Term 1 Week 1 (7/2/2025)

The mantra for 2025 is- Growing as One

Our core value is LOVE. 

At Saint James, love speaks of who we are, why we are here and what we might do in creating a supportive, faith- driven community that reflects Christ's life and His teachings.

Stay tuned for more information...

What is On?

2025 

Term 1 2025

Monday 10th February - First Day for Early Stage 1 

Monday 17th February - Winter Sport Trials (Stage 3)- Soccer - South Grafton 

Tuesday 18th February - Winter Sport Trials (Stage 3)- Hockey- Grafton

Tuesday 18th February - Beginning Year Mass at Church 10:00 – 11:00am

Wednesday 19th February - Winter Sport Trials (Stage 3)- Netball- Woolgoolga

Thursday 20th February - Winter Sport Trials (Stage 3)- Rugby League- Grafton (Frank McGuren Park)

Monday 24th February - Zone Swimming Carnival- Maclean 

Monday 3rd March - Welcome BBQ

Monday 24th March - School Photos

Tuesday 4th March - DIO Swimming Carnival- Murwillumbah 

Friday 4th April - School Cross Country

Thursday 10th April - Last Day Term 1 for students

Friday 11th April - Staff Professional Learning Day - On Country - Pupil Free Day

Term 2 2025

Monday 28th April - Staff Professional Learning Day - Learning Collaborative - Pupil Free Day

Tuesday 29th April - First Day Term 2 for Students

Friday 20th June - School Athletics Carnival

Thursday 3rd July - Last Day Term 2 for Students

Friday 4th July - Staff Professional Learning Day - Foundation Day- Pupil Free Day

Term 3 2025

Monday 21st July - First Day Term 3 for Students and Staff

Friday 25th July- Foundation Day - Feast of Saint James

Thursday 25th September - Last Day Term 3 for Students

Friday 26th September - Staff Professional Learning Day - Curriculum - Pupil Free Day

Term 4 2025

Monday 13th October - First Day Term 4 for Students and Staff

Wednesday 17th December - Last Day Term 4 for Students and Staff

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to another year and a new adventure at Saint James. 

We began the year in an as usual very settled manner. The big top buzzing before the first bell and then...

3 minutes later... the children and staff busy in rooms and silence returning to the outside spaces. This is the norm at the school but I find it funny every day how quickly it gets quiet and empty! 

Congratulations to Pippi House for the win at the Swimming Carnival. All the results are below.

Lots of swimmers and lots of fun.

Can I acknowledge the staff who worked all day yesterday to make sure we had every student who wished, in the water as many times as possible, in both competitive and engagement races. We are very fortunate to have such an engaged community on days such as this, and we thank you also for your support. 

The first School Parish Mass is on tomorrow evening at Saint James Church at 5:30pm and all are welcome, all belong. 

Monday our Early Stage One students join the school at  182 children. 

I am looking forward to catching up with everyone at some time in the future and ask that we make new families welcome. If you see a new face, I know that introducing youself would be most welcome by all. Every family joining us has said "We are looking forward to getting involved." Thanks in advance for making all families welcome. 

See you soon

Ann

Breakfast Club is back on

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. All are welcome to grab a bite to eat before the day begins. 

RE News

Our Beginning School Mass will be held on Tuesday 18th February, 10am at St James Catholic Church, Yamba. All families are warmly invited to attend and celebrate with us.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Year 6 students will be presented with their Leaders badges and presented to the school community.

Sacrament Dates

Confirmation- May 2025 (Date TBC)

Reconciliation- Tuesday 29th July, St James Church, Yamba

First Holy Communion- Saturday 30th August, St James Church, Yamba

The order of Sacraments in the Lismore Diocese is:

Baptism, Confirmation (Year 3), Reconciliation (Year 4), First Eucharist (Year 4)

If you need more information about Baptism for your child, please contact the Parish Office in Maclean at 6645 1188 (open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm).

For any other Sacraments, please reach out to Mrs. Howland at school. Please note that your child must be Baptised before receiving any other Sacraments.

If your child was Confirmed last year, they will be invited to receive Reconciliation and First Communion this year. To arrange this, please email yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au. We will be holding a meeting for parents regarding Sacraments, as part of the preparation. Parish Priest, Fr. Roland will be facilitating this meeting at school. The date will be advised. All other preparation will be completed at school during Religion lessons.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at school.

Renee Howland

Assistant Principal - Mission

Sport News

Swimming Carnival

Winning House:

PIPPI

Yesterday we had our School Swimming Carnival. The sun was out and it was a great day for everyone to jump in and have a swim. Well done to everyone who participated and particularly to all those who had a go at some strokes or distances that they had never done before. Great work!

Our winning House on the day was Pippi and the age champions were

- Juniors: Aiden and Remi

- 11yrs: Harlan and Iyla 

- Seniors: Jake and Poppy 

The Zone Swimming Carnival is being held in Maclean on Monday 24th February. Information about the carnival, for those that have qualified, will be sent out on Compass next week so students can see what events they are in, along with the program for the day.

Polding Basketball

A huge good luck to Ashton who is competing as part of the Lismore Diocesan Basketball team at the Polding Carnival in Tamworth today. It's a great achievement to reach this level and we are sure that Ashton will do himself, and our school, proud.

Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials

Interested students in Stage 3 will receive information next week about selection trials for Clarence Zone teams in Soccer, Rugby League, Netball and Hockey. These trials will be held from 17th - 20th February. If your child is interested in trialling please read the information carefully so that your child's nomination is completed in time.

Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Anxiety in primary school-aged children

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/anxiety-in-primary-school-aged-children/?audience=family

Changes in after school arrangements

All parents are asked to ring the office and ask to speak with Sue Smith for changes in afternoon arrangement. If you email a staff member we can not guarantee that they will see it. Teachers are not on emails during the day and while I receive all yamp emails I could be away from school, as could a teacher.

The office is always open.

This has always been the procedure at St James.  

Bus Travel

Please be aware and help us by making sure all children are aware, that if they miss their stop on the bus they will should remain on the bus and return to the depot with the driver. While this is the plan we need all children to let the driver know they have missed their stop.

All drivers are expected by Busways to radio their base in Yamba who will then ring the school and we will contact parents. No student should be allowed off a bus without a parent to collect them but an early bus or a unavoidably delayed "collector" could impact this plan.

When in doubt you can ring the Busways office. 

Moved in the holidays or change contacts?

Please log into your COMPASS and edit your profile.

All details need to be up to date to make sure we can contact you when needed. 

Medication at School- No medication in school bags

Any medication (including paracetamol) must be labeled with a chemist label and handed in to the office. There is a form at the school office which must be filled in and held in the school. Thank you for your attention to this important Risk Management procedure. 

Holiday Reading Challenge

Holiday Reading Challenge!

At the end of last year, a holiday reading challenge was distributed to all students. Next week, students who completed the challenge will have their names featured in the newsletter and will receive an icy pole as a reward. Please ensure your completed reading challenge sheet is submitted to your teacher by Thursday, 13th February.

Kind Regards,

Alanna Cason 

Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Canteen News

Attendance

Birthdays

Declan 8/2, Siaan 10/2, Chase 12/2, Jake 13/2, Fletcher 13/2, Poppy 14/2, Rhys 14/2, Evelyn 14/2, Bentley 15/2, Mrs Howland 17/2, Miss Haines 17/2, Mr Dougherty 17/2, Kingston 18/2, Delfina 18/2, Bradley 21/2