Informer Term 2 - Week 10 - 2025

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

Time seems to be evaporating and the term is hurtling towards an end.  I have spoken many times about living in the moment. If we aren’t careful, this year will be gone without us knowing it.

I read a short story once by Stephen King called ‘My Pretty Pony’. The story revolved around the conversations between a dying grandfather and his grandson. He described time as being a very slippery pony. ‘Once it got away on you, it was hard work to get it back’. He spoke with the benefit of experience and tried to explain to his young grandson that time, as a concept, was often irrelevant, it was more important to live in the moment. Whether we believed it or not, good times or bad times took just the same amount of time to happen. It was how we dealt with the moment that was important. 

Again and again, life has shown me it is how we respond to what happens to us, rather than what actually happens to us that dictates our moods or reactions. My mantra has always been ‘we choose our attitude’.  Things may happen in life that are not nice or fair, but they happen anyway. If we can equip our kids with the skills to ride these waves, they are well on the way to dealing with the complexities of life. Sometimes, the skill is just acceptance. It is not a good thing that has happened, but I will keep going. There is a lot to be said for the quote of ‘ it’s ok to get knocked down seven times as long as you get up eight times’.  

Enjoy the break and time with your children. Stay safe on the roads and we will see everyone back in Term Three.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards
Jamie Emerick
Principal

Semester 1 Student Report Cards

Semester 1 student report cards will be available to parents, via Parent Lounge, from 12 noon on Thursday 26 June.

Lost Property: Collect Today From Shed

Lost property will be on display in Nazarene Place (the shed) today until 4pm. Please collect any items that belong to your children. Any items remaining in lost property after Wednesday, will be given to St Vincent de Paul.

School Photography: Group Orders

If your children had a group family photo with our school photographer (MSP), and you would like to purchase this photo, please complete an online order. Information can be found on the form that your child will bring home today.

If you have any queries, please contact MSP Photography direct.

St John the Baptist Feast Day: This Friday

We are very fortunate to have St John the Baptist as our school’s namesake, as he is someone we can all truly look up to as a role model. John was not swayed by public opinion. Nor did he care about what the general populace was doing. Rather, he was a man who followed his own convictions, and even though this went against what the current trend was, he was courageous enough to stand up and say his piece. He wasn’t afraid to be seen as being different, such was his commitment to what he believed.  

His intention was only to spread the word that people needed to change their wrongful ways in readiness for the coming of the Messiah. His conviction did win him many followers and this inevitably ended with his death at the hands of Herod.

We can all take a lesson from his courage and his commitment to what he believed was necessary and right. As members of the St John the Baptist community, may we too strive to mirror these traits and be the hands, the feet and the voice of Jesus in today’s world…in our school, workplace and home.

All families are Welcome to join us for our St John the Baptist Feast Day Mass on Friday 27 June at 11:40am in Nazareen Place (Multi-purpose Shed). 

Whole School Beep Off: FRIDAY 27 JUNE

Unfortunately, our annual Whole School Beep Off was postponed due to rain at the end of Term One,
but the good news is that we have rescheduled the event to Friday 27 June.

Due to our ever-increasing student numbers, we have decided to 'split' our annual Whole School Beep Off for the safety of our students.

After Friday Assembly and roll marking our Year 3-6 students will be separated into a girls and boys 'race' with our P-2 students cheering them on.

Immediately after (approx. 9.20am), it will be our P-2 students turn, where they will be separated into a girls and boys 'race' and our Year 3-6 students will cheer on our younger students.

Free Dress Day

Library News ...

Robocup Robotics Competiton Results

Last Thursday, 19 June, five teams from St. John's proudly represented our school at the local Robocup Robotics Competition held at Chanel College.

The teams—Tribotics, Spikers, Bot Boogie, Tornadoes, and Tech Titans—demonstrated incredible resilience, creativity, collaboration, and technical skill throughout the event. We are thrilled to share that the Tech Titans achieved an impressive 3rd place overall, while the Tribotics team triumphed with 1st place in the Primary Division. Congratulations to all our students for their hard work and outstanding achievements!

