Key Learning and Extra-Curricular Learning at St. James

St. James is committed to providing a well-balanced and engaging learning experience for all students. Each day, there is dedicated, uninterrupted time for English, Mathematics, and Religious Education (RE) to ensure deep and purposeful learning in these fundamental key areas.

Other Key Learning Areas (KLAs) such as Science and Technology, Creative Arts, PDHPE and HISE (History and Geography) are often integrated, allowing students to engage with concepts across subjects in a more cohesive and engaging way.  At St. James, we embrace STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) as a dynamic approach to learning that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Through hands-on projects and real-world challenges, students explore how these subjects connect, helping them develop the skills needed for the future.  

Each morning, students participate in Pastoral Care groups for 20 minutes, fostering their social and emotional well-being and development. This time is essential for building strong relationships and creating a supportive classroom environment where every student feels valued and ready to learn.

Beyond core learning, students also engage in other important learning experiences, including sport, Play is the Way, elective activities, assembly, developmental play, Light the Way, school spectaculars, school retreats, and so much more.  These 'extra' activities support students' physical, social, and emotional development. Balancing structured and integrated learning with opportunities for movement and reflection ensures that every student has the best opportunity to thrive.

As you engage with fortnightly blogs, core learning and extra-curricular learning will be showcased, allowing you to gain insight into the rich and varied learning experiences provided at St. James.

Riding Rules

Why Understanding Diversity and Inclusion Matter 

Diversity is recognising and valuing the unique qualities, backgrounds, and experiences each student brings to our school community. Inclusion ensures that every student feels accepted.

When children understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, they are more likely to:

• Show empathy toward others.
• Build positive relationships with peers.
• Recognise and reject bullying behaviours.

Kindness 

Kindness is a powerful tool for stopping bullying before it starts. Teaching children to act with kindness encourages them to:

• Treat everyone with respect, even when they have differences.
• Include others in games, conversations, and activities.
• Support peers who may feel left out or excluded.

What You Can Do at Home

1. Talk About Differences
Encourage open conversations about diversity. Discuss how people’s unique traits—such as language, traditions, or abilities—make the world more interesting and special.

Example: ‘Everyone has strengths and challenges, and that’s what makes us unique and valuable.’

2. Model Inclusive Behaviour                                                                                                            
Children learn by watching adults in their life. Show kindness, empathy, and respect in your interactions with others. Help your child to appreciate different perspectives.

3. Encourage Acts of Kindness                                                                                                             
Teach your child the importance of small, thoughtful actions, like sharing a kind word, helping a classmate, or inviting someone new to play.

4. Teach Problem-Solving and Empathy                                                                                                 
Help your child understand how their actions affect others by asking questions like:

• ‘How do you think that made them feel?’
• ‘What could you do to help?’
  

By embracing each student's unique qualities, fostering inclusion, and promoting kindness, together we can create a school community where bullying has no place and all students feel cared for, valued and respected.

Build the Habit of Regular Attendance
What do you miss out on if you don’t attend school every day?

Monty The Monstar Fun Run

In term 2, we are hosting a Monty’s Colour&Slime Fun Run for our students and raising funds for some much needed school resources.

Fundraising for our school is easy! Simply go to www.myprofilepage.com.au and create a profile page to share around to family and friends to receive online donations. There are prizes to be earnt and Monty coins to collect!

Unlock prizes by simply raising $10, the more donations raised, the more prizes you can choose from! You can mix and match prizes or send the donations to a one of the six causes available.

A sponsorship form will be sent home over the coming days as well as more information in your grade blogs.

Happy Fundraising!

The Importance of Strong School Attendance

At St James, we are committed to ensuring every student has the best opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. One of the key factors in achieving this is strong and consistent school attendance.

Research shows that students who attend school regularly are more engaged in their learning, build stronger social connections, and achieve better academic outcomes. Missing just one or two days a fortnight may not seem significant, but over time, these absences add up, impacting a child's progress and confidence in the classroom.

To support every student in maintaining strong attendance, we closely monitor attendance rates. When a student’s attendance falls below 90%, regardless of the reason, our staff will make verbal and written contact to discuss ways we can work together to support consistent attendance.

How Can Families Encourage Strong Attendance?

