College News - 16 May 2025 | St James College

College Newsletter, Term 2, Week 4, 16 May 2025

Newsletter, • Friday, 16 May 2025

St James College Newsletter - Term 2 Week 4

Key Dates

May

19: Enrolment Information Evening
21–23: Yr 11 Outdoor Education Camp
26–28: Yr 7 Camp
26: National Sorry Day
27: National Reconciliation Week (to 3rd June)
29: Yr 7 and 10 Immunisations
30: Cultural Night

June

3: College Photos
5–6: Yr 9 Retreat
11–13: Yr 12 Outdoor Education Camp
12: St James College Open Day
16: P&F Meeting
19: Jimmies Kokoda Fundraiser – Cook It Spanish Style
20: St James Taster Day
24: Yr 11 Semi Formal
24: Last Day Term 2

Leadership Team

Deputy Principal – Kristina Johnson

Building Connection, Celebrating Values, and Looking Ahead

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we move further into the term, there’s a real sense of energy and purpose throughout our College. From meaningful experiences for our youngest students to inspiring achievements by our staff and seniors, there is much to celebrate and share this week.

✨ Year 7 Retreat and Spirit Days: Building Belonging
Our Year 7 students recently participated in their Retreat and Spirit Days—an enriching and well-attended experience that gave them the chance to connect more deeply with each other and with themselves. These days provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on their journey so far—transitioning into secondary school—and to consider the path ahead. Through group activities, personal reflection, and shared conversations, students built friendships and strengthened their sense of belonging within the College community.

🙏 Celebrating the Feast Day of Edmund Rice
We also came together as a school community to celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers. Edmund Rice’s vision and values are at the heart of our College’s mission. We continue to strive to live out the Touchstones of Edmund Rice Education Australia—Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, and Justice and Solidarity. This celebration was both a spiritual moment and a reaffirmation of the values we hold dear.

👩‍🏫 Staff Excellence: Ariel Chen at HALT Conference
We are incredibly proud of Ms Ariel Chen, one of our Highly Accomplished Teachers, who recently attended the National HALT Conference in Canberra. Ms Chen continues to bring fresh, evidence-based approaches into our classrooms, helping to ensure that student learning and wellbeing are both nurtured and strengthened. Her work enriches our entire school community and we are fortunate to benefit from her expertise and commitment.

🍽️ Year 9 Hospitality: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Our Year 9 Hospitality students recently had the opportunity to visit Northey Street City Farm in Windsor—a vibrant community garden grounded in permaculture principles. Students engaged with sustainable farming practices and saw first-hand how food systems can be ethical, local, and community-driven. The excursion was not only educational but also deeply inspiring for those considering future pathways in food, health, and hospitality.

🗒️ Important Update: Student Absence Notifications
A reminder that from next week, the College will be updating its process for notifying student absences. Parents and carers will now be required to log into Parent Lounge to inform the school of any absences or planned appointments.
Additionally, if your child needs to leave the College during the school day, we kindly ask that this is entered via Parent Lounge by 9:00am on the day of the appointment.

Detailed instructions for using the Parent Lounge system are available below.

Please Click Here

☔️ Wishing You a Restful Weekend
Finally, as the rain continues to fall across Brisbane, we hope you and your families are able to enjoy a peaceful weekend, find time to recharge, and stay dry!

Assistant Principal – Learning, Innovation, Partnerships & Pathways – Karen Lindsey

"Teaching 4 Thinking" Action Research Partnership with UQ
Four St James teachers are embarking on an action research project with UQ Researcher, Ms Yael Lebovitch. The team has completed a Foundational Workshop in Critical Thinking. The focus is on building students' collaborative and critical thinking skills by increasing student agency and visibility in their thinking. We are impressed by the enthusiasm of our four volunteer expert staff involved.

Around the College

Unveiling the St James College Excellence Program - Tahnae Hunter

Empowering Excellence Across Sport, Art, Music, Culture, and Academics

“Turn Up, Step Up, Never Give Up”

We are excited to announce the official launch of the St James College Excellence Program, a transformative initiative designed to nurture and develop the talents of our students across academics, sport, the arts, music, and culture.

