Key Dates

Leadership Team

Sports

Around the College

Important Updates

Key Dates

Key Dates

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Leadership Team

Andrée Rice, Principal

I have been engrossed in the reflections following Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday and have long been an admirer of Pope Francis, as are many of you, I am sure! I was privileged to hear the Pope say Mass at St Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, 2024 because of my friendship with Sr Mel Dwyer, former St James staff member, now on the General Council of the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Rome. Sr Mel managed to get my husband and I ‘golden tickets’ (blue ones actually) to attend this special Mass which ushered in the Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church. Although Pope Francis was frail enough to require a wheelchair, I was struck by his beautiful voice which was surprisingly soft and gentle. If God had a human voice, I think it would sound like Francis.

Like Catholics, and indeed non-Catholics all over the world this week, I mourn the loss of this spiritual giant whose only possessions were his scuffed and worn shoes and a simple Casio wristwatch. As an Edmund Rice school, St James aspires to be liberating, Gospel-oriented, inclusive and in solidarity with the poor. Blessed Edmund Rice, whose feast day we celebrate on May 5, had much in common with Pope Francis, and the reason both men are revered today is that they both showed us how to be Jesus-like forces for goodness and love in the world around us. As we move towards the election on Saturday, my prayer is that Australians will make political choices that also liberate, show solidarity with the disenfranchised and are inclusive of everyone in society.

Congratulations to our Year 12 students on being exceptionally well behaved and beautifully presented at their Formal last week. We hope their retreat experience is spiritually uplifting and a great source of group bonding and memories for life. I also need to thank you, our wonderful families for attending the highly successful Parent Teacher Information Day/Evening on Tuesday. You came out in droves to meet and engage with staff. I received tremendous feedback from those of you I met and I have passed this onto staff. As always, please know that we are here to meet to talk with you about your child’s needs and to problem solve together. Contact details for relevant staff are accessible via Parent Lounge or the College app, and a good generic email to use is school@stjamescollege.qld.edu.au.

I leave you with this image of the shoes of the fisherman, “an image that is worth more than a thousand words” to quote Brother Mark O’Connor fms.

Pope of the People, may you rest in peace. May your example of a spirituality that liberates, that brought the Gospel to life and that drew every single person to the table inspire everyone in the Jimmies community to do likewise.

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Kristina Johnson, Deputy Principal

Welcome back to Term 2. Whilst the Lenten season ends with Easter, the beginning of a new year in the Church calendar is matched to the change of weather in Brisbane. Term 2 is also an exciting time for students as they prepare for our annual Cultural Night, Year 12 Retreat, Year 7 camp, QISSN and QISSRL.

I had the pleasure late last term of visiting schools in Taiwan along with our International Student Coordinator Ms Tamia Song. It was great to be able to see that our pathways and opportunities available to students are similar to those of our international students with a large emphasis on innovation, design, critical thinking, cocurricular, skills and training as well as STEM.

Last Thursday was our Year 12 Formal, held at Rydges at Southbank. As always, the students dazzled, danced and displayed exceptional maturity, cooperation and kindness throughout the evening. Thank you to all the staff who attended and made the night the success it was. A very big thank you to Ms Yolanda Cano for her organisation of the evening - which was a huge job, welcoming the largest cohort of Year 12 students in our recent history. Please view the images from the evening the carousel below. 

Thank you to all of the parents and carers who attended our first Parent Teacher Interviews this week - there was a terrific turn out and great to see so much engagement from staff and carers.

We began this term with an important and relevant Assembly, where we reflected upon the message of ANZAC and how this is relevant in our contemporary, diverse society. Thank you to the staff and students for their organising and participation, particularly Ms Hounein Dawood. The second part of our assembly saw a guest speaker from QLD Rail, who reminded our students of the place they hold in the community that is so important as the next generation. He asked students, and I would like to reinforce his message, of being respectful, both when on the trains and buses and when at the stations. Students are representing their families, school and communities and we encourage all to be role models and proud young people.

Finally, as a reminder, for students who wish to wear jumpers and jackets in the cooler months - these must be the College uniform - No student should be wearing hoodies, jackets or jumpers that are not from the College uniform shop.

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Sport

Track and Field

It's an Exciting Start to St James Track and Field Season!

Our St James Track and Field team kicked off pre-season training on Monday with an awesome turnout of 20 students at the Queensland University Athletics Centre!

Training will be held every Monday afternoon (except on public holidays) right through Terms 2 and 3. Students will also have the chance to compete in the UQ Winter Series Carnivals on Saturday afternoons and the Ipswich Winter Carnival in August — great opportunities to test their skills and have fun!

The team will head to the South Districts Athletics Trials later this year, with top performers moving on to the Met East Trials. From there, the best athletes will travel to Townsville in October for the Queensland Secondary Schools State Championships — an amazing experience!

We’ll also be competing at the Queensland All Schools Championships, where students can aim for a spot in the Queensland team to compete at the Australian All Schools Championships in December in Sydney, to compete against the best students in the country — an opportunity to be seen on 7Plus Sport television channel!

