Week 9, Term 3 - 2024
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
What a joyful few weeks we've had at our school! The much-anticipated school disco was a huge success, and it was wonderful to see our students having so much fun together. The energy on the dance floor was infectious, and it was heart-warming to witness the joy and excitement in each child. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the night so special, from our dedicated staff to our enthusiastic parent volunteers. The event truly brought our school community closer together.
Last week, we also observed RU OK? Day, a reminder of the importance of looking out for one another. In our Catholic tradition, we are called to love and care for those around us, just as Jesus taught us. This day gave us the opportunity to remind our students to check in on their friends and family, ensuring that no one feels alone. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." Let us continue to embody this spirit of kindness and support in all that we do.
May we keep the joy of the disco in our hearts and the message of RU OK? Day in our minds as we move forward together as a caring, compassionate school community.
Disco
School Spectacular
We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming School Musical Spectacular on Thursday, September 26th! This event promises to be a truly unforgettable evening, filled with music, dance, and the incredible talents of our students.
Our students have been working hard over the past few weeks, pouring their hearts and souls into rehearsals, and we can't wait for you to see the fruits of their efforts. The dazzling performances will showcase the creativity, teamwork, and dedication of our school community. It's going to be a night to remember!
We invite all families to come along, support our budding stars, and celebrate the joy of the performing arts. Let's make this event a true community celebration, where we can all come together and applaud the talents and hard work of our amazing students.
Mark your calendars and prepare to be amazed—we look forward to seeing you there!
St James Adult Event
We are excited to be holding a Game Show Live night on Saturday, 26th of October from 7pm - 10pm (an extra hour or so with music afterward).
This is an interactive trivia game show. Parents and friends of the school are invited to get tables of 10 people together for this event. The cost of a ticket is $30 per person and can be purchased by eftpos or cash at the school office.
We would like parent involvement in the setup and organisation of this event, please email the school office at bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au if you can assist in any way.
To confirm that this event goes ahead, can we please have one delegate from your table email the school at bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au by next Thursday, 26th September, to confirm attendance on the night. We need a minimum of 100 people to make this event successful.
Thank you again for your support and help with this matter.
Upcoming Sport
First, we'd like to wish our Stage 3 Rugby team the best of luck as they head to the Rugby Gala Day on September 24th. The team has been training hard, showing great determination and teamwork. We know they will represent our school with pride, and we look forward to hearing all about their efforts on the field. Go team!
In even more thrilling news, our Stage 3 Netball team has made us incredibly proud by winning their recent Gala Day! Their dedication, skill, and sportsmanship shone brightly throughout the competition, and now they are off to Grafton for the next stage of the tournament on September 25th. Congratulations to the entire team and their coaches and parents—this is a remarkable achievement!
As we celebrate these successes, we are reminded of the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and the joy of competing in sports. We are so proud of all our students for their hard work and dedication, both on and off the field. Let’s continue to cheer them on as they strive for excellence!
School Improvement Goals: Fortnightly Update
Short Term Goals
Our short-term goal is, We will engage in the School Spectacular through singing and dancing to 'One-Hit Wonders'.
Long Term Goals
One of our long-term goals is to deepen everyone’s engagement with the Mission of Jesus Christ. Recently, our Year 6 students had the wonderful opportunity to gather with their peers from other Catholic schools in the Tweed Region. The Mass was a beautiful celebration, and it was inspiring to see the students actively participating in the liturgy. The connections they formed with one another afterwards truly brought Christ’s mission to life, showing the power of faith and community in action.
Term 3 Dates & Events
Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 3.
- September 26th: Final day of Term 3 & School Spectacular (evening event)
- September 27th: Pupil Free Day.
Term 4 Dates & Events
Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 4.
- October 17th: O'Dwyer Shield/Billy Hardy Shield.
- October 18th: Mission Fair.
- October 24th: Kinder 2025 welcome BBQ.
- October 24th: Parent Community Meeting.
- October 26th: Adult Community Event.
- October 28th: Year 6 Graduation Parent meeting.
- October 28th – 30th: Year 4 Camp.
- November 5th: Kinder 2025 Transition 1.
- November 6th: Year K-2 Camp.
- November 7th & 8th: Pupil Free Days.
- November 11th: Remembrance Day.
- November 11th – 13th: Year 5 Camp.
- November 12th: Kinder 2025 Transition 2.
- November 19th – 21st: Learning Conferences.
- November 26th: Kinder 2025 Transition 3.
- November 28th & 29th: Year 3 Camp.
- December 2nd – 6th: K-6 Swimming.
- December 3rd: Kinder 2025 Transition 3 & Whole School Step-up.
- December 5th: Year 6 Graduation.
- December 9th – 14th: K-6 Swimming.
- December 10th: Swimming Carnival.
- December 12th: Christmas Carols.
- December 16th: Year 6 Celebration Day 1.
- December 16th: Kindergarten Graduation.
- December 17th: End of Year Liturgy.
- December 17th: Year 6 Dinner Dance.
- December 18th: Final Assembly & End of Term 4/2024 school year.
- December 18th: Year 6 Celebration Day 2 & Guard of Honour.
- December 19th & 20th: Pupil Free Days.
Thumbs-Up
- Parents and staff for their organisation and help during the school disco.
- Parents for attending the Safe of Socials Zoom event.
- Smith & Turner Families for helping care for Petunia, Rosalind, Marigold, and Henrietta (our beautiful chickens) over the past two weekends.
To conclude
As Term 3 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate all the wonderful achievements and experiences we've shared. From the exciting events like our school disco and sports gala days to the daily joys of learning and growing together, this term has been filled with memorable moments. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and, of course, our incredible students for making this term such a success.
A friendly reminder that Friday, September 27th, is a pupil-free day, so please enjoy the extra day of rest and relaxation. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for Term 4, which begins on Monday, October 14th.
As we head into the holidays, let us pause for a moment of prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the blessings of this past term.
Please watch over our school community during the holidays.
Grant us rest, joy, and safety as we spend time with our loved ones.
Guide us with Your wisdom and love, and bring us back together refreshed and ready for the new term.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable break, and we can't wait to see what the final term of the year has in store for us!
With blessings,
Nic.
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