The Excellence Program is built on three pillars that reflect the core values of our school and the qualities essential for success in school and beyond:

✅ Attitude — a positive mindset, resilience, and leadership
✅ Attendance — reliability, commitment, and consistent participation
✅ Application — dedication to growth, achievement, and continuous improvement

The program is structured around two pathways:
Aspire Program — open to all students, providing access to guest speakers, workshops, and activities to inspire participation and highlight the benefits of excellence. Updates on Aspire opportunities will be shared via Student Café daily notices and email.

Achieve Program — reserved for students who demonstrate excellence and commitment, offering specialised mentoring, leadership programs, exclusive incursions, excursions, camps, and access to professional networks.

Students may join through consistent performance, teacher or coach nomination, or a reviewed application process. Importantly, this program is invitational, and students can choose whether to accept.

By providing tailored mentoring, meaningful opportunities, and leadership development, the Excellence Program aims to build critical life skills like resilience, communication, and problem-solving. It also plays a key role in strengthening our school culture, embedding high expectations and celebrating achievement in all its forms.

We are proud to already have inspiring students identified across creative industries, sport, and academics, and we look forward to sharing their stories as the program unfolds.

If you would like to learn more about the Excellence Program, please visit the Excellence Hub - Santiago Building Reception - or contact Mr Tahnae Hunter, Excellence Development Mentor - thunter@stjamescollege.qld.edu.au.

Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Darin Coombs

Students Prepare for Camp with Trangia Training at Jimmies on the Dam

On Friday, our Year 10 students enrolled in the Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation headed out to Jimmies on the Dam for a hands-on learning experience in preparation for their upcoming Term 3 camp.

The focus of the day was all about mastering the safe and effective use of a Trangia — the lightweight camping stove system they’ll be using while out in the field later this year. Students were guided through every step of the process: from assembling and lighting the stove safely, to cleaning it properly, and packing it away in a way that ensures it’s ready for next time.

To put their new skills to the test, students also cooked their own lunch using the Trangias. It was a valuable opportunity to get comfortable with the equipment in a controlled environment, helping them build both confidence and competence for future outdoor expeditions.

This excursion is a vital part of their course requirements and builds practical skills they’ll use throughout the Certificate and beyond. Well done to all students for embracing the challenge and showing responsibility and teamwork throughout the day.

We look forward to seeing these skills in action on their Term 3 camp adventure!

Year 11–12 Visual Art in Practice (VAP) - Berenice Anzellotti

Our Year 11 and 12 VAP students have launched into their individual projects for the term with enthusiasm and creativity. Each student has developed a unique concept, supported by working drawings and visual documentation in their art journals. Their research draws from a wide range of sources and inspirations, resulting in diverse and exciting concepts across mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture.

We’re looking forward to seeing their progress as their ideas take shape and evolve over the coming weeks.

Pirlirrpa Education Program - Erin Shetty

This term, the Pirlirrpa Education Program is excited to continue our much-loved Adventure Days, with a special focus on careers and future pathways. These regular incursions and excursions are designed to inspire and equip our students through real-world learning experiences centred on themes of formation, careers, and service.

This term, students are geared up to explore opportunities in business, technology, and the arts with visits to VEND Marketplace, Visible Ink Artspace, Technology One, and QUT. Each visit is designed to offer a hands-on glimpse into different industries and the many ways young people can carve out meaningful careers.

This week, our students visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to learn about animal care and forestry. With many students in the program studying either a Certificate II in Animal Care or a Certificate II in Volunteering this excursion highlighted the many rewarding careers available in this sector but was also a lovely opportunity for our class of animal loves to get up close and personal with all the creatures in the sanctuary.

Adventure Days continue to be a highlight of the Pirlirrpa calendar, helping students connect their passions to real-world possibilities.

Arts and Cultural Inclusivity - Tia Jordan

Rehearsals for Cultural Night are underway. It’s been moving to see the commitment and leadership shown — not only by our Māori cast student leaders, but by each student involved.

