Brothers Aston Villa Football Club are excited to announce their new football academy. Click on the below link for further details.

Brothers Aston Villa Football Club – Football Academy

Bundaberg Brothers Junior Rugby League is open for registrations. Further details can be found below.

The 2021 10 Years to 12 Years representative sporting calendar has been released. Please see the attached information regarding dates for specific sports trials. As these trials are for selection in representative teams any student wishing to participate must have previous experience in the sport and display a high level of skill (some sports require supporting documentation from clubs/coaches).

If your child wishes to attend a trial day they must collect the required nomination forms from Mr Higgins.

2021 Sports Trial Calendar

Lifecycle of Living Things – Caterpillars

The Grade 2 class received a surprise package last week and were very curious as to what the package contained.  After much discussion they wrote down their ideas based its size and shape. After opening the packaged we were very excited to find 6 very tiny caterpillars.  The students completed and later discussed a see, think and wonder chart .  These caterpillars will be studied very closely in class as we inquire into the life cycle of living things and how to care for God’s creation.

Author Visit – Dr Cameron Stelzer, The Story Doctor

On Tuesday 23 February, we have a special visit from Author and Illustrator Dr Cameron Stelzer. Dr Cameron is visiting St John’s Lutheran Primary School to run workshops with our P-6 students. Prep and Year 1 will enjoy an interactive Big Screen Book Reading and follow-along drawing activity with Cameron. Year 2-3 students will participate in a writing workshop focusing on idea formation and inspirations for narratives. Cameron will be engaging Year 4-5 students in a workshop exploring exciting and descriptive writing. Year 6 students will be exploring techniques to create blockbuster action stories – think gripping suspense scenes, epic action encounters and hold-on-to-your-seat cliff-hangers. Students and teachers are looking forward to a great day!

In conjunction with the Author visit, St John’s families have a special opportunity to purchase signed and personalised copies of Cameron’s books at special prices. Individual books are $15 each and there are also exclusive book sets available. Students will receive an order form on the day of the workshops. Forms and payment can be returned the following day, Wednesday 24 February, to the Office.

Student Awards

Grow Your Mind

Our school has started using a program that promotes whole school flourishing called ‘Grow Your Mind’. We want to see children, families and teachers with same awareness of looking their mental health as they do for their physical health. Grow Your Mind focusses on topics such as brain awareness, resilience, mindfulness and compassion.

As part of our student free week all staff were involved in Professional Learning around personal wellbeing and the neuroscience behind this. Teaching Staff and Teacher Assistants then followed up with a second session on how to effectively introduce and implement the program across our school.

During our initial classroom introductory sessions, we have explored all the ways we look after our physical health each day. We have also explored how we look after our minds on a daily basis.

Students have been introduced to the Grow Your Mind Animals:

• The Wise Owl (Prefrontal Cortex) Help you make good decisions.
• The Elephant (Hippocampus) Helps you to lock in information and store memories.
• The Guard Dog (Amygdala) Senses danger and helps you to fight, flight or flee.
• The Sifting Sooty (Rass) Blocks out distractions and helps you to focus.

We would encourage you to ask your children about these animals and how they all need to work together for us to look after our mental health.

If you would like to find out a little more about this program a great introductory clip can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=adJBOlnaW44

 The Rainbow

Today I saw a rainbow with bright colours in the sky

I couldn’t see its start or end, just its middle, way up high.

Mum said that it’s God promise, that the world will still go on

And He always will forgive us though sometimes we do wrong.

I guess I understand it, and I’m glad He thinks that way

I just wish He’d paint His rainbows up there every single day.

My Great Grandpa was an artist.

We have his paintings everywhere.

He died a long, long time ago. Is he helping God up there?

Those rainbows sure look pretty and they mostly look the same,

But Great Grandpa should tell God….He should always sign his name.

