17 September 2024

From the Principals Desk

Proud Moments

There have been so many over the past fortnight.

Author in Residence – Thank you to the staff who organised and supported the work in this. The students’ writing and illustrations are outstanding, and we cannot wait to see our completed text!  With all the interruptions of the week, the students remained focused and engaged with Leila Rudge.

Student Representation: Netball, Soccer, Tournament of Minds, Polding Athletics, STEM day Year 6 students, Year 2 learn to swim week. These are all times our students are representing our school and our values. I heard wonderful reports from all these areas about how well our students participated and displayed great manners.

Kindergarten 2025

Next week our 2025 group of preschoolers and parents share their third play experience. The teachers will again set up play areas for the groups and parents can have a quiet cuppa in the hall to get to know each other and some of our staff.

BYOD Device year 5

Year four families will be aware that BYOD is expected for Yr 5. We are hoping to host an information session early next term. This will be our 5th year of implementing bring your own device for stage 3. The device is a great tool for learning and sharing the work we've been doing at school with home. The specifications are attached in the flyer for you to be able to take to any computer store to compare prices. If you have any questions before our session, please email the school admin.

Excursions

We have many excursions prepared for the next two weeks with fantastic staff and supportive parents. Thank you to all parents and family members who are volunteering to supervise students. It has been a great term of extracurricular activities, and that help socialise our students while learning important content in a different setting.

We look forward to the Yrs 5 and 6 camp next term.

Assistant Principal  

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)

Our last PB4L fortnightly focus for Term 4 is Wear the correct uniform and care for our appearance . This fortnight, students and families are reminded that students need to be wearing the correct full school uniform each day. This focus aligns with our school rule of responsible Responsible as well as the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skill of Self-Awareness.

What is Self-Awareness?

This element involves students developing an awareness of their own emotional states, needs and perspectives.

Students identify and describe the factors that influence their emotional responses. They develop a realistic sense of their personal abilities, qualities and strengths through knowing what they are feeling in the moment, and having a realistic assessment of their own abilities and a well-grounded sense of self-knowledge and self-confidence. Students reflect on and evaluate their learning, identify personal characteristics that contribute to or limit their effectiveness and learn from successes or failures.

In developing and acting with self awareness, students:

• recognise emotions
• recognise personal qualities and achievements
• understand themselves as learners
• develop reflective practice.

Below is a link to a clip that you may like to share with your child/ren. It focuses on being self-aware. Families may find this as a helpful conversation starter around noticing our body’s reactions when we are feeling different emotions.

St Paul’s 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 jewelry 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.

Religious Education Update 

R U OK DAY

Yesterday, Thursday the 12^th of September, our wonderful Mini Vinnies Team hosted a mission day to raise money for R U OK Day. I am proud to say that the team did 99% of the set-up, running and pack-up for the day, even though they were a depleted squad due to lots attending a STEM day in Newcastle. Students enjoyed guessing the name of a toy, guessing the number of lollies in the jar, nail painting, face painting and a bean bag toss competition. Another wonderful and successful day from our Mini Vinnies Team.

I have also included a beautiful artwork by Scarlett in year 6 that showcases the importance of not only asking if those around you are ok but noticing the subtle changes and following up with a check-in and where to go from there.

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION 2024

Lots of people have been asking about the next round of the Sacraments of Initiation program (for 2025). As soon as I have any information, I will pass it on. Generally, the initial information sessions for next year start mid/late Term 4 so please keep an eye out!

On that note, a HUGE congratulations to the following students who have completed their Sacraments of Initiation this year:

Gemma Connell, Kade Dalton, Ruben Day, Harlan Enirght, Tilly Enright, Lucy Ford, Oliver Forty, Ryan Forty, Hattie Fyfe, Lexi Haynes, Matikas Mallen, Jagger McDougall, April Mcletchie, Lara Schultz, Arlee-Rose Sorensen, Declan Stark and Emerson Willems

We are onto the last event for this year this weekend – MASS OF THANKSGIVING – Sunday 22^nd September @6pm East Maitland

GOSPEL REFLECTION
TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
Mark 8:27-35
A follower of Christ must take up the cross.

