FROM THE PRINCIPAL
As I sit at home reflecting on the randomness of COVID-19 and the different ways it affects us all, many out there in our community have experienced the same feelings. Paul Keating infamously once said ‘this was the recession we needed to have’. This seems to have parallels with the current feeling in Western Australia and the need to re-join the world.
Business must resume, economies must restart, supply chains must begin turning again, and unfortunately, we will all be exposed to COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. We are in the new normal.
As a school, we are now in the rhythm of student and staff absences, events going ahead with modified arrangements and a steady stream of messaging to keep everyone informed. This new normal has taken some adjustment, but I am proud to say that the support from our community has been very reassuring. The iconic line, ‘we are all in this together’, rings true at St James’.
This week we have held the Year 10 Careers Discovery week, last week the Senior School Movie Night with more than 280 students in attendance, more recently the Interschool Cross Country Carnivals and Volleyball competitions, just to name a few.
Junior School assemblies have returned with parents in attendance, class performances returning, and the all-important Starboard Awards. Life is going on.
Please be patient with your children over this time as they are living in conditions that have never been experienced in the West before. Be supportive of the upcoming reports, results which may reflect missed periods of work, and students who are more hyper-sensitive than usual. Their entire future will not be defined by this awkward period. The rhythm of Term 3 and 4 should help restore some balance.
Let us all look forward to a time when COVID-19 may blend into the background of all other illnesses and we can focus on other pivotal issues, such as sustainability, homelessness and maximising our positive impact on society. The Orange Army has its eyes firmly on the road ahead, with all of our members standing side by side!
Mr Adrian Pree | Principal
FROM THE CHAPLAIN
Whether you can believe it or not, we are halfway through the school year. I know they say time seems to go quickly when you get older, but this is ridiculous.
It is amazing what we have achieved looking back. Seeing and watching the skills the teachers have in preparing the students for exams, assessments, sporting events and so much more. This is on top of helping those who have been away to catch up.
This is all about the journey we are on. Some have been here since the beginning of our School and others joined along the way. It is not about the when or the who. It is about the ‘why’. Why did I come here? What can I offer to improve not only the students’ learning and growth but the other members of staff? Along with the school community as a whole, not forgetting myself.
This is where a verse from Exodus resonates, "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so they could travel by day or night.” Exodus 13:21
As we are guided by God’s teachings and his Spirit, we can sometimes feel lost and in a fog. The pillar of cloud is good on a clear day, so we know the direction we should and need to go. Unfortunately, if the weather is bad, we might stop looking and turn the wrong way. As to the pillar of fire at night, that is when we have a good torch or spotlight guiding and keeping us safe. The other side to this is our brains may be so wound up with different ideas, thoughts and worries we cannot switch off and get some rest.
It is all about the journey. So, as we continue into the new semester, let’s not forget to keep helping and encouraging each other. A journey is not only about the destination, but also about the people we meet and the things we do. Remembering, that it is the smile, the friendly word and companionship that keeps us travelling along.
"The journey is never-ending. There's always gonna be growth, improvement, adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what's right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment." Antonio Brown.
Reverend John Taylor | School Chaplain
FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
A Window into the Senior School
We recently had the pleasure of inviting parents of Year 6 students to spend the morning with us in the Senior School. The morning began with presentations from key staff, including the Head of Year for 2023, Mrs Sue Bradley, the current Head of Year 7, Mrs Stacey Syme and myself, followed by a tour of the Senior School learning spaces. Some areas were familiar to the parents, like Music, Art and the Djinda Sports Centre, while many other areas were new. These included Metalwork, Woodwork, Food Technology and Marine Studies. We finished the tour with morning tea at the Deja Brew Café, hosted by the Year 11/12 Hospitality Certificate IV class, which gave our parents the opportunity to catch-up over delicious coffee and cakes.
Parents saw for themselves the amazing engagement of students in classes and the close relationship they have with their teachers. It is true that St James’ is a sanctuary where all students come to work, learn, socialise and develop as people. It is a place where we respect one another and genuinely care for one another. As our School Council Chairman Mr Tony Stopher often says – it is hard to put into words, but the ‘vibe’ is strong at St James’.
It is such a thrill to have visitors on campus on what for us, is ‘just a normal school day’. For the parents of our Year 6 cohort who attended, the experience was clearly affirming and uplifting. They know that their children have had a terrific grounding in the Junior School and more importantly they are confident that their children are in the very best of hands as they transition into the Senior School.
