Week 1, Term 4 - 2024

Welcome

Dear St James Community,

Welcome to Term 4! I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday break and has returned feeling refreshed and ready for the final part of the 2024 academic year.

During the break, on October 4th, our Church celebrated the feast of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis, born in 1181 in Italy, abandoned a life of luxury to devote himself to Christianity after hearing God's voice, calling him to rebuild the Church and embrace poverty. After his canonisation, he became the patron saint of animals and the environment.

St Francis’ prayer for peace beautifully reminds us of the values we aspire to—goodwill, love, and harmony. Let us pray together:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

 Below is the link to the Week 1, Term 4 principal's podcast.

School Spectacular

Wow!  What an incredible night at the School Musical Spectacular!  The talent, energy, and enthusiasm from our students were nothing short of stunning.  Each and every performance was filled with passion, and it was a joy to watch our students shine on stage.

A huge thank you to all the families, friends, and community members who came along to support the show – your presence made the night even more special for the performers.

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Miss Ryan and the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this production to life.  Without your guidance, creativity, and commitment, this event wouldn’t have been the success that it was.

At St James, we strongly believe in the power of The Arts.  It not only nurtures creativity and self-expression but also builds confidence, collaboration, and emotional intelligence in our students.  We are proud to advocate for The Arts and will continue to provide these enriching opportunities for all our students.

Thank you again for your support, and congratulations to everyone involved!

Spectacular memories!

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Mission Fair

Today Friday, October 18th, we held our annual Mission Fair and Crazy Sock Day, and what an incredible day it was! The event was a huge success, filled with fun, laughter, and generosity from all our students. Our Year 6 leaders did a tremendous job organising and running the stalls, putting in a great effort to ensure everyone had a memorable day.

We are so proud of our senior students for their hard work and dedication, knowing that all the proceeds will go to those in need of our financial aid. Their commitment to supporting the dignity of the human person and the common good truly shone through.

Thank you to all the students who brought along their spare change and joined in to make this day a wonderful celebration of our missionary efforts. Your support will make a real difference to those who need it most!

Mission Fair

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2025 Planning

As we prepare for the 2025 school year, we are thrilled to announce the wonderful team of Kindergarten teachers joining us in welcoming our newest students to St James.  These teachers bring a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to early childhood education, and we are confident they will provide a nurturing and inspiring learning environment for our little ones.

Kindergarten Teachers for 2025:

• Mrs. Michelle Clarke.
• Miss. Holly Veitch.
• Miss. Maddie Smith.

In addition to our fantastic Kindergarten team, we are pleased to announce the appointments of our Coordinators for 2025.  These staff members will play a vital role in leading our school community, supporting teachers, and ensuring we continue to provide the best educational experience for our students.

2025 Coordinators:

• Mrs. Jacqui Malone: In charge of Pedagogy and Learning, Jacqui will lead our initiatives in academic excellence, ensuring all students have access to high-quality, engaging lessons.
• Mrs. Karri von Mengersen & Mrs. Bianca Maxworthy: As our Inclusion Coordinators, Karri and Bianca will focus on student support, emotional development, and maintaining a safe, inclusive environment for all.
• Mrs. Marisa O'Connor: Overseeing Mission and Faith, Marisa will continue to guide our school’s spiritual life and connection to the Mission of Jesus Christ, enriching the faith experiences of our community.
• Due to Bianca's new position in the school, we will appoint a new Student Culture and Extracurricular Leader [Sport] in due course. 

I also announce that Mrs. Rosemary Vickery will be taking Long Service Leave for the entire 2025 academic school year; after many years of active and dedicated service to our school community, we wish Rosemary all the very best during this period of renewal and we look forward to her return in 2026. 

We are very excited about the year ahead and look forward to working together to provide a positive, joyful, and enriching school experience for all our students and families.  Over the coming weeks, we will provide further information about our personnel and plans for next year.   Thank you for your continued support!

Safety & security

As discussed at our recent Parent Community Group meeting, we will be implementing a new security measure to further support the safety of our students and staff during school hours.

The front automatic doors of the school will remain locked throughout the day.  If you need to enter the school during these hours, please proceed to the front office and our staff will remotely unlock the doors for you once you have been identified. This is an additional layer of security that we believe will enhance the safety and well-being of our entire school community.  The doors will be set to open automatically from 8:15am-8:45am and 2:45pm-3:15pm.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to prioritise a safe environment for everyone at St James.