Training is open to students of all year levels. A bus will leave school at 3:00 pm and return by 5:00 pm each Monday.

Darin Coombs

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EREA Football

From Sunday the 13th to Wednesday 16th April our 1st and 2nd XI Football teams participated in the National EREA Football Tournament held at St Joseph’s Nudgee College. Jerseys were presented by former student and player, Godwill Thomas Remijo, one of St James’ most talented alumni.

Day 1 was tough for both teams, with matches against St Paul’s NSW and St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace for the 2nd XI, and St Laurence's College and St Dominic’s College, Penrith for the 1st XI.

The second day had the First XI with a difficult match against Nudgee College, but an exciting match against St Paul’s putting the First XI into the quarter finals. The Second XI also had a successful day with a 1-1 draw against Nudgee College and a 1-0 win against St Laurence’s College.

The final day of the tournament was our day to put St James on the map, with our First XI facing Rostrevor College, Woodforde, and our Second XI taking on Christian Brother's College, Adelaide in their respective divisions. The Second XI put in a gritty, determined performance against a strong CBC Adelaide outfit in their quarter final. Despite the result not falling our way, the boys fought valiantly until the final whistle, displaying resilience and spirit that reflected the very best of our school's sporting culture. Their sportsmanship and composure on the field earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike, and showed just how much pride they took in representing the College.

The First XI’s match was also a thrilling spectacle. After conceding early, the team responded in style, with Simeon McAuliffe levelling the score through a thunderous volley from a corner that lit up the pitch. With the game ending all square, it came down to penalties to decide the winner. Although we had defeated Rostrevor in a shootout just last year, this time the South Australians held their nerve and converted all of their spot-kicks. Rostrevor’s quality was further underscored by their eventual grand final victory over St Laurence’s, 3–2. This is a testament to the high level at which our First XI competed, pushing the tournament champions all the way to penalties.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated coaching staff, helpers, parents and supporters, whose passion, guidance, and expertise and help were instrumental in preparing our teams and taking us deep into the competition and in making the tournament such a memorable and meaningful experience for our students.

Callan Wiseman

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Basketball Program

Jimmie's basketball has had a hectic start to the term playing a number of games against St Bede’s, a visiting team touring from the land of the long white cloud as well as Nudgee college. This marks the start of a game packed term with over 50 games planned. This includes the inaugural Big 6 Basketball Tournament which is a Saturday sport competition between St James College, Sommerset College, Hillcrest Christian College, St Stephen's College, Kings college and Citipointe Christian College. This competition is for both our Junior & Senior Boys and Girls Teams and hopefully will grow basketball into regular Saturday sporting opportunities for our Students. The players have been engaged and are excited to improve and represent our school in true Jimmie's Spirit.

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Rugby League Titans Cup

On Wednesday afternoon, our Junior Girls Rugby League teams competed against Marsden State High School and Yarrabilba State High School in the Titans Cup competition. The afternoon began with our Year 7/8 Girls securing a competitive win, led by the sharp play of Codah Clark and Diamond Kaur. Their footwork, passing, and agility not only set up tries but also saw them cross the line multiple times themselves. Summah Wylie and Aroha Prescott also found success through strong running and a positive attitude, scoring several tries.

Our Year 9/10 Girls showcased the same class that has helped them defeat other well-known Rugby League schools. A dominant 32–0 win over Yarrabilba SHS was built on tough play through the middle and sharp execution on the edges and in broken play. The calm and composed performance of Mikaylah Williams set up scoring opportunities out wide for our centres and wingers. Tylah Orcher consistently worked around the ruck, breaking the line and helping to extend the lead.

Well done to all the girls involved for their outstanding performances and for being excellent representatives of the Jimmies Rugby League Excellence Program.”

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Cycling Club

Are you ready to pedal your way to fun, fitness, and new friendships? Just like our Multi Class Students in the photos! We’re excited to announce the launch of the St James College Cycling Club and we want YOU to be part of this exciting adventure!

When: Every Tuesday afternoon, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Starting: Tuesday, 20th May (subject to sufficient interest)

Where: Nundah Criterium Track

Requirements: Students must be able to ride a bike and be able to follow instructions

What’s involved?
Students will be transported via school bus to and from the Nundah Criterium Track. Under the supervision of a qualified road and track cycling coach, you’ll have the opportunity to improve your cycling skills, enjoy friendly competitions, and have lots of fun!

Equipment:
Bikes and helmets can be provided if you need them, or you’re welcome to bring your own gear. We encourage students to participate regardless of whether they have their own equipment.

How to join:
Interested students should register their interest by signing up at the Sports Office or by emailing James Anderson at janderson@stjamescollege.qld.edu.au.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to get active, learn new skills, and be part of a vibrant cycling community. We look forward to seeing many of you on two wheels!

