St John's School Roma eNewsletter

Principal's Address

You may have recently seen media coverage of the 2025 NAPLAN results for Queensland students. As is often the case, headlines focused on the most concerning statistics to spark debate and outrage. However, one figure deserves serious attention: in 2025, 52% of Year Nine boys in Queensland did not meet the minimum standard for writing (Courier Mail, 2025).

While our results at St John’s are significantly stronger, this national trend highlights a genuine issue: a lack of growth in writing ability between Years Seven and Nine. As the expectations for writing increase during these years, some students struggle to keep pace. They may lack the vocabulary, sentence and paragraph control, or the complexity of expression needed to reach higher standards.

This is not a simple problem with a single cause. There are many factors at play, and I want to acknowledge the significant effort our teachers put into supporting the development of every student. However, research and experience consistently point to one powerful early intervention that makes the biggest difference: reading.

Quite simply, voracious readers become confident writers. Students who immerse themselves in books develop a natural sense of language: the rhythm of sentences, the structure of arguments, and the richness of vocabulary. Reading builds the tools needed for effective writing.

This is one of the reasons why we place such importance on Book Week at St John’s. Beyond the fun of costumes, parades, and decorations, Book Week is about sparking a love of reading that can set our students on a lifelong path of literacy and learning. I would like to sincerely thank our parents for the creativity and effort you put into the costumes, and our teachers for embracing the celebrations with enthusiasm. A special thank you also goes to our library staff for their decorations, activities, and for the book fair, and to Karlene Haslop for her coordination and leadership of the week.

Book Week is a highlight for our younger students, but its message is for every year level: reading is the foundation of academic success. We recognise that the early years of reading can be challenging, as students strive to develop fluency and confidence. That is why it is so important for them to discover a book, author, or series that captures their imagination and keeps them reading. For our older students, it is equally important that reading does not drop away. Even as academic demands grow, making time to read for interest and pleasure provides the exposure to language that underpins strong writing.

Parents play a crucial role in fostering a love of reading. A few simple strategies can make a big difference:

Read together daily – even 10–15 minutes of shared reading with younger children builds fluency and enjoyment.

Talk about books – ask your child what they’re reading, what they enjoy, and why. Discussion deepens comprehension.

Model reading – when children see adults choosing to read, they understand its value.

Create a reading routine – set aside a regular time each day for reading, such as before bed.

Encourage choice – whether it’s novels, magazines, comics, or non-fiction, finding material that excites your child keeps them engaged.

Together, we strive to cultivate a culture of reading that nurtures confident thinkers, articulate speakers, and skilled writers. 

Cheers,

Mark

What's on this Fortnight

Year Four - Term Three

This Term in Art, our talented Year Four students have been exploring the wonderful world of texture, perspective, shape and form!

We started the term by exploring texture. We looked at how artists use texture in their artwork to express different emotions or add detail. We then used our knowledge of texture to create our texture tigers! We grabbed an assortment of leaves and used a rubbing technique to transfer the texture onto the paper.

Next, we explored perspective. We learnt how to show depth and distance in our drawings by creating sunset perspective artworks. With each unique piece, we examined how objects appear larger when closer and smaller when further away.

Then came the fun of working with clay! We learned about shape and form by creating our own coil clay pots. We rolled, stacked, and shaped our clay into beautiful pots, each displaying creativity and craftsmanship.

Last week, we explored the world of colour, focusing on warm and cool tones. We’re discovering how colour choices can tell a story and bring our artwork to life.

As we progress with art this term, we are very excited to keep learning and applying these art techniques!

QAMT Maths Quiz - Round One 2025

On Tuesday 12th August, Round One of the 2025 QAMT Maths Quiz was held at Roma State College. St John’s entered nine teams in the Year Five/Six Division and seven teams in the Year Seven/Eight Division. All students took part with enthusiasm, showcasing both excellent maths skills and great teamwork.

Our winning teams for the Year Five/Six Division were:

1^st place – Saral Sharma, Sophia Spreadborough and Zach Auld

2^nd place was tied – Chloe Parker, Cassidy Schuss and Elly Burey & Geoff Murray, Tilly Wells and Olivia Burey

Our winning teams for the Year Seven/Eight Division were:

1^st place – Tristan Nel, Jonty Purssell and Rachael Bond

2^nd place – Isabel Shegog, Archie Densley and Cailtin Auld

3^rd place – Taylor Rolfe, Alyssa McErlain and Scarlett Challenor

We would like to thank Mrs Purssell for being an exceptional ‘Quiz Master’, and Miss Barwick and Mrs McNulty for their supervision.

We look forward to competing in Round Two in Week Two of Term Four.

FATHER’S DAY BREAKIE

https://forms.office.com/r/CjT4cJj93i

Senior Legal Studies

In Senior Legal Studies, both Year 11 and 12 students have begun working on their final topic for the year - Governance. Students are enjoying examining real-life examples of governance in action, especially analysing the impact of each arm of the Separation of Powers. Year 12 students will complete their external exam on this topic, and Year 11 students will finish their final assessment for the year.

Creative Juice Exhibition

Please RSVP via the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/WzxpAG42aq

100 Days Until Graduation

On Tuesday of Week Five, our Year 12 students gathered to celebrate an important milestone in their final year of schooling – 100 days until graduation. The Year 12s enjoyed breakfast with their peers and teachers to reflect and re-charge for their final 100 days of school. A huge thank you to all the staff involved who made the morning so memorable.

Mercy Day: Celebrating Our Heritage with Spirit and Joy

St John’s was filled with excitement and energy on Friday of Week Four as the school community came together to celebrate Mercy Day—an important event honouring the founding Sisters of Mercy and their lasting impact on our school.

The day started with a whole-school liturgy, offering a moment of reflection and gratitude for the legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters who arrived in Roma in 1881. Their values—compassion, justice, excellence, and respect—still guide the Spirit of St John’s and were woven throughout the day’s activities.

Students then engaged in a range of fun activities, including a Sisters of Mercy quiz, a massive game of ‘Hats’, tug-of-war challenges, and the always-entertaining nun races. The atmosphere was electric, with students showcasing outstanding enthusiasm and school spirit.

The day concluded with the announcement of the overall house competition winner, following a closely contested series of events, with Marian House crowned as the champion house for the day.

Mercy Day remains a highlight of the school calendar, offering students a meaningful way to connect with the school’s heritage while celebrating community, fun, and friendly competition.

All Schools Volleyball

In Week Four, from 7 to 11 August, our senior boys' and girls' volleyball teams travelled to the Gold Coast for the Senior All Schools Volleyball Tournament! The girls' team brought their A-game, winning three matches and finishing 5th in their pool. Their determination and teamwork were on full display, and they should be proud of their strong performance. The boys faced a tough draw but showed incredible resilience throughout the tournament, ultimately securing 7th place. Every match was a testament to their grit and sportsmanship.

Beyond the court, the trip was full of fun and bonding. The teams spent plenty of time relaxing in the pool and spa, exploring every corner of their accommodation, and enjoying some downtime together. There were many highlights of the trip; some being gathering to watch the Broncos game together, playing card games that became quite competitive, and the many bus rides filled with enthusiastic singing.

This wasn’t just a sporting event; it was an experience filled with connection, learning, and teamwork. A massive thank you to the coaches and staff who made the trip possible.