Principal's News
Newsletter Week 10 Term 3 2022
This Sunday we reflect on the parable of the Lost Son or what we probably remember as the Prodigal Son. Luke 15; 1-32. Leaving and returning. This artwork by Sieger Koder provides us with a recontextualized understanding of the parable.
Recontextualising artists find ways to reimagine a symbolic understanding of the wisdom of our Catholic tradition and reimagine it in a way that invites us into dialogue within a broader pluralised and the cultural dynamic of today.
Happy holidays
At the end of each term we all look forward to a time when we can change our school routine and take time to be with family, rest and recharge, read, and possibly travel and get away from what has been in the last ten weeks.
The term has again been very busy and I thank everyone for providing the energy and life to make our school community a happy and buzzing environment. It is a joy to come to school each day to be a part of the energy of this place.
When we look back and reflect on the parent engagement in the learning environment this term it has been a massive term of involvement which has been consistently supported by constructive and high quality teaching and learning in each of the learning spaces:
* Parent Helpers information session *Literacy days * Color Run *Maths Family Morning *Sacramental times *Scripture Story night and pyjama night *First Communion *Excursions *Rube Goldberg Day *Athletics *Mystery readers *Hoop Time *Maths Competition *Book parade *Book week activites with author/ illustrator Mark Wilson *School review meetings
According to British philosopher Betrand Russell, ‘teachers are more than any other group the guardians of civilization’. This is a powerful affirmation of the worth of teachers to society and the benefit that they provide to children in their charge and to their families in turn. I thank our St James teachers for the energy, passion and compassion they bring to our school everyday. They are an amazing bunch. When you consider the work of a classroom teacher you can generate quite a list of roles and responsibilities that constitute what teachers do day in day out. They teach, provide counseling care, they nurse and comfort and perform a myriad of other tasks by and large with enthusiasm and care. A special call out also to the frontline team, Imelda, Iris, Ange and Ann. Happy faces to greet and assist us at all times.
The holiday has many benefits. For Mums and Dads no more lunch boxes to be filled, or hurrying up children to pack their bags and get in the car. For our teachers to have time to themselves and have no sleep disturbances thinking and reflecting on what’s next.
Enjoy the break. I know that we all will.
School returns on Monday 3rd October with our children in their summer uniform.
Naplan
Children in Year 3 and Year 5 will receive their Naplan results today. Naplan is a recurring talking point amongst educators. I can only reiterate that Naplan is only one brief assessment tool that we use at St James. It is a test conducted in May each year and we receive the results in September. Across the year our assessment schedule in a formative and summative manner ensures that we can make informed judgments and design the learning and teaching needs of all our students every day and every week.
On Tuesday this week the staff team analyzed each of the assessed areas and the childrens scores and we are very happy with the progression and growth which confirms where we see our school. It is important that teachers' agency and opportunity to create their own methods of teaching ways to engage with their children is not diminished. We will continue to focus on the data that we gain and collect from Naplan and other data sets and analyze and triangulate to ensure that we are constantly teaching to the point of need.
Please refer to the Teaching and Learning page for more information.
Principal Appointment
Ms Deb Egan, Regional Director MACS, has asked me to inform you that a decision has been made to re-advertise the position for a Principal at St James. The position will be readvertised in mid-October. Re-advertising for a Principal position is standard practice to ensure we attract a diverse range of candidates, especially in a competitive market.
Dear Parents,
As you will have read in the newsletter today the Principal position for St James will be readvertised. The position will be advertised on October 8 and October 15 in the Catholic Education communication news and the Age.
This is not an uncommon feature as MACs Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic schools and the selection panel of MACs personnel, parents and an experienced Catholic School Principal, are seeking to ensure that St James attracts a strong candidate to take our school forward to its next stage of growth and development. We pray that through our trust and hope in the Lord an appointment will be made soon.
After seven years as our Principal, Brendan is to commence his new Principal position at Clairvaux Catholic school in Geelong in 2023. With approval from MACs Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic school and in a recent meeting at the School Advisory Council, Brendan advised us that he will be taking a well deserved Long Service Leave break to ensure that he is refreshed and ready for the role of leading a large new school community.
Brendan will be commencing his leave and time for rest and regeneration from Friday November 11th and will return to be a part of the Year 6 school graduation later in the year Thursday 15th December, the Prep children that he commenced with in 2016.
Miss Carmelina Corio will be the acting Principal for the remaining school weeks.
Mrs Jess Conway will be teaching the Year 3/4CC full time during this time.
Regards
Helen Connell
School Advisory Chairperson
Faith in our future
Brendan