St Paul's Bulletin Term 2 Week 7 2025

Principal's Message

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last weekend, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. This is the day the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles after Jesus had gone back to heaven. The Apostles had been too afraid to leave their houses to share the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit gave them that strength. Most of us received the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation as infants or children. As adults, do we share our faith in our actions? Do we look to the Holy Spirit to fan the flame of our faith? May we continue to discover the unique way that the Holy Spirit is moving in each of us. 

As you read this, I am in Canberra with our Year 6 students. I am pleased to report that Year 6 is a great ambassador for our school. Highlights of the trip include Parliament House, the Australian Institute of Sport, Questacon and the Dinosaur Museum. Many thanks to our Year 6 teachers, Abbey Edwards and Izy Sofianos, as well as Mary Davison and Danni Peachey, who are giving up their valuable family time to be with our Year 6s. Teachers do not get paid overtime, so without the dedication of these teachers, overnight excursions, such as Canberra, would not be possible. 

On Tuesday, we welcomed our new pastoral care worker, Mrs Charmaine Clark. Charmaine comes with a wealth of experience as a pastoral care worker, a school counsellor and a family support worker. Her days at St Paul's are Tuesday and Wednesday each week. Charmaine will operate the uniform pool on these days.  Welcome, Charmaine!

COVID, the flu, 'tummy bugs' and the teacher shortage are continuing to impact St Paul’s. We currently have many children and staff away sick. At times, we are unable to replace teachers and are forced to split classes across the school. We try to minimise this where possible, but sometimes these things are out of our control. Please do not send your children to school if they have ‘flu-like’ symptoms. Thank you for your understanding. 

The Catholic Schools Office has recently published a new Student Use of Mobile Phones and Wearable Technologies Guideline for the diocese. The guideline says that all mobile phones and wearable technologies (smart watches) will be ‘off and away’ and stored safely in their bag during school hours.   

1. Students will be responsible for switching off their mobile phones and wearable technologies upon entering school grounds and storing them safely in their bag or locker during school hours.  
2. Students are not permitted to remove their mobile phones and wearable technologies from storage to use during school hours, including designated school breaks.  
3. Students may remove their mobile phones and wearable technologies from storage and switch them on upon the conclusion of school hours when leaving school grounds.   

If your child wears a smart watch to school, it must be removed and placed in their bag during school hours. Thank you for your cooperation in this regard. 

Teachers have begun writing your children’s Mid-Year Reports. The reports will be released on Compass on Friday June 27. Parent-Student-Teacher Interviews will be held in Week 2 of next term and will focus on setting learning goals for the rest of the year. Of course, if you have any concerns about your child’s learning at any time, do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. 

We have now officially changed to winter uniform. The children look so smart in their correct uniforms, especially in their ties, showing pride in themselves, their families and their school. Thank you for your support in this regard.  ALL children must be in full winter uniform, Monday - Wednesday. Please ensure your child is wearing their tie each day.

On Friday, new enrolments for Kinder 2026 will receive their official offer via email. In the offer are the dates for our Kinder Yaama transition program. If you know of a family seeking a Catholic education, please let them know that limited spaces are still available from Kindergarten to Year 5 for 2026. 

Please note that if you bring your child to school late, after 8.45 am, you cannot walk your child to their classroom. Learning has started for the day, and having parents at the door is disruptive and distracting. Please farewell your child at the school foyer as you sign them in.

With every blessing, 

Greg Cumming 

Principal 

Important Dates

2025 School Dates 

Assistant Principal's Message

PB4L Focus: Having Good Manners 

At St Paul’s, we are building a culture of kindness, respect and responsibility through our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework. Our focus currently is on Having Good Manners.

Good manners are more than just saying “please” and “thank you”. They help us show kindness, build positive relationships, and create a safe and respectful school environment. This includes using polite words, greeting others warmly, listening when someone is speaking, and using respectful body language.

Part of having good manners also means choosing our words carefully. We are reminding students that swearing and hurtful language are not respectful or appropriate, and that using kind, positive language helps everyone feel safe and valued.

How can parents support this at home?

• Model polite and respectful language, especially in everyday situations.

• Talk about the power of words—how they can either lift someone up or bring them down.

• Encourage and praise your child when they use good manners and speak kindly.

• Guide them through tricky situations, helping them find calm and respectful ways to express frustration.

Together, we can help our children grow into respectful, confident, and compassionate individuals—at school, at home, and in the wider community.

Attendance 

It is essential to notify the school of your child's absence. There are two categories outlined below, the most common being the first. The information below applies to general routines for absence.

