St James Executive Leadership 

Principal News

Dear St. James Families,

As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited to prepare our hearts and minds for the joy and peace of Christ’s birth. Advent commenced on December 1, marking the beginning of a time of reflection and anticipation.

To begin our journey through Advent, we held our first prayer services during the Christmas Carols event, where our school community gathered to pray, reflect, and celebrate the spirit of the season. These moments of prayer and song are an important way for us to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus.

Throughout this Advent season, we will continue to offer opportunities for reflection, prayer, and community activities that help us grow in faith. As we await the joy and peace of Christmas, let us embrace the season’s message of hope and renewal.

Wishing everyone a blessed and peaceful Advent season.

Christmas Carols

Last Friday night, our school community gathered to mark the beginning of the Advent season with a joyful and heartwarming celebration. Under the expert direction of our talented Performing Arts teacher, Michaela Pace, all students sang and danced to a variety of Christmas carols and songs. Miss Leisa’s Dance Groups also delighted the audience with an impressive showcase of the dance and choreography they have honed throughout the term. Thank you Michaela and Leisa for your incredible efforts in preparing the students to perform so beautifully—it was truly a magical evening.

Members of the St Vincent De Paul Gardenvale Conference were in attendance to accept the generous Christmas Hamper donations form our school community.

We are grateful to our Year 5 teachers, Mrs Maree Fatouros, and her student teacher, Liana, for organizing the Christmas Market Stall. This event was made possible through the support of our Year 5 students and their families - thank you all for your creativity and hard work!

A huge thank you to the parents who supported this event and helped bring it to life, especially our dedicated Christmas Carols Committee: Michela Luppino, Francine Cufari, and Sally Hansen, along with many parent volunteers from Year 2. Your time, effort, and planning ensured the success of the night. Special thanks also to the team of parent decorators who transformed the main yard into our very own St James Christmas Wonderland, despite the warm weather - it was truly enchanting!

Finally, thank you to the entire St James School community for coming together to celebrate this special time of year. Your presence and support of the Carols, Christmas Hamper Appeal, and Year 5 Market Stall were greatly appreciated. This celebration was a beautiful reminder of the joy, unity, and generosity that make our school so special.

Staffing 2025 Update

Mrs Amanda Joplin will not be returning to St James in 2025.  We thank Amanda for her 6 years.  Amanda has been a valued member of the learning and teaching team and leadership team.  We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

School Fee Letter

Today you will have received an overview of the St James Fee Structure for 2025 via email.  Please contact the office if you have any queries.

ICT and Digital Technology Acceptable Use Policy

A reminder to our school community of the importance of respecting privacy and adhering to the school’s policies regarding photography and videography.

At the beginning of the school year, all families signed our Acceptable Use Policy, which outlines expectations around the use of photos and videos at school events. As part of this policy, we ask that any photos or videos taken during school events, such as assemblies, sports days, and performances, are for personal use only and not shared on social media or any public platforms.

• In the event that I take photographs or video at school events, these will be used for personal use only and I will not distribute these into the public domain or use them without special consent being given from both the Principal and the relevant parents/carers. 

This ensures we respect the privacy of all students and their families, particularly those who may have specific reasons for not wanting their child's image shared. It also helps us comply with child safety standards and privacy laws.

The school will continue to provide opportunities for families to celebrate special moments through school-sanctioned photos and videos, which are shared via our official communication channels.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone in our community. If you have any questions about this policy, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Parents Association and School Advisory Council 2024 / 2025

As we near the end of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the members of our Parents Association and School Advisory Council for their dedication and support throughout the year.  

Last night, members of the School Advisory Council and Parents Association gathered for our Annual General Meeting at James Said Restaurant in Armadale. A special thank you to John Fenwick for graciously hosting this meeting and dinner. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year’s achievements and plan for the future.

A very special thank you goes to Helen Connell, who has served as the Chairperson of our School Advisory Council for the past six years. Helen’s leadership, commitment, and wisdom have been instrumental in guiding the council and shaping the direction of St James. We are incredibly grateful for her contribution and wish her all the best as she steps down from this role.

We also say farewell to Sally Burns, whose last child graduates in Year 6, and Cass White, who will be stepping back from the School Advisory Council but remains a part of our school community. Their dedication and service have been deeply appreciated, and their efforts have made a significant impact on our school. We thank them both for their valuable contributions.

