Newsletter 12 March 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for Ash Wednesday Mass last week. It was a lovely beginning to our Lenten Season. Loren Bertoncello and I recently attended a meeting where Bishop Greg stressed the importance of Easter as the most significant season in the Christian tradition as we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by God, through his son Jesus Christ. We will commemorate Holy Week at Prayers and Picnics on March 31 at 3.30. Families and extended family are invited to bring along some afternoon tea and a picnic rug.
April 4 marks our whole school cross country event. We need a lot of parent helpers for this event to run safely and smoothly. Please complete the google form sent to you earlier today if you are able to help out.
We also need helpers for Walk to School Day next Friday March 21. Families meet at the Nar Nar Goon Hotel and walk in groups up to school. If you are able to help out please contact the office. We would aim to leave the Hotel by 8.20am. Harmony Day Mass will follow at 9.30am. A reminder to wear a splash of orange.
While we are focused on building students' resilience, we ask that toys do not come to school as we have very disappointed students when their belongings are lost, especially if they are very loved toys. We thank you in advance for your support in this manner.
Save the date: Friday July 25 St James Golden Jubilee Feast Day. Mass at 11am. Further details to follow.
Have a great week, Bec
Upcoming events
| Friday | 14/03/2025 | Parents and Friends Committee Meeting (2pm) |
| Friday | 21/03/2025 | Harmony Day (students to wear a splash of orange) Whole School Mass (no morning tea) |
| Monday | 31/03/2025 | School Photos Prayers and Picnics (3.30pm - 4.30pm) |
| Friday | 04/04/2025 | Whole School Cross Country Event Last Day of Term 1 |
Deputy Principal Message
NCCD and supporting students with disability
The NCCD is an annual initiative that gathers information about students with disabilities across Australian schools. It helps schools, education authorities, and governments better understand the unique needs of these students and how to provide effective support in the classroom.
As part of this process, schools hold Parent Support Group (PSG) meetings throughout the year. PSGs ensure that individual learning goals are developed collaboratively, involving the student’s carers and specialists. These goals aim to assist students who require additional support to fully engage with the curriculum.
Over the next few weeks, St James will be conducting PSG meetings with teachers and families to discuss learning goals for 2025. I would like to express my gratitude to the staff who work hard to develop these learning plans and to the families who make time to attend these important meetings.
RE News
Project Compassion Lenten Prayer
God of our journey
we are all pilgrims of hope
brought together by your love
and your wish that we may all be one.
We pray that in this Year of Jubilee
when we are called to greater justice
and care for our common home
that we may Unite Against Poverty.
May we work in unity for the freedom of the oppressed
and the renewal of creation.
May our compassionate minds and generous hearts
help bring about a world where all can live in peace.
May our Lenten pilgrimage of fasting, almsgiving and prayer
bring us closer to your loving heart.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen
First Week of Lent
(Week beginning Monday 10 March)
This Lent, we’re invited to Unite Against Poverty with Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. This year is especially significant as we celebrate the Jubilee Year - a time of renewal and solidarity.
Project Compassion 2025 shares three stories from around the world. We’ll meet Toefuata'iga - (Toy-foo-ah-tah-ing-ah) a young student from Samoa who faced severe water shortages at her school. Thanks to Caritas Australia and the generosity of supporters like you, her school now has a 10,000 L water tank improving hygiene and allowing the teachers to prioritise education.
We’ll get to know Lam from Vietnam, born with short stature, Lam faced social exclusion and limited employment opportunities – through the I-SHINE program, Lam is now a freelance graphic designer.
And we’ll meet Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who faced immense challenges after losing her father to war and raising her children in poverty. With support from Caritas Australia, Irene received vocational training in sewing and farming and can now support her whole family.
Watch our Introduction to Project Compassion film HERE - be inspired by 3 powerful stories of resilience and strength, and learn the impact that your support can have on vulnerable communities around the world.
Our school fundraiser: Students will have now bought home their Project Compassion boxes. We ask students to collect as many coins as they can to contribute to their class coin line and the class with the longest coin line will win a hot chip lunch at the end of Term. We look forward to working together as a school community to support those in need and will continue to share Project Compassion updates in the coming weeks.
Sacrament Dates 2025
Sacrament of First Communion
| Date | Place | Time |
| Saturday 29 March 2025 | St James Nar Nar Goon | 5.00pm |
| Sunday 30 March 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 9.30am |
| Sunday 30 March 2025 | St Joseph's Iona | 11.00am |
Sacrament of Confirmation
Commitment Mass
| Date | Place | Time |
| Saturday 3 May 2025 | St James Nar Nar Goon | 5.00pm |
| Sunday 4 May 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 9.30am |
| Sunday 4 May 2025 | St Joseph's Iona | 11.00am |
Parent/Child Workshop
| Date | Place | Time |
| Wednesday 14 May 2025 | Columba PS Bunyip | 5.30pm |
| Thursday 15 May 2025 | St John's PS Koo Wee Rup | 5.30pm |
Sacrament of Confirmation
| Date | Place | Time |
| Wednesday 4 June 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 5.00pm |
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Commitment Mass
| Date | Place | Time |
| Saturday 18 October 2025 | St James Nar Nar Goon | 5.00pm |
| Sunday 19 October 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 9.30am |
| Sunday 19 October 2025 | St Joseph's Iona | 11.00am |
Parent/Child Workshop
| Date | Place | Time |
| Wednesday 29 October 2025 | St James PS Nar Nar Goon | 5.30pm |
| Thursday 30 October 2025 | St John's PS Koo Wee Rup | 5.30pm |
Sacrament of Confirmation
| Date | Place | Time |
| Thursday 13 November 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 5.30pm |
Pakenham Show - Saturday 15 March
Wellbeing Leader
School Photos
School Photo Day is on Monday 31 March 2025.
Scholastic Book Club
Issue 2 orders will close on 24 March 2025.
Please note all orders must be completed online through the LOOP ordering service.
St James Parents & Friends Committe
Important Information
Both the PAM and Schoolzine Calendars have been updated with new information.
To access the Schoolzine calendar through the app you will be prompted to enter a password - James4011
This year St James will be using two main platforms of communication with our families - PAM and Schoolzine.
To ensure that you keep up to date with what is happening with your children and within the school please ensure that you have access to these platforms and are familiar with their uses.
If you require assistance with accessing or setting up these platforms, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
From time to time it will also be necessary for emails and text messages to be sent.
Schoolzine App Installation Instructions:
This is an app that you have on your phone and allows for easy reading of the newsletter, as it customises to the screen and translates into many languages if required.
Please click the link below for the instructions on installing the app on your phone.
https://www.schoolzine.com/
As part of the installation, you will be required to enter the following 4 digit passcode -
3675
Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions or queries.
Accessing PAM Instructions:
Please use the below link to access your PAM account.
https://pam.stjamesnng.catholic.edu.au
The user name is the email you have provided to the school and if you have not logged on previously, you will be able to set a password.
If you require your password to be reset, please contact the school office.