10 May 2024

From the Principals Desk

Wishing all mothers a wonderful day on Sunday.

Thank you to the P&F who provided outstanding choice of gifts for students again this year. It’s always ironic that the people who put on the mother's day stall are the wonderful mothers themselves from our school community. We are very blessed to have you in our community. 

Thank you to Year 2 for organising a beautiful liturgical celebration  of mothers.

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Anzac March

It was a great occasion to see so many St Paul's students and parents come to march with us for Anzac Day. I had many comments from the community about how smart we looked in our uniform and how proud the children were to march. Our school leaders were exceptional representatives of our school. 

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Athletics Carnival

Thank you to Mrs Jess Stefanish-Smith who spent a lot of her own time organising the Athletics carnival. Even with the buses not arriving as per our booking, we still managed to complete the major events for the day.

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Volunteers 

Our P&F have planned a great term of fundraising activities for our school. They still need a few more helpers for one-off occasions.  If you wish to help out at school for any occasion or learning in the classroom you must do the volunteers check with the CSO. The link has been provided through compass and you can also find the link below.

It’s an easy application which is centralised to the CSO and then the school is notified. 

Upcoming Staff Development Days:

Week 7 Term 2 Friday 7^th June -

WET WEATHER PARKING

During this time of wet weather we would like to remind you of the parking restrictions around the school. We understand how frustrating it can be with an increase of traffic, but please abide by the restrictions so that we can all safely enter and leave the school – especially in the rain.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Please remember when communicating with our staff you have the responsibility to speak respectfully. Even in times of distress, you will be assisted, however all in our community have the right to be safe in their workplace.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2025.

Kindergarten interviews begin for 2025 for families wishing to come to St Paul’s. Enrolment is online following this link:

If you know anyone who hasn’t accessed the enrolment forms, please tell them they can contact the school for help.

Assistant Principal  

Positive Behaviours For Learning (PB4L)

St Paul’s Rutherford has been a Positive Behaviours for Learning school for a number of years. Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is a whole-school framework that promotes positive behaviour across a school and helps schools develop safe and supportive learning environments. 

At St Paul’s we focus on re-enforcing the positive behaviors that we know will support our students in developing and maintaining a positive growth mindset as well as setting them up for success both in the classroom and out on the playground.

Last Friday, Mrs Mullin, Miss Beletich and myself attended a PB4L Professional Learning Day chaired by Dr Shiralee Poed . Dr Poed is an Associate Professor within the School of Education at the University of Queensland and is one of our national leaders and knowledgeable others in the PB4L space. We are looking forward to sharing our new learnings with the St Paul’s community and working collaboratively to continue to implement strategies that support our student’s development of positive behaviours.

Anti-Bullying

Reference: https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/bullying

Staff Professional Learning- Trauma Informed Practice

Our teaching staff engage in regular professional learning meetings each term. During these meetings, our staff have the opportunity to collaborate, engage in professional discussions and in new learnings, informed by the latest research and practices.

Recently, our staff were fortunate to have the opportunity to review our prior learnings on trauma informed teaching practice. These sessions were led by the very experienced Criag Moore - CSO Education Officer in behaviour support. Over two sessions, our staff engaged in new and revised learnings on:

• Understanding trauma in young people
• Trauma responses in young people
• How to best support young people with a trauma background academically, socially and emotionally

What is trauma?

Trauma is the emotional, psychological and physiological residue left over from heightened stress that accompanies experiences of threat, violence, and life-challenging events.

Reference:
https://www.theactgroup.com.au/documents/makingspaceforlearning-traumainschools.pdf

Winter Uniform – Beginning Week 4 Term 2

Winter uniform will begin in Week 4. With the weather turning cooler, if you feel your child needs stockings or long pants before then, they are able to wear parts of the winter uniform.

Our addition to the current uniform for girls for winter are grey pants. Styles are available at Lowes. Girls can wear the pants with their short-sleeved or long-sleeved blouses – both with the tab tie and jumper. Otherwise, the girls' uniform is the pinafore, long sleeved blouse with tab tie and grey tights or white socks.

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 information. The school procedure for uniform infringements is as follows:

• Student must have a written explanation from a parent/ carer requesting an exemption from wearing the full school uniform e.g. wearing sports uniform on a non-sport day/ wearing incorrect shoes.
• If a parent or carer note is not provided, the student will receive a first warning.
• After a second warning 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.

Clarification on earrings:

One set of earrings are permitted to be worn – either small studs or small sleepers.

Sleeper earrings with charms or large sleeper/ hoops are not permitted.

