Prayer of Remembrance
Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of the conflicts of war, and ask that God may give us peace. We pray for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God. We pray for peace in the Ukraine, Palestine and Israel. May God give peace.
Welcome to the Week 5, Term 4 newsletter. It has been another busy two weeks since the last edition of the newsletter and it is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through the last term of the year. The school has been busy with events, such as, SACPSSA (Catholic Sports) Athletics Carnival where nearly 30 Year 3-6 students represented the school, our Yr 5/6s spent a day with the local JJJ Catholic Schools Network for the annual Leadership Day, the Reception Class shared their learning at Assembly on the 3rd of November and all students gathered for the Remembrance Day Service on Friday. All of these activities have been intertwined with lots of learning in class. In Maths, students in all classes have been learning about Algebraic Reasoning, which includes number patterns and explaining reasons for how problems are solved.
New Emu Crossing for St James School
Works on the new Emu (pedestrian) Crossing commenced on King Edward Tce last week. The first task that the council completed was to replace the underground drainage as quite a bit of it had collapsed. This needed to be completed first, so the new footpaths that go over the drainage could be installed. The bulk of the works will commence in mid November and should be finished in early December. I ask that the school community is patient while the works occurs, as parking at the front of the school will be affected. Please observe the speed signs for safety and to help keep the dust down.
Illnesses at School
There have been quite a lot of students that have been unwell over the last two weeks. Illnesses include conjunctivitis and gastro. If your child/ren are unwell, please keep them at home. Both conjunctivitis and gastro are very contagious. If your child has conjunctivitis they must stay away from school while they have discharge from their eyes. If your child has had gastro, they must be excluded from school until no vomiting or diarrhoea has occurred for a period of at least 24 hours. Children will be reminded to practice good hygiene including handwashing and minimising the need to touch their face.
Staffing Update and Class Structures for 2024
Further staffing appointments and arrangements for 2024 have been made and these include;
Reception / Year 1 – Mrs Claire Sheridan and Mrs Ellie Stacey – 2.5 days each
Year 2/3 – Miss Minnesota Cheriton – 4 & ½ days and Annie O’Reilley for ½ day
Year 4 – Mr Zack Taylor – 4 days per week and Mrs Sandra Gresch 1 day per week
Year 5/6 – Miss Georgia Parisotto
Acting Religious Education Coordinator – Ms Annie O’Reilley
Wellbeing and Auslan – Mrs Sandra Gresch
Leaders of Learning – Mrs Sandra Gresch (Numeracy), Mrs Claire Sheridan and Mrs Ellie Stacey (Literacy)
Specialist Subjects and Teachers: Mr Evan Wrobel will teach 1 day per week. The subject will be decided upon with the class teacher.
Health and Physical Education – Jed Sutter – 1 day per week
Remembrance Day
Thank you to our school captains, Alexis Farr and Ned Clark who represented St James School at the Jamestown Remembrance Day Service on Saturday 11th November by laying a wreath.
Year 5/6 Class Prayer Service
This Friday the Year 5/6 Class will be leading us in a short prayer service in the Learning Centre at 9:30am. All are most welcome to join us.
Mini Vinnies visit to the Symonds Wing at Hospital
On Wednesday afternoon, nine students from Years 3-6 walked to the Jamestown Hospital to visit the residents at the Symonds Wing. The students had the opportunity to mingle and chat with the residents, and had a great time exploring the facilities. We look forward to engaging more with the residents over the next month and into 2024.
St Vincent De Paul Youth Development and Schools Engagement Officer Visit
On Thursday this week, we are expecting a visit from Rebecca Marino, the Youth Development and Engagement Officer from St Vincent De Paul. The Year 3-6 students will have the opportunity to learn a bit more about the organisation and how they can make a difference to the lives of others. We look forward to welcoming Rebecca Marino to our school.
