Informer - Term 2 Week 7

From Our Principal ...

Dear Families

State of Origin kicks off this week - it is one of my favourite times of year. It is rugby league at its very best. In many ways it is the pinnacle of the game and exemplifies the very best in what we love about sport.

There are many non-football followers I know that will religiously watch the three games of Origin every year.  It has an ‘us and them’ tribal feel with supporters fiercely maroon or blue. We all have our heroes and champions and watch eagerly to see who will rise to the occasion of Origin each year.

I tell this story many times, but only because I believe that it is important and one we need to educate our kids on. Phil Gould played A grade in the Sydney competition and has had a bright career as a coach. He is New South Wales’ most successful coach at Origin and mainly because I think he understands the mental side of the game and knows how to align the team to the same sense of purpose. A quote he often brings out is that Origin doesn’t really start until the last ten minutes. It took me a lot of years to get past who it was from and process his thinking, but when you work through it, it makes a lot of sense. At that elite level, the skill level is exceptional in both teams, no side is going to win on skill alone. Origin is often won by the team who work together and are committed to a goal and a purpose and focus on doing the simple things well.

Most of us are good at doing those things most of the time. The elite do it when they are exhausted and battered. They do it when their bodies are saying I am tired and I am hurting and I don’t want to do this anymore. That ability for our brain to push past our body's desire to give up is what sport is about. As a young boy playing footy, I was more interested in scoring tries and my whole focus of the game was on that. I was blessed to have a coach who, after a successful win, said to me "tries are good, but how many tackles did you miss?" It changed my thinking about the game. The big moments are important, but a multitude of simple things that happen in a game have to be done well each and every time. That is the reason behind the success of champions. As a young man the great Australian golfer, Greg Norman would practice continually. He was known to work his way through a 44 gallon drum full of golf balls in a session. Success did not just happen for him - he worked and worked and worked.  

As an educator and a parent, the important question for me to kids is not did you win, but did you do your best? If we can ingrain that ethic into our kids from an early age, they are well on the way to dealing with the many challenges life will throw at them.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Go the Maroons!!

Regards
Jamie Emerick

School Survey

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement at St John's, we are seeking feedback from our families on a range of issues relating to St John's. A link to a confidential 10-15 minute online survey has been emailed to all families by independent professional service, MYPCorp. Survey closes 9 June.

Student Absences

Please be reminded of the following information that is in the parent handbook regarding student absences:

• If a child is unable to attend school for any reason, parents are requested to enter the absence through Parent Lounge on the App.  Alternatively, a telephone call to the office (4978 1799) explaining the child’s absence is required.

• If your child/children is absent from school for personal leave (i.e. family holiday during the school term), the teacher/teachers are under no obligation to provide school work to cover this period of avoidable absence.

• As part of our compliance with the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board, we are required to keep written evidence of any absence longer that two school days.

• We require an email or a signed and dated, handwritten note from parents advising that their child will be absent for an extended period (holidays, family circumstances, etc.). This can be addressed to the office, classroom teacher or the Principal. The Board’s definition of an extended period is more than 2 school days.

• For medical/sick reasons, if a child is away for more than two consecutive days, a medical certificate is required to meet compliance obligations.

• It is State Government legislation that all schools mark a roll twice per day and immediately inform parents of any absences. There are strict protocols around these requirements. As such, St John’s electronically mark the roll, twice a day (in the morning between 8.40 am and 9.00 am at the latest) and again at 2.00pm.

• Any student arriving after 8:40am must report to the office with their parent and be signed in electronically.

• At 9.30am an SMS is sent to families whose child/ren are absent without reason.

• Habitual, unexplained absences are referred to the Department of Child Safety.

Athletics Carnival - Friday 2 June

New Athletics Records So Far!

School Photos - 15 & 16 June

MSP School photo envelopes were given to all children during Week 5.  The eldest child in the family has received an extra envelope for sibling photos.

