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The Mainsail Issue 1 | Term 1 - Friday 3 March 2023

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome back to St James' for the 2023 school year. It is a year that promises a new start. The world has opened up and we are able to resume a more normal way of life.

Our School has been blessed to have a myriad of local and regional families that have chosen to call St James' home. We have our own identity and expectations that reflect our core values.

St James' has a diverse and inclusive school community. We are fortunate to have a wonderful mix of more than 20 nationalities that bring cultural richness to our community. We embrace our differences and acknowledge our many similarities and shared values that contribute to the wonderful sense of belonging at our School. We are proud of this diversity and inclusivity, which ensures that our students will graduate from this campus with views that will make the world a more accepting place.

Our second group of graduating Year 12 students (2022 graduates) is now well past our gates and out into the world beyond. The new 2023 cohort has taken up the reins and accepted the responsibility that comes with being the leaders in the School. As we venture towards the halfway mark of Term 1, many of these students realise that there are only two and a half terms remaining before they become part of the Alumni, The Twenty-Three. They are finding that life speeds by and you need to stop and live each day with conscious direction. This is especially true of Year 12.

I have asked our students and staff to have the key focus for 2023 be based on the following mantra, ‘Don’t be the best, just be better.’ Our logic is this. If you try to be the best, there may well seem to be a defined endpoint that indicates success. In fact, we want no endpoint. We want to produce students that won’t limit themselves to an endpoint. We want lifelong learners who know that continual improvement and a growth mindset are very powerful tools.

This is something we try to shape at school and I encourage you to continue supporting your child at home to keep learning and looking for ways to improve.

Mr Adrian Pree | Principal

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

Welcome back to a new school year with all the hopes, dreams and fears that it brings. You may wonder why I say fears, but it is a word that is used a lot and often not in a real context. Zig Ziglar said: FEAR has two meanings: ‘Forget everything and run’ or ‘Face everything and rise.’ The choice is yours.

This is the choice many students have to make, especially those who are in their senior years of school. They can either work with their teachers and other students or turn away and worry about what to do next. It is these choices that they make, hopefully with their parents, teachers and in some cases close friends. It is then, up to the rest of us to encourage and inspire them on their journey.

Many of these decisions were made at the end of last year with a great deal of discussion and thought. It is the choices we make that not only affect but also affect how we live and work in the future. Having some fear is a good thing as it helps us to consider what we are about to do and try. It is the fact that a choice or a decision has been made and is about to be done. Pride and encouragement should be given to all who are doing something difficult or simply different. To watch them face their fears and give something a go.

For some of us, we have a choice to make about what we are going to give up or take on for Lent. This may seem a simple thing compared to the career and subject choices of students. Yet it is still something that must be thought about as to how we will succeed in the task. The reason we do this for Lent in the form of fasting is to help us think about God and how He is in every aspect of our lives.

This is where the understanding of fear becomes different in the Old Testament. As the meaning of fear in Hebrew is ‘awe’, to have respect, reverence and worship. If we can start to respect ourselves for the decisions we have and are making, then the year can only get better. As we learn to be strong and courageous in everything we try and do. We will master our fears and not let them control us. This then leads us into doing better and trying harder, as we feel and enjoy the successes we have.

Reverend John Taylor | School Chaplain

FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Having now started to settle into our 2023 school routine, I am reminded of one of my favourite quotes, ‘Without commitment, you will never start and without consistency, your will never finish.’ When combined with another of my favourite quotes, ‘Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship will ever be,’ I think this gives us plenty of room to reflect on our start to the year.

Have you committed to a few changes for 2023? Are you finding these things hard? If so, then that is OK. If we continue to apply ourselves consistently, we will make progress and it will be through that struggle, that we truly appreciate the rewards that will come our way.

These rewards may be quite personal, such as academic progress or better social connections. Equally, the rewards may be less obvious or take time to emerge. Examples might be greater perseverance, confidence or motivation. Either way, obvious or not, you are laying the foundation for a great year ahead.