Blessing of the Cribs – Family Mass
On Sunday, 10th December, we invite families to join the parish in Mass at 9am at St James Church. Students and families will be invited to read and participate in the Mass, as well as have the opportunity to bring along a crib, their nativity scenes (or part of) from home to blessed by Fr Harold. If you intend to join us for the Mass and you think your children might like to be involved, please let Mrs Ally Kelly know.
Giving Tree
The St. James Giving Tree will be placed in the Front Office next week (Week 6); This is our last fundraising effort for the year to go to St. Vincent De Paul. We are asking our school community to please donate something to go towards families in our local communities that are struggling at this time of the year. For example: non-perishable food or a gift for a girl/boy (this needs to be labelled with ‘girl/boy’ and the age appropriate for the gift). We will be collecting gifts and donations up until Wednesday of Week 8, Wednesday 6th December.
Thanksgiving Mass and Year 6 Graduation – Tuesday 12th December
Our Thanksgiving Mass and Year 6 Graduation will be in Week 9, on Tuesday 12th December at 6pm in the Church. For those who are new to our school community, it is one of the most important and popular events in the school year. All students and families are expected to attend in their traditional summer uniform (shirts tucked in). As this is a family event each child must be accompanied by an adult. Students will meet their class teacher in their classroom at 5:45pm. Teachers will bring classes to the Church and they will sit in their class groups. Each family will be asked to bring a plate of food to share. This can be dropped off at the Learning Centre Kitchen at 5:45pm or during the school day. Families with surnames between A - L can bring a sweet. Families with surnames between M - Z can bring a savoury (if families wish to swap the meal they have been asked to provide eg. sweet or savoury, feel free to make your own swap with another family). We ask the Year 5 families to assist with the clean up and pack of the shared meal, in order for the parents of the Year 6 students to see the whole Year 6 Graduation. The proceedings of the evening includes;
5:45 – Students to meet class teachers in classrooms
6:00 – Mass in Church
7:00 – Shared Picnic style meal
7:30 – Year 6 Graduation in Church Hall, End of Year Awards and Thank You's.
8:00 – Event concludes
If your family is unable to attend, please contact the principal via email (principal@stjames.catholic.edu.au), send a note into the office or phone the school.
Remembrance Day Service
Last Friday, we gathered as a school community for prayer and reflection to commemorate Remembrance Day. As Remembrance Day fell on Saturday this year, we chose to come together at 10:50am the day before. Thank you to the students who helped lead this service.
During PE lessons the 3/4 class have enjoyed learning different yard games from simple materials or those found in nature. So far, we have found the rules for and played hopscotch, marbles, flyer, sardines, stationary and jacks. We hope to create our own games using simple equipment in the coming weeks.
School Fees
As we come to the end of another fantastic school year, we wanted to remind families that school fees have been confirmed to continue at the current set amount in 2024. Yes that’s right – there has been no price rise. We have not put our fees up since we dropped the price of the fees at the start of 2021.
Here at St James, we acknowledge that this year has brought along with it some financial changes with raised interest rates, inflation and an increase to the cost of living. As an acknowledgement of that and how that may affect our school community, we wish to note that if your family has been affected and may require some adjustments and/or assistance with school costs, to make contact with our Finance Officer, Helen Latham on hlatham@stjames.catholic.edu.au or 08 8637 9100. Alternatively feel free to contact Evan or our Administration team at the school.
Extract from the SACCS Annual Guidelines 2006:
“As a guide to School Boards in their deliberations on school fee structures… the following information has been prepared in consultation with the Resource Operations Team of the Catholic Education Office.
It is the policy of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) that no child be denied a Catholic Education because of a parent’s demonstrated inability to pay fees subject to the school’s enrolment policy and that of SACCS.
Nevertheless, those who are able to pay should be required to do so.
Should decision of enrolment of any child to St James be in question for the above reasons, we re-confirm the above statement from the SACCS policy and the ethos of Catholic Education, South Australia, that no child be denied education but offer fair and equitable assistance where needed.
