Principal’s Message

I welcome all associated with the St James College Community to the new school year, especially the young men of Year 7, as well as a number of new students commencing in other Year levels. We welcome these students and their families.

This year is a special year for St James College as we recognize our Golden Jubilee – 50 years since opening our doors in 1970, and a celebration of 50 Years of educating young men in the Lasallian Tradition

Our College theme for this year is the Lasallian Theme: Great things are Possible. This theme encourages all of us as part of a faith community and as a learning community, to strive to do our best together, while drawing inspiration from the life of St John Baptiste de La Salle. We will be making this theme relevant in our daily dealings with the students to focus our efforts, and particularly as motivation for our Social Justice Actions this year. We feel that this theme is very appropriate for us in this Jubilee year of the College, and as we work towards Amalgamation with St Bede’s College in 2021.

Investiture of College Leaders

Last Friday we held our College Investiture, to call to office, our Leaders for 2020. Congratulations to the fine young men who take on these roles this year.

College Co-Captains          

Joshua Dudley and Lewis Desmond

House Leaders:                   

Adrian Dolgov - Benilde 

George Aliss - Lasalle                                                Timothy Mallidis - Miguel                                                Jonathon Ravipati - Solomon

The College community looks forward to working with our 2020 Leaders and we wish them every success in their important roles.

As well, those who excelled in their studies, including our highly successful 2019 VCE Old Boys, were acknowledged at this ceremony.

College Awards Assembly

Today we recognised further Academic Achievement from Semester Two (2019) at our College Awards Assembly. These awards acknowledge the great efforts and the dedication of students who have worked diligently in their studies through the previous semester.  The Unity in Christ Awards from 2019 were presented to Angus Bowd (Year 7), Nathan Barlas (Year 8) and Joshua Dudley (Year 9), and we commissioned our Year 8 and 9 Student Representative Councillors for this year. Also, during the Assembly we introduced our Arts Captains for 2020. Congratulations to Caleb Heelis, Issac De Gabrielle, Oliver Beaufort and Matthew Hind. We wish these young men well as they plan for a busy year of Arts exhibitions, Drama productions and Music concerts. Congratulations to the many students presented on this occasion

Parent Information Evenings

This week we completed our Year Level Information Evenings. The importance of parents, teachers and young men all working together, to assist the students to reach their goals, is highlighted on these occasions. These evenings also give parents the opportunity to meet with their son’s Homeroom teacher and to discuss aspects of his schooling for the year ahead. Thank you to parents for your attendance at these evenings and for your ongoing support for the students and staff.

Swimming Carnival

Yesterday we held our College Swimming Carnival at the Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC). Congratulations to the students and staff for a very enjoyable and competitive day as each House battled for the prestige of Swimming Champions. Thank you to the many parents who were in attendance to support their sons. Benilde House were victorious on the day!

New Staff

It is with pleasure that we welcome the following new members of Staff:

Ms Anastasia Kydas

Ms Kydas is the Homeroom Teacher of 9.2 and is teaching English at the Years 7, 8 and 9 levels. Ms Kydas completed her studies at the Australian Catholic University and was working with us during Terms 3 and 4, 2019.

Mr Donald Ngo

Mr Ngo is teaching Science at all levels and Information Technology – Robotics at the junior levels. Donald returns as an Old Collegian completing Year 10 in 2011, moving on to St Bede’s College for VCE and then to Monash University.

We wish these new staff members every success in 2020.

After the completion of the first three weeks of term, I take this opportunity to thank students, parents and staff for the successful start to the year. All Year levels have settled in well with students involved with their first units of work in their core and elective subjects.

As we consider the words of our theme: Great Things are Possible may our efforts continue to be directed towards the ‘human and Christian education’ of our young men as we move further into Term One.

Live Jesus in our Hearts, Forever

Stephen Pooley

Principal