Term 2 Week 2 (9/5/2025)

Happy Mother's Day to all the significant role models in the lives of children everywhere.

What is On?

Dear Parents and Carers

After another successful Mother's Day morning, we are all thankful for the positive impact of those who care for all the students in the school. We wish all mothers, nans, significant carers and aunties the happiest of days on Sunday. Thank you for your attendance today at the breakfast, it was a joy to see you all here. 

Next Tuesday we have 20 principals and leaders from around the diocese visiting Saint James.  We have been working for the past 3 years in a Learning Collaborative with others schools across the diocese drawing on the work of Lynn Sharratt. This week we will receive collegial feedback on our journey from our peers. 

The Community Conversation (#10) reconvened on Tuesday evening and the band of engaged parents discussed ways in which we can all support the children and families who choose an education at Saint James. Please keep an eye on the newsletter for the update which will be in next week's newsletter. Also keep every Week 2 and Week 8 Tuesday evening from 5:30pm to 7pm free. You are encouraged to join the group, share a meal, have the children babysat so that you can talk freely and have a voice in the future direction of the school. Thanks to those who are new and joined us this week. All are welcome, all belong.

You will note, we have a new Pope! The smoke was white at 3am this morning and we pray for Pope Leo XIV in his new role. He has a history of focusing on the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church. That is -Care for God's Creation (environment), Preferential Treatment of the Poor (he worked with those in greatest need in Peru until 1999), Subsidiarity (people affected by decisions being part of the decision making), Rights and Responsibilities (we all have rights but with rights comes the responsibility to ensure justice for all) . Like Pope Francis, he comes from an order, the Augustinian's, who focus on prayer, simplicity of life and service for others. 

I have high hopes!

Ann

St James’ Mass

This Saturday evening at 5:30pm, we will celebrate our School Parish Mass at St James Catholic Church, Yamba. We warmly invite all families to join us for this special occasion as we come together in faith and community to celebrate Mass.

RE News

Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation

On Monday, 19th May, a group of our students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Mary’s Church, Maclean. This special occasion marks an important step in their faith journey as they are strengthened by the Holy Spirit and fully initiated into the Catholic Church.

Confirmation deepens the grace of Baptism and empowers these young people to live out their faith with renewed courage and commitment. We ask you to keep the following candidates in your prayers as they prepare for and celebrate this sacred sacrament:
Leah, Billy, Maggie, Amelia, Jackson, Grace, Aria, Elsie, Nellie, Olliah, and Poppy.

May the Holy Spirit guide and inspire them always as they continue to grow in their faith.

Sacrament Dates

Confirmation- Monday 19th May, 6pm at St Mary’s Church, Maclean. 

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. 

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

Renee Howland

Assistant Principal - Mission

We welcome a new Pope! Another humble servant stepping into the shoes of the fisherman. Popes come and go, but Jesus remains the same: the unchanging cornerstone, the Good Shepherd who leads His flock through every season.

We pray that this new Holy Father may be strengthened to serve with wisdom, compassion, and courage. May he, like Peter before him, say yes, not because the path is easy, but because Christ has called him. Just as Pope Francis once shared how his call came quietly and unexpectedly, we remember that the call to serve is rarely glamorous and often comes when we feel least ready. But we know this truth: God equips those who answer, and blesses those who serve His Church with an open heart.

Let us ask the Lord to bless Pope Leo XIV , guide him with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and to help him lead us in faith, hope, and love.

Mother's Day Morning

Project Compassion

Thanks to your generosity, as a school we raised a total of $226 on Shrove Tuesday and $191 through Project Compassion, giving us a whole-school total of $417.  This money raised will go towards supporting vulnerable people.  Big thanks to all families and students. 

Mission Reps Project

COLLECTING EARN & RETURN

We’re excited to share that our school will be supporting St James Catholic Church as it celebrates its remarkable 50th year of service to our community. As part of the parish’s fundraising efforts to refurbish the church, we’ll be raising money through our school recycling program. Every bottle and can collected will help us contribute to this special milestone, honouring the church’s legacy and ensuring it remains a welcoming space for generations to come. We thank you for your ongoing support and encourage all families to get involved!

Our Mission Reps will lead our Recycling for St James Church project starting in Term 2. We’re collecting bottles and cans to raise funds for the church’s 50th anniversary refurbishment and help care for the environment at the same time!

Bins will be placed at Kiss and Drop.
You can place items directly in the bins or leave bagged donations beside them.

To keep things flowing, please avoid dropping off during Kiss & Drop times.
Thank you for your support in making a difference!

Stage 1 News

Investigations

Our Investigation spaces have been transformed to start term 2! 

We now have Dubbo Zoo in our dramatic play space. This came about after one of our students returned to school inspired by her recent visit! One activity in this area is using homemade, scented playdough to make different zoo animals - a special thanks to Matteo’s mum Isabel for donating such a beautiful resource.

We also have our Science based Investigation space all about push and pull forces. This is linked to our current Science unit and children are able to take on challenges and develop skills of problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. 

The conversations and team work in Investigations continues to impress us all! 

Maths

In Maths we are learning all about combining numbers. We have been learning and using a variety of strategies such as: the counting on strategy, looking for smaller numbers in bigger numbers, using the bar model to combine numbers, and using our knowledge about number doubles. 

We are getting very good at applying these skills  - this is an example of using the bar model to combine numbers:

Creative Arts

In Creative Arts this term our topic is Drama. Our unit is based on the text called ‘The Cow Tripped Over the Moon’. We are looking at improvising some very well known nursery rhymes and working on our skills of improvisation. We are all very excited to show off our voice, movement and creative expression. Wednesday afternoons in Stage 1 are sure to be full of laughs!

Attendance

Stage 3 Radio

Thanks ladies for the show today! 
Tune in each week at 93.5FM.