Full-Day Absences—Less than 10 days
How to inform the school:  Please advise your child’s absence before 8:45 am by one of the following methods: 

1. Use the COMPASS app under your child’s profile to complete an absence notification. This is the preferred method as your information updates the student management system automatically, and the teacher is informed through that same system.
2. Should you be unable to use the preferred COMPASS app, please email the school, and the administration staff will complete it on your behalf. Please do not email the teacher about the absence, as they are likely to be teaching and may not receive the email until after school, when the day has already passed. 
3. If the school does not receive a notification of absence, it will be marked as unexplained after the day has passed.  
4. If no explanation of your child’s absence is received after 7 days, it is archived as an Unexplained Absence.  

Longer Absences (over 10 days)

The basic premise regarding school attendance is that “It’s not ok to be away.”  However, if you intend to take leave from school for more than 10 days, parents are required to complete an Application for Extended Leave on Compass.  These days of leave will still appear as absences in school documentation and reports. They will be recorded as per your explanation, for example, family holiday, business, or bereavement, but they will still count as absences. Any extended absence requires a commitment from parents to support the student’s education while absent from school, particularly in English and Maths.

Partial Absences (Arrive Late or Leave Early)

If you arrive after 8:45 am or leave before 2:45 pm you must attend the school office to electronically sign your child in or out. This is a requirement by law. It is important to stress that only an adult can complete this process, as it is a legal document. We understand that if you are running late, it is tempting to drop children at the gate, BUT we are required to have an adult sign them in. 

Please do not record partial attendance in the COMPASS app. 

Similarly, if you are signing your child out early for the day, please go to the office, and we will contact the classroom and your child will come to you. Please do not go directly to the classroom. 

Jessica Moulder

Assistant Principal 

Catholic Culture at St Paul's

Catholic Schools Week: Pilgrims of Hope

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us for our Catholic Schools Week celebrations. It was a joy to come together as a community to celebrate our faith, our students, and the gift of Catholic education.

From the reverent liturgy to the open classrooms and the vibrant school band performance, the week was filled with moments of connection, pride, and gratitude. Your presence and support helped make the week truly special, and we are so grateful for the strong partnership we share with our families and parish.

Thank you for being part of our St Paul’s community and for walking with us in faith and hope.

St Paul's Family Mass

We warmly invite all families, carers, and members of the parish to join us for a special Family Mass in honour of the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul – the patron saint of our school.

Date: Sunday 29 June 2025
Time: 9:30am
Location: St Paul’s Church, Gateshead

This Mass is a meaningful opportunity for our school to gather as one in prayer and thanksgiving, reflecting on the lives of Saints Peter and Paul – two courageous apostles who laid the foundations of our faith through their witness, leadership, and deep love for Christ.

Students from St Paul’s will play a special role in leading the celebration through readings, prayers, and song. Together, we will give thanks for our school community and ask for the continued guidance of our patron saints in our journey of faith.

Following Mass, all families are warmly invited to join us for light refreshments and fellowship.

Let us come together in faith, joy, and unity as we celebrate the legacy of Saints Peter and Paul – pillars of the early Church and enduring examples of courage, mission, and love.

Vinnies Winter Appeal – Milo Mornings at St Paul's!

Warm up your heart and your hands this winter with our Milo Mornings, running every Friday during Term 2 and 3 at St Paul’s. For just $2 per cup, you can enjoy a delicious hot milo served in your own travel mug, while supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
All funds raised will go directly to helping those in need stay warm and cared for this winter. Let’s come together as a community to make a difference—one cup at a time!

Milo Mornings start Friday 20 June!! The same day as our Winter Woolies Day... warm up inside and out!

❄️ Winter Woolies Day – Friday 20 June ❄️

Supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal

St Paul’s Primary School will be holding Winter Woolies Day on Friday 20 June to raise funds for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Students are invited to come to school wearing their winter warmers – think trackies, beanies, scarves, cosy socks and  maybe even an oodie?

To support the Vinnies Winter Appeal, helping people experiencing homelessness and hardship during the colder months.
Bring a gold coin donation (or more if you can!) to support this important cause.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards providing warm clothing, blankets, and vital support to families and individuals in our community in need. Together, we can help bring comfort and dignity to those doing it tough this winter.

Let’s keep warm and make a difference – one woolly layer and one kind donation at a time!

Mission Day Friday 27 June

On Friday 27 June, St Paul’s Primary School will celebrate Mission Day, a fun and faith-filled day where students live out the Gospel call to serve others. Students are encouraged to bring coins to enjoy a variety of exciting student-led stalls, including crazy hair, dance parties, laser tag, tattoos, lucky dips and more!