If you know a parent of a Year 6 student who attended the morning tea last week, please seek them out, and ask them about their experience!
Mr Chris Hall | Head of Senior School
FROM THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
Over the last 18 months, we have been fortunate to have parental help to establish our vegetable garden. These dedicated parents have kindly given up their time to work with the children to establish crops grown from seed in our greenhouse, through to selling the produce. They have also planted some fruit trees which are thriving around the edge of the vegetable garden.
From this, a conversation developed about the many olive trees around the Junior School and what we could do with the olives. As a result, in early May about 200 students came out and helped to harvest over 50kg worth of olives. These were taken to be processed (see the article below about the olive-making process). Whilst they were being processed the students took part in a competition to design the label for our bottles. Some very creative and amazing designs were submitted. Well done to Ava W in Year 5 who produced the winning design.
Thank you to Helen Riley, Year 1 parent, who has supported and driven this initiative. It will certainly become an annual event. We all look forward to sampling the olive oil when the bottles are delivered to class.
During Week 10, we will celebrate NAIDOC week at St James’. Throughout the week there will be a range of events and activities including some musical performances, the planting of our bush tucker garden, painting activities, an interpretative walk around Alkimos and storytelling from Elder Danny Ford. The ELC students will also be making some damper that they will cook on the fire pit down in the Djerabin Boodja.
I wish everyone a peaceful holiday. I hope that you can relax over the mid-year break and refresh ready for what will hopefully be a more ‘normal’ second half of the year.
Mr Dan Mornement | Head of Junior School
Junior School Academic Assembly
Each year we hold an Academic Assembly in the Junior School. The assembly acknowledges students across all learning areas, including the specialist subjects such as Japanese and Music. These students have worked diligently to improve their skills and deserve to celebrate their achievements.
The Junior School Academic Assembly took place on Friday 17 June in the Djinda Sports Centre. Selected students received an Academic Achievement Award, nominated by their teachers.
Students were awarded for the following subject areas:
- Engaging narrative writing.
- Superb Spelling Skills.
- Outstanding Mathematical Reasoning Skills.
- HASS Inquiry Skills.
- Resilience in Learning Hiragana (Japanese).
- Outstanding Drawing Skills.
- Singing Superstar.
- PE Sportsmanship.
Awards were presented to students who demonstrated strong ‘Soft Skills.’ These skills relate to time management, creative thinking, teamwork and conflict resolution. This year, students received awards for their study skills, independence and their thoughtful contributions to class discussion.
Success, when appreciated, results in motivation and others then often follow. Awarding students strengthens self-confidence and enables them to stay consistent. Consistency is key in education.
Congratulations to all the students in Years 3-6 for receiving an Academic Achievement Award. Thank you to the ELC Choir, the Year 3-6 Choir and to the very talented musicians for performing on the day.
Mr Nicholas Townsend | Deputy Head of Junior School
Junior School Academic Assembly Photo Gallery
FROM THE SENIOR SCHOOL CAPTAINS
As we near the end of Term 2, where the weather has gotten colder and students have gotten a little older, we would like to recap the past few months in the Senior School.
The term commenced with the Interhouse Cross Country Carnival, where students not only demonstrated their athletic talents but also displayed sportsmanship and determination which was a delight to witness. This was followed by the ACC Cross Country Carnival where our athletes proudly represented the Foxes and produced some amazing results.
There truly was no hiding from sport this term amongst the busy schedule of the weekly CAS fixtures, the SSWA volleyball tournaments and the vast participation in The Push-Up Challenge. We would like to thank the PE Department, as well as all other staff and students who have assisted them, for the work that has gone towards providing students with the opportunity to participate in the range of extracurricular activities that were on offer this term. We look forward to the continuation of CAS fixtures next term and the transition into the athletics season.
Term 2 saw students in Years 10-12 complete their first lot of exams for the year as well as the undertaking work placements by those on a general pathway. We hope these experiences offered successful learning opportunities that will develop the skills required for life after school.
To celebrate their hard work throughout the term, Senior School students were invited to attend a movie night on Friday 17 June, where they were given the chance to socialise and enjoy the company of their peers. A huge thank you to Mrs Syme for organising the event and to all the teachers who helped on the night.
We hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday and are looking forward to what exciting events next term will have to offer!
