This Sunday’s gospel is from Mark 12: 38-44

“As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

This week’s Gospel is still concentrating on the question of truth, but this time about being true to who we are, rather than presenting an image of ourselves that we think makes us look good. Jesus reminds us once again how we are to treat each other. We are all sons and daughters of the Father, and so we must be aware of the dignity each of us carry within. Through baptism we have been brought into the family of God and so we are all connected through grace. No one is greater than another, no one is more important than another; we are all equal in the sight of our Father in Heaven.

Family Parish Mass

Tomorrow evening, we will celebrate our final mass for 2024 with the parish. We would love as many families as possible to join us tomorrow at 5:30pm at St Philips.

Term 4 Liturgies and Celebrations

Friday Parish Mass:

Week 5: 15^th  November - Year 3

Week 6: 22^nd   November - Year 6 and Kindergarten

Week 7: 29^th  November -Year 5 and Year 1

We would love to have you join us if you are able. 

• End of Year Mass: Wednesday 11^th December 9:30am 

• Christmas Liturgy: Tuesday 17^th December 9:30am

 

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

The Year 6 social justice Team will once again be asking for donations of food to make hampers to be distributed by the Kotara St Vincent De Paul chapter to those who are in need this Christmas. Please see the below flyer which outlines the requested items for each class. Can you please bring donations in by Wednesday 4th December so that the team can make the hampers and pass them onto St Vincent De Paul in plenty of time to be distributed. 

Mrs Patricia Miller
Religious Coordinator

Throughout Term 4 we are reviewing each of our pillars-RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, RESILIENT. For weeks 4-6 we are looking at the pillar of RESPONSIBLE and continuing to learn how each of us can meet these expectations. At St James we are responsible when we consistently display the following expectations in our daily interactions with others:

• Be in the right place at the right time
• Own your actions-show you are sorry
• Do your best
• Cooperate
• Learn and Allow others to learn.

PBL is for all people, all places, all the time.

Last week on Wednesday Year 5 gathered together for Leadership Day. A day where students gain the knowledge and skills relevant for servant leadership. The day was held on site and was a huge success in developing capabilities and confidence in our young leaders. The children gathered in the morning for a prayerful liturgy in the hall. Afterwards the children participated in four group rotations which focused on team work, co-operation, service and our school values. These skills were taught through activities such as designing a values shield, growing plants, playing games and completing a scavenger hunt. The children were served a pizza and juice for lunch. They spent time with our current Year 6 leaders who spoke with them about the four teams we have at St James which contribute to our school community; Critical and Creative Thinking, Environmental Stewardship, Health and Wellbeing and Social Justice. After listening and understanding the ways these teams can better our school, students then placed themselves in one of these teams for 2025. Our students know that each and every child will be a leader in our community and we have great confidence that our future leaders will serve as excellent role models for our younger students. 

Year 5 Teachers

In the absence of our Library we have experienced challenges with regard to operating without that space and the resources that it has housed. We are now settling into our new temporary reality and we continue to experiment and modify our operations.

We are very grateful to our St James school P & F who have been incredibly generous and supportive with a significant injection of funds to purchase new books and sundry reading materials to keep our collection current and contemporary.

As we speak, we are curating the selection and purchase of new titles that our Stage Two and Three students provided in a Survey that was held in early Term Two. These additional titles will provide excellent reading opportunities for our older pupils and should be available for the start of the 2025 school year. Students will be made aware of the new books at a presentation in the Hall in the first few weeks of Term 1 next year.

Changes to Library Borrowing Days:

As we progress through Term 4 we have some changes to Library borrowing days;

As of Week 5 [Next week] Kinder Blue will now have borrowing on Thursdays.

Year 6 White will have a borrowing opportunity on Thursday afternoons rather than Thursday morning.

These are the only two changes to the current borrowing arrangements until Week 6 when I will update you again with the changes to take place.

BECOME.ME

Parents of Stage Three students will be aware that we are going through the BECOME.ME process which is an early introduction to the world of work and Career Paths.

This process will culminate in a Careers Expo presented by our Year 5 and 6 students on December 2nd in the School Hall. This event will start at approximately 9:30am and it is envisaged that it will be finished around 10:50 am in time for recess.

This is an exciting and challenging exercise for our students and parents of stage three are encouraged to come and support their student and the greater school community. This is a Newcastle-Maitland Diocese initiative and the BECOME.ME process is revisited in increasing layers of sophistication throughout our Diocesan High Schools. This is a ground floor introduction for our students and is a very worthwhile exercise in having an initial exploration around their futures.

We are looking forward to an entertaining and informative morning.

Thanks for your support.

Mr Chris Coleman
Teacher Librarian  

Mrs Tegan Fry & Miss Renee Pettet
Sports Organisers

Judges Choice: Winner

Artist: Oliver H

Influential Australian: Mary McKillop

The Packer’s Prize: Awarded by the School Executive

Artist: Hazel S

Influential Australian: Mary Lee

The People’s Choice Winner: As voted by the students

Artist: Alexander H

Influential Australian: Albert Jacka

St James Robotics Team Set to Compete in First LEGO League Competition

This Sunday, St James will proudly make its debut in the First LEGO League competition at Newcastle University’s Ourimbah campus. After weeks of dedicated learning and hands-on practice in coding, robotics building, and problem-solving, our students are ready to put their skills to the test.