If you are yet to set yourself some targets for 2023, I challenge you to do so immediately. Write them down and share them with key people in your life. These are the people who will hold you accountable for these goals. Map your progress, and take lots of small steps toward those targets rather than trying to get there as fast as you can. Drag a friend along the journey with you; they will help you through the difficult moments. In sharing your struggle, they too will share your triumph!

One of my 2023 targets is to be more succinct in my communication – so that is it for me today!

Mr Chris Hall | Head of Senior School

FROM THE HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

This year we have been exploring the theme of gratitude and what we are grateful for. Often in life, we get so busy and caught up in the moment that we don’t get the chance to stop and reflect on what we are grateful for.

Today, Friday 3 March, is World Day of Prayer, praying for Taiwan. The focus for this day is gratitude.

The theme of the World Day of Prayer 2023 program is based on Ephesians 1:15-19, the letter sent to a faith community to express gratitude. Paul gave thanks to God for the Ephesians living out their love and faith and prayed that they could see these three truths: the hope to which God has called the disciples, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance among the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power.

As we near reach the halfway mark of Term 1, I thought I would share some things that I am grateful for at St James’.

The sense of community – the start of the school year is always exciting. It sees the opportunity for a new start in a new class and year level. It is always wonderful to see these mini-communities come together. They start from the classroom with the teacher and students getting to know each other and then the parents sharing the educational journey with their child and teacher. The collegiality and community are refreshing to observe as we all work together with the shared goal of helping each individual achieve their potential.

I am grateful for the wonderful students we have, who amaze me, their teachers and their families every day. This can be through the questions they ask, the learning they make, or the light bulb moments when something suddenly clicks. The students also impress me with their sense of values and of being good young people who are navigating their journey through life.

At St James’, I am grateful for the wonderful staff that we have across the whole school. Our Grounds team work tirelessly to create a great environment, the Administration staff offer support and guidance, whilst the Teaching staff go above and beyond to provide rich learning opportunities.

With the ever-changing nature of the world, I am grateful for the opportunities that our young people have. The multiple pathways that will present themselves as each child plots their way to success. Some of our students will explore the academic pathway from ATAR, others will develop their skills within the Trade Centre. It is heartening to see the variety of opportunities.

Ultimately, I am grateful to come to work each day in a positive learning environment amongst wonderful people.

Mr Dan Mornement | Head of Junior School

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE P & F

What a fantastic start to the term the P&F has had. Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Family Fun Day on Saturday 25 March. It was a great opportunity to meet new families and put names to faces at the Family Fun Day Ticket Launch Morning Tea last week, we can't wait for the day, it truly is such a fun-filled day with rides and attractions, showcasing our amazing school.

If you haven't purchased your early bird wristbands, you can purchase them from the Junior or Senior School Administration giving you access to all the rides and attractions on the day. The event is free to attend, so if you aren't the thrill-seeking kind we still encourage you to come along and enjoy the entertainment on the day and support our school.

In 2021, after a very successful Family Fun Day, the P&F purchased a new school bus. With this years' fundraising we are hoping to be able to purchase a solar battery, and get closer to reaching our target for an outdoor classroom.

We have a number of other activities and events in the works and would love to have more members on the P&F. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, or if you would like some more information, please email me at pandf@stjames.wa.ed.au for more information.

Mrs Sonet Coetzee | President of the P&F

FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR

St James’ is a Safe School.

In my role as School Counsellor, I have the privilege of meeting many families, some new to St James’, and others have had a long engagement with the School.

I am often asked, ‘Is St James’ a safe school?’ and my reply is yes. I reassure families that the School engages all of the safety procedures and policies into the curriculum, policies and procedures are reviewed annually by members of the School‘s Executive to ensure consistency and best practice. Each year, I meet with all staff to present an audit of how St James’ is committed to the safety of the children. This audit is designed to help make informed judgments about the extent to which we have created and maintained a safe and supportive learning environment.

So what does it mean when we state that St James’ is a safe school? At St James’, child safety, well-being and protective learning is a big part of what the School presents. In the Health Program, students from Kindy to Year 12 are engaged in the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.

The two themes are; we all have the right to be safe, and we can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust.

