St Paul's Bulletin Term 2 Week 5 2024

Principal's Message

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.'

John 3: 16-18 

Dear Parents and Carers,  

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Trinity – one God but three – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is just one of the mysteries of our faith. The three persons in one god is how God reveals himself to us and helps us to understand the depth of Him. The Father created the world, The Son came to earth to teach us a new way of living, and the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to live that new way of living. Every time we bless ourselves we are reminded of the Trinity. 

As the staff continue to build a Culture of Thinking at St Paul’s, we are currently having a focus on questioning, both the questions our children ask, as well as the questions we ask our children. Research tells us that questions drive thinking and learning. “Questions are one of the most powerful ways students express their thinking, enhance problem-solving, monitor understanding, and improve as active and autonomous learners. It is important for teachers to model critical thinking and curiosity in their questions, specifically employing deep-level, constructive questions. Such questions ask students to explain and predict, apply learning across contexts, evaluate information, and wonder about the world around them. When student questioning is enhanced and coupled with high-quality teacher questioning, both teachers and students become highly inquisitive learners who value questions as opportunities for exploration, active learning, and self-growth," When you greet your child in the afternoon, don't ask them what they did today; ask them what good questions they asked today! 

Yesterday we hosted our Annual School Visit from the Catholic Schools Office. This is part of our compliance and quality assurance check and was facilitated by Ms Lisa Tierney, Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle, Mr Steve Lemos, Head of Catholic Schools, Mrs Liz McQuade Jones, Assistant Head Learning and Wellbeing, and Mr Ryan Gato, Assistant Head Religious Education and Spirituality. The visit was very affirming of the teaching and learning taking place at St Paul’s, as well as providing challenges for further improvement. I thank all the staff of St Paul’s for their professional support of this process, especially the school leadership team of Jessica Moulder, Mary Davison and Lauren Ross. All parents are invited to give their feedback in the current Tell Them from Me Survey. Thank you to those parents who have already completed this very important survey. 

Teachers have begun writing your children’s Mid-Year Reports. The reports will be released on Compass on Friday June 28. Parent Student Teacher Interviews will be held early 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. 

Many thanks to Charlestown Woolworths who have begun donating fruit to St Paul’s for Fresh Fruit Friday. Fruit is also available in the office on other days for those children who forget to bring their own fruit for classroom fruit breaks. We do not have enough fruit for every child every day so please continue to send fresh fruit in your child’s lunchbox. 

Please note that Monday, June 24, is a pupil-free day. The staff will be off-site for the day at a one-day conference deepening their own spirituality. OOSH is available on this day. 

Now that the weather is cooling down all children must wear their winter uniforms from June 11, after the June long weekend. They look so smart when they wear our uniform correctly, showing pride in themselves, 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.” 

The enrolment period for Kinder 2025 is now closed. Any late enrolments will be placed on a waitlist. Enrolments for Years 1-6 2025 remain open. Offers for Kinder 2025 will be sent out on June 14. At this time, dates for our Kinder transition program, Kinder Yaama, will be published. 

With every blessing, 

Greg Cumming 

Principal 

Important Dates

Assistant Principal's Message

Catholic Culture at St Paul's

National Sorry Day and National Reconcliation Week Liturgy

St. Paul's commemorated National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week with a moving liturgy, enveloping our community in a ceremony rich with symbolism and meaning. Concluding with a traditional Smoking Ceremony, invoking ancient traditions to cleanse and heal, alongside the graceful movements of our Undi Booran dancers who reinforced stories of resilience and cultural pride. We shared prayers for healing and unity, fostering a sense of collective reflection and commitment to reconciliation.

Amidst the music, dialogue, and reflection, we acknowledged the injustices of the past, particularly honoring the Stolen Generations. The inclusion of the desert poppy, a poignant symbol representing those affected by forced removal policies, added depth to the commemoration, amplifying the voices of those whose stories must never be forgotten.

We were reminded of the ongoing journey towards healing and unity. Now more than ever, amidst societal challenges and global uncertainties, the call to acknowledge the past and work towards reconciliation resonated with heightened urgency. St. Paul's School is united, committed to embracing diversity, fostering understanding, and working towards a future where the wounds of history are healed, and all voices are heard.

Follow Me - Catholic Schools Week

FOLLOW ME! CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK MONDAY 20TH TO SATURDAY 25TH MAY 2024 

Last week, St Paul's celebrated Catholic Schools Week with a liturgy and open classrooms. Our Choir opened our liturgy amd Year 4 provided a musical interlude. Paretns and visitors were invited to our open classrooms. It was a beautiful snapshot of faith, learning and celebrations of Catholic Education.

With a tradition spanning over 200 years, Catholic schools offer families an education aligned with their beliefs and values. This year's theme, "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19), highlighted the call to discipleship, urging students to emulate Jesus's love, service, and compassion. Catholic schools strive for excellence in academics, pastoral care, and faith formation, nurturing the whole person to flourish in life. They continue to fulfill Jesus's mission, working alongside communities to love and serve others, embodying the spirit of compassion and solidarity.

Our student leaders attended the launch of Maitland Newcastle Catholic Schools week at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Bishop Kennedy and Gen Bryant. During the liturgy, all present were invited to record their commitment to following in Jesus' footsteps by identifying their actions. 

Thank you for trusting our Catholic school with the care and education of your child. 

