Term 1 Week 2 2023 (10/2/2023)

What is On?

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

Wildfire visiting school- Wednesday 1st – Thursday 2nd March 

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

Incitare - Friday 3rd March- Grafton(Week 5)

Dear Parents and Carers

A big week was had by all at Saint James' Primary School Yamba as our littlest learners joined the school. Before they arrived we seemed rather empty and now we are all together bursting with energy and positivity.  I am not sure that outsiders realise just how much the rest of the students thrive on the arrival of the Early Stage One students. I am sure that ES1 feel like royalty or rock stars, as everyone (and I do mean everyone) wants to show them around, make sure they are included and help them settle.   If I have been asked by senior school when buddies starts once, I have been asked about a million times. The answer is soon... very soon!

The Early Stage One are a bouncing bunch who, as you can imagine, expect me to already know all their names (Poor kids- if they have a sibling they may receive my well known greeting "Hello Lola's little sister Rudy" or "Hi Ralph's little brother Frank" - the thinking time is very valuable- don't knock it... I make it work)

We have had more COVID guidelines from CSO this week. Essentially, if your child has any symptoms they must remain at home until they have subsided. We have several cases again this week and I am grateful that the families were both vigilant and responded to the guidelines. In light of this- if you need more tests we have some supply, not exhaustive, but if your family is in need please ring the office for support.

It is a scary prospect, but this week I begin enrolment interviews for ES1 2024. Can I encourage our families to not wait for later in the year to enrol as numbers will be very tight.

All applications are assigned a ranking based on application date and then the criteria is used to rank offers. I have tried to catch all the "prospect's parents" at school this week. (Indeed some of you may think I am quiet the stalker and a sticky beak with my age related inquiries but I do not want to find that I have missed anyone in the intake phase.) 

My issue is that last year I thought we had 9 siblings and discovered, after I had interviewed and made first round offers, that there were 17 expecting to have places. This year we are already beyond this number.   

It was lovely to "go to Mass at the church" with the school on Tuesday. I would like to acknowledge Father Nicolas who is saying an extra Mass for us several times a year to help us return to our parish church. We would love to see any family members or extended families join us into the future.  As I have said during every enrolment tour, we exist as a school because of the parish and the Saint James' church community and families of the parish who donated, built and funded the school building loan repayments to ensure that there was a quality Catholic Education offered down river. This connection remains very important to us. 

Over the next several weeks I am required to attend what seems to be a lot of meetings (zooming appears to be over for leadership).  Please know that the team on the ground is very capable, led by the AP's Mrs Dougherty and Mrs Howland. I am always available courtesy of Mrs Smith's skills in managing my calendar and tracking me down with messages.

Have a lovely weekend 

Ann

Staff List

Staff 2023

 We are now settled with our staffing for 2023 in a very competitive employment market. Each year the use of Federal Funding offers more targetted and specific support for learners and teachers and for this we are most grateful.  

Parish Priest                                                               Father Nicholas Maurice 

Principal                                                                       Ann Dawson

Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning  Lisa Dougherty

Assistant Principal  Mission                                Renee Howland 

Coordinator 2- SPORT/Admin                           Martin Dougherty

Administration Manager                                      Susanne Smith

Administration Support                                        Kelly Commerford, Baxter Lee

Early Stage 1                                                               Meghan Haines 

Stage 1                                                                           Rachelle Kelly and   April Ferguson

Stage 2                                                                          Martin Dougherty, Shaina Forde and Rachel Imeson   

Stage 3                                                                          Natasha Hancock, Renee Howland and Alanna Petersen

 Release from Face to Face                                   Pam Hollington 

School Support Worker                                         Ella Mooney

Indigenous Education Worker                          Susan Frazer 

Inclusion Support and Intervention              Amie Cole, Anne Maree Lewis, Amy Imeson, Ella Mooney

                                                                                        Julie Malley, Bronwyn Towner  and Kerrie O’Halloran

Library Manager                                                    Amy Imeson

Grounds and Maintenance                                Peter Smith

All staff can be contacted through yamp@lism.catholic.edu.au or by calling the office and making an appointment. If staff are unavailable they will contact you as soon as possible. At this week's staff meeting we discussed the importance of the relationship with parents and teachers being on the same page, to ensure the best results for all learners (and without a doubt all the research confirms the power of a trusting and engaged team). We look forward to growing this across 2023.  

