3 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

From Principal’s Desk

Caritas Launch – Beginning of LENT

Last week the leaders and I were invited to the Caritas launch at the cathedral in Hamilton. Here, we heard about the great work being done with the mission efforts we contribute every year during LENT. Caritas has worked tirelessly across the world and in Australia to maintain the dignity of the human person and provide support for communities to generate their own way of life.

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2024 OPEN MARCH 1.

Enrolments are open for 2024. If you know anyone who is looking to come to St Paul’s in Kindergarten 2024, please let them know they can contact the front office for application forms or request a form through our website.

The biggest feedback we have had from new families is hearing about our school through word of mouth. While St Paul’s does not have main road advertising outside our school, the newest billboard at Thornton shows our beautiful students in our classrooms. The best advertising for us is our community sharing the good news stories of the work we do here.

Mini Vinnie's and Staff Commissioning Mass

Last Sunday our Mini Vinnies students and our staff were commissioned for their roles in 2023 by the parish community. The community blessed staff and we recited our pledge and promise for the work that we do for the greater good of students and our community. We also witnessed the students who are beginning their sacramental journey pledge their commitment to completing the sacraments of initiation to become full members of our Catholic Church.

Wellbeing Week

This week our leaders hosted a wealth of wellbeing ideas for students during recess and lunch. It was lovely to see the students interact with our school leaders and look forward to the days we have had.

Congratulations to our leaders on their successful planning.

Easter raffle

The P & F will be holding their Easter raffle at the end of the term. This is a fantastic celebration of Easter in our community. While the meaning of Easter lives with Christ and his sacrifice, the celebration of his resurrection is represented in the eggs that we hide and give to our families as a sign of new life.

Please send your donations to the office (we promise they are well guarded!)

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!!!

The great work our P&F do every year requires volunteers to support their initiatives. Easter Raffle, Mothers and father’s day stalls are part of the work they do that requires helpers to run the stall and collate the orders.

Volunteer Registration Now On Diocese Website

At St Paul’s we value the volunteers that support our school in the canteen, classroom healpers and our P&F.

The Diocese values the significant contribution volunteers make to all our schools, programs and services. Our volunteers enrich the quality of life for the people we support and their families and are, in turn, enriched by their experiences.

CODE OF CONDUCT 2023

In 2018, the CSO implemented a Community Code of Conduct to be signed by all new enrolments as part of the enrolment application process. This Code of Conduct continues to be part of all enrolment agreements within the school. It is an important and consistent agreement between the school and the home across the diocese. Please see the document below for your reference.

Student Awards Weeks 2 - 3 – 4 - 5

Assistant Principal

Uniform Reminders

At St Paul’s we encourage our students to have pride in their uniform and it is important that all students wear the correct uniform daily. The school uniform requirements are below for your convenience. The school procedure for uniform infringements is as follows:

• Students must have a written explanation from a parent/ carer requesting an exemption from wearing the full school uniform.
• If a parent carer/ note is not provided, the student will receive a first warning.
• Upon 3 verbal warnings in a week, the infringement is recorded in COMPASS and parents/carers are notified.

I ask for your support in this by discussing the importance of taking pride in wearing the full school uniform with your children.

St Paul’s Summer Unform Standards

When enrolling your child at St Paul's Primary School you have agreed to abide by the enrolment agreement and the Code of Conduct of the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle.

All schools have set requirements for uniforms and general grooming.

Uniform Standards

• All students will wear the correct school uniform as listed in the requirements
• Provisions will be made for students who are financially disadvantaged.
• All students are to have their hair neat and tidy - students with long hair touching shoulders are required to wear their hair tied back for hygiene and safety reasons.
• Ribbons, bands and combs worn in the hair should be maroon, white or school dress material and kept to a minimum.
• Students will be permitted to wear a watch, a signet ring and a single bracelet or bangle (gold, silver or culturally significant). A gold or silver necklace or medallion may be worn, if covered by the uniform.
• Single ear-piercing with small sleepers or small, plain studs may be worn, but no long or dangling earrings.

No other body piercing is allowed to be worn. No other rings or jewellery will be permitted.

