Principal's News

The Building Program

Three years ago in 2016, a decision was made by the St James School Board to assess what direction we would embark upon as a Catholic school that was committed to outstanding education.  Whilst our teachers were still delivering quality education, the learning spaces did not allow for our vision to be fulfilled. 

In our 2016 meetings we designed an educational brief to convince the Catholic Education Melbourne office and the Catholic Development Fund to approve our desire to achieve our vision. The brief included the following statements and today I believ we have achieved our objectives

Educational Brief June / July 2016

St James Catholic Primary School has a current enrolment of 220 children. There is solid potential for this figure to increase, a fact supported by a recent Demographic and Enrolment study conducted by the Catholic Education Office (May 2016). 

The existing buildings are antiquated and no longer accommodate the modern educational and social needs of the school community.  The school is currently operating in buildings that are dilapidated, unsafe and inappropriate for engaging students in current pedagogical processes.  The present state of the buildings resembles an education setting of the 1960s and 1970s.  

Currently, the buildings inhibit both the learning and teaching process. The staff are excited by the opportunity to develop authentic flexible learning spaces that engage students in a progressive pedagogy.  A considered and progressive design outcome will enable all teaching staff to effectively guide, nurture and develop animated learners to become active and informed citizens. 

Throughout 2016 the staff engaged in research and processes that encourages deep learning and powerful teaching.  The journey to instil new learning and teaching styles will continue as the staff develop progressive contemporary understandings.

Architecturally designed spaces that are flexible and responsive to the learning and teaching needs of the students, teachers and parents will enable the community of St. James to be active, informed and animated learners authentically connected to the future world in which they will live.   These learning spaces will facilitate an environment in which children can demonstrate their cognitive, metacognitive and self regulatory strategies, increase their critical and reflective capabilities, build collaboration and learning partnerships, inspire creativity through imagining new futures and develop visionary thinking.

Creating these learning spaces will be a collaborative process which will focus on understanding the relationships that exist between learners and teachers and how spaces support and develop these relationships.  It is our belief that the design process will not start with a schedule of building and remodeling rooms but, rather, will explore and question the various social interactions that occur within the school community. 

July 2019

The time has finally arrived and we are now safely placed in our new building learning space after a period of some challenge and discomfort during the building phase. 

Everyone if extremely happy and satisfied that St James is now a school that will continue its fine tradition and excited about the future of learning that our children, staff and parents can enjoy. Any visitor will be surprised of the transformation we have made.  The school looks magnificent.  St James wouldn't be anywhere near what we desired to create and develop  without the solid support and leadership of Fr Martin Dixon. Martin attended every site meeting, and continues to be a constant visionary for education.  

In addition, many thanks to our early Board members, Jo Small, Liam Buckley, Cathy Ferrari, John Marks, Mel Williams and Samm Meagher and current members Donna Anderson, Mel Harrington, Peter Hodgson and Tria Lynch who either commenced this project in June /July 2016 and provided the inspiration in our initial stages, or assisted in the  developing stages to improve the learning and teaching spaces. Our wonderful Parent Association contributed 150K for furniture and AV equipment which has been raised over the past few years and a symbol of many fundraising activities.  Thanks Mums and Dads.   Every effort has realised an impact on what we have today.

We have been operating with 40% of our school space and I am extremely grateful for the patience and perseverance of our staff and children. In addition we are extremely proud and grateful for the design and creation by architects Baldasso Cortese and commercial builders Bowden Construction.   The project has been a process that involved 26 fortnightly site meetings, many levels of consultation and daily interactions with our site manager Mal Rademaker.  On Tuesday we gathered the children and staff together to thank Mal for his attention to detail, his intensive work ethic which included many weekends and public holidays, and his willingness to go beyond what was expected of him.  We do now consider him to be a member of staff and will find it difficult to wave him off in the coming days.

We have much to be proud and grateful for today.

In August, painting will commence on the exterior of the school and in the Tilley building (September), synthetic turf (Grassports)  and wet pour rubber safety surface (Flexitec) in the September holidays.

The official school opening will be in October once the extra work has been completed. 

First Eucharist

Our children's lives are immensely precious to families, school communities, our Church and importantly to our God.  All of our children are close to the mystery of God and God is present in each of their lives. In the next three weeks our Year 3 students continue their faith journey by celebrating another sacramental moment with First Communion. Our prayers are with our Year 3 children and their families  over the next three weekends at the Parish masses, Saturday 6pm and Sunday 9am.

They have been well prepared by Miss Elise Nooy and Mrs Emma Herbert in continuing their faith journey as young people.   Thanks to all the parents who are assisting in the First Eucharist preparation lunch in the pop up Church tomorrow.

St James Major Fundraiser

The Major Fundraiser is fast approaching and will be held on Saturday 24th August at the Brighton Town Hall.

We look forward to a fabulous night and would  love to see as many parents there as possible.

Brendan