Week 7, Term 2 - 2024
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
Today was the school athletics carnival and it was a day filled with exhilarating sportsmanship, teamwork, and incredible displays of talent. We extend our gratitude to each and every one of you for making this event an unforgettable experience.
To the athletes who dedicated countless hours to training, pushing their limits, and showcasing their skills, we applaud your commitment, perseverance, and unwavering spirit. Your passion for sports was evident in every race, jump, throw, and game played. You inspired us all with your outstanding performances and determination to give your best on the field.
We would also like to recognise the tireless efforts of our staff members who worked diligently to prepare our students for the Athletics Carnival. Your guidance, expertise, and unwavering support played a crucial role in shaping our athletes into the incredible individuals they are today. We especially acknowledge our Extracurricular and Sports Team who organised and led the event: Mrs Maxworthy, Mr Holmes, Mrs Styman and Mrs von Mengersen.
A special thank you goes out to the parents and friends who were present, cheering from the sidelines, and providing a supportive atmosphere for our young athletes. We appreciate your continued support in nurturing your children's passion for sports.
The individual results were:
- 8 years: Grace C, Ikal M and Sonny L
- 9 years: Lacey G and Xavier B
- 10 years: Jessica VG, Maya PM and Liam W
- 11 years: Lucia DS and Max C
- 12 years: Ava W and Billy DG
The overall results were:
- First: MacKillop 1075
- Second: Hanly 940
- Third: Ryland 896
- Fourth: Polding 848
The Athletics Carnival truly showcased the strength of our school spirit and the power of coming together as a community.
2024 School Athletics
Learning Conferences
We have completed the Learning Conferences for Term 2. It's been terrific to have parents and students sharing their glows and growth and focusing on how we can continue to develop each child spiritually, socially, and academically. Please complete the parent section of the Insights Template; this can be located on the Compass portal. The Semester Two summative reports, along with the Term 1 and Term 2 insights reports will be published on July 2nd.
At St. James, we strive to ensure that inclusive methods of reporting not only inform but empower, enliven, and encourage effective partnerships with all families. This in turn promotes positive outcomes for student learning and well-being. Please see the infographic below to support your understanding of how we communicate student learning with you.
Sharing Learning
Term 2 - Celebration of Learning
Our Term 2 celebration of Learning will be the Play is The Way Championship Day, held on Thursday, July 4th. Parents and guests are welcome to attend with us; please see information below.
Confirmation
Next term Year 3 will prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. This begins the sacramental journey which finishes in Year 4 with First Holy Communion. A letter of information about the Parish program will be sent to all students in the coming weeks. If your child is in years 4, 5, or 6 a baptised Catholic, and has not yet received their sacraments, and would like to join the next program, please email Mrs Sanderson (AP Mission) bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au and she will send you information about the sacramental program.
If you are interested in becoming baptised so you can participate in the sacramental program, please email Kathy Twohill and Donna Walsh in the St Joseph's Parish Office. donnaw@stjosephs.org.au ktwohill@stjosephs.org.au
Farewell Fr Wilber
Our Parish school chaplain, Father Wilber, is leaving us very soon to continue his work in the Lismore diocese at the parish of Casino. Please join us to say goodbye to Wilber on Sunday 23rd June as he celebrates his final 9 am Mass at St Joseph's Church Tweed Heads. There will be a shared morning tea afterwards.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Term 2 chicken care
Our school chickens (Rosalind, Henrietta, Marigold & Petunia) need care during the Term 2 weekends and the end of Term 2 holidays. So, we invite families to go on the roster as explained below.
Term 2 weekend roster:
- Attend school on Saturday and Sunday and feed the chickens food scraps from home and give them some seed (provided). Check the eggs and take them home to enjoy some yummy scrambled, poached, or fried eggs!
July holiday roster:
- Attend school for a period of days during the July holiday break (according to the roster) and feed the chickens food scraps from home and give them some seed (provided). Check their water and feeder. Check the eggs and take them home to enjoy some yummy scrambled, poached, or fried eggs!
