15 December 2023

From the Principals Desk

What a wonderful end to 2023 – Carols, Presentation Awards, Final Mass and Yr 6 Farewell. Thank you to all of our community for the support of your children.  It’s great to see how much our children have grown, changed and living life to the full.

We wish every family a restful and joyous Christmas and holiday season.

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Year 6 Liturgy and Graduation

The Yr 6 graduation and final mass for the year are always emotional times for families. It was lovely to see the students dress up and share an evening of fun, food and dancing with their friends and enjoy their last days at primary school.

We wish our graduating class of 2023 a most successful transition into high school, wherever they go, and thank them for their leadership of St Paul’s this year.

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Graduating Class of 2023

Thank you to the teachers and the parents who made this possible. They spent hours setting up for a memorable evening.

Leaving families

We say a fond farewell to these families who finish their direct affiliation with St Paul’s after either a long relationship, and many children, or their first and only to come through our gates into our great school. Know that you will always be part of the heart of St Paul’s

P and F Dinner

Thank you to the P&F executive and our devoted parents for coming to the P&F dinner to finish 2023.

We have had a very successful P&F this year and they have worked tirelessly fundraise and create opportunities for for our students and families to have fun. THE OUTDOOR DISCO – Again A great Success!!!

Uniform Shop

We have planned additional hours for our new Kindergarten families and the beginning of school 2024.  Additional Hours for the first week of school returning.

Uniforms 2024

The uniform shop will be open
Thursday 25^th January 9-12pm
Monday 29^th January 9-12pm
Tuesday 30^th January 12-3pm
Please make your orders online via QKR for pick up on these days unless you require time for sizing.

• Boys shirts will be available to order from LOWES with the logo on the pocket
• Girls skort and blouse are also available at LOWES

Our Year 5 students displayed their thoughtfulness and bravery as they presented their leadership speeches last week. We heard wonderful things from these young people about what they bring to our St Paul’s community and the leadership roles they would undertake if selected. We congratulate our leaders for 2024.

Congratulations to our School Leaders 2024

House Captains

Murray House Leaders (Green)

McAuley House Leaders (Red)

MacKillip House Leaders (Blue)

Dwyer House Leaders (Yellow)

Holiday Preparations

Summer holidays are always busy preparing for school return. These holidays are no exception. We have planned: updated painting for the administration building and library; carpet cleaning across the whole school, new furniture for stage 3, installation of security cameras to monitor entries after hours; new laptops to be added to stage 2.  Plans will be created for the refurbishment of the infants playground.  The cola area will be recoated, lines remarked and the Stage 3 verandah will be painted.

All children will return in formal summer uniform for the first day of 2024
Thursday February 1st.

END OF YEAR AWARDS

Kindergarten M

Kindergarten W 

1 M

1 W

2M

2W

3 M

3 W

4 M

4 W

5 M

5 W

6 M

6 W

Assistant Principal

This year, one of our School Improvement Goals has been to increase our level of student engagement. In addition to our planned annual activities, in 2023 we have implemented and continued a variety of initiatives to support this goal.

• Continued focus on teaching and re-teaching of positive behaviours through our PBL framework.
• Tracking of our students' individual competencies in Social and Emotional Learning
• Promoting a Growth Mindset through the Ned's Mindset Mission visit
• Guest speakers from The Newcastle Jets and Newcastle Knights
• Pen pals and author visits to foster a love of reading and to inspire our budding writers.
• Extension opportunities such a Virtual Academy and extension writing groups.
• Mission and outreach opportunities through aged care visits, support of St Vincent de Paul and Caritas
• Introduction of Breakfast Club, two mornings per week
• And much more!

In preparation for 2024, all our teachers are involved in a detailed class handover with the following year’s teacher. This includes a handover of wellbeing and academic data to ensure that all teachers are informed of student needs prior to the commencement of the new school year.

To support the transition of our students into their new classes, all students participated in a Step-up afternoon on Friday. Here they had the opportunity to meet their 2024 class teacher/s and share in a ‘get to know you’ activity.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our families, for your ongoing partnership and support of all that is St Paul’s in 2023.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful Christmas and holiday break.

Student Awards Weeks

Religious Education Update 

ADVENT WEEK 3

This weekend is the third week of Advent. This Sunday, the pink candle, is the candle of JOY - the Joy that we feel to have Jesus in our lives. This week’s Gospel refers to John the Baptist and ‘Gaudete Sunday’. The following commentary is a short explanation on what this means for us:

Today is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Over the first millennium of Christianity Advent was like a late Lent. Both were five weeks long, both were marked by fasting and penance and both gave the faithful a day off half way through. In Lent Laudete Sunday is still, roughly, half way through the five-week season. Advent, however, was shortened to four weeks in the tenth century, and Pope St Gregory the Great eased the fasting and penitential aspects of this season in the twelfth century, but the not-so-half-way Gaudete Sunday has remained. It is, literally, the ‘rejoicing’ Sunday when we look more directly at Jesus’ coming at Christmas.