Reception to Year 2 Excursion and Year 2 Sleepover
On Friday 24th November, our Year Reception, One and Two classes will be going on a joint excursion to the Wirrabara playground and to Stone Hut to visit the Petting Zoo and Aviary. The Year 1/2 students will stay on after school for a snack and play on the playground followed by dinner. At the end of dinner, Year 1 students will head home and the Year 2 students will stay for their sleepover at school.
Assembly – led by Year 5/6
All families and grandparents are welcome to attend Assembly on Friday, 1st December at 2:40pm in the Learning Centre. We look forward to hearing about their learning.
Christmas Pageant – Sunday 3rd December
All Students are invited to take part in the St. James Christmas Pageant Float on Sunday 3rd December. Student will need to meet at the Church Hall Carpark at 4:30pm. An Operoo notification will be sent out to families, to indicate if their children can take part.
Year 6 to 7 Transition to Secondary School
The Transition from primary school to secondary schooling is an important time in the life of a child, one of excitement but also some uncertainties. To assist students to have a smooth transition, JSC will be having two transition days on 23rd and 24th November. Students attending St. Mark’s College, Pt Pirie will attend their transition day on Monday 4th December.
School Closure Day – 15th December
Our school will have a school closure day on Friday 15th December. This will be devoted to student learning data analysis and student handover. The last day for the school year for students will be on Thursday 14th December.
Carols in the Park – Sunday 17th December
On Sunday evening, 17th December at 8pm, students from all year levels are invited to join the School Choir to perform at the Community Carols in Memorial Park. We will perform 2 songs and are learning these in our music lessons this term. It would be great to see as many students as possible join us to share in this event. We will need to confirm numbers closer to the end of term - all are encouraged to represent our school and share some Christmas joy. Please let Mrs Wurst know if your child can join in the fun. Come along and enjoy the whole event!
Thank you Soroptimists
We would like to say a big thank you to the Soroptimists for the donation of these 2 books to our school library.
Ginger Bread House Orders
Don't forgot to get your Gingerbread House Orders in this week. They are due this Thursday the 16th of November. There are extra order forms in the front office if you need any.
P & F Christmas Dinner
All are welcome to attend the St James P & F Christmas dinner on Wednesday the 6th of December at the Railway Hotel Jamestown for a 6pm start.
Important Dates
Mindfulness Session - Yr 3-6
Junior Jimmies - 8:55 to 11:20am (Session 8)
Year 5/6 Prayer Service - 9:30am
Embrace Kids Documentary Screening - 1:30-3:00pm
Junior Jimmies - 8:55-1:45pm (Session 9)
SAPSASA Tennis Carnival Wed-Fri
Year 6 Transition Day for secondary school @ JCS - Thur- Fri
R/1/2 Excursion & Yr 2 Sleepover
Junior Jimmies 8:55-3:15pm (Session 10)
Year 5/6 Assembly - 2:40pm
Advent Mass led by Reception - 9:30am
Christmas Pageant - 5:30pm
Swimming Lessons Week 8 (Mon-Fri)
St Marks Transition Day Year 6 to 7
School Board Meeting - 6:30pm
P & F Christmas Dinner, Railway Hotel Jamestown - 6pm
Thanksgiving and End of Year Mass - 6pm
Reports to be sent home
Splash Day
Yr. 6 Graduation Dinner at the Commercial - 6pm
Students Last Day of School Year - Casual Day 3:15pm dismissal
SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - Staff Last Day of the School Year
Carols in the Park - 8pm
First Day for students - Term 1 2024
We acknowledge the Ngadjuri people, traditional custodians of this land.
Tuck Roster
MONDAY 20th NOVEMBER
Convenor: Annie O
Worker: None required
Cakes: Jemma T & Alice P
MONDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
Convenor: Tammi K
Worker: Lauren A
Cakes: Chloe C & Beck H
Parish Mass
SUNDAY 19th NOVEMBER
Welcomers: Martin & Therese C
Servers: Indy & Alexis F
SUNDAY 26th NOVEMBER
Welcomers: Karen & Peter O
Servers: Archer & Finn H
Red Cross Girls Night
Social