Examples:

✓ Permitted

X Not Permitted

Tell Them From Me

In the coming weeks we will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

In Week 4, a COMPASS Notification will be shared with all families containing the survey link. I will also share the survey link details in next fortnight’s newsletter.

Student Awards Weeks 

Religious Education Update 

Welcome back!

Welcome back to another term at St Paul’s! Lots on this term – we have our annual Mini Vinnies homelessness awareness evening coming soon along with students receiving Confirmation in the coming weeks.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special opportunity to let our mums and grandmothers know how much we love them and how grateful we are for them and for all they do for us. We acknowledge the often thankless work they do and the unconditional love they give us.

Every child’s birth is a witness to the miraculous and awesome power of God. It is through our mothers that God works this particular miracle. We must take the opportunity of Mother’s Day to do what we don’t do often enough throughout the rest of the year – to acknowledge our mothers and grandmothers, to say thank you and to let them know how much we love them.

God of tender and caring love,
You are Mother and Father to us all.
In Mary, you gave us the model of mothers,
rejoicing in her child and loving him from before he was born.
Bless our mothers and grandmothers and all who are mother to us
as they bring your loving presence into this world.
We make this prayer through Mary and Elizabeth
and through your son, Jesus Christ.
Amen

We also acknowledge that for some, Mother’s Day carries some mixed feelings. This time might be a reminder that our mother or grandmother has passed away, or that we don’t have the opportunity to see our mum as often as we’d like, or that our relationship with our mum is not as good as it might be.

Mini Vinnies Update

The St Paul’s Mini Vinnies team would like to share their fundraising achievements for Term 1. They managed to raise a grand total of $976.80 for Project Compassion which is a magnificent effort! A huge congratulations to the team who would also like to announce that 2M are the winners of the Project Compassion box competition and will be receiving a ‘movie pack shortly. They managed to raise a whopping $122.80! Well done 2M!!

Congratulations Jayden and Ashton on your Baptism.

Mini Vinnies

Mini Vinnies team had their first visit to Rutherford Park Community Care. There were lots of nerves at first but by the end it was nothing but smiles and laughter. This will be a fortnightly trip for our Mini Vinnies team who will rotate in groups (as we have so many!)

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Sacraments of Initiation 2024

Below are the events to mark on the calendar for those completing their Sacraments of Initiation this year. For any information, please contact me through the school office.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday the 14^th (next week). See you there!

GOSPEL REFLECTION

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD YEAR B

Mark 16:15-20
Jesus commissions the eleven, ascends to heaven.

ACTiv8 Youth Group

ACTiv8 youth group is back for term 2!

If you haven't been to youth group before, we invite you to come and check it out. We meet at St. Joseph's East Maitland Church at 5pm each Tuesday during school term. 

We start with a kids' Mass where you can train to be an altar server, play music during Mass, or participate in the readings.

Following Mass, we head to the Therry Centre for games and delicious snacks. Youth group is a fantastic chance to make new friends, especially those outside of your school circle.

We hope to see you there!

For more information contact Rebecca Piefke 
rebecca.piefke@mn.catholic.org.au

Library News

Library

2024 Borrowing Days
Monday - Year 2
Tuesday - Kinder, Year 4, Year 5
Wednesday - Year 1, Year 3, Year 6 

Library borrowing days have been altered for Stage 2 and 3 where borrowing will only occur every fortnight. Students from M classes will borrow on odd weeks, while W classes will borrow on even weeks.

Kinder and Stage 1 will stay the same and continue to borrow weekly. 

Author Visit 2024 – Zanni Louise

Zanni Lousie will be visiting St Paul’s in Week 5 – Monday 27^th and Tuesday 28^th May, where all students will participate in a presentation and/or workshop.

Zanni is an internationally published author of over forty books! She writes picture books, early reader chapter books and most recently middle grade fiction. Zanni loves visiting schools and festivals to inspire writers and readers.

We have teamed up again with Larrikin House in preparation for Zanni’s visit if you would like to purchase a signed copy of one of her books. Using the cashless click and collect process, all books will be handed out during the sessions.

Follow the instructions on the landing page once you click on the link on the attached pdf form. The school will earn 10% commission on sales to be used on products for our library. We look forward to her visit in the coming weeks.

National Simultaneous Storytime

St Paul’s will again participate in NSS reading Bowerbird Blues.

Students have the option to bring in something blue found at home to donate towards our library display before or on the day. Students are also welcome to wear a blue accessory on the day Wednesday 22nd May.   With their school uniform for example, blue ribbon, scrunchie or hair clip, blue hat, blue socks, blue jewellery, blue wristband, blue scarf, blue gloves, blue wig, blue glasses. Nothing new is to be purchased,  just something found at home.