By C J Heck

I spent Sunday to Wednesday in Brisbane at a couple of different professional learning meetings and catch-ups with colleagues. On the way into the city from the Brisbane airport there appeared a beautiful rainbow in the sky which brightened the dark clouds in front of which it sat. It got me to thinking about God’s creation and how in all things there is beauty. Of course, as Christians we know that we see God’s signature every time we look at the beautiful world he created, but the rainbow is also a reminder for us that God’s word is His promise to us – and unlike humans – God always keeps His word.

We have much for which to be thankful

At St John’s we are very fortunate to have teachers and staff with such a passion for educating young people. They believe, as do I, that they make a difference in lives of young people and in the community. I often talk with parents, teachers and students about the importance of positive relationships. In any organisation the strength of that organisation relies heavily on the relationships that exist. For us at St John’s we are fortunate to have a school that is based on positive relationships. The people in our community have, over the years, established a wonderful environment of trust, co-operation and respect. Every day within our student body I see wonderful examples of positive living and positive relationships. Students, teachers and parents are always working together to create the best possible outcomes in whatever they are doing. We particularly thank all of our parents for your ongoing understanding regarding COVID restrictions. Unfortunately the volatility of COVID remains apparent and as such we remain cautious. This was highlighted to me earlier this week whilst travelling to, in and around Brisbane. Our chief priority is to the safety of our children (taking in to account local conditions and considering our condensed school site compared with others). Again, our absolute aim and priority, as soon as we can, is to have everyone in and around our school community. In the meantime, we will continue to connect with you as best we can. Please still know that we welcome people onto site; however, it remains by appointment.

I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful people that we have within our school community – parents, staff and students. Collectively so many people do so much to allow our children to come each day with a feeling of happiness, contentment, friendship and safety – ultimately providing our children with exciting learning experiences that inspire and enthuse.

Parent Information Evening

Thank you to those parents in our community who were able to come along to our Parent Information Evening on Tuesday night. I understand this was not possible for all families. If you require notes/handouts from the evening, please contact your child’s class teacher. Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community.

Electronic Communication

As you would have noticed, we have moved to electronic communication as much as possible. To that end, we are experiencing difficulties in as much as some parents are finding communication in ‘junk’ mailboxes. Please check your ‘junk’ box regularly whilst we try to rectify this matter. Deepest apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Year 4 Camp

Congratulations to our Year 4 campers! You did it! A really positive (although tiring) experience for our Year 4 learners as they embarked upon their camp at Mon Repos. Thank you to; Mrs Bester, Mr Bakker, Mrs Anderson, Mr Higgins, Mr Bere, Mrs Heidke, Ms Abbes and Mr Kewley for their parent and staff supervision. Also, thank you to Mr Bester (Mrs Bester’s husband) and Mr Chalker (groundsman) for helping to pitch and disassemble tents prior to and post the camp.

Intra-School Sports

This Friday, our Year 4-6 students commence their Intra-School Sports activities. This is an in-school initiative designed to provide sport and physical activity and opportunities for our young people. We will be holding two sports on our Flint Street Oval (adjacent to Basketball court) and one sport on our current school site.

Thank you to Mr Higgins and the Year 4-6 staff for organising and coordinating this wonderful opportunity for our children.

God Says

I don’t know about you but from time to time, as life presents, I find myself feeling lost and helpless. Perhaps check out the below. It certainly helps me! 

You say: It’s impossible
God says: All things are possible (Lk.18:27)

You say: I’m too tired
God says: I will give you rest (Mt. 11:28-30)

You say: Nobody loves me
God says: I love you (Jn 3:16)

You say: I can’t go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9)

You say: I can’t figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Prov.3:5-6)

You say: I can’t do it
God says: You can do all things (Phil.4:13)

You say: I’m not able
God says: I am able (2 Cor. 9:8)

You say: It’s not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Rom. 8:28)

You say: I can’t forgive myself
God says: I forgive you (1 John 1:9)

You say: I can’t manage
God says: I will supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)

You say: I’m afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7)

You say: I’m always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your care on me (1 Pet. 5:7)

You say: I’m not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30)

You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5)

Thank you for working in partnership with us.

Grace and Peace

Chris Mallett

PRINCIPAL