This Week's Updates
Dear Families,
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 4! And the return of Winter. Though hopefully it's only for one day. Well done to our students who participated in the Volleyball tournament on Wednesday and the Hot Shots Tennis program on Friday.
A huge thank you to Dan Savoia and the team who organised, volunteered at and supported our Bunnings BBQ on the weekend. Please see below a note from Dan:
Just wanted to send a note to say a massive THANK YOU for your efforts in supporting this years St James Bunnings sausage sizzle. Everyone worked really hard today and the day simply would not have been a success without your efforts.
I am really pleased to let you know that we made a profit of $1621.82 after all expenses. This is on par with last year once you take into account prices having gone up a bit.
Some stats:
- 54kg of snags
- 30 loaves of bread
- ~75 drinks
- 12kg of onion
We sold out completely by 3.30pm – an incredible result with no wastage at all! I must make a special mention to bakers delight in Brentford square for donating all the bread- let's make sure to spread the word and get around them.
We have a busy few weeks ahead with Reconciliation, Cricket, school swimming, our Twilight Sports carnival and our upcoming parish Fete.
Twilight Sports Update
Our annual twilight sports will take place on Thursday 6 November from 4.00pm - 6.45pm at the Bill Sewart Athletics Track in East Burwood.
We encourage families to make use of the early 2:00pm dismissal so students can rest, eat, and get changed before arriving at the track at 3:45pm. Families unable to collect their children early may leave them at school until 3:20pm. An Operoo form will be sent tomorrow — please tick ‘Yes’ if your child requires supervision after 2pm.
Please make sure your child is dressed in their house colours, wearing their school hat, and bring a water bottle. Teachers will ensure all students take their hats home that day.
Our Twilight Sports are a compulsory school event (unless students are away on a family holiday or away ill).
Our wonderful organising committee of P & F parents will prepare a BBQ for all of our St James Families to enjoy on the night. Please see below menu of what will be available to purchase.
They need some volunteers to help out. Please sign up here
Our Year Six House Leaders have commenced preparations and as of today, lunchtime chant practice is in full swing (or voice!).
Dance practice will take place each morning from now until Twilight Sports at 8:30am. Please endeavour to drop your child at school in time to participate in practice for the opening dance celebration.
St John's Parish Fete - Other Updates
We are very excited about our upcoming Parish Fete with both parish schools, St James and St John's coming together to create a wonderful community event again this year. Please find attached the latest Fete news along with volunteer links below.
(Please click on the pop out window (middle icon) that appears when you click on the blue box below, to view and select which event you would like to volunteer for.)
Just a reminder, here is a list of the stalls that we would like you to volunteer for:
Prep - Popcorn and Fairy Floss
Year One - Coffee
Year Two - Snowcones
Year Three - Lolly
Year Four - Donuts
Year Five - Cakes
Year Six - JJ’s cafe
- All families are asked to donate a bag of lollies for the Lolly stall by Friday
- All families are asked to donate a block of chocolate for the lob a choc stall by Friday
- The colouring Competition sheets will be distributed later this week
- Wrist bands will be available for purchase in the coming weeks
- Friday 14th November will be a pupil free day in advance of the School Fete
Raffle Tickets
Please return your raffle tickets by Friday 31st October. Our lucky winner of the first sellers prize was the De Guzman Family. We have one more early seller prize that will be drawn on Friday morning so get your books back quickly to be in with a chance to win.
2026 School Fees
You will have received an Operoo regarding 2026 School Fees earlier today.
Special Food Day
Remember that our next special food day is Pizza Day on Wednesday 29 October.
Parenting Seminars
There are three upcoming parenting seminars at healthAbility in Box Hill, that may be of interest to you. Each will be held two weeks apart on Thursdays from 9.30am-11.30am.
6th November Helping your Child with their Emotions: Developing Emotional Intelligence
20th November Supporting Children's Behaviour: Practical positive parenting strategies that work
4th December Keeping your cool with your kids
https://events.humanitix.com/keeping-your-cool-with-your-kids
Classlist Groupings for 2025
We will commence the process of grouping students into their 2025 classes in the next few weeks. This is a lengthy process which staff put a lot of time and thought into.
Any requests to support your child in their social/emotional development MUST include valid reasons and be made via email to myself via principal@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au no later than Friday 7 November. Requests after this date cannot be taken into consideration.
Requests are not a "teacher shopping" opportunity. Please remember that the students will all end up in one of two classes. Please also remember that requests to separate students for social/emotional reasons may result in your child also being separated from their support network who may be placed in the other class.
My advice is to trust our judgement, because we know and observe the students for many hours in many settings each week of the year.
Marathon Club
Just a reminder that our Year Two students are welcome to join in Marathon Club on Wednesday mornings this term as a trial or preparation for officially joining when in
Years 3 - 6.
Have a great week and a lovely long weekend
Dave