To enable us to look at Jesus we start with the man who heralded his mission in the world, John the Baptist. In today’s Gospel John the Baptist is the model of humility, opening the way for the Kingdom of Jesus to break in upon the world. We should never underestimate talent spotters, for as this story demonstrates, they all have John the Baptist as their patron saint.’

END OF YEAR MASS

At the time of printing, we would have already held our Final Mass to commemorate the year and farewell Year 6. It was a lovely occasion led by Fr George. A big thank you goes to the Year 6 teachers for organising the PowerPoints/Mass and to anyone else that helped with its smooth running. Please head to our school Facebook page for pictures!

Sacraments

Last Tuesday a parent meeting was held in the church to inform parents of next year’s sacramental program. This is a regional program where the sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation are offered to those who wish to become full members of our faith. Students in year 3 NEXT YEAR or above may participate. For more information, please contact the Chisolm region office and they will point you in the right direction at:

Chisholm Pastoral Region
302 High Street Maitland
PH: 4933 8918 
Email: SOIchisholm@mn.catholic.org.au 

One last word…

Another year gone! I want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to everyone that pitches in and helps me on a regular basis. From the students that collect and put-up prayer cloths and decorations to my wonderful liturgy team – Sister Joseph and Steph Wilson - I couldn’t do my job without your assistance.

I look forward to a restful Christmas break with lots of quality time spent with loved ones, and I hope everyone else can do the same. See you in the new year!

Gospel Reflection

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B
John 1:6-8. 19-28
The priests and Levites question John's identity.

St Paul’s Waste Warriors

St Paul’s Waste Warriors is a little proactive group formed in Term 3 with a mighty mission to reduce waste and encourage our school community to recycle. In addition to spreading messages about reducing, reusing and recycling, they put out bins each day to collect and recycle cans, bottles and juice boxes at the Return and Earn machines. Our efforts raised $124.20! 

We asked our school community how they would like to use these funds. The St Paul’s Waste Warriors are proud to present the school community with 15 sports balls, 30 tennis balls and two books for the library!  

Sacraments of initiation 2024

Primary Coordinator/Gifted Education Mentor

NCSS 3 – partnering with families, carers and communities 

International Volunteers Day - 5 December 

The theme this year is “If Everyone Did” which centres around how much better the world would be if everyone did their bit to support common challenges. 

At St Paul’s, we want to take this time to personally thank all our volunteers who gave up their time this year to help ensure our school runs smoothly. Whether this has been helping out:

• In our canteen 
• In our uniform shop 
• In reading groups with students 
• Attending excursions 
• In our Mother’s Day and Father’s Day stalls 
• At our school discos 
• Volunteering at sporting events 
• Being part of our P & F meetings and activities

If you have ever considered volunteering in any capacity at our school next year, we would greatly appreciate your help. Please note if you would like to help, you will need to complete the volunteering registration form on our school website.  

Library News

Library 2023

What another amazing year we have had in the library. Reflecting on the year students have enjoyed creating and coding with Makey Makey’s, Blu Bots, Scratch animations, Kahoots and PowerPoint presentations. 

Students have written book reviews, created book trailers, written numerous letters to pen pals in Australia and learnt about being safe and responsible digital citizens. Not to mention the thousands of books borrowed, read, shared and enjoyed. 

Book Week 2023 celebrated the theme Read Grow Inspire where students shared poetry, plants, drama and artworks. 

We participated in National Simultaneous Storytime time reading, Speedy the Sloth By Rebecca Young being inspired to never give up, persist, and having a growth mindset. 

Our biggest highlight was meeting authors Katrina McKelvey (Kinder and Yr1) and Tim Harris (Yr2- Yr6). Box constructions were created, story character ideas brainstormed, and encouragement was given to be creative!

79 students completed the Premiers Reading Challenge and were presented with their certificates last week. We look forward to participating in this again next year.

A huge shoutout to all the Library monitors who have helped throughout the year. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It wouldn’t be possible to run the library without you! 

We are still awaiting many borrowed books to be returned. Please keep them coming in as they are found. Overdue notices will again be sent out in the new year if no communication has been made with the library.

Wishing everyone an enjoyable break. It’s a great opportunity to read, with books being great stocking fillers for Christmas. Use the time to enjoy books together, listen to an audiobook, or start a new series. Don’t forget all students have access to SORA LINK and Story Box Link online. See the previous newsletter about logging in.

