Week 5, Term 4

Welcome

Dear St James Community,

Today, Friday 11th November, we observed one minute's silence to remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts, and to teach our students that living in harmony and reconciliation is central to world peace.  We congratulate our Year 6 leaders for facilitating the gathering in a respectful manner and we affirm all students for displaying outstanding courteousness and reverence.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Remembrance Day

Parent Forum Support

In 2022 our parent forum has actively fundraised, which has been supported tremendously well by our entire community.  As mentioned in a previous newsletter, this year's funds helped us place more shade sails in the nature play area and it will provide us with our new chicken coop (Chluckingham Palace) which is currently being put together by Year 12 students from St Joseph's College (thank you); the chickens will arrive next year.  We sincerely thank the forum for its support of these two initiatives.  The forum has $9,500 set aside to purchase new tables and chairs for the MPC and we are currently attempting to source these (a recent quote included $6,785 for freight, so we'll keep looking!)  

Shade sail and chicken coop

Year K-2 Camps

Our Year K-2 students thoroughly enjoyed their camp day on Wednesday 2nd November, where they took excursions to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary [Kindergarten], Paradise Country [Year 1] and Sea World [Year 2].  The children then stayed on after school until 5pm [Kindergarten], 6:30pm [Year 1] and 8pm [Year 2].  They thoroughly enjoyed exploring and building independence, and having lots (and lots) of fun playing with their friends.  We sincerely thank the teachers and staff who gave up their time to support their student's growth and provided these beautiful experiences.

Camp photos

New chess/seating area

In the recent holidays, some new paving was installed outside of the Year 4 area, and a new table structure was placed in the area.  We have ordered outdoor metal chess boards and chess sets for this area, and this new addition to the playground will give the children opportunities to learn how to play chess; a game of masterful planning and strategic thinking!

Basketball Courts

The structure over the basketball courts are due to be completed soon (week 6) ........hooray!

On behalf of St James Primary, I sincerely thank Mr Thomson and the St Joseph's College community for developing this wonderful asset that gives our students a remarkable play space that will be used in many versatile ways.

Going forward, during recess and lunchtime, the primary school students will use court 1 (closest to the road) and the oval space that we currently use and the secondary school will use courts 2 & 3 and the back half of the oval.  This is in accordance with the 70/30 split of costs and resources of the plant.  This change has come about due to changes to the bell system at the College.  At other times it will be a shared resource between the College and St James.

Compass Rollout

As previosuly communicated in a letter emailed last month, we are very excited about our new communication & school management platform called - COMPASS School Manager, which will become our school community communication tool from the start of next year.

The Compass platform includes many different features, you’ll have the ability to:
• Receive notifications about school events, news and information
• Enter an explanation for absences
• Update your family contact details (mobile phone & email)
• View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
• Download and view your child’s academic reports
• Book parent-teacher conferences (parent/teacher interviews)
• Pay and provide digital consent for events
• Order lunches from the Canteen
• Pay school fees

Your login details will arrive via your personal email address registered with us and each parent will receive a username and login. If you share an email address with your significant other, then you will receive two emails with two unique log-ins. Your username and password is
unique to you, families will not share a username and password, and will come from an address
noreply@compass.email - you may need to check your junk mail box.

Therefore, at this stage, no action is required by parents but please keep an eye out for your Compass invite email due to be sent out mid January 2023.

Instrumental Music Program

We are in discussions with an external provider who can offer various instrumental music lessons in a range of instruments.  It is our hope and aim to have a program operating in the school for children and families who wish to be involved in this extra-curricular activity.  We are also aiming to create a band or two (or more!), so that the kids can showcase their talent and enjoy making music together.  More information will be provided to families soon.  

Staffing 2023

We are delighted to inform you of our teachers and their placements for 2023.