The four focus areas are the right to be safe, building relationships, recognising and reporting abuse, and protective strategies. Each topic is age appropriate and caters to the developmental stage of the child.

In the Junior School, families receive an email about the topic that is being taught in their child’s classroom. This encourages meaningful conversations in families about keeping safe. The Program emphasises student well-being and student ownership of ways of keeping safe. Engaged in this program, students are given the opportunity to learn and use the appropriate language when discussing their own safety and how to protect themselves.

Our children have the right to be safe in their homes, their school and their community. We all have a role to play in ensuring that a safe environment exists and more importantly, our students are given every opportunity to develop the knowledge and build the skills to feel safe and protected.

Mrs Teresa Gastevich | School Counsellor

Junior School Captain's Bowling Evening

St James’ has 18 new Year 6 Captains for 2023. All the Captains have taken on their new roles and responsibilities with great enthusiasm, and we all eagerly await the challenges the rest of the year will throw at us.

On Wednesday 1 March, the Year 6 Captains participated in our first team bonding experience. Mr Mornement had the pleasure of taking all 18 Captains on the school bus to Zone Bowling in Joondalup.

After a competitive game of laser tag, won by the Captains in 6B, Mr Williams shared a few tips on how to bowl. We were then ready to conquer the bowling challenge ahead. We quickly realised who was the most competitive in our group!

Miss Hogan introduced us to the food and drinks that awaited us in the party room. The food was warmly welcomed! It was such a fun outing. On behalf of the Captains, we would like to say a massive thank you to Mr Mornement, Mr Williams and Miss Hogan.

Sienna T | Junior School Captain

Junior School Interhouse Swimming Carnival

Thursday 9 February saw our second, stand-alone Junior School Swimming Carnival. Our younger students had a fantastic day with some outstanding swimming, healthy competition and a willingness to persevere on full display. This was a welcome sight after missing this carnival in 2022 due to the pandemic.

The excitement from the stands spilt into the pool as we saw records tumble, personal bests accumulated and the usual buzz around the novelty events as the students piled into the pool. This summed up a day that was full of House and School spirit. We saw extremely close finishes for the Champions and Runner-Up awards with several decided by countback.

Congratulations to all our Champions and Runner Up Champions:

Year 3 Champion Girl – Jorja R | Runner Up - Avery B

Year 3 Champion Boy – Vincenzo S | Runner Up – Jaxon R

Year 4 Champion Girl – Kayla T | Runner Up – Lily M

Year 4 Champion Boy – Lachlan C | Runner Up – Archie

Year 5 Champion Girl – Imogen B | Runner Up – Imogen G

Year 5 Champion Boy – Fletcher H | Runner Up – Taj H

Year 6 Champion Girl – Sienna T | Runner Up – Florence W

Year 6 Champion Boy – Shai E | Runner Up – Noah D

The overall House points provided an incredible finish to the day with the results as follows: Eglinton 3966, Sydney 3844, Cervantes 3725, Twilight 3034.

Thank you to the students, parents and staff who assisted in making the day a smooth operation and an enjoyable carnival.

Mr James Parsons | Head of Physical Education

Meet the Senior School Captains

Over the course of the year, we will feature information about our 2023 Captains. In this edition, we put the spotlight on Tongxin, our Senior School Captain.

Why did you nominate to be a School Captain, and what does being School Captain mean to you? I nominated to be School Captain because I wanted to help promote the growth of St James’ and play a part in instilling a sense of belonging and pride here. To me, being a captain means endeavouring to give everything you do your best effort and always searching for ways to learn. I believe that, regardless of the pursuit, a captain should strive to complete tasks as best they can.

How will you make difference to St James' in your role as School Captain? I believe I can make an impact here by communicating with peers, encouraging others to develop their ideas and establishing clear goals.

What year did you join the Orange Army? I joined St James’ in Year 7, at the beginning of 2018.

What is the best thing about being a student at St James'? I believe the best thing about being a student at St James’ is all the opportunities we are given here, with our abundance of clubs, programmes, extracurricular activities and leadership roles. These opportunities, together with great support from teachers, have been central to my learning and growth since joining the School, providing a sense of community and fulfilment.