If you can help care for the chickens on the following weekends, please email the office at bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au
Saturday June 22nd & Sunday June 23rd
Saturday June 29th & Sunday June 30th
Saturday July 6th & Sunday July 7th
In advance, thank you for helping us take care of our little chicks!
School Improvement Goals: Fortnightly update
Short Term Goals
Our recent short-term goal was, "Families will complete the parent feedback from the Learning Conferences, using the insights template"
Currently, 23% of our students have received feedback from their parents about their learning and wellbeing via insights. In two weeks time (our next newsletter) we hope to achieve at least 85% of our students receiving feedback to support their growth and development. We thank you for partnering with us.
Term 2 Dates & Events
Please note the upcoming events scheduled for the remainder of Term 2.
- July 1st: Year 4,5,6 Mass - MPC
- July 2nd: Public speaking finals
- July 2nd: Reports published to parents.
- July 3rd: 100 days of Kindergarten Celebration.
- July 4th: PiTW Championships Day/Final Day of Term 2.
- July 5th: Pupil Free Day.
Thumbs-up
- Parents, Teachers & Students for engaging in the Learning Conferences.
- Students for their participation in the School Athletics Carnival.
- Smith & Elineau families for caring for the chickens over the past weekends.
To conclude
Our 4 choral speaking teams participated in the Murrwillumbah Eisteddfod recently; their participation, articulation and attention to detail was amazing - well done! The teams did very well at the event, achieving the following results:
- Kindergarten: 3rd Place
- Stage 1: 1st Place
- Stage 2: Enthusiastic participation
- Stage 3: 1st Place
We are indeed proud of their efforts and we acknowledge our school's participation in The Arts.
With blessings,
Karen & Kylie.
Upcoming events
Please note the following upcoming events......
Parenting support & learning
Please note the following parenting supporting & learning items.....
Item 5: Is My Child Bullying Others?
A student facing personal and social challenges may exhibit behaviours that disregard
school rules and codes of conduct or threaten their peers' wellbeing and safety. How you
respond upon discovering that your child may have engaged in bullying behaviour is
equally crucial as addressing the bullying behaviour itself. Help your child to be the best
expression of their unique self through their words and actions.
What are the signs that your child could be bullying others?
Your child may be:
● Aggressive Behaviour. This could include using verbal or physical aggression such
as hitting, pushing, name-calling and teasing to deal with conflict including with
siblings.
● Lack of Empathy: They show a lack of empathy towards others' feelings or dismiss
the pain they may have caused to someone else. They may put down other children
or siblings in conversations and have difficulties understanding the feelings of
others.
● Dominating or Controlling: Your child could dominate or control others, seeking
power and control over their peers or younger children. This could include using
threatening or demeaning language when talking about others. They may be unable
to play games without being a ‘sore loser’ or a disrespectful winner.
● Blaming Others: Your child could often blame others for their actions and refuse to
take responsibility for their behaviour. They may talk about or display behaviours
that involve “getting even” with others.
● Unexplained possession of other students' belongings: If your child has items
that don't belong to them without a reasonable explanation, it could be a sign of
bullying behaviour.
● Increased secrecy about their activities: Your child might become secretive about
their interactions with peers, avoiding discussing their day or social experiences.
Helping your child to stop bullying others requires a proactive and supportive approach. It's
important to approach this situation with care and understanding. If you suspect that your
child may be bullying others, have open and honest conversations with them about their
behaviour and its consequences.
Teach empathy and appropriate ways to interact with others. Engage with your child's
school to address the issue collaboratively and consider seeking professional help if
necessary. The goal is to help your child recognise the harmful effects of bullying, develop
empathy, and adopt positive social behaviours.
Addressing bullying behaviour requires patience, understanding, and consistent effort. Be
supportive of your child's efforts to change, and celebrate their progress as they learn to
interact with others in a more positive and respectful manner.
If the behaviour persists or if you are concerned about your child's ability to change on
their own, seek advice from your GP. They may recommend a pediatric review to help
understand your child’s behaviour.
Read more at Helping your child stop bullying A guide for parents by the Australian
Government.
Other information
Please note the following additional information.....