Planning Days

You may have noticed on the calendar that there are planning days being undertaken by the teaching teams this week. These are invaluable as the staff seek the voice of the children in the planning process and we gather all the team together to build programs which meet the needs of the chidlren in our care. We do not want to teach  "a unit of work from a web site or pick up a unit written for another group of children". Stay tuned and keep an eye out for the field work planned by staff to engage with the community and "take the children beyond the school gates to learn". 

I potentially should have already bought shares in a bus company!

Dogs on site

Please be aware that as an ""enclosed site" dogs are not allowed on site within the playground. We are aware that families walk in with dogs and as such our decision last year was the following.

1. On leash and on the western side of the hall walkway

2. Dogs under control of owners and children of other families NOT allowed to pat or engage with them( even if they are known to the children or families)

3. Any dogs that the school staff feel is unsafe will need to be removed immediately upon request of the staff (staff have a duty of care)

If we can not manage this as a school we will have  a blanket ban on any dogs on the site. NB.

This of course could change if the diocesan regulations are tightened.  

Thank you in anticipation of your support.

School access or drop off before 8:30am

Children must not be dropped off at school prior to 8:20am of a morning. Staff are not working prior to this time even if they are on site.  Supervision begins at 8:30am, which is when staff begin work. If children require supervision prior to this time, the OSHC service is available.

I do understand that it is difficult at times but I find it difficult to watch staff sit in their cars with their own children until this time, while families who wish to get to work drop off early.  I would rather not have to contact families about this but there is a duty of care for children. I respectfully seek your support in ensuring the appropriate and timely arrival of all children.

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

Sport dates 2023

Sacrament Dates 2023

Confirmation- Monday 21st August, St Mary’s Church, Maclean. 

Reconciliation- TBA

First Holy Communion- TBA

RE News

Beginning of School Mass

On Tuesday we celebrated our Beginning of School Mass at St James Catholic Church with Fr Nicolas. This was a special Mass that marked the beginning of another fantastic year at St James School. At the conclusion of the Mass, our Year 6 leaders were presented with their blessed leader badges and our Kindergarten students received a special blessing.

Sacrament Dates

Confirmation- Monday 21st August, St Mary’s Church, Maclean. 

Reconciliation- TBA

First Holy Communion- TBA

The order of Sacraments in the Lismore Diocese is:

Baptism, Confirmation (Year 3), Reconciliation (Year 4), First Eucharist (Year 4)

If you would like your child to receive these Sacraments, please contact Mrs Howland at school. For your child to receive any of these Sacraments they must first be Baptised. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me at school.

Renee Howland

Assistant Principal- Mission

Stage 3 News

On Tuesday, We had our first whole school Mass in celebration of starting the new school year. Our School and Sport Captains were given their badges and the Year 6 leaders were provided with leaderships badges. It was a lovely Mass with each child receiving a blessing.

This week in Stage 3 we have also been given our brand-new buddies. All the Stage 3 students are very excited and can’t wait to see their buddies for the first time next Friday. 

This week our bush playground has been open to Stage 2 and 3 Monday to Friday during recess, this is open to bike riders and for children who would like to just run around, play and explore. 

Last week on Thursday we had our swimming carnival. The Senior girl champion was Sage Edwards and the Senior boy champion was Kydan Jones. The 11yrs girl was Sanne Little and the 11yrs boy was Rashad Rice. The Junior girl was Lola Dougherty and the Junior boy was Clarence Dougherty. Pippi house won 1st place, Turners came in 2nd, and Angourie came in 3rd. The sunny weather was beautiful, and the water temperature was perfect. What a great start to the school year!