Week 3, Term 3 - 2024

Welcome

Dear St James Community,

On August 15th, Catholics around the world celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, a significant day in the Church calendar.  This feast commemorates the belief that  Mary Jesus' Mother, at the end of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into Heaven.

The Assumption serves as a reminder of Mary’s purity and her close relationship with God.  For many, it is a day to reflect on the values of faith, hope, and love that Mary exemplified throughout her life.

The Feast of the Assumption encourages us to aspire to live lives of virtue and to trust in God’s plan for each of us.  As we celebrate, let us be inspired by Mary’s example of devotion and faithfulness.  In our school, we will honour this feast with Mass on August 15th at 2 pm [MPC] and all parents and friends are welcome to join us.  

Book Week & Grandparent's Day

Friday, August 23rd is our 2024 Book Week dress-up day and Grandparent's Day.  Students are encouraged to come to school dressed as a book character and families (especially Grandparents) are invited to come along to school for the fun and festivities of the day! 

8:40am: Gather in the Doyle Centre [St Joseph's College].

9 am:  Grandparents' Day assembly & Book Week parade.

10:10 am: Classroom visits.

10:40 am: Morning Tea [donations provided by Parent Community].

Book Fair

Our school is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair on Monday, August 19th through until Friday, August 23rd. The fair will be open before school, from 8.10am, recess and lunch.
You and your child will have the opportunity to explore a huge range of affordable books featuring characters and subjects kids love and want to read about. From newly released books and bestsellers to award-winning titles and perennial favourites.
This is also a great way for you to learn about, and discuss your child's interests and every book sold benefits our school, adding resources to our library and classrooms. Scholastic Book Fairs help us show students the wonder of reading. After all, when kids choose their own books, they will be more excited to read, and they will naturally read more!

Sporting news

A huge congratulations to all our students who participated in the recent Zone Athletics. Your enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship were truly commendable and made us all incredibly proud.

Whether you were running on the track, playing on the court, or cheering from the sidelines, each of you contributed to the vibrant spirit and represented our school so very well.  

Well done to all our athletes for giving their best and representing our school with pride and excellence. Your achievements inspire us all to stay active, work hard, and support one another.  Keep aiming high, and continue to shine both on and off the field!

We especially congratulate Iziah C, Violet C, Cooper D, Billy D, Emilia D, Lucia D, Tahlia F, Lacey G, Hype G, Bethany I, Ezekiel I, Jake M, Maya PM, Grace R, Junia R, Eden S, Jessica V, Ashton V, Liam W and Ava W who have moved on to the Diocesan Athletics that will be held on August 16th.

Sporting photos

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 13

Next

ICAS

We are excited to announce that some of our students have chosen to participate in International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). These assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence in subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, and more.

The ICAS assessments provide a unique opportunity for our students to challenge themselves and demonstrate their knowledge and skills on an international stage. They also offer valuable feedback, helping students identify their strengths and areas for improvement.

Participation in ICAS not only fosters a love for learning but also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. We are proud of our student’s commitment to their education and look forward to celebrating their achievements in these prestigious assessments.

Good luck to all our participants!

Parent Community Group

On August 8th we held our Parent Community Group.  I am pleased to report that our attendance numbers increased to 15; thank you!  At the meeting, we discussed the Student Disco, Adults only Term 3 event and what parents want as Graduate outcomes for their children at the end of Primary School (minutes are attached).  The discussion and engagement were tremendous; we hope to keep building this element of our school community.

Tweed Public Speaking

We are incredibly proud of our students who recently participated in the public speaking event.  Your dedication, confidence, and eloquence were truly inspiring to all who attended.

Public speaking is a vital skill, and each of you showcased exceptional talent in articulating your thoughts and engaging your audience. Your hard work and preparation were evident, and you should be proud of your achievements.

Congratulations to all our participants for representing our school with such poise and grace.  You have set a high standard for future events and demonstrated the power of effective communication. Keep up the great work, and continue to inspire us with your voices!

Tweed Public Speaking

Release of Information Consent and Digital Technology Student User Agreement, 2024

At St. James Primary, we use a variety of digital technologies to promote engagement and creativity across the learning areas. The attached link is to the Parental Consent and Student Digital Technology User Agreement 2024, which provides our families and students with the information on the processes in place to build responsible digital citizens. It also helps create an understanding of the expectations when using digital technology throughout the school year.

Please take the time to read through the attached Digital Technologies User Agreement with your child. You can locate the agreement by clicking on this link.

If you have more than one child at St. James Primary School, you will be required to complete this with each of your children. 

Thank you for your continued support of your child and for promoting responsible use of Digital Technology at St. James.

School Improvement Planning

Currently, our staff are crafting a new school improvement plan (2025-2027).  I wanted to acknowledge and thank those in our school community who completed the recent data surveys (e.g.: Tell Them From Me).  We welcome the feedback and are certainly using the data to inform our decisions and ultimately the plan.    The new plan and the relevant data will be shared in due course.  In the meantime, below are two important data elements from the Tell Them From Me survey that I want to share and celebrate with our community.

- Overall parent partners in learning survey.

This data places St James above the region mean in the 7 areas.

- Students' perception of skill and challenge in the classrooms.

This data shows that 51% of students are in the desirable quadrant (which is significant when measured against the 38% TTFM norm)

School Improvement Goals: Fortnightly Update

Short Term Goals

Our short-term goal is  "Students will maintain a high standard of school attendance to build stronger connections with their teachers and peers."  

