St John's School Roma eNewsletter

Principal's Address

I was incredibly proud of our students’ efforts in their Eisteddfod performances last week. They represented our school exceptionally well, both on stage and as audience members. The Eisteddfod provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience performing on stage, which is a great first step towards public speaking. I’ve often told the students that the more they practise, the better they get, and it’s such an important skill for many professions, including teaching and being a YouTuber.

A big thank you to all the P-6 teachers for their efforts in rehearsals. Special thanks to Carmel Treasure, Catherine Vaughan, Vincent Kwan and Michael Cahill for accompanying and rehearsing with so many performers. I’d also like to acknowledge the work of Meika Burey and the Eisteddfod committee for organising the event and providing this important opportunity for our students.

This week, we welcomed visitors from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office who recorded our Years 7-12 teachers delivering lessons designed to enhance students’ literacy through the ‘Subject Discipline Literacies (SDL)’ program. SDL is the literacy program selected by Toowoomba Catholic Schools to improve literacy performance in Years 7-12 across the Diocese. Under the direction of Kate McAuley, and now Nicole Southee, St John’s has been awarded the designation of Lexis Education Certified School, joining only two other schools in the Diocese. This designation was awarded due to the number of staff trained in SDL and the embedding of the program into our units. The recordings of Nicole, Sami Rogers and Jenny Schuss will be used to train other teachers in the Diocese, showcasing the expertise of these teachers.

2025 Class Construction

In the coming weeks, our school staff will start creating class lists for P - 7 for 2025. Our current teachers will begin by drafting these lists, using their deep understanding of the students. We aim to balance gender, ability and needs in each class.

Once the initial lists are ready, they’ll be reviewed by our Learning Support staff and then by Early Years Middle Leader Natalie Beattie, Assistant Principal Melissa Irwin, Deputy Principal Ryan Doig and myself.

Parents will be informed of their children’s classes and teachers through a letter sent out at the end of the school year. Parents wishing to provide any specific information to inform class construction should do so in writing no later than Friday, 08November. Please email your input to Jeena Cramer (Jeena.Cramer@twb.catholic.edu.au).

Please note that we can’t accommodate requests for specific teachers. We’ll finalise staffing after the class lists are completed.

Cheers,

Mark

Year Two Science!

This term in Science, Year Two students are learning about the world of forces. We are learning about push and pull in super cool ways! Our lessons have been full of hands-on fun, like crafting and testing paper planes, using paper to see how gravity pulls, and pushing cars down ramps constructed from various materials, to examine the effects of friction.

For our assessment, we are designing parachutes for small toys! We can’t wait to create and test these.

Year Two Miles Excursion

In Week Ten of Term Two, our Year Two class embarked on an educational excursion to the Miles Historical Village Museum. This visit was particularly relevant as the students had been exploring themes of past and present in their HASS curriculum. The museum provided an invaluable opportunity for them to immerse themselves in history and gain a deeper appreciation for the artifacts and lifestyles of earlier times.

The village features 30 historical buildings, some dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, creating an environment reminiscent of a time machine. As we walked through the village, the students were able to visualise how people lived in the past.

Inside each building, numerous displays showcased a variety of historical items, including clothing, tools, toys and vintage automobiles. The experience resembled a treasure hunt, as the students eagerly sought out fascinating artifacts from history. Among the highlights were the old hospital and the classrooms, where the students were surprised to learn that teachers once used canes.

The excursion was not only enjoyable but also educational, allowing the students to engage with history in a hands-on manner. They left with a greater understanding of how life has evolved over the years, making it a memorable adventure into the past.

Year Four Science

In a fun and engaging science experiment, Year Four students explored push and pull forces through a classic game of tug of war. Divided into two teams, students used a giant rope to test these forces of motion. Each team pulled with varying force, demonstrating how push and pull work in real-life scenarios. Students observed how the direction and magnitude of their forces affected the rope's tension and movement. The experiment was made interesting when the students wore rubber gloves to test the impact of friction on their ability to hold onto the rope. Students noted that the gloves reduced friction, making it harder to maintain a strong grip.

Year Six English

This term, Year Six is diving into the vibrant world of figurative language in poetry! We kicked off our exploration by piecing together puzzles to uncover the definitions and examples of various language devices. Armed with this newfound knowledge, we’re now tackling engaging figurative language stations, allowing us to deepen our understanding of each device and how to wield them effectively.

As we become figurative language experts, we’re excited to unleash our creativity and craft our own poetic masterpieces, filled with rhythm and rhyme. We can’t wait to share the amazing poems that will emerge from our journey!

Year 12 Religion

Retreat Days for Years Eight, Nine and Ten!

Our recent retreat days were a great success, offering students in Years Eight, Nine and Ten unique opportunities for personal growth and development.

Year Eight students participated in a retreat led by Project Hatch, where they focused on building positive relationships and fostering quality friendships. Through engaging activities and thoughtful discussions, students learned the importance of trust, empathy and mutual respect, laying the foundation for strong, supportive connections.

Years Nine and Ten had the privilege of working with Az Hamilton, who inspired them to develop a passion for life and cultivate essential qualities like grit, determination and resilience. Through motivational talks and interactive sessions, students were encouraged to pursue their dreams with unwavering commitment and to face challenges head-on with a positive mindset.

QMEA Workshop

On Wednesday in Week Ten, St John’s Catholic School hosted the exciting Beakers. Bots. Build event in partnership with QMEA and Roma State College. This innovative program was designed for Year Nine and Ten STEM students, offering them a unique opportunity to engage in resource, industry-related activities. The event aimed to foster essential skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving, which are crucial for success in the STEM fields.

Participants competed in various challenges that required them to collaborate effectively, including having to program a pipe inspection vehicle, the EV3 Robot, to autonomously navigate from the development site to various pipe inspection points. This task introduced the students to real-world applications of robotics in infrastructure maintenance.

