Term 1 Week 1 2023 (3/2/2023)

What is On?

Monday 6th February- Early Stage 1 start school.

Tuesday 7th February - Beginning Year Mass at St James Catholic Church Yamba at 12pm

Monday 27th February - Zone Swimming  - Maclean

Term Dates 2023

Thursday 6th April - Last day Term 1, 2023

Term 2:

Monday 24th April - First Day Term 2

Thursday 1st June - Pupil Free Day (Proclaim)

Thursday 29th June -Last Day Term 2

Friday 30th June - Staff Professional Learning  Day

Term 3:

Monday 17th July - First Day of Term 3

Thursday 21st September - Last Day Term 3

Friday 22nd September - Staff Professional Learning  Day

Term 4:

Monday 9th October - First Day Term 4

Friday 15th December - Last Day Term 4

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to another year of learning, gathering, listening and sharing as we navigate 2023 at Saint James. 

... Pippi won the swimming carnival... What a great way to begin the year. (I will come back to this!)

New leaders from Stage 3 have already started their drive to make this the best year yet and every class is buzzing with learning. Actually not so much today, the only buzzing was soft snores of sleeping children who swam their hearts out at the Swimming Carnival yesterday. The buzzing may have also been from the staff who worked tirelessly to make sure every child who wanted to "swim for their team" had the opportunity and was encouraged to enter a race. 

Thank you one and all.

The efforts of all the captains, and leaders without roles, was evident in the cheering, encouraging and friendship of the children towards one another, as well as in the willingness to assist in any endeavour. 

... Pippi won the swimming carnival... A new year, new faces, new celebrations. Congratulations to the team. Miss Haines was back at school doing Best Start assessments and is devastated to have missed the moment. We did assure her however that Mrs Kelly and Ms Aumuller "carried that torch". Mrs Kelly was a bit hoarse this morning. If you check Instagram you will see the celebrations. If you are not on our page please send a request and we will check and add you.

Below is a photo of all the rubbish I collected after the children left the pool yesterday. It did not even fill my hand. Thank you to everyone for your care for the environment (Stewardship of Creation) and respect for the areas we use within our community. 

Staff are working to prepare for several big ticket items in the coming weeks.

*Mass on Tuesday at Saint James Church in Yamba.

*Next week (Week 2), we beginning our Diocesan Assessment Schedule in mathematics and literacy.  You will hear from your children that one staff member from each stage is engaged in this for the next 2 weeks, as we respond to the Diocese of Lismore Strategic Intent plans and directives.  A known casual staff member will step in. The information is not just for an external party but assists teachers in their planning and the executive and Additional Needs Team to target learning and curriculum support across the year.  These processes are diocesan wide but valued by all. 

*Staff are also busy preparing their letters home. More information to come.  "Parent Getting to Know You” interviews will be offered in the coming weeks. We have a goal to engage with all parents in this agenda. 

*Also in the works is a Parent Conversations Evening. I will confirm a date next week after the interview dates are finalised with the teaching teams. 

*We would also like to arrange a "Welcome Back" gathering and will confirm that next week too. Can some knowledgeable parent let me know what night is the busy activities one this year? When is touch football on this year? or is it basketball? or dance? I will try to avoid clashes (but at times that may be tricky) 

Can we welcome back Reevan Harding and Molly  O'Brien and their families. It is lovely to have you return.  (As soon as I read welcome back, all I can hear is "Welcome Back Cotter" and then I remember that no one is old enough to know the show! Google it! and thank me later for the earworm that the song becomes)

This time next week, our newest learners will be completing their first week. Early Stage 1 commence their school journey with us on Monday and we know that families and siblings and family friends are very excited! and all will be welcome. 