Elissa Quinn-Williams & Anya Coetzee
The Inaugural St James' Olive Oil
St James' is pleased to announce that the 2022 release of St James' Olive Oil has been picked, processed and bottled! This release of olive oil marks a new tradition in the Junior School. A fantastic learning opportunity for students to see just how the olives on the trees can turn into this great tasting product.
The process to produce our olive oil is quite an interesting one. Firstly, 51kg of olives were hand-picked by the Junior School. The olives were then taken to the Jumaga Olive Farm ready to begin the process to produce 9L of 17.6% oil.
Once the olives were processed by the first machine that washed and removed any leaves and stems, they were passed through another machine that crushed the olives into a pulp. The final process used centrifugal force to spin the pulp very fast, extracting the oil. This oil dripped into a bucket and was poured into a large plastic container with a tap.
The olive oil was then left to rest for four weeks. This let all the sediment fall to the bottom, leaving only the pure olive oil ready to be bottled.
Interesting to note, that the St James' Olive Oil will have a slightly bitter taste, full of antioxidants and health benefits far greater than that of supermarket olive oil. Did you know that bitter olive oil has a longer shelf life? If the oil is very bitter, it should last two to three years, the milder the oil may be up to one year.
The Junior School held a label design competition that saw Year 5 student, Ava W produce the winning design. Her design now features on the first release of St James' Olive Oil.
This year 16 bottles, 250ml each, were poured. Ava W and Alex J, Year 6 Sustainability Captain, and took great pleasure in pouring the first bottles, under the watchful eye of Leo R, Year 1.
Thanks again to Helen Riley for her generous support with this project. The Junior School looks forward to producing more bottles in the coming years and the hope of winning awards along the way.
St James' Olive Oil Photo Gallery
Junior School Maths Extension
During the first half of the year the Year 5 and 6 academic extension maths students have been working hard on developing their problem solving and reasoning skills. They have put these skills to test by taking part in a couple of competitions.
Once a month they have been presented with 5 Maths Olympiad questions. These are not always as straight forward as they may appear. The students have been learning to apply their strategies and to do their working out as they look for the answers. As the year has progressed so have their scores, we look forward to seeing how they go in the second half of the year.
In Term 2 they also took part in the 'Have Sum Fun' maths competition. Over a three week period they worked as a group of four to solve ten questions. They had to work together to solve the problems. This has led to them having to discuss and reason with each other over the answers.
In Year 6 the 6 Foxes came 10th and the 6 Oranges came 22nd out of 56 teams.
In Year 5 the 5 Stars came 4th and the 5 Oranges came 24th out of 50 teams.
These were terrific results and we look forward to seeing if they can challenge for a podium finish in Term 3.
Whilst this has been going on the Year 3 and 4 students have also been developing their skills with a similar challenge to the Olympiad. They have achieved some excellent results and we will follow their progress closely in Semester 2.
Mr Dan Mornement | Head of Junior School
ACC Cross Country Carnival
St James’ had a fantastic day at the 2022 ACC Cross Country Championships held at Alderbury Reserve on Thursday 2 June. This carnival was an opportunity for our top endurance athletes to compete against the other ACC schools and is the biggest ACC Carnival on the calendar. In some events, there were up to 400 competitors on the start line. Whilst this can be quite a daunting situation for our students to find themselves in, they stepped up to the challenge and produced some great results.
St James’ had a few excellent results from the event but it was a team effort. The students supported each other throughout the day and were exceptionally led by our senior athletes. Special thanks to our 2022 ACC Cross Country Captains Elissa Q and Lachlan T for their leadership and encouragement on the day and in the lead-up to the event.
A huge congratulations to Barnaby, Year 8, who backed up his title from last year as he successfully took out the win in the U14 Boys 3km race. St James’ also collected our School’s first Pennant with the U14 Boys team winning their age category. George H also had an impressive run and worked his way up to fifth place, this is a big step from last year and a reflection of his hard work in the lead-up.
Based on the results from the carnival, Barnaby L and George H were both selected for the ACC All Stars team which is a phenomenal achievement, congratulations boys.
Congratulations to our top 30 finishers:
U14 BOYS
- 1st Barnaby L
- 18th Kenzo C
- 21st Harry S
U14 GIRLS
- 23rd Kayla C
U15 BOYS
- 5th George H
Well done to all our athletes, you have done St James’ proud.
Miss Mackenzie Huggins | Sports Coordinator
School Sport WA Champion Schools Volleyball
On the 7 and 14 June, 87 Volleyball Specialist Program athletes competed at the School Sport WA Champion Schools Volleyball tournament held at Warwick Stadium.