So far, what is your favourite school experience/s at St James'? Over the years, I have had so many wonderful experiences at St James'. I eminently enjoyed our recent Burgers and Bowling Night and Year 12 Retreat, partaking in a range of exciting team-building and individual activities. The 2022 and 2023 School Balls were also two of my favourite experiences so far, with the Year 12 Ball celebrating the beginning of a new year, a time of excitement as we go into our last year of high school.

Whilst I have undoubtedly loved large-scale school events, some of my best memories have been made on normal days within classrooms, from the good times we had in Human Biology as we explored the wonders of the human body, to compelling discussions we have in Literature which influence me to think in ways I’ve never done before, I can’t help but appreciate the abundance of great experiences I’ve had during day-to-day schooling within the classroom.

What are your favourite school subjects, and why? My favourite subjects are the sciences and maths because I find the concepts about the natural and physical world exceptionally fascinating. I thoroughly enjoy experimentation and discovery, and how knowledge gained in these subjects can be of practical use. I believe science and maths are vital in the future of our planet and the pursuit of new knowledge.

I also enjoy literature, because it is a medium which can convey countless ideas and stimulates critical thinking on a deeper level. Nothing quite compares to the intellectual and emotional responses you experience whilst reading. It’s amazing how poems, stories and plays can explore the complexities of the world.

Outside of school, do you have any hobbies/interests/passions? I enjoy playing the piano, especially classical and pop rock pieces, and reading. Two personal favourite books of mine might be Frankenstein and Chinese Cinderella. I am also currently studying Mandarin and aim to improve my reading and writing in the language. In addition, I love travelling to different countries across the globe and the new adventures every new place brings. Some of my most meaningful memories have been made whilst travelling and embracing new experiences.

All the Glitz and Glamour of the Ball

What a night! On the 28th of January this year, the Year 11 and 12 students arrived at The Pavilion in Mindarie Marina, dressed to the nines, for a night of glam and memories. We ate amazing food, took many photos and of course, danced the night away! The Year 12s also all received awards, presented by the Ball Committee, in good heart and faith, to set a tone of comradery and fun for the year. It was lovely to see the Year 11s and 12s mingle throughout the evening and create lifelong memories.

In addition to this, for the Year 12s, it was a night to reflect on the year ahead of us, and have fun with those who have supported them, and will continue too, along the way to graduation. It was a fantastic, and memorable night for all.

Grace H | Year 12 Student

2023 St James' School Ball Photo Gallery

Senior School Interhouse Swimming Carnival

On Friday 3 February, the Senior School kicked off the year with the Senior School Interhouse Swimming Carnival. The Orange Army set upon HBF Arena with records ripe for the taking.

As we have come to expect, our students displayed competitiveness and class. Personal bests, new records and excellent participation in Novelty events were the hallmarks of the day.

An incredible 19 records were broken, with some a genuine chance to stand the test of time. Congratulations to our record holders for setting elite standards and giving the future students of St James’ some lofty targets to aspire to.

We saw extremely close finishes for the Champions and Runner-Up Awards with several decided by countback and some simply too close to split and being awarded joint honours.

Year 7 Champion Girl – Kahana P | Runner Up – Kyan D

Year 7 Champion Boy – Owen C | Runner Up – Raif D

Year 8 Champion Girl – Sascha H | Runner Up – Ixchel V

Year 8 Champion Boy – Ethan B | Runner Up – Kyan D

Year 9 Champion Girl – Ryan C | Runner Up - Brooke H

Year 9 Champion Boy – Barnaby L | Runner Up – Zac H

Year 10 Champion Girl - Tatum T | Runner Up - Maddie J

Year 10 Champion Boy – Keaghan R | Runner Up - Justin D

Year 11 Champion Girl – Freya O | Runner Up - Tessa K

Year 11 Champion Boy – Liam R | Runner Up – Luke H

Year 12 Champion Girl(s) – Grace H and Tongxin S

Year 12 Champion Boy – Matt V | Runner Up – Kean C

Our prestigious Blue Ribbon race provided another excellent finish to our day with events with the fastest swimmers across all year groups competing against each other in an open event. The results were:

Girls Blue Ribbons 1st Ryan C | 2nd Brooke H | 3rd Neave W

Boys Blue Ribbons 1st Keaghan R | 2nd Liam R | 3rd Owen C

Finally, the overall House points provided an incredible finish to the day with the results as follows: Eglinton 6313, Twilight 5082, Cervantes 4015, Sydney 3202.

