Week 5, Term 3 - 2025
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
High School Musical Jnr. Shines at St James
What a show! Our whole school production of High School Musical Jnr. was nothing short of spectacular, and our students were the absolute stars of the stage. From the moment the curtain rose to the final bow, the energy, talent and teamwork on display were simply unforgettable.
Every student brought their best — acting, singing, dancing, and filling the hall with joy and excitement. The way they supported one another, remembered their lines and gave their all in every scene was a true celebration of creativity and commitment.
Productions like this remind us of the power of The Arts in education. They ignite imagination, build confidence, and create moments of shared joy that last long after the final applause. Our students weren’t just performing; they were learning to work as a team, to trust themselves, and to express their God-given gifts in ways that uplift others.
A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, parents, and behind-the-scenes crew who made the magic happen — from costumes and sets to lighting, choreography, and sound. Your hard work and passion ensured this was a night to remember.
Most importantly, thank you to our incredible children. You showed courage, joy, and talent in abundance. We couldn’t be prouder. As the show’s message says… We’re All in This Together! 🎶 🎭
High School Musical - 2025
Term 3 Learning Conferences – Next Week
Our Term 3 Learning Conferences are coming up next week, and we look forward to parents, students, and teachers coming together to share learning, set goals, and celebrate achievement.
These conferences are a vital part of every child’s progress — they give us the chance to reflect on growth, plan the next steps, and recognise the hard work that happens both in and out of the classroom.
Thank you to our parents for prioritising this time, to our staff for their preparation and commitment, and to our students for taking ownership of their learning. This is education at its best — working together to help every child shine.
Confirmation
We are filled with joy and pride as we celebrate the students who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church on Thursday, September 4th. This significant milestone marks a deepening of their faith and a commitment to living out the teachings of Christ. Through the guidance of their families, teachers, and parish community, these young people have prepared their hearts and minds to welcome the Holy Spirit more fully into their lives.
As they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we pray that they continue to grow in wisdom, understanding, and courage, becoming strong witnesses of God’s love in the world. Congratulations; may your Confirmation be filled with joy, love and faith.
Parent Community Group Meeting & School Times Discussion
Our recent Parent Community Group Meeting was wonderfully well attended, and it was fantastic to see so many families showing interest in the future of St James. We discussed upcoming happenings at our school (see attached minutes for details) and explored one significant concept — the possibility of changing our school times (see survey results for details).
The changing school times conversation was driven by data captured from the Tell Them From me student survey, the staff Well @ Work survey and attendance data (Friday/Friday afternoon); and now we've added the parent feedback from the survey and the conversation to make an informed decision. This data and information was shared at the Parent Community Group meeting.
First, a huge thank you to the 203 recipients who completed the survey. This was an incredible response and a clear sign of the passion and engagement in our community. Your feedback gave us a rich understanding of how this topic impacts families and why it matters.
In support of the change, parents commented positively about educational innovation, the potential wellbeing benefits for students, recognition of the opportunity for families to have more quality time together, as well as the potential for students to be more engaged and refreshed for learning.
Against the change, there were strong points raised, including the challenges for working parents, the unique circumstances of our QLD/NSW border community especially during day light savings time, the additional costs and logistics of childcare, the impact on bus timetables, and the College schedules that currently allow older siblings to help with younger children.
This was, in every sense, a great community conversation — one that sparked healthy debate, shared perspectives, and strengthened our collective voice. While the change to school times will not be proceeding due to the outcome of the vote and conversation, and the complexities involved, it has been terrific to focus on educational innovation and our staff remain committed to reviewing our current timetable to ensure we uphold the academic rigour our students deserve while prioritising the wellbeing of all.
Thank you once again for your openness, passion, and willingness to engage in discussions that shape our school’s future.
Game Show Live!
Our Adults-Only Game Show Live event hit all the right notes! It was a fantastic night filled with fun, music, trivia, and plenty of dancing. The hall was buzzing with laughter and friendly competition as teams battled it out for bragging rights — and maybe a little glory on the dance floor too!
The turnout was brilliant, and it was clear everyone was having a record-breaking good time. From start to finish, the atmosphere was electric — you could say we were all perfectly in tune. Whether you were belting out the answers, busting a move, or just soaking up the vibe, the night proved once again that our St James community knows how to rock and roll.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night such a smash hit. Until next time… keep dancing to the beat of the St James spirit! 🎶
Game Show Live!
