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School Newsletter – 5th August 2020
In our Prayers this week: Pagura Family - Sandy Yr 3 Palmer Family - Ryan Yr 2 Paterson Family - Holly Yr 9 Petersen Family - Charlotte Yr 3 Peterson Family - Elsie Yr 4, Indiana Yr 2 Phillips Family - Amelia Yr 4, Matilda Yr 1 Pitman Family - Charlotte Yr 2 Ploetz Family - Benjamin Yr 6
St John’s Lutheran School Ph: 07 4162 3988 Fax: 07 4162 4255 PO Box 506 84-94 Ivy Street Kingaroy Qld 4610 E-mail: [email protected]
Choose Kindness This week at school, we discussed the idea of being grateful… the art of having a thankful attitude. Being grateful is a choice. We can choose to have a positive attitude in our life in response to everything that is happening around us. Gratitude is thankfulness shown in our actions. Some of the things we talked about include:
Paying attention to what we already have and being thankful.
Not comparing ourselves to others, or worrying about what we don’t have.
Counting all our blessings from God. ❖ Family, friends, a great school, a wonderful town to
live in, and many more! Noticing the little things - and not taking things for granted.
❖ Fresh water, electricity, clear air, and wide open spaces to play!
Looking beyond our circumstances and seeing hope for the future.
Not letting mistakes get us down - but learning from them.
Being Grateful Choosing to live happy, despite what happens!
Bible Verse: Colossians 3:16-17 Let the message of Christ completely fill your lives, while you learn from each other. Have thankful hearts, be happy and full of joy, singing songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done for Jesus, as you give thanks to God because of him.
Prayer Dear God, thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives. Thank you for your goodness and for your blessings every day. Thank you for your love, care, mercy and grace, and that you are able to bring hope even in the toughest of times. Help us to remember that you are always with us, and fill us with your peace and joy. We give praise and thanks to you today. Amen.
St John’s Open Day Thank You
Thank you to everyone who encouraged friends and family to come to our Open Day today. We had a wonderful
response and are very pleased with the number of families who visited our school. If you or anyone you know
were not able to attend our Open Day today, tours can be arranged at any time through the school office.
Join us this Sunday for Church @ St John’s
Public Holiday Next Monday, the 10th of August, is a public holiday. School resumes on Tuesday, the 11th of August.
2020 Non-Government School Census Please find attached to this newsletter a letter regarding the Non-Government Schools Census collection – for
your information.
School Fees We understand that COVID-19 has and will continue to have an impact on family budgets. As Term 3 fees were
sent out, we know that for some families this may cause an extra level of pressure. Your child’s enrolment at St
John’s is important to us and if you find yourself in this position, I encourage you to meet with our Business
Manager, Mrs Teresa Lucas, to discuss fee payment plans. There are a number of options available, which
include weekly/fortnightly/monthly payment plans or Centrelink deductions.
These conversations are completely confidential. To make an appointment with Mrs Lucas, please email her
directly on [email protected] to arrange a suitable time.
Weekly Wellbeing Connect: to join together
The way we connect with our children is vital to their wellbeing. We are social beings
and we need positive relationships to get us through life’s ups and downs. It’s
important to socially connect with our children, our family, our friends and our
community around us. Having healthy connections around us can benefit our
personal wellbeing: increasing happiness, self-worth and a sense of belonging. In
order to help your children to feel secure, think about the ways they are connecting.
I encourage you all to reach out to someone this week and connect.
Ways we can connect with our kids and those around us:
Phone a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while
Ask your children to bake something with you and deliver it to friends or family
Write a letter to a loved one and post it
Pick flowers and give it to someone you know who needs a smile
Devote time with your kids, doing something they love (reading, board games, playing outside)
Go for a family walk in nature
Staying Safe – Child Protection Matters It’s everyone’s job to keep kids safe at home at school, everywhere!
At St John’s Lutheran School, lots of measures are in place to help
students stay safe, and protocols are in place to deal with aspects of
harm if this was to happen.
1. Student Code of Conduct - Be a Learner, Be Respectful,
Be Safe
2. School staff Code of Ethics – living out our school values
3. Valuing Safe Communities training for all staff and volunteers -
available online
4. Bravehearts – It’s Ok to say No if you don’t feel safe
5. Morcombe Foundation – Recognise React Report
6. Kid’s Help Line – We Care, We Listen – Phone 1800 551 800 anytime
7. St John’s Child Protection Policy – Teachers reporting as mandated if kids aren’t safe
(This l\policy has been updated this year to meet legislative requirements. A copy of this policy is
available to read on the St John’s School website or at the office.)
8. Safe at Play – Undercover Area staff – Talking things through in a restorative manner
If students feel unsafe, they need to tell a staff member or trusted friend or adult, so that action can be taken to
deal with the issues and maintain a safe environment.
St John’s Lutheran School has a commitment and duty to keep kids safe!
