1 August 2025

Our Mission @ SJM

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

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The 2025 NAIDOC Week theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”, celebrates not only the achievements of the past but also the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities and the legacy of our ancestors.

From solid foundations, the next generation will rise — grounded in history and the strength of our Elders; inspired by a shared vision; and committed to building a legacy of unity, respect and self-determination for all.

This NAIDOC Week, we celebrate not just a milestone but also a movement that endures, grows and evolves — driven by the unwavering strength of our communities, the shared vision of our people and the enduring legacy we pass on to those who will shape our future. 

Together, we walk forward, honouring where we’ve come from and looking boldly to the next generation who will carry NAIDOC and their communities into the future.
 National NAIDOC Committee

Principal’s Message

Over a Century of Excellence – A School of Choice

St James’ has proudly served the Muswellbrook community for over 100 years, and we remain a trusted school of choice for families seeking a values-driven education. We understand that Catholic education isn’t for everyone, and we respect and value the diverse perspectives within our wider community. We show respect for all beliefs and warmly welcome all who wish to be part of our school. For those who choose this path, we offer a nurturing environment grounded in faith, compassion, and academic growth. Our commitment to educating the whole child—spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally; is at the heart of everything we do. We foster a safe and inclusive space where every student is known and valued, and our dedicated staff partner with families to build strong foundations for lifelong learning. It’s a legacy we’re proud to uphold, continuing to attract generations of families who seek an education where faith and learning grow side by side.

NAIDOC Day @ SJM

A heartfelt thank you to Aunty Wanda and Mrs Thompson for organising a meaningful and vibrant NAIDOC Day celebration at St James’. NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee, and NAIDOC Week is a time for all Australians to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,’ encourages us to reflect on the importance of empowering our youth, preserving cultural knowledge, and building a future grounded in respect and unity.

At SJM, our students embraced the spirit of NAIDOC with incredible performances that showcased their creativity, respect, and understanding. From storytelling and dance to art and music, the day was a beautiful expression of connection to Country and community. Thank you to all students for your enthusiasm and to our staff and families for supporting this important celebration.

NAPLAN Update – Reflecting, Responding, and Growing

We’ve recently received our school’s NAPLAN results, and while we know NAPLAN is just one test on one day, it does provide valuable insights into student learning and progress. This year marks a significant milestone, as our Year 5 students completed all assessments online for the first time—a shift that reflects the evolving nature of education and assessment.

Across the school, we’re pleased to see strong performance in numeracy and reading, with many students achieving at or above the expected proficiency levels. These results affirm the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teaching staff. However, the data also highlights areas for growth, particularly in grammar and punctuation within the literacy domain. Over the coming weeks, our staff will be diving deeper into the data to identify trends, inform teaching strategies, and tailor support where needed.

At St James’, we remain committed to using this data constructively, not as a measure of worth, but as a tool to guide our next steps. Our goal is to ensure every child is supported to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

ASPIRE Adventures

Celebrating Creativity and Talent Today, our Stage 3 students are heading down to ASPIRE, and we’re especially excited to see Jax take the stage—what an incredible achievement! Jax, we are so proud of you and can’t wait to cheer you on.

ASPIRE is the Creative and Performing Arts initiative of the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. It’s more than just a performance—it’s a celebration of imagination, collaboration, and artistic growth. Each year, ASPIRE brings together over 150 students from across the Diocese to create and stage an original production, offering opportunities in drama, dance, vocal performance, instrumental music, design, and backstage production.

At St James’, we’re proud to be part of a community that values creativity and expression. Programs like ASPIRE remind us that learning happens in many forms—and that every child has something unique and wonderful to offer.

Funding of Schools

Recently there has been much public discussion around the Australian Government's model of funding schools. Catholic Schools NSW have put together some data to explain how government funding for non-government schools—such as Catholic and Independent schools— supports your right to choose the best educational environment for your child while also reducing costs for Australian taxpayers.

