Informer - Term 1 Week 5

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

In the past weeks I have had number of phone calls from local residents and drivers on the roads around our school. They have raised a number of ongoing concerns in relation to traffic around St John’s.

Please be reminded that vehicles cannot queue in J.Hickey Ave as they wait to enter the oval pick up. At the moment, we have vehicles continuing to wait in the bus stop and obstructing traffic coming through the lights.

Under no circumstances is a U turn permitted at the traffic lights of J.Hickey Ave. Gladstone Police continue to remind us, that on Queensland roads, U turns are only permitted when signed.

The double lines in Laner Street should never be crossed. Crossing any double lines on Queensland roads is an offence. The double lines in Laner Street are part of the traffic island and pedestrian refuge. Please help keep our students and families safe as you drive through this area.

At St John’s, both pick up and drop off areas are supervised until 3.20pm. Generally, by 3.10pm the majority of traffic has moved on. If you are able to delay your arrival, there is little traffic and children are well supervised. Please have discussions with your children about where they are to be picked up. It can slow the process down considerably if we are looking for children who are not where they are meant to be.

Please also be aware of our neighbours if you are parking in a local street. We have had a number of calls from residents whose driveway is blocked by parents picking up children.

Thank you for your patience and assistance in keeping kids and other drivers safe.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

A Prayer for Lent

God of all generations,
We thank you for those who have gone before us,
especially those who have cared for your earth
and who inspire us to help respect your creation and contribute to its healing.
We thank you for those with whom we share our lives today,
especially those who work for justice and peace.
May we welcome the opportunity that Lent brings to walk more closely with you,
especially through fasting, almsgiving and prayer.
We thank you for the challenge of the future.
May the cross of Jesus remind us that only love finds a way forward.
As we work with big hearts, may we join with Mary in her hope that
from now on all generations will experience the great things you will do through us.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Ash Wednesday

On Wednesday 22 March our school community will gather in Nazarene Place straight after parade to receive our ashes and blessing.

Give Generously to Project Compassion

Shrove Tuesday - Tuesday 21 February

In preparation for Lent, on Shrove Tuesday, 21 February, St John’s will provide pancakes to students. We need your help to make this happen! You can help by:

VOLUNTEERING to cook pancakes from 7:15am Tuesday, 21 February. Please email our Tuckshop Coordinator if you can assist Jessica_pailthorpe@rok.catholic.edu.au

LOAN your electric frypan to the school tuckshop for the morning. Please label with your name so it can be easily returned to you.

Shrove Tuesday offers our St John's community a wonderful opportunity to engage in the daily school life of our students. 

Confirmation & First Holy Communion

Preparation has started for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

Families will be able to access information regarding formation sessions, dates, costs and times from the attached form.

Mrs. O’Brien will make copies of this document for students who have already undertaken the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you do not receive this and require one, please email her on lisa_obrien@rok.catholic.edu.au or make contact with the front office (4978 1799) for a copy.

Forms and payment are due on Wednesday 22 March 2023. Please note below the direct debit information AND referencing code required - CONF can be used for Confirmation followed by surname and FHC can be used for First Holy Communion.

Follow up direct debit payment with an email to the co-ordinator Hayley Lanzon adfaithsos@rok.catholic.net.au   

NAPLAN

Please be advised that the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) Online 2023 for Years 3 and 5 students will be held from Wednesday 15 March to Wednesday 22 March THIS TERM. In past years, the testing was conducted in Term 2.

NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy. As with previous years, 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 Wednesday 22 March 2023.

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.

In the coming weeks, 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 8 March in the Library. 

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

Kym McAndrew
Assistant to the Principal - Curriculum

Term 1 School Fee Accounts

St John's Way Awards

Chess Club

There will be NO Chess Club after school this Wednesday 22 February due to the Chess Tournament being held at Chanel College on the same day.  Chess Club will resume on Wednesday 1 March.

Sports News ...

Congratulations to Daniel Reid and Joseph Grambauer who have been selected in the PC 10-12yrs boys AFL team.  These boys will be attending the Capricornia trials in Mackay on Tuesday 07^th March.  We wish them well.

Music news ...

Prep Enrolments 2024

If you have a child who is eligible for Prep in 2024 could you please go to our website and complete an online enrolment application as soon as possible.  We have an increasing amount of interest for 2024 and places are limited.

In And Around OSHC

Tuckshop Special

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu