Principal's Post

Dear Families,

COVID times certainly test our positive and growth mindset. The words, "Ground Hog Day" were heard to come from a certain St James staff member as he headed up the driveway to greet the few students who were coming onto the site to be supervised by the two other staff members in attendance that morning.

Then ... he started thinking of all of the positives: he gets to see the smiles on the faces of those students who gather at the shelter every morning, the footy is on every night now, celebrating a birthday means you don't have to shout as many drinks, there are not many students requiring extra discipline during the day, the family spend more time doing things together at home, teenagers are cooking a few meals at home, the house received a few coats of paint in the holidays and on weekends, he has more time for some fitness activities after work, there are hardly any school or parish night meetings ... the positives started to grow and then this bloke thought about enjoying these things while they lasted because he has no control over what the government says we must do.

So ... while times can be difficult and a real struggle on certain days, let's make sure we find ourselves using our positive and growth mindset and especially modelling this to our children. They are the ones we can have the biggest influence on, often bigger than we imagine.

Teaching in the Remote Learning Environment is a Completely Different Day in the life of a Teacher!

I know that many families are doing it hard at the moment. Juggling work, family finances, children's Remote Learning, care for extended family and looking after your own health and wellbeing is hard work.

This certainly applies to our school staff.

Instead of having your darling children physically in front of them to motivate, engage, teach, guide and nurture each day, they find that they are spending their days, which often extend into nights, doing the following; planning quality, differentiated tasks, engaging slides, videos and voice overs, teaching on hangouts, responding to student questions/emails, responding to parent emails, problem solving ICT issues when they arise with students, meeting with myself and other staff on hangouts, organising prayer services, supervising students at school when rostered on and providing feedback to their own beautiful students in their class.

Our teachers are aware that each family has different circumstances and that each student in their class has different needs during Remote Learning. Thank you for your support in both providing feedback which we use to help us and our understanding of this entirely different educational situation so as to best cater for all students' needs.

Here's a nice twist to a Dr Seuss Book which nicely sums up how our staff are feeling!

In short:

Last Thursday our Prep students celebrated 100 Days of Schooling. While many students have not been on site for 100 days, they have been learning for 100 days!. Check out the Spotlight on Learning Page
We're asking all families to send in photos of children engaged in Remote Learning for all to enjoy. It's another way of staying connected! Please forward them to Wendy wendy.ephgrave@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au
Keep looking out for emails and updates
We have tried to record this week's assembly and have it available for families to view via a St James account (this is for safety and privacy reasons). Hopefully it worked! Monday assembly link
Please remember that all classes have adjusted their Wednesday timetable so that all students have the opportunity to complete two specialist lessons each Wednesday. Last term specialist lessons were optional but this term, during Remote Learning 2.0, they are compulsory.
Have a look in the Spotlight on Learning section to find out about our St James' Got Talent quest organised by Mrs Siva and some of our Year Six leaders

Board Shorts

Our School Education Board met on Wednesday 5 August via a Google Hangout Meet.

The agenda centered around the following:

Remote Learning 2.0 Set Up at St James including the adaptations we have made in response to parent, student and staff feedback
We presented and discussed the survey results from the Parent Remote Learning Time Survey we administered following Remote Learning in Term Two. Thanks to our Chair, Lisa Licciardi for helping me put the feedback summary together. Please click on the link to view the results.

Parent Remote Learning Feedback

Some Words of Advice from our Business Manager, Hannah

The Victorian government, through the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides a $125 payment per year for eligible students to ensure no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities.

St James in turn, will support and match a fee relief of $125 per year for valid CSEF card holders.

Application eligibility criteria: Holder of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card or Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card or a temporary foster parent (further details on the website). It is my opinion that some of our St James families may be missing out on this assistance simply because they have not applied.

The one page application form is available at the school or click on the website below https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/resources

A Blessing featuring our St John's Church and a notable choir member

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOt7baaVSbE

Most importantly, stay safe.

Dave