St Paul's Bulletin Term 2 Week 9 2025
Principal's Message
Dear St Paul,
Help me to follow your example of joyfully sharing God’s message with others.
Please pray that I might remain strong in faith like you, even when things seem hard.
Amen
Dear Parents and Carers,
On Sunday, we celebrate St Paul’s Day. St Paul is not only our school patron, but one of the most influential saints of all time. Following his conversion from persecuting Christians, he joined the Apostles in spreading the message of Jesus. He made long journeys by boat to visit towns and cities, from Corinth to Philippi, telling people about Jesus and baptising them. He wrote 13 letters to the people in those towns and those letters now make up 13 books of the New Testament. We will be celebrating St Paul’s Day with our Misson Day tomorrow and our family mass in St Paul’s Church on Sunday at 9.30am. We would love to see as many families as possible on Sunday! Everyone is welcome!
Our teachers have been busy writing the children’s Mid-Year Reports, which will be released on Compass tomorrow. I have read every one of them. Most children will receive a ‘Sound’ grade for each Key Learning Area. A ‘Sound’ is to be celebrated and congratulated. It means your child is working at grade level and achieving at a level that is appropriate for them; they are achieving as would be expected according to the Syllabus outcomes. This grading is a compilation of many tasks that your child has completed throughout the first semester of this year. The reports for Kinder are slightly different as it is not a requirement that children in Kinder are graded according to the Common Grade Scale. Learning in Kinder is assessed for the effort and application displayed by the students.
As teachers, the most important aspect of the report is the ‘Commitment to Learning’. We know children have a wide variance in abilities (up to six year’s difference in some classes) but we expect every child to be committed to their learning. Please celebrate and congratulate your children for their continued commitment to learning! As I read all the reports, I was very pleased to see that most children are receiving a ‘high’ in this area. This means that your child consistently demonstrates a positive attitude to learning and a high level of competence in managing learning tasks. They always persist when challenged and strive to work to their potential.
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. Bookings for interviews will open shortly; just go to the ‘Conference’ section in Compass.
Next week we celebrate NAIDOC Week (which actually falls in the holidays). This year the theme is The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. The week is full of activities. The children may wear ‘Aboriginal’ colours on Tuesday if they wish, or they may wear their sports uniform. Do not go out and buy new clothes in specific colours. All parents are welcome to join us for our opening ceremony on Monday, June 30, at 10am in the Josephite Centre. Our Aboriginal Dance Group, Undi Boraan, will be performing and will be followed by a cleansing ceremony for all. Everyone is welcome!
At the end of the next week, we farewell Mrs Elise Kellaway as she takes up an appointment at St Therese’s New Lambton. I thank Elise for her dedication to the children and families of 4B over the past two terms. I am pleased to announce that Mrs Lisa Burdon will be teaching 4B each Friday while Mrs Tess Jacobson teaches the class Monday to Thursday. Mrs Jessica Cahill will step back from teaching 5B each Monday to release Mr Wes Yarnold to take up his role as Gifted Education Mentor. Next term this release will be done by Mrs Lisa Burdon each Thursday. I thank Lisa for taking on these new roles.
New enrolments for Kinder 2026 have received their official offers via email. In the offer are the dates for our Kinder Yaama transition program. Offers should be accepted by tomorrow. 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 the first day of school for Term 3 is Tuesday, July 22, as Monday is a pupil-free day while staff participate in professional learning. OOSH is available on this day.
As we conclude the term, I wish to thank the staff and children for their commitment to learning. I am impressed by the number of children, especially in the older grades, for their growing responsibility for their learning.
With every blessing,
Greg Cumming
Principal
Important Dates
June 27: St Paul's Feast Day Mass 9am
June 29: School Mass - St Paul's Feast Day Gateshead 9.30am
June 30 - July 4: St Paul's NAIDOC Week Celebrations
July 4: Last Day of Term
July 21: Staff Development Day (Student Free)
July 22: First Day Term 3 for students
Aug 6: FACE Forum
For more details and dates, check the Compass Calendar.
