Dear Parents and Carers,

As Term 3 ends, I want to take a moment to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and growth we have witnessed throughout the past weeks. It has been an incredibly busy term, full of exciting learning opportunities, community events, and personal development for both students and staff.

A big Thank you to all the grandparents and family members who attended our recent Grandparents Day celebrations. It was truly wonderful to have so many people share the day with us. Thank you to the staff who worked so hard to prepare for the day and to the children for participating so enthusiastically.

I am proud of the academic progress our students have made. Whether it's in the classroom or participating in group learning, or achieving individual goals, I congratulate the students on their commitment to learning. Thank you to all the teachers for their hard work, and to parents for your continued support in making learning a priority.

Term 4 promises to be just as exciting and full of opportunities and valuable learning experiences. I encourage students to rest over the holiday break but also to begin thinking about how they will finish the school year strong.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the teachers, support staff, and parents who work tirelessly to support our school community. It is your dedication that enables our students to thrive.

I encourage students to take a well-earned break. Spend time with family and friends, recharge, and come back ready to give your best in Term 4.

Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable holiday.

This Sunday’s gospel is from Mark 9: 38-43 45 47-48 

^“John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.^, And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.^,, And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,^, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.

We hear in this reading from Mark what the disciples thought of distinction and difference. Jesus did not tolerate their narrow vision. Jesus sees all who act in his name as having much in common.

Prayer brings us in touch with all people, a sort of mystical communion with all God's children. Different people follow Christ and relate to God in different ways. The apostles were upset they were not following them. Jesus looks at what a person is committed to and sees discipleship in many ways. Maybe some of our prayer time might be to pray for all who are committed to goodness, faith and justice in the world, no matter what way they show this.

Sacramental Program

CONGRATULATIONS: Xia, Patrick, Rafael, Sophia, Leo, Emmanuel, Oriana, Anna, Hailey, Ollie, Zeke, Ava, Electra, Harrison, Suni, Darcy, Thomas L, Claire, will, Hannah, Lincoln, Cooper M, Audra, Mannix, Thomas R, Darcey, Priya, Harlan, Cooper S, Harriet, Joshua, Kathleen, Ruby, Leo W, Miles, Drew, Abigail and Madeleine.

Over the past two weekends children from St James received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time.  The were all very excited to complete their sacramental journey. Each of the ceremonies reflected the importance of the occasion and the children should be congratulated for the reverence in which they participated. 

Please continue to pray for our children who have now received all the Sacraments of Initiation and are able to be full participants in the liturgy of our Catholic faith.

Socktober

Even though the weather was dreary yesterday, our classrooms were full of colour with our crazy socks. Many thanks for all of the contributions made, we were able to raise $348 in support of Catholic Mission.

Term 4 Liturgies and Celebrations

 

Friday Parish Mass:

Week 2: 25^th October -Year 6

Week 3: 1st November (10:00am) - Year 5 and Year 1

Week 4: 8^th  November Year 2

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

Week 8: 6^th December (10:00am) - Year 4

 

We would love to have you join us.

 

• Mission Liturgy: Monday 21^st October 2:10pm (at Assembly)
• End of Year Mass: Wednesday 11^th December 9:30am
• Christmas Liturgy: Tuesday 17^th December

Loud Shirt Day 

Friday 18th October: Wear your loudest, brightest shirt to raise awareness and support kids with hearing loss, helping them to reach their full potential. We all know how hearing is an integral part of learning. Bring a gold coin donation in support of Loud Shirt Day on Friday 18^th October (Week 1 Term 4).  

 

Mrs Patricia Miller
Religious Coordinator

Interested in finding out more on this topic please visit St James SchoolTV at Internet Addiction | St James' Primary School - Kotara South (schooltv.me)

Online Game Fortnite

The current craze sweeping the nation, is an online game called ‘Fortnite: Battle Royale’. Unfortunately, this highly addictive game is impacting negatively on the behaviour of adolescent kids everywhere. Despite it being inappropriate for primary aged children, there are still many kids in this age group battling online and teachers are reporting changes in classroom behaviour.

Increasing evidence of young players suffering psychological distress because of gaming is of great concern to parents. We hope this special report will prompt parents to reassess gaming allowances and better manage technology usage at home. For further help and advice you can learn more at SPECIAL REPORT: Online Game Fortnite | St James' Primary School - Kotara South (schooltv.me)

Parents, did you Know?

As the holidays approach sometimes the time children spend of technology can increase, below are some acronyms to be aware of when children are chatting/gaming online. The more we know the more we can help our children stay safe in the online space.

ICAS

Congratulations to the following students! If you have not already received your certificate, you will be presented with it at the next school assembly in term 4.

Happy holidays,

Mrs Debra Petersen
 Assistant Principal

Polding Athletics 

In Week 8, Layla R, Evie M, Wil M, Zoe D, Maisie E, and Evie L represented our school at the Polding Athletics Carnival in Glendale. Congratulations to these students for their hard work, determination and effort to reach this level. We're proud of your achievements! 

