Informer - Term 1 Week 6

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

I spoke to our kids on assembly last week about the importance of slowing down and concentrating on the task at hand. It is an interesting aspect of the human condition that we can be so caught up in the task we are focussed on, that we neglect everything else around us. We often talk about being aware and we make time to think about what is happening around us. What I spoke about last week was the opposite. Do we fully focus on the task at hand, even the mundane?

As I said to the kids, I can often drive home and not be aware of a single turn, gear change or car on the road during the forty minute trip. Our brains are exceptional at managing complex tasks that we have become familiar with, allowing our conscious thoughts to be elsewhere; what’s for tea, what happened during the day, the argument I had this morning, the list is endless.

While this allows us to multitask and process information whilst performing another task, we can easily fall into the trap of not being present in the moment.  We can miss the beauty around us because it had become familiar. We can take our nearest and dearest for granted because they are always there.

As a parent, I used to be fascinated by the unbridled look of recognition and joy on the faces of our toddlers when I walked into the house after a day at work. How do we lose that as we grow up? How do we lose the excitement of being with people we love and in the simple pleasures of our day, nature, our friends, our pets?

I read once that Joy is not in the big exciting moments of life, it is being in the presence of someone we care for. How do we make real time in our day to be truly present to those around us and those that we love?

A real challenge for us amongst the busy-ness of life.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Jamie Emerick
Principal

A Big Thank You To Our Parents

Behaviour Management at St John’s is very open and transparent. We expect our students to be safe, respectful and to learn at all times; no ifs, buts or maybes.

We do expect our students to be safe in the choices they make toward others and for themselves. Yes, we expect them to keep their hands and feet to themselves, no matter their age or situation.

And yes, we do expect our students to make respectful choices; in their words and actions and deeds; to choose kind over nasty, to build others up, not tear them down.

And yes, we do expect our students to come to school to learn and to allow others to learn; to listen, to positively engage, and to work hard.

We thank you, St John’s families for knowing and supporting our clear standards, for choosing St John’s for these clear standards and supporting our school in enabling all students achieve these very clear standards.

In reading a recent article in a national Saturday newspaper, schools are at their wits end, managing behaviour and rarely getting to the core business of teaching the curriculum.

And this is not just in high schools, this is occurring frequently (daily) in the primary sector, starting at Prep.

At St John’s we are no different. As the years have progressed, behaviour expectations are tested time and time again.  And this is absolutely ok, because part of life is about testing “the line in the sand”. But in having behavioural expectations at St John’s that are clear, firm and consistent, we can educate our (your) children from very early on that respect, safety and learning are what our school is all about.

So, to our St John’s families, we thank you in supporting us to help develop your child into the best person they can be.

Next week, I will unpack our Behaviour Management approach and all of the components that underpin our clear standards here at St John’s.

Build Update ...

There was a lot of excitement at school on Wednesday with 9 well-establish trees being craned in on site for Stage 3 (and final stage!) of our huge building project.

These trees are just a part of the planting scheme for this area, with a lot more colour and foliage to come in the coming weeks.

It is certainly all coming together.

This Stage 3 build will be the new eating area for our Year 3-6 students, an open play space and access point from Nazarene Place.

In the coming weeks, the new asphalt will be laid for the Laner Street pick-up, new handball courts will be laid, shade sails erected, fences installed and final planning complete.

Exciting times for everyone in the St John’s community!

My New Gallery

Children’s Gut Health & the Immune System

Over the last few weeks, I have been writing about children’s gut health and this week, we will look at the importance of good gut health for the immune system.

The gut is linked to many different systems in our bodies, but immunity is one of the main links. Research continually proves that a healthy, strong immunity relies on good gut health.

70-80% of the immune system is located in the gut, as it is the main channel for bugs to get into the body. If the gut is not strong, children (and adults) are more likely to pick up every infection that is doing the rounds and we all know that schools are a great breeding place for bugs, viruses and other sickness!

