Informer - Term 4 Week 4

From Our Principal...

Dear Families

I have written before about the poem ,If, by Rudyard Kipling. It was recited constantly to us as kids by my mum's dad. It has always stuck with me. Kipling wrote it for his son and summed up what he had leant about life and wanted to pass on to his son. Tragically his son was killed in 1917 in the First World War after Kipling had used his influence and obtained a commission as an officer for his son even though he was only seventeen.

As I said, If sums up what Kipling believed to be the important pieces of wisdom about life that he had learnt through experience and wanted to pass on to his son. It is a poem that has struck a chord with many since it was published and has formed the thoughts and actions of many famous and influential people.

If you are a tennis buff, you would be familiar with the competition held at Wimbledon. Above the player entrance into the centre court, is a line of the poem If and it says "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same". Over the course of Wimbledon's history there have been many perceived triumphs and disasters.

I am big fan of watching the marathon each time the Olympics come around. It is an amazing example of the mind pushing the body far further than it would really like to go. There are some incredible feats by runners who take the medals in these events, yet some of the most remembered events from many Olympics over the years are images of not the winners, but those runners who continue to struggle against adversity and their own bodies to complete the race. For all intents and purposes, for them the race was a disaster. They didn't win. They didn't place, and were nowhere near the times of the front runners. Yet for them the triumph and sense of personal achievement can be a life changing moment.

Too often, we jump in to save our kids from what we perceive as disaster. I am not saying that we shouldn't support our children, but I  am saying that we need to let them experience difficulty in a supportive environment. Are we giving them a fish or teaching them to fish?

In my own family, I am finding very rapidly, that our kids grow up and leave home. We can't be there to protect them for ever, but we do have the great opportunity to teach and model to them the skills that will need to survive in our world as adults. The challenge to take our 'fix it' hats off is very real and very difficult, but one we have to do if our children are going to grow.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

APRE News...

Socktober  https://www.socktober.org.au

We are currently running our 10c Challenge.  Children are collecting 10c coins over the next couple of weeks and on a day early in November, we will place the coins along the outer red line in Nazarene Place.  The challenge is to see if we can get the coins all the way around the red line.  Three quarters of the students thought we could reach this goal.

During this Socktober month, we are also challenged to a sockball from recycled materials (see instructions at https://www.socktober.org.au/socktober-shootout )

For thousands of children around the world, this is the only soccer ball they have to play with.  Our children will come to an appreciation of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ through this activity. 

Why not make a ball as a family.  It’s a great way to start a conversation about how lucky we are and it also models recycling waste materials.  Some of our classes have already made balls.  Prep Turtles had fun the other week making theirs and then playing with it.   Have fun!

Reconciliation

Please pray for those students who will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Thursday 28 October at 5.00pm at Star of the Sea Church.  They have been preparing for a number of weeks now.  May this experience bring them ever closer to Jesus.

Rosary

Did you Know?

There is more than the one kind of rosary.  There is the usual 5 decade rosary but there is also a one decade rosary. Some can be made into a ring and others are like a bracelet and easy to carry.

The Rosary was a gift given by our Lady to St Dominic in the early 13 century to combat the heresy of the time.  The Blessed Virgin Mary made 15 promises to St Dominic and all the faithful followers, when she gave the rosary to him that ‘whatever you ask in the Rosary will be granted. 

Class Consideration Forms

Teachers and School Administration are currently in the process of formulating class make up for the 2022 school year.  If you have a social-emotional, physical or learning concern relating to your child you are strongly encouraged to complete the special consideration paper work.  Due to the confidential nature of this form it is only available at the office.  Even if you have had conversations with school leadership or your classroom teacher, please complete this paper work.

FORMS AVAILABLE FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE FROM TODAY - MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER. THEY MUST BE RETURNED BY FRIDAY 29TH OCTOBER.

P & F Meeting TODAY

Our P & F Meeting is on today at 5:30pm in the school library.

ALL WELCOME!

