Week 1, Term 2 - 2025

Welcome

Dear St James Community,

Welcome to Term 2!  We hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing and refreshing holiday break and is ready to embrace the learning, spirituality, and joy that Term 2 promises.

Today we came together as a school community to celebrate Founder’s Day – a special occasion that honours the rich history and legacy of St James Primary.  This year marks 31 years since our school first opened its doors, and what a joy it was to celebrate this milestone!

Founder’s Day coincides with the Feast of St James the Less, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and a faithful servant of the early Church.  Known for his humility, wisdom, and commitment to spreading the teachings of Christ, St James continues to inspire our school community today.

As part of our Founder’s Day celebration, we also took time to honour the visionary individuals who helped shape the spirit and mission of our Church and school:  Mark MacKillop, John Bede Polding, Cornelius Hanly, and Elaine Ryland. Each of these founders played a vital role in building a faith-filled, inclusive and vibrant Catholic community that continues to thrive.

Students, staff, and families joined in the festivities, giving thanks for the many blessings we enjoy at St James and looking ahead with gratitude and hope for the future.

Happy Founder’s Day!

Founder's Day - 2025

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School Enhancements

At St James, we are always looking for ways to improve our learning environment and enhance the day-to-day experience for our students.

Recently, we’ve made some exciting additions across the school, including:

🎾 A brand-new Pickleball court
🎮 A Nintendo Switch to support passive play and social connections
🧱 New pavers in the Prayer Garden, creating a peaceful space for reflection and quiet conversation

We’re also looking ahead! Plans are in motion for a refurbishment of the Kindergarten playground, creating a fun, safe and engaging space for our youngest learners to explore and grow. In addition, we continue to actively apply for grants to upgrade the Stage 2 toilet block, ensuring that all facilities are comfortable and modern.

Every improvement we make is centred on one goal: creating a vibrant, supportive and inspiring environment where all students can thrive.

Improvements to St James Primary

Zone Cross Country

We are proud to announce that the following students have qualified to represent St James at the upcoming Zone Cross Country Carnival:

🏅 Harvey B, Harley B, Shivvy BL, Xavier B, Sophie C, Carter C, Kingston C, Penny C, Violet C, Bella C, Grace C, Grace C, Lennox C, Winston C, Beau DG, Matteo DS, Emilia DS, Lucia DS, Ted E, Toby E, Tahlia F, Lacey G, Hype G, Reeve H, Emily K, Tex L, Hazel L, Maya M, Jake M, Zoe M, Callum M, Isla M, Elspeth M, Ethan M, Oscar N, Niamh O, Maya PM, Zivah PM, Vincent P, Archie R, Makario R, Hudson S, Brooklyn S, Victoria T, Hudson T, Avery T, Jessica VG, Hannah W, Sophie W, Nathan W, Liam W, Keira W and Tom W.

This is a fantastic achievement, and we congratulate each of them on their hard work and determination at the school level.  As they prepare to take on the next challenge, we wish them all the very best! We know they will give their best effort, show great sportsmanship, and represent St James with pride.

Good luck, runners—we’ll be cheering you on!

Go St James! 💙🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Tell Them From Me

Each year, St James Primary invites parents, students, and staff to participate in a survey to help us assess the organisational health of our school community. The feedback gathered is invaluable in guiding our school improvement planning and setting future directions.

The 2025 survey will open on Monday, May 12 and close on Friday, May 30. Please take a few moments to complete the survey using the link that will be sent via Compass soon.

Thank you for your support in helping us continue to grow and provide the very best education for our students!

Safeguarding Children

At St James, the safety and wellbeing of our students is always our highest priority.  In line with NSW Safeguarding Standards and our ongoing commitment to best practice, we kindly remind families of the following important procedures:

Afternoon Collection – Green Zone
To ensure a safe and secure environment during pick-up time, all NSW primary schools are required to have a designated ‘Green Zone’—areas where parents can wait without needing to sign in.
Our Green Zone includes:

• The Nature Play Area (near the cubbies and sandpit)

• The Undercover Area in the centre of the school
  Please remain within these areas when collecting your child in the afternoon.

