Parents Association
Message from Co-Chairs
Connie Sands & Virginia Pullman
Hello St James families.
What a wonderful time the grandparents, special friends and kids had last Friday. There was so much wonderful food, thank-you to our very generous parents who donated food to be brought in and our wonderful parent volunteers who helped set up, make coffee/teas and helped clean up, there's too many to name individually. Also a huge thank-you to Cass White for creating the beautiful memory table to remember those loved ones that are no longer with us.
FAREWELL ASSEMBLY - FRIDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2.30pm
As you are aware, our Principal Brendan Flanagan will be leaving today and we will be having a 'Farewell School Assembly' at 2.30pm. As a school and community this will be our opportunity to acknowledge Mr Flanagan's 7 wonderful years of Principalship and leadership.
Light refreshments will follow the assembly. If you have forgotten to RSVP, that's fine, please come along as we would love to see you there.
ST JAMES FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY AND CAROLS
THURSDAY 8th DECEMBER 5.30 - 8pm
All St James families, and your family and friends are invited to a Christmas Party on Thursday the 8th of December at St James. Pop this date in your calendars now!
- There will be an ART SHOW / DISPLAY from 5.30pm of the St James children's work.
- There will be food available to purchase (or bring your own).
- The St James children have been practicing and will sing us Christmas carols.
- There will also be an opportunity to make a donation for those less fortunate in our community.
- There will be a visit from Santa (of course!).
- Please feel free to dress up festively. The kids will love this.
- There will be a Christmas stall / market (so please bring cash).
We need volunteers to help out on Carols night. We will need volunteers to help set up, decorate and clean up. Can you please let Connie or Virginia know if you can help out on the night?
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR
The PA needs 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.
The most important is to start with the year representatives for each year, if you can please discuss with your year levels who would like to do this role next year.
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 (Fri, 10/11/23 - Year 3 and 4 - booked
· Parents Night Out (Term 3) - Year 1 & 2 - Potential idea of Rock Star Trivia
· 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 - start of the term and back at school - 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 a wealth of past information available and we are all here to help you.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS and COUNCIL DINNER
For those that have generously donated their time this year on the PA or on the School Advisory council, we all got together this week at Mr & Mrs P on Bay Street Brighton. It was a great way to celebrate what has been a very busy and successful year. The food, service and upstairs room at Mr & Mrs P was lovely, and it was nice to support this local business who supported the school during our fundraising.
LUNCH ORDERS FROM 2023
We have been working very hard and St James has now been set up in the Flexischools lunch order system.
We are about to commence a 2-week trial with a few families across the school to road test the system. We will then look to transition to online lunch orders via the app in T1 2023.
Information on how to download the app and set up your child/children’s profile will be sent out before the end of the school term so families have the summer to set things up. This is an easy process, but support is available if anyone needs help.
T1, 2023 there will be a couple of weeks grace period where we will operate both online ordering and paper based lunch orders before we make a full transition.
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.
Connie would also like to know if any families would like to join her at Bounce Super Session 10-12pm, Glen Iris on 25th November, (School Curriculum Day). Great time to go as it will be quiet!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly:
conniesands@bigpond.com
FUTURE CALENDAR DATES
- St James Christmas party and Carols - Thursday 8th December
- Dads/Special friends and kids - YMCA Camp Anglesea - Friday to Sunday, 17-19 March 2023
- Mothers Day St James Ladies lunch - Saturday 20 May 2023
- Parents night out - Saturday 5 August 2023
- Colour run - Fri, 10th November 2023