Term 2 Week 2 2021 (30/04/2021)

What is On?

Wednesday 5th May - Proclaim Lismore -  all staff attend - School closed 

Friday 7th May - Mother's Day Breakfast 8am until 9am (ish)

Tuesday 11th May to  Friday 14th May - NAPLAN

Thursday 13th May - AEDC data day

Monday 24th May - Our Lady Help of Christians Feast Day - National Mass at approximately 11am

Wednesday 26th May - Dio Cross Country-Grafton

Wednesday 26th May - National Sorry Day

Thursday 27th May - Thursday 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week

Mother's Day Breakfast

On your email today you will have received an invitation and an order form for our Mother's Day Breakfast on Friday the 7th of May.
Online because we waiting on a part for the photocopier which broke earlier in the week. Please return via yamp@lism.Catholic.edu.au email (Tuesday morning at the latest to ensure we have enough resources) 

Dear Parents and Carers

Catholic Schools Week is a big deal in Catholic Education,(and I missed it, just like me to develop a head cold and need to have a test and then of course stay home). By all accounts a lovely morning. See below for Renee's report and YouTube clip.

For 200 years religious-priests, brothers, sisters and now lay teachers, have plied their trade supporting young people in collaboration with parents, to offer every child their best and the opportunity to be involved in the productive struggle of learning. Learning goes beyond just academic results. (we all know this).

We spent time this week in our staff meeting looking at how we are interdependent in this learning. We teach in a manner where we value children initially " having a go " when they meet new material or are in the early stages of learning to understand concepts. We teach towards the development of skill independence in learning  but  interdependence during the learning and beyond. 
We also looked at how our investigation agenda in lower school is being refined and what this offers the children at the beginning of each day. Come in, sign in, grab a lanyard and have a look. 

This Wednesday, all schools in the diocese close for Proclaim.

This diocese-wide event occurs every three years and is focused on the Foundation Values of Catholic Education. With world class speakers presenting, we are asked to consider Why Catholic Education? And recommit to our vocation. All staff will be in attendance. 

There are new guidelines regarding school access. Please make sure you read on, as these are diocesan-wide changes are in line with reviewed Child Protection Guidelines.
Please remember that you are always welcome to make an appointment or call if you wish to discuss your child/ren and their learning.

Still seeing you in Kiss and Drop or maybe on Friday morning at the BBQ

Ann 

RE NEWS

Catholic Schools Week 

This week is a special week for Catholic Schools in our diocese, who will all be celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate our faith, educational direction and the importance of enabling a ‘fullness of life’ for each and every student. Catholic schools offer an educational foundation for living life in abundance through the development of each student’s spiritual, intellectual, physical, moral and emotional growth. Catholic schools respond to and serve the needs of all parents who seek a Catholic education for their children. Catholic schools contribute to the Church’s mission to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Catholic Schools aim to provide a high quality education that accompanies students on their faith and educational journeys. 

On Thursday we celebrated and acknowledged all that Catholic Schools offer to many students across Australia. St James School is part of the Lismore Diocese of Catholic Schools. Students were very reverent and prayerful during our liturgy and it was lovely to see so many parents and families from our school community joining us to celebrate.

Renee Howland

Leader of SEACs

Stage 1 Get Together - Postponed

Due to the wet weather forecast, the Sunday morning Stage 1 get together has been postponed until further notice.

Zone Cross Country

On Wednesday, we had 27 students from St James travel to McAuley College in Grafton to compete at the Clarence Zone Cross Country Carnival. The course is a very challenging one with several big hills really testing out the competitors. All the students ran well and we had 8 qualify for the Diocesan Carnival to be held, again at McAuley, on Wednesday 26th May.

Congratulations and good luck to :

8/9 yr Boys - Jake Seivers, Alfie Ison, Fionn Mawn

8/9 yr Girls - Sailor Short

10 yr Girls - Marlie Zvatora

11yr Girls - Heidi Van Leest, Taya Murphy

12yr Boys - Dexta Jones

LOP News

Google Expeditions Virtual Reality Day

A group of our S1 students who love writing participated in a Virtual Reality activity this week. They were very excited to use the new Google Expedition Virtual Reality kits that we borrowed from the Catholic Schools Office in Lismore. The students explored the underwater world of Valen’s Reef and Dolphin Man and experienced the world through the lens of a diver. The learning intention for the day was for students to start writing their own adventure story, based on the underwater world they explored .…. We will share the finished stories soon .