School Toilets – Students Only
To maintain privacy and safety for our students, the school toilets are marked "Students Only". This means:

• Parents and visitors are not permitted to use these facilities at any time, including during school events such as assemblies.

• Parents are also unable to accompany toddlers into these toilets.

• A guest toilet is available in the main school office for visitor use.

After-School Supervision
We ask that all families exit the school grounds by 3:15pm each day. This helps us ensure students still in our care (After School Care) are properly supervised and the school site remains secure.

We sincerely thank all families for supporting these important procedures. Your cooperation helps us provide the safest possible environment for every child at St James.

Seesaw

This year, we have reintroduced Seesaw to strengthen communication between home and school. Seesaw is an interactive platform where students take ownership of their learning by creating a digital portfolio that showcases their academic and wellbeing achievements.

Last term, families received instructions on how to connect to Seesaw. A big thank you to all the families who have connected and started engaging with their child’s learning goals! For families who haven’t yet connected, personalised QR codes will be sent home again on Monday afternoon, with instructions on how to connect to your child’s learning portfolio. 

We encourage all families to connect as soon as possible so your child can proudly share their goal-setting and learning journey with you. If you need any support, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.

Thank you so much,
Kylie Cane | Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Mother's Day Breakfast

On Friday, May 9th our traditional Mother's Day breakfast will be held outside the library (7:30 am).  We look forward to hosting everyone as we celebrate and acknowledge our Mothers and mother figures.  The Mother's Day stall will be held outside of the office from Monday, May 5th - Friday, May 9th.  We wish all Mother's a Happy and Blessed Mother's Day on Sunday, May 11th.

Road Safety

Each day, over 1,200 students and 150 staff move through our school and college grounds—safety must be our number one priority.

Please remember:

• Children must not walk into the car pick-up zone to enter cars that are double-parked. This is extremely dangerous.

• Parents must not park in the service road or on the grass near the AFL field. These areas are not safe for drop-off or pick-up.

• Always follow our Traffic Management Plan and be patient, kind, and respectful to ensure the safety of all.

Thank you for prioritising the safety of every child in our care.

Walk Safely to School Day

Now in its 26th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual campaign and event which encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers, to walk safely and regularly to school. It is important for children and young people to be active every day. Physical activity has many social, emotional, physical and mental health benefits. Walking to school is a great way to incorporate physical activity into a daily routine to support healthy development. Regular physical activity, especially walking, can improve self-esteem and confidence, help concentration and improve overall fitness. Encouraging kids to be active each day establishes good habits that can stay with them throughout their lives.

On May 16, we invite parents and students to meet us at the Club Banora carpark (golf course entry). Staff from our school will be there to support families to participate in this campaign. We will meet at 8:00am and walk to school via the Lake Kimberly pathway, arriving at school through the back gates of the school oval. On arrival, students will receive a 'tattoo' and then be treated to some light refreshments on the top playground.

Prohibited Weapons

Our school is committed to maintaining a safe, happy and supportive environment for every child. Every now and then, it’s helpful to revisit what can and can’t be brought to school. While some items might seem like harmless toys or everyday tools, they may in fact be considered dangerous or prohibited. We want to help families avoid any unintentional mistakes or avoidable situations.

A prohibited weapon includes but is not limited to knives or blades, toy guns, gel blasters, slingshots, darts or anything else that can be used as a weapon to intimidate or cause serious injury or harm.

We encourage all parents and carers to have open and ongoing conversations with your child about safety, respect, and care for others. As members of our Catholic school community, we are called to protect and nurture one another, both spiritually and physically. Your support in reinforcing these values at home helps us maintain a secure and faith-filled environment for all members of our school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the safety and wellbeing of all children.

Term 2 Dates & Events

Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 2.

- May 2nd: St James Feast Day (Founder's Day celebration).

- May 5th-9th: Mother's Day Stall.

- May 8th: Zone Cross Country.

- May 9th: Mother's Day Breakfast.

- May 15th: International Day of Families.

- May 16th: Walk Safely to School Day.