The first tournament for the athletes of the year proved to be a great experience with students putting their outstanding skills and teamwork on display. Our teams represented St James’ to the highest standard competing hard and learning as the day progressed.
Results from the competition:
Year 10-12 Girls
- Team 1 – 4th in A Division
- Team 2 – 6th in C Division
Year 10-12 Boys
- Team 1 – 4th in A division
- Team 2 - 5th in B division
Year 7-9 Girls
- Team 1 – 6th in A division
- Team 2 – 4th in B division
- Team 3 – 9th in C Division
Year 7-9 Boys
- Team 1 – 10th in A division
- Team 2 – 6th in C division
The athletes will be back on the training court improving their skills and teamwork, with their attention now turning to the Volleyball WA Schools Cup in Term 3!
Mr Ryan Penno | Health and Physical Education Teacher
School Sport WA Champion Schools Volleyball Photo Gallery
Completing the Year 9 Food Expo | A Student's Perspective
During this term, the Year 9s have been catching up by studying countries and their most popular foods as a way to learn the traditions of other countries and their way of eating.
They have held Food Expos with parents and teachers invited to attend these events.
Students researched a country and were required to recreate the dish to present their food and an informative poster about their country to parents and teachers.
In class, students conducted a trial run to test their food of choice to determine if it was suitable for the day of the expo. The food was then taste-tested and the recipe was further improved by students.
By working on recipes, students filled out a booklet to complete their Food Expo assignment.
Personally, I thought the Food Expo was an amazing experience and I was over the moon to be a part of it.
Ciann A. | Year 9 Student
Fabulous Food Truck Rumble
Our Food Technology students produced tasty culinary delights from around the world this term, with our Year 10s presenting their international cuisine during the Food Truck Rumble on 9 June at the Trade Centre.
They prepared for this event since the start of term and devised two recipes to trial from their country of choice – one sweet and one savoury. Their classmates were eager to help out with taste testing and gave the groups feedback on what was the best, with their final dishes presented during the event.
The battle was hard fought with Charmay, Chanay and Hannah taking out first place with their delicious Chinese dish, Sticky Garlic Honey and Chilli Chicken. Chloe, Holly and Jess’ dumplings from Taiwan came second place. Close contenders for a place were yummy Churros created by Luke, Kuda and Frances, Tessa and Chiquita. The battle for best Butter Chicken was won by Ridham, with a traditional family recipe stealing the show.
Congratulations to all our Year 10s for your hard work and the successful event.
Mrs Ange Robertson | Head of Food Technology
Senior School Movie Night
The Senior School Movie Night was held on Friday 17 June with over 280 Senior School students attending.
This year, students had the opportunity to select from two movies - Lightyear or Jurassic World. Judging by the numbers, most of the Year 10s put their hands up for Lightyear!
The movie night is a great opportunity for students to socialise outside of school, encouraging new friendships and developing existing ones. It was great to see so many students attend, celebrating the end of exams and workplace learning.
Special thanks to all the staff who attended the event in particular Mrs Stacey Syme, who worked tirelessly to get the event across the line.
Ms Sian Yates | Head of Year 10
Careers Discovery Week | Year 10
During Careers Discovery Week our Year 10s learned that when it comes to career choices the possibilities are endless!
The aim of the five-day program in Week 9 was to empower the Year 10s to understand their own strengths, personal characteristics and preferred learning style to confidently navigate Year 11 and 12 Pathways.
The program started with a two-day workshop using a personality dimension profiling tool, then the students visited different universities, TAFES and learning centres for the remainder of the week to help them discover their future possibilities. Importantly the program helped the students build social and professional networks through social connection with one another and outside organisations.
Some of the organisations visited were North Metropolitan TAFE, Curtin University, the Australian Medical Association (AMA), The University of Western Australia and CareerLink.
CareerLink | New to St James' in 2023
We are excited that St James’ will be joining the CareerLink Program in 2023. This addition to our Senior School Pathways will give our students greater variety and choice in Year 11 and 12. Students will be able to commence their vocational pathway of choice and integrate meaningful work placement and industry experience into their holistic learning Journey.
CareerLink Expo | Tuesday 2 August
The CareerLink Expo is being held on Tuesday 2 August, 6.00pm at Sacred Heart College, Sorrento. Although this event is not compulsory, we encourage all Year 10 families to attend if their child is interested in a Vocational Education & Training (VET) pathway.
Mrs Ella Pearce | Careers Advisor