Newsletter - 21st November 2024
For those unable to attend our Presentation Night, below is the speech I delivered reviewing the year that has been for St John’s School.
2024 has been a time of challenges for our community but also a time where the strength and resilience of St John’s has shone through, truly living our school theme that ‘We are Better Together’. As I’m sure you are aware, this time last year, I was finishing up the external exams with my Year 12 cohort at St Mary’s College in Toowoomba with no plans to do anything different in 2024. However, God had a new plan for me. After a couple of mad dashes back and forth between Roma and Toowoomba, I was offered the job as Principal of St John’s. While I was excited to be given this opportunity, it was a big ask of my wife, Georgie, and our three kids to uproot their lives in a few short weeks. I thank them for their willingness to take this leap of faith with me, and I thank the St John’s community for making us feel so welcome when we arrived.
I look forward with optimism to what I hope will be a long and fulfilling journey as Principal of St John’s School. I feel truly fortunate to lead this wonderful school into the future, especially during this time of growth, with our enrolments at record levels.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr Jim Brennan for his seamless handover and dedicated service to the school over the past four years. I am also grateful to Fr Tom for his warm welcome into the All Saints Parish and for his continued support and guidance.
Our school theme, ‘We are Better Together’, resonated throughout the year as we navigated challenges. Jenny Ford had been a pillar of St John’s for over 30 years. Her absence has been deeply felt across our community. We rallied together, demonstrating that our strength lies in supporting one another. My sincerest thanks to Belinda Hayward for the work she did in helping to find and pass on the institutional knowledge held by Jenny. Jeena and I were able to get up to speed quickly with Belinda’s support.
The challenges continued, and I was constantly impressed by how the staff continued to do what they do best, despite these challenges – maintaining a safe and orderly environment where high-quality teaching and learning occurs. If I ever felt like it was getting on top of me, a walk around the school helped to put a stop to it. Experiencing the joy and energy in classes or in the playground helped lift the spirits. We have great students at our school. The grounding of our school community in the values of the Sisters of Mercy is truly evident, and I am grateful for the history that our school is built upon. Sometimes our students make mistakes, but they learn and grow from them, and this is what growing up in the supportive school community of St John’s is all about. Through our theme, they’ve discovered the power of collaboration – learning that by combining their unique strengths, they could achieve more than on their own. They’ve been reminded to respect and embrace each other’s differences, which has only made our community stronger.
One of the first things that stood out to me at St John’s was the remarkable involvement of staff and parents. Whether at school events like the ANZAC Day March, Easter Parade and Race Day or at non-school events such as Saturday netball, rugby league and the Eisteddfod, it was clear how much our teachers care about building positive relationships with students. I am very grateful for this generosity of spirit – it truly is the spirit of St John’s alive and well!
I also want to sincerely thank Leesa Murray and the Parents and Friends Committee. Their tireless efforts to raise funds and support the needs of our students are truly admirable. Special thanks go to Jason Coonan and the School Advisory Council for your guidance, especially during challenging moments and throughout our construction projects.
St John’s, along with the wider Roma community, offers an impressive range of opportunities for our students. As a parent, it has been a joy to see my own children engage in diverse activities, and it’s wonderful to witness the same enthusiasm across all year levels. Highlights this year included the Australian Girls Choir visit, workshops from the Sydney Opera, the Mercy Cup, STEMpunks programs, and the Showcase event.
I am grateful to our dedicated staff for ensuring that our students enjoy opportunities on par with those offered in metropolitan schools. Their hard work allows us to provide a rich and well-rounded education. I acknowledge my teaching staff from P-12; each of you plays a crucial role in the development of the students that graduate this year, with many having been with us since Prep. The education of a student at St John’s is a collaborative effort and the possibility to seamlessly go from Prep to Year 12 is embraced by our staff.
This has been a year of progress and growth. With our latest major construction project completed, we are now deep into master planning to determine our next steps. We are laying the foundation for an even brighter future for St John’s. Our strong enrolment numbers reflect the trust families place in us to nurture and educate their children. We will continue working to ensure that our facilities meet the needs of our community and make our school an exciting and welcoming place to learn.
This year, we also made significant progress with our new literacy programs—DAR in P –6 and SDL in Years 7–12. We are already seeing positive impacts and will continue refining these initiatives in 2025. We’ve also focused on improving student engagement by acknowledging the positive behaviours shaping our school’s culture. By recognising students who do the right thing, we create a positive environment while maintaining firm boundaries and high expectations.
To our Year 12 graduates and student leaders, thank you for your contributions. You have been excellent role models, and we look forward to seeing you thrive in the next stage of your lives.
Finally, I would like to thank the staff of St John's. Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated by me, the students and their families. Thank you to my exceptional leadership team—Ryan, Trish, Mel, and Heather—and my assistant, Jeena. Your dedication and support have been instrumental in the smooth running of the school. Your ideas and commitment continue to drive our progress, and I look forward to another successful year together in 2025.
I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead in 2025 and beyond. Together, we will continue to build on our successes, live out our Christian values, and create a positive future for everyone at St John’s.
Cheers,
Mark
This term in English, we have embarked on an exciting journey into the world of poetry. Our students have been introduced to a variety of poetic structures, including limericks, haikus, diamante poems and acrostic poems. It has been amazing to witness their imagination and creative flair flourish throughout this unit, as each student adds their own unique touch to their poetry.
As we conclude our exploration of poetry, we celebrate not only the skills our students have developed but also the joy they have found in expressing themselves through words. The creativity and imagination displayed during this unit have been remarkable, and we look forward to seeing how these budding poets continue to grow in their literary journeys. Keep writing, keep dreaming, and let your voices shine!
