St James Executive Leadership 

Principal News

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are halfway through the month of November, leaving us with as little as 5 weeks to go till the end of the school year.  This is a busy time for schools as  we continue to teach and assess, write school reports and plan for 2025 and by no means is this the full list.  In planning for 2025 we acknowledge that there comes a time in everyone's educational career where a change may be in school setting or role is required so as to continue to flourish as teachers and leaders. Which leads me to share the following news.

Staffing 2025

It is with mixed emotions that I share that the following staff will be leaving our St James family at the end of the school year so as to enjoy retirement, seek new adventures and continue to flourish as teachers in new settings.

Miss Bridie Slater, Mrs Sharon Broeren, Mr Aidan Niarros, Mrs Christine Kidman and Emily Busch.

There will be the opportunity to formally say thank you and farewell to the above mentioned staff at a later date in the year.

Whilst we have interviewed and successfully appointed, the Staffing List for 2025 will not be shared with the school community until a later date.

Remembrance Day

Every year at 11 am on 11 November – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – we pause to remember those who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations.        

On Monday we gathered as a school and with The Prep and Year 6 students leading, we stopped, prayed for and remembered all those who died for us.

The respect demonstrated by the entire school during the prayer service was great to see.  

A very proud moment!

Art Show Thank you

Last week we had our 2025 Art Show. First and foremost ‘THANK YOU’ to Caroline for teaching the students the skills required to create the many works of Art.  The Art Show was set up to replicate a boutique Art Gallery.  The students could be seen pointing out and sharing their work with their families.  This year we were fortunate enough to have been able to give the Grandparents and Special Friends a sneak preview of the Art Show.  All students' work has now been sent home.  We hope that you find somewhere in the home to display your child's / children's masterpieces.

St James Helper Morning Tea - SAVE THE DATE

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for Grandparents and Special Friends Day! It was wonderful to see our students surrounded by their loved ones, sharing laughter, stories, and special memories.

A special thank you to our generous parents for contributing delicious plates for the morning tea – your support helped make the day even more enjoyable. We also want to acknowledge our dedicated parent volunteers for their time and effort in setting up and coordinating the event. 

Your assistance brought everything together beautifully.

Thank you all for helping to create such a memorable day for our school community.

Christmas Carols -Food Orders

We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the joy of Christ’s birth at our annual Christmas Carols event on Friday, 29th November. This special evening will be filled with music, prayer, and reflection as we come together in faith to honor the true meaning of Christmas.

Please save the date, and stay tuned for more details. We look forward to sharing this blessed celebration with you all.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1301517

Safety:  Adhering to Speed limits around the School

As we prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our students, I am reaching out to remind everyone of the importance of adhering to speed limits around the school premises in particular St James Closes and Osbourne Close. With the new Term underway, it is crucial that we all take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe environment for the students at the school as well as neighboring schools.

Speed limits in school zones are set for a reason. They are designed to protect students, parents, and staff during peak hours of arrival and dismissal. Driving at safe speeds gives drivers ample time to react to sudden movements or unexpected events, such as children crossing the street.

Here are a few key reminders:

Observe Speed Limits: Always drive within the posted speed limits, especially in school zones.

Be Alert: Stay vigilant for children who may suddenly appear between parked cars.

Follow Traffic Signs: Pay close attention to all school zone signs, including No Standing, Keep Clear  and Pedestrian crossings.

Use Designated Drop-Off Areas: Utilise the designated drop-off and pick-up areas to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and safety for all.  Please adhere to the time limits.

By following these guidelines, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer environment for our children. Your cooperation and commitment to safe driving practices are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Let’s work together to keep our school community safe.

School Security

If you are dropping off or picking up students between 9.00am and 3.30pm, please ensure that this is done so via St James Close and the front office.  For security reasons we would like to ensure anyone entering or leaving the school during class time does so via the main entrance. The doors are locked once the school day commences.  Please ring the doorbell and a member of staff will let you in.  Thank you!

School Enrolments 2025

The  2025 academic year is fast approaching.  A friendly reminder that school enrolments are now open for new students!   At St James, we are committed to providing a well rounded education that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and social responsibility whilst maintaining our Catholic tradition. 

