Week 3, Term 1 - 2025
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
On Monday, February 10th, we welcomed our new Kindergarten students to St James Primary; they have transitioned to school confidently and happily, and are now settling into their new surroundings and routines of school. We pray that their 13-year journey of Catholic Education is filled with safety, faith, joy, and learning and that during their time at St James they live, learn, and grow in God’s love always.
Lord,
We entrust our children into your care, and as we do, may they grow in confidence and independence. May joy abound in their hearts and may they be filled with wonder, awe, and excitement. Help them make friends and grow as people of kindness and faith.
Amen.
Our welcome continues as we introduce a new Aboriginal Education Worker for St James Primary School; Mr. Andrew Stubbs. Andrew is an experienced Aboriginal educator with a strong background in cultural education and student support across various school settings, having worked with students from Kindergarten to Year 12, delivering engaging cultural activities and promoting awareness of Aboriginal heritage. His expertise includes developing and teaching Aboriginal cultural programs, improving student engagement and attendance, and organising significant cultural events such as NAIDOC celebrations. Andrew has previously held roles as an Aboriginal Support Worker/Teacher Assistant at Keebra Park High School, a Cultural Inclusion Activity Officer at Pacific Coast Christian School, and a Cultural Education Officer at Koya Aboriginal Corporation in WA. His passion for fostering cultural understanding and inclusivity makes him a valuable addition to the St James Primary community. We welcome Andrew to St James and look forward to him commencing his role on Monday, February 24th.
Kindergarten - 2025
Year 6 Leaders
On Friday, February 14th our Year 6 students were inducted as leaders through our house system: Ryland - Learning for life; MacKillop - Seeds of justice; Hanly - Strength and gentleness & Polding - Stewards of creation. We congratulate our Year 6 students on achieving this milestone and we look forward to seeing the energy, input, and role modelling that they will present to the school in various ways during the year ahead. Congratulations kids!
Year 6 Leaders
Grade Blogs
As mentioned in the last edition of the newsletter, the Grade Blogs which will be updated fortnightly Friday (odd weeks - first edition was Friday, February 14th). The weekly Grade Blogs will have:
- A blog that shows prior learning, with information about why this occurred and photos and/or videos.
- Information on events and what the students are learning in the fortnight ahead and why, along with how you can support this at home.
- Celebration of awards and birthdays.
- Information about the Play is the Way life raft that students are focussing on for the week ahead.
- An overview of the learning for the Term in all Key learning areas.
The blogs can be accessed from the link below or via the school website under the Parents & Families - Grade Blogs section. Please read these each fortnight.
Parent Community Group - 2025
This year, we will hold four Parent Community Group (PCG) meetings, where parents can come together to support our school and strengthen our Family in Christ. We encourage all parents to attend and be part of these important discussions.
📅 Meeting Dates:
- Term 1: Thursday, February 27th – 7:00 PM (MPC)
- Term 2: Thursday, May 22nd – 7:00 PM (MPC)
- Term 3: Thursday, August 14th – 7:00 PM (MPC)
- Term 4: Thursday, November 6th – 7:00 PM (MPC)
Our PCG is currently led by President Jacinta Neville, along with Grade Parent Representatives:
Kindergarten - Bec Day and Richelle Mulley
Year 1 - Alexandra Olsen
Year 2 - to be announced
Year 3 - Katrina Renwick
Year 4 - Jacinta Neville and Flo Elineau
Year 5 - Casey Snart and Linda Dodds
Year 6 - Kristy Cherry.
These parents, in their official roles, will attend each meeting, and we warmly welcome all other parents to join us as well.
Parent Involvement in School Events
In addition to attending PCG meetings, parents are invited to actively participate in school events throughout the year. Each stage will take a lead role in a special event:
- Stage 3: Shrove Tuesday Breakfast
- Stage 1: Mother’s Day Breakfast
- Stage 2: Father’s Day Breakfast
- Early Stage 1: Focus on settling into school life (no assigned event)
We value and appreciate all parent support in making these events successful. Looking forward to working together to make 2025 a fantastic year for our school community!
2026 Kindergarten Enrolments
Enrolments for Kindergarten 2026 are now open; the school open day tours and Principal's presentation will be on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, with enrolments closing on Wednesday, April 9th.
Upcoming events/Term calendar
Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 1.
- February 27th: Parent Community Group Meeting (7pm - MPC).
- February 28th: Assembly (2:15pm - Year 6 presenting).