Together we can do it!
Playgroup We are very excited that playgroup could commence back at school today! Playgroup is for parents and carers
with children who haven’t started school yet. Everyone is welcome, invite your friends to come along too and
enjoy a cuppa while the kids play. Playgroup is on each Wednesday during the school term from 9.00-10.30am,
$2 per family. We have a COVID safe plan in place and will be following all relevant health regulations.
Father’s Day Stall Year 6 students will be holding a Father’s Day Stall this year to raise money for their Year 6
Canberra Trip. A lovely selection of gifts has been ordered, ranging in price from $1 -
$10. This stall will be open on Thursday, the 3rd of September, and Friday, the
4th of September, from 8:00am-9:00am.
If you would like your child to purchase a gift from the Father’s Day Stall,
please only send them to school with coins or a $5 or $10 note to avoid
lost change.
Bus students will have an opportunity to go to the stall on Thursday, the
3rd of September, at Morning Tea Playtime.
A time will be scheduled for students in the younger grades (Prep - Year
2) on Thursday to attend the Father’s Day Stall with their classroom
teacher.
The Father’s Day Stall will be set up in three separate sections to help
allow for social distancing. We require three Year 6 parents to help supervise as
well as two parents to help with set-up - please contact the office if you may be able to help.
Library News Premier’s Reading Challenge - The Premier’s Reading Challenge continues this term. Students have until
Friday, the 28th of August to have their completed sheet returned to the library. If your child has lost their
sheet, they can pick up a new one from the library. There is still plenty of time to complete the challenge.
Remember that any books the children read or have read to them count. These can be home readers, library
books, books read in the classroom or home books.
BookFair – This year our bookfair will be held in the Library from Wednesday, the
2nd of September until Thursday, 10th of September. Students must be
accompanied by parents to shop, unless prearranged. It will be open from 8am to
9am each morning and from 3pm to 4pm each afternoon.
Only five parents and their children will be allowed into the library at any one time.
Parents will be asked to wait outside the library and keep a social distance of
1.5m until they can proceed into the library. Alternatively, students can bring
home a wish list and parents can send in money and an order in a sealed envelope.
Bus children will be able to shop if they have an envelope with money that has a parent signature on it.
Bookweek Day - BookWeek Day this year will be held on Friday, the 23rd October. This year’s theme is
‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’.
Safe Bus Travel All students who travel by bus are asked to make sure their behaviour is always safe by:
❖ Waiting patiently for the bus to arrive and entering it calmly in line without pushing
❖ Sitting in their seats facing the front and not getting up until the bus has stopped
❖ Using good manners and a quiet voice
❖ Respecting others and being sensible
❖ Reporting any problems to the bus driver before leaving so it can be followed up
❖ Being safe around any traffic near the bus stop
Traffic Safety Just a reminder about the importance of patience and safety in the school carpark and in the streets surrounding
the school where people park. We all need to play our part to ensure that children and parents are always safe.
Scholastic Book Club We had an un-named Scholastic Book Club order last Book Club with the order
written on a lined piece of paper – not an order form. This order could not be
placed and the money is available for collection from the office. If you think this
order might be yours, please ring the office and advise the amount and what the
order was for. Thank you.
Primary Snippets It was a Boys vs Girls ‘Dance Off’ for the Year 1 students during Dance
Fever last week! They flossed, they wiggled, and found muscles that
they didn’t even know existed. And the winners were……THE BOYS!!
Year 1 - Our little Year One scientists have been investigating light and sound. We went on a tour around the
school and found light sources, observed what happens when lights are turned on and off, and how quickly the
sun’s rays reach the earth. We have then put together some light sources (torch, mobile phone, laser pointer,
head lamp and a super bright mini light) and investigated which materials let light through. Our vocabulary
expanded with new words like opaque, translucent and transparent. Students were encouraged to find all sorts
of objects to check whether light can pass through them.
Relay for Life Fundraiser – Thursday Hot Chocolate This term, students will now be able to buy a Hot Chocolate to warm them up at Thursday
lunchtimes from the tuckshop for $1 per cup. This is a fundraiser for our school Relay for Life
Team and it will be running each Thursday lunchtime until further notice.
Secondary Snippets CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Charlotte Landherr from Year 9 for winning First Place in the Flash Fiction - Student (Year 7-
9) category for the Jacaranda Writing Competition 2020. This is a National Writing competition with high-quality
submissions. She submitted her story titled: ‘War is an Inkblot’ that was recently published in the OzKids
magazine. Her story will be published in the Grade 7 Jacaranda textbook next year. It certainly highlights the
high-quality outcomes we are achieving. She also won a cash prize of $100. Charlotte is a keen author and is
currently posting a chapter each fortnight of a story she has planned. Follow the link to read this dystopian story:
https://glidingonraysoflight7.blogspot.com/2020/07/chapter-2.html
Here is the book cover and blurb she has created during English for this story, I hope it hooks you as much as it
did me. Jodie Springhall
Maths - The Year 7’s have gone from fishing to being inspired by the song “What Did The Fox Say?” They are
making fox quadrilaterals with a speech bubble to describe the characteristics of their quadrilateral. All of the
student’s work is on display in the Maths classroom. If you would like to have a look feel free to come and visit
our colourful room.