Using the most recent data, the report outlines how funding these schools through a mixed education model reduces pressure on public education resources, with savings of up to $6.88 billion annually. The report highlights how school choice benefits families and the broader community alike.

To read more, find the report here: Money invested, Money Saved - July 2025 - Adobe cloud storage.

Birthday Buckets Are Coming!

We’re thrilled to introduce Birthday Buckets in the canteen! For $20, every student in the birthday child’s class will receive a Quelch fruit stick, while the birthday child gets a small, inflated balloon and a bubble wand. These will be available via QKR! soon and can be ordered for your child’s birthday week or the week following school holidays. Keep an eye out!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Our school thrives because of the strong connections between staff, students, and families.

Cheers

Mr Aaron Moon
Principal

Assistant Principal

Welcome back to all our students, families, and staff! Term 3 has begun with great energy, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community. Classrooms are buzzing with learning, playgrounds are filled with laughter, and it's been heartwarming to see students reconnecting with friends and teachers.

We’ve already seen some fantastic events happening across the school—from celebrating Naidoc Week, Aspire, Science and Engineering Day, Stage 3 students participating in CPR skills, and participating in the Newcastle Permanent Mathematics test, Mini Vinnies students participating in SJM Sleepout and all staff and students wearing their PJ’s to support our local St Vincent de Paul, St James feast day and the first session of Top Blokes at SJM.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff for setting such a positive tone and to our families for your ongoing support.

Let’s keep the momentum going and make this term one to remember!

Principal Appreciation Day Friday 1^st August

Today we take a moment to celebrate and thank our incredible Principal, Mr Aaron Moon, for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and care for our school community.

From greeting students with a warm smile each morning to guiding our staff with wisdom and compassion, he truly embodies the spirit of our school. SJM continues to thrive as a safe, inclusive, and inspiring place for learning and growth.

We are grateful for the countless ways Mr Moon supports students, families, and staff every day. Thank you Mr Moon!

Happy Principal Appreciation Day!

As part of this celebration, each class were given small photos of Mr Moon, which classroom teachers hid around their room. When they were found they were to place them on the poster on Mr Moon’s door. It is clear to say that these photos were found!

Nut free @ SJM

We’d like to remind our school community that we are a nut-free school. This means no nuts or nut products are to be brought to school in lunchboxes or snacks. This includes items such as peanut butter, Nutella, muesli bars containing nuts, and any baked goods with nuts.

This policy is in place to protect students with severe nut allergies. Even small traces of nuts can cause serious allergic reactions, so we appreciate your support in keeping our school safe for everyone.

NO HAT NO PLAY

A reminder to all families that our school follows a “No Hat, No Play” policy to help keep our students safe from the sun. Students are required to wear a SJM school hat during outdoor activities, including lunch times and sport activities.

If a student forgets their hat, they will be asked to stay in the designated shaded area during playtime. We encourage all families to check that hats are clearly labelled and kept in school bags when not in use.

Thank you for helping us promote sun safety and protect our students from harmful UV exposure!

MINI VINNIES

Last week, our amazing Mini Vinnies students took part in a Sleepout without sleeping to raise awareness about homelessness and show solidarity with those in need. Armed with bits of cardboard and big hearts, our students spent a few nighttime hours at school learning about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.

The evening included reflection activities discussions about empathy, dignity, and social justice. It was a powerful experience that helped our students understand the importance of compassion and advocacy.

We are incredibly proud of our Mini Vinnies team for their commitment to making a difference. Thank you to our staff and families for supporting this meaningful initiative and wearing your PJ’s on Friday and giving a gold coin donation to be given to our local community helping people who are homeless.

A huge thank you to Mrs Ballard and Mrs Gehrig for your support and enthusiasm last Thursday night. 