✅ Set a Routine – Establish consistent wake-up, bedtime, and morning routines to make getting to school on time easier.
✅ Plan Appointments Wisely – Where possible, schedule doctor, dental, and other appointments outside school hours.
✅ Stay Informed – Keep up to date with school events and expectations to ensure your child is ready and excited for each school day.
✅ Talk About School Positively – Show enthusiasm for your child’s learning and encourage open conversations about their school experiences.
✅ Avoid Unnecessary Absences – While we understand that illness is sometimes unavoidable, try to minimize absences for non-essential reasons.
✅ Reach Out for Support – If your family is facing challenges impacting attendance, please speak with us. We are here to help and can work with you to find solutions.

Together, we can ensure that every student at St James is set up for success through regular, engaged, and joyful learning. Thank you for your ongoing support in making school attendance a priority!

If you have any concerns or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Principal Appraisal Process - Nic McTaggart

Dear Parents,

During Term two on 16 May 2025, Nic McTaggart will be involved in a principal appraisal process as part of his contract of employment. The appraisal process seeks information from a variety of people associated with the school and uses a number of tools to ensure effective consultation. The process aims to highlight the positive aspects of the leadership offered and identify areas for further development.

A timeline is currently being arranged to suit the needs of the school community. The appraisal will be conducted by an External Chair nominated by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools.
The full Principal appraisal process involves:

• a survey and self-appraisal statement completed by the Principal
• an interview with the Principal
• input as arranged with the Parish Priest
• surveys of parents, school staff and Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools personnel
• interviews with the Schools Leadership Team
• interviews with a random selection of staff who request an interview with the Chair
• interviews with a random selection of parents who request an interview with the Chair.

The preferred method of survey completion is by the online survey form. A link to this form will be forwarded to your email address. Please ensure your current email address is registered at the school as this survey link will be sent to you on Friday, 28 March 2025. Parents may express their interest to be interviewed via this electronic form. Not all those who express an interest to be interviewed will be contacted. If not contacted, then parents may wish to email their comments. Anonymous comments and emails will not be considered. In writing the appraisal report, use of the information gathered will remain confidential and not identify sources. Every family in the school is encouraged to complete a survey.

Your support of the appraisal process is appreciated.

Yours sincerely
Michael Mullaly
Chair

Farewell to our chickens

It is with a little sadness that we announce we will be saying goodbye to our school chickens. While they have been a lovely addition to our school, it has become increasingly difficult to care for them, and only a few  families have been involved in their upkeep.  We sincerely thank all the families who took the time to help care for them—your support and commitment have been greatly appreciated.

We are also grateful that the Godinez-Purchase family has kindly offered to welcome them into their forever home, where they will continue to be well cared for.  We sincerely thank them for their generosity and for giving our chickens a wonderful new place to thrive.

Take care little chicks!

NAPLAN

This past week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students took on the NAPLAN assessments with confidence, perseverance, and a fantastic attitude. We are incredibly proud of the way they approached this experience—showing resilience, focus, and a commitment to doing their best.

A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers, who worked hard to prepare and support the students, ensuring they felt calm, capable, and ready to shine. Their guidance and encouragement made a world of difference.

To our Year 3 and Year 5 students—well done! You gave your best effort, and that is something to celebrate. No test can ever measure your kindness, creativity, or the unique gifts you bring to our school. You have done yourselves and our community proud!

Year 3 & 5

Other information.....

Parenting support & learning.....

Upcoming events.....

Open Day & 2026 Enrolments

Our school's Open Day tours and Principal's presentation will be held next Wednesday, March 26th. Tours begin at 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, and 12:30 PM, with a Principal's presentation following each tour. Kindergarten 2026 enrolments close on Friday, April 4th. If you have a child starting school next year or know a family considering St. James, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Following the close of enrolments, interviews will take place in Term 2, providing a wonderful opportunity to meet our new families and welcome them into our school community.

For more information or to submit an application, please visit the school office or our website. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of learners to St. James!

To conclude

This past week, we celebrated two significant feast days in the life of the Church—St. Joseph’s Feast Day (March 19th) and St. Patrick’s Feast Day (March 17th).

St. Joseph, the humble and faithful protector of the Holy Family, holds a special place in our hearts and our Parish. We pray that, just as he cared for Mary and Jesus, he will keep us united in love and faith, guiding us to live with kindness and generosity.

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is also remembered for his missionary zeal and deep trust in God. His example of faith and perseverance continues to inspire us to share Christ’s love with those around us.

Like these two great saints, we are called to care for and support those in need. Through our Project Compassion appeal, our community has raised $77.40 so far to assist the less fortunate. We sincerely thank everyone for their generosity, care, and compassion in making a difference.

As we honour these feast days, may we be inspired by the faith and dedication of St. Joseph and St. Patrick to serve others with love and joy.

