St Paul's Bulletin Term 4 Week 3 2024

Principal's Message

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn, 
    for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek, 
    for they will inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
    for they will be filled. 
Blessed are the merciful, 
    for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart, 
    for they will see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers, 
    for they will be called children of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 

                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt 5: 1-12 

Dear Parents and Carers,  

On Friday, we commence the month of November, a month in the Catholic Church where traditionally we pray for the dead. Tomorrow, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints and on Saturday the Feast of All Souls. On these days we remember the famous and well-known saints such as St Paul, St Peter, St Mary, St Mary Mackillop and St Patrick, but we also remember those who are not so well-known, but who lived a good Christian life and followed the ways of Jesus. Halloween, today, has its origins in Ireland. The word Halloween is the abridged version of All Hallows Eve, All Hallows (Hallos) being the traditional name for All Saints Day. So, Halloween is the eve of All Saints Day, the day we celebrate the gift of all the saints. If your family does celebrate Halloween, it is timely to explain its origins to your children. 

The whole school will be celebrating Mass for all Saints Day tomorrow at 9am in the church. All parents and friends are welcome to join us.

St Paul’s and St Mary’s are proudly hosting Melinda Tankard Reist, renowned author, speaker, media commentator and advocate for young people. She will be discussing Navigating a sexed-up world:  How can we help our young people resist harmful messages from media and pop culture and aspire to respectful relationships. Increasingly schools across Australia are seeing challenges that can stem from students navigating an online world that is ever evolving. We recognise educating our students in this space is a shared responsibility alongside parents and carers and are pleased to take a proactive approach and discuss these topics with students and families. Melinda will be speaking in The Josephite Centre on Wednesday, November 13, at 6pm. Please RSVP here.  

We continue to hear of some of our children undertaking unchristian and bullying interactions on social media platforms, such as TikTok. These activities are taking place outside school hours and on private devices and networks. While the school educates our children about online behaviour and bullying, it is up to parents to monitor their children on social media. Most of these platforms are legally not open to children under the age of 13. If you have allowed your children on these platforms, please check what they are doing and viewing! 

Year 5 begin their leadership journey with the first Rock ‘n’ Water Day at Redhead today. Following a period of consultation with the P&F Association and the St Paul's teachers earlier this year, there has been a small change in the process for electing Year 6 Student Councillors and Sports Captains. Starting this year these positions will be based on merit, rather than gender. In the past we have had six student councillors with equal numbers of boys and girls, and sports captains have been one boy and one girl for each colour house. Commencing this year the school will vote for six student councillors, and two house captains per colour house, regardless of whether they are boys or girls. As always, we will be looking for good role models to hold these positions, represent the school at important events and lead the younger children in sporting events and carnivals. Year 5 will be attending another Rock ‘n’ Water Day in two weeks and then a Leadership Day soon after that. They will attend Year 5 Camp at the end of November.  The voting process will take place after camp.  

I have noticed more children coming to school chewing gum. Parents are asked not to send children with gum as it ends up on the ground, squashed into the concrete or carpet. Once there, it turns black and cannot be removed. The final result is very unsightly. Please keep the chewing gum for home. 

Next week is our third Kinder Yaama Day. We are very excited to meet our newest children for the third time. If you know of families looking for a Catholic education, please let them know that we still have limited spaces in Kinder for 2025.    

Our next P&F Meeting is next Wednesday, November 6. Please join us at 6pm at Club Charletown as we work together for the benefit of our children. 

With every blessing,

Greg Cumming  

Principal 

Important Dates

2025 School Dates 

Assistant Principal's Message

Online Safety - TikTok 

Since COViD students have had the opportunity to be online more than ever. This has provided students with wonderful opportunities to collaborate and develop new skills. However, it has also meant that students are engaging in new ways that may present risks without careful monitoring.  

Over the past week, we have been informed about some student-made content on TikTok using St Paul's logo and information. All students in Years 4-6 have had a cyber safety conversation about keeping themselves safe and the importance of their digital footprint. 