May your light continue to shine bright guiding others along the way

Mrs Jane Jacobs
Assistant Principal

Merit Awards

Principal Awards

Class News

ES1

Welcome to Term 3

We are excited to begin another enriching and eventful term at SJM. A variety of engaging activities and learning opportunities await our students over the coming weeks.

We commenced Term 3 with a vibrant NAIDOC celebration. The Cultural Sharing Day was a wonderful opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions through games, food, storytelling, and knowledge sharing. It was heartening to see our school community embrace and celebrate this important cultural heritage.

Public speaking will be a focus this term. Students will have the opportunity to develop their presentation skills and speak in front of their peers, with the possibility of progressing to inter-school competitions. We encourage families to begin discussing this with their children, as we explore the fundamentals of effective public speaking.

Kindergarten will host a special Father’s Day celebration at SJM, featuring a paper plane challenge and a liturgy dedicated to our dads. More details will be shared soon. Families are invited to start collecting photos with dads for our Father’s Day Liturgy slideshow.

Additionally, Kindergarten will enjoy an excursion to Highbrook Park—a perennial favourite thanks to the beloved lizard slide. This outing will support our learning about places of personal and cultural significance, including those important to Indigenous communities.

We look forward to a term filled with learning, creativity, and community spirit.

Mrs Smith (KG) & Miss Maher (KM)

Stage 1

Welcome back to Term 3!

We hope you have had a restful break and are ready for another exciting term of learning and discovery.

Term 3 is shaping up to be another busy term. We are thrilled to be heading out on our Stage 1 excursion to the Maitland Art Gallery where students will engage with visual storytelling and may be inspired to become budding artists. Imagine if we had our very own Leonardo da Vinci in Year 1 or Year 2. We will also attend a live performance of “Josephine Wants to Dance”, which ties beautifully into our English focus and brings the world of narrative to life. We are especially excited to see how our excursion will help us to develop our own narrative writing.

In week 2, we celebrated NAIDOC here at SJM and students reflected on this special time to recognise and honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We look forward to a term full of creativity, growth and fun!

Kind Regards,

Mrs Mitchell (1G), Mr Sabotic (1M), Mrs Ballard/Miss Pritchard (2G) & Mrs Threadgate (2M)

Stage 2

Welcome back to Term 3, halfway through the year already! We are looking forward to another wonderful term filled with exciting events. Students have returned with a positive attitude towards their learning, working very hard over the past fortnight.  

In week one, our Term began with a wonderful Mass to celebrate the Feast Day of St James. We were also able to wear our pyjamas and beanies to school to raise money for Minnie Vinnies. The day was a little cool, so all students enjoyed the warmth of their pj’s. 

In week 2 we participated in our NAIDOC Day festivities. Students were given the opportunity to completed traditional artworks, engage in talks with Aunty Wanda. Students also explored Traditional Aboriginal games, boomerang throwing and Trivia. Well done to CREST Crew who were part of the ceremony in a traditional dance capacity, it was wonderful.  

Kind regards Stage 2 Team,

Mrs Sylvester (3G), Mrs McLennan (3M), Mrs Gavin/Mrs Jacobs (4G) & Miss Cooper (4M)

Stage 3

Last week was an exciting time at SJM as our Robotics students launched into their first LEGO Robotics session using the amazing LEGO Spike Prime kits!

In this introductory session, students explored how the kits worked, learning to identify key components like motors, sensors, hubs, and connectors, and how they all came together to build interactive robots. They practiced connecting hardware to software, using the LEGO Spike app to write simple code that brought their creations to life.

From making motors spin to experimenting with colour and motion sensors, students were introduced to the fundamentals of robotics, engineering, and block-based coding in a fun, hands-on way.

Mr Richardson and Miss Becus were incredibly proud of how quickly the students picked up these new skills and looked forward to seeing what they would build next. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our robotics journey!

Mr Sweeney (5G), Miss Becus (5M), Mrs Gehrig/Mrs Somerville (6G) & Miss Dafter (6M)

Community Notices