Gut health is a constant balancing act, and it can take a while for the body to get the balance right. Our children’s gut health is developing as they grow and if they don’t have the foods to feed the good bacteria in their gut, then flare ups of allergies, asthma and eczema as well as constant periods of being unwell will occur.

A healthy gut will find its balance, but only if it is fed well. Choose your children’s (and your) food intake carefully for good health now and into their futures. An unhealthy gut is very hard to turn around if poor choices begin early on in life.

You might want to try this recipe for good gut health!

Kimchi Fried Rice

Ingredients

Splash olive oil

1 red onion

1 garlic clove, sliced

1 thumb-size piece ginger, zested

1 small head broccoli, chopped

4 spring onions, thinly sliced

½ cup frozen peas

50g kimchi (make your own is best, but you can also purchase pre-made)

3-4 cups cooked brown rice

1 carrot, grated

1 zucchini grated

2 eggs

½ lemon juiced (zest in the rind afterwards too)

Handful of chopped fresh coriander and basil (2 wonderful herbs perfect for gut health and fighting infections)

• Sneak in any other veges you’d like!

Get Going

1. Heat oil in a large frying pan, and add red oinion, garlic, ginger, broccoli and half the spring onions. Fry until softened, then add the kimchi and fry for a 1-2 mins further.
2. Add the cooked brown rice, then stir through the grated carrot, zucchini and peas. Cook for a min until all heated through, then push everything to the side of the pan.
3. Add another splash of oil into the empty part of the pan, crack in the eggs, cook and stir through the rice.
4. Squeeze in the lemon juice, and the zested rindand soy over the rice. Top with coriander and basil and remaining spring onions and combine all.

Enjoy!

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

Lent

Last week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday.

As a school, we had an intimate gathering to highlight three important elements of Lent...that believers Fast, Pray and Give Alms. The Church does not expect our little ones to fast from food or drink, however some may decide, through thought and prayer, to abstain from an activity e.g. X-box, Nintendo Switch. The time usually spent on that game could be used to help the family or to pray for someone in need. Lent is a time of preparation, and this can be done through prayer and reading the Word of God. Saying a short prayer together in the car before storming through the gates can be a lovely way to be still and prepare for our day. The giving of alms is an act of charity. We can do this through Project Compassion, a major focus for the Catholic Church during Lent, or by spending time with someone who needs a friend. Some links about Ash Wednesday and Lent have been included below.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NFPb9jbi0s this is great for adults and older students (Years 5 and 6 – 5 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJBMw2pQZiA Catholic Central – fun and easy to watch. Again, good for adults and Years 3-6 (7 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkh-b5L0Rl8&t=3s Fasting, Prayer and Giving Alms

This week is the first week of Lent with a focus on the desert. At times we can feel like we are in a desert...isolated, desperate and barely surviving. We can feel alone, hungry for someone to care for us. We can feel hopeless and have nothing to look forward to. Through the readings, we are reminded that Jesus is our constant companion, and we can pray for the strength we need to look forward with hope and courage, not despair and regret.

All of us can encourage and support others around us and focus on lifting them up rather than ourselves. That is what makes the St John's community so special when we are true before God and true before all.

Give Generously to Project Compassion

Spanning across the six weeks of Lent, Project Compassion brings thousands of schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for the most marginalised communities around the world.

This year's theme of Project Compassion is ‘For All Future Generations’, and reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It is also a call for all of us to play our part in making the world a better place by working together as sisters and brothers in finding long-term solutions to global issues.

To learn how to make a real difference visit Caritas Australia website.

Shrove Tuesday Thanks ...

Shrove Tuesday

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   

Sports News ...

Last Week of Fitness Results

Last week we finished our 5-weeks of fitness with continued improvements by all students from Week 1 to 5 in all categories!

There was a lot of cheering at HPE, encouraging each other to get their highest scores in each of the exercises and the cheering really helped!

