Newsletter - 16th May 2025
- Principal's Address
- What's on this Fortnight
- Year One
- Year Two English
- Roma Show: School Display
- Enrichment Night
- St John’s School Winter Ball for Secondary students
- Good News Story?
- Non State Schools - Transport Assistance Scheme
- Employment Opportunities at St John's School
- School Crossing Supervisors Wanted
- Uniform Shop Opening Hours
One of my most important responsibilities is ensuring that every child in our school feels safe, respected, and valued. While much of our work focuses on building this culture within the school, we know that the world our students inhabit stretches far beyond the classroom. It extends into their homes, their devices, and the digital spaces they navigate daily.
Last week, I spoke at a whole school assembly to address an issue quietly affecting students in Years 5 to 12: cyberbullying and online harassment.
The reality is that some of our students are facing online abuse, often late at night, in what should be their safest spaces. And while these messages and posts may occur outside school hours, the emotional toll they take does not stop.
I spoke plainly to students: some of the language we’ve seen in group chats is deeply concerning and completely unacceptable. In generations past, if you had a difficult day, home was a refuge. Now, with smartphones and social media, that refuge is too often invaded by persistent messages, cruel comments, and exclusionary tactics. Students can be targeted around the clock. It is heartbreaking.
As I told our students, every message, every post, every comment is a choice. And those choices matter.
- Would you say it to their face? If not, don’t type it.
- Can’t see the harm? Trust me, it’s still there.
- Think no one will find out? One screenshot and it can go anywhere.
We discussed how nothing online ever truly disappears. That snide comment or offensive post might seem like a throwaway joke in the moment, but it can follow someone for years. And not just the person it targets—the person who sent it can face serious consequences too.
As part of our ongoing efforts to educate students about the seriousness of their digital choices, this term we welcomed guest speaker Adair Donaldson to speak with students in Years 8 to 12. Adair has spent nearly three decades working with organisations like the National Rugby League and Universities Australia, tackling issues around misconduct, discrimination, and online behaviour. His presentation, Career Killers, was a powerful reminder that a moment’s poor decision, especially online, can jeopardise future careers, reputations, and relationships.
Adair spoke candidly about how mobile phones, social media, and online conduct are now routinely scrutinised in job interviews, university admissions, and professional vetting processes. Employers check. Universities check. Sporting organisations check. Before I hire a teacher at this school, their digital history is reviewed. If something is found that does not align with our school’s values, I cannot employ them. Our students need to understand that the same rules will apply to them one day as well.
Cyberbullying is a community issue. Tackling it requires all of us: students, staff, and families.
- Please talk to your children about their online lives. Keep lines of communication open.
- Monitor their online activity—not to invade their privacy, but to protect their wellbeing.
- Stay informed about the platforms your children use.
- Remind them, often, that kindness is strength, and that silence in the face of cruelty is not.
Our vision for St John’s School is clear: to be a place where students grow not only in knowledge, but in character. A place where they are challenged to become better. Where they learn to lift others up, not push them down. The devices in our students’ hands hold enormous power. Let’s work together to ensure they use that power to connect, to create, and to care—not to harm.
Cheers,
Mark
Science
This term, the Year One students have been learning about what plants and animals need to live in the Science unit, ‘Survive and Thrive’. Over the past three weeks, we have observed what happens to plants if they do not receive one of the basic needs every plant and animal needs to survive: water. In Week One, we brought plants into the classroom for observation. We have measured the plants to see how much they grow each day. We found that by watering our plants, they have grown 10 cm, while the plant without water has only grown 1 cm and no longer looks like a healthy plant. Next week, we will be creating a ‘pet’ for a Pet Shop using playdough and writing a profile about our pet, including all the things that it needs to survive.