I am delighted to advise that Catherine Fowler, who is currently a member of the School Advisory Council, will take on the role of Chairperson for 2025 and 2026. We look forward to working with Catherine as we continue to strengthen our school community and plan for the future.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Maryallan and John for co-chairing the Parents Association this year. Their leadership and hard work have fostered a vibrant and supportive school community. In addition, I wish to acknowledge and thank all the parent volunteers who served as class representatives throughout the year. Your time and commitment have made a positive difference in the lives of our students and families.

We are also inviting expressions of interest from parents and carers who would like to join either the Parents Association or the School Advisory Council for the coming year. These committees play a vital role in supporting our school, and we warmly encourage anyone interested to get involved.  If you would like to express your interest or learn more about these roles, please contact me directly at the school office or via email.  

Thank you once again to all our committee members and volunteers for their incredible service, and I look forward to welcoming new members in the year ahead.

End of Year School Reports - Nforma Parent Portal  

The end of the school year is also the time where teachers assess and report student learning.  Next Friday 13th December you will receive your child’s end of year School Report.  Just like mid year, the reports will be published via the Nforma Parent Portal. As we have moved to an upgraded Nforma Portal details on how to access your child’s report will be shared with you on on Monday via email.

St James Helper Morning Tea - SAVE THE DATE

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 an exciting couple of weeks it has been at St James! We’ve wrapped up our swimming program and swimming carnival, and what an amazing time it was. These events are so important in supporting the physical and mental development of our students, and it was fantastic to see everyone involved with such enthusiasm and energy.

Last Friday, we also had the joy of celebrating our Christmas carols—what a wonderful community event it was! The atmosphere was filled with holiday cheer, and we were delighted to have representatives from St Vinnies join us to collect the generous donations from our community.

At our assembly on Friday, we were thrilled to announce our Year 6 leaders for 2025. We can’t wait to see them step into their new roles and inspire others. A big thank you also goes to our Semester 2 SRC members for their outstanding leadership throughout the semester. We’re so grateful for all their hard work and dedication.

In addition, last week we held our 2025 Prep Information Night, and it was wonderful to welcome new families to our school community. Our Prep orientation sessions are now underway, with the next one coming up on Monday 9th December. It’s such an exciting time for our Prep families, and we look forward to supporting them every step of the way.

A special thank you to our incredible teaching staff who are currently busy with assessments, report writing, and editing. We truly appreciate all the hard work they’re putting in to ensure our reports are ready for release next Friday 13th December.

What a whirlwind of activity, and we are so grateful to everyone who makes these moments possible. Looking forward to school holidays for some quality time with family and friends.

Please see below a list of the remaining key dates for 2024:

Monday 9th December - 2025 Prep Orientation Session 2

Tuesday 10th December- Staff v Student Dodgeball Match

Tuesday 10th December- Bike Ed for Year 3 - 6

Wednesday 11th December - Year 6 Luna Park Celebration Day

Thursday 12th December - Stay and Play final session

Friday 13th December - Thank you afternoon tea 1:00pm

Friday 13th December - End of Year Mass for 2024, 2:30pm

Friday 13th December - Semester 2 Reports released

Monday 16th December - Move Up Morning for all students

Monday 16th December - 2025 Prep Orientation session 3 

Monday 16th December  -Year 6 Graduation 5-9pm

Tuesday 17th December - Farewell Assembly at 12.45pm and Final Day of 2024 1.30pm finish. 

Key Dates for 2025 Term 1:

Thursday 30th January P-6 Students Commence classes for 2025

Wednesday 5th February Prep Testing

Thursday 6th February Parent Information Evening

Wednesday 12th February Prep Testing

Thursday 13th February Meet the Teacher 1.30pm Finish for students

Friday 14th February Assembly #1 2.45pm

Wednesday 19th February Prep Testing

Friday 21st February Holt District Swimming Competition

Friday 21st February St James Welcome Disco

Wednesday 26th February Prep Testing

Friday 28th February Assembly #2 2.45pm

Monday 3rd March Prep's first full week

Tuesday 4th March Shrove Tuesday

Wednesday 5th March Ash Wednesday

Thursday 6th March School Photo Day

Tuesday 11th March School Closure Day (Staff Planning Day)

Friday 14th March Dad's Camp Weekend

Friday 14th March Assembly #3 2.45pm

Monday 17th March St Patrick's Day Mass- Year 6 Leaders

Monday 17-20th March Bodyworks Program Years 4-6

Friday 21st March Harmony Day-Dress Up

Friday 28th March Holy Week Assembly

Tuesday 1st April St James Athletics Carnival

Wednesday 2nd - 4th April Year 5 and 6 Camp to Anglesea

Friday 4th April Easter Raffle and End of Term 3.30pm

St James is 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