Congratulations to Eglinton for their brilliant performance and level of participation. A true team effort.

Thank you to the students and staff who assisted in making the Carnival an enjoyable day for everyone involved.

Mr James Parsons | Head of Physical Education

Be the Change you want to see in the World

The Year 5, 7, and 10 students had the opportunity to participate in the Water Corporation’s silent disco in February.

The incursion led students through three engaging stories, which aimed to empower them to take action and become sustainability ambassadors – “be the change they want to see in the world”.

Students gained a new perspective as they travelled through an arid landscape, jetted into space, and explored Perth city from a new angle. The incursion aimed to provide students with a better understanding of:

The interconnectedness and dynamism of the world’s natural systems.

The value in differing worldviews and diversity through exploring other peoples’ experiences.

How sustainable practices are forged through respect, responsibility and understanding of the uniqueness of environments.

They learned that we have finite resources and need to work together to preserve, restore and protect the uniqueness of our planet. The incursion was a great success and even the suburb-wide power cut didn’t stop all of our students from participating.

Mr Alan McLatchie | Head of Humanities

Numbers Soar for Duke of Edinburgh Award

It is with great excitement that we now have over 25% of our Year 9 cohort enrolled and starting on their Duke of Edinburgh International Award journey.

Award Leaders Mrs Syme, Ms Davies and Mr Thomas presented to all the Year 9 students, outlining the benefits of completing this endorsed program. This Award allows our students to gain experience outside of the classroom in completing sections involving Physical Recreation, Skills, Voluntary Service and Adventurous Journey. Students can utilise their skills and community service as a pathway to Year 12 graduation, employment and applications for higher education.

In Years 10 to 12, we have 32 students who are busy completing the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of this Award under the direction of our Award Leader, Ms Yates. Next week Award Leaders Mrs Syme and Miss White will present information to the Year 7s and Year 8s regarding the Ignite Award.

St James’ continues to have incredible success in delivering the Duke of Edinburgh International Award and the Ignite Award.

Mrs Stacey Syme | Award Leader

Go-Karts Completed with In-house Engineering

The Year 12 Engineering Studies students have been working hard towards completing their go-karts. Their first deadline to complete the rolling chassis is fast approaching and it has been exciting to watch them start from scratch.

The students will manufacture a variety of components in the in-house machine shop, utilising machines such as the lathe and milling machine to accurately manufacture all the steering and chassis components. Students spent last year designing the components in the 3D modelling program, Fusion 360, and this year will see their designs come to life.

The problem-solving aspect of Engineering Studies requires students to consider the application and function of a component, before designing a suitable solution. With last year’s task being to design the frame of the go-kart, students this year are required to consider vehicle dynamics principles to design a functioning steering system which will be mounted to their specific go-kart frames.

The accessibility of high-end machines, along with professional 3D modelling capabilities has allowed the students to produce, quality, professional components, whilst also working on their engineering understanding and problem-solving.

Once the steering system is completed, the students aim to have working go-karts, ready to test towards the middle of Term 2. An exciting time to be part of the Year 12 Engineering Studies class!

Mr Peter Kennedy | Engineering Studies Teacher

Student Spotlight

Budding St James' stage performers, Teah S (2022 Alumni), Katie S (Year 9) and Ryder K (Year 11) hit the stage during this year's Fringe Festival in the production of Disney’s Newsies Jnr presented by PADWA and Christopher Horsey. An amazing true story condensed into a 60-minute show – that should not have been missed.

A fantastic performance, lucky to feature such talented St James’ students. We look forward to seeing you hit the stage in this year's production of, We Will Rock You Jr.

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