St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Clinton eNewsletter

From Our Principal

Dear Families

It can be a bit strange at times to go back to an old habit that you haven’t been near for a while. On Friday night, we worked out that we haven’t had a school disco since 2019. Between construction and then Covid, what was a regular feature on our calendar just couldn’t happen. To see our families and kids congregating and just having a great time was great for the soul. Thank you to our P&F for coordinating the evening and a big thank you to staff who were able to stay back after what had been a very long week. In speaking with kids and families on Friday and today, it was very much appreciated.

Can I ask families to take special care both in the carpark and in the Laner St pickup. I have had a number of phone calls in the past weeks about drivers rushing and generally displaying a lack of patience. No one plans to have an accident, but I can see the potential there. Please do not rush through the school area, we have children everywhere and they will act without thinking.

I do have concerns with children walking out into traffic in both pickups to get into the rear driver side door of vehicles. Small children can be difficult to see and with cars pulling out of the queue to get ahead, the potential for a serious accident is there. I am seeking advice from our traffic engineers and WHS to develop processes to minimise this risk. Please slow down and look.

St Johns is situated in the middle of a suburban area. Our neighbours are generally very patient with us, but we need to ensure we don’t push the friendship. Please be conscious of where you park out in the streets. I had a particularly unhappy resident whose driveway was blocked by a family attending Lunch on the Lawn. This was heightened by the fact their child was involved in a medical emergency at their own school and she could not get her vehicle out. Getting to school or needing to pick up children does not remove us from a responsibility to follow the road rules. Please be aware of this as you travel to, and around the school.

Have a great week and hug your kids

Jamie Emerick
Principal

Position Vacant

Our parish is seeking to employ a Parish Faith Co-ordinator and is calling for applications.

The role of Parish Faith Co-ordinator includes responsibility for our sacramental preparation program and the provision of opportunities for adult faith education in the parish.

The position is part-time, with working hours negotiable, and would be suitable for a committed member of the Catholic Church with a knowledge of basic Catholic sacramental teaching, or an ability to develop this knowledge base.

A copy of the position description can be obtained by contacting the parish office.

Please submit applications, including a cover letter and resume, to Fr Andrew Chase by mail (PO Box 5062, Gladstone 4680), email (ppgladstone@rok.catholic.net.au), or in person at the parish office.

Applications should be submitted by 12^th August 2022.

APRE News...

At last! We have been able to celebrate Catholic Education Week in style.

It has been a busy week with St John's Got Talent Heats beginning and our students bravely performing in front of their families and peers. We had gardening activities to brighten the school space along with a meditative sticker mural created by Mrs. Miller. Our school mass with Father Ashwin was one with a difference as we gathered in the middle of the Chavoin Centre, making it more intimate for students, with our speech choir performing effortlessly. The kids were busy with teachers in the library with arty hands and some students have submitted entries to our photo competition. These will be voted on next week so there is still time to send photos through to Mrs. O'Brien.

We welcomed our families to enjoy Lunch on Lawn in the sunshine, with photos uploaded via a QR code organised by Mrs. Jannusch, and our Preps aged overnight for the 100 Days of Prep celebrations. Some even lost teeth! Now for the drum roll....

WE HAD A SCHOOL DISCO!!!

It has been WAY too long since we grooved to the beats provided by Mrs. Guinea.

What a way to celebrate Catholic Education Week. We certainly are lucky to belong within this school because we ARE a community of faith, hope and love.

Catholic Education Week

Catholic Education Week – Award Recipients

Congratulations to our award recipients for 2022. These students were nominated due to the way they contribute to our school community every day through the little things they do. Mrs. Jakki Graham was also recognised for her tireless efforts within our school for the diocesan awards. Each of these people help make our school a community that values faith, hope and love.

Award Recipients

St John's Certainly Has Talent

Last week, the 3 days of heats showed great talent on the stage and huge entertainment for our audiences!

This week will see heats every day to accommodate all of the talent on show. Semi-finals will be throughout Week 5 and the Grand Final will be on Friday 12 August, to coincide with our wonderful Grandparent’s Day – they are certainly in for a treat.

On Friday 5 August, after the last heat, the Semi-Finals List (Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 August) will be published around the school for students to check. Remind your child to look out for this information.

Term 3 School Fee Statements

Term 3 2022 School Fee Accounts have been issued and emailed. Statements are also available through our online Parent Lounge Site:

https://402sjg.rok.catholic.edu.au/parentlounge

Please note, Term 3 school fees are due by Friday 5 August 2022. Payments may be made by cash, cheque, direct debit, internet banking, EFTPOS or through Parent Lounge, either in full or in instalments.

The school office does not carry cash. If this is your preferred method of payment please endeavour to have the correct amount on hand. When making payments by internet banking, it is imperative to use your “School Fee Account Number” as the reference. This will ensure payments are allocated to the correct account.