- Kindergarten: Matilda Regan, Holly Veitch & Maddie Smith

- Year 1: Jo Ryan, Bianca Maxworthy & Lewis Capellari

- Year 2: Joe Zambelli, Megan Robinson & Michelle Clarke

- Year 3: Daniel Sutherland, Kate Quinton & Marisa O'Connor

- Year 4: Jo Pickett, Caroline Page & David Smith

- Year 5: Bradley Bugden & Karri von Mengersen

- Year 6: Michael Keating & Michelle Dermody

- Year 5/6 Learning Support & Enrichment Teacher: Gavin Holmes

- Kindergarten, Year 1 & Year 2 Learning Support Teacher: Mandy Barone 

- Learning Support Teacher: Monique Rochester (part of Term 1 only - see below)

- Learning Support Teacher: Ann Ricketts

- Specialist Teachers: Lisa Fitzhugh (Art & PE), Louise Kuhn (Science/Technology & PE), Tarri Johns (Science/Technology & PE) and Tracey Ryan (Music/Performing Arts & PE)

- Inclusion Teacher: Rosemary Vickery

- Leader of Pedagogy: Jacqui Malone

- School Assistants: Anastasia Scott (Missions and Values Coordinator), Kelly Styman (Learning Support and Library), Melissa Everingham (Learning Support), Amanda McTaggart (Canteen, Uniform Shop and Parent Engagement), Cathy Reid (Canteen), Sarah Stanton & Tracey Smith (Office), Jacinta Condon (Finance), TBC (IEW), Thane Harriott, Mark Klein & James Kerr (Maintenance) & Sasha Kruse (School Counsellor)

- Assistant Principals: Kylie Cane & Karen Sanderson

- Principal: Nic McTaggart

We are pleased to introduce some new staff listed above which have come about because of the following changes to our current personnel as mentioned in the previous newsletter, please note:

- Mandy Barone and Tarri Johns will move to part-time in 2023 (3 days per week), along with Lisa Fitzhugh, Louise Kuhn, Ann Ricketts & Tracey Ryan who are currently part-time. 

- Monique Rochester will only be with us for a short period in Term 1, and she will be departing mid-Term  for a period of maternity leave to welcome her 3rd child into her family.

- Sam Kerlin is returning to Victoria to be closer to family and to take up a Deputy Principal position.

Students will "step up" into their 2023 classes on December 1st (9am-10:30am) to meet their teachers and explore their new learning environment.  

Term 4 Dates and Events

Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 4: 

- Thursday  17th & 24th November: Kindergarten 2023 Transition sessions

- Monday 28th, Wednesday 30th November & Friday 2nd December: Swimming program [K-3]

- Monday 28th November & Friday 2nd December: Water/Beach Safety Program [4-6]

- Tuesday 29th November: Yr 6 Graduation Mass, 6pm St Joseph's Church, Tweed Heads

- Thursday 1st December: Kindergarten 2023 Transition & K-5 step-up 2023 class

- Monday 5th, Wednesday 7th & Friday 9th December: Swimming program [K-3]

- Monday 5th & Friday 9th December: Water/Beach Safety Program [4-6]

- Tuesday 6th December: Swimming Carnival [Y2-Y6] @ Murwillumbah Aquatic Cnt

- Thursday 8th December: Christmas carols, 6.30pm

- Wednesday 14th December: Kindergarten Graduation, 9am MPC

- Thursday 15th December: Celebration of Learning & End of Year Liturgy, 11.30am Doyle Cnt

- Thursday 15th December: Year 6 Dinner Dance, 6pm MPC

- Friday 16th December: Final School Assembly / Last day for 2022

Thumbs-up

- Year 6 students for presenting a respectful Remembrance Day service.

- K-2 staff and students for their work with our camp program.

- Families for supporting our staff's professional learning (pupil-free days) recently.

To conclude

Our 2023 Kindergarten cohort visited the school for the first of four transitions to school sessions.  The children and their parents/carers explored the classroom and engaged for the first time in a learning activity at St James Primary.  Well done kids (and mums and dads) and welcome to St James!  They visit again on November 17th & 24th, and December 1st.

Kindergarten Class of 2023