Please follow the online ordering and payment directions on the front of the envelope.  Please also ensure that your child/children bring their envelope with them on photo day.

School photo days are Thursday 15 and Friday 16 June.

Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs

Here at St. John’s, we pride ourselves on being sustainable and recycling what we can to help God’s creation. Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs is an Australian company that is collecting and sorting bread tags nation-wide. They are creating new products with recycled bread tags that include wheelchairs and reusable food bowls. As of May 2023, they have recycled over 10,000kg of Aussie bread tags (that’s over 10 tonnes of plastic waste)!

How can you help? Please collect any plastic bread clips from home and bring them into your classroom to put into your class’ collection container. There is also a collection container at the front office. Once a fortnight, Year 4 will collect the containers and empty them into our main bin. Once this is full, we will take it to the collection depot in town, where they will be sent away for recycling.

Thank you for helping us to be kinder to our world and for looking after God’s creation.

Blessing of Buildings Liturgy

All welcome!

Grandparents' Day

We celebrate Grandparent’s Day annually with a morning tea provided by the school. Grandparents are invited to come to school for our Friday assembly. This year it will be the Prep Owls on stage.

The morning will run as follows:

• Assembly at 8:39am
• Class visits 8:50am-9:20am.
• Students take their grandparents to visit their classrooms as well as to other classrooms to see loved ones.  At 9.20am students will return their grandparents to Nazarene Place for morning tea.  Morning tea is only for grandparents.  Students will return to class.
• Morning tea provided (sandwiches, scones, tea and coffee) 9:25am-10:15am

Library News...

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June – is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 Be A Voice for Generations.

Celebrating the gifts and talents of our students

Congratulations go to Thiago Domingues Servidoni, who has been kind enough to allow us to display in the school Library, his winning piece from the recent Paint the Port Art Competition.  Thiago’s piece is titled ‘The Boy At Tannum’. 

Again, Congratulations Thiago!  What a wonderful artistic gift you have!

Port Curtis Sport

Congratulations to the following students for their seclection in 10-12 years Port Curtis Sporting teams:

Bailey Peachey -  Softball and Tennis
Cody Peachey - Tennis

Capricornia School Sport

Congratulations to Lachlan Stonely for his selection in the Capricornia 10-12 years boys Football team.

Parents & Friends Meeting POSTPONED

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this afternoon's Parents & Friends Assocation meeting has been POSTPONED until 5:30pm on MONDAY, 29 APRIL. The meeting will be held in the staff room.

ALL WELCOME!

St John's Way Awards

Wednesday Fitness

Each Wednesday morning at 7.45am, Mrs. Graham will be running a 30 minute fitness session for any students who are keen. These sessions will help build on the fitness gains already made in HPE and help prepare students to do their best at the Athletics Carnival (Friday, 2 June) as well as improve their own personal health benefits.

All keen and committed students are most welcome!  Please meet Mrs. Graham on the oval.

Homework Club - Year 3, 4, 5

Stop, Drop & Go

A reminder that all St John’s families using Stop, Drop and Go MUST abide by the following:

•     Laner Streeet Stop, Drop & Go:
      Students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 (and their younger siblings in Prep, Year 1 and 2) only.
  
  
•     J Hickey Avenue Stop, Drop & Go:
      Prep, Year 1 and 2 only.

Thank you for ensuring the smooth and safe drop-off and collection of our wonderful students!

Tuckshop Special

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Menu

Student Travel Rebates Close 31 May

Uniform Shop - New Location

Parish News

OSHC June/July Vacation Program

If you require St John’s OSHC Vacation Care during the June/July school holidays, please book NOW.  Places are filling up quickly.  PLEASE NOTE: For Vacation Care, preference is NOT given to regular term time bookings.

OSHC Easter Vacation Program

Qld Department of Education Survey

The Queensland Government is exploring making kindy free for all Queensland families. These changes will mean that every child will have the same opportunity for a free year of kindy the year before Prep. Parents can share their thoughts about free kindy by visiting: www.qld.gov.au/kindy