St John's School Roma eNewsletter

Principal's Address

I have the unfortunate parental trait of constantly imagining the worst-case scenarios and then jumping into action to prevent them—even though these incidents are highly unlikely. This habit has two unintended consequences: I can never fully relax when my kids are doing normal activities—playing in playgrounds, swimming at the beach, or riding their bikes—and my kids miss out on the opportunity to make their own safety decisions, take risks and build resilience. I'm working on it.

When searching for reasons behind this, I point to a few culprits: living in Brisbane when my daughter was born, my mum's love of watching A Current Affair and my own discomfort with the idea of my children getting hurt.

I know this mindset isn't helpful for their development, but since moving to Roma, I've made some progress. The more relaxed, free-range parenting style of my neighbours has been a positive influence. Sometimes, no one knows exactly where the kids are, which used to cause me immediate panic. But time and again, the kids have proven that they're aware of their own limitations and capable of keeping themselves safe.

Russell Shaw, head of Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., and a 30-year veteran in education, tackles this issue in a recent article for The Atlantic (Lighthouse Parents Have More Confident Kids - The Atlantic. He argues that the instinct to intervene is often misguided and that parents should sometimes consider doing nothing. Shaw refers to "Lighthouse Parents"—those who offer safety and guidance but allow their children the freedom to navigate their own challenges.

“One of the most important shifts parents can make,” Shaw writes, “is learning to substitute our impulse to fix problems with the patience to listen.”

I really like the idea of being a "Lighthouse Parent"—steering kids away from the rocks and major dangers while letting them explore the rest of the ocean on their own. Let them take risks, let them fail, and let them learn. This approach applies just as much to their schooling.

In education, we often talk about the gradual release of responsibility as students progress through school. The aim is for them to leave as self-motivated, organised and efficient learners—skills they can only develop through experiencing their own challenges and finding solutions that work for them.

By giving them the freedom to make mistakes and the support to learn from them, we help them become resilient, confident and capable—qualities they'll carry with them long after they leave the playground or the classroom.

Cheers,

Mark

Your Feedback is Required

The future of our school doesn’t just happen; it’s shaped by the decisions we make today. That’s why we need to review and update our master plan. It’s the roadmap that guides the growth, improvement and direction of our school for years to come and it needs to be informed by everyone who is a part of this community. Please complete this survey to help shape the direction of the future development of our school: https://forms.office.com/r/qqf7cMM2gg

Prep Religion

Year Six - Canberra 2024

As previous Canberra trippers will attest, the week Year Six recently spent in Canberra was exciting, educational, inspirational and exhausting! Our days were busy and long as we tried to see and do as much as possible in our five days in the nation’s capital.

Our first stop on the trip was Dubbo where we visited the zoo for a ‘behind the scenes’ early morning walk. It was then on to Parkes for lunch. After lunch, we continued on our way to Canberra, arriving Sunday evening. The next five days saw us visit Parliament House, Questacon, the Royal Australian Mint, Australian War Memorial, National Museum, National Gallery of Australia, Australian Institute of Sport, Museum of Australian Democracy, Mugga Mugga Cottage, the Botanical Gardens, Electoral Education Centre, National Dinosaur Museum, Mt Ainslie and Cockington Green. In our spare time, we squeezed in a bit of mini golf and popped down to Perisher for a day of fun in the snow!

A big thank you to Mrs Irwin, Mrs Densley, Miss Morgan, Mrs Sayer, Mr Anderson, Mrs Row and Miss Chinnery for accompanying us on the trip. We hope they have as many wonderful memories of the week as we do!

Year Seven English

Year Ten Science

Exploring the Wonders of Physics

As we enter the final term of the year, our Year Ten Science students are diving into the world of Physics, focusing on mechanics and motion. This term, students will explore the fundamental principles that govern how objects move. Through hands-on experiments and engaging lessons, they will learn to calculate speed, velocity and acceleration.

Recently, students participated in an exciting practical lesson on the school oval, where they applied their knowledge to determine distance and displacement. Following a set of instructions, they measured their movements and calculated the differences between their starting and ending points. This hands-on activity not only reinforced their theoretical learning but also highlighted the importance of precision and observation in scientific experiments. As the term progresses, we look forward to more such enriching experiences that will deepen their appreciation for the wonders of Physics and inspire a lifelong interest in Science.

All Schools Touch

Once again, our Gold Coast Titans All Schools Touch participants have brought immense pride to our school and district through their unwavering dedication, sportsmanship and exemplary behaviour, both on and off the field. What a privilege it is for our St John’s teams to participate in the world’s largest touch football tournament, with over 530 teams representing various schools both nationally and internationally. St. John's proudly fielded three teams: Under 15 Boys, Under 15 Girls and an Open Mixed team.

All these teams consistently displayed humility, extending graciousness in both victory and defeat. They rallied behind their fellow teammates, exhibited respect for their opponents and eagerly absorbed coaching guidance, all while maintaining a positive attitude. All teams showcased exceptional touch football skills, as well as innate talent and prowess, as they weaved through the opposing defence with remarkable agility, leaving the spectators in awe of their skilful performance. This was all while displaying sportsmanship and teamwork, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to their fellow teammates and showcasing their passion for the sport.

Our appreciation extends to our parents who consistently go above and beyond to make this tournament possible, from transporting us to providing unwavering sideline support. We would also like to thank Mr Creeley, Mrs Sayer, Mr Anderson, Mrs McNulty, Mrs Silvester, Mrs Jodie Duff and Mrs Michelle Neven for giving up their time and making this week possible. We look forward to returning next year with great anticipation, aiming to make an even bigger and better impact on the tournament.

Thank you.

Sacred Space Opening

In Week Ten, Term Three, we opened our sacred space area. This area contains a First Nations yarning circle and a prayer space, named after Sr Nora Fitzgibbon, the last Sister of Mercy to live in Roma.

There is real synchronicity between our Catholic beliefs and First Nations spirituality and it is appropriate that these sit side by side with each other.

For millennia, First Nations people have been meeting together, listening to one another and supporting each other. It is appropriate that our school has a space where this can continue for all students.

Additionally, in the prayer space area, named after Sr Nora Fitzgibbon, we now have the opportunity for students to have a quiet, contemplative space, where prayer and connection can take place. Sister Nora’s life has been one of faith, service, prayer and love. She has lived her life authentically, and she speaks about it with such joy.

Today, we are so proud to bless this sacred space so that all students of St John’s can come to know the face of Jesus, just like Sr Nora was for us.

We would like to thank Lane Brooks, a Mandandanji man, who conducted the smoking ceremony for our school. His presence was greatly appreciated as he has great cultural knowledge that he shared with all. We would also like to thank Tracey Reagan, Rodney Landers and the First Nation students of St John's who have helped make this dream become a reality.

A huge thank you goes to Mr Tim Tiley who constructed the area and Belinda Hayward for her assistance in the planning stages of the project.