18th December 2024

From the Principals Desk - Mrs Stacey Mullin

Thank you for a wonderful end to the 2024 year with many awards and the launch of our published book Rainbeau.  This could not have gone ahead without the contributions from every staff member for the week of writing and the launch assembly.  Special thanks to Katrina Howard and Stephanie Wilson for the extra work behind the scenes.  We wish Leila every success on the launch of her next book and her move to the Far North Coast.

Rainbeau Book Launch

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Extra copies of Rainbeau can be purchased via QKR. These make a wonderful Christmas gift and will also be available in the new year.


Staffing Updates

• We welcome Mr Daniel Ebert will be joining the St Paul's staff in 2025 in Year 4 and as primary coordinator.
• Mrs Stefanish-Smith will be teaching Year 1 full time.
• Miss Jessica Irwin will job-share with Mrs Louisa Shears on Year 3.
• Mr Jacob Adams will be teaching technology as part of release from face to face for all classes.
• Miss Matilda Ferguson will be part time Learning Support Teacher and releasing classes.
• Mrs Melinda Walls will job-share in Year 5 with Mrs Davies and also provide PE lessons across the school.

We also welcome Carlia Collingwood full time Learning Support Teacher to join Mrs Clare Collett.

Introducing the Graduation Class of 2025

We are farewelling families whose children will be heading off to High School.   Some have been enrolled since Kindergarten, others have joined us along the way.  I would like to extend our appreciation to the families and wish them well.

Farewell to:  Burton, Blayden, Carr, Caveny, Chisholm, Coates, Corbett, Dabrowski, Fletcher-Soars, Holloway, Kaslik, Kibble, Malkani, Melling, Morrison, Murdoch, Newton, Payne, Papworth, Parker, Rollason, Simmonds, Smith, Stewart, Thompson, Threadgate, Walker & Walton families.

School Leaders 2025

School House Leaders 2025

Wishing all families a most restful and joyous Christmas, may you all stay safe and return to us recharged in 2025.

Calendar Dates 2025

Uniform Shop Opening Hours January 2025

St Paul's is pleased to offer days in January 2025 to purchase uniforms, 
Uniform opening hours
Thursday 30th January 9am - 12pm
Friday 31st January 1pm - 3pm
Monday 3rd February 9am-12pm

Assistant Principal - Sharna Taranto

What a year! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for your continued support of our staff, students and wider community this year. Your partnership is an essential ingredient of the successes our students experience.   

Last Friday, students from Kindergarten to Year 6 participated in a Step-Up session, providing all with the opportunity to meet their 2025 teacher and spend some time getting to know the other students who will be in their new classes. This transition session aims to alleviate any ‘butterflies’ that the students may be experiencing and assist them in adapting to the new classroom environment for the following year. Prior to the end of term, all teachers will have a handover meeting with the 2025 classroom teachers. Handovers provide information about the academic, social and emotional progress and goals of each student at St Paul’s.  I wish all in our community a very safe and restful holiday break.  

 Staff Development Day and Christmas break. 

This Thursday our staff will take part in essential CRP and Anaphylaxis training. This is a requirement of all staff members working in a school and is renewed annually.  

A reminder that the school office will be closed throughout the holiday break from 20th December 2024 up to and including 30th January 2025.  

 Holiday Reading 

After a very busy year, we encourage all of our students to switch off, relax and have fun spending much needed quality time with family and friends over the Christmas break. After the festivities, it can also be helpful to provide children with mental stimulation to support their transition back to school after our extended Christmas break. 

Research has shown the importance of keeping the mind active and reading is a fantastic way to exercise the brain! Like the way in which we as adults can find it a challenge to transition back into routine with our work and exercise after an extended break, this too is how our students often feel when returning to school after the holidays.  

Did you know that reading increases memory, knowledge retention, focus, and concentration? 

Reading books naturally activates our memory. While reading, we need to remember names of characters and their attributes, names of places, events, conversations, and storylines. The more children read, the more their ability to retain information improves. Their brains become better at remembering other things in their lives. 

Reading progresses children’s vocabulary, spelling, and their understanding of number. It grows their comprehension skills and knowledge of the world around them. 