• No tattoos or nail polish.
• Hair is to be of natural colour.
• Haircuts are not to be extreme. For example, no rat's tails, shaved designs or Mohawks.
• Shoes must be black, leather school shoes. They must not be skate shoes or ballet style shoes.
• Sports shoes must be fit for activity and be predominantly black or white.
• All children are required to wear a school hat in line with the school's SunSmart Policy.
• The length of the girl's dress/tunics should be just above the knee.

Girls Uniform

Summer

Maroon and white check dress with short sleeves, Peter Pan collar, drop waist with kick pleats front and back, (worn approximately knee length) (AVAILABLE LOWES)

Cross grain maroon ribbon tab tie with maroon button.
Plain white turn-over ankle socks
Black leather shoes (No joggers, skate or ballet style shoes).
Hair accessories should be maroon, white or same as dress.
Sunsafe School hat with logo (only available from uniform shop)
Optional grey skort (available LOWES)
White short sleeved shirt, Peter Pan collar with emblem (AVAILABLE LOWES)
Tab tie on elastic in pinafore material (Available Uniform Shop)

Sunsafe School hat with logo (only available from uniform shop)

Girl’s Sport Uniform

• Maroon skort or shorts with school logo (AVAILABLE uniform shop)
• School Polo shirt with school logo (AVAILABLE uniform shop).

Plain white sport socks OR St. Paul’s’ sports socks AVAILABLE

Predominately white joggers (No sandshoes, skate or canvas shoes).

Maroon or white ribbon, hair accessories

• Sunsafe School hat with school logo (only available from uniform shop) in winter.
• Additional Maroon fleecy tracksuit –with school logo (only available from uniform shop).

Boy’s Uniform

Summer

Grey Gaberdine classic style school shorts (not cargo style)

Blue, short-sleeve, button-up school shirt.

Plain grey turn-over ankle socks

Black leather shoes (No joggers or skate shoes).

• Sunsafe School Hat (only available from uniform shop)

Boy’s Sport Uniform

• Maroon shorts with school logo (only available from uniform shop)
• School Polo shirt with school logo (only available from uniform shop).

Plain white sport socks OR St. Paul’s’ sports socks

Predominately white joggers (No sandshoes, skate or canvas shoes).

• Sunsafe School hat with school logo (only available from uniform shop)

Sunsafe Procedures

The school hat is a compulsory part of the uniform for summer and winter and we have a “No Hat – Play in the Shade” Policy.

Children will wear hats for sun protection whenever outside.

(Children not wearing school hats outside will only be allowed to play in shaded areas.)

We encourage you to provide sunscreen that can be applied before school and can be re-applied by your child during the day.

Lost Property

A reminder to please ensure that all belongings are labelled with your child’s full name to enable easy return if items are misplaced. If your child is currently missing an article of their uniform, lunchbox, drink bottle etc., please encourage them to have a look in the lost property box (Primary: outside of the office and Infants: reading garden). Both chests are full of unclaimed uniforms, jumpers in particular, are waiting to be claimed.

Bell Times

Absences

NSW Government Regulations require notification of absence of students. This must be informed by parent or caregiver by way of phone, text, email or via COMPASS on the morning of the absence or immediately after any absence from school. Valid reasons must be given.

A note of explanation is also required if:

1. A dentist or doctor’s appointment is to be kept.
2. Your child is unable to play sport.
3. Your child cannot wear correct school uniform.

The Attendance Policy is available in the Foyer of the school or on the Catholic Schools Website for your perusal.

Arrival Time/Departure Time

Parents are reminded that the playground is unsupervised before 8.20am and that any child arriving at school before this time is to sit on the basketball court until the teacher comes on duty at 8.20am.

If arrival before 8.20am is necessary parents must contact the Principal.

Students are expected to depart from the school grounds promptly after the 3:00pm bell, via bus or other exit points, unless under adult supervision.

Pupils must not leave the school grounds without permission or knowledge of the school during school hours.

Winter Sport Trials

Congratulations to the following senior students who represented our school with pride at the All Saints Winter Netball trials last Monday:

• Pippa Gilmore
• Sophia Djokic
• Miah Djokic
• Elouise Wilcox

Religious Education Update

The season of Lent began last week with Ash Wednesday and we commemorated this significant event with Year 4 hosting a liturgy. The weather made the occasion a bit tricky but were joined by families and Parish members. The school community received ashes on their foreheads to represent mourning and repentance. These ashes are gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.