This special day is about more than just fun... it's a chance for our students to put their faith into action. All money raised will go towards supporting St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal, Catholic Mission, Caritas Australia, and Zara’s House, helping people both locally and globally who are experiencing hardship, injustice, or displacement. These organisations provide vital services including food, shelter, education, and support to families in crisis, advocating for dignity and equity for all.

Our Mission Day also coincides with the Feast Day of St Paul, our school’s patron saint. St Paul is one of the most influential figures in the early Church. Once a persecutor of Christians, his powerful conversion led him to become a fearless missionary who spread the Good News of Jesus far and wide. His letters continue to guide and inspire us today.

As a school named in his honour, we strive to follow in St Paul’s footsteps: living with courage, faith, and love. Mission Day is a wonderful way for our students to celebrate his legacy by making a real difference in the lives of others.

Spotlight on Learning in Religious Education - Stage 1

In Religious Education this term, our Stage 1 students have been exploring the beautiful concept of belonging to God’s family. Through stories, discussion, and reflection, students are learning that being part of God’s family means being loved, accepted, celebrated, and forgiven, just as we are.

They’ve been wondering about their own place in God’s family and discovering how Jesus belonged to his family and community. Students have enjoyed learning about key people in Jesus’ life and exploring how the Church, especially our parish, is like a family where everyone has a special role.

It has been a heartwarming journey of faith, identity, and connection as students come to see themselves as cherished members of God’s loving family.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Next weekend, we joyfully celebrate First Holy Communion with our students and their families as they take this important step in their sacramental journey. Masses will be held at St Mary Immaculate Church, Charlestown on Saturday 21 June at 6:00pm, and at St Paul’s Church, Gateshead on Sunday 22 June at 9:30am.

This sacred occasion marks a deepening of the children's relationship with Jesus, as they receive the Eucharist for the first time—becoming more fully united with Christ and the faith community. We give thanks for the support of families, teachers, and parish members who have walked alongside the children in love and faith.

A Prayer of Blessing for Our First Communicants:

Loving God,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus,
and for the joy of celebrating His presence in the Eucharist.
Bless our First Communicants as they receive Jesus into their hearts.
Fill them with Your peace, Your light, and Your love.
Bless their families and all who have guided them on this journey of faith.
May this sacred day be the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jesus,
and may their hearts always remain open to His grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Congratulations to all our students, may you always know the joy and strength that comes from walking with Jesus.

Aboriginal Education

NATIONAL NAIDOC Week Celebrations at St Paul's 

NAIDOC Week is in the first full week of July and celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal people. NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islander Observance Committee’, which was responsible for organising national activities for NAIDOC Week. The acronym has now become the name for the week itself.

This year, NAIDOC Week marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. 

ST Paul's Primary will be celebrating NAIDOC Week during Week 10 of this term. We have a few incursions, activities and events each day to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Please see our overview below.

Sports News

Polding Cross-Country

Congratulations to Eve Carter and Maeva Clifford, who competed at the Polding Cross Country Championships on Wednesday. Eve came 20th in her age group. Maeva won her age group and will now proceed to the State Championships in July.

We are very proud of your achievements!

Diocesan Rugby Union Representatives

Congratulations to Jacob Fitzgerald and George Goodwin, who were chosen at the Diocesan Rugby Union trials to attend the Polding trials in Forbes next term. What a wonderful achievement- well done, boys!

Parent Helpers Needed- Touch Football Gala Days!

We have been invited to attend Stage 2 (Year 3/4 7th August) and Stage 3 (Year 5/6 14th August) Touch football gala days early next term. Due to a high amount of interest from our students, we are asking if there are any parents who would be willing to assist on either or both of those days. It would just require you to manage a team by subbing players during the games, and ensuring that students know when and where they play. Teachers will also be in attendance on the day; however, we have a large number of teams entered. If you are interested and available to assist, could you please email Abbey Edwards abbey-jane.edwards@mn.catholic.edu.au

Please also remember that you need to be approved by the Diocese to volunteer on these days. The information on how to do this is later in this Bulletin.  

A compass event for this Touch Football event will be released next week to confirm participants. 

Event Reminders

Stage 3 AFL Gala day- 17th June at Feighan Oval Warners Bay

Lakes Region Athletics Carnival- Tuesday 14th June, Hunter Sports Centre Glendale

Under 10s Rugby League Gala- Thursday 14th August at John Balcomb Field, Dudley.

