St James Executive Leadership
Principal and Deputy Principal News
Principal News
Dear Parents and Carers,
I’m not sure where the year is disappearing with only two weeks left in Term 3. Tomorrow we have our Father’s Day Breakfast in the Tilley Garden. It is set to be a great morning for all. Thank you to Sara and Maria supported by the Prep parents for all their hard work, planning and preparation. We look forward to celebrating all the Father figures within our community over ‘Coffee and Bagels’.
MACSSIS: School Improvement Surveys
This week all families will receive an information letter about MACSSIS. On Friday 6th September all families will be sent login details to the MACSSIS survey portal which went live on the same day. The survey portal will open until the 20th September.
Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing – MACSSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. We thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey.
Maths Family Afternoon
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for making our Maths Family Afternoon such a resounding success!
It was truly wonderful to see so many families coming together, engaging in math games and challenges, and most importantly, having fun while learning. The enthusiasm and teamwork displayed by both students and parents were nothing short of inspiring.
A special thank you goes to our incredible Maths Leader, Bridie, whose dedication and creativity were instrumental in making this event possible. Bridie's passion for math and her commitment to making it accessible and enjoyable for all our students truly shone through in every activity.
Additionally, I want to thank our dedicated teachers and staff who worked tirelessly alongside Bridie to plan and organise this event. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.
MACS / St James Co-branding
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) oversees the governance and operation of approximately 300 parish primary schools and regional or archdiocesan secondary colleges. To enhance community awareness that each MACS school is part of a unified Catholic education network across the Melbourne Archdiocese, co-branding is now being implemented.
While each school maintains its unique identity within its local community, the addition of the MACS logo is crucial in optimizing the benefits of MACS’ broader efforts in advertising and public relations. This initiative aims to build trust and enhance the appeal of our Catholic educational offerings among stakeholders and the public, including prospective parents.
As part of this co-branding effort, all MACS schools are required to incorporate the new co-branded logo in their public-facing communications and marketing materials. This includes, but is not limited to, our school website, newsletter, prospectus, information packs, letterhead, open day/tour flyers, and signage.
You may have already noticed slight changes in our newsletter, letterhead, and social media posts, as well as updates to our website footer. Further adjustments to our advertising materials will continue throughout the term.
Colour Run Explosion
A reminder that our Colour Run Explosion is fast approaching and will be held on Thursday 12th September.
MACSEYE - Before and After School care at St James
Recently all families received information regarding our new ‘Outside School Hours Service’ to commence here at St James at the beginning of Term 4. A copy of the COMMS is attached here for your reference.
MACSEYE is a newly approved provider, set up by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic
Schools (MACS) offer a range of early childhood and school aged care programs.
MACSEYE is committed to see every child and family flourish. Their programs are designed
to foster a sense of identity, health and well-being.
As a Catholic provider, MACSEYE will have strong links with our school and local parish,
working together to build a vibrant community of support for children and families.
MACSEYE is an approved registered provider, and sets a high standard of quality in line
the National Quality Standards.
I’m confident MACSEYE will provide a high quality service for our students.
Families who need Outside School Hours Care will need to enrol with MACSEYE. Please
refer to the attached flyer which has the enrolment link.
If you have any questions, please let me know or you can also email MACSEYE directly at
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,
Once again, thank-you to Bridie Slater and Mandi Joplin and the Literacy team for all of their organisation of the Maths/STEM and Book Week activities.
With two weeks left of the term we still have many exciting events planned as you can see below. Please ensure you are reading the community page of our newsletter for information about our planned PA activities such as the Fathers Day Breakfast, Colour Explosion Run and Footy Colours Day. We also have our St James Soiree on Tuesday 10th September.
Uniform reminder-just a reminder that ties must be worn until we change over to the summer uniform along with navy socks. Shirts must also be tucked in. Taking pride in our uniform allows us to take pride in our school also.
Please ensure your child's uniform is labeled with their name clearly written on it. We have lots of lost property (located in the Italian room) that is not named.
Key Dates in Term 3
Friday 6th September Fathers Day Breakfast 7.45-8.45am
Friday 6th September Whole School Assembly 2.45-3.30pm
Tuesday 10th September STEM MAD Showcase- selected students only
Tuesday 10th September St James Soiree 5-6pm
Wednesday 11th September SAC Meeting 5.30-6.30pm
Thursday 12th September Colour Explosion Run 1.30-3.30pm
Thursday 12th September R U OK? Day
Friday 13th September Staff Planning Day for Term 4 -NO students
Tuesday 17th September Holt Junior Hoop Time all students in Year ¾
Thursday 19th September Footy Colours Day
Thursday 19th September Stay and Play 9.15-10am
Thursday 19th September End of Term 3 3.30pm Finish
Friday 20th September School Closure Day- TIL for teaching staff
SAVE THE DATE
On Monday 28th October Susan McLean from CyberSafety Solutions will be holding a presentation for all parents in our community in regards to keeping our students safe online. There will be no charge to St James families to attend this evening. Please see below further information in regards to Susan’s credentials and what her presentation will cover.
As mentioned in the previous newsletter, St James is now 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