Parents Association
Message from Co-Chairs
Connie Sands & Virginia Pullman
Hello St James families. We have so much to update on this newsletter and for us to get ready for the final weeks of the term. We have Grandparents and Special Friends day this Friday morning at 9am to 11am and if you can please remember to drop some food in whether sweet or savoury.
ST JAMES FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY AND CAROLS
THURSDAY 8th DECEMBER 5.30 -8pm
We have an update on the end of year parents Christmas party.
Instead of a party for the parents this year, all families are invited to a Christmas Carols night on Thursday the 8th of December at St James where our children will sing us some Christmas carols plus a very special visit from you know who (Santa of course!). We are also very lucky to have an art display/show, with drawings from across all children's year levels. Art show starts at 5.30pm and Carols will be at 6.30pm.
There will be food available to purchase or you can bring your own. There will also be a wishing tree to bring any donated gifts for children less fortunate. Please feel free to dress festively.
We will need volunteers to help out on Carols night, also people to help set up and decorate, cook the bbq and help maintain the stall to sell food and drinks.
Please let Connie or Virginia know if you can help out on the night?
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR
It is also time to start thinking about volunteers for the next year. Virginia and I will continue as presidents for one more year.
We need other volunteers for the events below and I have attached a spreadsheet to add your names. If you want any clarification, please touch base with Virginia or I. The success of our sense of community comes from the families who help out.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BF0H-icLk_LZKZJsSweocGzIM1owF5zwSdZ-wY7bnWs/edit?usp=sharing
The major events during the year are allocated to year levels as follows:
· Mother's Day Lunch (Sat, 20/05/23) - Year 5 & 6 - Elwood Bathers is booked
· Colour Run (Term 1/ Term 2) - Year 3 and 4 - 27th October
· Parents Night Out (Term 3) - Year 1 & 2 - we have ideas for this
· Father's Day Breakfast (Term 3) - Prep
If you have children in multiple levels, we only ask that you help with one main event (unless you want to do more!)
The other events for the year will continue to be organised based on an opt-in basis as listed. While many events have a lead organiser, additional volunteers will be required. If you are willing and available, please let us know and attach your name in the link above.
Welcome Disco - (Term 1) back at school 24 February- Denise Wong has volunteered as key coordinator for 2023
Pancake Day - Pancake Tuesday
Easter Raffle and Hot Cross Bun drive - Easter
Oaks Day - Thursday 9th November - tie into event in local area
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Date TBA depending on availability
All the above events we have past information available and we are all here to help you including Virginia and Connie.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS DINNER
For those that have generously donated their time this year towards helping on the PA or organising an event, we are having our final PA meeting and a dinner on Wednesday 9th of November at 7.30pm upstairs at Mr & Mrs P, Bay Street Brighton.
If you have not yet RSVP’d and would like to come along, please let Connie know asap, Thanks
GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY - FRIDAY MORNING 28 OCTOBER
If all St James families can please bring something to share on Friday morning for the special friends and grandparents morning tea.
Food can be dropped off at the downstairs boardroom/kitchen next to the kitchen.
Can you label any containers / plates etc. that you would like returned.
Please no nuts and if homemade, please list ingredients. Oven is available to heat food if needed.
LUNCH ORDERS FROM 2023
We are continuing to explore transitioning our paper based lunch order system to the same online ordering app used by Star students. A common frustration from parents throughout the school was having enough spare change on lunch order day. This new app allows for lunches to be paid electronically, plus has some other handy features like repeat orders, instant menu updates and canteen closures day blocked out. Lunch orders would still continue to be collected from the Star canteen and delivered to classrooms. We are working very hard at getting a working system up and running for a small group of parents to trial before the end of the year. All being well we would then be in a position to share more information on the use and set up of the app.
WORLD TEACHERS DAY
Our teachers have shown great resilience during challenging times. It’s time to take a moment to take our hats off to them. We encourage you to go up to your teacher on Friday and tell them what they mean to you. You can also celebrate with others and upload a photo at worldteachersday.edu.au
THANKS FROM THE PA
We are very grateful for the continued support of all our parents, the school and local community. All our PA members are volunteers who generously give up their own time to organise our school events.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly:
conniesands@bigpond.com
FUTURE CALENDAR DATES
- Oaks day lunch - Thursday 3rd November (SOLD OUT - WAITLIST ONLY)
- Special Friends / Grandparents morning tea - Friday 28 October 9 - 11am
- PA Volunteers dinner - Wednesday 9th November at 7:30pm
- St James Christmas party and Carols - Thursday 8th December
- Welcome Disco - Friday 24th Februay 2023
- Dads/Special friends and kids - YMCA Camp Anglesea - Friday to Sunday, 17-19 March 2023
- Mothers Day St James Ladies lunch - Saturday 20th May 2023
- Colour run - Friday 27th October 2023