St Paul's Bulletin Term 3 Week 1 2024

Principal's Message

God of love, 
We thank you for our wonderful grandparents. 
They bring such joy and happiness into our lives. 
Thank you for all the special times that we have with them. 
Please watch over them, protect them and care for them now. 
May they know your goodness and love always. 

Author Unknown 

 Dear Parents and Carers,  

 Welcome back for Term 3! Tomorrow, we celebrate the feast day of St Anne and St Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus. This feast day reminds us of the importance of grandparents and the role they play in our lives. These days, more so than ever, grandparents are taking on more parenting roles. May God bless all grandparents with his love and strength! 

 Parent Student Teacher Interviews will be held next week and will focus on setting learning goals for the rest of the year. This is an essential part of your child’s learning progress and the partnership between home and school. It is my expectation that every family is involved in this process. By meeting your child’s teacher in this process, you are demonstrating to your child the importance you put on your child’s education. Bookings for interviews are now open; just go to the ‘Conference’ section in Compass. 

 NAPLAN results for Years 3 & 5 were delivered to school and sent out to parents on Monday. We have some amazing results across the school, as well as some challenges. If you have any concerns about these results, or wish to ask any questions, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. Please note that NAPLAN is just one form of assessment completed in one week back in March. Teachers have many other assessments that often paint a more complete picture of your child’s progress. Also, we must remember that NAPLAN does not assess children’s perseverance, empathy, creativity, manners, sportsmanship, faith, or many of the other traits we believe are important in our children. 

 Many of our older children bring mobile phones to school. While the school discourages primary school aged children from having mobile phones, we understand some children require them for messages and safety after school. If your child does have a mobile phone, it must stay in your child’s bag throughout the day and can only be taken out to check messages at the end of the day. If you have an urgent message for your child, we encourage you to ring the school office and the message will be passed on. 

 As you know St Paul’s does not have traditional homework, other than projects in Years 5 & 6. Our school policy is that we encourage Home Activities, which include home reading, sporting and cultural activities, helping in the home and playing. We see home reading as being imperative to a child being a successful reader and learner. We send home readers, or similar, in the early years. In the older grades we expect children to be reading novels or other books that interest them. As a guide, children should be reading for at least 15-20 minutes every day. If your child is not reading at home every day, we encourage you to start supporting this important skill immediately. If they are a reluctant reader, then parents should read to their child every day. There is no age limit on reading to your child. Do it as long as your child enjoys it. If you have any questions regarding reading, please contact your child's teacher. 

 Next week Years 3-6 are attending a matinee performance of Aspire. Aspire is the annual diocesan creative arts performance. This year’s musical is ‘Disconnected’ to be held at the Civic Theatre. Please check your Compass feed to give permission for your child to attend this event. What a beautiful celebration of the talented performers of our diocese and a great experience for our students! Congratulations to Ivy Mansfield in Year 6 who will be in the dance ensemble! 

 On Monday, August 5, we are holding our School Public Speaking competition. Three children from each class will be selected to represent their class. The winner from each stage will go on to represent St Paul’s at the Lakes region Public Speaking later in the term. Parents are welcome to join us on the morning of August 5. 

 It is so lovely to see all the children back in their winter uniforms. They look so smart! Wearing the uniform correctly shows pride in oneself, one’s family and one’s school! Our school uniform policy (in the Parent Handbook on the school webpage) includes hair and jewellery. Please ensure your children comply with the following: “Students are asked not to wear items of jewellery, other than a watch or one set of plain sleeper or stud earrings. Hair ribbons are to be gold or navy in colour. Hair below the shoulder must be tied back (boys and girls). Hair must be the child’s natural colour and extreme styles must be avoided.” 

 Our current school footy jerseys that we use for representative sport are starting to look old and are getting quite worn. Also, we do not have a a set of school singlets for representative athletics, basketball or cross- country. If you are a business and would like to sponsor some new footy jumpers or athletics singlets, please contact me. 

Congratulations to Tess and Sam Jacobson on the birth of their son, Freddie! Looking forward to a visit later in the term! 

This term, Mrs Sue Coull continues long service leave from her EALD role and Mrs Dionne Mitchell will continue to replace her, Mrs Belinda Mayal has commenced in Year 3 Gold for the rest of the year replacing Mrs Tess Jacobson., and Mrs Bec Sheehan will continue teaching Year 3 Blue each Thursday and Friday. 

This week we welcomed five new families to St Paul’s. If you know of a family seeking a Kindergarten space for 2025, please let them know we still have a limited number of spaces. We also have limited spaces in Years 1-4.

 With every blessing,  

Greg Cumming  

Principal 

Important Dates

Assistant Principal's Message

Learning Conversations 

As we approach the Parent, Student and Teacher Conferences we are grateful for the learning opportunities and achievements of the students at St Paul's. Visiting each classroom it is wonderful to see the children engaged in class activities. At St Paul's across all grades, teachers refer to Learning Invitations and Success Criteria when planning and delivering lessons. The purpose of sharing learning invitations and success criteria is to allow students to understand the expectations for learning and what success will look like in a lesson. It helps answer the questions: “Where am I going?”, “How am I doing?”, and “Where to next?”. 

SO WHY USE THEM? Clear learning invitations and success criteria allow TEACHERS to:  

• Identify the most important ways to represent the subjects that they teach.
• Focus instruction, learning activities, student outcomes, questioning, assessment and feedback on what is important to the student’s learning. 
• Determining where the learners have come from and where they are going next.
• Allow them to communicate what success will look like. 

