This has been a massive term for the Religious Life of our school! From the Feast of the Assumption Mass, to the Cannonisation of St Carlo Acutis through to a major fundraising effort last Friday for the support of Global School Partners!

Each of these opportunities has been a wonderful chance for our students to engage in the rich life of the Church and to experience the many wonderful opportunities that our faith brings us. Last week in particular we had the opportunity to engage in Jesus’ call to be charitable to the less fortunate, as we took part in a fundraising day for the support of Global School Parters.

First of all I’d like to thank all those who supported our fantastic fundraising efforts last week! We were thrilled to raise over one thousand dollars for the support of St George’s Academy in Kenya! This money will hopefully make a huge difference to the lives of students, offering them the same wonderful learning experience that we have at St John the Apostle Primary!

I would like to thank teachers and staff who worked very hard to organise this event last week, and helped to ensure that students had a wonderful time!

This week also marks my last week as Religious Education Coordinator at St John the Apostle, and I would like to thank all the staff and parents who have supported me! I have been privileged to share in the life of this wonderful school and get to know so many children, parents and teachers.

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday time, and that Term 4 brings you and your families abundant blessings!

Kind regards,

Christopher Evans

Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)

Happy Birthday to Kate Riley, Lachlan Stephens, Fletcher Cockurn, Viliami Maka, Fiesita Maka, Hunter Campbell, Emmanuel Deng, Evelyn Wedd, Isabelle Jeffs, Alana Stonham, Evie Matthews, Suban Rijal, Alexandra Bradbury, Ariella Grebowski, Noah Anthony, Pham Tran, Oliver Brown, Phelgay Dorji, Victory Iloelunachi, Agamjot Singh, Riley Stokman, Isaac van der Ploeg, Amelia Rixe, Ajak Ajang, Jackson Plunkett, Chrlotte, Speechley, Anna Austin, Ujan Yussouf, Oscar Pardy and Marian Le  who all celebrate a Birthday in September.

Congratulations to the following students who received the End of Term Awards. 

Congraultations to the following students who will receive a Brag Tag Award - presented on Friday 17th October.

The Mango Fundraiser

Do you or family members love mangoes? Here’s your chance to indulge in fresh juicy Kensington Pride mangoes direct from the North Queensland farm to you!

For term 4, we will be running The Mango Fundraiser.

Mangoes are $30 per tray (7kg, approximately 12-23 mangoes) with money raised to be used toward school shading.

Orders are open via the Qkr! App under 'Community Council Events' and close Thursday 30 October.

Mangoes will be picked at the optimal time with delivery to the school (and pick up) anticipated late November/early December. Pick up details will be advised closer to this time.

Grill'd Belconnen Local Matters

Following the opportunity in July where we received $100 for our school, we have been chosen again to have a jar at Grill'd Belconnen for the month of October!

Grill'd gives back to its local communities, right around Australia, through its Local Matters program. 

How it works:

When customers purchase a burger at the Belconnen Grill'd restaurant, they will receive a token to place in 1 of 3 jars. Online orders also receive virtual tokens. 

At the end of the month, the community group with the most tokens receives $300 and the remaining two groups receive $100 each. 

So make Grill'd Belconnen your dinner or takeaway choice this October!

Community Council Chairperson Role

The Community Council Chair Role will be up for election at the term 4, week 3 Community Council meeting. To be elected you will need to be present and be prepared to say a few words to the council.

The Chair provides leadership and direction for the Council by working cooperatively and collaboratively with the Principal to assist the Council to fulfill its role and:

1. Work with the Principal and the Council Executive to develop and approve the annual School Community Council Plan and coordinates the Council to deliver the events and activities contained therein.
2. Work with the Principal and Secretary to develop the agenda for each Council meeting.
3. Preside at meetings of the Council Executive and Council as Chairperson, and if absent, nominates another Council Executive Member to preside.
4. Ensure the efficient running of meetings.
5. Ensure that minutes of the previous meeting are endorsed as being an accurate record of what took place, and
6. Ensure that the Council Executive provides regular reports to Council meetings and otherwise keeps the school community up to date on the activities of Council.

If you are interested in this role or have questions about it, please contact the current chair Max Rixe at max@rixegroup.com.au. Thanks!

The Uniform Shop

Opening Hours

Friday 10 October from 2.30-4.30pm (School holidays)

Tuesday 14 October from 8.30 – 9.30am (First day of Term 4)

If you have any questions please email the uniform shop at stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com

Upcoming events

That’s all from us for this week, happy school holidays!