Below are some parent resources about TikTok. We would encourage you to converse with your child if they are a user and ensure that they are keeping themselves and others safe while online. 

Jessica Moulder

Assistant Principal 

Catholic Culture at St Paul's

Catholic Mission Month - Socktober

We are thrilled to announce that our Socktober event raised over $450 to support the work of Catholic Missions in Mongolia! A heartfelt thank you to all our students, families, and staff for your generous contributions and participation.

The spirit of the day was incredible, with students proudly sporting their craziest socks and contributing to our coin trails. It was wonderful to see our community come together for such an important cause. Your support will help provide essential care and education for vulnerable children in Mongolia.

David McGovern, Diocesan Director for Catholic Missions, was present for our liturgy and shared some insights into the impact we can have as a small community in supporting our vulnerable neighbours.

Together, we’re making a positive impact—thank you for being a part of this meaningful mission! 

It's not to late to contribute.. follow the link below to our school fundraising page.

Spotlight on Learning in Religious Education in Year 4

This term, Year 4 students have been delving into an enriching unit on Christian beliefs surrounding the Trinity. Through engaging lessons and collaborative enquiry, they are uncovering the intricate relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct persons that embody one divine essence.

Students are engaging in thoughtful discussions that challenge them to think critically about how these figures are not only separate but also inseparable and unified. They are exploring how the Trinity serves as a perfect model for connectedness and community, illustrating the beauty of relationships based on love, respect, and mutual support.

As they participate in activities students are encouraged to draw parallels between the Trinity and their own experiences of community. By the end of the unit, they will have a deeper understanding of how the concept of the Trinity can inspire us to foster unity and connection in our own lives.

We look forward to witnessing their growth and insights as they continue to explore this essential aspect of Christian faith, enriching their understanding of spirituality and community along the way!

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News from MacKillop Parish

Sacramental Program Update

Families are reminded that the Sacrament of Holy Communion will take place this term for students who have completed the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and Confirmation.

The rehearsal is on Thursday 7 November 6pm

Mass will be Saturday 9 November 6pm at St Mary Immaculate Church, Charlestown.

OR

Sunday 10 November at 9:30am at St Paul's Church, Gateshead.

Please note: preference for attendance has been confirmed with individual families. If you have not been in contact with the Parish, please make contact as soon as possible.

Prayer for First Holy Communion Candidates

Lord,

Guide these young ones as they take this significant step in their faith journey. Help them to feel Your love and to share it with their families, friends, and all those around them. May this sacrament fill them with joy and inspire them to live with kindness and compassion.

As they celebrate this special day, grant them peace and happiness, knowing they are part of Your loving community.

Amen.

World Mission Sunday

We celebrated World Mission Sunday at MacKillop Parish, focusing on our call to spread the Gospel and support those in need in Mongolia. We were proud to have Ruby Grant, Claye Warner, and Elsie Davison as our Mission Ambassadors, representing our school during the Mass at St Mary Immaculate and St Paul's Churches. Their heartfelt readings inspired our community and reminded us of the importance of helping others. Thank you to their families for supporting their presence in our Parish Community.

Mary Davison

Religious Education Coordinator

Sports News

Swimming Carnival

Our school swimming carnival is set down for Friday 6th December (Week 8). Please note that this carnival is for students in Year 2 to 6 to attend, along with students in Year 1 who will be turning 8 next year. Only those Year 1 students who are turning 8 next year, who are competent swimmers and wish to be considered for the Lakes Region Trials next year will attend the carnival. All other Year 1 students will remain at school for a water play day. Any students who are in Year 2-6 who are not competitive swimmers will have the opportunity to participate in 'novelty' races. Please see Compass Events for more information and to enter your child in the events they wish to compete in ASAP.

Year 2 League Tag Gala Day

What a great day everyone had at the Year 2 League Tag Gala Day! We are very proud of all our Year 2 students who attended the day and showed excellent sportsmanship and great team work. An extra special thank you to our wonderful parents who were able to assist with teams on the day- we really appreciated your assistance. Thank you to those parents also who came to cheer on our little league legends.

