Principal's Message
Principal’s Report
We come to the end of a very memorable year for our College.
December marks the conclusion to our Golden Jubilee year – 50 years of service to our students and families.
We acknowledge this as the final year of St James College as we transition to become the Bentleigh East Campus of St Bede’s College in 2021.
Together we have worked through a year impacted by COVID-19 and all of the requirements placed upon the wider community.
We have finished the term cognisant that we have been unable to enact many of our plans for celebrating the significance of this year but we give thanks for what we have – our families, our health, and all that our community has been able achieve.
We finish 2020 as a College community sharing our faith and our Lasallian Tradition in support of our young men and our families.
Thanksgiving Liturgies and Assemblies
As we completed the final week for students in this the Jubilee Year of the College, we were able to acknowledge 2020 with Year level-based gatherings.
On Thursday 3 December, we finished the school year with Liturgies and Assemblies for students in Years 7 – 9. These only involved the students and the staff at each year level.
Given the year we have had, it was important to celebrate the occasion, honour the achievements of our students and to present some significant awards. As parents were unable to attend these assemblies, a video link of the proceedings will be sent to the families of each year level
Year 10 Graduation Assembly
Similarly, the Year 10 students and staff were able to have a Graduation Liturgy and Assembly on Monday 30 November. A number of Awards were made to our Year 10 students acknowledging their achievement and successes over their time at the College.
We thank the class of 2020 for their Leadership, example for the younger students and for the positive impact they have had at the College during their four years.
I take this opportunity, as this the final Newsletter is distributed to our Year 10 families, to thank you all for your association and support during the time that your sons have been in the care of St James College. I wish these young men every success in their futures and we look forward to celebrating their achievements as we move through these next years together via the Amalgamation with St Bede’s College in 2021.
Orientation Day for Year 7 students 2021
This week on Tuesday, we held our Orientation Morning for our new Year 7 students. It was wonderful to see the young men so enthusiastic and looking forward to meeting their classmates and the Year 7 level staff with whom they will be working alongside as they commence their secondary education. The morning’s activities included a school tour, the completion of a Transition Passport Booklet and a Homeroom based Indoor Soccer match. We all look forward to working with these young men next year.
As the Year 7, 2021 families will receive this Newsletter, again I offer a warm welcome and an assurance that you have made a very wise choice of College for your sons. I am sure the coming years will be years of great adventure and learning.
Lasallian Service
This year we used our theme of Great Things are Possible to highlight that as a Catholic and Lasallian community, we are called to recognise the needs of others, to assist where we can and that working together, we are able to achieve more.
In this endeavour, we presented many gift vouchers from our Christmas Appeal to the St Vincent de Paul Association. These vouchers will be distributed to needy families in our local area over these next weeks. We appreciate the efforts of the students, parents and staff for their contributions to this appeal over this last month.
Donations of second-hand uniform
Through the generosity of some of our parents with connections to charities we are able to support some local and overseas organisations with clothing items. Thank you to the families who have supported this initiative.
Amalgamation news
Last week all families were sent a report on the progress of the Amalgamation Sub-Committees that have been operating through this year as part of the project to amalgamate us as a second campus of St Bede’s College. The report has been written by Ms Liz Gleeson who is the Chair of the Steering Committee overseeing this significant work.
We look forward to 2021 as a junior campus of what will be a much larger Lasallian College and serving the families in our South Eastern parishes and suburbs of Melbourne.
Acknowledgements
I would like to take this opportunity to again thank our students for the way they have approached the demands that this year has presented. The young men must feel as if they have been on a roller coaster with weeks at school, then at home with online learning during significant periods in Terms 2, 3 and 4. They have generally adapted well to the structures and requirements placed around them and I commend them for their work with their teachers through the year to manage their school work and studies.
The majority of our sporting, cultural and other involvements were unable to take place. However, where activities were able to be run online, our students contributed in the best ways they could.
Thank you to all our young men and we acknowledge their wonderful efforts during 2020!
I would like to thank the College Staff: The Leadership Team, the Year Level Coordinators, Domain Leaders, Homeroom teachers, Specialist Teaching Staff, the Ancillary Staff and Administration Staff for their dedication and commitment to the young men and families of St James College. We are very fortunate to have such a committed staff who are willing to do whatever is necessary for the well-being and care of our young men.
The gratitude of all at St James College is extended to our Canonical Administrators – the Parish Priests, and the St James College Board, for their continual encouragement and support, particularly through this everchanging year and with the work for the Amalgamation.
We appreciate that our work and successes would not have been possible without the ongoing support of the parents for our young men. Thank you to our parents for the work you have devoted this year to preparing your sons each day for school – both for on campus classes and during the periods of remote learning. Importantly, I thank you for encouraging your sons to strive for their best.
Long Serving Staff
At our final Liturgies we acknowledged staff who this year had reached particular milestones of service at our College. Congratulations to:
10 years of Service
Maryanne Stefaniw
Michael Brown
Philip Thomas
Wendy Hendricks
Maryanne O’Connor
Amy Collins
Kaye Longhurst
20 Years of Service
Wendy Grogan
Stephen Pooley
Staff leaving
There are some staff who are leaving our school this year - We thank the following members of staff and wish them every success for the future as they move to pursue other opportunities:
- Mr John Logan
- Mr Roger Grech
- Mr Joel Harriss
And a special acknowledgement to:
- Mr Damian Perry who is transferring to Aquinas College after 12 years of service
- Ms Carmel Main who is retiring from St James College after 19 years of service
- Ms Patrick Janes who is transferring to a Leadership role at Padua College after 22 years of service
Thank you to all these staff members for their valuable contribution to our St James College Community over their time.
Advent
In these weeks of Advent, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. Advent is a season of grace that invites us to examine the way we live our lives and to prepare ourselves to receive the Blessings of Christmas. Thus, Advent is a time of Hope that allows us to renew our commitment to be part of God’s Kingdom and to renew our relationships with others.
As we complete this year, I would like to wish everyone associated with St James College a happy and relaxing holiday break and may your Christmas and New Year be filled with the blessings of Christ.
Live Jesus in our hearts, Forever.
Stephen Pooley
Principal