Week 9, Term 3

Thursday 21st September is the United Nations International Day of World Peace. The focus of the day is on peaceful, non-violent resolutions to conflicts and cease fires. Our world has never needed peace as it needs now. There is also a focus on sustainability and climate change. Our Year 5/6 Class will lead the school community in prayer with Mass this Friday 22nd September at 9:30 in the Church.

Year 5/6 International Day of Peace - Friday 22nd September – 9:30am

All are welcome to join us for mass this Friday led by the 5/6 Class in the church. We also welcome back Fr Harold who returns from the Philippines this Thursday. We look forward to him leading us in this celebration of Mass on Friday.

ReLat Test

Last week, the Year 4 students participated in the ReLat test. This test focused on knowledge content which is core to the Year 3/4 Crossways Religious Education curriculum. Students in Year 4 in 2023 have been engaging in the new Religious Education curriculum for two years. As a basic knowledge test, ReLAT complements the continuous, fuller, and deeper assessment of learning that occurs in the RE classroom.

The data from the ReLAT assessment will be collated and used by the school to inform whole-of-school professional learning needs and the continuous improvement of teaching in Religious Education. Individual results will be made available to your child’s teacher. An individual ReLAT report for parents, will be provided to the Year 4 students families who completed the test. As always, you are welcome to discuss your child’s learning in Religious Education with their classroom teacher.

Season of Creation

The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to listen and care for our common home. The Season “Celebration” begins 1st September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends 4th October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.

As part of the celebration of the Season of Creation we are invited to take part in a Creation Walk during September 1st - October 4th. Whilst at Bundaleer Forest on the last day of term, we will be taking time to contemplate the gift of God’s creation and our response to be in deeper connection with all life.

Play Performance at School – Pick a Peck of Pickled Poems

This Tuesday 19th September at 9:30, all students will be able to attend a play. A visiting performer will present the play called, “Pick a Peck of Pickled Poems.” The school is covering the cost of the visiting performer. Parents are welcome to watch the show in the Learning Centre. The play meets English curriculum standards including; Literary Texts, Imaginative Texts, Language Structure, Verse, Rhyming Poems and Nonsense Poems. Below is a snippet about what the play is about;

In Pick a Peck of Pickled Poems the poetry is not just read or recited, it is acted out and brought to life with a variety of character voices, costumes, puppets and props. The seven poems from the late 1800’s are just as funny today as they were when they were first written. Spanning across 130 years these carefully selected poems cover a range of genres, topics and perspectives. With just over twenty poems, an audience participation section, a song and the hilarious humanette puppet finale, this show really moves along.

Summer Uniform Transition

As the weather varies at this time of the year, students can choose whether they wear their winter or summer uniforms for the rest of the term and the first two weeks of Term 4. From Week 3, Term 4, all students are expected to wear their summer uniforms.

I would like to remind everyone that the correct uniform must be worn everyday. It has been noticed that some students are wearing the incorrect socks and jewellery. Hair that touches the shoulders should be tied up.

SRC Wheels Day

The Student Representative Council are planning to run a “Wheels Day” this Thursday 21st September. All students will be invited to bring their bikes or scooters. Helmets are a must. All students will have the opportunity to show their wheels by riding around the basketball court at 9am. Parents are welcome to attend.

Can and Bottle Drive

The Year 5/6 Class will be running a Can and Bottle Drive on 23rd September (Saturday - Week 9). If your family or friends have cans and bottles to be recycled, the parents of the Year 5/6 Class would like to help clear your collection. Volunteers from the Year 5/6 parent body can collect these from your property. Alternatively, families may take these directly to Boxy’s for counting. Ask for the funds to be directed to St James School. Please contact the school office staff or Jess Robinson, to donate your cans or bottles. All funds will subsidise the cost of the Year 5/6 Camp to the Mylor Adventure Camp School in the Adelaide Hills, which takes place in Week 2, Term 4 – 23rd to 25th October.

Forest Day Excursion

On the last day of Term 3, Friday 29th September, all students will head out to Bundaleer Forest for the day to complete community service including removing baby pine trees along the Maple Walk that are weeds and clearing sticks and branches in the picnic area. Students are asked to wear older casual clothes on the day. If they wish to play in the shallow creek, they must bring rubber boots and a change of clothing. Look out for the Permission Form on Operoo.

Last Day of Term 3 – early dismissal

On the last day of Term 3, Friday 29th September, there will be an early dismissal at 2:15pm This is in line with the community school.