Christians often fast on Ash Wednesday. They do not eat meat on this day. Fasting may continue throughout Lent and especially on Good Friday. In addition to fasting, Christians often give up something for Lent as an offer of sacrifice. This usually is something people enjoy like eating chocolate or playing video games.

The day of Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in the Bible, but it is in honour of events that occurred in the Bible. The 40 days of Lent are meant to signify the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert getting tempted by the devil. The dusting of Ashes is mentioned in the Bible as a sign of mourning and repentance. The cross drawn on the forehead symbolizes the cross that Jesus died on to cleanse the world of its sins.

Family/Commissioning Mass

On Sunday the 26th of February we had our annual commissioning mass with Staff and the Mini Vinnies team. As always, the parish warmly welcomed our school community, and it was lovely to see so many staff and students in attendance. Thank you to Fr George for leading us in Mass and blessing us, and thank you to those that brought some nibbles to have for morning tea after mass.

SCHOOL VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

We have an ongoing focus and commitment to our school vision and mission statement: “With faith in Jesus Christ, we Learn, Love and Serve. We share our many gifts in service to one another. We build strength and resilience to grow as a community of learners. We develop positive relationships which respect the dignity of all.”

Our teachers are in an ongoing journey with the students to make this vision and mission part of our everyday school language. This will also tie in with our ongoing PBL focuses throughout the year.

Fortnightly Catholic Lesson

I will be continuing our fortnightly Catholic lessons again this year. Each week our Newsletter will have a different Catholic teaching to either remind or teach us something about our faith. We are working through the Sacraments this term. This week – Confirmation!

Confirmation is the sacrament where God the Holy Spirit makes you strong to serve in the kingdom of God. You can serve God right now, right where you are. So how does this happen? The Bishop places his hands over the person to be confirmed and calls down the Holy Spirit. Then he anoints the person with chrism, drawing the Sign of the Cross on their forehead. He calls the person by name and says: “be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Confirmation is a tricky sacrament to understand because we cannot physically ‘see’ the Holy Spirit – but we are filled with it at confirmation and becomes our source of spiritual strength. The word ‘confirmation’ comes from firmare, the Latin word meaning ‘to strengthen.’ The Holy Spirit strengthens you in your faith and helps you to know God and do what is right. If you listen, the Holy Spirit is like an interior navigation system that shows you the way through life.

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION

If you have any questions regarding the Sacraments of Initiation, please contact the parish office on (02) 4933 8918. Below are the significant dates for 2023:

GOSPEL REFLECTION

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A

Mt 17:1-9
Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John.

ATSI

Anikanya,

On the 17th of February St Paul's held its annual whole school Mass. Year 4 and Year 5 held a Smoking Dance which was run by Emily Heath's cousin Amarni. The Year 6 Junior AECG were presented their badges. Enjoy looking some of the photos of the Smoking Dance and the Junior AECG receiving their badges.

Library News

Library

Due to unforeseen changes in the staff timetable, library borrowing across the school will now only occur once a fortnight. Borrowing days have now changed as follows:

Even weeks

Monday Stage 1 - Year 1 and Year 2
Thursday Stage 2 – Year 3 and Year 4

Odd Weeks

Monday Kindergarten
Thursday Stage 3 – Year 5 and Year 6

Classes now only borrow the alternative weeks to rotation days.

A maximum of 3 books will now be allowed during each fortnight.

BOOK CLUB

Books ordered from our first book club issue have all been sent home. Thank you for helping raise funds to purchase more books for the library.

Keep an eye out for Issue 2 soon to be coming home.

If you have any questions or concerns about the library please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Penny in the Library.

katrina.howard@mn.catholic.edu.au

Kind Regards,
Katrina Howard and Penny Sneddon

LUNCH ACTIVITIES

P&F

Why is my Child so Angry

Families, Carers, Friends - are you struggling to understand a little one who is often angry, with BIG emotions? Life Matters Psychologists are hosting online workshops this year and the next one up might interest you!

