Informer Term 2 Week 1

From Our Principal...

Dear Families

As we welcome the start of another term, the outlook seems just as busy and hectic as the previous one.

It would be wonderful to be able to just enjoy the week of Easter celebrations, but the reality is we have the first three weeks with only 4 school days. Anzac Day commemorations will occur next Monday. Naplan testing will take place this term. Construction continues and we commence interviews for our prospective 2023 prep students. In short, there will be lots happening, which is not really any different from what all families are experiencing. We just never seem to have enough time to do everything that seems to need doing.

The two bits of advice that I have really taken notice of over the years I have been a principal and a parent, haven't made things any easier, but they help to keep me focused and everything in perspective.

The first is a quote from former President of the USA Dwight Eisenhower. He used to say regularly that "The things that are urgent are not always important and the things that are important are not always urgent".  It is a great reminder to keep focused and not let the day to day work things consume us and distract us from the things that are really important, partners, kids and family.

The second was from an experienced principal who has long since retired. He told me that managing the complexities of life and work were like juggling. The more you practice, the more balls you can keep in the air. The secret is that you must concentrate fully on the ball that is in your hand. It was great advice to be fully present in the moment. Each problem or task can be solved when you give it your full attention at the time it needs. Worrying about things that need to be done in the future gets nothing done and only raises your stress levels.

I am by no means an expert in these skills, but they do help me stay focused on what is important and on keeping a process in place for dealing with all the events that happen in life.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

APRE News...

I would like to thank the students of St John’s for their wonderful participation with our liturgy today. It was a great way to celebrate the Easter period with a theme of new life and joy.

This Friday we will hold the ANZAC Day ceremony and remember those that have fought and died. Classes will be making wreaths to lay during the ceremony but families are welcome to bring their own special mementos on this occasion. Let us think about the people of Ukraine at this time.

Mrs Lisa O'Brien
Assistant Principal - Religious Education

APC News...

We would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce Miss Michelle Cook to the role of Indigenous Teacher Assistant from Term 2, and to Miss Jade Pengelly who began her role as Regional Indigenous Liaison Officer here in Gladstone last year who will be visiting and supporting us each Wednesday. I am sure that you will join with me in warmly welcoming them to the St John’s family. 

A reminder that the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online 2022 for Years 3 and 5 students will be held on Tuesday 10 May, Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy. This year, the tests will be conducted online, apart from the Year 3 Writing task.

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests, during the test week.  Catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on the test days. These students may undertake catch-up tests on the days in the test week after the scheduled test, up to and including Friday 13 May 2021.

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by parents and carers in consultation with Mr Emerick, myself or their child’s Class Teacher. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a Student Withdrawal form as soon as possible which is available from your child’s Class Teacher.

Next week, students will participate in a number of NAPLAN Readiness Tests that will practice their skills as well as testing our online platform.

Parent Information Letters will also be sent home this week to students in Years 3 and 5. If you do not receive this note, please call the School Office and one can be reissued or emailed.

In conjunction with this, I will also be conducting three short Parent Information Sessions at 8:00am, 3:00pm or 5:00pm on Wednesday 27 April in the Library. 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s class teacher or myself.

Mrs Kym McAndrew
Assistant Principal - Curriculum

2022 Cross Country Wrap-Up

On the last day of Term One, we hosted our annual St John’s Cross Country. A huge congratulations goes out to all our students who put in their very best in the 2022 Cross Country race. It was wonderful to have our St John’s families back onsite cheering and celebrating with the children!

For our Prep students it was their very first Cross Country race and for our Year 6 students, it was their last race in a primary school setting. We hope the race was enjoyed by all our students as we know they have worked very hard leading up to the event.

While not everyone received a ribbon, I am quite sure everyone achieved their personal best and should be very proud of their efforts.

As always, I thank our brilliant parent (and grandparents!) community for always supporting our students in all aspects of school life here at St John’s and to our amazing St John’s staff for always going beyond expectation to make it a smooth and enjoyable event for all.