Tribotics Team: Jude E, Jason A and Miller K
Tech Titans: Cooper S and Henry M
Bot Boogie: Hamish P and Finn S
Tornadoes: Morgan J and Rueben P
Spikers: Kaiden B and Tanush R

Student Council Book Stall: THANKYOU!

On behalf of the Student Council, we would like to sincerely thank our wonderful school community for your incredible generosity and support during our recent Book Stall.

We are thrilled to share that we raised an amazing $704.75, which will be donated directly to Caritas to help support those in need around the world.

We especially recognise how our school community came together to assist and encourage the Student Council throughout this initiative. Whether you helped with set-up, pack-up, helped to sell, or simply support the stall, please know that your contribution made a real difference.  The Student Council deeply values your kindness and willingness to serve our school. You truly reflected the spirit of compassion and community that we hold dear at St John's.

Thank you once again for helping us to make a meaningful impact.

Written by Haiden and Harry on behalf of
St John's Student Council.

P&F Movie Night: Friday 15 August

Combined Schools Musical

The Combined School Musical for 2026 will be Mary Poppins.  Performances are scheduled from 2-15 March 2026.

Hundreds of children have thoroughly enjoyed participating in these productions and as a result have further developed their skills and knowledge in the Arts. It is a massive commitment for students and families but worth it.

St John the Baptist will be holding auditions next week and the first two days in Term Three. Audition dates will be:

• Monday 23 June
• Thursday 26 June
• Monday 14 July
• Tuesday 15 July
• Wednesday 16 July

Interested students need to prepare and perform a short song or part of a song from a musical (not Mary Poppins) and a short 2 min monologue. “Stage Milk’ is a website with useful examples to choose from. Only students who return their selection criteria paperwork will be eligible to audition. This will be handed out on Friday 20 June, 2025 by Mrs. O’Brien and is due by Thursday 26 June, 2025.

Good luck!

Prep 2026 Enrolments: Important Diary Dates

Prep 2026 Information/Orientation sessions have been scheduled for the following dates:

Monday 27 October – First Orientation Session (compulsory for all students who have accepted placement)

Monday 24 November – Final Orientation Session (compulsory for all students who have accepted placement)

Prep 2026 Sibling Enrolments: ENROL NOW

2026 Prep Enrolment interviews finish THIS WEEK. 

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. Your enrolment application is ON HOLD until these documents are received.

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

Fitness Club Finished for Term 2

Port Curtis School Sport

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)

Learn to Pray

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 Position Vacant

OSHC Vacation Care: June/July Holidays

Catholic Education Week

Catholic schools across Queensland will again celebrate Catholic Education Week in 2025 with the theme Communities of Faith, Hope & Love. Each year, a new take on the theme’s creative is released to ignite celebration planning.

This theme captures the essence of what it means to be part of a Catholic school community.

Faith ignites growth. Hope fuels support. Love welcomes all. Together, these pillars nurture students’ spirits, empower teachers, and embrace families, creating a vibrant learning community where everyone thrives.

Hope: embracing the Jubilee Year

Catholic Education Week’s theme works in unity with the 2025 Jubilee Year theme: Pilgrims of Hope. This reminds us of the profound significance of hope and its universal reach.

This year, a scallop shell design has been added to the event materials. The shell is a traditional symbol of pilgrims, highlighting our connection to this journey. We acknowledge students from each class who demonstrate the virtues of faith, hope and love on a daily basis. We also congratulate our wonderful school cleaner, Margie McMullen and her husband Robert, for their tireless efforts within our school community. Margie especially blesses our school with her unending joyful spirit and the random acts of kindness she shares throughout the school. God bless you, Margie!

Young Engineers: Term 3

Parish News ...

Gladstone Gymnastics