St. Joseph, watch over us and care for us just as you cared for the child Jesus; and by your help, may we come to know your Son and grow in strength and wisdom.

St. Patrick, pray for us, that we may have the courage to spread the Good News of Christ’s love in our world today.

With blessings,
Nic.

Upcoming Events - Term 1

Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 1.

- March 21st: Harmony Day.

- March 28th: Assembly (8:40am - Year 3 presenting).

- April 4th - Cross Country (9am - 12noon). 

- April 7-10th: Year 6 Camp.

- April 11th: Holy Week Liturgy (11:30am - MPC).

- April 11th: Assembly (1:45pm - Easter Raffle).

- April 11th: End of Term 1.

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

- The tremendous support in our community for our Project Compassion appeal and the assistance offered to others.

- All families who helped with the chickens and to the Godinez-Purchase family has kindly offered to welcome them into their forever home.

Welcome

Dear St James Community, 

Over the past weeks, we have witnessed the incredible strength, resilience, and unity of our school community as we navigated the challenges brought by Cyclone Alfred. In times of hardship, it is truly heartening to see the way our community comes together, offering support, kindness, and assistance to one another.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff, who worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the cyclone, ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and school. Their efforts in helping our children return to normal learning arrangements as quickly as possible have been deeply appreciated.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to our maintenance team, who went above and beyond in preparing the school grounds, ensuring our facilities were as secure as possible, and assisting with the clean-up efforts afterward. Their hard work and dedication have made a significant difference in helping us return to a safe and welcoming environment.

Additionally, we acknowledge the Catholic Schools Office for their unwavering support. Being part of a strong system of Catholic education provides us with invaluable guidance and resources during difficult times, reinforcing the sense that we are never alone in these challenges.

We also recognise that for some in our community, the impact of the cyclone has been particularly severe. Please know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers, and as a school, we will continue to offer assistance where we can. May we always be a community that uplifts and supports one another in times of need.

We also take this moment to share that Fr. Michael will be retiring upon reaching the age of 75, on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. His service to God, the Church, the Lismore Diocese, Tweed Parish, and St James has been truly remarkable, and we are deeply grateful for his years of dedication, wisdom, and guidance.  To celebrate Fr. Michael’s incredible ministry, a retirement luncheon will be held on Saturday, April 12, and we warmly invite all families to attend. It would be wonderful to have St James at the event to honour him together. This is a beautiful opportunity to express our gratitude and celebrate a man who has given so much to our community.

As we journey through the Year of Hope, let us turn to prayer:

God of compassion, in times of trial, You are our refuge and strength. We thank You for the love and care shown within our community during this time of challenge. May we continue to be people of hope, offering kindness and support to those in need. Strengthen those who are struggling and bless the hands of all who work to restore and rebuild. May our hearts remain united in faith, love, and resilience.  Amen.

Join Us for a Fun-Filled Community Bush Dance!

Get your dancing boots ready—our Community Bush Dance is coming up on Friday, March 21st, and we’d love for you to join us!  (Note the change of date from March 28th - due to the availability of the provider: Bushwazee).  During the day, the talented team from Bushwazee will be at school, teaching students a variety of bush dances. Then, that evening, we’ll come together for a lively family bush dance, where everyone can join in the fun!  It’s a fantastic way to connect as a community, enjoy great music, and share some laughs. No dance experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm. All the details are on the attached flyer.  We hope to see you there!

Bike Safety

School Counsellor Support at St. James

At St. James, the school counsellors play a vital role in supporting the emotional and social wellbeing of our students. This service provides short-term support, typically up to six sessions, to help students navigate challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

Parents are an essential part of this process.  If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing, please speak with their teacher. If needed, the teacher will submit a wellbeing request to the Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Team for review. If appropriate, the school counsellor will then contact parents to discuss the next steps and arrange support for the child.

We are committed to working together to ensure the best outcomes for our students. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

Parent Community Group

Our Term 1 Parent Community Group meeting was held on Thursday, February 27th, and we were delighted to have 15 parents and 4 staff in attendance.  A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to support our school and strengthen parental engagement—it was wonderful to see such enthusiasm and commitment!

Below, you’ll find the minutes from the meeting for those who couldn’t attend.

Looking ahead, our next meeting will be held in Term 2 on Thursday, May 22nd, at 7:00 PM. Let’s aim to grow our numbers even further—we’d love to see more parents getting involved in this fantastic opportunity to connect, share ideas, and support our school community!

Other information.....