The competition will challenge our teams (Year 5 and Year 6 team) to complete a series of tasks. They’ll have three attempts to solve challenges in under three minutes with their custom-built robots, present an innovative project to a panel of experts, and showcase the engineering behind their bot and its unique extensions. To be able to build a robot from scratch out of lego, and code it to navigate a series of challenges is in itself a big achievement. 

This journey has not been without its success and frustrations, but through persistence and teamwork, the students have risen to each challenge, learning valuable lessons in resilience along the way. There has been so much value in the process despite any outcome with the competition.

We extend our deepest thanks to all the children for their hard work. Congratulations in advance to:

Year 6 team- Jack G, Jack H, Jarvis L, Jonah S, Leo D, Riley D, Sam P and Seb K

Year 5 team – Xav J, Henry R, Grace T, Jaxson K, Jaxon M, Eli M

I’d also like to thank Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Boslem, Mr Dowling (for table build), P&F committee (purchases of resources) and parents of the robotics students who have supported them on this journey. Best of luck to the team – we can’t wait to see them in action! 

We will be continuing the Robotics program at St James in 2025, as part of our commitment to STEM and gifted education and look forward to building on the success of this year's program. 

Joe Hamilton
Gifted Education Mentor

I would like to acknowledge the hard work the choir gave to rehearsing for our Civic Theatre Performance. Our choir, with almost 70 children ages from 6 to 12, gave up 8 lunch times in the space of 2 weeks as well as weekly rehearsals throughout the year,  in order to prepare for the concert. The result was a very strong and enjoyable performance. Such commitment from such young people is incredibly admirable and I could not be more proud of our St James Choir. Warm thanks to Mrs Wallington who was by my side all day, at the dress rehearsal and performance at night, and thank you to Mrs Deb Peterson who gave up her evening to come and support us with great enthusiasm. I am very grateful that Mrs Houston and Mrs Latham were also at the rehearsal to support the children. Parent helpers, Natalie and Claudia, worked tirelessly on the night of the concert, to supervise, help and encourage our children; it would not have been possible without you. It was a wonderful time for St James children, parents and staff coming together to make a wonderful memory. My heart is full.

Kim Carr
Creative Arts Teacher

Congratulations to Layla R, Sophia J & Oliver H who participated in Aspire's Junior Theatre Makers. The groups performed original pieces at Warners Bay Theatre in September as they were apart of the Central Region Ensemble. St James is very proud of you!

School Fees

School Fees Statements were emailed this week. A reminder that school fees are due to be finalised by 30 November 2024 unless there is an alternate fee arrangement in place.

If you are paying by instalments, can you please check your balance to ensure your payments will finalise your account by this date. 

Year 6 parents are reminded to check their fees are up to date to ensure a fee clearance for their new high school.

Please contact the office if you wish to discuss.

Update Information

If you have changed your address or phone number recently, can you please update this information with the school office.

Attendance

Late Arrival

Students that arrive at school after 8:50am (official school start time) must be signed in at the office through the Compass Kiosk. If they are unaccompanied by an adult, the office will sign students into school as unexplained. 

Early Departure

If you are collecting your child early, can you please buzz at the gate and proceed to the office to sign out through the Compass Kiosk. The office will call the classroom for your child to come to the office to meet you. 

Whole Day

For students that are absent for the whole day, please add the absence note through your Compass app. Whole day absences can be explained through the Compass app for 7 days. 

Unexplained

For all unexplained absences an attendance email will be sent home every week with dates and times of the late arrival(s) and/or unexplained whole day absence. This can then be explained through the Compass app within the 7 days.

Extended Leave 

A Travel Exemption form is required to be completed by a parent/caregiver for leave of 10 or more days for the purpose of travel within Australia and/or overseas. The form is in Compass under "School Documentation" see below.

School Information and Documents

Did you know that you can access school information & documents on Compass? To access click on the school documents tile.

Complaints and Grievances

Thank you to our parents for the support and value that you place on your child being at school each day. Regular school attendance plays a critical role in ensuring that every student has access to the same learning opportunities. When students are not at school, are late to school or leave school early, they are missing out on so much that can impact on their future learning.

The following Attendance Guidelines are based on current legislative requirements, research on attendance and best practice.

✔ Attendance affects a child’s academic achievement and their overall wellbeing.

✔ There is NO safe threshold of absence – everyday counts.

✔ School attendance patterns are established early in a child’s schooling

 ✔ The effects of school absenteeism accumulate over time and affect children’s development now and into the future.

✔ Daily punctuality is important. The early part of each day is critical. Important learning is scheduled during this time when children are rested and receptive. Key concepts are built up in the time.

✔ Sporadic absences can affect academic achievement as much as absences over consecutive days.

✔ We ALL need to work together with our children’s best interest in mind to ensure that students are at school every day that they are well enough to attend.

Compass Unexplained Absences

Unexplained absences are required to be explained within 7 days of the absence on Compass. A weekly email will be sent to parents to alert of any unexplained absences that can be updated on Compass. Please note that if the absence is longer than 7 days, the absence is then unable to be explained by parents or school.

There has been Food Safety Changes for all school canteens. If you are a volunteer in the school canteen, can you please follow the below link to ensure compliance of the new NSW Government Food Authority Standard 3.2.2A.

https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/school-canteens

Playgroup

To thank our wonderful School Volunteers for their invaluable time and support

throughout the year, I have sent your volunteers an invitation to our Christmas Morning Tea and International Volunteers week celebration.