Communication

To further enhance the many ways the school communicates to families, we have installed a digital sign at the entry gate area.  This new sign will take over the A-Frame board and will serve as a reminder for the week ahead and to publicise important upcoming events.  We hope this helps to keep everyone informed and up-to-date!

Welcome Kindergarten 2025

We are thrilled to welcome our newest students and families to St James as they begin their exciting journey into big school in 2025! With 61 eager kindergarten students joining us, we can’t wait to watch them explore, learn, and grow in the wonderful adventures that lie ahead.

To help our new students settle in, we’ve put together a special transition program filled with opportunities to meet their future teachers, Year 6 buddies, and new friends. Kinder 2025 families are warmly invited to join us at the following events:

• Welcome BBQ: Thursday, October 24th (5:30pm)
  A chance to mingle with other families and enjoy a relaxing evening together.
• Transition Session 1: Tuesday, November 5th 
  (9am-9:45am for Hanly & Ryland students / 10am-10:45am for Polding & MacKillop students)
• Transition Session 2: Tuesday, November 12th (9am-10:30am)
• Transition Session 3: Tuesday, November 26th (9am-10:30am)
• Orientation Session: Tuesday, December 3rd (9am-12noon) [& whole school 2025 step-up]

We are looking forward to sharing this special time with you and helping our future Kindy students feel excited and confident for their first year at St James. See you soon!

School Blitz: Focus on Kind Words

At St James, a "school blitz" is when we work together as a community to improve a particular area of student behaviour. During Term 3, our focus was on manners, and I couldn’t be more proud of how our students responded.  Their politeness and respect have been outstanding, and we’re hopeful this positive behaviour will continue as we move into Term 4 and beyond!

This term, our new blitz will focus on the use of kind words.  The words we choose can have a powerful impact, either positive or negative. Unfortunately, we’ve noticed some students using language in a hurtful or discriminatory way, even when meant in jest.  At times, we’ve heard hurtful language related to sexual orientation, disability, or race. This is completely unacceptable. We are committed to helping our students understand the importance of speaking with kindness and respect, and ensuring that our school remains a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.

We ask for your support, as parents, in continuing to remind your children about the importance of good manners, while also encouraging them to think carefully about the words they use. Let’s work together to ensure our school is a place where kindness shines through in both actions and words.

St James Adult Event

Our parent event for November 16th has been postponed till next year.  After paying a 50% deposit, the company is happy for us to use it as a credit for the event in the 2025 school year.

We will reschedule this event for sometime in 2025. 

Sporting news

A huge congratulations to the talented girls who represented St James Primary at the NSW Netball Cup in Grafton! The girls played with incredible determination, teamwork, and school spirit, making us all very proud. Well done on a fantastic effort!

Thank you to the coaches, staff, and supporters who helped make these events possible. Well done to all involved!

Our sporting stars

Instrumental Program

We welcome back Felicity Moran who is running our St James Instrumental Program. Ms Moran has availability this term for private or group lessons. If your child is interested in learning Piano, Guitar or concert band instruments please contact the school office for further details. 

School Upgrades

Over the past few months, we’ve been making some fantastic upgrades to our school facilities. Our administration area has been refurbished, including a refresh of the main office and the addition of a brand-new kitchen in the staff lounge, creating a more functional and welcoming space for staff and visitors alike.

We’d like to extend a big thank you to all the services involved in reshaping this part of our school.

In addition, we are excited with the installation of a new digital sign at the front of the school! This will serve as another great way to keep our community informed about upcoming events, important dates, and all the latest happenings at St James.

School Upgrades

Parent Community Group

Our Term 4 Parent Community Group Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 24th [7pm - MPC].  We had 13 parents and two staff present at the Term 3 meeting; let's aim to increase this!  Our meeting will focus on the remainder of the year everts and planning for 2025 parent involvement and whole school activities [agenda is below].  We hope to see you there!

School Improvement Goals: Fortnightly Update

Short Term Goals

Our short-term goal is, Students will reconnect with their peers and teachers and maintain a high standard of school attendance.

Long Term Goals

As we approach the end of the academic year, our students are encouraged to approach assessment opportunities with confidence and determination.  Let's create an atmosphere that values academic achievement and promotes personal growth.  Let's continue to help our students put their best foot forward.

Term 4 Dates & Events

Please note the upcoming events scheduled for Term 4. 

• October 24^th: O'Dwyer Shield and Billy Hardy Shield
• October 24^th: Kinder 2025 welcome BBQ.
• October 24^th: Parent Community Meeting.
  
