Newsletter - 6th February 2025
After a restful holiday, I return ready for a wonderful 2025 with many decisions and initiatives the Executive Leadership team worked on last year commencing. I believe we start 2025 in a positive place, with an adjusted leadership structure, a tuckshop open five days a week, and a major whole-school teaching and learning framework to introduce called Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). MTSS will help ensure consistent classroom norms across the school and provide clear levels of support for students struggling to achieve success without intervention. MTSS is designed to shift us from a ‘wait to fail’ approach, where students are flagged for support only after experiencing prolonged failure, to a preventative model that identifies students with academic, social-emotional, or behavioural needs early on, allowing for timely and targeted intervention. MTSS will be implemented from 2025 to 2027. Regular updates in the newsletter will inform parents about the aspects of MTSS that staff have been working on during their professional development meetings.
It would be remiss of me not to discuss the exceptional academic outcomes achieved across the school in 2024, starting with our Year 12 students. Fifty-two students received a QLD Certificate of Education, with 27 of those students also attaining a VET qualification. Nine of our students achieved an ATAR above 90 (which in the old system equates to an OP1-5). They were Hasti Mahmoudian, Erick Jeleco, Leo Ey, Erl Nino Solana, Patrick Moloney, Grace Horn, Alex Hayward, Sophie Partridge, and Taylor Forrest. These students deserve applause for their efforts. They have all been accepted into their chosen courses at university, including Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, and Education. Special mention must go to Hasti Mahmoudian, who was awarded DUX of St John’s for 2024, and to Erick Jaleco, who received the Lance Baldo Award and a Certificate of Academic Commendation for achieving six As in general subjects from the QCAA. Our internal assessment data showed clear improvement from Semester 1 to Semester 2, with many more students achieving As in Semester 2. Noteworthy surprises include 32% of students in Years 7-10 achieving an A in Religion and 29% of students in P-6 achieving an A in Maths. An area of focus for this year is to improve our NAPLAN results. While we are performing comparably to similar schools, I believe it does not reflect what our students are truly capable of. We will be working to ensure students are familiarised with the test and incorporate some preparatory activities in Term 4 of the year prior to the test.
Finally, I encourage parents to engage with the email received from the school last week that outlined the change to the enrolment agreement for students at St John’s. The email included a Parent Code of Conduct developed by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office. The Code of Conduct specifies how parents should interact with other members of the school community, including teachers. Adhering to the Code of Conduct is now a condition of enrolment. Additionally, the office has added a power-to-search clause to the agreement. Due to the legal obligation the school has to ensure our premises remain safe for students, staff, and visitors, this clause allows school staff to search school-owned property, including student lockers and school-owned devices, if they have reasonable grounds to believe that a student is in possession of property or content that presents a risk. At St John’s, any search will be conducted by a member of the welfare or leadership teams. Parents or guardians will be contacted if a search of a student’s personal property, such as school bags or mobile phones, is required.
We’ve had an exceptionally positive start to 2025 with the Swimming Carnival, Academic Awards Assemblies, and New Families Liturgy and BBQ serving as examples of St John’s spirit alive and well as our staff, students, and community are called to be more.
Cheers,
Mark
Dear School Community,
As we embark on a new year, it's essential to reflect on our journey and set our sights on continuous improvement. Our commitment to providing the best educational experience for our students remains unwavering.
As we strive to create a positive and respectful learning environment, it's important to revisit the significance of our uniform standards, particularly regarding hair, jewellery, and make-up. These guidelines are not just about appearance; they play a crucial role in fostering a sense of unity, discipline, and respect within our school culture.
- Promoting Equality and Focus
Uniform standards help to minimize distractions and promote equality among students. By adhering to guidelines on hair, jewellery, and make-up, we ensure that the focus remains on learning and personal development rather than on external appearances. This creates a level playing field where students can concentrate on their studies and extracurricular activities.
- Encouraging Discipline and Responsibility
Following uniform standards teaches students the values of discipline and responsibility. These guidelines are part of our broader effort to instil good habits and a sense of accountability. When students take pride in their appearance and adhere to school norms, they are also learning to respect rules and understand the importance of presenting themselves appropriately in different settings.
- Reflecting School Identity and Pride
Our uniform is a symbol of our school's identity and values. By maintaining consistent standards for hair, jewellery, and make-up, we reinforce a sense of belonging and school pride. It reminds students that they are part of a community that values respect, unity, and excellence.
- Ensuring Safety and Practicality
Uniform guidelines also consider safety and practicality. For example, restrictions on certain types of jewellery can prevent accidents during physical activities, and guidelines on hair can ensure that it does not interfere with learning or safety in practical subjects like science and physical education.
- Respecting Cultural and School Norms
Respecting uniform standards is also about respecting the culture and norms of our school. These guidelines have been established with input from various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and students, to reflect our collective values and expectations. By adhering to these standards, students show respect for the community and the shared agreements that help our school function smoothly.
We appreciate the cooperation of students and parents in upholding our uniform standards. Together, we can create a respectful and focused learning environment that benefits everyone. Let's continue to take pride in our appearance and respect the norms that make our school a great place to learn and grow.
