2 August 2024

From the Principals Desk

What a great start to Term 3.

Another busy term is upon us. We sent the Term planner out last week and have already sent an amended version due to a clash of dates. Check your planner and reminders on COMPASS notifications.

We began with a beautiful NAIDOC acknowledgement this week and today, a wonderful day for Grandparents Day celebrated alongside our kindergarteners who have been with us now for 100 days.

Thank you to Mrs. Wilson for a fantastic NAIDOC Week play involving the whole school. We were blessed to be part of an inclusive presentation of our First Nations people's way of life. We are very blessed to have Mrs Wilson support our school in sharing the stories of our collective heritage.

Thank you to our kindergarten teachers, who shared a blessing for Grandparents Day  It was lovely to have a cup of tea with our community of grandparents. Kindergarten celebrated their 100^th day at big school. A great day to see the connection our young children have with our older generations.

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A Chilly Start.

With the cold snap, lots of children have still left their jumpers at school. If you know you've lost a jumper, please ask your child to check the lost property boxes - Outside the library - In the box next to the office - Or the Infants Reading garden. Please put your child's name on every piece of clothing so they can be returned.

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences.

This week was an opportunity for communication with your classroom teacher and your child about their school goals for semester 2. These could be set in both academic and social areas. This is an important time for collaboration and building the learning partnership with the school and classroom teachers.

Playground Upgrades

During the holidays the basketball court was resurfaced with many uneven areas filled. It’s still getting a lot of use from our keen basketballers and netballers. We look forward to the installation of new climbing equipment for the primary playground hopefully during the next holidays. We are also planning upgrades to the infants playground with our draft plans nearly ready for tender.

Safeguarding and Mandatory Reporting

Safeguarding is a very important part of our responsibility as educators and adults in our school community. Although it is a very difficult topic, it is our responsibility to report any matters concerning the safety of children or vulnerable people immediately. Please remember that if you are a volunteer within our school, you also have this obligation to report to a teacher or an executive member of staff.

Assistant Principal  

PB4L

This fortnight’s focus is Safe and friendly hands feet and words. This focus aligns with our school rule of being Responsible and our school value of Love.

Developing our students’ social and emotional learning skills (SEL) is part of this learning process. This fortnight’s focus supports the development of our student’s Self-Management skills as well as the skill of Responsible Decision Making.

Each fortnight, as part of their PB4L lesson, teachers will be focusing on how students can use a variety of strategies to manage their emotions and make good choices around their behaviour.

Below I have shared with you a clip that supports students in developing their Self-Management strategies. I encourage parents to chat with your children this week about one strategy they can trial to help to develop this skill.

Curriculum

At St Paul’s we have a continued focus of improving the academic growth of all students in our care. Every 3 years the school renews its Strategic Improvement Plan (SIP). Our current Curriculum goal is in the Key learning Area of English. More specifically we are focusing on improving our students' writing skills in Creating Texts, Grammar and Punctuation. 

There are also lots of things that parents and carers can also do at home to help support and engage their children in writing. 

1. Write for a reason
   It doesn’t matter how small the task is. Encouraging children to write for a clear purpose is key. It can be a simple reminder note, a message to go in someone’s lunch box, a shopping list or a birthday card.
2. Write together for fun
   Encourage family activities that make writing fun. Create jokes, riddles, stories, rhyming lists, and anything else you can think of!
3. Display writing done in the family
   Use the fridge, family noticeboard or calendar. This shows children how writing works in our lives and how important it is and how it is valued.
4. Ask your children to read their writing to you
   Ask children to read their writing aloud. This shows that you are interested in what they are doing. Also, when children read their written work aloud, they will inevitably notice some mistakes (so it’s like revising their work).
5. Be encouraging
   When working on writing skills with your child, make sure you are positive. You could say things such as, “I noticed that you really focused on your writing” or “I really like how you used [that word]”. Also recognise any progress in their writing efforts, “I noticed that you checked your capital letters”.
6. Take the initiative at school
   Talk to your child’s teacher about what you are doing at home and ask for suggestions about what your child needs to further develop their writing skills.

Religious Education Update 

WELCOME BACK FOR TERM 3

Welcome back everyone for another Term! We have started with a bang as the calendar us already full starting with Grandparent’s Day today! Along with this though, it is vitally important to take the time to slow down every now and then to reflect and pray. This has huge benefits for our mental wellbeing, it brings us closer to God, and helps to clear our heads to make better decisions. I look forward to the term ahead along with its challenges and blessings.  

Lord Jesus, 

Thank you for the gift of life. Each season is special and beautiful in your timing and I praise you, Jesus, for teaching me to embrace each one. During this current season of busyness, I desperately need the wisdom that can only come from you. I need you to calm my hurried heart. The hustle and bustle can cause my spirit to sink… When I know your plan is to soar. As the God of the universe living inside of me, the Author of peace that can’t be comprehended, please give me your heavenly tranquillity to experience fully and I’ll praise Your holy name.

Amen

YEAR 4 FORMATION/RETREAT DAY

At the end of Term 2, Year 4 were lucky enough to experience a formation/retreat day at the St John’s Hall in Maitland. The day was focused on service and using our gifts in service to others. This is within our school Vision statement “With Faith in Jesus Christ, we Learn, Love and Serve.”

A big thank-you to All Saints College Principal, Brian Lacey, who organised a BBQ to use and some Year 10 leaders to come and talk to our Year 4 students about what it means to use gifts in service. Another big thanks to Bec Piefke from the Parish, Mrs King and Mr Burgess who helped facilitate the day for the students. Also thanks to the parents that came along and shared in lunch with us.

