Principal's News
Help me do what is mine to do
Recently in our school community some of our families have experienced illness and unforeseen circumstances.
St Francis of Assisi once wrote that it is important “to move people’s hearts and lift them up to spiritual joy.” This has been evident recently in the compassion and love extended to others. I see it often in the ways in which our teachers extend their constant educational and pastoral gifts to our children, our parents who quietly rally around others, our children playing and interacting with others in their daily play
and the outstanding support that Ange and Imelda extend to all who enter our school.
On Tuesday night in Fr Martin’s chat to the Confirmation candidates and their parents at the Information night he posed the questions,
How do we live our life of justice?
And How do we live our life of faith?
It is happening. The spirit that descended on the early Church apostles at Pentecost is evident in many ways at St James.
And so we pray.
Help me do what is mine to do
Nearly there
As we approach the end of the term there are many children and teachers feeling the effects of the colder weather, and the reducing sunlight. We have only a week of school to go until the term break and I encourage us all to maintain our energy until June 30. The upcoming break is something to look forward to and be a time to renew our spirits.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
The School Board met with Mr David Forbes from the Catholic Education Melbourne (Director / Chief Financial Officer / Business and Financial Service) on Wednesday evening about the funding crisis which may have an impact on Catholic Schools if the legislation passess in its current form.
Catholic School Principals have been receiving information about the political pressure being applied to the Federal Government discounting a great deal of inaccuracies that have been reported by the PM and Minister Birmingham. There are ramifications for the Catholic sector and we are encouraged to maintain our advocacy for Catholic Education and our St James families.
As you may be aware the current Federal Government is proposing to slash Catholic school funding Australia wide by more than $4.6 Billion.
Please note the information below from the Catholic Education Commission Victoria (CECV):
Tuesday 20 June 2017
Simon Birmingham has been telling the press for weeks that there was ‘a lot of exaggeration’ coming from the Catholic sector about the impact of the funding model on our schools.
As we discovered on the weekend, Catholic schools will be the biggest losers under the Turnbull Government funding model, Victorian schools in particular. According to figures from Simon Birmingham’s own department, Victorian Catholic schools will receive $1.6 billion lessfunding – more than a quarter of the total losses of $4.6 billion – if the new funding model becomes law.
With the Senate scheduled to debate school funding legislation tomorrow, Wednesday 21 June, and the Government keen to put it to a vote before Parliament rises for the long winter break the following day, we need to act now.
Western Australian Liberal Senator, Chris Back, told the media yesterday that he will vote against his own party over the school funding legislation. We need more Senators to take a stand on the legislation.
We are relying on you to act fast to contact Senators over the next 24 hours to get them to vote against the legislation.
I appreciate that by the time you receive this information that the decision may be reached. Even so could I encourage you to still write especially if the legislation does not pass the Senate.
NEXT STEPS
Please email the message at the bottom of this email to the following Senators:
o Senator Di Natale, Leader of the Greens
o Senator Fifield, Victorian Coalition Senator
o Senator Hume, Victorian Coalition Senator
o Senator McKenzie, Victorian Coalition Senator
o Senator Paterson, Victorian Coalition Senator
o Senator Ryan, Victorian Coalition Senator
View these three funding campaign videos:
Say NO to Catholic Education Cuts
EMAIL MESSAGE TO SENATORS
Dear Senator
When Catholic education first raised concerns with the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools funding package, Minister Birmingham said there was ‘a lot of exaggeration’ about the impact that it would have on schools like mine.
According to the Education Department’s own calculations, Catholic schools in Victoria will be $1.6 billion worse off if the Turnbull Government’s new funding package is passed by the Senate.
That is $1.6 billion that students, mainly from low and middle-income Victorian families, won’t have to support their education. It’s $1.6 billion that will mean either cuts to school programs or higher fees – or both.
And that is just $1.6 billion from a total of loss of $4.6 billion that will be felt by Catholic school communities across Australia.
It is pretty clear that Catholic education wasn’t exaggerating.
For about 200 years Catholic schooling has been provided in Australia out of a sense of mission, and from a desire to make a faith-based education as accessible and affordable as possible to the community – not for profit.
Ou
Parent Teacher Interviews
Thursday 29 June from 1:30pm
To cater for this event, school will finish at 1:00pm that day. If you have a requirement for after school care, please book in advance with OSHClub. Please note that if you have a PSG Meeting, there is no need to book a Parent Teacher Interview.
To book your Parent Teacher Interview:
. Go to the School Website
http://www.stjamesbrighton.catholic.edu.au/
. Click on School Bookings
. Enter Code szb9c
. Make a booking by following the prompts
School App
Please find attached information re a phone app which St James has implemented. We are aiming to start using the app early next term, which will give parents a few weeks to download the app.
School Fees
The second instalment of school fees is due tomorrow, Friday 23 June 2017.
Also a further reminder:
- the STAR Canteen is closed 23 June, therefore No Lunch Orders tomorrow.
- Parent Teacher Interviews Thursday 29 June and school will finish at 1pm.
- the FINAL Day of Term 2 is Friday 30 June and school will finish at 1:30pm.
Brendan