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CLC Tigers Netball School Showdown 2025

St James College proudly participated in the CLC Tigers Netball School Showdown 2025, showcasing exceptional talent and sportsmanship across four teams: two Opens Boys teams, a Junior Girls team, and a Senior Girls team. The competition was fierce, but our athletes rose to the occasion, achieving remarkable success. The Senior Boys 1, Junior Girls, and Senior Girls teams all clinched gold medals in their respective divisions, with some impressive scorelines that highlighted their skill and teamwork. A special shoutout goes to Kesarnee Leigh Matthew, who was named Player of the Tournament in the Junior Girls Division for her outstanding performances. This event not only showcased our athletes' dedication but also highlighted the spirit of St James College. Congratulations to all of our players for their hard work and commitment! We look forward to more exciting competitions ahead.

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Interschool Sport Results

In Last Week’s interschool sports competition, St James College faced off against Rochedale State High School. Students continued on from last term, competing in futsal, volleyball, basketball, and touch. There were highly competitive games all around across the afternoon, with St James coming out on top with an aggregate score of 9-8 in all games played. Our Girls teams were a standout on the day with all but 1 of our teams coming out victorious. Our Boys teams were also extremely competitive throughout their matches, only going down on few occasions to narrow defeats. Overall, it was a fantastic day filled with sportsmanship, camaraderie, and excellent results for St James.

Additionally, a reminder for all students: please wear your sport uniform to school on Tuesdays and change into your playing shirts at first break. This helps us maintain a unified team appearance and fosters school pride.

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Tuesday Sporting Superstars

Boys Volleyball (year 8): Erving Anitema
Boys Volleyball (year 9): TJ Koia
Girls Volleyball (year 8): Jineis Tautogi
Girls Basketball (Year 7): Ayva Semeatu Touch Boys (year 9): Jovilisi Tora
Touch Girls (year 8): Kesarnee Matthew
Touch Girls (year 9): Kailee Upkett
Futsal Girls (year 7): Tessa Brittain
Futsal Boys (year 7): Jin Kim
Futsal boys (year 9): Jordan Lukabika
Futsal girls (year 9): Dorcas Mulumeoderwa

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School Sport Representatives

School Sport Representatives for Met East:

Tylah Orcher
Ramazani Kafule

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Mount Gravatt District (10 – 12 years) Trials

Girls & Boys Touch 6th May

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Upcoming Sport Events

8th May South District Cross Country
6th May Girls Football Q-League Gala Day
10th May Big 6 Basketball Competition (every Saturday until 14th June)

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Around the College

Design and Technology

A Taste of Construction!

This term, our Year 10 Design and Technology students got a hands-on preview of what to expect if they choose to pursue the Construction Certificate next year. As part of their project, they designed and built a handy table, developing a range of valuable skills along the way — including the use of hand and machine tools, tiling, painting, and design techniques. The students worked hard and were all very proud of the high-quality results they achieved. Well done to all involved!

Aaron Williams

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Kokoda Update

Reservoir. This hike is one of our steepest so far, reaching an elevation of 514 meters! Unfortunately, due to the recent rain, we encountered a creek crossing that forced us to turn back. Despite this, our small but mighty group had a great training session!

Back at school, students, parents and teachers attended an informative workshop about foot care and nutrition for training and the Kokoda Challenge. Thank you to RHP Physio for your advice and to Ms Natalie Khan, our College Registered Nurse for her informative talk on nutrition.

Please keep an eye out for our next Paint n Sip Fundraising Evening! More information coming soon.

Sarah Mouritz and David Tan

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Year 10 Trade Taster Program

The Trade Taster Programs offer Year 10 students the opportunity to explore a variety of trades while completing their secondary education. With some students starting in Term 2 and others in Term 3, the program provides flexibility to suit individual school schedules.

Running one day per week for up to nine weeks, the fully funded program offers hands-on experience in areas such as automotive, engineering, plumbing, carpentry, electrical, furniture making, and finishing trades. Students gain valuable skills through structured modules, helping inform future career or study decisions, including pathways into TAFE or further vocational learning.

The program complements academic studies and includes the White Safety Card to ensure workplace safety awareness.

Harrison Bigwood, Oscar Potter, Ronan Dunne, Ryan Connors, and Noah Roney, shown in the additional photo, are among the students currently engaged in the Trade Taster Programs. Jack Stretton and Abdi-Wadud Mohammed Ibrahim are also participating in the program but were unfortunately unavailable at the time the photo was taken.

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Department Updates

Fees

Please be advised that Term 2 fees will be emailed out late this week - if you don’t receive an email from us by the weekend, please check your Junk or Spam email folder, otherwise all statements will be accessible via logging in to Parent Lounge.

For those families on fees concessions or regular payment plans, please just continue your regular payments as arranged.

If you are experiencing financial hardship and would like to apply for a fees concession, please contact us for a confidential discussion and application.

2025 Tuition Fees information can be found on our website here: https://www.stjamescollege.qld...

Should you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at finance@stjamescollege.qld.edu.au or 3230 8600.

Genevieve O'Sullivan

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