2025 School Dates
Term | Start Date | End Date |
Term 1 | 31/01/2025 | 11/04/2025 |
Term 2 | 28/04/2025 | 4/07/2025 |
Term 3 | 21/07/2025 | 26/09/2025 |
Term 4 | 13/10/2025 | 19/12/2025 |
Assistant Principal's Message
Semester 1 Reports
Semester 1 reports will be available via COMPASS on Friday of Week 9. Teachers have been working diligently to assess and report on each student’s learning progress. It is always a thoughtful challenge to clearly communicate a semester’s worth of learning, while celebrating achievements and identifying the next steps for growth.
We encourage parents to take the time to read the report carefully, particularly the curriculum content areas. These sections outline the specific learning outcomes in each Key Learning Area (KLA) that form the basis of the grades awarded. This approach helps to provide meaningful insights, especially in subject areas like English and Mathematics where the content is broad.
Understanding the 5-Point Assessment Scale
Each KLA in the report is assessed using a 5-point achievement scale (a 3-point scale is used for Kindergarten). This scale helps parents understand their child’s progress in each focus area.
We no longer use letter grades, as they could sometimes be confusing. Instead, we use descriptive terms that reflect how a child is progressing. The term ‘Sound’ means that a child has successfully achieved the expected learning outcomes for their grade level. It is a solid and positive indication of progress. The terms ‘Thorough’ and ‘Extensive’ reflect an ability to apply knowledge and skills in new and more complex situations.
Grade Scale Descriptors
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Extensive | The student has extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. They demonstrate a very high level of competence in relevant skills and can apply these skills to new situations. |
| Thorough | The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in related skills. They can apply their learning in most situations. |
| Sound | The student has a sound understanding of the content and an adequate level of competence in the related skills. |
| Basic | The student has a basic understanding of the content and a limited level of competence in related skills. |
| Limited | The student has limited understanding of the content and very limited competence in some of the related skills. |
Areas of Strength and Development
Teacher comments in Religious Education, English and Mathematics will highlight two areas of strength and one area for development. These personalised comments are an important part of the report. They offer an opportunity to celebrate learning and provide clear goals for the next stage of your child’s progress.
All comments are based on the NSW syllabus documents and are supported by the Literacy and Numeracy Progressions that guide teaching and learning. Religious Education comments are drawn from the Diocesan syllabus. Using standardised comments ensures consistent language and feedback across our diocesan schools.
Jessica Moulder
Assistant Principal
Catholic Culture at St Paul's
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 Appeal - Winter Woolies Day
Mission Day Friday 27 June
Tomorrow, 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.
Sacrament of First Holy Communion
Last weekend, our St Paul’s Primary School community came together in joyful celebration as many of our students received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion during parish Masses. It was a deeply meaningful occasion, marking an important step in their faith journey as they received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time.
We are incredibly proud of our communicants for their reverence, preparation, and commitment. A heartfelt thank you to our families, parish team, and staff who supported the children throughout this special time. May this sacred milestone continue to inspire and strengthen their relationship with Christ.
Let us keep these young members of our faith community in our prayers as they grow in love and understanding of God’s presence in their lives.
Spotlight on Learning Year 1/2
Our Year 1/2 students have embarked on a meaningful journey, delving into the rich and profound topic of the sacraments. Through engaging activities and thoughtful discussions, they have been discovering the significance of these sacred rites in our faith. From Baptism to Eucharist, each sacrament has been explored with curiosity and reverence, helping our young learners understand their importance in our spiritual lives. It's been a wonderful experience watching them grow in knowledge and faith!
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.
Next week, St Paul's Primary will be celebrating National NAIDOC Week! We have a few incursions, activities and events planned each day to celebrate. Be sure to check out our overview below. It's going to be one DEADLY week! Please note, our Opening Ceremony will now take place in the Josephite Centre rather than our school courtyard.