- May 22nd: Parent Community Group Meeting - 7pm.

- June 4th: Student Disco.

- June 5th & 6th: Pupil Free Days.

- June 9th: King's Birthday Public Holiday.

- June 13th: School Athletics.

- June 27th: School Athletics Back-up Day.

- July 2nd: 100 days of Kindergarten.

- July 4th: Play is The Way Championships Day.

- July 4th: End of Term 2.

Please note our pupil-free days for 2025: 

- June 5th & 6th, September 26th, November 13th & 14th, and December 18th & 19th.

Please note the 1 public holidays that fall in this year's school calendar:

- June 9th: King's Birthday

Please note the Parent Community Group Meeting dates for 2025:

- May 22nd, August 14th & November 6th (7pm - MPC).

Thumbs-up

- All students for returning to school positively.

- All who assisted with the preparation and celebrations for Founder's Day.

- Our maintenance crew who worked tirelessly during the break to ensure our learning environment was beautiful.  

To conclude

We extend our sincere thanks to all members of our school community who joined us for our ANZAC Day ceremony. Your presence, along with the respect and reverence shown by students, helped create a meaningful and reflective occasion, honouring the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of our servicemen and women.

Together, we stood in remembrance, ensuring that the spirit of ANZAC lives on in the hearts and minds of our students.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us foster a deep sense of gratitude and community.

With blessings,

Nic.

ANZAC Day - 2025

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Upcoming events

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

Parenting support & learning

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

Bike Safety - Ride Together

Whenever you can, ride alongside your child. It’s a wonderful opportunity to teach safe cycling habits, monitor their skills, and spend quality time together.

Until they are at least 10 years old, your child should ride off-road away from vehicles and driveways. While your child may learn skills such as balancing, pedalling and steering quite easily, they are still learning skills that help them to judge speed, distance and the direction of sound. Young child will often ride with their head down, concentrating on pedalling, not the environment around them. Your child needs ongoing adult help in safe, off-road locations to gradually develop all their skills.

And don’t forget HELMET ON.

Go to SafetyTown to read more.

Safe -T On The B.I.K.E song

Lyric Clip

Understanding Bullying - Is my Child Engaging in Bullying Behaviour

Is My Child Engaging in Bullying Behaviour?

It's important to remember that all children make behavioural mistakes, and occasional unkind behaviour doesn't necessarily mean your child is a bully. However, if you notice a pattern of concerning behaviours, it's important to address the situation proactively.

Signs Your Child Might Be Bullying Others:

Physical aggression: Hitting, kicking, biting, pushing, or other types of physical harm.

Verbal aggression: Name-calling, insults, threats, or using derogatory language.

Social aggression: Spreading rumours, excluding others, or manipulating social situations.

Lack of Empathy and Concern: Difficulty understanding or acknowledging the feelings of others. Making hurtful comments or engaging in teasing without considering the impact on the other person. Showing indifference to the pain or distress they cause.

Dominating or Controlling Behavior: Seeking power or control over peers. Being excessively competitive and disrespectful when losing or winning. Having difficulty sharing or compromising.

Blaming and Denial: Refusing to take responsibility for their actions. Blaming others for their own behaviour. Minimising or denying the harm they have caused.

Problems with Possessions: Taking or damaging others' belongings without permission. Having difficulty sharing or respecting the belongings of others.

How to Address It:

If you suspect your child is bullying, approach the situation with care. Have open, honest conversations about their behaviour and its impact on others. Teach empathy, model positive interactions, and work with the school to address the issue together. In some cases, seeking professional help may be necessary to ensure your child understands the consequences of bullying and learns to adopt healthier social behaviours.

Remember, change takes time. Offer support, encourage progress, and celebrate positive steps toward kindness and respect. A pattern of aggressive, controlling, or unempathetic behaviour warrants attention. Consult your GP for further guidance or a pediatric review. Talk to your child’s teacher about their behaviour at school.

Read more at Helping your child stop bullying A guide for parents by the Australian Government.

Build the Habit of Regular Attendance

Other information

Please note the following additional information.....