Long Term Goals

About the above aspiration that students have strong attendance; we received a Diocesan report that placed St James as one of 9 schools that has positive school attendance data.  Well done everyone; let's continue to build upon this data and success.

Term 3 Dates & Events

Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 3. 

- August 19th-23rd: Book Fair 

- August 23rd: Book Week Dress up day & Grandparents Day.

- August 27th - 29th: Fathers Day Stall (8am-8:30am each day) - Volunteers if you are able to assist please email bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au

- August 27th - 29th: Learning Conferences.

- August 30th: Father's Day Breakfast - Volunteers if you are able to assist please email bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au

- September 5th: Sacrament of Confirmation.

- September 6th: Stage 3 gala day.

- September 10th: Student Disco.

- September 12th: Safe of Socials incursion

- September 20th: R U OK day.

- September 26th: Final day of Term 3 & School Spectacular (evening event)

- September 27th: Pupil Free Day.

Adults only event theme and date is currently being coordinated by the school, with school or parents.

Thumbs-up

- All parents who attended the Parent Community Group Meeting.

- Students, teachers and parents for engaging in our NAIDOC week assembly and celebrations.

-  Smith and Smithwick Families for helping care for Petunia, Rosalind, Marigold, and Henrietta (our beautiful chickens) over the past two weekends.

To conclude

At St James Primary we believe that a clear and inspiring vision is essential for guiding our community towards a bright and successful future.  Ultimately, our school vision is to nurture well-rounded, confident, and capable individuals who are prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow with integrity, creativity, and compassion.

Our vision emphasises the importance of academic excellence, enhanced wellbeing, spiritual growth and connections to faith, and community involvement.  We strive to create an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and supported, and where their unique talents and aspirations can flourish.  Through innovative teaching methods, collaborative learning experiences, and a strong focus on character development, we aim to equip our students with the skills and values they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.

As part of our work in creating a new 3-year strategic plan, the staff, with parental input at the recent Parent Community Meeting are currently renewing our School Ethos statement.  This will be shared with everyone in due course, so we all can be inspired by our vision and work hand in hand to make it a reality, ensuring a bright and promising future for every student at St James Primary.

Blessings,

Nic.

Upcoming events

Please note the following upcoming events......

Parenting support & learning

Please note the following parenting supporting & learning items.....

eSafety Parent Webinars Term 3

Understanding how to support your child with online gaming
Suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and early secondary school.
Tuesday, 30 July, 12.30pm
Tuesday, 3 September, 12.30pm
Register here

Consent and online boundaries: How to support your primary-aged child
Suitable for parents and carers of children in primary school.
Tuesday, 13 August, 12.30 pm
Wednesday, 11 September, 12.30 pm
Register here

An introduction to online safety and emerging technologies
Suitable for parents and carers of children and parents in primary and secondary school.
Wednesday, 24 July, 2.30pm
Thursday, 5 September, 12.30pm
Register here

Item 8: Fostering Friendships

Building and maintaining friendships is an essential aspect of a child's social and emotional
development. By providing guidance, support, and opportunities for social interaction,
parents play a vital role in helping their children develop and maintain meaningful
friendships that contribute to their overall happiness and wellbeing.
Here are some tips for parents to help foster friendships:

1. Encourage Social Interaction: Encourage your child to participate in social
activities and group settings where they can interact with peers. This could include
playdates, extracurricular activities, sports teams, or community events. Exposure to
different social settings provides opportunities for your child to meet and connect
with others.

2. Lead by Example: Children often learn social skills by observing the behaviour of
adults. Model positive social interactions by being friendly, empathetic, and inclusive
in your own relationships. Demonstrate the values of kindness, cooperation, and
respect for others in your interactions with friends, neighbours, and family
members.

3. Teach Social Skills: Help your child develop essential social skills such as
communication, listening, sharing, and cooperation. Role-play different social
scenarios with them and provide guidance on appropriate ways to interact with
others. Encourage them to greet new people, initiate conversations, and find
common interests with their peers.

4. Support Their Interests: Encourage your child to pursue their interests and
passions, as this can help them connect with like-minded peers who share similar
interests. Whether it's sports, music, art, or hobbies, support your child's pursuits
and help them find opportunities to engage with others who share their passions.

5. Promote Inclusivity: Teach your child the importance of inclusivity and acceptance
of others who may be different from them. Encourage them to be open-minded,

empathetic, and welcoming to children of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and
interests. Emphasise the value of forming friendships based on mutual respect and
understanding.

6. Be Supportive: Be supportive and understanding if your child experiences
challenges or setbacks in their friendships. Offer a listening ear, validate their
feelings, and provide guidance on how to navigate conflicts or misunderstandings
constructively. Help them develop resilience and problem-solving skills to overcome
social hurdles.

7. Monitor Screen Time: Be mindful of the amount of time your child spends on
digital devices and social media. Excessive screen time can hinder opportunities for
face-to-face social interaction. Encourage offline activities that allow for meaningful
interactions and foster authentic connections with peers.

Stay involved in your child's social life by maintaining open communication with them
about their friendships and social experiences. Show genuine interest in their friendships,
ask about their day, and offer guidance or support when needed.

Breaking Point with Dr Justin Coulson

Wednesday 11 September from 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Join Dr Justin Coulson, Australia’s leading parenting expert, as he unpacks the mental health needs of children and young people. The session will include:

• The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible.
• The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children.
• Science-backed, relationship-focused strategies to remedy school refusal.
• Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child’s wellbeing without completely alienating them from their peers.
• Creating a margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness.

To register, click here. 

Other information

Please note the following additional information.....