Parents Association
Message from Co-Chairs
Connie Sands & Virginia Pullman
Hello St James families
At the end of the year and the last newsletter, it is time to reflect on the last year for the Parents Association.
At the start of the year, we had a vision for 2022. It included:
- Goal to complete a full program of events with hopefully no Covid Interruptions
- Reconnect the STJ Parent Community
- Encourage parent participation and future PA volunteers by charging year levels with fundraising responsibilities, spreading the load more equally - give everyone a chance to be involved!
- Utilize and share the event resources/contacts that have been built up over the last couple of years. All digitized and document so this makes it easier to access
- Continue the conversation between parents and school on how funds are spent - seek feedback where required
- Above all we want to make this a positive, fun, enjoyable experience and support the school community in the best way possible
When reflecting on how many events we were able to hold this year including the welcome disco, pancake day, mothers day lunch, parents night out at Brighton yacht club, fathers day breakfast, dads golf weekend, grandparents day and now the Christmas carols, we want to reflect on what an amazing time we all had and also thank all the volunteers who helped organise these events, without your help, these wonderful events are not possible.
These events and your participation helped us raise $40,000.00 which went towards purchasing iPads for Year 2 amongst many other things.
We would also like to thank Dave Thomas who has volunteered to be the Dads rep and the outgoing Toby Simmons for all his wonderful work over the last 2 years.
A reminder that the St James Kids Adventure Camp (Run by the Dads) will be 17-19th March 2023.
The St James Kids’ Adventure Camp is for students and their dads or a special male relative/friend, to spend a weekend together. More information will be available in the New Year and this camp always books out, so make sure you book early.
We want to wish all parents, extended families and friends a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We are looking for a great 2023 with lots of amazing catch ups and we need your help to ensure these are a success.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION (PA) VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT YEAR
The PA still urgently needs volunteers for the next year.
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 level 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 it’s not a big commitment of time with just keeping the rest of the year level up to date with communications. It’s a good way to become involved and help out without too much of a commitment.
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 - Easter
Oaks Day - Thursday 9th November - tie into event in local area such as Brighton Yacht club
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle - Date TBA depending on availability
All the above events, we have a wealth of past information available and we are all here to help you.
LUNCH ORDERS ONLINE FROM 2023
The online lunch order trial through flexischools was a success!!! We are just in the process of updating Year Level information for 2023, this will be complete by the time school finishes. Over the holidays parents can download the app and set up their profiles so they are ready to go!
When we return to school in T1, 2023 there will be a couple of weeks grace period where we will operate both online ordering and paper based lunch orders to allow all families to get up to speed before we make a full transition to the new system.
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. Have a great Christmas and new year and see you in 2023.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly:
conniesands@bigpond.com
FUTURE CALENDAR DATES
- 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 once again like to thank Danielle very much for her selfless / tireless work over many years, it is greatly appreciated.