Lots on and lots to come. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Ann

Sport Dates 2023

Term 1

Zone Swimming Carnival - Monday 27th February - Maclean (Week 5)

Diocesan Swimming Carnival - Friday 3rd March - Kempsey (Week 5)

Dio Winter Sport Trials- Friday 10th  March - Grafton

School Cross Country - Friday 24th March (Week 8)

Polding Swimming Carnival - Thursday 30th March - Sydney (Week 9)

PSSA Swimming Carnival - Wednesday/Thursday 5th, 6th April - Sydney (Week 10)

Term 2

Zone Cross Country - Wednesday 3rd May - Grafton (Week 2)

Diocesan Cross Country - Tuesday 23rd May - Grafton (Week 5)

Polding Cross Country - Tuesday 13th June - Sydney (Week 8)

School Athletics Carnival - Friday 16th June

Zone Athletics  - Thursday 29 June - Coffs Harbour

Term 3

Dio Athletics  - Tuesday  15th August- Coffs Harbour

Polding Athletics - Friday 8th September-Newcastle

Term 4

Dio Summer Sport Trials -Friday 24th  November - Lismore

RE News

Welcome back for another wonderful year of learning and opportunity in our amazing school community. We begin our school year with our Beginning Year Mass next Tuesday 7th Feb at St James Catholic Church, Yamba at 12pm. We warmly invite all families and community members to join with us for this special Mass, where our 2023 School Leaders will be presented with their blessed badges. We would love to have our school community gather with us at the Church to celebrate.

Update Contact details for 2023

If your contact details have changed from 2022 please update on COMPASS.

Phone numbers, addresses and emergency contacts could possibly be out of date. 

Swimming Carnival (2nd February 2023)

Age Champions: 

Junior Boy - Clarence Dougherty

Junior Girl - Lola Dougherty

11yrs Boy - Rashad Rice

11yrs Girl - Sanne Little

Senior Girl - Sage Edwards

Senior Boy - Kydan Jones

Winning House - Pippi

From the Sport Captains:

Yesterday was our school swimming carnival we all had a great time, everyone gave it a go and tried their very best. The winning house of the day was Pippi, Turners in second and Angourie in third.

At our school carnival, the all stars (the winners of the age group in freestyle) were girls - Remi Murphy, Iyla Towner, Lola Dougherty, Sanne Little and Willow Seivers.  Boys  - Declan Mawn, Harlen Bews, Clarry Dougherty, Rashard Rice, Kydan Jones. Our age Champions were Clarrry Dougherty and Lola Dougherty for the Juniors, Sanne Little and Rashard Rice for the 11 years and Sage Edwards and Kydan Jones for the Seniors!

Good Job Pippi!

Willow, Alfie, Sage - Sport Captains

Dates 2023 ( current as of 3:10 pm 03/02/2023)

Tuesday 7th  February - Beginning Year Mass at St James Church, Yamba

Monday 27th February- Zone Swimming Carnival - Maclean (Week 5)

March

Wednesday 1st March to Thursday 2nd March - Wildfire visting

Friday 3rd March -Diocesan Swimming Carnival -  Kempsey (Week 5)

Friday 10th March - Dio Winter Sport Trials-Grafton

Wednesday 15th March -Monday 27th March - NAPLAN

Monday 20th March - School Photo Day

Friday 24th March - School Cross Country (Week 8)

 Thursday 30th March -Polding Swimming Carnival - Sydney (Week 9)

April

Wednesday/Thursday 5th, 6th April - PSSA Swimming Carnival - Sydney (Week 10)

Thursday 6th April - Last day Term 1, 2023

Monday 24th April - First Day Term 2

May

Wednesday 3rd May - Zone Cross Country - Grafton (Week 2)

Tuesday 23rd May - Diocesan Cross Country - Grafton (Week 5)

June

Thursday 1st June - Pupil Free Day (Proclaim)

Tuesday 13th June - Polding Cross Country - Sydney (Week 8)

