked how he coped with the stress of Test matches, he famously replied “Test cricket isn’t stress. A Messerschmitt fighter on your tail is stress”. I guess it is all relative and we say we get used to dealing with stress.  The following anecdote would beg to differ.

A young lady confidently walked around the room while reading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?'

She fooled them all. "How heavy is this glass of water?" she inquired with a smile. Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." She continued, "and that's the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden - holding stress longer and better each time practiced.

So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don't carry them through the evening and into the night...pick them up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later, after you've rested.

Life is short. Enjoy it and the now 'supposed' stress that you've conquered!"

I read many years ago that “Everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about, be kind always!” One of the hardest learnings in life, is that being kind includes to yourself. Time and time again, I see people judging themselves by a standard they would never expect of others.

We need to be realistic and kind to ourselves always.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards,
Jamie Emerick
Principal.

School Fees: Now OVERDUE

NCCD Data Collection

Stop, Drop, Go Pick Up Reminder

We appreciate your continued cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient pick-up process for all students.

To ensure a smooth flow of traffic in both of our designated pick-up areas, we kindly ask that if you arrive early, please fill the parking bays starting from the furthest available bay. This allows for sequential queuing, ensuring that all bays are utilised and minimising congestion.

Your support in following this process helps keep our students safe and our pick-up lines moving smoothly.

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.

Capricornia School Sport News

Fitness Club - Wednesdays 7:45am

Learn to Pray

St John's Softball Team Win

What an incredible win for our St John’s Softball team — CHAMPIONS of the Port Curtis District Primary Schools competition! We’re so proud of you all!

A special round of applause to Leo, Parker, Abel, and Fabian for being selected to represent the Port Curtis team — what a fantastic honour!

Heartfelt thanks to Mrs Bates for her coaching and leadership, and to Leilany Peachy for her continued help behind the scenes with equipment. Go team St John’s!

Library News ...

National Reconciliation Week May 27^th – June 3rd

Why does National Reconciliation Week occur over these dates?

National Sorry Day, today, May 26^th, remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. Tomorrow, May 27^th marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum to change the Australian Constitution to remove clauses that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  June 3^rd is Mabo Day, recognising the historic High Court decision on Native Title.

Come on in and feel free to sit, read and enjoy one of our many, many wonderful books written and illustrated by our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Ergon Energy Visit Year 6

Last week, our Year 6 students enjoyed a special incursion with representatives from Ergon Energy. Mr Connolly and Mr Graham delivered an engaging and informative presentation covering all things electricity, from how electricity works and how circuits function, to the importance of electrical safety.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr Connolly and Mr Graham for taking the time to share their expertise with us. Their enthusiasm and knowledge truly sparked our students’ curiosity and as a result, we may very well have some future electricians and electrical engineers in our midst!

Year 1 -3 Robotics

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

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.

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

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 ...

Gladstone Regional Council EcoFest