A heartfelt thanks to Daisy Nakao’s whānau: Corina, Gino, Aspen (former St James student), and cousin Te Aumairangi who brings deep mātauranga/Māori knowledge, and kapa haka/Māori performing arts expertise from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Observing kaupapa Māori/Māori methodology there is a lot of love and laughter in our rehearsals, and each session closes with karakia/prayer.

We have a lot of work ahead, but the students’ focus, generosity, and willingness to support one another — right down to resetting classrooms chairs and tables — has been outstanding.

Choir

Congratulations to Our New Choir Captains!

We are proud to acknowledge Immaculate and Marina, who were awarded their Choir Captain badges during choir last Wednesday. Both students have shown outstanding dedication, leadership, and passion for music, and we look forward to the positive energy and support they will bring to our choir this year. Well done, Immaculate and Marina! All students are warmly invited to join us for choir every Wednesday after school from 3:00–4:00pm in the Realta Theatre—no experience necessary, just a love of singing!

Learning Enhancement - Helen Cadwallader

I am thrilled to share some exciting news with our school community! We have a fantastic new Learning Enhancement team member. David Tan has joined us as a Learning Enhancement Teacher for Year 5 and 6 students, staff and families.

Please join me in welcoming our new Learning Enhancement teacher, David Tan. He brings a wealth of experience from his 10 years at St James College, where he served as Long House Dean and taught various subjects across Junior, Middle, and Senior levels. David's passion for education and dedication to cultivating a supportive learning environment will be a tremendous asset to our team, school and especially for our Year 5 and 6 community.

Please extend a warm welcome as David embarks on this new adventure with the Learning Enhancement Department. I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful contributions David will make and the positive influence he will have on our students' educational experience.

Year 9 Rite Journey - Catalynne McAllister

Fortnightly, on Friday during Session 4, our Year 9 Rite Journey Girls step out of the classroom and into the open space of Bedford Park for a class picnic—an intentional and meaningful part of our program. These afternoons are more than just time outdoors; they’re a chance for us to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with one another in a different way.

Gathered under the trees, we focus on building a sense of formation—not just as a class, but as a group of young women learning to navigate the world with courage, compassion, and authenticity. We step out of our comfort zones, share stories, offer support, and begin to understand what it means to really look out for each other. There is something deeply powerful in sitting in nature, sharing food, laughter, and sometimes even silence, and recognising the strength that comes from community.

In these simple but rich moments, we’re reminded that growth doesn’t always happen in grand gestures—it often blooms in shared experiences, thoughtful conversations, and the quiet beauty of being seen and supported by those around us.

Year 10s Begin SET Plan Journey - Tony Ninasivinche

Our Year 10 students have officially started their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan process, kicking off with their first session on Wednesday 7 May. Each student has been assigned a dedicated SET Plan Mentor—Corrie, Suzanne, Michael, Tate, Anthony, Tony, Megan, or Breanna—who will guide them through planning their senior school and post-school pathways.

We were also joined by three of our 2024 Year 12 students—Latifa, Amanda, and Kasi—who generously shared their experiences and supported Year 10s in thinking about future options. Students have received an Explore Your Future booklet to support career conversations at home. Two more sessions will run this term, and the process will continue into Term 3 to prepare students for subject selection.

School-Based Traineeships at St James College - Esther Silao

The St James school-based traineeship program gives Year 11 students the chance to gain real-world experience while continuing their studies. Since March, we’ve been working one day a week in professional environments while completing our Certificate III in Business.

We’ve been placed in areas like I.T., Sports, Administration, and the Café/Tuckshop, where we develop practical skills, explore career options, and learn workplace responsibilities. I’m proud to be part of this year’s group, alongside Emma Corbett, Hayden Moore, Cooper Lofts, Khalid Ali Idrisa, Imran Imran, Tim Corney, Elizabeth Francis, and Layla Erwin.

As an administration trainee, I’ve helped with writing College news articles, preparing documents, and supporting office tasks. It’s given me confidence and shown me how school learning applies to real-life work. Other trainees are gaining skills in event support, hospitality, and tech assistance. I’m especially looking forward to some exciting upcoming events like the Careers Expo and assisting with phone calls to students about their career pathways—opportunities that will further develop my confidence and communication skills.

