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Dear Members of the St James Catholic College Community,
Feast of Saint James
Welcome back to Term 3. I hope that you and your family enjoyed a restful break and have adjusted back into the term-time routine. In particular, I would like to warmly welcome the following new students and their families to our college community: Chalahn (Year 6), Bridie (Year 5) and Olivia (Kinder).
Last week, we celebrated the Feast of St James as a college community and as such, I had the opportunity to reflect on the significance of St James in our present day.
St James was a fisherman from Galilee, and it was after a long day of fishing that Jesus came and called James to follow him. James left his catch and his nets to follow Jesus, becoming his disciple and giving him his lifelong commitment and loyalty.
How is this relevant to us at St James Catholic College in 2019? James was busy on the day Jesus called him. He had priorities related to fishing that did not involve Jesus’ plans. When James got up that morning he did not plan to leave behind his fish and nets to follow Jesus and begin to spread the word of God… but he did. At that moment with Jesus, he made his choice.
We too are busy. We have a lot to remember and to organise each day. We have long days at work and at school, often with extra responsibilities once we get home. For some, hours are spent driving or busing to and from school. We have phones and all manner of devices distracting us with notifications and endless newsfeeds.
With all that happens in a busy school or workday, it is easy to miss the moments when we have the opportunity to make Jesus real in our lives and to live a life where faith, kindness and love are made priorities. Yet, we see it happening daily at St James Catholic College. In the middle of all the complications and to-do-lists, we see examples of faith, kindness and love in action. For example, when students look after their friends, parents offer to donate uniforms to families in need, or when staff deliver pasta bakes to other staff or families having a hard week. These moments are small and could go unnoticed but I think they are part of what makes us worthy of our namesake and patron saint.
I encourage our college community to continue to follow the example of St James by recognising your everyday opportunities to serve others and contribute your God-given gifts to your college and community.
Principal’s Awards
Each year the College celebrates St James Feast Day by awarding two students (one from Year 5 and one from Year 9) with a Principal’s Award. This award is given to a student, who in all aspects of College life, has demonstrated a commitment to their faith and learning, demonstrates a positive and mature attitude, shows their peers and teachers mutual respect, encourages others and is safe in the school environment. These students have tried their best in both academic and non-academic activities and always Let their Light Shine.
Congratulations to Anikah Jones in Year 5 and Madeleine Nicoll in Year 9 who are the worthy recipients of the 2019 St James Feast Day Principal Awards.
Mary MacKillop Feast Day
Invited by Sacred Heart Catholic School Geeveston, the Primary (P - 6) staff and students will be gathering at Sacred Heart to celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Thursday 8 August 2019. Afterwards, primary students and staff from the two schools will be spending the day together participating in a range of activities and sharing lunch. SJCC staff and students will be able to travel to and from school with their usual arrangements on this day. The secondary staff and students will remain at St James and celebrate with a liturgy.
Our College is one of many Colleges founded by the Sisters of St Joseph. Following the Josephite charism is when we acknowledge and try to emulate the devotion and dedication shown by Mary MacKillop to God. At the Penola Centre in South Australia, Mary MacKillop is depicted with the following attributes:
- Deep spirituality and trust in God
- Love of family and regard for friends
- Sense of social justice and compassion
- Belief in consensus and cooperation
- Respect for the dignity of the individual
- Spirit of independence
- Charity to all regardless of religion, race or culture.
We continue to aspire to instill these same attributes at our College. Living and leading by the values of inclusiveness, humility and respect for the dignity of others, demands courage and the willingness to respond to the forces which propose a different way of being.
Aboriginal Garden
Early in 2017, Uncle Rodney Dillon and Tess from SETAC came and met with the St James Aboriginal cultural captains, Ms Lackey, Mr Clark and Ms Cooper to dream up the garden design. During this meeting, it became very clear that Rodney and SETAC wanted this garden to be a flexible display to educate all of our school community about local and national Aboriginal history, culture and traditions.
A group voted on naming this special garden using the language from the Bruny Island and southern tribes. It was named tunapee mabbyle. This means to understand together. This name was announced at the 2017 NAIDOC celebration. This is the aim and purpose of this special place in our school. Together we will all learn about Aboriginal history, culture and traditions.
We then worked with Reuben Oates to dream up a design which had both historical and current relevance in education and ATSI perspectives. The end result was the painted artwork depicting the life cycle and importance of the muttonbird which is a traditional source of food. We had this printed onto a metal wall hanging to ensure its longevity. It is the centrepiece of the wall. Reuben was then free to sell the original.
Primary and secondary students, under the guidance of Mel Lunden, created beautiful clay tiles which depict symbols, patterns and images relevant and important to our local history, environment and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Local ceramicist Ian Clare, has completed the firing and glaze. Many of these clay tiles are now fixed to the wall and we anticipate the remaining tiles to be up in the near future.
Inspired by that first talk with Uncle Rodney Dillon and members of SETAC, we wanted to share the truth of our community context through the Aboriginal garden. We have started to design and order a set of banners that are completely unique to our own local context and longstanding culture and traditions. It seemed fitting to begin with the following banners: the first shows local legend Fanny Cochrane Smith, and the second, St James students and teachers alongside SETAC members as they look for maireener shells on Bruny Island.
God Bless,
Stacey CooperSMS Absence Notifications
The College accepts SMS absentee notifications. Please SMS: 0488 863 246 with your child's name, grade and absent reason. Please save this number in your phone for future reference.
Important: Student Medical / Contact Detail Changes
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If you have supplied medication for your child to the College e.g. EpiPen /inhaler/antihistamine, please consider its expiry or need for replenishment. If your child has a medical action plan please ensure a copy is supplied to the College. Thank you
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Little Lights
Red Cross Pillowcase Project
On Monday, the Red Cross visited SJCC and worked with students in Years 2-6. Year 2 were each given an activity (remove) book to work through activities designed to help them learn the key concepts about what disaster is and how to be prepared. The Year 3-6 students participated in the Pillowcase Project. Students were required to work together in teams to make a shortlist of the items they would take with them in a disaster situation. This activity highlighted the difference between a want and a need. Students then had the opportunity to decorate a pillowcase with the items they may need in an emergency.
The project is designed to create a generation of children who are aware of the importance of personal preparedness. This helps to empower them to take action by practicing how to prepare for emergencies, and understand that by sharing what they have learned with family and friends, they can help create a prepared community.
National Tree Day: Garden Report!
We couldn’t possibly let this occasion pass by on garden class day without celebrating. So, we had a series of special lessons learning about the value of trees, how to plant them and look after them, as well as ideas to help protect them from critters. All garden students worked incredibly well and demonstrated excellent levels of collaboration and communication.
We prepared our areas, planted trees/shrubs and gave the fruit trees some love and nutrients.
Ms Cooper: Garden Teacher
Fun in LOTE!
Workshop Creations!
Pyjama Day!
On the last day of Term 2, the Year 5/6 Mini Vinnies group held a Pyjama Day to gather items of warm clothing which will be donated to St Vincent de Paul to help support the homeless throughout Winter. This was a great success and we received a mountain of items. Thanks to all families who supported this important cause.
Catholic Parish of the Huon Valley Announcements:
Girl Guides Tasmania
Huonville Foreshore Junior Playground Consultation
Huon Valley Council is currently seeking the community’s feedback on the proposed design for the Huonville Foreshore Junior Playground. Please view the consultation HERE and complete the feedback form.