Week 7, Term 2 - 2025
Welcome
Dear St James Community,
It is with great joy that we prepare to celebrate one of the most sacred and significant milestones in the spiritual lives of our children—their First Holy Communion, on Sunday, June 22nd.
On this blessed occasion, our young parishioners will receive the Holy Eucharist for the very first time, drawing closer to Jesus in a deeply personal and transformative way. This sacrament is not only a beautiful step in their faith journey but also a reminder to us all of the profound gift we receive each time we come to the Lord’s table.
As Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of John:
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
— John 6:51
The timing of this celebration is especially meaningful as it coincides with the Feast of Corpus Christi—a solemn feast in the Church that honours the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This feast reminds us that Jesus is not distant, but truly present with us: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. It is a powerful affirmation of our faith and a perfect moment to reflect on the mystery and majesty of the sacrament our children are about to receive.
We congratulate Joshua A, Indie B, Mylie B, Penny C, Abel B, Sienna D, Emilia DS, Lucia DS, Olivia E, Leo H, Christopher J, Kaan K, Jairus L, Asha M, Luka M, Pippa M, Oscar N, Charles O, Niamh O, Hudson T, Sophie W, Hannah W, Frankie P, Peyton W, Coen W and Ean F on this sacred occasion. May your hearts be open to Jesus’ love, your minds eager to learn His ways, and your lives a reflection of His light. May you grow always in faith, hope, and love.
As a school and parish community, let us continue to walk alongside our children in faith, encouraging them to live out the Gospel with courage and compassion. May this First Communion be only the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jesus.
Let us join in prayer and thanksgiving, celebrating both this personal milestone and the rich Eucharistic tradition of our Church:
“This is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
— Luke 22:19
School Disco
What a fantastic evening our school disco turned out to be! It was a joy to see the children dancing, laughing, and having such a great time together. Their behaviour was excellent throughout the night, and it was clear they were making wonderful memories with their friends.
A heartfelt thank you to all the parents and staff who helped make the event such a success — your support, time, and energy are truly appreciated. Thank you also to our families for supporting this event. It’s these special moments that help build the vibrant, connected community we are so proud of at St. James.
2025 School Disco
Semester 2 Reporting to parents
Our teachers are currently busy preparing student reports, taking time to carefully assess learning progress and achievements across all subject areas. These reports are an important way for us to share with you how your child is progressing both academically and personally. This semester’s reports will include comments in English, Mathematics, other Key Learning Areas, and a general comment that reflects your child’s holistic development - their strengths, characteristics and participation in school life. Please see below link for detailed information to support parent and carer understanding of reporting to parents.
Staff Professional Learning
Thank you for your support during our recent pupil-free days. Our teachers used this valuable time to engage in professional learning focused on the new curriculum areas of Science and Technology and the Creative Arts. Both syllabi will be implemented in teaching and learning in 2026. They also explored the latest research from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) about how students learn best. This professional development helps ensure our teaching is contemporary and based on evidence about the best teaching and learning strategies to support all students. Some key areas of learning included:
The updated Science and Technology syllabus helps students build strong knowledge step by step, with clear teaching and hands-on activities that make learning more meaningful and engaging.
The updated Creative Arts syllabus encourages students to explore and express themselves through dance, drama, music, and visual arts, fostering creativity and imagination while developing skills in making, performing, and appreciating various art forms.
Understanding the importance of clear, explicit instruction and how it helps students grasp new concepts more easily.
Learning how to give students regular opportunities to practise and apply what they’ve learned, to build a strong understanding over time.
We’re excited to bring this learning into our classrooms to support and inspire every student.
Staff Professional Learning
Term 2 - Celebration of Learning
We are excited to announce that our Term 2 Celebration of Learning will be the Play is the Way Championship Day, taking place on the final day of Term 2 — Friday, July 4th.
Families are warmly invited to join us for a day filled with games, teamwork, learning, and fun! It’s a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the social and emotional growth of our students through play.
Please save the date — we look forward to seeing you there!
Term 2 Dates & Events
Please note the following events/dates scheduled for Term 2.
- June 27th: Jersey Reward Day
- July 2nd: 100 days of Kindergarten.
- July 4th: Play is The Way Championships Day.
- July 4th: End of Term 2.
Please note our pupil-free days for 2025:
- August 22nd, November 13th & 14th, and December 18th & 19th.
Please note the Parent Community Group Meeting dates for 2025:
- August 14th & November 6th (7pm - MPC).
Please note the following changes to our Term 3 date/events plans:
Due to the school musical now being scheduled for Thursday, August 21st, we will be moving the Term 3 Pupil Free Day to Friday, August 22nd. This change allows students to have the day off following the musical.
As a result of this adjustment, our planned Grandparents' Day and Book Week Dress-Up Day will now take place on Friday, September 26th.
Thank you for your understanding and support with these updates.
Thumbs-up
- Students for their excellent engagement with the School Disco.
- Students for their participation in the School Athletics Carnival.
- Staff and parents for their terrific assistance with both the disco and athletics carnival.
- Parents for supporting our staff's professional learning, via the pupil-free days.
To conclude
Today’s Athletics Carnival was a fantastic celebration of sportsmanship, teamwork, and talent. The energy on the field was electric as students gave their all in every event. We applaud our athletes for their dedication and determination—your enthusiasm and effort were truly inspiring.
A big thank you to our wonderful staff for their support and preparation, especially our Sports and Extracurricular Team: Mrs Rochester, Mr Holmes, Mr Bugden, and Mrs Styman, for leading and organising such a smooth and successful event.
To our parents and friends who came along to cheer and encourage, thank you for helping create such a positive and supportive atmosphere. It was a day to remember!
The individual results were:
- 8 years: Emme M, Shivvy BL and Charlie T
- 9 years: Isla M and Archie R
- 10 years: Lacey G and Jake G
- 11 years: Maya PM and Liam W
- 12 years: Lucia DS and Jed C
The overall results were:
- First: Mackillop
- Second: Hanly
- Third: Polding
- Fourth: Ryland
The Athletics Carnival truly showcased the strength of our school spirit and the power of coming together as a community - well done team St James!
With blessings,
Nic.
2025 Athletics Carnival
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