Compared to other passive activities like talking, watching videos, or consuming online content, reading literature trains our brain to focus our attention and live in the present. 

https://sisd.ae/the-importance-of-reading-over-the-summer-holidays/ 

 If you are in search of a new book for your child/ren, below is a link to the shortlist of the top Children’s books for 2024 by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. 

Shortlist 2024 - The Children’s Book Council of Australia 

Mr Robert Temesvary - Religious Coordinator

ADVENT WEEK 3

This week is the third week of Advent where we light the pink candle, the candle of JOY representing 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.’

YEAR 6 GRADUATION MASS

Last week on Tuesday at 11:30am under the Cola we celebrated our final Mass of 2024. It was a beautiful Mass led by Father Paul where we acknowledged the end of Year 6 and their Primary School journey. Thank you to all that assisted with the day and thank you to the families that came along to support their children. We will miss you Year 6!



MINI VINNIES CHRISTMAS VOUCHER DAY

Last Friday the 13^th of December we held our annual Mini Vinnies Voucher Day! We managed to raise enough money to buy 15 $25 vouchers for those in our community that are less fortunate. Our classes chose to buy a range of vouchers from Kmart to Bunnings to Coles. Thanks again to our generous community, you always come through to help those that need it most.

Sacraments

Our Sacramental program for next year has commenced. 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

Luke 3:10-18

John announces the coming of the Messiah.

Library News - Mrs Katrina Howard

RainBeau Book Launch

The book has arrived, and it was such a pleasure to see the student’s enjoyment when reading our book at the book launch last week. What an amazing project to be a part of with Leila Rudge. All families received a gifted copy from the school. Extra copies can be purchased via QKR for $20.

RainBeau Book Launch

HOLIDAY READING

It was great to see students selecting some old library books to take home and read during the holidays. These books do not need to be returned to the library.

Checkout local libraries for fun (mostly free) school holiday activities. Upcoming events | Maitland Library

Online Library – SORA

All students have access to using the online library platform SORA. This can be accessed via the website or by downloading the app. SORA offers a variety of eBooks and audiobooks. This can be a fantastic way to enjoy stories as a family while on a long car trip or listening to stories before bed.

When logging on, students will need to select ACEN (Australian Catholic Education Network) as their school. Students will then be prompted to use their user name and passwords used to log into the devices at school.

USERNAME- firstname.lastname (e.g. john.smith)

PASSWORD – Same as what they use to log into school computers

Book Club

All ordered books should have been received last week from the last catalogue. Thank you to all the families who have purchased books throughout the year. Each catalogue sales gives the school commission which allows us opportunity to purchase new books for the school library.

Overdue library books

Please keep an eye out over the school holidays for school library books around the home and please return these in the new year if located.

Primary Coordinator & Gifted Educator Mentor Amanda King

Mental Health and Wellbeing

School holidays provide an opportunity for children and families to step away from their usual routines and enjoy more time together. However, they can also present challenges for some families.

Below is a list of resources for parents, carers, and families to help support the mental health and wellbeing of children during the school holidays.

ParentLine NSW Contact number: 1300 1300 52Website: www.parentline.org.au

Parentline NSW is available to talk to about almost anything related to parenting or raising a child. They can provide advice on behaviour management, family relationships, children's development and much more. Counsellors will assist families to access any services or information that may be of use to their circumstances. 

Reach Out for ParentsWebsite: One-on-one support | ReachOut Australia

Reach Out for parents provides free professional coaching for parents and carers of 12-18 year olds in Australia. 

Beyond BlueWebsite: https://beyondblue.org.au

Beyond Blue has a range of mental health services available for adults accessible at any hour.  Kids HelplineKids Helpline is available for free, private help:

• Call 1800 55 1800 – available 24/7
• Chat online – available 24/7

If it’s not an emergency, headspace can also help with qualified professionals ready to help:

• Call 1800 650 890 – available Mon-Sun, 9am-1am AEST
• Chat online – available Mon-Sun, 9am-1am AEST

KW Assembly

Congratulations to our Award Winners for 2024

Top Awards 2024

Specialist Awards 2024

Library

Technology

Creative Arts

Diverse Learning

Class Awards 2024

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