Library News

TERM 3 BORROWING DAYS

Due to staff and timetable changes library borrowing days have changed this term.

Monday: Year 4
 Tuesday: Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2
 Wednesday: Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6
 
 Kinder and Year 1 will continue to borrow weekly.
 Years 2 - 6 will borrow each fortnight. 
 Odd weeks M classes. Even weeks W classes.

Overdue notices  

Overdue notices will be sent out again next week. Can all overdue books and accompanying notes please be returned to the library signed by a parent or carer please.

Author In Residence with Leila Rudge!  

Wow! What a busy week we had across the school and in the Library last week.

We did it! We created a book in a week starting with brainstorming the written text with beginning, middle and end, plot development of problems, character names and book title options. Editing, editing and more editing right through till Friday when we were still editing. Illustrations started on Tuesday once the storyboarding took place cutting and pasting the text across the 32 pages. Classes all drew mini thumbnails and whole page roughs. Leila worked her magic selecting and combining many students work to make the final images. Water colour paper was then used to trace the chosen roughs, paint the images and then finishing off with pencil. The Library Monitors also did a great job in the drama performance assembly on Friday sharing the story with the school community. The results were amazing and we can’t wait to share the final published book with the whole school community. We have so much talent across our school and it was fantastic for the students to have the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring project.

BOOK CLUB  

Issue 6 of Book Club is out now. All orders made this issue will receive a $5 voucher for issue 7. Orders are due in on the 13^th of September. Please order online through the Scholastic website under the parent LOOP portal or send correct money into the school office. 

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

Primary Coordinator/Gifted Education Mentor 

Child Protection Week

At St Paul's, we believe that every conversation matters. Whether it’s between students, staff, families, or the wider school community, these interactions help us learn, grow, and connect more deeply with one another. This year’s theme, "Every Conversation Matters," came to life during a Peer Support session, where students talked about who they can go to for help and the importance of listening and supporting each other. In Week 7, we supported Child Protection Week, highlighting how important it is to create safe, caring environments for all students. 

Tournament of Minds

On Sunday, two teams of students represented our school at the Tournament of Minds competition. They demonstrated exceptional creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork as they tackled a series of challenging tasks. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication. A big thank you to Mrs. Clarke, Miss Tuersley, and Mrs. Collette for supporting the teams. Congratulations to all the students for their outstanding efforts!

Sport

Stage 2 Soccer

We had 22 wonderful stage 2 students represent St Paul’s at the soccer gala day in Speers Point on the 27th August. 

The students demonstrated wonderful sportsmanship, encouraging each other on and working as a team. 

Even though scores were not taken, we kept the goal count high! 

Our day ended with our two teams playing against each other! 

Mrs Stefanish-Smith

Stage 3 Soccer

Stage 3 were blessed with a warm, sunny, spring day for soccer! Maybe a tad too warm! Great sportsmanship was displayed by our students, countless goals scored, and fancy footwork showcased!  

It was a wonderful opportunity for the Beckhams and Ronaldo’s of St Paul’s to shine! 

Thank you to Ruby’s dad, Mr Taylor for coaching the Year 5 team.

Mrs Stefanish-Smith

Netball Gala Day

Our teams today displayed true sportsmanship, integrity and friendship throughout all their games today. Including cheering on our teams when not playing.

Each team played 5 games. With the 3/4 team winning all games (only 3 goals scored against them). The 5/6 social team warmed up to win their 2 final games. The 5/6 competition team had some very tough competition today yet turned their results around and won their last 2 games.

The student's behaviour and representation of St Paul's today should truly be commended. They were an absolute delight to take to this event.

There were no injuries, just a couple of green ants deciding to munch on our students.

A special mention to Mrs Howard’s daughter, Matilda, for umpiring. She was wonderful and was happy to help all the teams throughout the day. Chelsea and Ally also did some umpiring through the day to support our teams.

Overall, an absolutely wonderful day and representation of St Paul's.

Mrs Walls, Mrs Coleman and Miss Walls

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 9

Next

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