Austin - I loved feeling like I was swimming and it was cool how he could hold his breath for so long.

Cadence- I loved the feeling of being underwater .

Billie - I liked how it seemed real and like I was diving  underwater . 

Ralph- It looked so real .  

Poppy - It was so cool and it felt like i was actually there .

Ashton - It looked so real and it was awesome i could dive underwater 

Jensen - It looked like it was actually happening to me . 

Captains and Sport Captains Photos

Stringent Child Protection Reminder (pick up and collection)

A reminder that we are required to have very tight processes around parent pick up. 

Parent Library

Reminder: Parent resources can be borrowed from the School Office. New books arrived from Parent Assembly yesterday and these will be available soon. 

Early Stage 1 News

Early Stage One are back and excited to learn! We have a new Investigation Sensory Area outside in the cubby house. Students have been busy experimenting with flowers, herbs, soaps, water and sand. After students expressed interest in looking after animals - we now have a VET Dramatic Play area too. Check out our fabulous art that was displayed in the Maclean Show recently. Lilly, Oliver and Jackson received Art Awards!

Stage 1 News

Dear families and carers,

What a wonderful day we have had with Catholic Schools Week on Thursday. We enjoyed a wonderful liturgy with Billie and Ashton reading beautifully on behalf of Stage 1 students. It was heartwarming to see the families of our students included in the liturgy through their family photos. 

We also loved having parents and grandparents back in the classroom. Thank you to those who were able to come. We would also like extend to you our invitation to come and visit sometime soon if you were unable to make it. Perhaps you would like to see how maths or reading looks in the classrooms today? I think it would be somewhat different to your school days. Please know you would be very welcome.

This week we would love to share some extracts from their writing about home and hopes and dreams.

I love the smell of a new book. When I go to Nan and Pops I smell the the sausages cooking. Rhys

I smell my dog because he eats chook poo and see the frangipani in my garden. Remi 

I can smell my dog Lulu after she had had a swim in the dirty pond. I can smell Mum cooking chicken for dinner in the kitchen. I can take a look in the pond and see some little fish called guppies. I can hear my little sister Bronte yelling out “AUTY”. I touch the cricket container, open the lid and chuck the crickets into the water dragon page. Austin

When I get home I smell my amazing toast. When I get home I feel the fresh breeze. When I get home I smell my delicious food. When I get home I see my fluffy dogs. When I get home I feel warm and happy and safe. Rhaya

I hope and dream to be so kind I make people cry. I hope and dream that I make homes happy. I hope and dream that I put smiles on peoples dials. I want to feel glad, happy, proud and kind. I hope and dream this because I love helping. School is amazing. I love how they make changes from time to time. I hope it doesn't shut down. Oscar

My dream is to be a famous ballerina and dance in the Opera House. My hope is to have a rainbow collection of slime. When I grow up I will feel really happy and loved and the Opera House will have millions of seats filled with people. Ella C

I hope I can be a rockstar. I hope I can be a famous skateboarder. I dream I can be famous footy player because I am good at it. Luca

I hope I will be a famous lego master because I will be able to do lego for a long time. I also dream I have a lot of lollies but I will brush my teeth three times a day. I also want to be a a detective. Maybe I would like to solve mysteries. Jack D

Looking forward to seeing you soon

Anne-Maree and Rachelle

Stage 2 News

This week students in Stage 2 began their writing for the Long Way Home writing competition. The Long Way Home is about helping people in the Clarence Valley to discover their voice through creative writing. The theme for their writing is ‘Look Up’ and students can interpret and use this in their writing however they like. All student’s stories will be entered into the primary schools division. These stories will be no more than 150 words in length. Stage 2 are very excited to be a part of the writing competition and we have seen some great ideas thus far!

Save the Date - Stage 3 Presentation Night

Stage 3 Presentation Night will be held on Tuesday the 22nd of June at 6pm - More information to come.

Birthdays

Pippi Short - 8th May, Dexta Jones - 15th May, Mrs Imeson - 15th May