Secondary Snippets (Cont.) Kahoot Grammar Challenge Week 3: Our King for the week’s challenge on
subject-verb agreement is King Lachlan Zischke. In second place, also from
Year 7 was Casey Springhall and in third place was Ian Gakuo. This makes
Year 7 the weekly winner. In our overall points standing, Year 7 are in the
lead with a total of 19 points. Keep studying your rules. Which class will win
the end of term Pizza Party?
HASS - The Year 8s had a visit from the Plague Doctor who explained some of the remedies used in the 1300s
to treat the plague. Do you think that human faeces and urine would cure a buboe (type of boil) or fried onion,
garlic and butter as a paste on a burst buboe? Maybe some potpourri to purify the poisonous air? Well maybe
not, but the students had fun exploring some of these remedies.
Inter-house Cross Country What a year for sport! Hopefully things are turning around with regards to COVID 19, fingers crossed.
In the interest of getting students involved in some more sport, we are running the Inter-house Cross Country on
Wednesday, the 19th of August with significant changes due to COVID 19.
There is a COVID 19 plan in place, based on recommendations from the State Government’s COVID safe plan
and it is outlined below.
• It will be a closed event. This means no spectators for any reason.
• It will be nominations only. If students do not want to participate, they do not have to. Nominations will
be collected from students in Week 4.
• Students who are participating will only be attending their event during the designated times. They will
return to class once their race is concluded.
• Students will sanitise before and after their event.
• Students who are aged 5 to 8 in 2020 will not be participating.
Age champions and house results will be announced, but unfortunately there will be no representative team in 2020.
Below is an outline of the morning.
Time Distance Age Length of race
9:00 3km 13/14/15 20 mins
9:25 3km 12 20 mins
9:50 3km 11 20 mins
10:15 2km 10 15 mins
10:30 2km 9 15 mins
Thank you for your understanding during this time. Please contact Greame Moseling ([email protected]) if
you require any further information.
P&F News We are sorry to say that the disco advertised in last week’s newsletter has been cancelled. Due to the COVID
restrictions contained in a directive from Qld Health, we are unable to hold this event.
Father’s Day Family Photos
This year, the P&F will be holding Family Photo sessions on the 22nd & 23rd August, through Nancy Jayde
Photography. Sessions are very limited and will cost $50 which includes digital prints. Photo sessions must be
booked online first, and then payment made at the office prior to the event.
To make your booking please go to: schoolinterviews.com.au Enter the event code: quhjp Make your booking
Each session will be for 15 minutes and will include a variety of shots. The location for the photos (weather
permitting) will be at the school in the top garden area (near tuckshop). Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your
confirmed sitting time, and check in with the P&F member on duty.
A big thank you to Nancy from Nancy Jayde Photography for supporting the P&F Association with this
fundraiser. Check out Nancy's talents at https://nancyjaydephotography.com.au
Bookarama
The P&F are excited to announce that Bookarama will be held next year on the 13th and 14th of March at the
Kingaroy Town Hall. Drop off locations will include bulk bins at the School Hall, Supa IGA Kingaroy, Kingaroy
Office Central, In Touch Chiropractic, Bill Hull Car Centre, JA Carroll & Sons, AKA Accounting, Murgon,
Datawave IT, Wondai & Flemings Garage, Nanango. If you'd like to be involved with the Bookarama, please
contact the P&F at [email protected] or via Facebook Messenger. We will be at the Bookshed located at rear of
CTC, Cornish St - tomorrow from 9-12 if anyone would like to join us & help out for a few hours.
Senior Secondary Options Year 10-12 If you are considering your options for your child’s education in Years 10 to 12, you may be interested in meeting
with Concordia Lutheran College’s Head of College Mr Adrian Wiles this Thursday 6 August at 5.30pm.
Concordia is visiting us to discuss the possibility of commencing a weekly shuttle for students from our area who
may wish to be weekly boarders in Toowoomba. This means that students would come home on Friday evening
and then return to school on Sunday night, giving them precious time at home with family on the weekends.
Concordia’s Head of College Mr Adrian Wiles would also like to discuss the opportunity for Rural Scholarships
for students from our area to assist with continuing their enrolment in a quality Lutheran school for Years 10 to
12. The event will be taking place at St John’s on Thursday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is important that all attendees register their attendance at the event in advance.
If you would like to find out more and to discuss any of the above and more, please confirm your attendance at
the event by emailing Concordia’s Director of Marketing and Enrolment Mrs Bianca Coleborn at
[email protected] or complete the online registration form.
Community Notices