- March 4th: Shrove Tuesday Welcome Breakfast (7:30am-8:30am).
- March 5th: Ash Wednesday Mass (11:30am - MPC).
- March 11th, 12th & 13th: Term 1 Student Learning Conferences.
- March 12th - 24th: Years 3 & 5 NAPLAN.
- March 14th: Cross Country.
- March 14th: Assembly (2:15pm - Year 5 presenting).
- March 21st: Harmony Day.
- March 28th: Assembly (2:15pm - Year 3 presenting).
- March 28th: Welcome to the school year family event.
- 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:
-February 27th, May 22nd, August 14th & November 6th (7pm - MPC).
To support future planning for families, our yearly planner is below; the dates are firmly set but are subject to change if required.
Thumbs-up
- All Kindergarten students and their families for starting school positively and with loads of joy!
- To our year 6 students for already being awesome leaders and role models of our school.
- To all students for the care and welcome that they have offered our new school students.
- To all the helpers who assisted with the cheers and tears morning tea.
- The Elineau and Smith families for caring for our chickens over the past two weekends.
To conclude
As we come to the end of our first few weeks of the 2025 school year, we celebrate the tremendously positive start experienced by our students, staff, and families. This spirit of joy and unity was beautifully captured in the Beginning of the Year Liturgy and our first Welcome Assembly, where we came together as a faith-filled community to give thanks for the year ahead.
In this Catholic Pilgrim Year of Hope, we take inspiration from Pope Francis, who reminds us: “Hope is not just optimism; it is an anchor that gives meaning to life.” May this year be one where we walk together in faith, embracing new opportunities with courage, kindness, and trust in God’s plan.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and may this year be filled with many blessings for our St. James family.
With blessings,
Nic.
A wonderful start to 2025
Upcoming events.....
Parenting Support & Learning.....
Is that Bullying Behaviour?
It is important to help children understand the difference between bullying, mean behaviour, banter, peer conflict and rudeness. While these behaviours can overlap, they are not the same, and knowing how to distinguish them can help guide your child's responses and actions.
Rudeness is when children say or do something disrespectful without thinking of how it might make others feel. Rude behaviour tends to be impulsive and is not typically aimed at hurting someone on purpose. Rudeness can often be corrected by teaching children about respect, manners, and consideration for others.
Mean behaviour can be hurtful and unkind, but it is usually a one-time incident or a response to a specific situation. Children may act mean when they are frustrated, angry, or upset, but these actions don’t have the ongoing, harmful intent seen in bullying. Mean behaviour may require a conversation with your child to help them understand how their words or actions affect others and how to make amends.
Banter is light-hearted, friendly teasing that is shared between people who have a mutual understanding and respect for each other. It’s often based on shared jokes, interests, or experiences and doesn’t aim to hurt anyone’s feelings. Banter is typically exchanged in a spirit of fun and is received in the same way—it’s understood as harmless and doesn't cause emotional harm. However, it’s important for everyone involved to feel comfortable and laugh along, and if someone asks for the banter to stop, it should always be respected.
Peer conflict refers to disagreements that naturally arise between children of similar age. It’s a normal part of social development and often occurs when two individuals have different opinions, wants, or needs. Peer conflict can involve arguments, misunderstandings, or competition and may happen in everyday situations at school like playing games, or working in groups. These conflicts are typically temporary and can often be resolved through communication, compromise, or guidance. They are an important part of children’s social learning.
Bullying is intentional, repeated, and aimed at causing harm. It involves an imbalance of power, where one child deliberately targets another to hurt, intimidate, or control them. If your child is being bullied, it is important to address it immediately by speaking with school staff.
By discussing what these terms mean, you are building your child’s social and emotional skills. They can start to recognise when behaviour is intentional or if it may be unintentionally hurtful. Discussing these concepts helps children develop empathy by encouraging them to think about how others might feel in different situations. It promotes a more respectful approach to interactions, making them more likely to stand up for others when bullying occurs or seek peaceful solutions during conflicts.
Equip your child with the tools to manage their own behaviour, respond to others appropriately, and create an environment where respect, kindness, and understanding flourish.
Build the Habit of Regular Attendance -
Why is it important to come to school regularly?
Helmet On Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet. It’s the best way to protect them from head injuries. Remember if you wear yours, they'll wear theirs. HELMET ON SafetyTown: How to wear a helmet. |
BUILD THE HABIT OF REGULAR ATTENDANCE - Why is it important to come to school regularly?
Other Information.....