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 24th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

Years 3-6 Home Reading

Thank you to all the students who completed and returned their home reading book marks. 245 hours were read in Term 1! Bookmarks will continue to be handed out and returned for the duration of Term 2. Encourage your children to read minimum 15 mins a day (aiming for a minimum of 4 times a week) and return those bookmarks when completed. If this has been misplaced students are welcome to collect another one from the library. 

Premiers Reading Challenge (PRC)

Congratulations to the students who have recently completed the PRC

Maggie KM, Aaron 1M, Matilda 2M, Archer 2W, Oliver 3W, Connor 3W, Daniella 3W, Jasmine 3M, Oliver 4W, Lillee-May 4M, Nathaniel 4W, Kaiden 4M, Tadisa 4M, Lily 6M, Indi 6M and Harlow 6M.

Information on the PRC can be found at

If login details have been misplaced please don’t hesitate to email the library.

BOOK CLUB

Issue 3 of Book Club was sent home last week. Please have all orders in by the 15^th of May. Orders can be placed via the online Scholastic parent LOOP portal (link below) OR correct money can be sent into the office with the order form. Thank you for all of your orders!

Lunchtimes in the Library

Chess Club will be running for another term in the library on Mondays. Students can sign up to participate in the Chess Tournament starting in Week 3.

Year 6 Book Club

This term the library will be running it’s first book club for Year 6 students reading Queenie in Seven Moves By author Zanni Louise. It is a great opportunity to enjoy the text together before the author visits our school. 

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
penny.sneddon@mn.catholic.edu.au

Kind Regards,
Katrina Howard and Penny Sneddon

Sport

CONGRATULATIONS CURTIS ROLLASON

A HUGE congratulations to Curtis in Year 6 who has been selected to represent the Polding Football team! The next step is to compete with the best of the best in NSW at State level.

Newcastle Knights Rugby League Gala Day

Last term our senior boy’s Rugby League team represented St Paul’s at the Newcastle Knights Rugby League Gala Day. It was a fantastic day and all the boys represented the school with pride. We won two games and had one draw. There was great sportsmanship and plenty of tries scored! A huge thank you to all the parents who attended and to Thornton-Beresfield Bears for hosting and providing the use of the canteen for the day. - Mrs Tobin

Cross Country

After being rained out on our original date, we squeezed the cross country in during Week 10.  Students had to run 2km or 3km depending on their age. It was a busy afternoon with lots of excited students running and cheering each other on. It was a lovely display of sportsmanship.

Congratulations to Adelaide H, Phoebe S, Archie H, Nate B, Asher T, Lilah T, Claire F, Sienna D, Isaac C and Curtis R who qualified for the Dio Cross Country. We wish all our students the best of luck when they compete next week.

Athletics Carnival

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The athletics carnival was quite an exciting way to start Term 2! Thank you to all our staff, students and families for their flexibility and understanding when things did not go according to plan. Despite the morning challenge, we all ended up together and students participated in all our events! Students demonstrated lovely PBL behaviours and sportsmanship throughout the day. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, Skye, Josclyn and Belinda. We appreciate your time and efforts on the day.

We have students that qualified for the Lower Hunter Regional Athletics carnival in Week 9. More information will be provided to those students in the coming weeks!

Primary Coordinator/Gifted Education Mentor

 CogAT 2024

In Term 2, 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) amanda.king@mn.catholic.edu.au , or Education Officer - Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au ) for further assistance.

Term Dates for 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 2

School Student Travel Passes 2024

Uniform Shop Hours 2023

TUESDAY AFTERNOON                      2.30PM – 3PM
WEDNESDAY MORING                       8.30AM – 9AM
THURSDAY AFTERNOON                    2.30PM – 3PM

When ordering Uniforms via QKR, don’t change the order date.

Orders will be sent the classrooms the days the uniform shop is opened.

If for some reason you need to exchange sizes, please ensure that the tags are still on the garment and the garment is in the original packing.

Christa Moylan
Uniform Shop Coordinator

Canteen

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR CHILDS CLASS ON QKR

Canteen Opening days.

Order via the QKR App, by 8.55am ON THE DAY.

Lunch orders will be sent to the classrooms in the class lunch tubs.

(IMPORTANT WHEN ORDERING LUNCHES – CHECK THE DATE OF ORDER)

In the past students haven’t received lunch due to the wrong order date entered.

Please discuss with your child if this happens, ask them to come to the office to see Mrs West or Mrs Mac, we will organise lunch for them through the canteen.  Only sandwiches will be on offer.

RECESS TIME:  10:30AM – 11:10AM
LUNCH TIME:  12:40PM – 1:20PM

St Nicholas OOSH

Guitar Lessons