Many thanks go to Bunnings Warehouse Bennetts Green and the team at TAUBMANS for their generous donation of art and paint supplies! These will be used to support the development of our new mural - Next Generation! Mr Peachey has been very busy getting our wall cleaned and prepped ready for painting! Fingers and toes crossed for perfect weather so we can get creating!
Who are Michele Hetherington and Sandy Louise?
When Michele Hetherington from the Gringai Worimi Nation first shared her published poem 'Always Was, Always Will Be' which was written for NAIDOC week 2020, friend and songwriter Sandy Louise knew they needed to write a song together.
On the spot Sandy sang Michele her poem and they set a plan in place to write a song together for the 2025 NAIDOC theme.
Following the announced theme in January, they caught up on January 26th with a brainstorm of words, feelings, Michele's shared cultural knowledge and personal experience and Sandy's experience of reconciliation. Together across the afternoon 'A New Era' was born and with the support of Michele's partner and fellow musician Phil Higginson a demo was recorded and they knew they had created something special. An Anthem to recognise and celebrate 50 years of National NAIDOC week and plans for recording were quickly in progress.
Local Year 10 students from Hunter River High School and Talon McClennan from the Gomeroi nation joined them at the studio to record Didgeridoo with his mother Claire adding the tapping sticks.
The song is recorded and produced by Mitta Norath and Tommirock Studio in Newcastle, mastered by Joshua Bartel.
Sports News
Regional Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all students who represented St Paul's at the Regional Athletics Carnival. All students competed wonderfully, and we are very proud of their achievements and the sportsmanship they all displayed.
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school and region at the Diocesan carnival on Wednesday 6th August:
Eve Carter, Abby Rice, Logan Svensk, Marli McDonell, Maeva Clifford, Harper Degan, Ella Sims, Luella Stone, Emmett Hitchman and Olive Clifford.
An event will be created on Compass early next week. The date for the Diocesan Carnival is Wednesday 6th August.
AFL
Last Tuesday, a selection of Stage 3 students attended the Paul Kelly Cup AFL Gal Day. Students had a great day and learnt some new skills in a sport that very few play outside of school. Both boys' and girls' teams did really well and Miss S was proud of their achievements. Thank you to those parents who assisted with managing a team on the day- without your support, these days cannot go ahead.
The AFL organisers are hoping to run an after-school clinic later in the year. More details to come.
Touch Football Gala Days
For those students who have expressed interest in attending the Stage 2 or Stage 3 Touch Football Gala, an event will be released on Compass tomorrow. Please give consent and indicate via the event if any parents are able to assist with managing a team on the day- your help would be greatly appreciated.
Event Reminders
Under 10s Rugby League Gala- Thursday 14th August at John Balcomb Field, Dudley.
Diocesan Athletics- 6th August
Stage 2 Touch Football Gala Day- 7th August- Broadmeadow
Stage 3 Touch Football Gala Day- 14th August- Broadmeadow
Congratulations to Jax Halsey on his amazing results in the recent junior motocross state championships. The competition consists of 5 rounds throughout the year. Last weekend was Round 3. This is Jax’s first year competing on the 65cc (big step up from the 50cc last year as he now has to deal with gears) and is doing amazingly well. Jax is currently ranked 3rd in the state for 65cc B grade with 2 more rounds to go. Go Jax!!!!
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.
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, 30th 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).
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.
Car Park Rules
All parents are required to follow the car park rules:
- No Parking in the Kiss’n’drop zone
- “Kiss‘n’drop” only operates in the morning, NOT in the afternoon
- Children should get out on the left side of the car. Parents should stay in the car.
- In the afternoon parents must park and walk to the gate to collect their children
- No parking in the OOSH Staff parking area
- No parking adjacent to the church, which is a walkway
- Avoid reversing when possible
- Drive at a walking pace only
- Do not enter the staff parking section unless you have a ‘disabled’ sticker
- School zones remain in place for the safety of our children and families. School zones operate on all gazetted school days, Which are all days the school is open, even pupil-free days.
- Give way to all traffic as you exit the car park.
Please keep our car park safe for the sake of all our children.
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.