St John's School Roma eNewsletter

Principal's Address

Next week, our Year 12 students will take a significant step forward in their lives. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young adults whom St John’s is about to send out into the world. As I shared with them at their recent retreat, I regret that I only had the privilege of spending a single year with them. Over these past few weeks, they've worked tremendously hard, balancing the demands of studying, working and completing their final exams. This period has given them a small taste of life beyond school, and it has been wonderful to catch up with them along the way, seeing how they’re handling this transition.

Week Seven is an exciting time for these students—a week of celebration and recognition that marks their journey’s end here. The milestones of graduation liturgy, the formal dinner, the final assembly, and the traditional clap-out are not just events but memories they’ll carry with them. These moments also serve as an important reminder to the rest of the school community. They can see what lies ahead, knowing that one day it will be them standing in those shoes, ready to step out into the wider world.

At this week’s assembly, I reminded our students that a life full of opportunity awaits them. However, realising those opportunities comes down to one defining quality: determination. They need the grit to work hard toward their goals and the resilience to keep going when faced with adversity. Every student will encounter challenges throughout their schooling and beyond, and it is their determination that will see them through.

For our graduating students, the competition isn’t over—it’s just beginning. Whether they’re aiming for a university course, a job, or an apprenticeship, success often requires standing out in highly competitive fields. Achieving this will take hard work, and our graduates, who are nearly there, set a shining example for the rest of our school community that, with effort and commitment, they too can reach their goals.

Please be mindful of traffic rules surrounding pedestrian crossings and ensure children are dropped off/collected in the appropriate places.

Cheers,

Mark

Prep Mathematics

Year One Religion

This term, the Year One students have been investigating the Bible and reading and listening to Old Testament stories to gain an understanding of how God was active in the lives of the people of that time. We listened to the story of Ruth. The story of Ruth revealed the challenges faced by families at that time and how they persevered. Ruth showed her deep love and affection for her mother-in-law Naomi by leaving her homeland and caring for her in her old age. Students have also compared their own lives to the people of Israel, such as David, where he shows courage and responsibility to stand up for his beliefs even when faced with challenges.

As we approach the season of Advent, the students will participate in New Testament story readings and role plays to gain a deeper appreciation of the birth of Jesus.

Mrs Brennan, Mrs Maunder and Mr Brennan

Year Nine Outdoor Education

Year 11 Drama

Students Shine in a Semester of Stellar Performances

This semester has been a whirlwind of activity for the Year 11 Drama in Practice students, who have truly embraced the spotlight. Their participation in the Queensland Theatre Company’s ‘Scene Project’ was a highlight, where they delivered a standout performance that captivated an audience of schools from across the region.

The ‘Scene Project’ provided a unique opportunity for the students to collaborate with professional theatre practitioners, enhancing their skills and confidence. Their hard work and dedication paid off as they rocked their performance, leaving a lasting impression on both the audience and their peers.

In addition to their success with the ‘Scene Project’, the students have been diligently preparing for their performance at the upcoming St John’s Presentation Night. Their performance will showcase all the diverse genres and skill sets they have mastered throughout their senior Drama studies. From comedy to tragedy, and everything in between, the performance will highlight the versatility and talent of these young actors.

The Year 11 Drama in Practice students have demonstrated remarkable growth and creativity this semester. Their achievements are a testament to their passion for The Arts and their commitment to excellence. As they continue to hone their craft, there is no doubt that these students will continue to shine on stage and beyond.

M5 Most Noteworthy

Day for Daniel

Join the H2GP Program: Fueling the Future with Hydrogen!

What do sustainable energy, innovative technology and racing have in common? The H2 Grand Prix (H2GP) is your gateway to a future where you can make a real difference! Here’s why you should consider joining:

What is H2GP?

The H2GP is an exciting initiative designed to educate and engage students in the field of hydrogen energy. This program offers hands-on experience with students building and modifying remote controlled cars that run on hydrogen technology, providing a unique opportunity to learn about hydrogen power and about technologies such as 3D modelling and printing. After building and modifying these cars, students will compete with other school teams racing for a chance to qualify for the International Grand Prix.

Why Join H2GP?

Innovative Learning: Dive into the world of hydrogen energy with practical projects and experiments.
Career Opportunities: Gain skills and knowledge that are highly sought after in the growing energy sector and engineering fields.
Teamwork: Learn how to cooperate with your peers to achieve a common goal similar to real-world large civil projects and smaller design projects.
Sustainability: Contribute to a sustainable future by developing a broader knowledge and understanding of hydrogen as a fuel source amongst other renewable energies.
Fun: Enjoy racing the cars and travelling around Queensland to compete for a chance to perform on an international level.

How to Get Involved

Joining the H2GP is easy! If you are interested in learning more contact Mr. Andrews or Mr. Brown via email to express your interest. Nominations will need to be finalised before the end of Week 7.

Theresian Report

Maths Trek

St John’s School and All Saints Parish

On Wednesday 16^th October, Fr Michael O’Brien [former St John’s student and All Saints Parish Priest] and Fr Jamie Collins [former All Saints Parish Priest] celebrated their 25^th Jubilee with Bishop Ken Howell, diocesan priests and a packed St Patrick’s Cathedral in Toowoomba.

Also celebrating their Jubilees were former All Saints Parish priest Fr John Maher 50 years, Fr Jim Cronin 50 years, Fr Hal Ranger 65 years and Fr Kerry Costigan 65 years.

All Saints parishioner and former St John’s Convent student Mrs Rita Brennan was overjoyed to be there as a guest of Fr Michael as his Godmother and close friend of the O’Brien family. Mrs Margaret Wichlacz also attended the celebration that commenced with Mass in the cathedral followed by a luncheon in the Cathedral Central with 200 invited guests.

It was a truly beautiful celebration of the lives of these priests who have serviced faith communities throughout the diocese from Laidley in the east to Quilpie in the west, Taroom in the north to Stanthorpe in the south. A commemorative booklet was published for the occasion containing a brief history of their years of service. Copies are available at the church.

Mark Brennan

Wednesday 8:00 - 10:30 am

Online:

https://theschoollocker.com.au/schools/st-johns-catholic-school

Please note that the uniform shop is only open during the school term and closed on school holidays.

Newsletter - 7th November 2024