 

Year 3 and 4 Touch Football Gala Day

Year 3 and Year 4 attended the Newcastle Touch Football Gala Day on the 12^th of September at the Broadmeadow Harness Racing Track. For many of the children, it was their first time participating in a school gala day. A very special thank you to our parent coaches and cheer squad  and support staff that supported the children on the day. It was a lot of fun!

Mrs Tegan Fry & Miss Renee Pettet
Sports Organisers

Congratulations to our stage winners in the Regional Public Speaking competition that was held earlier this month. Well done Kevin V and Penelope S. Penelope will now compete at the Diocese Public Speaking competition on October 25th. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our students, we wanted to address an important issue that has been increasingly affecting young children in today’s digital age. With the widespread use of the internet, children are becoming more exposed to online content, some of which may not be appropriate for their age, including explicit or harmful material such as pornography.

We understand that this can be a sensitive topic for families, but it is crucial that we work together to ensure our children are protected from content that may negatively impact their emotional and psychological development. As a school, we are here to support you in fostering safe and healthy internet habits at home.

Steps to Promote Safe Internet Use:

1. Open Communication Having open and age-appropriate conversations with your child about the internet and its potential dangers can help them understand the importance of safe browsing. Encourage your child to talk to you if they encounter anything online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

2. Use of Parental Controls Many devices, apps, and internet providers offer parental control settings that can help block access to inappropriate content. Setting up these controls can offer an additional layer of protection while your child is online.

3. Supervision and Boundaries Monitoring your child’s online activity and setting clear rules about internet usage—such as limiting screen time and ensuring they use devices in shared family spaces—can help reduce the chances of them accessing inappropriate material.

4. Support and Guidance If your child has already been exposed to inappropriate content, it’s important to remain calm and offer them reassurance. Support them in understanding what they have seen, and do not hesitate to seek professional guidance if necessary.

Educational Resources There are many platforms and resources that are available to assist parents in learning more about the online content that our children are being exposed to. Listed below are some links to websites or podcasts that you may find helpful when navigating these conversations with your children.

SchoolTV https://kotarasouth.catholic.schooltv.me/

SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that can support you in the challenges relating to modern-day parenting. This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

Some links that may be of particular interest include: -

• Online Pornography

https://kotarasouth.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/pornography

Experts say that the internet is sexualising kids too soon. The internet makes it easier for children to engage with pornography, both by choice and inadvertently. This link provides you with several short interviews with leading experts on how we can, as parents and educators, minimise the negative effects of online pornography on adolescents.

•  Mixture of podcasts/articles and resources Resources

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6xfKmOAB6924XNaXSkcPu2

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6xfKmOAB6924XNaXSkcPu2

• https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/online-porn 

An Australian Government website with many tools on how to help your child deal with online safety issues.

By working together as a community, we can create a safer online environment for our children. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like more information or support on this matter.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe.

Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education and inadequate toilet facilities.  It is also the stigma and feelings of shame and embarrassment of a normal bodily function, and subsequent impacts on mental health. 

In 2022 students from St Paul’s Catholic College Booragul advocated for female hygiene products to be made available in school toilets to provide access, equity and dignity to students who menstruate. A Diocese-wide working group was formed to investigate the impact of period poverty in our schools and lead the way in addressing the issues by exploring the feasibility of:

1. Installing free period products in dispensing machines in our schools, aligned with the placement of the sanitary bins.
2. Developing an awareness education program for schools in conjunction with the syllabus.
3. Developing a policy that will help reinforce the promotion of dignity, gender equality and reproductive health.

The working group soon developed an initiative called Period Positivity. The initiative is about making periods normal. From free period care products to more informative discussions, the initiative aims to promote greater accessibility, equity and dignity for all.

In 2022 a pilot program was conducted at St Paul’s Catholic College Booragul, trialling the installation of sanitary dispensing machines with the provision of free sanitary products at the school. The trial was very successful – with strong survey results in addition to positive student engagement and feedback.

Due to the success of the trial, dispensers were rolled out across all Diocesan Secondary schools in 2023. This is being followed up with a rollout across Primary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle across 2024.

The Period Positivity initiative to commence at St James’, Kotara starting mid Term 4 2024.

• Sanitary products will be available to students for free, via dispensers in the toilet blocks.
• If students find themselves needing pads or tampons, they will be available from the dispensers.
• Students will still be able to use their own products, but there will be the option to use the free products provided in the female toilets for those who need them.  

The product roll-out will be complemented by an educational awareness program that will be deployed to students. Professional Learning resources will enable teachers to be competent and confident to deliver the educational materials such as Menstrual health; information about periods and anatomy, dispelling myths, products, accessibility, gender equity and promoting dignity.

For more information, please visit https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/students/period-positivity/.

Construction on the new fitness playground will commence during the holidays. The basketball rings and marking will also be installed under the COLA.

Other exciting improvements occurring include new carpet in Year 3B, Year 4B and 4W and a shade sail constructed between Year 1 and Kindergarten.

We are currently advertising for a Canteen Manager to start Term 1 2025.

This role would be perfect for one of our parents, grandparents or extended family or members from St James'. This is a paid position for 19 hours per week across 3 days.

Please see more information regarding this position via the following link:

https://cdmn.elmotalent.com.au/careers/cso/job/view/3800

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

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.

Complaints and Grievances