Newsletter - 15th March 2024
- Principal's Address
- Prep
- Year Two
- Year Four
- Year Seven
- Year Twelve
- Marian One Most Noteworthy Student
- Theresian House Report
- Career Development
- Career Development
- Career Development
- Easter In The Country
- St Patrick's Day
- Upcoming Events
- 2024 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey
- Uniform Shop Opening Hours
- Tuckshop
As a Catholic School in the Mercy tradition, it is particularly important that we recognise and celebrate International Women’s Day.
This year, International Women’s Day was on Friday 8th March. It is a sad fact that in 2024, women are still likely to be underpaid, to work in lower-paid sectors of the economy, to be the primary carers for children and the elderly, to have less in their super funds and shamefully, to be the overwhelming victims of domestic abuse.
Our Mercy Charism does not allow us to be silent in the face of this continuing injustice. The example of Jesus in the Gospels is pertinent. In first-century Palestine, women were certainly marginalised, yet Jesus continually affirms them in his ministry. The letters of St Paul and the Acts of the Apostles reveal that many of the big figures of the early church were women.
One of the formative acts of Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, was to build the House of Mercy in Dublin in 1824. It was in this house where Catherine and lay women sheltered homeless women, reached out to the sick and dying and educated poor girls.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the important women in our School and our lives and to shine a light upon the injustices that women still face around the world and in our area. We open up conversations about ways we can create a fairer world for everyone to flourish.
Words have power.
I’ve spoken several times at the P-6 assembly about the fact that the words we say are a choice. In any given situation, we can choose to build people up or knock them down. Many of the incidents we deal with, where students have become upset or angry, are contributed to by other students choosing to say things that humiliate or demean. This is often misguided banter, and what was funny in Week One is not funny in Week Eight, when students are tired and potentially stressed. Tall poppy syndrome and the prevalence of banter between friends is a significant part of Australian culture, and our young people model what they see. The difficulty for them is understanding where the line is and their developing ability to empathise with others. It’s our job to help them learn this. We need to actively encourage our children to choose words that build people up, and for them to do this, they need to see it modelled. Please speak to your children about situations where they can show kindness and compassion at school.
Early drop-off
Please note that students cannot be dropped off at school before 8:10 a.m. as we do not have any staff on duty at this time. We appreciate your support in ensuring the safety of your children.
St Pat’s Dinner with All Saints Parish
I hope to see many of our families at the St Pat’s Dinner at the RSL this Saturday night. Join us from 6:00pm for a nice meal, a drink and a laugh.
Cheers,
Mark
In Religion this term, students have been learning about the concept of forgiveness through the exploration of the four steps while drawing inspiration from the Bible story of 'The Prodigal Son'. Their studies have focused on recognising choices that can impact individuals and their connections with God. Students have been working on appropriate actions and steps they can take to repair these relationships, especially through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Penance. Students have actively taken part in various personal and communal prayer experiences, by demonstrating respectful and active participation in prayers of forgiveness.
This term in HASS the Year 4 students are learning about Australia’s Original Inhabitants. Students have explored the significance of Indigenous Totems, art, languages, tools, food and shelter. To discover and understand this more students created their own Shelters in groups and had the best time.
Theresian takes the win at the Swimming Carnival!
On Week 2 of Term One, the Mighty Theresian Tigers took the trophy for the Swimming Carnival for the first time in seven years! Many students came along and decided to participate in either cheering or swimming for the victory. Thank you so much to participants and parents who helped on the day to make the 2024 Swimming Carnival a success.
Cross Country approaching fast.
Week Ten of this term is our annual Cross Country, where Theresian will fight for the trophy once again. Tigers are asked to please wear their House colours to show their House spirit. We call all runners to gear up, get ready and GO, GO, GO!
Welcoming our new Theresian Tigers (Preps)
In Week Six in Term One, we welcomed our new Theresian Tigers, who experienced their first House Assembly with many more to come. They received awards for their excellence in class and received a fancy new pencil and certificate, to show everyone that they are the new generation of Tigers.
Singing practice with Mrs Treasure
Within the school, there are many talented young students, who always give it their all-in singing, acting and other extracurricular activities. Students from House Assembly were able to show their amazing singing voices when Mrs Treasure taught us a new song of ‘We are better Together’, joining us in harmony as one House.
Award Winners from Assembly.
There were a range of winners announced at our House Assembly, once again showing people what the Theresian Tigers are made of. These students show excellence in participation, academics, class work and much more and are noticed for their efforts in all areas. Congratulations to all award winners; you deserved it!!
Lastly, we would like to say congratulations to Jacob Cox for winning our Apple game played on House Assembly; what a victory that was and he even won a bag of apples while at it!
Still enjoying the victory of the Apple
Theresian trio fighting the Good Fight to be better together with Theresian Tigers!!
House Assembly Fridays - working in House spirit and team building.
Every Friday, our Theresian House, joins together to build a stronger relationship with one another, and experience fun times while enjoying the best days of our teenage lives at school. Games are played to increase the House spirit and team building, but really, they show the competitive side of the Theresian Tigers, which sources our passion to ‘Fight and Win the Good Fight’.
One of our Theresian PC groups (T2), enjoying time within their PC classes before lessons start, and proving this year’s motto that we are definitely ‘Better Together’.
BE PART OF THE ST JOHN’S FLOAT –
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
This year, our float will focus on the theme of ‘We are better together’. Being a visible presence as part of the Roma community at Easter in the Country is very important to our school. All students from P-12, are welcome and encouraged to participate as part of our school float.
When: Easter Saturday, 30th March 2024 (first weekend of school holidays)
Where: Students will gather at the school float near All Saints Catholic Church on McDowall Street
Time: 7.50am (for judging). The parade commences at 9am and students can be collected from the cnr of Charles and McDowall St, Roma (Fire Station) at approx. 9.40am
What to wear: The school colours - red (Theresian), green (Xaverian) or yellow (Marian). Students will be provided with balloons and Easter bonnets to wear.
What to bring: Hat and water bottle
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rachael Stanford at school (07) 4622 1842 or via email rachael.stanford@twb.catholic.edu.au.
2024 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey
All Year 12 Completers from last year will soon receive an invitation to do the Next Step survey. This is their chance to help our school to understand the different pathways of the 2023 Year 12 students and to improve our senior programs and supports for future students. The survey only takes 5 minutes and asks graduates about their study and work activities since finishing school.
As a thank you for participating, Year 12 Completers will be entered into a draw to win a MacBook Air.
We ask parents, siblings and friends to encourage our graduates to complete the survey. If their contact details have changed, please assist survey interviewers with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate. Graduates may receive an invitation by mail, email or phone. The survey can be completed online or by phone.
For more information about Next Step, including previous results, visit http://www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.
Uniform Shop Hours:
Monday 2:00 - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:00 - 10:30 am
Online:
https://theschoollocker.com.au/schools/st-johns-catholic-school
