Every Single Day at St James' Primary School, Yamba

The St James' Primary School, Yamba, students, staff, and families have participated in an exciting initiative that encourages regular school attendance. (24 June 2024)

The Wellbeing through Music initiative by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) combines music, songwriting, drama, and art to enhance student wellbeing and attendance, fostering a joyful and expressive school environment. 

At St James' Primary School, Yamba, this collaborative project, led by ARIA-nominated educator CJ Shaw, Clarence Regional Pastoral Care Officer Rob Imeson, and Principal Ann Dawson, actively involved students in drama activities and attendance discussions, with older students mentoring younger ones. 

A highlight was when Stage 3 students, inspired by a lively whole-school concert, participated in a songwriting workshop, creating lyrics that celebrated life at St James', from friendships to the beloved school chickens. 

The project culminated in a recording session where every student contributed to a track, beautifully accompanied by the school choir, and ended with a school-wide concert celebrating the students' hard work and community spirit. 

In the final week, students took part in an album artwork competition, with the winning design by Kindergarten student Hattie, who captured the joy of learning and playing with friends. 

This initiative not only resulted in a memorable song and video but also developed resources to help other schools promote consistent attendance, showcasing the creativity and dedication of the St James' community.

Below, you can watch the music video developed by the DLCS Media team and recorded by Producer Matthew Storen.