Week 1, Term 1 - 2023

Welcome

Dear St James Community,

Welcome to the 2023 school year!  Our students have returned to school happily over the week and it's been tremendous to see them reconnect with their friends and teachers.

We are grateful that our holiday break was peaceful and safe for our families and community and we pray that 2023 is joyful, safe, and healthy for us all.

Gracious God, we come to you at the beginning of this academic year
with our many feelings, expectations, and hopes.
Help us to remember, we have the comforting
assurance from you as you told us: "I will always be with you."

Give us a new perspective to see persons, events, and academic work as an
invitation to develop the many gifts you have given us to be used in service for others.

                                            Grant us peace, joy, safety, and great learning opportunities                                              as we journey together through the 2023 school year.

Amen.

We especially welcome Chloe C, Charles O'C, Lily C, Lucy O'C, Sunny E and Cooper F who have joined the St James 'Family in Christ' as new students in Years 1-6 and we welcome our new teachers and staff: Mrs Jo Ryan (Year 1), Mrs Marisa O'Connor (Year 3), Mr Daniel Sutherland (Year 3), Mr David Smith (Year 4), Mrs Karri von Mengersen (Year 5), Ms Michelle Dermody (Year 6) and Mrs Mel Everingham (Learning Support).   In 2023, Mrs Kylie Cane commences in the role of Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching, and Mrs Jacqui Malone commences in the role of Leader of Pedagogy; we extend our best wishes to them in their new positions.  

Next Monday we welcome our 57 new Kindergarten children who will start their 13-year journey of Catholic education; may their beginning of school be fun-filled as they make many new friends and explore their new surroundings.

New members of our school

Welcome back one and all!

Parent Handbook

Our 2023 parent handbook can be found on the school’s website.  This booklet contains all the information families require to understand the policies, procedures, and structures of St James Primary.  Please take the time to familiarise yourself with this information and refer to the booklet as required. 

Welcome to Grade meetings

In 2023, we will be holding Grade meetings for parents in Week 3.  These gatherings will enable teachers to provide important information about the Grade structures and enable you to meet your child’s teachers and ask questions.  The date and times of each meeting are as follows:

• Kindergarten - Thursday 16th February
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
• Year 1 - Thursday 16th February 
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
    
• Year 2 - Thursday 16th February
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
• Year 3 – Tuesday 14th February 
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
• Year 4 – Tuesday 14th February
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
• Year 5 – Wednesday 15th February
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm
• Year 6 – Wednesday 15th February
  • Session 1: 8:10am
  • Session 2: 2:30pm

Each Grade will also video and distribute the event to families if they are unable to attend one of the sessions.

After-school collection arrangements

In 2023 some new after-school arrangements will be implemented to aid with the smooth transition and collection of students.  Upon dismissal at 3pm children can:

1. Meet parents/carers at designated places (e.g.: front carpark, inside the school grounds, at the front gate etcetera).
2. Walk or ride home or to various predetermined places.
3. Be collected at the car pick-up supervised area adjacent to the school oval (this includes children attending Tabatinga after-school care).
4. Catch a bus from the supervised area in the kindergarten playground (we are currently looking at which buses this includes and will provide more information to families as soon as possible).
5. Wait for College siblings at the front of the school at a pre-determined place.
6. Attend after-school care at St James Primary in the Capturing Kids' Minds program.

Road Safety Message

Approximately 1200 students and 150 staff need to move in and around the College and Primary School each morning and afternoon, and as you're aware the traffic can be congested.  To this end, safety must be the number 1 priority for everyone, so please be kind and patient with one another and at all times promote safe practices and follow all rules for the sake of our children.   To support traffic flow the College and Primary have co-created a traffic management plan (see link below); please be familiar with this and enact it at all times. 

Here are some safety tips:

• Be alert and aware by travelling distraction-free. Ask children to take off their headphones when walking.
• Keep safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
• Keep safe getting on and off the bus.
• Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the edge of the road.
• Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. 
• Wait until the bus has gone, before you cross the road. 
• Wear a helmet. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it’s the law.  Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective gear such as knee and elbow pads. 

 Hold a grown-up’s hand (Kinder to Year 2) when:

• you cross the road
• you’re on the footpath
• you’re in a car park
• Use a safe place to cross the road. The fastest way, may not be the safest way.
• Stop! Look! Listen! Think! Every time you cross the road and keep checking until you safely across

Cross the road safely by enacting stop, look, listen and think:

• STOP!  one step back from the kerb
• LOOK!  continuously both ways
• LISTEN!  for the sounds of approaching traffic
• THINK!  whether it is safe to cross and keep checking until safely across

If your child travels independently to school, please talk to them about the route they take to ensure they are making safe decisions. 

Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver.  Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.  Never sacrifice safety for convenience.

Source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/

Compass

You have now received your access information for the Compass school management system, and you should have activated your account.  As requested, please delete all previously used school apps (schoolzine, felxischools, see-saw and operoo).  If you need any support or information concerning Compass, please contact the school office.

Term 1 Events/Dates

Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 1.

• Kindergarten commences school (February 6^th)
• Beginning of the school year Mass [Year 6 Leadership Induction] (February 7^th @ 12noon)
  
• Show your colours day (February 17^th)
• School photos (February 20^th)
• Pancake Breakfast (February 21^st)
• Ash Wednesday (February 22^nd)
• Year 6 camp (March 14th-17th)
• Cross Country (March 24^th)
• Celebration of Learning – Holy Week Liturgy & Easter raffle [final day of Term 1] (April 6^th)
• Good Friday public holiday (April 7^th)

To support future planning for families, our yearly planner is below.  The dates are firmly set but are subject to change if required.  Please note that Monday April 24th, Tuesday May 30th, Friday September 22nd, Thursday November 2nd & Friday November 3rd are pupil-free days; and Friday April 7th, Tuesday April 25th & Monday June 12th are public holidays.

Thumbs-up

- To all families and students for returning to school happily.

- To our students for their work with the MAI (Math) assessments.

- To our maintenance crew who have ensured the school is clean and tidy for us to enjoy!

To conclude

We look forward to working with you and our students to promote academic, social, and spiritual growth throughout the 2023 school year.  We sincerely thank our staff for their work in preparing for the year ahead, and we congratulate all students and parents for the positive and joy-filled way we have returned to school. Welcome everyone; may 2023 be a faith-filled year of safety, joy, learning, and good health.

With blessings,                                                                         

Nic.