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Informer - Term 4 Week 6

From Our Principal...

Dear Families

Realisation that there are four weeks left in the school year hit me yesterday. At school, we are in the midst of tying up 2022 and madly preparing for 2023. Time seems to be a commodity that is in very short supply at the moment.

As I was sitting down to write this newsletter on Sunday morning, I did have a bit of a lightbulb moment and realise that, in all reality, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is there is always plenty to do and not enough time to do it in.

Last week, I was at the Southern Principal’s cluster meeting. We use these meetings as a time of prayer and reflection as well as dealing with all the mechanical problems of running a school. One presenter from Rocky lead us through a reflection on the Jewish Sabbath, the day of rest.

The Sabbath is a matter of perspective to many Jews who would believe that rather than focusing on what can't be done, the focus should be on what we can do. Do we take the opportunity for some down time, spend time with family and friend?. Why do we leave these special tasks to vacation periods, the purpose of Sabbath is to address these goals every week?

If I take anything from the in-service, it's another strong reminder on the importance of family and consistently showing those we love, by both words and actions that they are our number one priority.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

APRE News...

Remembrance Day Friday 11 November 2022

The red poppy stands as a valuable symbol of “remembrance”. Throughout the battlefields of Western Europe and at Gallipoli, this delicate little flower represented some vestige of hope, hope of a more peaceful world to come. One source commented that, “The Flanders poppy was immortalized by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields (1915) and became the enduring symbol of the war for veterans and remembered as the only flower to bloom in the shattered landscape of no man’s land. The artillery shells and shrapnel stirred up the earth in France and Belgium and exposed the seeds to the light they needed to germinate.”

On each Remembrance Day, let us always remember those who have been afflicted by the pain and suffering that war brings. But as we focus on the symbol of the dancing poppies, let us also see this as a time to regenerate the Spirit of hope. Let us pray with St Paul, that “may the Lord of peace always give [us] peace and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

In Flanders Field
By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Our Preps and Year 2's Are Officially Moving on Monday 14th November!

On Monday 14 November, we are finally moving our 4 x Prep classes and 3 x Year 2 classes into their new building.

It has been a long time in the planning, but the building is finally ready!!

If you have any time to spare time at all on Monday 14 November to help it would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately due to WHS requirements, we are unable to have younger siblings attend the day.

If you are able to attend, please note the following:

If volunteers have completed the annual Volunteer Induction, then they do not have to complete it again.
If volunteers have not completed the annual Volunteer Induction, they will need to complete this on the morning of Monday 14 November, starting at 8.30am in the Library.
All Volunteers will need to read and sign a Risk Assessment. These are displayed around the school for volunteers to read and sign when they arrive.
All volunteers must sign in and out via the office.

End Of The Year Events

End Of Year Mass
Tuesday 29 November 9:30am

Award Ceremony & 2023 Leadership Announcements
Thursday 1 December 8:40am

Meet The Teacher
Thursday 1 December 9:20am
There is a short Meet Your 2023 Teacher for students only (not new Preppies). This is a wonderful way for students to meet their 2023 teacher and classmates.

2023 Booklists

The 2023 Booklists for all Year Levels are uploaded on Parent Lounge for your convenience.

As always, we try to ensure the smoothest and most cost-effective way for purchasing booklist requirements.

As a family, you have two options for filling your child’s 2023 booklist requirements:

OPTION 1: BLUE FORM

Office National Gladstone is our online (and in-store) provider with free home delivery for 2023.

Office National Gladstone have already pre-priced your child’s 2023 booklist requirements at competitive rates and offer free home delivery for orders over $50, as well as supplying complimentary items - A2 poster cardboard (delivered direct to school) and book labels.

You can choose to shop locally with the convenience of an online order via booklist.officebrands.com.au/aucklandst or you can drop-off or email your order form to Office National Gladstone. Please note the following:

▪ All instructions and order forms are on the blue forms attached and need to be submitted online, dropped-off or emailed to Office National (not to St John’s).

▪ Delivery is free for orders over $50.00 and delivery will be made on your preferred nominated date.

▪ All items are pre-priced at competitive rates, using only quality suppliers and brands.

OPTION 2: WHITE FORM

If you decide to shop locally at your chosen newsagency, simply take your child’s 2023 booklist to a newsagency of your choice.

Local newsagencies have been provided with our generic 2023 booklist and are aware of the booklist requirements for St John’s students.

Please do not return any paperwork to the school office for either Option 1 or 2.

Please note the following for 2023 Booklists:

▪ Novelty stationery items (rubbers, rulers, sharpeners etc.) are NOT to be brought to school.