Clear learning invitations and success criteria allow STUDENTS to:  

• Have clear direction and focus on what they are learning and trying to achieve in a given lesson and as part of a greater goal. 
• Have a framework to self-evaluate, peer-evaluate and reflect on their learning progress and next steps.
• Elicit their curiosity and thinking 

When you next visit your child’s classroom, take a look at the Learning Invitations and Success Criteria on the board. Maybe talk to your child about it as well.  The below questions are a great start to having positive learning conversations with your children.

 The 5 key questions that parents can ask their children are: 

1. What did you learn today?
2. How did you do?
3. What did you do if you didn’t understand?
4. How can you improve learning?
5. What are you most proud of?

Resilience

This week on SchoolTV, I came across some articles and resources on Resilience. The opening sentence from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg grabbed my attention. ‘Resilience is key to addressing mental health issues.’ Problem-solving and
understanding that perfection doesn’t exist allows us to be kinder to ourselves, to accept situations and to bounce back. If you want to read more about ‘resilience, the link is below.

https://gatesheadsp.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/resilience 

Jessica Moulder

Assistant Principal 

Catholic Culture at St Paul's

Spotlight on Religious Education in Year 6

Last term, our Year 6 students were delving deep into what it means to express our Christian beliefs through stewardship of creation. They've been wondering what it means to see the beauty, complexity, pattern, and order of the world as evidence of God's existence and creative power? and reflecting on how being created in the image and likeness of God shapes our responsibilities towards each other and the environment.

They learnt about their role as co-creators and the importance of stewardship in caring for our planet and its resources. As they explored these themes, they are also reflected on how the Church of today can actively respond to the urgent call for environmental stewardship.

Stay tuned as our Year 6 students continue their journey of faith and discovery, exploring practical ways to care for God's creation and uphold our responsibilities as stewards of the Earth during the Season of Creation, and how they can inspire all students to care for our world.

Season of Creation

“To hope and act with Creation”

Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home.

It is a special season where we celebrate God as Creator and acknowledge Creation as the divine continuing act that summons us as collaborators to love and care for the gift of all that is created. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we share a common call to care for Creation. We are co-creatures and part of all that God has made. Our well-being is interwoven with the well-being of the Earth. We rejoice in this opportunity to safeguard our common home and all beings who share it.

This year, the theme for the season is “To hope and act with Creation”. 

Throughout the Season of Creation, St Paul's students and families will be prompted and encouraged to make small changes to their everyday choices which could lead to lasting change. 

Parish News

Students from year 4, 5 and 6 are reminded that the rehearsal session for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion will be in Thursday the 5th of September and the Sacrament of First Holy Communion is scheduled for Sunday the 8th of September during Mass.

Mary Davison

Religious Education Coordinator

Sports News

Regional and Diocesan Athletics Carnivals

Congratulations to all students who represented St Paul's at the Lakes Region Athletics Carnival late last term. The students tried their best in each of their events and displayed excellent sportsmanship and support for others. We are very proud of all of you!

An extra congratulations to the following students who were successful in being chosen to represent our school and the Lakes region at the Diocesan Carnival on the 7th August. Parents of these students, please refer to the Compass event to give consent and for more information about the carnival. If your child is unable to attend, please notify me ASAP as another student may qualify for that event.

Congratulations:

Abby Rice, Maeva Clifford, Katia Duenzl, Marli McDonell, Jacob Fitzgerald, Emmett Hitchman, George Goodwin, Ethan Burrows, Chase Carter, Lincoln Olsoen and Noah Booth.

Polding Rugby Union

Congratulations to Lachlan Roberts and Xavier Catterson who represented our Diocese at Polding Rugby Union last term. Lachlan was successful in gaining selection in the Polding team and is off to Wagga in the coming weeks. Congratulations to both boys and all the best to Lachlan at the Rugby Championships!  

Touch Football Gala Day

Thank you to those families who have given Consent via Compass for their child to attend the Touch Football Gala Days. If you are yet to provide consent, please do so ASAP so I can organise teams and parent volunteers for each of the days. Both gala days have a focus on fun and participation.  The Year 5/6 Gala Day is next Thursday 1st August and the Year 3/4 Gala Day is Thursday 15th August. I will distribute more information, including the draw for these events, via Compass as soon as they become available. The venue is Newcastle Trotting Track, Broadmeadow. If you wish for your child to attend and they are not included in the Compass event, please get in touch with me.

Abbey Edwards 

abbey-jane.edwards@mn.catholic.edu.au

Koori News

Naidoc Week 2024

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 35

Next

P & F News

Parish News

Children’s Liturgy is held every Sunday at 9:30am during Holy Mass. We have a beautiful, dedicated room at St Paul’s Gateshead where we hear and discuss the Gospel each week, working our way through the Liturgical Calendar.

There’s always lots of friendship and fun activities.

Safeguarding is our highest priority. Children’s Liturgy will only go ahead if there are two volunteers with current Working With Children Checks.

All are welcome, we look forward to meeting some new friends!

Jacqui Wilson (school mum at St Paul’s Primary) and the Children’s Liturgy Team. 

Please note, while St Paul’s Gateshead Catholic Church is undergoing renovations Children’s Liturgy is at St Mary Immaculate Charlestown 9:30am.

Office Messages

IMPORTANT - School Fees

Just a reminder that parents who pay annually need to finalise payments by 30th June, 2024

Thank you to the families who have commenced their regular payments. A reminder if you are paying by installments these payments need to have commenced to be paid in full by 30th November, 2024.

Anyone wishing to continue with a special Fee Agreement in 2024, please contact the office 4943 6369 to make an appointment with the Principal to discuss. It is necessary to reapply for an extension of the agreements into 2024

Complaints, Resolution and Feedback

St Paul’s Primary School, The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) and Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are committed to providing a positive, safe environment for all staff and students. There are occasions, however, when members of our schools and wider community are concerned about something happening at a school that appears to be unsatisfactory or unreasonable.

If you have a complaint, please follow this procedure.