English
In English, we have been reading texts about spiders and snails. We listened to the text, ‘The Very Busy Spider’ by Eric Carle, and created our own spiders to hang in the classroom. We read the book, ‘The Snail and the Whale’ by Julia Donaldson, and were amazed by all the wonderful places that the snail and the whale travelled to on their adventures. This week, we will begin designing a snail using an egg carton and drawing a habitat for our snail to live in. Over the next few weeks, we will discover many amazing facts about geckos and chameleons and learn to write ‘What am I?’ texts for our class to guess!
Visual Arts
In Visual Arts this term, we will learn to express our ideas, observations, and imaginations about small animals in the environment. We will use different processes and techniques to create our artworks. In Week One, we created a spider, and in Week Two, we coloured a dragonfly using crayon in red, yellow, orange, and blue and green for its wings. Over the next few weeks, we will design our snail habitat and use watercolours to paint a chameleon and a ladybug on a leaf.
Religion
In Religion, we have been learning about some of the stories from the Old Testament. This term, we will focus on the stories of Joseph, Noah, and Jonah, as well as examining how we can live safely and responsibly with God’s plan for creation.
Mathematics
In Mathematics this term, we have been busy practicing how to represent a two-digit number using tens and ones. We are learning to add and subtract up to 20 and to use strategies such as doubles, near doubles, and rainbow facts to assist us. We are continuing to practise counting in 2s and 10s and learning more about calendars and the months of the year.
At the recent Roma Show held on Friday, May 9th, and Saturday, May 10th, St John’s School participated in the School Display alongside other schools, kindergartens, and daycare facilities from Roma and the surrounding district.
We were fortunate to be judged the best school in Category 1: Large School Display and overall Grand Champion. St John’s Kindy won the Kindy/Day Care Category.
The theme, “All life is an experiment. The more experiments the better” Ralph Waldo Emerson, was addressed by all entries showcasing how teachers incorporate experiments into all areas of the curriculum. Judge Mrs. Julie Gurthie was impressed by the efforts of all the exhibitors.
Feedback received from the Show Society Executives, locals, and visitors was extremely positive for the entire display. It is important to acknowledge the support of the Roma State College, Injune, and Wallumbilla State Schools and our local daycare/kindy providers for their willingness to showcase their students' work.
A big thank you to all the students and staff who provided samples of their work. A special thank you to Mrs. Yenda Emery, Mrs. Angela Brennan, and Mrs. Melissa Irwin for their continued support in making our display a fantastic advertisement for the high-quality education provided at St John’s School.
Category 18: Handwriting
St. John’s students also participated in the Handwriting Competition. Once again, this was a hotly contested event, with the students eager to showcase their handwriting skills. A big thank you to the teachers for supporting this important category at the Roma Show.
Introducing a New Event on the St John’s Calendar – Winter Ball 2025
We’re excited to announce the very first St John’s Winter Ball, a new event created especially for students in Years 7 to 12. It’s a chance to dress up, dance and enjoy a night out with friends.
Date: Thursday, 5th June 2025
Where: Roma Cultural Centre
Time: Arrive from 6:30 PM | Event runs 7:00–10:00 PM
Tickets: $10 via the Qkr! app. Purchase your tickets before 30th May.
Includes entry, light supper, and a lucky door prize
Hot and cold drinks are available for purchase on the night
Semi-formal dress code: For example, boys can wear long pants, button-up shirt and tie and girls can wear dresses or pantsuits.
We’re looking forward to making this a memorable new tradition. Tickets are available now on the Qkr! App.”
If your child has achieved something extraordinary, and you would like to share it with our school community, please submit your story to roma@twb.catholic.edu.au
Applications for the Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) for Semester 1, 2025, are now open! This scheme helps eligible families with the cost of travelling to school. Applications close on 31 May 2025.
Parents whose child attends a school outside the Brisbane City Council (BCC) boundary are eligible to apply for the Students With Disability (SWD) or Bus Fare Assistance Program (BFAP) rebate.
The Bus Fare Assistance Program (BFAP) weekly family threshold for Semester 1, 2025 is $35 ($25 for concession card holders).
Visit www.schooltransport.com.au to check eligibility and apply.
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
Uniform Shop Hours:
Monday 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
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.