Friday 16th  June - School Athletics Carnival

Thursday, 29 June - Zone Athletics  - Coffs Harbour 

Thursday 29th June -Last Day Term 2

Friday 30th June - Staff Professional Learning  Day

July

Monday 17th July - First Day of Term 3

August

Tuesday 15th  August - Dio Athletics  - Coffs Harbour

September

Friday 8th September - Polding Athletics-Newcastle

Thursday 21st September - Last Day Term 3

Friday 22nd September - Staff Professional Learning  Day

October 

Monday 9th October - First Day Term 4

November

Friday 24th November - Dio Summer Sport Trials-Lismore

December

Wednesday 13th December - tentative Year 6 Graduation Dinner

Thursday 14th December- Whole School Final Assembly ( includes Yr 6 Graduation) 

Friday 15th December - Last Day of School 2023

I expect there will be more to come!

Connie de Dassel (OAM)

Yesterday several staff from Saint James attended the funeral of Mrs Connie De Dassell (OAM) at St Mary's Maclean. Her connection to Saint James began with her involvement in the musical life of the school in 1997 and continued for several years until she retired from Yamba music teaching to focus on teaching in Maclean. 
Have you heard our school song or prayer? Connie wrote it. She was an integral part of the renewal of Catholic Education and the establishment of Saint James School in Yamba. Indeed, I have memories of Connie teaching piano in what is now my office when I visited in the early years. 
Her involvement in "anything even slightly to do with music and fund raising for any good cause" was legendary in the Clarence. 
Her shoes are not ones many of us could even aspire to fill, they remain very big. We pray for her family, colleagues and friends at this time. And we send a prayer of thanks for her wonderful life, legacy and support.

Bus or Kiss and Drop? Do you have or need a bus pass?

Our Kiss and Drop lines have not be very busy this week and the bus lines have been very busy. This prompts my reminder.

Please check the status of your child/ren's pass as these are required to travel on Busways buses to and from school.  I received a list this week from Busways of the names of children who have bus passes, it was not an exhaustive list.

Can I encourage you to check online  to ensure your child/ren are ready for the new year. Saint James does not have a role in the process as it is online. I googled "free school bus travel NSW"and this is the link.  https://transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply

School Zones operational again

https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/flashinglights/index.html

School Zones are back in force for 2023. Please check the link above if you are not sure of the guidelines. At 40km an hour around Saint James when the zones are in force you could potentially read the signs as you drive but that would be terrible advice.  Can I instead encourage you to hit the link and check the times and days for NSW schools.

Child Protection

Under Child Protection Legislation any parent or community member undertaking volunteer work or working with children must complete a Working With Children Check. Please consult the principal to ascertain that you have a current WWCC before you seek to work with children. All parents must sign in using the " Whose on Location?" in the office or using the QR code. The Child Protection Policy and Procedures 2020 and the DLCSL Code of Conduct is fully implemented across the diocese . Please take time to review this document and this is available at the front office, on our website for your review and is available upon request through email.

Need to speak to a member of staff?

Please contact the office on 66463266 to arrange a call back or to seek an appointment. Alternatively you can email yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au . 

I feel silly saying it but can we also be aware of the teaching times. 

When staff are in class and teaching or outside on duty they are unavailable to chat or "just catch you" moments. You will be aware of the importance of their duty of care and I know everyone will support one another to make sure ontime learning is quarantined and that parents are able to access staff to continue the partnership required to best support the learners in our care.

Birthdays

Elliott Cranston - 6th February, Aaron Perry - 6th February, Declan Mawn - 8th February, Siaan Lloyd-Smith - 10th February, Chase Towner - 12th February, Jake Seivers - 13th February, Poppy Erbacher - 14th February, Rhys Johnson - 14th February, Henry Miller - 17th February, Mr Dougherty - 17th February, Mrs Howland - 17th February, Miss Haines - 17th February 

Welcome back!

https://youtu.be/xZzEzDkeHzI

Earworm and a very young Travolta (you can thank me later!)