Year 4 - 6 Swimming Program

Ninja Dash

Pumped Sport’s new Ninja Dash event is on THIS Wednesday 3 November starting at 3.15pm and runs for 75 minutes. Cash or credit card payments can be made on the day. Children kindy aged and older are $15 and toddlers are $10. For more information and to register head to https://pumpedsport.com.au/events/

Day For Daniel

On Friday 29 October, students are invited to bring a gold coin donation and wear a splash of red with their school uniform in support of Australia's largest child safety education and awareness day, Day for Daniel. Students wear a splash of red on Day for Daniel in remembrance of Daniel Morcombe, who was wearing a red t-shirt on 7 December 2003 when he found himself in an unsafe situation. Wearing red links Daniel’s very real story to the importance of safety education. It provides a message of strength and hope that together we can make the world safer for all children as a legacy to Daniel and his family. Parents and carers are encouraged to start a conversation with your child about personal safety. The key child safety message on Day for Daniel encourages children to Recognise, React, and Report if they ever feel unsafe. Child safety education does not need to be scary or risk-focused, but should highlight topics such as recognising body clues, understanding body ownership, naming private body parts and identifying adults who can help if a child feels unsafe. It’s important to ensure the information you are sharing is age and developmentally appropriate. Check out the Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Keeping Kids Safe Resources, a range of educational videos, activities, and other resources to help you ‘keep talking’. Using everyday opportunities (such as a situation a character on a TV show may find themselves in) to reinforce personal safety messages is a great strategy to ensure you keep communication open and demonstrate you are willing to talk about being safe. For more information, visit danielmorcombe.com.au #StJohnTheBaptistCatholicPrimarySchool #dayfordaniel #childsafety

National Bandanna Day

Every year, St John’s fundraises for Canteen by hosting our own St John’s Bandanna Day. National Bandanna Day is the flagship fundraising and awareness campaign for Canteen and has raised over $33 million to support young people impacted by cancer. Every dollar we raise at St John’s adds to this very worthy cause. Our Year 6 Leaders will be selling bandannas each day from Monday 18 October through to Friday 29 October at our Nazarene Place. Bandannas cost $5 each and students can wear their bandanna on Friday 29 October to show their support for Canteen. We recommend students get in early to purchase their bandanna as supplies are limited and we tend to sell out fast! #StJohnTheBaptistCatholicPrimarySchool #mjr #bandannaday

School Fees...

St John's Way Awards

Tuckshop Special

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu

Community News...

Do you know someone who continually goes above and beyond for our community?

Maybe it’s a member of the local footy club, or a friend or family member.

The Gladstone Regional Council Australia Day Awards acknowledge and celebrate the contributions and success of individuals and groups within the Gladstone Region.

Help Council recognise those who go above and beyond for our region and nominate them for a Gladstone Region Australia Day Award 2022 today.

Categories for the 2022 awards include;

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Sports Official of the Year
• Senior Sportsperson of the Year
• Young Sportsperson of the Year
• Arts and Culture Award
• Community Volunteer Award
• Community Event or Initiative Award

Nominations close midnight Sunday 7 November 2021.

For more information and to nominate visit www.gladstone.qld.gov.au

We’re all part of the story.

Community Events...

Our St John’s App Is Live!

We are very excited to announce that the St John’s is live and ready for parents to download to their devices.

Please follow the instructions step-by-step for downloading the St John’s App. The one-off St John’s set-up passcode is 8892.

Additionally, to download the St John’s App to your iPad, laptop or PC, please follow the following link - https://stjohnclinton.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Once you have downloaded the App you will see we now have a one-stop-shop for all information you need to stay informed at St John’s.

In the top banner you will see Home, Feed and Manage.

Home will take you to the tiles and Feed will take you to alerts/messages (as Dojo did).

The latest ‘feed’ will be displayed on the home screen above the tiles.

The ‘’tiles’’ we have used are as follows:

• Parent Lounge – takes you straight to the Parent Lounge sign-in page
• Latest Newsletter – each week the newsletter will be uploaded to this tile
• Website – takes you straight to our website
• Forms and Documents – in this tile the following documents have been uploaded – simply tap on the link:
  

Parent Handbook
School Uniform
Behaviour Management
Fees and Levies Schedule
ICT Code of Practice
Tuckshop Menu

• School Calendar – all key dates for the upcoming term (continually updated)
• Tuckshop – takes you straight to the online tuckshop log-in page
• OSHC – links to required forms
• School Contact – takes you straight to our phone contact
• Facebook - takes you straight to our Facebook page
• Seesaw – Our new ‘Dojo’’ – please note that this is still a work in progress
• Newsletter Archive – each weekly newsletter will be archived to this tile for referral where required
• Subscribe to Newsletter – please note that all existing families will be automatically uploaded to this new platform. This tile is for new families in the future

While we feel we have covered all bases, things can be overlooked so we look forward to your feedback or suggestions on information that would be a benefit to be included. As always your feedback is valued; please email Jakki Graham at Jakki_graham@rok.catholic.edu.au