24 October 2025

Our Mission @ SJM

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

Principal’s Message

1. Welcome Back

Welcome to Term 4! It’s been wonderful to see our students return with such positivity and enthusiasm. The children have settled back into school routines smoothly, and classrooms are already buzzing with learning and engagement. We’re looking forward to a productive and exciting final term of the year.

1. Specific Programs – Taekwondo and Top Blokes

This term we continue with our Taekwondo and Top Blokes programs, which have been well received by students. These initiatives aim to support physical wellbeing and social-emotional development. Emails have been sent to relevant parents with links to short surveys. Your feedback is important as we evaluate the impact of these programs and consider their continuation in 2026. Please take a moment to share your thoughts.

1. Upper Hunter Wellbeing Week

This week marks Upper Hunter Wellbeing Week, and our school has been participating in the 7-Day PERMAH Challenge. PERMAH stands for:

• Positive Emotion
• Engagement
• Relationships
• Meaning
• Accomplishment
• Health

Each day has focused on one of these pillars of wellbeing, encouraging students and staff to reflect on and strengthen their mental health and happiness. It’s been a great way to start the term with a focus on wellbeing and connection.

1. Countdown to Year 6 & Year 5 Excursions

Excitement is building as we approach our major excursions for Year 5 and Year 6. These experiences are always a highlight of the school year. Please keep an eye out for further information in the coming weeks. In particular, the Canberra trip is a rite of passage for students in NSW, offering rich educational and social opportunities that students remember for years to come.

1. Grandparents Day

Today we welcomed many grandparents into St James’. It was a joy to see the smiles and pride on both the children’s and grandparents’ faces. Grandparents play a vital role in the lives of our students, offering wisdom, love, and a strong sense of family connection. Their presence enriches our school community, and we are grateful for the time they spent with us today.

1. Volunteers for Canteen

We are currently seeking additional volunteers to help in our school canteen. If you are able to assist, even for a short time, please contact Tahnee or Virginia in the office. Your support helps keep this valuable service running smoothly for our students.

Mr Aaron Moon
Principal

Assistant Principal

We’ve had a fantastic beginning to the term, with students settling in beautifully and engaging positively across all areas of learning. What a great way to end of first week of Term 4 with Mission Day, loads of activities that continued well into our second lunch break. It is always wonderful celebrating across the school with our friends and family members that were ablet to join us for this event. Another special highlight has been Upper Wellbeing Week, which brought a wonderful focus on connection, resilience, and self-care.

Each class completed a variety of activities that addressed each of the letters PERMAH.

Positive Emotion (red)

Engagement (orange)

Relationships (yellow)

Meaning (green)

Accomplishment (blue)

Health (purple)

A heartfelt thank you to all staff and students for your enthusiastic participation and support. Your energy and commitment made the week a meaningful experience for everyone.

We’re looking forward to a term filled with growth, learning, and community spirit!

May your light continue to shine this term

Mrs Jane Jacobs
Assistant Principal

Religion

On Friday 17th October, our school community came together for Mission Day. The day was filled with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of purpose as students, staff, and families united to raise funds for Catholic Mission and support those in need both locally and globally.

From colourful stalls and games to delicious treats, every corner of the courtyard buzzed with energy. Students took the lead in organising activities, showcasing their leadership and enthusiasm for making a difference. It was heartening to see our values of service and solidarity come to life in such a tangible way.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised a total of $3789.45, which will go directly towards supporting vital mission projects. These funds will help provide education, healthcare, and pastoral care to communities in need, reflecting our call to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

Mission Day is not just a fundraiser, it is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together in faith. Thank you to everyone who contributed and participated in what was an extremely successful day!

In the coming weeks, students will take part in Socktober, a Catholic Mission initiative that raises awareness and support for communities facing significant challenges. This year, our focus is on Zambia, where many families experience poverty, limited access to education and healthcare, and the devastating effects of famine.

To deepen their understanding of these issues, students will create soccer balls using rags and old socks, mirroring the resourcefulness of children in less privileged communities. They will then participate in a Class vs Class Sockball Challenge, testing the strength of their handmade creations in a fun and engaging competition.

Mrs Lauren Gehrig
Religious Education Coordinator

Office Of Safeguarding

Social Media (Delay) Ban Update

From 10 December 2025, children under 16 will no longer be able to have accounts on major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. The aim is to give young people more time to grow and develop before facing the pressures of social media.

What’s Changing

• Under-16 accounts will be deactivated, and new ones blocked.
• Messaging apps, online games and education or health platforms are mostly not affected.
• Kids can still view public content (like YouTube videos), but without the personalised feeds and notifications designed to keep them scrolling.

Why the Change?

This 'delay' is about protecting young people from harmful content, addictive design and the mental health impacts of too much screen time. It also gives families more space to build healthy digital habits.

What Parents Can Do

• Talk to your child now about how they use social media and what will change.
• Show empathy, it may feel like a big adjustment.
• Explore safe alternatives for connection and creativity.
• Use the time to set family rules for when they are old enough.

For more information please visit

https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions-hub

Merit Awards

Principal Awards

Class News

ES1

Wow – can you believe we’ve already made it to Term 4? This year has absolutely flown by, and it’s been such a joy to witness the incredible growth and development of our Kindergarten students. From their very first day in the classroom to now, the progress they’ve made socially, emotionally, and academically is truly remarkable. We are so proud of each and every child and the effort they continue to put into their learning.