My fellow trainee Tim Corney summed it up well “It’s a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experience, work toward a qualification, and earn an income all at once.”

Emma Corbett also reflected, “Being a school-based trainee has helped me to balance my time effectively and gain practical work experience.” This program has been a rewarding step toward our futures, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

Kokoda Update

Kokoda Team Takes on Mermaid Mountain!

On Saturday, a group of dedicated students and teachers completed a 16 km hike at Mermaid Mountain as part of their Kokoda Challenge training. Despite some rain along the way, the team kept spirits high. It was a challenging trek, as our training progresses, our hikes are getting longer and steeper, but everyone showed great determination and teamwork. This was another strong step in their Kokoda preparation. Well done to all involved!

Middle Years

Women in Engineering Explore Day at UQ (Dr Maggy Lord partnership) - Tim Spina

As part of our partnership with Dr Maggy Lord from the University of Queensland, we took a group of young women across to the university to participate in the Women in Engineering Explore Day. Our students were able to see the diverse learning opportunities the university has to offer, as well as participate in some STEM workshops. Students also participated in a panel discussion, walking tour of the STEM areas, and connected with student leaders and faculty staff. By all accounts the students enjoyed the day and are looking forward to the next activity in our engagement with our partnership.

Year 7 Camp - Tim Spina

The Year 7 students will enjoy their school camp experience during week 6 of this term at Luther Heights Youth Camp Coolum Beach. The camp experience forms an important part of the formation of the cohort and developing their team-work skills together.

When: Monday 26 May to Wednesday 28 May
Departing from St James College at 9am
Returning Wednesday 28 May at 2:30pm

Middle School Assessment - Tim Spina

Importance of Assessments:
Crucial part of learning journey

Provide valuable feedback and identify areas for improvement

Important to take them seriously and prepare in advance

Preparation Tips:
✅ Start revising class material daily
✅ Review notes and understand key concepts
✅ Helps build confidence and readiness

Assessment Schedule:
✅ Keep track of dates and times for each assessment
✅ Mark them in your planner or calendar
✅ Plan study time accordingly

Communication:
✅ Reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns
✅ Teachers are there to help and provide guidance

Sport

South District Sport Trials

Congratulations to the Year 7 Girls Basketball, Year 8 Girls Basketball, Year 8 Girls Touch and Year 9 Girls Touch teams who were all crowned South District champions this week!

St James Interschool Sport Results – 6th May

Successful Competitions: Year 7-9 Volleyball, Basketball, and Touch Teams competed against Cavendish Road State High School, securing victories in all but two matches. Junior Girls Basketball teams remained undefeated.

Futsal Highlights: Year 7 Boys dominated with a 12-3 win, while Girls faced tough opposition from Citipointe Christian College and Rochedale State High School.

Uniform Reminder: Students should wear their sports uniform on Tuesdays and change into playing shirts at first break.

Sporting Superstars:
Boys Basketball (Year 7): Raheem Elshafie
Touch Girls (Year 8 & 9): Kesarnee Matthew, Ananya Dargin Clark
Futsal Girls (Year 7 & 9): Maria Rafik, Pritika Neelarmstrong, Mobina Hosseini
Futsal Boys (Year 7): Sane Sheokand

St James Interschool Sport Results – 13th May

Championship Wins: Year 7, 8, and 9 Girls Basketball teams secured divisional championships, alongside Year 8 Girls Touch Team.

QLD & Met East Representatives:
QLD: Deng Joseph, Jayden Newell, Marcus Donaldson
Met East: Ayva Semeatu

Sporting Superstars:
Zenon Wouters: Competed in the Flying Kiwi Cup, showcasing strength in bench pressing (27.5kg).
Oliver Hutchison: Won Gold in Queensland All Schools Cross Country Championships (3000m in 12:44) and placed 4th in Australian Para Championships.

Football Queensland Girls Q-League Gala Day

Junior and Senior Girls Football teams played determinedly, both matches ending in a well-earned draw.