Religious Education Spotlight on Year 5

Prayer is central to Catholic faith, binding believers with the divine in a sacred dialogue. Year 5 students have been exploring its meaning and significance, they discussed religious concepts, enhancing skills in communication, research, and critical thinking. Year 5 discovered that, for Catholics, prayer is communal, marking a journey of encounter with God, fostering intimacy and aligning hearts with divine will. Different types of prayer, from adoration to sorrow, serve distinct purposes, cultivating virtues and deepening relationships with God.

Studying Jesus's prayer life reveals its transformative power, echoing biblical teachings on prayer's efficacy in shaping lives and history. In significant life moments, people turn to prayer for solace and guidance, drawing from a variety of prayers, both formal and spontaneous. This exploration equips students with religious literacy and reflective capacity, fostering appreciation for prayer's role in shaping hearts, minds, and communities.

Year 5 used GenAI to create images for their posters, demonstrating an understanding of the different types of prayer.

Mission News!

St Vincent de Paul's Winter Appeal

Vinnies NSW supports tens of thousands of individuals and families each year who are experiencing financial and housing insecurity. This year, their Winter Appeal focuses on the Working Homeless, an emerging group of people who are experiencing housing hardship and disadvantage despite being in employment.

St Paul's is preparing to support the work of Vinnies to help rebuild lives by hosting Milo Mornings, every Friday during winter. Bring your own (travel type) mug and $2 and our Mini Vinnies Crew will fill your cup with warm milo, starting NEXT WEEK - Friday 7th June.

If you, or someone you love, is struggling right now, please call the helpline on 13 18 12. Vinnies is there to help.

St Paul's Celebrates 60 Years of Catholic Education

During week 9, St Paul's Community will celebrate 60 years of Catholic Education. On Wednesday 26 June the P&F will host a party BBQ lunch and we will have our annual Mission Day. More details to follow.

On Friday 28 June we will celebrate with Mass in The Josephite Centre at 9am followed by Morning Tea, a stroll down memory lane and the burying of a time capsule. ALL past students and staff are warmly invited to attend. Please RSVP to mary.davison@mn.catholic.edu.au (or scan the QR code). We are looking forward to a wonderful week of celebration.

Mary Davison

Religious Education Coordinator

Sports News

Regional Athletics Carnival

The Lakes Region Athletics Carnival will be held on Wednesday 3rd July (Week 10). Those students who were successful in being chosen to represent St Paul's following our school Athletics Carnival have now been given a note outlining their events. Please indicate via the Compass Event if your child will be attending. Please carefully consider participation, as we may be able to offer a spot to other students should you child not wish to attend.

If your child attends Little Athletics and is seeking to represent St Paul's in the 1500m and/or high jump at the Regional Carnival, please submit formal qualifying times and heights to us via email so we can match against qualifying times and potentially register them for these events. These are additional events to the school carnival, and students must attend Little Athletics and have these qualifying numbers to be submitted. Please send to abbey-jane.edwards@mn.catholic.edu.au

School Athletics Carnival- Age Champions

Congratulations to the following students who were named our 2024 age champions following our school Athletics carnival:

Junior Girls - Eve Carter

Senior Girls - Maeva Clifford

Junior Boys - Blaise Woolley

Senior Boys - Noah Booth, Lincoln Olsoen and Ethan Burrows

And to Hunter - our House Champions!!

Kinder and Year 1 Sports Carnival

Kinder and Year 1 will be participating in a Sports Carnival on Friday 7th June at school, on the school oval. The students will be participating in athletic events throughout the morning after Friday morning assembly. Parents are invited to stay after the events and share morning tea with their children which will finish around 11am. 

When- Friday 7th June Week 6
Where- St Paul's school oval 
What to wear- normal sports uniform and joggers 
Time- the activities will begin at 9:30am and finish around 11am

Diocesan Rugby Union Trials

Congratulations to Xavier Catterson, Lachlan Roberts and Jacob Fitzgerald who represented St Paul's at the Diocesan Rugby Union trials on Wednesday. 

A big congratulations to Xavier and Lachlan who have both made it into the Diocesan Rugby Union team to play for a position in the Polding team, which will be held in July in Forbes. Well done, boys!

AFL Representative

Congratulations to Sophie Fox who was a member of the GRAND FINAL WINNING TEAM as a member of the Northern NSW and Inland Girls AFL team. What an achievement!

Polding Cross Country Championships

Good luck to Maeva Clifford and Eve Carter, who will be competing at the Polding Cross Country Championships next Wednesday in Sydney.

Touch Football

We have the possibility of entering a non-competitive touch football gala day early in Term 3. This event is open to girls and boys in Years 3-6. No previous experience is required. Please check with your child that they have indicated to Mrs Edwards if they are interested. More information to come.

Abbey Edwards and Tess Jacobson

Sport Photos

Gifted Education News

In Term 2, all students in Years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school:

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student.

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Candice Gibson (candice.gibson@mn.catholic.edu.au), or Education Officer - Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au) for further assistance.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students.

Candice Gibson

Creative Arts News

Our School Band is launching again next week with Mr Ward coming on Thursday 6th June. 

Speak with Mrs Tantos for further information.

P&F News

Please join us for our next P&F Meeting next week on Wednesday 6th June, 6 pm @ Club Charlestown.

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

Parish News

Office Messages

IMPORTANT - School Fees

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.