St James Executive Leadership 

Principal News

Dear Parents and Carers,

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, with our Sacramental program, Science Week, Book Week, and Sporting events, including Interschool Ski sports at Mt Buller.

Eucharist  - Thank you

Last week as we gathered together as a school community, we were reminded of the profound gift God has given us in the Eucharist. This sacrament of Jesus’ love and presence holds a special place in our hearts and in the life of our school.  It was lovely to see all the families supporting their children on this very special occasion.  Thank you to Bec and Emma for preparing the students and to Fr Ian and all staff for presiding and assisting on the night.

A special thank you to Virginia and her amazing team of parents for organising a lovely First Eucharist lunch for the students. 

Once again, congratulations to all our students. May this day be a cherished memory as you continue to grow in faith and community.

Feast of the Assumption

On the 15th August we celebrated the feast of Mary’s Assumption. At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed, or taken up, into heaven body and soul. She did not have to wait for the end of the world, as we do. God granted her this special privilege because of her sinlessness and her fullness of grace.

At St James we marked this special day with level based liturgies that all students took part in.  Students were reminded how Mary showed us how to live a life of love, courage, respect and humility.

Science Week

Science Week 2024 took place last week.  Students were provided  with the opportunity to further learn about the world of science. 

Some of the student activities included:

• A reptile incursion, providing students with the opportunity to learn about and interact with various reptiles, 
• A Nudel Kart incursion, offering students a unique hands-on experience that sparked curiosity and innovation. 
• STEM activities that provided students with opportunities for critical thinking and problem-solving, reinforcing the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a fun and interactive way.

The enthusiasm and engagement from both students and parents have made this week memorable and inspiring for all.  Thank you to Bridie Slater, our STEM leader supported by the staff, for designing a week filled with lots of science learning for the students.   

Book Week

As Book Week 2024 draws to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making this week a resounding success. Your enthusiasm for reading and your creative participation in the activities have truly brought the magic of books to life.

From engaging storytelling sessions to imaginative dress-up days, it has been wonderful to see our school community come together to celebrate the joy of reading. Your support and involvement have made this week a memorable experience for our students.

We’d like to remind you that the Book Week Parade is scheduled for this Friday at 9:30 am. Please join us in the school hall as our students showcase their costumes and characters from their favorite books. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their creativity and the love of literature.

I would like to thank Amanda Joplin (Literacy leader / Librarian) for planning a magical week of reading activities, including a visit from the renowned author Morris Gleitsman.  We cannot forget to thank our resident story dog ‘Boomer’ who listens to the students read on a weekly basis. He was wagging his tail in happiness when celebrating his special day on Monday.  

Thank you once again for making Book Week 2024 such a special occasion. We look forward to seeing you at the parade and continuing to foster a passion for reading throughout the year.

St James Snow Team

Earlier in the week 10 of our students participated for the first time in the Interschool Snow Sports event held at Mt. Buller.

First and foremost I would like to thank Tony Davidson and Steffen Sauerbrunn for the countless hours spent coordinating the school participation.  Your support and energy, supported by the other school families present made this event a tremendous success. Despite the challenging visibility conditions, with fog rolling in occasionally obscuring our view, your determination and spirit shone brightly. We truly appreciate the patience and resilience shown by our young athletes, who demonstrated incredible skill and sportsmanship under these conditions.

A special thanks is also due to our dedicated team managers. Your commitment to organising, guiding, and cheering on our teams was instrumental in making the event run smoothly.

Thank you once again for your participation and for making our inaugural Interschool Snow Sports event such a wonderful experience. We look forward to many more successful events in the future and hope to see you all there!

Colour Run Explosion

A reminder that our Colour Run Explosion is fast approaching and will be held on Thursday 12th September. 

Whooping Cough

Whooping Cough can be a serious illness, especially for young children and those with weakened immune systems. Ensuring that your child’s vaccinations are current is a crucial step in protecting their health and the health of our school community.

If your child has not received their booster shot or if you have any concerns about their vaccination status, please consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Additionally, if your child is exhibiting any symptoms of whooping cough, such as persistent coughing or difficulty breathing, please keep them at home and seek medical advice promptly.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. By working together, we can help prevent the spread of whooping cough and keep our school community safe and healthy.

Extend Before and After School care

We wish to inform you that our current before and after school care providers will be concluding their services at the end of this term. We want to thank them for their dedication and the care they have provided to our students over the past months.

We are pleased to announce that a new provider will begin offering before and after school care starting next term. We are confident that this change will bring fresh opportunities and continued quality care for your children.

Further details about the new provider and any necessary enrollment information will be shared with you in the coming weeks. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this transition period and look forward to introducing you to our new provider.

If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, please feel free to contact the school office.

Thank you for your continued support.

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.  Please find attached a decree sent out by his Grace the most reverend Archbishop Bishop Peter Comensoli regarding the new Parish name.

St James School Prayer

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,

It has been a very eventful fortnight with Science and Book Week activities, Eucharist Reflection and Sacrament, Year 5/6 Hoop Time, Stay and Play and our very first St James Ski Team competed this week at Mt Buller. All of these events have created wonderful opportunities for our community to come together and have some fun and celebrate. Thank-you to Bridie Slater and Mandi Joplin and the Literacy team for all of their organisation of the Science and Book Week activities. 

With four 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 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