5 April 2024

Our Mission @ SJM

St James’ Primary School community excel in education through living and learning in Christ.

Quote

May the light of the resurrection make us aware of the value of every human life, which must be welcomed, protected and loved. Pope Francis

Principal’s Message

We have had a busy term here at SJM. Highlights of the term include:

• Successful foundations for Kindergarten
• Regional, Dio and Polding Swimming Carnivals
• Cross country
• Maths Bee
• Year 6 visits to Vinnies
• Life Education
• Wellbeing Week
• Steve Simpson Football
• NAPLAN
• Holy Week

As well as all of the great things happening in and around the classroom.

A big thank you to our community for working together for another successful term.

Holy Week @ SJM

Holy Week is a special time in the Church’s calendar. I know we have shared this a lot during lent. I wanted to pay tribute to the students and staff for reenacting Holy Week in such a reverent manner.

I was blown away, nearly in tears, with their work across the week. I am sure you felt the same.

Next Term

Next term looks to be another busy term. Please keep up to date on the school compass calendar, by compass alerts or on Facebook.

Happy Holidays and see you back on Monday 29^th April.

Mr Aaron Moon
Principal

Assistant Principal

What an amazing term of learning we have had at SJM for Term 1. Students have settled well into class routine and are working hard to improve learning goals. Our reward for our hard work this term, is end of term reward Laser Tag.

To continue to build upon the success and great fun that we have at SJM here is a quick view at our Baseline Behaviours. Our Term 2 reward will be Movies, M&M’s and Maltesers! 

Behaviour expectations at SJM  

Continuing with high expectations of behaviour and we would like to reinforce our four baseline behaviours, so that you can use the same language at home with your child when you are encouraging a renewed strengthening of behaviour for Term 2.

1. Respect yourself, each other, and the environment. 
2. Right place. Right time. Right task. 
3. Think. Act. 
4. Kind words. Kind actions. 

Your child will not be eligible for this reward if they receive the following throughout the term:  

1 x Base 4  
2 x Base 3  
3 x Base 2  
9 x Base 1 or a total of eighteen demerits. Here is how our demerit points are set out.

Please have a chat to your child’s teacher if you require any more information about the behaviour system here at SJM.   

School Photos

Our School Photos will be in Week 1 Term 2 on Thursday 2^nd May 2024. All students are required to wear Summer Uniform.

School Uniform

Due to the change in weather, our transition from Summer to Winter uniform will start from Week 2 Term 2 until the end of Week 3. Please ensure that your child is in either Summer or Winter uniform and not a mismatch of both. At the beginning of Week 4 all students at SJM will be required to wear Winter Uniform. 

Please note in the Sports Uniform our transition from the Old Maroon sports jacket and track pants have now finished. The old maroon track suit is no longer part of the SJM sports uniform. The new Navy sports jacket and Navy sports track pants are our current Sports uniform. Students may also wear the Sports Jersey as well.

In our uniform shop we are missing sizes 4 and 8 in the new navy tracksuit, but there are other options available. If your child needs to wear something else please contact Mr Moon at school.

Reminder that hats and jackets are for outdoors.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday

Mrs Jane Jacobs
Acting Assistant Principal

Religion

Over the last few days leading up to Easter the students and staff led all our SJM community through Holy Week. Kindergarten walked us through Palm Sunday, Stage One The Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet, Stage Two the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus before Pilate and Stage Three, the Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection.

Each section portrayed to our school community the importance of Holy Week and the message of hope.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion has now ended. Thank you to all of our SJM community that supported our fundraising efforts at school. We have raised just over $400. A big thank you to the families that have sent in their Project Compassion moneybox. This will also be forwarded to Caritas. If you still have your money box at home, could you please send it into school in the coming week before we head into our holiday break.

Sacramental Program 2024  

Thank you to those parents who have expressed as interest in the Sacramental program for 2024. If you are interested in your child participating in this parish-run program, to prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation, please email me your name and your child’ name (jane.jacobs@mn.catholic.edu.au)

Childrens Mass 2024

May your lamp continue to burn stronger and brighter in 2024

Mrs Jane Jacobs
Religious Education Coordinator

Anzac Day

Anzac Day is an important day to commemorate with kids, no matter how old they are. Anzac Day is a day to remember the service and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April 1915 during World War I as well as recognise the sacrifices of servicemen and servicewomen who have participated and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

This year St James’ will again be participating in our local ANZAC Day march and ceremony. As a school community St James’ is always well represented and we are proud of this ongoing tradition and our participation in such an important community event.

We encourage students to attend and to march proudly to honour the sacrifices made by service men and women past and present.

Students wishing to march should arrive at the mustering area in Market Street by 9:30am. There will be plenty of teachers to supervise and march with the students to the ceremony. The official march start time is 10.00am and the ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:30am. Students will sit as a school group for the ceremony and will be supervised by staff until collected by parents at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Students are asked to dress in full summer school uniform for this event.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the march!

Merit Awards

Principal Awards

Class News

ES1

I hope you all enjoyed the lovely long weekend. We are nearly there, hang in there. Term 1 is very tiring we are all adjusting to the new routines and coming to school 5 days a week.  There is lots of information to learn and retain, this is very tiring on the growing brain. Make sure your child has a good night sleep and have some relaxing time over the weekends. Rest assured Kindergarten and school terms do get easier the more we get accustomed to the routine.

