St James School Community News

Parents Association 

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads, we hope you all had a lovely day! We’ve been having some wild windy weather these last few weeks which has seen the Holt Athletics carnival postponed until later in the year. There’s quite a few events scheduled before the end of term so please take note!

FATHERS DAY BREAKFAST

We are excited to celebrate our St James Dads/Special person on Friday 6th September in the Tilley Garden starting from 7:45am to 8:50am.

Breakfast will be outside in the Tilley Garden, next to the library (we’ll move inside if it’s raining).

Tickets are $20 per family (1 Adult and up to 4 kids)

Breakfast includes bagels with plenty of topping options, barista made coffee, apple or orange juice.

If you missed the deadline on Friday 30th August but still wish to purchase tickets please contact Sara or Maria (details below).

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1264832

Any questions Sara @ 0429 421 362 or Maria @ 0421 984 287

ST JAMES SOIREE

Piano and Dance students at St James will have the opportunity to perform in a soiree on Tuesday 10th September in the St James hall.  The soiree will start at 5pm to 6pm if any parents and students would like to attend.

2024 STJ COLOUR EXPLOSION RUN

The St James annual Colour Run is fast approaching. Mark in Thursday 12th September in your calendars. The kids always have a blast on this day. 

FOOTY DAY SAUSAGE SIZZLE: SEPTEMBER 19

Back by popular demand the Grade 6s are organising a sausage sizzle for Footy Colours Day on the last day of Term 3, Thursday 19th September. Proceeds go towards their graduation. Support your team and the Grade 6s!! 

DADS DRINKS

Dads and special friends drinks are on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

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.  

Contributions from our fundraising efforts will be put towards many areas across the school.  This year funds raised have gone towards professional soccer nets and we will use current funds towards Chrome books for the students.  We are also working towards improved security at the school with CCTV. 

FUTURE CALENDAR DATES

Don’t miss a thing. Sending a reminder there is a full school calendar featuring everything in one place.  Check out St James Website page news and events / events for more:

• St James Fathers Day breakfast at 7:45-8:50am in the Tilley Garden Friday 6th September. 
• St James Soiree - Tuesday the 10th September at 5-6pm
• Colour Explosion Run - Thursday 12th September Elsternwick Park 
• Footy Colours Day - Thursday 19th of September
• Dad’s Catch Up - every 3rd Thursday of the month.  
• Grandparents and Special Friends Day - Friday 1st November 

PARENTS ASSOCIATION CALENDAR 2024

Maryallan and John

St James PA Co-Chairs

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Please reach out to us if you have any uniform enquiries or suggestions.

Liesl & Ali

School Community News

St James STAY AND PLAY - Transition Playgroup

Prospective families are invited to schedule a personalised school tour.  

Before and After school care

Parent Google Calendar

The google calendar is designed for parents to keep up to date with school events.  

Please ensure that you are checking the Parent Google Calendar on a regular basis as dates are added throughout the year.

School Closure Days 2024 

2024 school closure days are as follows, but please keep in mind that they may be subject to change, as each term, staff have a full day dedicated to staff professional learning and forward planning. 

Term 1   Friday 22 March            Staff Planning Day  Term 2

Term 2    Friday 26 April              TIL

                  Friday 07 June                Staff Planning Day  Term 3   

N.B. Term 2 Early Release Day - Monday 24 June 1:00pm finish Parent/Teacher Interviews 

Term 3    Friday 13 September    Staff Planning Day  Term 4

                   Friday 20 September    TIL

Term 4    Monday 04 November  TIL

2024 Term Dates

Term 1   30 January  - 28 March         (Final Day Term 1 - School finishes at 3:30pm)

                Each Wednesday in February Foundation Students are scheduled for individual testing                   and do not attend school.  Full weeks for Foundation commence in March.