Father's Day
During Week 6 we will hold our Father's Day stall outside of the front office from 8am-8:30am. Students can purchase a gift for their Dad on any morning for $5. Then on Friday, September 5th, Dads and Father figures, along with all students and family members are invited to our annual Father's Day breakfast [7:30am-8:30am].
Safety Reminders
Safety is a vital part of schooling, as such, we need all of our community to promote the following:
- The gates open at 8am; students are not to arrive prior to this time. At 8am all students must sit under the Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) until the duty teacher commences at 8:10am. Please note that from 8am-8:10am, students are not directly supervised.
- Collection of students is 3pm. Students are supervised for bus collection and car pick-up and they may wait outside of the office until 3:15pm (sitting on the grass) for siblings coming from the College.
- Whilst there has been a great improvement in the management of traffic and adherence to driving protocols within the school grounds, we still have some issues, please note:
1. Do not park on nature strips.
2. Do not cut through the bus thoroughfare zone.
3. When using the car pick-up/drop-off zone do not get out of the car (children must be able to get in/out of the car and buckle in themselves) and do not allow children to get in the car until the car is adjacent to the footpath collection area.
Our teachers assist with traffic management each day, and this supervision helps immensely, but we also need all families to play their part so we can continually teach our students to play safe and be safe! I ask that all families reiterate these important rules with their children at home.
Term 3 Dates & Events
Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 3.
- August 26th - 28th: Learning Conferences.
- September 1st - 5th: Father's Day Stall [8am-8:30am].
- September 4th: Confirmation.
- September 5th: Father's Day Breakfast [from 7:30am].
- September 9th: Services Expo [2pm].
- September 11th: R U Ok Day.
- September 19th: Stage 3 Gala Day.
- September 26th: Grandparent's Day and Book Week Dress Up Day.
- September 26th: Final Day of Term 3.
Please note our pupil-free days for 2025:
- August 22nd, November 13th & 14th, and December 18th & 19th.
Please note the Parent Community Group Meeting dates for 2025:
- August 14th & November 6th (7pm - MPC).
Thumbs-Up
- Parents who attended the Parent Community Group meeting.
- Everyone involved in our school musical, especially the children!
- Parents, friends and students for celebrating a lovely Mass on the Feast of the Assumption.
To conclude
I’m delighted to share that I have concluded the principal appraisal process, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your generous encouragement and kindness throughout this journey.
Your positive and affirming feedback about my leadership has been truly uplifting, and I am deeply grateful for the thoughtful recommendations from the panel. These will guide me in continuing to lead St James with strength, wisdom, and vision — and always with our Catholic Identity at the heart of all we do.
I remain committed to leading with integrity, transparency, and compassion; to listening deeply and making decisions with both courage and humility; to fostering innovation while protecting the traditions that give our school its unique spirit; to inspiring a shared vision that unites us; and to empowering everyone to shine in their gifts and talents for the good of our students and community.
As Scripture encourages us: “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people… because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do.” (Ephesians 6:7-8)
I am excited for the road ahead and look forward to continuing this journey with our community well into the future. It is an incredible blessing to lead such an extraordinary school — one we have built together through faith, dedication, and our shared mission.
Thank you for all you do every day for our students, families, each other, and for the unwavering support you have shown me.
With gratitude,
Nic
Upcoming events.....
Please note the following upcoming events......
Parenting support and learning.....
Please note the following parenting supporting & learning items.....
Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World
A Conference for Parents and Carers of Children in Catholic Schools in the Jubilee Year of Hope. On Saturday, 25 October, the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) is hosting a special anniversary celebration conference for all NSW/ACT parents and carers with children in Catholic schools! Expert presenters will support parents bravely in a modern world:
Find out more information on our website here.
Buy a ticket: Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World Registration, Sat 25/10/2025 at 8:30 am | Eventbrite
Date/Time: Sat, 25 Oct 2025 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM AEDT. Doors at 8 am
Location: Novotel Sydney, 350 Church Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150
Contribution: $30
Contact CCSP at the office on office@ccsp.catholic.edu.au
Other information.....
Please note the following additional information.....