It was great to see so many parents and families join us for Holy Week and the Easter hat parade. Thank you for embracing the fun and important events we have at our school. It is great for you to connect with other families during the children school years. Children will come home and talk about their new friends it is good for parents to put a face to some of the names your children talk about.

It has been lovely to see all the lovely family photos, special items and discover where you have come from when we are learning about History in HSIE. The children showed great pride and knowledge about why some things are special and important in our lives.

Mrs Donna Smith (KG) and Mrs Trishelle Threadgate (KM)

Stage 1

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter break.

Stage 1 enjoyed presenting our liturgy, thank you for taking the time to attend.

Year 1 have started Matific in our classrooms. We have sent home passwords, if you need any more information, please contact your child’s teacher.

In Science, Stage 1 have been exploring the unit Forces and Energy in Products. We have used a hot wheel racing track and toy cars to conduct a sprint race. The students predicted which car would win and which car would come last. Questions were posed and students looked at features for a fair test and then thought about the difference between heavier and lighter cars, along with size, surface, speed, friction and height.

Please remind your child to bring in a hat each day and help them to check and see if they have a hat packed in their bag.

Please if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via email. 

1G Mrs Jane Baker and Mrs Mary Ballard  
jane.baker@mn.catholic.edu.au 
mary.ballard@mn.catholic.edu.au 
1M Mr Bradley Sabotic and Mrs Joanne Whitehead 
bradley.sabotic@mn.catholic.edu.au 
 joanne.whitehead@mn.catholic.edu.au 
2G Miss Claudia Becus 
claudia.becus@mn.catholic.edu.au 
2M Miss Rachel Cooper 
rachel.cooper@mn.catholic.edu.au  
Stay safe and well. 

Kind Regards,
Mrs Baker & Mrs Ballard (1G), Mr Sabotic & Mrs Whithead (1M), Miss Cooper (2M), Miss Becus (2G)

Stage 2

We hope you have had an enjoyable Easter break! This fortnight Stage 2 presented the Garden of Gethsemane as part of our Holy Week commemoration. The Garden of Gethsemane tells the story of where, according to the Gospels, Jesus goes to pray with his disciples. When Jesus attends the Garden after the Last Supper he prays to God before his arrest and crucifixion. It was lovely to see so many families attending. This week we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus on Tuesday 2^nd of April. You are most welcome to attend.

During this fortnight, children also participated in the school cross country. After much practice and training, many students from Stage 2 qualified for diocesan cross country happening later this term. All children should be congratulated on their hard efforts and perseverance, running 2km can be quite the challenge! Well, done to the following Stage 2 students who will be representing SJM at diocesan cross country!

8/9 Year Boys and Girls - Sophie L, Eadie O, Isla A, Tilly Y, Micah C, Eli J, Dominic G, Brady E.

10 Years Boys and Girls - Emma R, Annalee M, Harper P, Lianka H, Samual Y, Callum C, Rhylan C, Alexander F and Zavier E.

We had lots of fun during the Easter Hat Parade on Thursday 28^th of March. It was lovely to see so many colourful, creative and festive hats. Thank you to all those who came along to watch!

A friendly reminder that this Friday 5^th of April is the Muswellbrook Cup. This day is a half-day of school where children must be collected by 12pm. There will be no canteen or afternoon buses on this day.

We hope you are having a safe and enjoyable week!

Miss Maher (3M), Miss Fitzsimmons (3G), Miss Dafter (4G), Mrs Jane Jacobs & Mrs Mary Ballard (4M)

Stage 3

A fantastic couple of weeks in Stage 3, with the reenactment of Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus. Students showed reverence and respect whilst partaking in the final moments of Jesus’ life. This really brought to life the ultimate sacrifice made for us.

In PDH we have been exploring the importance of empathy, inclusion and respect and how these qualities can be demonstrated in our community, within our families and wider society. Students have had some creative ideas as to how we can make these a priority.

The Eureka Stockade has been a focal point in History and the investigation and research into these events and how the gold rush changed Australia. This rebellion was a turning point and students have enjoyed the investigation.

Mrs Gehrig (5G), Miss Brimble (5M), Mrs McLennan (6M) & Miss Lamont (6G)

Headlice

We have had a case of head lice present in our school community. 

Please check your child’s hair tonight for nits/lice and if you find any nits or lice commence treatment as 
recommended in the attached information sheet titled Head Lice Treatment Options.

What’s on in the Library

New Resources

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Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is optional but I urge all Years 3 – 6 students to participate. The books are available during their borrowing times. At the end of the year the children are awarded a certificate from the Premier of NSW. The primary students, who wish to participate, will be given a record sheet, to start recording their books. They then need to visit the PRC website to locate the ID number for each book.

Please feel free to contact the library if any problems/concerns arise during the year.

lisa.wilson@mn.catholic.edu.au  or 65433094

Happy Reading!

Lisa Wilson
Teacher Librarian

Nadene Douglas
Library Assistant

Community Notices

St. James’ P & F Association

P&F Committee Contacts