To enrol your child, please visit our website http://www.stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au for detailed instructions and required documentation. 

We encourage you to share this exciting news with friends and family who may be interested in joining our school community. Prospective families are invited to schedule a personalised school tour.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school directly on ph 03 9596-4766 or via email: info@stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au

Thanks in advance!

  COVID Safe Protocols

St James Catholic Primary School (School Portal) 

Please click here to access the School Portal  https://sites.google.com/stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au/stjamescatholicprimaryschool-r/school-portal-home-page

Social Media - Please follow, like and share our school Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Feeds. 

School Website:  www.stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au

Twitter:  St James Catholic Primary School, 3186

Instagram:  stjamesbrighton3186

Facebook: @stjamesbrighton3186

Please stay safe and healthy.

Carmelina Corio

Principal

Deputy Principal News

Hello Everyone,

Since our last newsletter we have had Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Superspeak presentations, continued Yoga with Jackie and the St James Art Show. 

Our next major events coming up are the Swimming Program and Swimming Carnival. Please ensure you have completed all Operoos and the survey in relation to the swimming ability of your children. Also our Christmas Carols evening is right around the corner. Miss Pace has put together, once again, some very fun and energetic song and dance routines for the evening. Our Year 5’s are preparing for their infamous Christmas stalls which Mrs Fatouros does an excellent job guiding them through this process each year. 

Can you believe that in a few weeks we will be welcoming our new Prep families for 2025 by beginning with our Information Night and Kinder visits. Our Year 6 students are working very hard on their graduation song and yearbook and I know the parents are working on their Graduation evening. This time of the year is full of excitement and anticipation. It can also be stressful and can give feelings of anxiety when transition activities begin. Please make sure you are going at your pace and taking time to realise that this time of year we need to be kind to ourselves! 

FYI - Upcoming Disruption Information to Sandringham Line - December 2024

Buses replace trains on the Sandringham Line – 6 December to 16 December, 2024

From 11.15pm Friday 6 December to last service Monday 16 December, buses will replace trains on sections of the Sandringham Line.

During this time, please allow extra time for your journey, noting that it may be busier during peak times.

For journey planning, service information and up-to-date timetable information, visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call 1800 800 007.

Please see below a list of the remaining key dates for 2024:

Friday 15th November - Assembly

Monday 18th November - School Swimming Program Begins for Students in Prep-Year 5

Thursday 21st November - Year 6 Water Safety Program- Brighton SLSC All Day

Friday 22nd November - School Closure Day 2025 Planning Day

Wednesday 27th November - School Swimming Program Final Day

Thursday 28th November - Stay and Play 9.15-10am

Thursday 28th November - St James School Swimming Carnival and 2025 Swimming Trials

Monday 2nd December - Prep 2025 Orientation Session 1

Tuesday 3rd December- Staff v Student Dodgeball Match

Thursday 5th December - SAC Annual General Meeting 7-9pm

Monday 9th December - 2025 Prep Orientation Session 2

Monday 9th December - Year 4 Students visit St Mary’s College St Kilda All Day(cancelled)

Wednesday 11th December - Year 6 Luna Park Celebration Day

Thursday 12th December - Stay and Play final session

Friday 13th December - Semester 2 Reports released

Friday 13th December - End of Year Mass and Final Assembly for 2024, 2:30pm

Monday 16th December - Move Up Morning for all students

Monday 16th December - 2025 Prep Orientation session 3 

Monday 16th December  -Year 6 Graduation 5-9pm

Tuesday 17th December - Final Day of 2024 1.30pm finish. 

St James is a Donation Partner for the Container Deposit Scheme. This means that each time you return your containers to Return-It Locations in the Victorian East Zone, you can choose to donate the money to St James.  This term any money raised will be donated to STEM @ St James School. 

You can either search for and donate to St James or you can use our Donation Partner ID or Barcode.  

Our Zone ID barcode is:

Thank you for helping us support our students and make a difference to our environment.

Emma Herbert and Georgia McNamara

Deputy Principals