Week 3, Term 2 - 2025
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
The Feast of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated in Australia on May 24th. This feast day is a commemoration of the assistance and protection that Mary, the mother of Jesus, provided to Christians in times of need. The devotion to Mary Help of Christians has a special significance in Australia because it is closely associated with the early history of the Catholic Church in the country.
At the same time, our community reflected and gave thanks to our Mothers, on Mother’s Day. We extend our best wishes and love to all Mothers and Mother Figures. Last week we held our special Mother’s Day breakfast at school and we hope everyone enjoyed this celebration, as we gathered to give thanks and love to our Mothers. We thank all of the parent helpers who cooked, served, and cleaned for our mums!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Mother's Day Breakfast
Zone Cross Country
Congratulations to the students who attended the Zone Cross Country on Thursday, May 8th. Their participation and representation of St James were wonderful! We especially congratulate Harley B, Shivvy BL, Carter C, Penny C, Lucia DS, Emilia DS, Ted E, Hype G, Lacey G, Maya PM, Archie R, Victoria T, Liam W and Tom W, who have progressed to the Diocesan Cross Country on Tuesday, May 20th. Notable individual results included:
- 8/9yr girls: Victoria T 1st
- 10yr girls: Emilia DS 2nd
- 11yr boys: Ted E 3rd
- 12/13yr boys: Hype G 2nd and Tom W 3rd
- 12/13yr girls: Lucia DS 2nd.
Zone Cross Country
Tell Them From Me
The Tell Them from Me survey opened on Monday, May 12th and closes on Friday, May 30th. This data is vital in shaping our school improvement planning and future directions. To date 31 parents have completed the survey, thank you! If you haven't completed the survey, please take the time to do it, so that we can continually improve and offer the best education available for our students! The survey is available from the link below.
Parent Community Group
We warmly invite all parents and carers to attend our upcoming Parent Community Group Meeting. This is a valuable opportunity to stay informed, share your voice, and connect with fellow members of our school community.
Our learning focus for this meeting will be on reporting to parents, delivered by our Assistant Principal: Learning & Teaching, Kylie Cane.
The consultative component of the evening will focus on the renewal of our Student Presentation Policy, specifically our school uniform expectations and guidelines. This is an important discussion, and we welcome your input as we review and update this policy to best reflect the values and needs of our community.
We will also be discussing the Student Disco and Term 3 Adults Only Event.
Your voice matters, and we’d love to see as many parents as possible attend and have their say.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Term 2 Dates & Events
Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 2.
- May 22nd: Parent Community Group Meeting - 7pm.
- June 4th: Student Disco.
- June 5th & 6th: Pupil Free Days.
- June 9th: King's Birthday Public Holiday.
- June 13th: School Athletics.
- June 27th: School Athletics Back-up Day.
- July 2nd: 100 days of Kindergarten.
- July 4th: Play is The Way Championships Day.
- July 4th: End of Term 2.
Please note our pupil-free days for 2025:
- June 5th & 6th, September 26th, November 13th & 14th, and December 18th & 19th.
Please note the 1 public holidays that fall in this year's school calendar:
- June 9th: King's Birthday
Please note the Parent Community Group Meeting dates for 2025:
- May 22nd, August 14th & November 6th (7pm - MPC).
Thumbs-up
- Students, staff and families for attending our farewell celebration for Fr Michael.
- Parents who assisted with our Mother's Day stall and Mother's Day breakfast.
- All parents who completed the Tell Them From Me survey.
To conclude
Yesterday, our school and parish community gathered for a deeply moving farewell Mass for Fr. Michael, celebrating his 21 years of devoted service to St James Primary and the St Joseph's Parish.
It was fitting that this beautiful occasion coincided with the International Day of Families—a day that reminds us of the importance of love, connection, and shared values. Fr. Michael has been such a significant part of our St James family. Through his leadership, presence at school events, pastoral care, and the way he has nurtured our faith, he has helped shape the heart of our community.
We offer our sincere thanks to all students, staff, and families who joined us for the celebration. Your presence made the day especially meaningful and was a testament to the great respect and affection we hold for Fr. Michael.
As he steps into retirement, we give thanks for his years of priestly ministry, his warmth and wisdom, and for guiding our faith along the way. Fr. Michael leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and service that will remain part of our story for many years to come.
We send him into this new season with our love and every blessing, and we offer this prayer:
Loving God,
We thank you for the gift of Fr. Michael—
for his faith, his kindness, and his years of dedicated service.
Bless him in his retirement with rest, joy, and deep peace.
May he always know how much he is loved and how deeply he has made a difference in our lives.
Amen.
Thank you, Fr. Michael. You will always have a special place in the St James family.
With blessings,
Nic.
Farewell Mass - Fr. Michael
Upcoming events
Parenting support & learning
Please note the following parenting supporting & learning items.....
Boys and Young Men Online Free Parent Webinar
Please share the following information with your parent community:
Free Parent Webinar: Boys and Young Men Online 27 May 12.30 - 1.15 pm
For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like concerning content, online exploitation and the growing influence of harmful ideologies.
This free webinar will help parents understand:
- Social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men.
- How boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation.
- The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
- Practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.
Register for this webinar here.
Other information
Please note the following additional information.....