Holiday workshops will again be running at Maitland Libraries and Hunter Valley Writers. Follow the links for more information on dates, times, and booking.

Happy reading and writing everyone.

Kind Regards,
Katrina Howard and Penny Sneddon

Year 4W Assembly

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Summer Holidays 20^th Dec – 26^th January 2024

Term 1 Tuesday, 30 January - Friday, 12 April
Term 2 Monday, 29 April - Friday, 05 July
Term 3 Monday, 22 July - Friday, 27 September
Term 4 Monday, 14 October - Friday, 20 December

Term 1 2024

Term Dates for 2024

Week 1 29th Jan – 2nd Feb 2024

Mon 29th Jan – Principal Return - GOVERNANCE DAY
Tue 30th Jan – Pupil Free Day – Staff Development Day
Wed 31st Jan - Pupil Free Day - Staff Development Day
Thu 1st Feb – Students Return – Yr1 – Yr6
Fri 2nd Feb – St Paul’s Swimming Carnival 2024

Week 2 5th Feb - 9th Feb 2024

Mon 5th Feb - Kindergartens 1st Day Staggered Start times and Flexible Finish at 1pm.
Tue 6th Feb - Kindergarten full 1st Day

School Student Travel Passes 2024

Uniform Shop

New Uniform Shop Employee

Congratulations to Mrs Christa Moylan for accepting the position as our new Uniform Shop Lady.  She will be very busy working the Uniform Shop and Canteen.

Year 6 Shirts 2024

If you have ordered a Year 6 sports shirt for your child in 2024 these will be available for collection at the end of January when the uniform shop is open before school commences. If you are unable to pick up on these days the shirt can be given to your child first day back at school.
All shirts will need to be paid in full before being given out. 

We apologies for the delay with the shirts. 

Uniforms 2024

The uniform shop will be open
Thursday 25^th January 9-12pm
Monday 29^th January 9-12pm
Tuesday 30^th January 12-3pm

Please make your orders online via QKR for pick up on these days unless you require time for sizing.

Students will return on Thursday Feb 1^st, 2024 in their formal summer uniform.

Elissa Purdon
Uniform Shop Coordinator

Canteen

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

Lunch orders will be sent to the classrooms as normal.

Please ensure your child has their current class.

P&F News

December 2023

That’s A Wrap…..

What a year 2023 has been for the families of St Paul’s Rutherford.

Our Colour Run was a huge success with raising $10, 480 - we would like to thank the community of St Pau’s for your generous donations. The highest fundraiser of the school was Paige Farrelly – congratulations in raising $2,010.  The school was awarded with 2 gifts to be raffled off for the highest fundraising student from each class. The winner of the school colour run backpack was Hunter Holstein – 1M and the winner of the giant plush was Anna Malkani – 5W. We will look forward to running this event again next Year!

Christmas Disco and Carols

Thank you to all the parents that assisted on our little stalls for the disco and carols! Funds will be counted this week, but both events were a raging success.

2023 AGM

Our November meeting closed out the year with our AGM and we are proud to announce the following Committee has been appointed –

President – Amanda Suffell
Vice President – Keri Letham
Treasure – Maria Jedensjo
Secretary – Jess Stefanish-Smith

The committee is excited to bring in new and exciting things for 2024, the planning is under way please contact our committee if you have some fantastic ideas that you would like to see the P&F consider for fundraising.

If you have a small business that could assist in our fundraising, we would love to hear from you by contacting us on the below email address.

How to Contact Us

Send us an email – stpaulspandfrutherford@gmail.com
Asked a committee member to invite you to the closed Facebook group
Join us at the next meeting either via zoom or in person.  

Next Meeting

Tuesday 20 February 2024!
6.00pm – AGM
6.30pm – Monthly Meeting
School Library

St Nicholas OOSH

Healthy Lunchbox

Kindergarten Orientation Video

Our 'How to pack a healthy lunch box video' is perfect for kindergarten orientation programs. This fun, 3 minute video will inspire parents and carers and teach them how to easily pack healthy lunch box. Here are some ways you can share the video:

1. Show the video at a parent information night 
2. Email the video weblink to parents
3. Include the video weblink in electronic kindergarten orientation packs
4. Share it on your social media channels

New recipes

• Tuna pilaf
• Vegetable chow mein
• Basic burger patty

New blogs

• What’s in season for spring?
• Taking the pressure off feeding fussy eaters

Have you seen our Nutrition Snippets? 

Nutrition Snippets are bite-sized nutrition tips, facts and recipes designed to be used within newsletters. 

If you have not already signed up, you can sign up to receive our FREE Nutrition Snippets (5 snippets every 5 weeks of the school term) here.