▪ Headphones or ear buds purchased for P-3 students should have a ‘jack’ 3.5mm or longer.

▪ Items that will be placed on Term One school fees and distributed to classes in Term One include:

Prep A3 Scrapbooks (See Prep Booklist)
Year 1 A3 Scrapbooks (See Year 1 Booklist)
Year 3 Catholic Youth Bible (See Year 3 Booklist)

Please note that the School Uniform Shop will be located offsite as of January 2023, with St John’s, Star of the Sea, St Francis and Chanel College uniforms being sold. As soon as we are informed of the new location, we will inform families.

There will be a 2023 Book Drop-Off opportunity prior to the school year beginning, which is from 8.40am – 9.15am on Friday 20 January, 2023.

If you have any questions about the 2023 booklists, please contact Mrs Jakki Graham at the school office.

Families Leaving

As we have many students on our waiting list and our total enrolment drives many aspects of our school (staffing, budget, class sizes and structure) it is important that we try to be as accurate as possible in predicting the school enrolment for 2023. If you know that you will be leaving at the end of the year could you please notify the office as soon as possible? Your assistance with this matter is greatly appreciated.

Parents & Friends AGM

St John’s Parents and Friends (P & F) AGM is at 5:30pm on Monday 21st November in the School Library. All parents and friends are welcome to attend. Drinks and nibbles provided.

Prep To Year 2 Swimming

Bookclub

Bookmarked School Readathon News...

Welcome to the third instalment of Bookmarked Weekly Read Recommendations. This week, Mia, a member of the Year 6 Ignite Learning Enrichment Team leading the school readathon offers us a suite of book recommendations to cater for all ages around the theme of finding friendship.

Finding Bunny by Andrew Tierney
Magic Puppy Star of the Show by Sue Bentley
Pax Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker
Star by Catherine Bateson

Bookmarked Bonus - A Golden Bookworm is hidden inside each recommended book. A sweet surprise will be awaiting the firs student to borrow, read, rate and return a recommended book. Books will be available to borrow from the library from Tuesday.

Bookmarked Readathon concludes 25 November. Entry forms available from the library.

2023 Instrumental Music

Testing for the 2023 Instrumental Music Program is currently taking place over the next few weeks.

Lessons are offered during school hours on a Friday, on Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone (Alto or Tenor), Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium and Percussion. Group lessons are available.

If your child is in Grades 2-5 this year, and you would like them to be tested for the program, please fill out the form here: ➡️ https://bit.ly/stj_im23

For any questions relating to the program, please feel free to email greenroomlearning@gmail.com

Kind Regards,

Chelsea Elvery
Instrumental Music Coordinator.

Primary School Art Competition

Entries are now open for the 2023 Celebrate Australia Primary School Art Competition, inviting all 2022 primary school aged students in the Gladstone Region to help us celebrate 'who and what makes Australia great'.

To enter, students simply have to draw, paint, or collage an aspect of Australia they believe is important to them, on a sheet of A4 sized paper.

In 2023, entries will be displayed on the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum and will tour venues across the region and a digital exhibitions of entries will be displayed at selected Council venues throughout 2023 (dates and locations to be announced). Fourteen selected artworks will be sent to Saiki City, Japan in conjunction with Japanese Children’s Day events during October 2023.

Artworks will be judged by Gladstone Regional Council Manager Arts & Entertainment Kim Roberts, and the winning artist from each age group will receive some fantastic prizes, including their winning entry printed as 2022 Gladstone Regional Council Australia Day commemorative postcards and a Gladstone Cinemas FAMILY pass (2A & 2C).

SECTION ONE: Prep to Year 2

Students to complete their artwork on a sheet of A4 sized paper or card - (210 X 297)mm

Submitted with a completed entry form signed by parent/guardian/teacher with the artwork.

SECTION TWO: Year 3 to Year 6

Students to complete their artwork on a sheet of A4 sized paper or card - (210 X 297)mm

Submitted with a completed entry form signed by parent/guardian/teacher with the artwork.

Entries close 1pm, Saturday, 10 December 2022 delivered to the Gallery & Museum, Cnr Goondoon & Bramston Streets. Winners will be announced during Gladstone Regional Council's Australia Day Celebrations, Thursday, 26 January 2022.

For further information, including entry form, please follow the link: https://gragm.qld.gov.au/programs-events/celebrate-australia-primary-school-art-competition-2023

We are currently working with a local artist to develop a virtual workshop that can be shared with Schools to assist students with their artwork. Please keep an eye out for this video.