Religious Accreditation
We recently celebrated all staff at St John’s being accredited to teach in a Catholic School and to specifically teach RE in a Catholic School. Teachers must complete between 25-50 additional professional development hours in order to achieve this accreditation.
Additionally, for those teachers who teach the subject of Religious Education, they must obtain a post-graduate degree in order to be full accredited. It was incredibly affirming to have more teachers than ever fully accredited in this area. It is commendable that they have sought further qualifications in order to ensure the teaching and learning students experience is the best quality.
The photos below show teachers presenting their certificates of accreditation in the Professional Development week.
Year 12 Induction
We celebrated our Year 12 Induction on Friday, Week 1, with a beautiful prayer celebration, acknowledging the commencement of the Year 12s final year of school. It was an emotional celebration for many of the Year 12s and their families as they changed their ties and cravats and received their Senior badge. We wish them every success as they begin the culminating year of their schooling journey. A special thank you to Mrs Kimberley Challenor for her assistance with the event.
Opening School Mass
Our first school Mass will take place at All Saints’ Parish church on Tuesday, 11th February at 9am. We look forward to this celebration as we officially welcome all new staff to our school community. We are grateful for Fr Thomas Duncan, parish priest, who will preside over this celebration.
Trisha Parker
A Splash of House Spirit and Competition
The 2025 Swimming Carnival was a day filled with excitement, fierce competition, and an incredible display of house spirit. The atmosphere was electric as students, teachers, and parents gathered to support their respective houses: Theresian, Xaverian, and Marian.
House Spirit and Support
From the moment the carnival began, it was clear that house spirit was at an all-time high. Each house proudly displayed their colours and banners, cheering loudly for their swimmers. The sense of camaraderie and support was palpable, with students encouraging their teammates and celebrating every achievement, big or small. The dedication and enthusiasm of the supporters played a crucial role in motivating the swimmers to give their best performances.
Competition Highlights
The competition was intense, with each house striving to outdo the others in various swimming events. The races were closely contested, showcasing the talent and determination of the swimmers. The relay race, in particular, was a highlight of the day.
Performance of the Houses
- Theresian House: Theresian House demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork throughout the carnival. Their swimmers consistently placed in the top three in multiple events, earning valuable points for their house.
- Xaverian House: Xaverian House brought their A-game to the carnival, with several swimmers breaking personal and school records. Sam Anderson and Tahli Allwood were standout performers for their house, breaking longstanding school records. The house's spirit was infectious, with chants and cheers echoing across the pool – earning Xaverian top points for House Spirit.
- Marian House: Marian House showed incredible resilience and sportsmanship. Despite facing tough competition, their swimmers gave it their all and never lost their fighting heart. Bray Kenafake’s performances in the pool, were particularly noteworthy – breaking 2 school records - he shows great promise for the future.
The 2025 Swimming Carnival was a resounding success, thanks to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved and in particular to our P-6 Sports Coordinator, Ms Meg Lyons. Congratulations to all the swimmers and supporters for making this event a splash hit!
Note: Years 5 - 12 Swimming Carnival Awards will be presented on Thursday 18th February at 8:25am in the P & F Multipurpose Shed. Parents of the awardees will be notified.
Dear Parents and Friends of St John’s School Roma
I am writing to you today as a member of All Saints Parish Roma. All of you have chosen to enroll your children at St John’s School for numerous and varied reasons. St John’s has an excellent reputation academically, socially and spiritually. We are a Catholic School and as such are part of the Toowoomba Diocese which operates under the banner of the Catholic Church. St John’s instills in its pupils Catholic values which help our students to develop a moral framework through which to view and make decisions in an ever changing world. The mission is for our students to leave St John’s and live full and flourishing lives.
We are most fortunate to have a Parish Priest Fr Tom Duncan. Fr Tom services and supports our school in many ways, by offering mass, support in the preparation of sacraments and a presence in our school. Fr Tom also supports the wider community, in baptisms, marriages, funerals, care and support of our community and the aged.
This costs money, and at the moment our parish is not in a good financial position. With a decline in mass attendance and increasing costs of insurance, power, maintenance, etc. we find our parish in some financial difficulty.
As a member of our school community whether Catholic or not, church going or not, we are asking you to support our parish so we can then support your children. This can be done by one of the following:
- Direct Debit
- A one-off donation
- A term or semester contribution
- Attending Parish Fundraising functions
Bank Details -
All Saints Parish Roma
BSB: 064-786
Acc: 100014247
Thanking you for your anticipated contribution
Donaugh Shirley
Member of the All Saints Finance Council
St John's School Roma is seeking dedicated Relief Teachers and Relief School Officers to join our vibrant community.
We are looking for individuals who are:
- committed to supporting our students' learning and growth
- have flexibility and reliability
- adaptable to different classroom environments
If you are interested in becoming a part of our supportive and dynamic team, please reach out to us! We would love to hear from you.
Contact the St John’s School Office on 4622 1842 or email roma@twb.catholic.edu.au
How to refund monies from your Flexischools account:
Parents can receive a refund of their remaining monies on Flexischool by following these steps on their Flexischools App:
- Tap “Profile” on the home screen
- Tap “Manage my Details”
- Tap “Close my Flexischools account”
- Select “Refund my balance back to me” and tap close account
- “Refund successful” should appear
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.