NSWPSSA State Athletics Championships

Well done to Abby Rice and Maeva Clifford for both competing in the NSWPSSA State Athletics Championships. Both students achieved amazing results- well done, girls!

Todd Woodbridge Cup

Congratulations to Halen Hackney, Lilith McAuley, Maabo Reid, Everly Shepherd, Ryder Tour-Mills, Eden Watts, Piper Williamson and Blaise Woolley for finishing 4th in the region in the Todd Woodbridge Cup. Mrs Gibson was very proud of your achievement!

2024 NSW School Team Mountain-Biking Championships - Singleton

We wish those students in our school who are attending the NSW Team Mountain-Biking Championships the best of luck for Friday.

Congratulations, Jax!

Congratulations to Jax Halsey for gaining 3rd place in the state for the 50cc A grade motor biking event. Jax was competing against older and more experienced riders. We are very proud of your achievement, Jax- Congratulations. 

Abbey Edwards

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

Creative Arts News

Congratulations, Katia!

Congratulations to Katia Duenzl who performed at the Sydney Opera House for violin last week. What a fantastic experience. We are very proud of your achievement, Katia! Congratulations. 

Learning Hub News

Stop Motion Videos

In Term 2, students in Stages 2 and 3 were working on creating stop motion videos using PowerPoint. Our groups then exported the presentations as a video and shared them with Mrs Gibson. The top videos have been shared below. Well done Jimmy + Beckett 3B, Chloe + Rose 4G, Paige 4B, Maeva + Kelela 5B, Harlow + Jack 5G and Ayden + Xavier 6G on their outstanding efforts. We hope you enjoy the videos.

STEM MAD

12 Students in Stage 3 were selected to represent our school in the STEM MAD competition, competing with other schools around our diocese. Our 'Eco-Spoons' group (Ash, Amos, Claye and Jax H) were named runners-up in the Primary competition and are now through to compete in the STEM MAD Nationals! Well done boys, we are so proud of your achievements and efforts. Our other groups need to be congratulated as well for coming up with amazing ideas, which will make a difference in the world (the MAD in STEM MAD). The 'Survival Box' (Olivia B, Zali B and Lyla N), 'The First Fire Hut' (Maddox and Zac M) and 'Plasticity' (Ivy M, Elsie D and Kianna W) were fantastic ideas and these groups did well collaborating to design a working prototype. We hope you enjoy the videos that our STEM MAD groups created, as their entries into the competition.

P & F News

Please join us for our next P & F Meeting on Wednesday 6th November, 6-7 pm at Club Charlestown (Cafe end). 

Come and meet other parents, and learn more about how you can get involved in the life of St Paul's.

Office Messages

Bus Timetable Changes 

From Monday 21 October, a number of school timetables will be updated to better reflect congestion and travel times to get students to and from school in the Newcastle Transport area.
This includes some school services will be starting earlier in the morning to make sure students are getting to school well before the bell time and in the afternoon some school trips will be departing from schools closer to the bell time.

Morning services

• School route 570 – the morning service has had 4 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 721 – the morning service has had 4 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 727 – the morning service has had 3 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 741 – the morning service begins 4 minutes earlier
• School route 744 – the morning service begins 6 minutes earlier
• School route 767 – the morning service has had 3 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 771 – the morning service has had 4 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 775 – the morning service has had 3 minutes added during the trip to reflect travel time
• School route 822 – the morning service begins 3 minutes earlier

Afternoon services

• School route 549 – the afternoon service begins 2 minutes later

As always information is available on Trip Planner and other transport planning apps. Parents and students can easily check their timetable by following these three simple steps:

1. Visit https://newcastletransport.info/plan-your-trip/school-services
2. Type your school name into the search field
3. Select your school bus route to download the PDF timetable that will be effective from 21 October

If parents or students have questions about getting to and from school or need help planning their trip, they can get in touch with the Newcastle Transport team at contact@newcastletransport.info or 131 500

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. 

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

Parish News

Children’s Liturgy is held every Sunday at 9:30am during Holy Mass. WE ARE NOW BACK IN ST PAUL'S CHURCH! 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. 

Community News