Term 2 Week 5 (21/05/2021)
What is On?
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
Thurday 27th May - School Disco & Parent Night - 6pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 27th May - Thursday 3rd June - National Reconciliation Week
Dear Parents and Carers
Today I attended our assembly in the hall. It was a jam-packed affair!
One of the things that I noticed was how well the teachers described the reasons for the awards being given. As this was happening I thought how well the staff know the children in their care. It was a lovely moment of reflection.
I know we are a Catholic school but the other thing I noticed, is the coincidence of two children in three families receiving an award. I thought of the whole two-by-two! (a bit of a Catholic joke!)
This Monday, we celebrate National Catholic School Bicententary. It is 200 years since the commencement of Catholic Education in Australia. We will celebrate with icy poles for afternoon tea! Across Australia there will be a simultaneous Mass at 11am. Saint James will be represented by the captains Jesse and Tully and Mrs Jeffrey. I am very disappointed not to be attending as these are the masses that are full of ritual and symbol and the music will be exceptional.
I have attached a small article below to share the history. I thought during the assembly that I really should know when and where the system I have worked in my whole adult life started!
Please consider joining us on Thursday for the Parent Evening. The engagement of parents in the parent bodies are very important for all schools. This is a great opportunity to consider what we can be and how we can work in collaboration.
Have a lovely weekend,
Ann
200 Years Celebration- where did it begin?
The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest John Therry. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students – seven of whom were Protestants. An Irish Catholic convict, sent to the colony being convicted of embezzlement, named George Marley opened the school for Fr Therry and ran it for three years. This school was transferred to the site of the present Parramatta Marist School junior in 1837. Parramatta Marist High School, now located in Westmead NSW traces it origins back to this first school. It seems at least two other Catholic schools were established in New South Wales before the school opened by George Marley. One school is thought to have opened between 1803 and 1806, the second early in 1817. However, both schools were closed by 1818. Photo: Old Parramatta School Classroom, Circa 1900s
St James' School Family Night & DISCO
Disco Night - Food Donations
If you can help out by donating a plate of goodies for the disco canteen to sell that would be very much appreciated! Easy to eat foods, such as brownies, cookies, cupcakes would be great and can be brought in and dropped to the disco canteen in the school hall on the night.
Sport News
Cross Country
The Diocesan Cross Country Carnival is taking place next Wednesday 26th May at McAuley College in Grafton. Eight students from our school will be representing the Clarence Zone in the event. Good luck to the following students:
8/9yr Boys - Jake Seivers, Alfie Ison, Fionn Mawn
8/9yr Girls - Sailor Short
10yr Girls - Marlie Zvatora
11yr Girls - Heidi Van Leest, Taya Murphy
12yr Boys - Dexta Jones
Athletics
Our school Athletics Carnival is on Friday 18th June. Students have begun this week practising for some of the events in our school sport time and will continue to do this as we get closer to the carnival. Long Jump and Shot Put events will be held in school time prior to the carnival and students will be advised in the next few weeks of the days/times that these event will be taking place.
School Awards Assembly
St James’ Award- Ellie White
Principal’s Award- Eli Byrne
Sports Awards
ES1- Cleo Stokes
S1- Jensen Homewood
S2- Gemma Holington
S3- Rohan Chivers-Smith
ES1 Class Awards
SOW- Skye-Leeah Knox
Achievement- Pearl Gould
Encouragement- Louis Collins
MJR- Leah Scanlon
Be Your Best Self - Hope Homewood
S1 Class Awards
SOW - Jack Drayton, Ella Carolan
Achievement- Poppy Dougherty, Oscar Cranston
Encouragement- Archer Madge, Zahli Wicks
MJR - Ned Playne
Be Your Best Self - Billie Gould
S2 Class Awards
SOW- Grace Wilkinson, Eamon Mawn
Achievement- Isabel Duckett, Alfie Ison
Encouragement- Clarence Dougherty, Alyssa Beveridge
MJR - Levi Cavanagh,
Be Your Best Self- Elle Aslin
S3 Class Awards
SOW - Pippi Short
Achievement - Bella McEwen
Encouragement - Dexta Jones, Mitchell Galouzis
MJR - Ruby Thompson
Be Your Best Self - Kayden Duckett
Class Parents - Stage Social Events
Class Parents have been busy organising a date for each stage to have an informal social gathering. You may have received a paper note and a reminder on Seesaw. This is a great chance for each stage to build relationships with class families. Here is a reminder of dates and locations.
ES1 - Saturday 22nd May, 12pm - Lions Park (Near Yamba Fire Station).
Stage 1 - Saturday 29th May, 3pm - Ford Park Yamba
Stage 2 - Sunday 6th June, 2pm - Main Beach.
Stage 3 - Sunday 20th June, 10am - Ford Park (where the Yamba River Markets are held).
Please note the date change for Stage 3.
Events are all outside and will be cancelled if raining. There will be a Covid sign in at the event. Thank you to the Class Parents for their time and organisation.
April Ferguson & Tash Hancock.
Early Stage 1 News
Kindergarten students have been investigating the weather as part of our Science & Technology learning. Each morning our “Photographer” and “Reporter” measure the temperature in both shaded and unshaded areas of our school environment. Students check and read our rain gauge. They take weather photos and videos and report back to the class. They also explain the appropriate clothing needed daily. Ask any Kindergarten child about the weather today, they are quite the experts!
Stage 1 News
This week we have been exploring the story of the Road to Emmaus as part of our Easter season. Stage 1 have seen the storytelling and have had the opportunity to retell the story using their own depictions of the place and using natural materials to act it through. They have done an amazing job, you’ll be seeing their stories on seesaw throughout the week.
Stage 2 News
In Creative Arts this term we are doing Visual Arts. We are doing a study of bicycles. We have been learning about sketching and drawing, in particular real life drawing and have completed several artworks using these skills. We have also just started learning about sculpture and this week we made wire sculptures of our bicycles. The results are amazing!!
Stage 3 News