The top five finishers in each age group were as follows:

Prep Girls

1. Jacinta-Rose McKeough
2. Grace Polkinghorne
3. Darcy Gough
4. Anahera Hirene
5. Jordyn Moore

Prep Boys

1. Carter Reynolds
2. George Paterson
3. Tallon Riley-Stanley
4. Will Roberts
5. Kale Mitchell

Year 1 Girls

1. Madeline Butler
2. Violet Ryan-Salter
3. Laiken Knott
4. Elizabeth Homann
5. Charlotte Bennett

Year 1 Boys

1. Charlie Warrener
2. Kobi Halliwell
3. Aston Sharpe
4. Campbell Robb
5. Ashton McNeill

Year 2 Girls

1. Savannah Blake
2. Mya Kirk
3. Rose Hawkins
4. Hannah Polkinghorne
5. Emma Hayes

Year 2 Boys

1. Baxter Briskey
2. Harry Roberts
3. George Young
4. Brodie Stokes
5. Lachlan Kerr

Year 3 Girls (born 2014)

1. Aria Paterson
2. Evie Woodward
3. Edwina Slean
4. Zeanna Stokes
5. Summer Reinhard

Year 3 Boy (born 2014)

1. Haine Attard
2. Laine Hillhouse
3. Braxton Attard
4. Oliver Hill
5. Lachlan Newton

Girls 2013

1. Penny Hale
2. Harper Halliwell
3. Chelsea McDonald
4. Stella Hermann
5. Reegan Williams

Boys 2013

1. Hudson Brown
2. Ethan Maitland
3. Sonny Taylor
4. Jaxon Boyle
5. Jayce Harrison

Girls 2012

1. Kaylee Simpson
2. Laylah Elkins
3. Matilda Young
4. Imogen Vohland
5. Allayna Myers

Boys 2012

1. Colby Smith
2. Liam Warrener
3. Maverick Nassar
4. Lachlan Bosnjak
5. William Rich

Girls 2011

1. Shana Paterson
2. Chloe Long
3. Maddison Hill
4. Taylah Stokes
5. Leila Reinhard

Boys 2011

1. Harry McAdam
2. Parker Bowman
3. Cody Peachey
4. Lachlan Stoneley
5. Riley Hermann

Girls 2010

1. Isabella Charalambous
2. Miley Jackson
3. Mackenzie Bryce
4. Maggie Connor
5. Layla Whittaker

Boys 2010

1. Levi Prossliner
2. Nixon Lee
3. Quinn Hillhouse
4. Jonty Smallcombe
5. Xavier Bryce

Whole School Beep Off

The last week of Term One was jam packed, and added to the busyness, as we held our Whole School Beep-Off.

A quick "rock, paper, scissors" decided that the girls would go first and approximately 275 girls from Prep to Year 6 pushed themselves to see how high they could score. Overall, Shana Paterson was awarded the 2022 Girls Beep-Off Champion.

The boys followed in the same suit, pushing themselves to their limits with many achieving personal bests. Levi Prossliner was the last man standing, earning himself the title of 2022 Boys Beep-Off Champion.

As always, our students give their best and have showed outstanding improvements in their fitness in Term One.

And Another Nature Playground Emerges!!

Dream it and we will build it! Students have been asking for the Junior Nature Playground to be reestablished, so in the last Week of Term One, a group Year 4-6 students, with Mrs. Graham and Mr. Langdon, put in some hard heavy work and wha-laa, a Junior Nature Playground is born.

Via Gladstone Classifieds Marketplace we sourced a catamaran, a mud kitchen and some timber seating and add to that a mound of dirt and rocks and branches from our Cross Country Course, a great new area is ready for our students to enjoy.

If anyone has any old fishing rods they would like to donate we would be truly grateful.

It is the simple pleasures that brings smiles to our student’s faces!!

Library News...

We are celebrating Earth day [22^nd April] where we are reading the book  by Allison Paterson followed by some colouring activities and constructing a couple of mobiles to hang in our Care for Our Environment display.

We are also remembering our ANZAC’s with a few activities sat aside for this solemn day too.

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