Term 2     15 April - 28 June                   (Final Day Term 2 - School finishes at 3:30pm)

Term 3     15 July - 19 September        (Final Day Term 3 - School finishes at 3:30pm)

Term 4      07 October - 17 December  (Final Day Term 4 -School finishes at 1:30pm)

Bell Times

Teacher supervision  8:40am - 9:00am 

First Bell  9:00am (Music begins playing at 8:55am) 

Fruit Break 10am

Morning Recess  11:00am - 11:30am 

Morning Eating Time 11:30 am -11:40 am

Lunch Eating Time 1:40pm - 1:50pm 

Afternoon Recess 1:50pm - 2.30pm

Dismissal  3:30pm 

Teacher supervision  3:30pm -3:45pm

Lunch Orders

Your School Canteen is ourlunch order provider and operates at Star of the Sea College.   See attached flyer with further details.

Orders are placed online via flexischools and see below example of the menu.

Your School Canteen also offers the option to order food for recess on Fridays!

PLEASE NOTE THAT LUNCH ORDERS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ON 

THURSDAY 15th & FRIDAY 16th AUGUST 

DUE TO STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS 

Scholastic Book Club

The Scholastic Book Club catalogue was sent home with your child recently and orders are due tomorrow.

Kindly note ordering books via the book club is entirely optional. 

What is Book Club?

For more than 50 years, Scholastic Book Club has been bringing to the joy of reading to Australian children. Today, Book Club can be found in more than 94% of primary schools across Australia, with a yearly circulation of over 20 million catalogues. Each Issue of Book Club covers ages from 0-12+ years and contains specially curated, age-appropriate titles that have been carefully selected and levelled by a dedicated team of professional booklovers.

Book Club provides families with an affordable and convenient way to access the best in Australian and international children's literature. As well as bridging the important class-to-home reading gap, Book Club also benefits Australian schools—for every Book Club order placed, Scholastic gives back 15% of the order spend to schools to spend on valuable educational resources via its Scholastic Rewards program.

So how does Book Club work?

1. Book Club catalogues arrive at school up to twice a term and can usually be found hiding in your child’s backpack. We encourage you to sit down with your child and go through the catalogue together, discussing any books that sparks your child’s interest.

2. Once your child has made their final selection, head over to our LOOP websiteor app 

to place your order. LOOP orders are linked to your school in an easy, safe online process. Registering for LOOP will also keep you up-to-date with all of the latest Book Club news, information on exciting new releases, and our exclusive Book Club special offers.

3. Your school’s Book Club Organiser will then take care of the rest! After they have submitted everyone’s orders, our team get to work packing your child’s order full of exciting things.　

4. Your child’s order is then delivered to their class, ready to take home and be eagerly read. Orders that you have marked as a ‘gift’ in LOOP will be sent to school for you to secretly pick-up instead.

With numerous studies finding that reading at home is a key factor in a child’s lifelong success, Book Club provides a fun and easy way of bringing books into your home.

Community Notices

St Mary's is a mid-sized Catholic Co Educational Secondary School of 500 students.

 If parents are still looking for Catholic Co education for their child, feel free to contact David Formosa - Director of Development, as there are limited places available. dformosa@stmaryscollege.vic.edu.au

School Holidays

Extra Curricular Programs @  St James  School

TENNIS 

TAEKWONDO  

Rise Up DANC Program @ St James

Monday lunchtime 1:50-2:30pm in the school Hall

Thursdays from 3:30-4:45pm in the school Hall

Contact Miss Leisa for more information 

leisa.riseupdance@gmail.com

PIANO 

VIOLIN, CELLO, GUITAR

Exciting news! Genesis Music School is thrilled to offer affordable violin and cello lessons together with their guitar lessons to our school community.   For further details please contact Genesis Music School.

ART

ART SMART

Professional Afterschool Art Program 

 Let's unleash your child's creativity with Art Smart and join us for a free trial session. 

Seniors  

Mondays 3.40 - 5pm

Juniors 

Tuesdays 3.40 - 5pm

Enrol now - https://arteastudio.weteachme.com/classes/1043232-art-smart-professional-art-program-st-james