Parents Association
Message from Co-Chairs
Connie Sands & Virginia Pullman
Hello St James families
What a great farewell we had on Friday the 11 November to say goodbye to our Principal Brendan Flanagan. It was clear how appreciated and loved Brendan has been in our community and by our students. We wish Brendan all the best in his new role.
We are now getting ready for our next and final event of the year - our Christmas carols on the 8th December where all the St James students will be singing Christmas carols and we can all catch up to celebrate the end of the year and Christmas.
ST JAMES FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY AND CAROLS - THURSDAY 8th DECEMBER 5.30pm -8pm
All St James families, and your family and friends are invited to a Christmas Party on Thursday the 8th of December at St James. Pop this date in your calendars now!
- There will be an ART SHOW / DISPLAY from 5.30pm of the St James children.
- There will be food available to purchase (or bring your own).
- The St James children have been practicing and will sing us Christmas carols
- There will also be an opportunity to make a donation for those less fortunate in our community.
- There will be a visit from Santa (of course!).
- Dress festive and a prize for the best dressed.
- There will be a Christmas stall / market (so please bring cash/coins)
We need volunteers to help out on carols night.
We will need volunteers to help set up, decorate and clean up. Can you please let Connie or Virginia know if you can help out on the night?
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR
The PA still needs volunteers for the next year.
We need other volunteers for the events below and I have attached a spreadsheet to add your names. If you want any clarification, please touch base with Virginia or I. The success of our sense of community comes from the families who help out.
The most important is to start with the year representatives for each year, if you can please discuss with your year levels who would like to do this role next year. A rep role is a great way to start to get involved in the PA and is not a big commitment of time with just keeping the rest of the year up to date with communications.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BF0H-icLk_LZKZJsSweocGzIM1owF5zwSdZ-wY7bnWs/edit?usp=sharing
The major events during the year are allocated to year levels as follows:
· Mother's Day Lunch (Sat, 20/05/23) - Year 5 & 6 - Elwood Bathers is booked
· Colour Run (Fri, 10/11/23 - Year 3 and 4 - booked
· Parents Night Out (Term 3) - Year 1 & 2 - Potential idea of Rock Star Trivia
· Father's Day Breakfast (Term 3) - Prep
The other events for the year will continue to be organised based on an opt-in basis as listed. While many events have a lead organiser, additional volunteers will be required. If you are willing and available, please let us know and attach your name in the link above.
Welcome Disco - start of the term and back at school - Denise Wong has volunteered as key coordinator for 2023
Pancake Day - Pancake Tuesday
Easter Raffle and Hot cross bun drive - Easter
Oaks Day - Thursday 9th November - tie into event in local area
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Date TBA depending on availability
For all the above events, we have a wealth of past information available and we are all here to help you.
LUNCH ORDERS FROM 2023
We are currently half way through our lunch order trial where we have a few families from across the school testing the new online system.
Feedback has been positive, most parents have commented how easy it was to create a profile for their child/ren, selecting food and setting up payment was similar to online shopping.
We have requested a few extra items to be added to the menu (like Jelly Cups) and we are checking that pricing is correct.
We still plan on sending information out to parents prior to the end of school so families have the summer to set things up.
There will be a couple of weeks grace period in Term 1 2023, where we will operate both online ordering and paper based lunch orders before we make a full transition.
THANKS FROM THE PA
We are very grateful for the continued support of all our parents, the school and local community. All our PA members are volunteers who generously give up their own time to organise our school events.
Connie would also like to know if any families would like to join her at Bounce Super Session 10-12pm, Glen Iris on 25th November, (School Curriculum Day). Great time to go as it will be quiet!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly:
conniesands@bigpond.com
FUTURE CALENDAR DATES
- St James Christmas party and Carols - Thursday 8th December
- Dads/Special friends and kids - YMCA Camp Anglesea - Friday to Sunday, 17-19 March 2023
- Mothers Day St James Ladies lunch - Saturday 20 May 2023
- Parents night out - Saturday 5 August 2023
- Colour run - Friday 10th November 2023
SECOND HAND SCHOOL UNIFORMS
After many years of diligently co-ordinating the sale of second hand school uniforms, Danielle Rohan has handed over this role to Liesl Hodgens and Ali Rayner.
Please text either Liesl or Ali with your requirements and they will be happy to assist.
In the meantime St James would like to thank Danielle very much for her selfless / tireless work over many years, it is greatly appreciated.