Kelly Wooden (parent from 1B/3M)

SJAPS Community Council member

Exclusive to St John the Apostle Primary School Students

Little Coders After-School (Years Kinder flyer_2025_AS_Little_Coders_Discount_St_John_the_Apostle_Primary_School_After_School_Term_4_2025_18063791657249274090.pdf– 2)

Your child will love the fun and interactive way we teach kids to code at Little Coders. In fact, it’s so much fun, they won’t realise they’re learning! Throughout the term, our students discover the basics of coding and take their first steps to becoming a coding superstar via fun, age-appropriate explanations, real-world scenario demos, games and group activities. Each week they will learn a new coding concept and apply this knowledge to code different games using drag and drop coding blocks within Code Camp World (our purpose-built coding platform).

SECURE YOUR SPOT: https://my.codecamp.com.au/course/5961

There are limited spots for this class. Register today!

Starting Mon, 20 Oct 2025

Families can leave a voicemail for Code Camp on 1300 263 322 or hello@codecamp.com.au for any other info.

How to Survive (and Even Enjoy!) Family Road Trips This Summer

Family road trips can be both a blessing and a challenge. While long drives promise bonding and shared memories, they also test the patience of even the most seasoned parents. If you’re preparing to spend hours in the car with your kids this summer, you’re not alone. Many of us have been there—clinging to our sanity while enduring endless rounds of “Are we there yet?”

But fear not. With a bit of planning and a handful of creative ideas, your next road trip could transform from a marathon of meltdowns into a journey filled with laughter and connection. Let’s dive into some tried-and-true strategies to make family road trips more fun for everyone.

Screen Time: Friend or Foe?

Let’s address the elephant in the room: screens. They can be lifesavers, but relying on them exclusively might leave you feeling guilty about missing out on quality family time. Instead of banning screens altogether or giving in completely, aim for balance. Incorporate screen breaks with engaging activities to keep the trip lively and interactive.

Talkative Games to Kickstart Conversations

Whether your kids are chatterboxes or more reserved, road trips are the perfect time to bond through conversation. Here are a few ideas:

• Car Bingo: Before you hit the road, prepare a bingo card with items you’re likely to see, such as a garbage truck, a kangaroo, or a red letter box. Kids can mark off items as they spot them, adding an element of excitement to the journey.
• Conversation Starters: Pack a set of cards with fun or thought-provoking questions like, “What’s your favourite memory?” or “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” These prompts often lead to surprising and delightful family stories.

Classic Games with a Twist

Sometimes the old favourites are all you need to keep boredom at bay, but a fresh twist can make them even better:

• I Spy Variations: Mix up the classic game by focusing on specific colours (e.g., “I spy something yellow”) or themes (e.g., animals, road signs).
• Spotto: Look for yellow cars, and the first person to yell “Spotto!” wins. Just be careful—competitive versions can lead to squabbles!
• The Alphabet Game: Find letters in order on road signs, billboards, or licence plates. It’s great for younger kids learning their letters and older ones sharpening their observation skills.

For the Competitive Spirit: Car Cricket

A nostalgic favourite for many parents, car cricket involves scoring points based on passing vehicles. Assign runs for different types of cars (e.g., one run for a car, four for a car with a trailer, and six for a caravan). But beware—motorcycles and trucks mean you’re out! Make it a test match and extend it over two innings! This game is ideal for two players only.

Music and Singing: The Ultimate Mood Boosters

No road trip is complete without music. Some of our favourite family singalongs and music-based game over the years have included:

• Old MacDonald’s Farm: Great for younger kids, especially if you’re driving through the countryside. Add animals you spot along the way—or let imaginations run wild with a dinosaur or two!
• Name That Tune: Hum or whistle a few notes of a song and see who can guess it first.
• Change Heart to Fart: I know. It’s juvenile. But singing “I believe that the fart will go on” with Celine Dion or “Listen to your fart” with Roxette will keep the family laughing for ages.

Have fun sharing classics from your own childhood with your kids! Spotify and other music platforms have plenty of road-trip playlists you can use.

Family road trips may not always be smooth sailing, but with a bit of creativity and a stash of entertaining games, you can turn even the longest drives into cherished memories. Whether it’s spotting kangaroos, singing your hearts out, or laughing over silly stories, the time you spend together will be worth every moment.

So, what’s your favourite road trip game? Share your ideas with us—we’d love to hear from you!

Written by Dr Justin Coulson

A friendly reminder that St John the Apostle is a nut free school. Thank you.