Week 5, Term 3
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
Today we celebrated Grandparents Day & Book Week Dress-up Day. It was tremendous to have so many visitors in our school honouring the love and friendship across the generations. It was also wonderful to see the myriad of costumes linked to books, supporting students’ engagement in reading as a lifelong adventure. We thank all involved in creating this memorable event.
Book Week & Grandparent's Day
St James Trivia Night
Sporting news
We congratulate the children listed below on their efforts and tremendous sports-person-ship at the recent Diocesan Athletics Carnival. Well done kids!
Tyla C, Eden S, Zane Z, Ava W, Kiana M, Cormac T, Bethany I, Tahlia F, Yohanna U, Grace M and Milla T.
We especially acknowledge the senior girls relay who placed first (Yohanna, Grace, Milla and Kiana), Cormac who placed 1st in 1500m and 2nd in 800m. Yohanna was also Runner Up Senior Girls Age Champion, 1st in 100m, 200m, relay and long jump. What a tremendous effort by all and they will now travel to Newcastle in September.
Diocesan Carnival
Safety arrangements
Safety is the most vital part of schooling and we need all of our community to promote the following:
- The gates open at 8 am; students are not to arrive prior to this time. At 8 am all students must sit under the amiptheatre until the duty teacher commences at 8:10 am. Please note that from 8 am-8:10 am, students are not directly supervised.
- Grades are having conversations about our hands-off rule, and we expect that all students will not use physical contact or aggression toward others. This, along with ensuring that we all 'greet, treat and speak' with kindness will assist us all to be safe.
To support this aspect of our school we have increased teacher supervision on the top oval (now 3 staff), kindergarten play area (now 2 staff) and bottom oval (now 3 staff). This additional supervision will help as we continually teach all children to play safe and be safe! I also ask that all families reiterate these important rules with their children at home.
Advance notice
Father's Day Breakfast
Our Father's Day breakfast will be held from 7:30am on Friday, September 2nd. Please complete the Operoo invitation eForm that is now open for catering purposes; we look forward to sharing this momentous occasion as a school community.
3-Way Conferences
The final 3-Way conferences for the year will be held on Tuesday August 30th, Thursday September 1st and Thursday September 8th. Bookings via Operoo close Friday 19th August.
At St James Primary we conduct three 3-Way Conferences throughout the year, which is significantly higher than the norm. Our aim with the conferences is for students, families and teachers to celebrate growth and share goals for future learning, along with having ongoing conversations about social/emotional learning. Given that these meetings are an important element of our reporting and assessment strategy, I urge all families to take up the opportunities offered; our staff are looking forward to meeting with you and the children soon.
Term 3 Dates & Events
Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 3.
- Tuesday, August 23rd: Stage 3 Gala Day.
- Saturday, August 27th: St James Trivia Night(Parent social event).
- Tuesday, August 30th: Parent Teacher Student Conferences.
- Thursday, September 1st: Parent Teacher Student Conferences.
- Friday, September 2nd: Father's Day Breakfast.
- Thursday, September 8th: Parent Teacher Student Conferences.
- Friday, September 9th: R U OK day.
- Thursday, September 22nd: Musical Spectacular (Final day of Term 3)
- Friday, September 23rd: Pupil Free Day.
Mr McTaggart will be taking leave in late Term 3/early Term 4. Mrs Cree and Mrs Sanderson will be co-acting principals during this period.
Thumbs-up
- Our community for sharing a special Grandparent's Day and Book Week dress-up day.
- Parents who supplied and served the morning tea at Grandparent's Day.
- Our children and parents for the lovely costumes created for the Book Week dress-up parade.
To conclude
In the coming week, our Church celebrates the feast of St Augustine of Hippo, a ‘father of the Church’. St Augustine was an early Christian theologian and philosopher whose writings influenced the development of the Catholic Church. St Augustine encouraged people to “take up and read” the Word of God; something we all can continue to do today. I close off this newsletter by sharing with you one of my favourite pieces of scripture…..
"Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."
Philippians 4:8-9
With Blessings,
Nic.