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Informer - Term 2 Week 2

From Our Principal...

Dear Families

Yesterday was the 107^th commemoration of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the Gallipoli peninsula on the 25^th of April 1915.

For many of my years of going to ANZAC Day marches, the focus was always on the past. It was history, very sad and tragic, but something that happened in the past. The reality of Iraq and Afghanistan and men and women much younger than me standing as returned servicemen make me wonder if we have learned anything from history.

In 1948 , the English statesman Winston Churchill said in a speech to parliament that "Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it".

It would seem that our history is repeating itself with a new generation. I watched some of the Invictus Games over the last few weeks. To see so many young lives destroyed by war is a tragedy that our society struggles with.

In a discussion with one of my sons about war and death, the conversation eventually came around to ‘where is God in all of this’. After many years of my own pondering and reading, my explanation is this. To my knowledge our God has never pulled a trigger or set a land mine. There has never been a ship torpedoed by God and the atomic bomb was not used by God. Each and every one of these is an act of man. We are given the great and powerful gift of free will. The sad reality is that we don’t always use the gift well.

In my life as an educator and parent, I have learnt that every decision boils down to choices and consequences. The world seems to be suffering at the moment from some very poor choices by those in power. In the big scheme of things, there is probably very little I can do to influence the big players, but we do have the power to influence the future. The lesson we give our kids today shapes them as they become the world leaders of tomorrow.

We do our kids no favours when we save them from the consequences of their actions. By all means as parents we support our kids, but the formative lessons that our kids learn shapes their lives and has a huge influence on the people that they become. It is a far easier lesson to deal with the small things than to try and learn this skill at 18.

Thanks to everyone who was able to march or attend one of the ANZAC Day services yesterday. It was a wonderful turnout from our community. I spoke on Assembly this morning of how proud I was of our students both at Fridays school ANZAC liturgy and at the march. We are blessed with some amazing young people who will do special things in this life.

Have a great week and hug your kids

Jamie Emerick
Principal

APRE News...

It was heart-warming to see so many students, families and teachers attending the ANZAC Day services on Monday. Although a light sprinkle of rain threatened the dawn service it held off for the duration. We were reminded that our small discomfort was nothing compared to the conditions experienced by the soldiers during the Gallipoli campaign. Stories were shared of local Indigenous soldiers who served and fought in the war, their ingenious ways of surviving and the loss experienced by their families. We give thanks for the sacrifice and courage demonstrated by the men and women who have fought in wars and conflicts with special note of the war in Ukraine. The huge crowds are testament to the community spirit we have in Gladstone and particularly within St John's. Father Ashwin Acharya also referred to this community spirit at the 9am Mass.

The demonstration of respect and the honour for veterans was noted and you should be proud of the way your children displayed these qualities at both Gladstone services.

ANZAC Day Prayer

God of Mothers and Fathers,
we pray for the peace of the world.
We especially entrust to your mercy the homeless and refugees;
those who have been dispossessed through war;
those whose lives and families have been disrupted;
and who mourn the loss of loved ones.
We pray for countries who are war-torn even today.
May sanity return and kindness win through wherever there is warfare.
We ask our prayers through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Wreath bearers Jonty and Stirling at the Dawn service.
Banner bearers Taylah and Harry at the Dawn service.
Wreath bearer Leif at the March with Indi (image missing).
Banner holders Ruby, Maggie and Harry.

ANZAC DAY

Scramental Program

Formation Session for Confirmation and First Holy Communion

This weekend is the start of the journey for students undertaking their Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. The presentation and first formation lessons will be held on Saturday at St Francis or Sunday at Our Lady Star of the Sea. Families are only expected to attend one session. Attendance at the mass prior or after the lessons is an expectation. Mrs. O’Brien will attend the afternoon session on Sunday. The options for the weekend are:

Saturday 30 April

4:30pm Formation 1 followed by 6pm Mass at St Francis Tannum Sands. There will be a short break after the session before mass begins.

Sunday 1 May

8am Mass attendance followed by 9am session

4:30pm session followed by 6pm Mass attendance. There will be a short break after the session before mass begins.

APC News...

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

Parent Induction Dates

Friday 29th April 9:00 (after assembly)

Friday 6th May 9:00am (after assembly)

Morning Fitness

Morning fitness with Mrs Graham will be on Wednesday's 7.45am starting next week (Wed 4th May).

Cross Country Photos

All of the cross country photos have been uploaded to our Facebook page. Take a look!

Key Athletic Carnival Dates

Week 5 (Monday 16 May – Friday 20 May)

Tuesday 24 May @ 8.45am = 1500m Race (student to self-nomination for this race who are born 2013, 2012, 2010 and 2010)
Thursday 19 May @ 8.45am = 800m Race (all students born 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 to compete)
Tuesday – Thursday (during HPE) = High Jump (for all students born 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010)

Week 6

Friday 27 May = St John’s Athletics Carnival (P-6)

2022 Port Curtis Cross Country Trials

Congratulations to all of our students who participated at the Port Curtis Cross Country Trials on Friday 22 April. All students competed to the best of their abilities and should be very proud of their efforts.

The following students were selected in the Port Curtis Cross Country Team (students finish 1^st – 6^th are selected):

10-year Girls – Kaylee Simpson (1^st place)

10-year Boys – Colby Smith (1^st)

11-year Girls – Shana Paterson (1^st)

11-year Boys – Lachlan Stoneley (4^th), Cody Peachey (5^th)

12-year Boys – Levi Prossliner (3^rd)

A special mention also to Laylah Elkins, Liam Warrener, Maddison Hill, Isabella Charalambous and Miley Jackson who all placed in the Top 10.

Library News...

This week in the Library we continue to take time to acknowledge our fallen ANZACs.

We also continue to celebrate Earth day which was officially last Friday the 22^nd. We have a few activities to work through and on Wednesday we welcome Gaetane from Gladstone’s Creative Recycling Centre who will be talking to our Year Four classes about practical and innovative ways to address the ways we can repurpose some of the waste around us.

Calm music is playing at first break each day if you need a space to unwind.

St John's Way Award

Chanel College Enrolments For Year 7 In 2023

A reminder to Parents/Carers that Enrolment Applications for Year 7 in 2023 opened in October 2021. Please note that places are filling fast, so get your application in now to avoid disappointment.

The first round of Applications CLOSE 27 May 2022. Please be aware that there may not be a Round 2 if all places are filled first time round.

Chanel College OPEN NIGHT for Year 7 in 2023 will be held on Tuesday 3 May 2022. All welcome.

Tour our facilities and see what it is that makes Chanel College a special place for learning.

We understand that choosing the right school for your child is an extremely important decision. At Chanel College we will make that transition a smooth process for your family.

Enrolment Information packs are available from the College Office.

Applications can be made online by visiting 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

#responsibleresilientrespectfullearners