St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Clinton eNewsletter

From Our Principal...

Dear Families

Once upon a time a psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress management principles to an auditorium filled with students. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the typical “glass half empty or glass half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, “How heavy is this glass of water I’m holding?”

Students shouted out answers ranging from grams to a kilograms.

She replied, “From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesn’t matter. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s fairly light. If I hold it for an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little. If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me.”

As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, “Your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little. Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed – incapable of doing anything else until you drop them.”

The moral: It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses and worries. No matter what happens during the day, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the night and into the next day with you. If you still feel the weight of yesterday’s stress, it’s a strong sign that it’s time to put the glass down.

Life doesn’t go away, but we all need to find ways to put our burdens down even it is just for a few minutes each day.

Have a great week and hug your kids,

Jamie Emerick
Principal

Announcement From The Minister For Transport And Main Roads

In a world-first road safety initiative, new speed camera technology will soon target speeding
drivers at selected school zones across Queensland.
Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. It is imperative drivers reduce their speed to the
signed 40 km/h speed limit and be aware of activity by students on or near the road.
Speed cameras will only operate during school zone times at the selected schools.
Parents, and carers dropping off or picking up students are urged to comply with school zone
speed limits. Those who slow down will not be penalised

10 Cent Challenge

10 cent challenge

Start saving those 10 cent coins everyone!

On Tuesday 25 October St John’s will have their annual 10 cent challenge in the Nazarene Place. Last year we raised an astronomical amount for Catholic Mission and I am sure 2022 will be the same 😊 Each year we encourage students to bring along as many 10 cent pieces as they can and we line these up along the lines in the basketball courts.

This year Catholic Mission is focusing on Ethiopia and food insecurity in that nation.

Crazy Sock Day

On Friday 28 October we will have Crazy Sock Day. This is a gold coin donation opportunity with raised funds supporting Catholic Mission. Please support this and the missionaries in Ethiopia.

Prep and Year 2 New Building – Early Years Precinct

Help Needed!

As you have no doubt observed, the new Prep classrooms (downstairs) and Year 2 (upstairs) classrooms are coming together. The proposed handover date is 1 November, 2022.

The finalisation of the build brings on the frenzy of a well-planned move with 175 five and seven year olds and their teachers! What could go wrong!

As a St John’s community, we have always come together so well in times of need and here is just one of those times!!!

If any of our parents have any time, skills (tickets to drive bobcat) and/or muscle-power to volunteer, it would be greatly appreciated.

The two timeframes where assistance is required are:

Week 4 (24 – 28 October) – Current Prep Playground will close.

We will be removing as much of the current Prep Playground area as possible; boulders, logs, teepees, climbing walls, stage, bridge and some parts of the commercial playground to reallocate to the new Early Years Precinct.

Week 5 (1-4 November) – Relocation of 4 x Prep classrooms and 3 x Year 2 classrooms

Week 5 (2-4 November) – New P-2 Playground set-up

If you are able to give any time during this 2-week frenzy, it would be greatly appreciated.

As we have to pre-prepare Risk Assessments for WHS and Induction Documents, we are required to have volunteers register a date and timeframe for volunteering.

If you can spare any time, please email Jakki Graham at jakki_graham@rok.catholic.edu.au

Socktober - Mission Month

Traditionally October is Mission Month within the Catholic Church. The goal is to empower school communities by celebrating and engaging with mission through a Head, Heart and Hands model.

https://www.socktober.org.au/socktober-challenge

What is Socktober?

Socktober cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage their local community and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer.

It provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help, but why they will do it.

Throughout World Mission Month in 2022, we're highlighting stories of mission from our partner country, Ethiopia. Across Australia, students will learn about a different reality to their own, and support the nutrition, health and education needs of children in remote communities.

Please log onto the socktober challenge link to donate or find out information.

2022 Year 3-6 Swimming Carnival - That’s a Wrap!

Much fun was had by our Year 3-6 students and staff at Friday’s Swimming Carnival. The heated pool was a hit, racing was fast and great enjoyment was experienced during the novelty activities.

The Flying Squadron was a nail-biter this year, with points close and tensions high!!

Our students cheered and raced their hearts all day, seeing a positive and competitive spirit displayed by all. Jordan led the charge with their War Cry enthusiasm and were awarded for their efforts by being awarded the 2022 Spirit Trophy.

Philps House edged out some strong competition for points to be awarded came victors this year’s Swimming Carnival.

1^st Philps House

2^nd Wallace House

3^rd Cummins House

4^th Jordan House

Congratulations to the following students were awarded Age Champion for 2022:

2010 Levi Prossliner and Mackenzie Bryce

2011 Luke Bosnjak and Laylah Pimm

2012 Bailey Pimm and Ella Walz

2013 Diaz Polo and Savanah Samuels

As always, a huge thank you to all St John’s staff for all the hard work put in the Swimming Carnival, both leading up to and during the day.

Wednesday Fitness

There will be no Wednesday Morning Fitness for Term 4.

Bookclub

Just a reminder that Issue 7 is due on Friday 28 October. If your order is going to be a part of your child/ren's Christmas gifts, could you please make note of this on the order form or email Mrs McAndrew on kym_mcandrew@rok.catholic.edu.au, so that we can sort out an alternate pick-up arrangement.

Library News...

This week in the library we celebrate Australia’s award-winning children’s book author Kylie Howarth.

Kylie’s love of animals especially the water type, has led her to call herself part fish! She has travelled the world to swim with all kinds of amazing creatures, including whale sharks, manta rays, humpback whales and even piranhas in the Amazon!!!

Kylie’s creative stories draw inspiration from her own adventures and those she shares with her children (who she believes to be part fish too). The unique textures in Kylie’s book illustrations are created with them during their backyard art sessions (how cool is that!).

So pop on in to the Library to check out some of her imaginative new books on offer, and find out what fun adventures she will take you on.

This term we are going to be baffled by weeks and weeks of ‘What am I’? and ‘Who am I’? questions!

The answer to last week’s brain boggler for years 3 and 4 was a Baobab Tree.

The answer to the mind meddler for years 5 and 6 was a Leech!!

This weeks Library picks

Bookmarked School Readathon

Welcome to the first Weekly Read Recommendation from Amelia (and Story Dog, Evie!). Amelia is a member of the Year 6 Ignite Learning Enrichment Team leading the school readathon, Bookmarked. Keep an eye out each week for the team's top library book recommendations catering to various age groups. !!Bookmarked Bonus!! A Golden Bookworm is hidden inside each recommended book. A sweet surprise will be awaiting the first student to borrow, read, rate and return a recommended book. Recommended books will be available for borrowing from Tuesday.

Nala The Koala tells the story of poor Nala who has lost her home, but all the other homes she investigates are too soft, sandy or slippery! Early readers will love finding out if Nala finds the perfect home.
Puppy Palace is a touching story about a lost dog looking for a home. Perfect for developing readers. Let's hope a welcoming home is out there!
Cabin Fever is a Diary of a Wimpy Kid story, a classic tale filled with laugh out loud moments for independent readers looking for a fun afternoon in.
Unlocked, part of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is a fantastic adventure for upper primary readers. Prepare to be drawn into this captivating series - if you dare!

Bookmarked runs until 25 November. Students earn one point for every page read. Entry forms are available from the library.