Informer - Term 3 Week 4

From Our Principal

Dear Families

Scam Warning

Scenarios can be varied, however in recent weeks we are aware of a number of examples impacting  Catholic schools.

It would seem that parents are being contacted directly from a person/group purporting to be the school or fee collection agency, offering a discount on school fees if paid immediately. Credit card and invoice details are requested, and a series of deductions and refunds to fraudulent accounts occurs.

Please do not give bank account, credit card, Bpay details or invoice details to anyone over the telephone or email. Contact the school directly to verify advice.

This is a timely reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant and that scammers are an everyday reality seeking to prey on regular families.

Should you encounter a scam situation or wish to discuss the matter further, please don’t hesitate to contact me or the office.

Have a great week and hug your kids.

Regards
Jamie Emerick

Term 3, School Fee Accounts

Queensland Child Oral Health Study (QCOHS) 2021-24

The University of Queensland and Queensland Health are pleased to partner with St John's to conduct the Queensland Child Oral Health Study (QCOHS) 2021-24. The study will provide important information about Queensland children’s oral health and dental care that will underpin future strategies to improve child dental health. 

Children will be randomly selected from all the students at our school to participate in QCOHS. Participation will include completing a parental questionnaire and a dental check-up, which will be conducted at school.  

If you receive an invitation via email, we encourage you to participate in this important research project. Participants will receive a toothbrush pack and parents will be notified by email of the outcomes of the dental check-up.  

Free Prep Vision Screening

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening checks for common eye conditions that may impact your child’s ability to see and therefore impact their learning and development.

A Registered Nurse will be visiting St John's on 29 and 30 August 2023 to conduct vision screening for children in their Prep year. Your child does not need a Medicare card in order to participate in screening. If you wish to have your Prep child participate in this free vision screening program, please complete a consent form by 24 August.  Online or paper consent forms are available and will be distributed to you. Parents do not need to be present for screening., however if you would like to be, please contact the school to arrange this.

If your child’s vision is screened, you will be advised of the results in writing. If a vision concern is found, you will receive a phone call from the nurse to discuss referral to an eye health professional for further assessment. If a vision concern is identified and your child requires glasses, eligible health care card holders may be assisted with free basic glasses through the Spectacle Supply Scheme.

Participation in vision screening is not compulsory. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Primary School Nurse Health Readiness Program on 1800 687 372.

Catholic Education Week Award Recipients

Last week was a busy one with many activities held throughout the lunch breaks. The Lolly Jar was won by Joseph Grambauer 6D with the closest guess of 247 to the actual number of 245 lolly snakes.

Catholic Education Week also recognises students who embed Faith, Hope and Love on a daily basis both at school and in the wider community. It is such a difficult decision due to the wonderful students at our school. All teachers, including specialist teachers, were asked to nominate a student for this award and as a result there were multiple nominees from classes. Congratulations to these children and their families for 2023.

Youth Parliament

Some of our Year 6 students represented St John’s yesterday at the Youth Parliament event. Along with other Year 5/6 students from across the region the students participated in a mock parliament where they shared their opinions, ideas and visions for the Gladstone Region and the state of Queensland. Great work team, you are the leaders of our future.

Uniform Shop - Changed Opening Hours

Due to staff shortages, Wearitto Uniform Shop will only be open

Mondays and Tuesdays - 8am to 11am

until new staff can be employed.

Year 6 Facing Island Photo Competition

Congratulations to the following Year 6 students on their fabulous photography.  These photos were taken on a recent excursion to Facing Island.

First - Kairo Wirihana
Second - Charlotte Rippingale
Third - Saxon Murray

P&F Seeking Volunteers

Disco - Friday 25 August

Library News

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading. Ages 0-6 years.

All book titles can be found in our wonderful library!!

Port Curtis Sport

Congratulations to the following students who were recently selected in the Port Curtis Athletics Team:

Elle-Jaye Attard
Hudson Brown
Elise Johnston
Tolu Kaka
Ethan Maitland
Kym Major
Diaz Polo
Kaylee Simpson
Liam Warrener
Darcy Williams

St John's Way Awardees

RSPCA Cupcake Day

Homework Club - Year 3, 4, 5

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

Volunteer Tuckshop Roster

Tuckshop Special

Tuckshop Menu

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.

Star of the Sea Parish Feast Day

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Inquiry Evening

Cricket Program

Music Tutor Update

Please be advised that we are doing all that we can to secure a Music Tutor for the Friday Private Lessons and our School Band.

We are actively advertising on a variety of platforms and have approached a number of private music teachers currently working in Gladstone. Unfortunately, we haven’t had any luck securing anyone for the position, but will continue actively searching.

In And Around OSHC

OSHC Easter Vacation Program

The Twits on Stage at GECC

Wearitto School Uniform Shop - Position Vacant