Newcastle Psychologist Paige Whitfield will talk about the multiple factors that contribute to a child’s struggles with anger, irritability, & aggression - and how these matters often accompany other mental health conditions, including ADHD, autism & anxiety disorders.

Click through below for more information:

Guitar, Bass & Ukelele Lessons available at school

Term Dates 2023

Term 1 Friday, 27th January – Thursday, 6th April
Term 2 Monday, 24th April – Friday, 30th June
Term 3 Monday, 17th July – Friday, 22 September
Term 4 Monday, 9th October – Tuesday, 19th December

Term 1 2023

Week 7 6th March – 10th March

Mon 6th Mar - MATS S3
Tue 7th Mar - Rotations S2
Tue 7th Mar to 10th – Boys Cricket – Ballina/Lismore
Wed 8th Mar - Rotations S1
Wed 8th Mar – Dio AFL Trials
Fri 10th Mar – Dio Cricket Trials

Week 8 13th March – 17th March

Mon 13th Mar – MATS S3
Mon 13th Mar – League Girls Gala Day
Tue 14th Mar – Rotations S3
Tue 14th Mar – Primary Do Winter Trials
Tue 14th Mar – NAPLAN
Wed 15 Mar – NAPLAN
Thu 16th Mar – NAPLAN
Fri 17th Mar - NAPLAN

Week 9 20th March – 24th March

Mon 20th – Friday 24th Mar – FREE DENTAL VAN ALL WEEK
Mon 20th Mar – NAPLAN
Mon 20th Mar – MATS Y6
Tue 21st Mar – NAPLAN
Tue 21st Mar – Rotations S2
Tue 21st Mar – P&F Meeting Library
Wed 22nd Mar – MSP School Photos
Wed 22nd Mar – NAPLAN
Wed 22nd Mar – Rotations S1
Thu 23rd Mar – NAPLAN
Fri 24th Mar – NAPLAN
Sat 25th Mar – Earth Hour 8.30pm

Week 10 27th March – 31st March

Mon 27th Mar – Harmony Day – Students Wear Orange
Tue 28th Mar – Polding Touch Selection Boys – Parks NSW
Tue 28th Mar – Polding Touch Selection Girls – Parks NSW
Tue 28th Mar – Parish Mass – St Paul’s Church 9.30am
Tue 28th Mar – Rotations S3
Tue 28th Mar – Parish Mass
Wed 29th Mar - School Cross Country
Thu 30th Mar – NSWCPS Swimming Carnival
Fri 31st Mar – Yr4 Worimi Buna Excursion – Murrook Culture Centre & Dunes Williamtown

Week 11 3rd April – 6th April

Sun 2nd Apr – Day Light Savings Ends
HOLY WEEK
Tue 4th Apr – Rotations S2
Tue 4th Apr – Polding AFL Selections Boys Bateau Bay
Wed 5th Apr – P&F Easter Egg Raffle Draw
Wed 5th Apr - Rotations S1
Thu 6th Apr – Out of Uniform – Mini Vinnies CARITAS -gold coin donation
Thu 6th Apr – Holy Week Liturgy
Thu 6th Apr – Holy Thursday
Thu 6th Apr – Term 1 Ends
Fri 7th Apr – Good Friday
Sun 9th Apr – Easter Sunday

Uniform Shop News

New item available in the uniform shop

Walker Dry & Cosy Jacket in Dark Maroon
Full zip front with storm flap for fantastic protection
Made from waterproof nylon with concealed hood
Polar Fleece lined with elastic cuffs to keep the warmth in.

Available in the following sizes 4,6,8,10,12,14 youth, 16 youth, Small, Medium, Large, XLarge, 2XLarge
$45 each

The uniform shop would greatly appreciate donations of any uniforms that may have been outgrown by your children.

Items from the Second-hand clothing pool are $2.00 each.

New Uniform Shop Hours 2023

Monday 2.15pm – 3pm
Wednesday 8.30am - 9.30am
Friday 8.30am - 9.30am

Elissa Purdon
Uniform Shop Coordinator

Canteen

Opening days will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, CLOSED MONDAY. Please order via the Qkr.

Lunch orders will be sent to the classrooms as normal.

Please ensure your child has their current class.

Healthy Lunch Box