In addition to robotics, students worked together to design and evaluate different perforated well casing models. This project required them to conduct experiments using controls for comparison, utilise laboratory equipment to record data, and analyse their findings to make informed design choices.

These hands-on activities fostered critical thinking, teamwork and practical problem-solving skills, preparing our students for future challenges in the engineering field!

Rugby 7s

Recently, our U14s and U16s girls’ rugby 7s teams had the incredible opportunity to travel to Toowoomba for the Australian Women’s Next Gen Competition. This event was not just about competing but also about learning and experiencing the sport at a higher level.

The teams participated in a training clinic conducted by professional players and coaches from the Queensland Reds and New South Wales Waratahs. The players were thrilled to learn from some of the best in the sport, and their enthusiasm was evident throughout the clinic.

Over the course of the event, both teams played six games each. Despite the tough competition, our teams showed great determination and sportsmanship, managing to have a few wins throughout the day. They learned a lot from each game, and their improvement was noticeable as the event progressed.

One of the highlights of the trip was watching the Next Gen players in action. Our students were inspired by the high level of play and the dedication of these athletes. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to see where hard work and commitment can lead.

Adding to the excitement, our players received parts of Olympian Demi Hayes’ uniform from the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This gesture was incredibly motivating for our young athletes, as it connected them to the broader rugby community and the achievements of top-level players.

Overall, the trip to Toowoomba was a memorable and enriching experience for our students. They returned with new skills, greater confidence and a deeper love for the game. We look forward to seeing how they apply what they’ve learned in future competitions.

Xaverian Five Most Noteworthy Student

Opti-MINDS

Marian House Update

Roma and District Eisteddfod

All Primary class groups performed at the Eisteddfod this year. Class teachers, with support from Mrs Vaughan and Mrs Treasure, were able to encourage students to present entertaining, musical items.

So many skills are acquired when preparing for these performances: discipline, self-control, concentration, memorisation, confidence, voice projection and communication, teamwork, beat, rhythm and musicality to name just a few.

David Ramos, Year Three student, was awarded the Overall Primary Vocal Champion, while Mrs Ey’s Year Five class was presented with the Treasure Family Shield for the most outstanding Choral Performance at the Eisteddfod. Congratulations to Teddie Robertson-Shepherd and Tilly Wells for excellent conducting skills. Claire Sheridan received the Adjudicator’s Award.

Instrumental Band and Orchestra Results.

Congratulations to Mr Cahill and Mr Kwan. St John’s competed against bands from St George, Wallumbilla, Mitchell, Dulacca, Drillham, Surat, Wallumbilla and Roma State College.

BEGINNER CONCERT BAND:

3^rd St John’s School Roma Beginner Band (Conductor: Mr Michael Cahill)

INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND:

3^rd St John’s School Roma Band (Conductor: Mr Michael Cahill)

BEGINNER STRING ENSEMBLE

2^nd St John’s School Beginner String Ensemble (Conductor: Mr Vincent Kwan)

INTERMEDIATE STRING ENSEMBLE

1^st Presto String Ensemble (Conductor: Miss Cathy Cooper)

Choral Group Results

PREP & KINDY CHOIR GROUPS: Set Song ‘The Ants Go Marching”

1^st Miss Redinger – with ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’

2^nd Miss Evans – with ‘Over in the Meadow’

3^rd Miss Barwick – with ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’

YEAR ONE CHOIR GROUPS:

2^nd place Mrs Maunder – with ‘Wash your Face in Orange Juice’ and ‘Clickety Clack’

Highly Commended Mr Brennan and Mrs Brennan with ‘Wash your Face in Orange Juice’, ‘Consider Yourself’ and A Mary Poppins Medley

YEAR TWO-THREE CHOIR GROUPS:

1^st Mrs Riley – with ‘3 Little Birds’

2^nd Miss Matthews – with ‘The Rainbow Connection’

3^rd Miss Porter - with ‘Believer’

Highly Commended Miss Beard (‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’), Mrs O’Brien (‘Buy Dirt’) and Miss McPhee (‘A Spoonful of Sugar’).

YEAR FOUR – FIVE CHOIR GROUPS

1^stplace Mrs Karen Ey – with ‘Leaning on a Lamp Post’

2^nd Place Miss Georgia Spinelli - with ‘I will give you a little pink dress’

3^rd place Miss May – with ‘The Pushbike Song’

Highly Commended Miss Wilkes - with ‘My Lighthouse’

Highly Commended Miss Gibbs – with ‘Long Tall Texan’

Highly Commended Miss Tilbury – with ‘Tomorrow’

YEAR SIX MINI PLAY CONCERT ITEM

1^st place Miss Michelle Chinnery - ‘The Jitterbug – The Wizard of Oz’

2^nd place Mrs Sayer - ‘A Shreck-tastic Romance’

3^rd place Miss Morgan - ‘Revolting Children’

PRIMARY CHOIR:

1^st place for Music Theatre with ‘Sing, and tell the Blues So Long’

1^st place for Sacred Choral with ‘Where you are?’

Library Competition

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Australian Girls Choir Workshops and Concert

58 members of the Australian Girls Choir visited Roma in October. Our Primary Choir enjoyed spending time with these talented performers. They participated in a two-hour workshop – acquiring new skills and learning new songs. The community concert held in the P&F Multi-Purpose Centre raised funds for more music workshops in our region.

The members of the AGC then joined with the families of our Primary Choir to enjoy a delicious meal. We are very grateful to school leadership, Mrs Mel Irwin, and to Mrs Leesa Murray and her wonderful P&F team, for coordinating dinner for 130 people. It was a wonderful celebration of music and friendship!