We kicked off Term 4 with our much-loved Mission Day celebrations, and what a fantastic day it was! A huge thank you to all the wonderful families who generously donated cakes for our Cake Walk – your support helped make the event a great success. It was heartwarming to see so many families join us on the day, enjoying the festivities and spending time together. The children had a blast, and while there were two very tired Kindergarten teachers by the end of it, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Looking ahead, we have lots of exciting things planned for the remainder of the term. One of the highlights will be our Kindergarten drama performance, scheduled for August 19th. Both KM and KG will be presenting their own separate performances, and we can’t wait to see the creativity and confidence shine through. Notes and further information will be sent home shortly, so please keep an eye out for those.

In the classroom, we’re continuing to build on our reading and writing skills, with a strong focus on tricky words, spelling patterns, and sentence structure. The children are becoming more confident readers and writers every day! In Mathematics, we’re exploring skip counting by 10s, 5s, 2s – and even 3s for some of our budding mathematicians. Later this term, we’ll be introducing the concept of time, which is always a fun and engaging topic for young learners. As we move closer to the end of the year, we’ll also begin learning about the story of Advent in preparation for Christmas. This is a special time in our school community, and we look forward to sharing meaningful moments and reflections with the children.

Term 4 is always a busy one, filled with events, activities, and celebrations. To help stay organised, we encourage families to regularly check school notifications and COMPASS alerts, so you don’t miss any important updates.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement – it truly makes a difference. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

Mrs Smith (KG) & Miss Maher (KM)

Stage 1

Welcome back to Term 4! We hope all families had a restful break and are ready for an exciting and engaging final term of the year. Our Stage One students have returned with great enthusiasm and are already immersed in a variety of rich learning experiences.

In English, Year 1 students are exploring imaginative texts and narrative writing through the shared class text How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. They are learning how authors craft stories that inspire wonder and curiosity, while developing their own narratives using modelled, guided, and independent writing strategies. Year 2 students are analysing characterisation in humorous texts, focusing on Bertha the Blubberer. They are investigating how authors use language and visual features to construct characters and evoke reader responses, before creating their own imaginative characters.

In Mathematics, Year 1 students are learning to create and identify halves, quarters, and eighths using shapes, drawings, and collections of objects. They are developing their understanding of equal sharing and partitioning, supported by the following success criteria:
- Creating halves, quarters, and eighths and identifying non-examples.
- Recognising that numbers can be partitioned into equal parts.
- Understanding that as the number of groups increases, the quantity in each group decreases.
- Identifying remainders when numbers cannot be shared evenly.

Year 2 students are focusing on measurement using informal units. Through hands-on activities, games, and guided investigations, they estimate, measure, and compare mass, capacity, volume, and area using everyday classroom materials. This practical approach encourages active learning and builds foundational skills in measurement.

We are also preparing for our Grandparents Day Liturgy on Friday, October 24th. Students are reflecting on the special role grandparents play in our lives and rehearsing for this meaningful celebration. We look forward to welcoming families to join us for this special event.

In addition, all classes have begun preparing for our whole school drama performance. Each class will present a unique piece, and teachers will be in touch with families over the coming weeks with specific details. As each performance is different, requirements and information may vary from class to class, so please keep an eye out for updates from your child’s teacher.

We are looking forward to a productive and engaging Term 4, filled with exciting learning experiences for all students.

Kind Regards,

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

Stage 2

Welcome to Term 4! We hope you had a restful break and are ready for an exciting final term of the year. We have a jam-packed few weeks ahead, full of learning, creativity, and memorable experiences.

 The students are looking forward to our upcoming excursion to Stockton and Caves Beach in Week 6! This ties in beautifully with our Term 3 Science unit on erosion. Students will have the opportunity to observe natural processes in action and explore how wind and water shape our coastlines.

Also in Week 6, our school will be putting on a whole school drama production! Stage 2 students have been working hard during rehearsals and are buzzing with excitement to perform. We can’t wait to showcase their talents and teamwork on stage.

This term in Art, we are exploring how artworks can be created using natural and recycled materials. Students will be encouraged to think creatively and sustainably as they design and construct their own unique pieces.

In Geography, we are learning all about Australia and its neighbouring countries. Students will investigate cultural and geographical features and develop their mapping skills as they explore our place in the world.

We are looking forward to a fun-filled and educational Term 4, packed with exciting activities and meaningful learning.

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

Stage 3

Stage 3 are back into it and working hard. There are many exciting things happening this term so please be on the lookout for Facebook posts and emails.

For Science, the students are learning about The Solar System and how Earth compares to the other planets within.

In English, Year 6 are looking at Narrative writing. They have been introduced to a book that revolves around homelessness as well as music. So far, the students are finding it quite enjoyable and interesting.

Upcoming:

Drama Performance – Purchase your tickets (one session only) and ensure your child has their costume organised.

Canberra – Ensure all notes are signed and sent in. More information on this soon.

Great Aussie Bush Camp – Ensure all notes are signed and sent in. More information on this soon.

Year 6 Graduation December 10^th  – Invitations coming soon. Please ensure your child has started thinking about their memory box.

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

What’s on in the Library

Scholastic Book Fair

Our annual Scholastic Book Fair will finish on Wednesday 29th October.

Book Fair is open in Week 3,  to parents/grandparents or carers at the following times:

Monday 27th October: 9.00am – 4.00pm 

Tuesday 28th October: Closed 

Wednesday 29th October: 3.00pm – 4.00pm 

If you are unable to attend, students may place their wish list order form in an envelope, clearly marked with their name, class, selected books and the amount. Online payment instructions are on the reverse of the wish list. (Please send the wish list form inside the envelope, with receipt number and parent details on the back).

Please ensure payments are made through Scholastic Book Fair and NOT Book Club.

Payment is made ONLINE ONLY, there will be no cash payments accepted. EFTPOS is available for parents in the library.

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

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

Lisa Wilson 
Teacher Librarian

Nadene Douglas
Library Assistant

Community Notices