• October 28^th: Year 6 Graduation Parent meeting.
• October 28^th – 30^th: Year 4 Camp.
• November 5^th: Kinder 2025 Transition 1.
• November 6^th: Year K-2 Camp.
• November 7^th & 8^th: Pupil Free Days.
• November 11^th: Remembrance Day.
• November 11^th – 13^th: Year 5 Camp.
• November 12^th: Kinder 2025 Transition 2.
• November 19^th – 21^st: Learning Conferences.
• November 26^th: Kinder 2025 Transition 3.
• November 28^th & 29^th: Year 3 Camp.
• December 2^nd – 6^th: K-6 Swimming.
• December 3^rd: Kinder 2025 Transition 3 & Whole School Step-up.
• December 5^th: Year 6 Graduation.
• December 9^th – 14^th: K-6 Swimming.
• December 10^th: Swimming Carnival.
• December 11^th: Semester 2 reports published.
• December 12^th: Christmas Carols.
• December 16^th: Year 6 Celebration Day 1.
• December 16th: Kindergarten Graduation.
• December 17^th: End of Year Liturgy.
• December 17^th: Year 6 Dinner Dance.
• December 18^th: Final Assembly & End of Term 4/2024 school year.
• December 18^th: Year 6 Celebration Day 2 & Guard of Honour.
• December 19^th & 20^th: Pupil Free Days.

Thumbs-Up

- All students for returning to school with positive attitudes.

- Our maintenance crew who worked tirelessly during the break to ensure our learning environment is clean and tidy.

- Elineau, Smithwick and Manouk Families for helping care for Petunia, Rosalind, Marigold, and Henrietta (our beautiful chickens) over the school holidays.

To conclude

Friday, October 25th, we come together to celebrate Australian Teacher’s Day and acknowledge the incredible dedication, passion, and hard work of our teachers and staff at St James.  Every day, our teachers go above and beyond to inspire, guide, and support our students, creating a nurturing environment for learning and growth.

Teaching is not just a profession—it’s a vocation, and we are truly blessed to have such committed educators who care deeply about the academic, emotional, and spiritual development of each and every student. Their tireless efforts do not go unnoticed, and on October 25th, we say a heartfelt thank you for all that you do.

We encourage everyone to take a moment on this special day to show their appreciation for our wonderful teachers and staff who make St James the vibrant and supportive community it is. The Parent Community Group will be supplying a special morning tea for staff.

Happy Australian Teacher’s Day!

With blessings,

Nic.

Be You Family Survey 2024

Welcome to the Be You Family Survey for 2024.

This survey will help us know what you experience as a family of children attending St James. Your responses can help highlight what we are doing well, and where we can do better. 

• This survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and includes 27 statements. 

• In this survey, the terms ‘learning community’ and ‘learning environment’ refer to your child's school. Teachers and support staff are described as ‘educators’. 

• Your responses are anonymous and only summarised results are used to help us better understand how to improve mental health and wellbeing in our learning community. 

• The survey is not compulsory and you can skip questions if you want to. 

• If you have several children attending this learning setting, please respond to questions based on an overall perspective. 

• When choosing your responses, please consider how you were feeling over the last week. If you need more information about this survey before starting, please contact Karen Sanderson via the school office.

Be You survey link - https://beyou.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BrqyFHxHoJ4DXv?survey_id=11730332905

Thank you for your support

Karen Sanderson - Assistant Principal Mission.

Chickens - Term 4

Our school chickens (Rosalind, Henrietta, Marigold & Petunia) need care during the Term 4 weekends.   So, we invite families to go on the roster as explained below.

Term 4 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!

- Families who join the roster will have access to the school with a key for the side gate and an outline of what to do.  

Please email the school (bpp@lism.catholic.edu.au) to join the Term 4 roster.

Christmas vacation.

At the end of term 4, we would like to rehome our chickens for the school holiday period. If you are an old farm hand and able to take the chickens for a 6 week vacation, please contact the school to discuss further. 

In advance, thank you for helping us take care of our little chicks!

Karen

Upcoming events.....

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

Parenting support and learning.....

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

Webinars for Parents and Carers - eSafety

Please share the Term 4 free webinars for parents and carers with your school community.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their children in having safe online experiences.

Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school. This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.

Tuesday, 29 October, 12.30 pm
Thursday, 28 November, 12.30 pm
Registration link 

eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you. An overview of The eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children, and young people.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.

Thursday, 24 October, 12.30pm
Wednesday, 4 December, 12.30pm
Registration link

Other information.....

Please note the following additional information.....