FEAST OF ST. MARY MACKILLOP - 8^th August

Mary MacKillop was born on 15 January 1842 in Melbourne, Victoria. Her parents were born in Scotland and came to live in Australia. She had three sisters and four brothers. Mary cared about the people who had no one to look after them such as boys and girls who just roamed the streets, children in the country who had no school to go to, people who were old and sick and people who had nowhere to live, Mary wanted more than anything to help these people.

Mary went to work as a teacher in a little country town in South Australia called Penola. There she met Father Julian Tenison Woods who also wanted to do something for the poor children who could not afford to pay the money needed to go to school. Together, in 1866, they began the first St Joseph’s School in an old stable. Two of Mary’s younger sisters also taught in the school and other young women came to help them.

On 19th March 1866 (St Joseph’s Day) Mary started to wear a simple black dress and began the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph. Now as a Sister, she dedicated her life to doing God’s work. As more and more young women joined Mary as Sisters, they were able to start more schools. All children were welcome at the Josephite schools, which provided free Catholic education.

In Adelaide, they opened a place for women who had nowhere to live, an orphanage for children who had no parents to look after them and a house where poor people could come and stay. The Sisters visited people who were in gaol and those who were poor and sick.

Mary MacKillop was kind to all people, even if they did not agree with her. She died on 8 August 1909 in Alma Cottage, North Sydney. Mary helped many people during her lifetime and after she died, the Sisters of St Joseph kept on doing the good work she had started.

Mary MacKillop kept her faith in God and bravely challenged those who did not support her vision for a more caring world. Mary is an important Australian who spent her life helping people, especially children. She is Australia’s first Saint.

© Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph 2005
www.sosj.org.au 

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.

We completed the meetings for First Holy Communion this week, the next event is the Presentation of the Gifts Weekend – 17^th/18^th August

GOSPEL REFLECTION
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
John 6:24-35
Jesus is the bread of life.

Library News

Library Borrowing Days

Kinder and Year 1 borrow every week.
Years 2-6
W classes borrow even weeks
M classes borrow odd weeks

Monday
Year 4

Tuesday
Kinder, Year 1, Year 2

Wednesday
Year 3, Year 5, Year 6 

OVERDUE NOTICES

All overdue notices were sent home twice last term. A third will be sent home early this term. Our aim is to have students reading regularly, learning respect for school property and responsibility to return borrowed books. We require overdue slips to be returned, circled and signed. There is no cost incurred for misplaced books. Thank you though to those parents who have purchased replacement copie's of lost or damaged books it is unexpected, though greatly appreciated.

PRC

Only 5 weeks left to record books read online for the PRC. Congratulations to the following students for completing the challenge over the holidays.

Elsey KW, Mahla 2M, Siya 2M, Tyler 2M and Josef 2W.

BOOK CLUB

Issue 5 of Book Club will not be sent home due to our annual Book Fair Fundraiser. Often these books are similar in stock and purchases through the Book Fair next week is greatly appreciated.

BOOK FAIR

Where: St Paul’s Library
When: Week 3, 5^th -8^th August 8:30am – 3:30pm

When will the Book Fair be open to parents and carers?

Monday - afternoon only
Tuesday - morning & afternoon
Wednesday - morning & afternoon
Thursday - morning only

When will the students make purchases?

With their class on borrowing days. If paying by cash remember to bring along on this day,

Monday- Year 4
Tuesday- Year 2, Year 1 & Kindergarten
Wednesday- Year 3, Year 5 & Year 6

How do I pay for books?

There are a few options.

1. Cash in the library.
2. EFTPOS in the library
3. Online making a pre-payment. https://scholastic.com.au/payment

Search St Pauls Primary School (no apostrophe). Students will need to bring along the receipt number as proof of purchase recorded on the pamphlet or wish list card (see photo). This is for a chosen amount only, not a specific book title. Please ensure you select St Pauls Primary School – Rutherford

This is our preferred option of payment for students purchasing during class times. Payments can now be made.

How much money should I send in with my child?

Some books will be priced as low as $5-$10. Most books will be priced between $15-$20. Diaries, stationary (pens, rubbers, pencils etc), posters and craft kits can also be purchased valued between $2 - $30. Some box sets are also available.

Why has my child not selected any wishlist book titles?

In previous years we have found many students disheartened when wishlist books have become unavailable and backorders taking weeks to arrive and often unavailable. Younger students also become confused thinking they will be able to have everything on their list.

Can I donate a purchased book to the library?

Yes! Book donations are greatly appreciated.

If my child is absent do they still have an opportunity to purchase?

Yes as long as your child returns to school while the book fair is still on. Books will be packed away Thursday lunchtime.

Author In Residence

Term 3 Week 7 with Leila Rudge!

If you have any questions or concerns, 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

Gifted Education Mentor/Primary Coordinator

Diocesan Maths Bee

At the end of Term 2, Esai Goonawardena represented St Paul’s at the Diocesan Maths Bee, which took place at St Catherine's Singleton on Friday 5th of July. We are extremely proud to announce that Esai secured second place. This is an outstanding achievement, well done, Esai!

ICAS

ICAS will be taking place at St Paul’s from Week 3 onwards for those students who have registered to participate. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to challenge themselves and showcase their skills in a variety of subjects. Below is the schedule for the upcoming assessments:

Digital Technologies and Writing: 5th - 9th August
English: 12th - 16th August
Science: 19th - 23rd August
Spelling Bee: 19th - 23rd August
Mathematics: 26th - 30th August

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of our students.

Garden Club

Thank you to Maitland City Council for donating 30 native shrubs and seedling to St Paul’s for National Tree Planting Day. 

We had a number of Waste Warrior and Garden Club students eagerly plant these shrubs near our Yarning circle. 

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

School Student Travel Passes 2024

Uniform Shop Hours 2024

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

Hunter Holiday Program