Newsletter 23 July 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
Welcome back to Term 3! We also warmly welcome Mrs Danielle Coulson and Mrs Zafia Bano.
We are excitedly preparing for our Feast Day celebrations this coming Friday. I draw your attention to the following arrangements:
Parking- please park in the front paddock. We will have some reserved parking at the front of the Church, including additional disabled parking at the front of the Church.
Mass- Bishop Greg will be leading us in our Feast Day Mass at 11am. Students will be sitting with their class groups, there will also be reserved seating for some guests. We ask that no beverages are taken to the Mass.
Shared lunch- we are very fortunate to have DS Sports cooking a bbq lunch for students. Parents are welcome to join students and staff for a BBQ lunch. Due to the high volume of people utilising this area, we are asking students to remain outside at the BBQ. Parents, please note that we are not permitting students in the staffroom on Friday.
Other events on Friday-
- The hall will be open for you to visit the 50 year commemorative display
- Classrooms will be open to visit
- Planting of commemorative Olive Tree gifted to the school by the P&F
- Cutting of our birthday cake
- We anticipate that we will conclude a little after 1.15pm
Time capsule-
We will be creating a new time capsule at a later date in Term 4 at an after school event, please keep an eye out for this invitation.
Uniform update-
We are noticing that many students are wearing variations of uniform. Please ensure students are in their full winter uniform, including correct socks and jumpers. No hoodies should be worn. Beanies are to be worn outside only. Next Wednesday a group of parents will be meeting at Beleza to review our current uniform.
We look forward to celebrating our past 50 years while looking forward to the rich future of St James.
Kind regards, Bec Kollaris
Upcoming events
| Friday 25/07 | St James 50th Celebrations |
| Friday 01/08 | Winter Sport - St James vs St John's |
| Monday 04/08 | Year 3 and 4 Long Day Excursion - Camp Manyung |
| Thursday 07/08 | School Disco 4.30pm - 6.30pm |
| Friday 08/08 | Pyjama and Movie Day Winter Sport - BYE |
From the Deputy Principal
Dear Families,
As we reflect on this year’s NAPLAN assessments, we want to sincerely thank and acknowledge our students for the focus, effort, and resilience they demonstrated throughout the testing period.
We are proud of the way our students approached each assessment with a positive mindset and a commitment to doing their best. NAPLAN provides just one snapshot of your child’s learning, and we are pleased to see the progress and growth reflected in the results.
NAPLAN results have now been distributed, and we encourage families to view them as one part of a broader picture of your child’s learning. These results help inform our teaching and support us in ensuring every student continues to grow.
Thank you for your continued support at home in helping your child feel confident, prepared, and proud of their learning journey.
Kind regards, Kathy Zandona
RE News
Explore Your Faith Journey. Join RCIA.
Are you curious about the Catholic faith? Do you feel a calling to deepen your spiritual life, or perhaps discover what it means to be part of our Catholic community?
Our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program is a welcoming journey for adults exploring the Catholic Church. Whether you are unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or a Catholic seeking to complete your Sacraments of Initiation (Eucharist and Confirmation), RCIA offers a supportive environment to learn, ask questions, and grow in faith.
Discover God's love and discern your path with us.
For more information, please contact Fr Avinash or Loren Bertoncello
Thank you for being part of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion in 2025. St James' Primary School - Nar Nar Goon has made an extraordinary impact. This Lent, together with hundreds of Catholic schools across the country, Project Compassion raised an incredible $10 million to support vulnerable communities around the world.
As a token of our deep appreciation, please find attached a Certificate of Appreciation for St James' Primary School - Nar Nar Goon’s amazing contributions. We hope it serves as a reminder of the impact your school community made through Project Compassion.
Sacrament Dates 2025
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 Reconciliation
| Date | Place | Time |
| Thursday 13 November 2025 | St John's Koo Wee Rup | 5.30pm |
Wellbeing Leader
The Resilience Project - Parent Hub & TRP@Home
TRP@Home - Scan the QR code below to access
Parents & Friends News
The parents and friends committee require some parent helpers on the night. If you are able to assist, please complete the below link:
Winter Sport
As our Year 4 - 6 Winter Sport rounds are approaching we are putting a call out to our parent community for Football and Netball umpires and scorers each week. All volunteers will be required to have provided their WWC to the school office. If you are able to assist, even for 1 week, please complete the attached link.
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 -
4011
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.
DS Sports
From the Community
Sibling Relationships -
Sibling relationships are often a child's first and longest-lasting social connection. These bonds can offer companionship, support and opportunities to develop important life skills such as empathy, negotiation and conflict resolution. However, like all close relationships, sibling dynamics can be complex. Differences in temperament, age, needs and parental attention can all contribute to tension or rivalry. It's not uncommon for children to compete for attention, especially during times of change or stress.
As a parent or caregiver, your role in shaping the tone of sibling relationships is vital. Creating a home environment that celebrates each child's unique strengths and avoids direct comparisons helps reduce rivalry and fosters mutual respect.
By listening without judgement, teaching emotional regulation, and supporting each child's individuality, you can create a family culture where siblings feel secure and valued. This edition of SchoolTV offers insights to support young people in developing positive, lasting sibling bonds that can remain strong well into adulthood.