Stage 2 Touch Football Gala Day- 7th August- Broadmeadow

Stage 3 Touch Football Gala Day- 14th August- Broadmeadow

Important Athletics Information- Discus and High Jump

If you wish for your child to be considered for selection for Discus and/or High Jump at Regional/Diocesan/Polding level, you will need to submit a verified, certified and validated application for these events. If you intend on submitting an application, please email the school or Abbey Edwards abbey-jane.edwards@mn.catholic.edu.au so that relevant paperwork can be completed ASAP. Applications close at school level on Monday 16th June. 

Library News

Book Club

The Book Club magazines have been delivered to the classrooms and will be coming home in bags this week. 

Please see the link to view the online Book Club catalogue:

https://scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-parents/issue-preview/ 

You can also order through the book club as a 'gift'. This means when it arrives at school we are notified it is a gift and we will not give it to your child. We will give you a call to let you know that book club is in. Great for birthdays and Christmas presents. 

Each order that you place earns the school money with Scholastic, which means more books for our library.  

Belinda Mayall 

Teacher Librarian 

Parent News

Year 6 Graduation and End of Year Events 

St Paul's School based Year 6 Graduation will take place on Tuesday, 16th December, 6 pm-7:30 pm.

Year 6 Beach Day is Thursday, 11th December. 

Year 6 Clap Out Tuesday 16th December, 2:15 pm.

 More details to come closer to the date. 

Volunteering at St Paul's

Please see the below link if you would like to register to volunteer at St Paul’s. Our school is always in need of volunteers for many school activities. We will let you know once we receive your clearance from your registration; this must be received before you volunteer. 

Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. As well as partnering directly with our school to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, there are a range of webinars and information sessions provided each month by reputable providers specifically for parents and carers- free of charge. To view a list of upcoming webinars and information sessions that may be of interest to you, click the link below at any time. The list will be updated weekly throughout the school term, so be sure to check the page regularly.

www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/

Another useful resource for parents and carers to access timely information on a range of topics including cyber safety, mental health, positive parenting, school survival, diversity and inclusion and healthy bodies is via School TV. Our school invested in this online platform so that our parents and carers can conveniently access reliable information from credible sources all in one place - when you need it most - not just at a specified webinar time.  It includes videos, fact sheets and podcasts all delivered by leading psychologists and experts.

To access our school’s SchoolTV site visit https://gatesheadsp.catholic.schooltv.me/ 

Gifted and High Potential Education News

Unleash your Creativity! Design the “Energy of the Future”

Hunter iF is inviting students to design the Hunter Innovation Festival t-shirt. There are loads of cash prizes and art supplies to win!🌞🌏💡

The design theme is 'Energy of the Future'. Students might consider including sustainable energy sources, innovative technologies and a greener future for our planet. This might include solar power, wind energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency and what role they might play for our region. 🏆

Entries close Monday, 30^th June 2025. Please email art@hunterIF.com.au to register your intent and to get more information.

2025 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

Key dates
• Entries opened on Saturday 1 March 2025.
• Submissions close Monday 30 June 2025.
• Winners announced at 10 am on Friday 5 September 2025.

For more information on the competition and how to enter CLICK HERE.

The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”.

WriteOn Competition

The annual WriteOn Competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors.

The competition is for students in Years 1 to 6 who are accessing NSW syllabuses, including students registered for home schooling. Students create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.

Each year, winners are celebrated at an award ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology.

WriteOn 2025 opens Monday 24 March 2025. This year the competition is held in association with the State Library of NSW. For WriteOn 2025, students use a stimulus quote to explore their voices as authors when creating an imaginative text.

The new stimulus for WriteOn 2025 is the quote:

“Could they be changing?”

Entries close on Friday 20 June 2025.

For further information about the WriteOn Competiiton please see the following

website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/awards-and-events/writeon-competition

Any interested students are encouraged to have a conversation with Mr Yarnold (Gifted Education Mentor).

Wes Yarnold

Gifted Education Mentor

Creative Arts News

Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn Guitar at school with Ricky’s Music Tuition

Open to Years K to 6, students will learn everything from Billy Eilish to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to AC/DC. Students will learn in small groups at school, and have the opportunity to perform as part of an ensemble, enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email enrol@rickysmusictuition.com.au

Office Messages

IMPORTANT - School Fees

We would like to kindly remind all families that fee payments should have started now, as per the school’s payment schedule. For families who have already started making payments, we sincerely thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Your continued support is deeply appreciated.

For those who have not yet started payments, we kindly ask that you start making regular payments moving forward. The Catholic Schools Office requires a steady payment schedule, and timely payments are essential for maintaining the smooth running of the school.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the payment process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you once again for your support.

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. 

Volunteering
Throughout the year, we invite parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction. 

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.