If you are experiencing difficulties in making this payment, please contact Melissa in the office to discuss options.

School Office Hours:

Mon – Thurs 8.00 am – 4.00 pm

Fri 8.00am – 3.30 pm

Homework Club Is Up And Running

When: Wednesday mornings 8.00 a.m. – 8.40 a.m.

Where: Inclusive Education Classroom (upstairs block next to Year 6B)

What: An opportunity for any student to have some quiet, focused and supervised time to complete set homework.

Who: With Mrs Bowden (Inclusive Education) and for any student from Year 3 up.

If parents would like to talk more about their child attending, feel free to email or phone me in Inclusive Education marcelle_bowden@rok.catholic.edu.au

* Numbers will need to be capped at 12

Marcelle Bowden

A.F.L Gala Day

Last Monday St John’s attended the A.F.L. Gala Day at Boyne Island. We fielded a boys and girls team who played a round robin format of games against other schools. The boys lost a few games and came home with a couple of wins to finish off the day. Congratulations to the St John’s girls team, who won the grand final on the day and will progress to play the winner of the Rockhampton A.F.L. Gala Day to proceed further in the Statewide competition. This game will take place in Week 2 of next term. Good luck for next term girls

'The Build' Update

No doubt you have been watching with interest as the refurbishments get closer to a finish date.

Stage B of the “Build” (which we are currently in) has been split into two parts:

Refurbishment of the old office block
Refurbishment of the old Year 4 / 5 block

Currently the estimated handover date for the refurbishment of the old office block is 31 August 2022.

This will see Inclusive Curriculum and OSHC moving into this space very soon.

The estimated completion date for the refurbishment of the old Year 4 / 5 block is early to mid-October.

This will see our four Prep classes move into the new classrooms downstairs and our Year 2 classes move into the new classrooms upstairs. We will also have a new Junior Amenities (toilet block) for our Prep – Year 2's and a newly designed play and outdoor learning area for our P-2's.

As you can imagine it is a busy and exciting few months still ahead of us!

And of course it doesn’t stop there, as Stage C will begin immediately after the relocation of our Prep and Year 2 classes. Demolishing of the existing Prep buildings will begin and the development of the linking eating/recreation area between the new Year 5/6 classroom block and Nazarene Place will be finalised. Phew!

The New Build

RSPCA Cupcake Day

The annual Year 5 RSPCA Cupcake Day fundraiser is just a whisker away! On THIS Wednesday 17 August, students can pawchase a cupcake in suppawt of the local Gladstone Animal Rescue Group. Cupcakes are donated by the Year 5 students as part of the School Stewardship Program, which provides practical ways students can live their calling as Christians in everyday life. What a purrfectly delicious opportunity for students to Make Jesus Real by contributing to a worthy cause!

Library News...

This week in our Library we celebrate all Grandparents!!! Please visit, sit, and enjoy a book or two!

Last week we acknowledged Friendship Day, which was on Sunday, 30^th July. We were also busy with Commonwealth Games dot-to-dots and colouring sheets. Our representing athletes are certainly hardworking, dedicated and tireless people, aren’t they??

This term, our students are also enjoying guessing ’What Country am I’? So far, we have had Germany, Bolivia, and Estonia. I believe I am making the challenge far, far too easy …so be prepared for some harder to find counties on the face of our amazing Earth!!!

Grandparents Day

P & F News...

The P&F would like to announce that all annual year level bursaries were approved at the end of last term. These annual bursaries assist with funding year level excursions or to purchase specific classroom resources/equipment for that year level.

In addition to these bursaries, we received applications for additional funding from several areas within the school that will benefit all students, including the following:

- New house marquees
- New St John’s marque
- Robotics club
- Art classes
- Pottery items
- PA mobile housing system
- Inclusive education

The P&F remain committed to our children’s education and thank you for your continued support.

Our next meeting will be held in the school library at 5:30pm Monday 5th September. All welcome.

Grandparents' Day - 12 August

We welcome grandparents to visit the school from 8:40am – 10am.

Come along and enjoy our assembly, followed with class visits and a morning tea in Nazarene Place (shed).

As part of the mornings entertainment the St John's Got Talent Grand Final will be showcased!

We can’t wait to see you.

Uniform Shop Hours - Temporary Change

Uniform Shop Hours for Week 7

The uniform shop will be closed TOMORROW 23^rd August but will be open this Thursday 25th. Hours will go back to normal next week.

St John's Way Awardees

Port to Park

GISMA Workshops

This is the 24th year of running these workshops for music students.
They are for music students from other Independent schools and home schooled children.
The workshops provide an opportunity for students who play an instrument to mix with students from other schools and work with experienced tutors and a guest conductor.