St James Executive Leadership 

Principal News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today is the feast day of St Mary Mackillop.  St Mary MacKillop is a remarkable woman whose legacy of compassion, perseverance, and unwavering faith continues to inspire us. 

Born in 1842, St Mary MacKillop dedicated her life to serving others, particularly in education, co-founding the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart to provide quality education to children in underserved areas. Despite facing numerous challenges, her resilience and faith carried her through, and her famous words, "Never see a need without doing something about it," remind us of the importance of helping those in need.  This quote resonates with me as I included it in my Principalship application and it also inspires me in my role as the leader of the school. Let us reflect on her values and strive to embody them in our daily lives, fostering a spirit of kindness, service, and dedication. 

Prayer for St Mary MacKillop

O God, who called St Mary MacKillop to live her life as a witness to the Gospel of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and to dedicate herself to the service of others, grant us, through her intercession, the grace to follow her example with courage and compassion.

Help us to live out our faith with the same dedication and love that she exemplified in her service to the poor and the marginalized. Inspire us to work diligently in our own lives to build a more just and loving world.

May St Mary MacKillop’s unwavering trust in You and her commitment to Your work guide us in our own journey of faith. We ask for her intercession to strengthen us in our endeavors and to help us overcome the challenges we face with grace and perseverance.

Through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Emmaus Parish

Dear St James Families, as you may have heard we now have a new parish name which takes effect 10 August 2024.  Our Parish name is Emmaus Parish and it includes St Finbars, St Joan of Arc and St James.  Each Church and school will maintain their existing name, but operate under the one overarching name of Emmaus Parish.  Attached is a decree sent out by his Grace the most reverend Archbishop Bishop Peter Comensoli regarding the new Parish name and also please note the parish's new phone number 7064 3923.

St James School Prayer

National Principal’s Day

Last Friday was National Principal’s Day.  I continue to feel most blessed in my role here as the Principal of the school.  I was welcomed to school with an avenue of honor with students cheering, lots of letters from the students, morning tea from the staff and flowers.  Thank you to everyone who helped acknowledge this day.  I would not be the leader I am without the ongoing support of this amazing school community.  Thank to everyone who has and will be part of my educational leadership journey here at St James.

Prep 100 Days

Last week the student in Prep celebrated 100 days of learning. It was lovely to see and hear the excitement in reaching this milestone in their educational journey.  Our students have shown incredible dedication, resilience, and growth, achieving great things academically and in extracurricular activities. This success is a testament to the hard work of our students, the unwavering support and guidance of our dedicated teachers Bridie and Mandi, incredible Learning Support officers and staff, and the invaluable involvement of our parents and guardians. 

As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, I am confident that we will continue to strive for excellence and make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead, nurturing our students' academic, social, and emotional development. Congratulations Prep 2024!

Parents Night Out

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your incredible support and participation in our Double Denim Fundraising Trivia Night.

The evening was a tremendous success, filled with laughter, friendly competition, and, of course, a fabulous array of denim outfits! Your enthusiasm and generosity made this event truly memorable and helped us raise significant funds that will directly benefit our school and students. We are excited to share that the proceeds from this event will be going toward the purchase of new Chromebooks for our students.

Special thanks to our amazing organisers  Collette, Cass, Virginia, Deb and Emma supported by the Year 4 parents for working tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly.  Thank you to Paul for running the live auction. Your dedication is deeply appreciated.

Once again, thank you for your continued support and for making our community stronger. We look forward to more fun and successful events in the future!

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,

What a fantastic night it was on Saturday at the Double Denim Trivia Night, there was a sea of all types of denim as you entered the room which looked great. Clearly lots of thought and time had gone into much of the decorations. Watching some of the items be auctioned live was a highlight. Paul C did an amazing job of this. Not to mention the very generous donations from a number of people in our community and businesses. A huge thank-you to the Grade 4 reps and parents who helped in many ways. 

We still have school beanies for sale. These are $20 each and you can purchase them with a pom pom or without. Beanies can be purchased through the following trybooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CRRJR

Please ensure your child's uniform is labeled with their name clearly written on it. We have lots of lost property that is not named. 

Key Dates in Term 3

Friday 9th August Eucharist Reflection Day

Friday 9th August Holt Senior Hoop Time Day

Monday 12th-Friday 16th August- Science Week

Wednesday 14th August Holy Eucharist Mass 6-7pm @ St Joan of Arc

Sunday 18th-Tuesday 20th August-St James Ski Team competing at SSV Snowports Mt Buller

Monday 19th- Friday 23rd August Book Week 

Monday 19th August Story Dogs Day-wear a touch of orange

Thursday 22nd August Stay and Play 9.15-10am

Friday 23rd August Book Week Parade  9.30-10.30am

Thursday 29th August PA Meeting 7.30pm

Friday 30th August Maths Family Afternoon 2.30-3.30pm

Monday 2nd September Holt Athletics Carnival selected Year 3-6 students only

Thursday 5th September Stay and Play 9.15-10am

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 CyberSafey 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