The final Beep Test Results for Week 5 were:

Girls    Kaylee Simpson             Year 6            10.5

Boys   Harry McAdam                Year 6           10.8

A special mention to the following younger students who are recording great results:

• Will Robertson Year 1                    1
• Campbell Robb Year 2                  6
• Lucinda Schumacher Year 2      7
• Harry Roberts Year 3                    9
• Laine Hillhouse Year 4                4
• Penny Hale Year 5                          1

For the next few weeks in the PE component of classes we will be working on student’s fine motor and hand-eye co-ordination and in Health we will be looking at anti-bullying and positive bystanders.

The last 2-3 weeks of term will then take all classes out onto the Cross Country course to prepare for our St John’s Cross Country event, scheduled for Friday 31 March.

Cross Country - Save The Date

• Friday 31 March starting at 8.40am sharp (at St John’s)
• Prep – Year 1 students complete the extended Fun Run Track course (approx. 700m)
• Yr 2 and younger Yr 3 students born in 2015 (only) race half Cross Country track (approx. 1km).
• Students born in 2014 - 2011 compete in their year of birth and race the full course (approx 1.8km).
• All students (P-6) receive a ribbon if they place 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th
• Students born 2011 - 2014 receive points towards Athletics Age Champion if finish 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd
• Students born 2011, 2012 and 2013 selected in the school Cross Country team to attend Port Curtis trials if they finish 1^st – 5^th.
• All races finish at approximately 10.45am and students return to their normal school day.

Australian Team Selection

Congratulations to Harley Stokes on his selection into the Australian Team to participate in the 2023 World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany.  We wish you every success Harley.

Capricornia School Sport Selections

We congratulate the following St John's students for their selection in the Capricornia School Sport Teams:

Alex Slean    10-12 Years Boys Cricket

Harley Stokes    10-12 Years Swimming

Ella Walz      10-12 Years Swimming

We wish you every success with you upcoming competition.

Library News ...

This week in our library we are celebrating the birthday of someone whose books we all love to read!!

Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss was born on 2nd of March 1904 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is widely recognized for his contribution as a writer, poet, and cartoonist. He wrote 46 books for children mainly based on imaginative characters and rhymes. His work has also been adopted into many television specials, feature films and television series.

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Music news ...

Donations Please ...

Cooking Utensils

Inclusive Education are requesting donations of the following items to support a specific school need.  They would be very grateful to receive used items in good condition if any families have a surplus.

Mixing bowls
Measuring cups 
Measuring spoons 
Frying Pan 
Baking tray  
Saucepan 
Cutting Knives (preferably safety knives) 
Mixing spoons 
Spatula 
Tongs  
Cutlery Peeler 
Grater 
Cutting boards 
Plastic containers for food storage ie flour 
Plates/bowls 
Aprons x 6 
Scales 
Cooling rack 
Electric fry pan 
Electric beater 

Woolworths Lego Bricks

If you don't have any use for Woolworths Lego Bricks, please donate them to St John's.  Donations may be left at the school office.

Woolworths Lego Blocks

If you don't have any don't  have any use for Woolworths Lego Bricks, please donate them to St John's.  Donations may be left at the School office.

Vounteers - Thankyou

A huge thank you to Tracey Robertson and Jess Kirk who will be taking over from Danni Whelan in organising the Mother and Father’s Day Stalls.

We extend our deep gratitude to Danni Whelan for the many years she has volunteered her time and passion to the Mothers' and Fathers' Day stalls at St John's. Thank you! #stjohnthebaptistcatholicprimaryschool #appreciationpost #parentsaspartners

St John's Way Awards

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 ...

Casual Tuckshop Assistant Positions Available

As our tuckshop is getting busier each week, we are currently seeking 1-2 Casual Tuckshop Assistants to work each Friday morning for 2 hours. These hours may increase as the year progresses.

Please email an expression of interest to our school office by Friday 10 March via sjg_office@rok.catholic.edu.au.

Tuckshop Special

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu

Community Notices