Student Reflections
Here are some quotes from our students about what they enjoyed most throughout the poetry unit:
“I enjoy writing poems because you get to use your own ideas and imagination.” – Elizabeth
“I enjoy poetry because you can make the poems funny and entertaining.” – Angus
“I have enjoyed all the fun crafts we have made for our poems.” – Emma
“I enjoyed sharing our poems with the class and hearing the poems other people created.” – Layla
“I liked learning about all the different types of poems.” – Rory
Measurement
This term, Year Three students explored the measurement concepts of length, mass and capacity. As a whole class, students became measuring masters by using scales to compare masses of everyday objects, using metre rulers, tape measures and even string to estimate and measure length, and bringing in different containers to estimate if they would hold less or more than one litre of water. Teachers and students were intrigued to find out that one brand of milk, labels that their bottle holds 2 litres when it actually held 2.25 litres.
This term, our Year Seven students have been actively participating in a well-rounded Physical Education program that blends both theoretical and practical learning experiences. In their theory classes, students have been delving into the transitions associated with puberty. This crucial topic covers the physical, emotional and social changes that occur during adolescence. By exploring these changes, students are better equipped to understand and navigate this significant stage of their lives.
On the practical side, our students have been focusing on developing their volleyball skills. Through regular practice, they have been learning the key components of the game, such as serving, passing and setting. More importantly, they have been discovering the value of teamwork and effective communication on the court. It has been wonderful to witness their skills improve and their confidence grow with each session.
By integrating lessons on puberty transitions with physical activities like volleyball, we aim to support our students' holistic development. This approach not only enhances their physical abilities but also fosters their emotional and social growth. We are proud of the progress our Year Seven students have made and look forward to seeing them continue to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
We are excited to see how these experiences will shape their journey through adolescence and beyond. Keep up the great work, Year Seven!
On November 14th and 15th, we proudly celebrated the Graduation of our Year 12 students, marking a significant milestone in their educational journey. Thursday evening began with a heartfelt Graduation liturgy, where students gathered to reflect on their experiences and achievements over the years. This special occasion was followed by a memorable Graduation dinner, attended by students alongside their parents and guardians. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the hard work and dedication of their children.
The culmination of the festivities took place during the Graduation day assembly, where the students were honoured in front of their peers. A guard of honour was formed by students from Kindergarten to Year 11, symbolising the support and camaraderie that exists within our school community.
As the Year 12 students prepare to embark on the next chapter of their lives, we extend our warmest wishes for their future endeavours. We are confident that they will carry the values and lessons learned during their time at St John's into their next chapter.
Congratulations, Year 12!
Guard of Honour
Award Presentation 2024
During Week Seven, we celebrated the excellence of our students in sporting, cultural, religious life of the school, service and academic pursuits. This year, 135 students in Years 5 to 12 were recognised for their achievements in front of a packed Cultural Centre.
Due to the nature of external examinations in Year 12, the school made the decision to delay the announcement of the Dux and Lance Baldo recipients until after the ATAR scores are released in December. These two prestigious awards will now be presented at the first school assembly in 2025.
2024 has seen some of the most exceptional results in the history of St John’s School and is a reflection of many years of hard work, by our award winners and teachers. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge that four of our seven finalists have completed their entire schooling at St John’s. This is incredibly affirming for the education offered within our school.
We would like to make a special mention to Erl Nino Solana, Taylor Forrest, Hasti Mahmoudian, Patrick Moloney, Leo Ey, Grace Horn and Erick Jaleco. We look forward to welcoming these students back to St John’s in February to celebrate their final results.
Prep to Year Four
We were very proud of the 76 students in Prep to Year Four who received recognition for their efforts in front of their peers and family on Wednesday 13th November. These students were celebrated in the following awards:
- Excellence in Literacy and Numeracy in Prep to Year Three,
- Mercy Award for sharing and acknowledging their own spirituality with peers and teachers,
- Spirit of St John’s Award for trying their best in all areas of their life,
- McAuley Award for pursuing different approaches and using out of the box thinking, inquisitiveness and willingness to share their creative ideas,
- Academic Subject Awards in Year Four.
We thank our committee – Katie Shellshear, Melissa Irwin, Sarah Flesser, Trisha Parker, Kate McAuley, Cathy Cooper, Jenny Schuss, Sophie Tilbury, Amy Riley and Emma Wilkes – for the time and effort that goes into the preparation and presentation of our Awards Ceremonies.
This year, St Johns students completed a total of 40 tests across Science, Mathematics and English. We are pleased to congratulate the following achievers.
Science
High Distinction – Geoff Murray
Distinction – David Ramos, Frederick Kunde
Credit – Gracianna Ramage, Kaden Lee, Elly Burey
Merit – Seshvar Rubeshkumar
Participation – Elsa Smith, Lucy Sutton, Nate Sutton, Anna Saldanha, Abigail Li, Leah Sally
English
Distinction – David Ramos
Credit – Tilly Wells, Elsa Smith, Geoff Murray, Anna Saldanha, Abigail Li, Seshvar Rubeshkumar
Merit – Elly Burey
Participation – Gracianna Ramage, Kaden Lee, Lucy Sutton, Nate Sutton, Frederick Kunde
Mathematics
Credit – Geoff Murray, David Ramos
Merit – Gracianna Ramage, Abigail Li, Frederick Kunde, Seshvar Rubeshkumar
Participation – Kaden Lee, Clarissa Woods, Elsa Smith, Elly Burey, Lucy Sutton, Nate Sutton, Anna Saldanha, Leah Sally
Uniform Shop Hours:
Monday 2:00 - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:00 - 10:30 am
Online:
https://theschoollocker.com.au/schools/st-johns-catholic-school
Please note that the uniform shop is only open during the school term and closed on school holidays.
