22 September 2023

From the Principals Desk

 Kindergarten 2024

Last week our kindergarten for 2024 joined us for an hour of outside play that was not inhibited by rain. The students enjoyed the equipment and the sandpit together. It was lovely touching base with our new families and being able to answer any questions they had. We look forward to their full days of orientation during term 4.

Our kindergarten teachers for 2024 will be Mrs. Susan Campbell and Miss Haley McNamee.

BYOD Device year 5

Year four families came to our information session on BYOD on Monday night. This will be our 4th year of implementing bring your own device for stage 3. The device is a great tool for learning and sharing the work we have been doing at school with the home.

School security

With the recent break-ins and entry into school after hours we are looking into CCTV for our various entry points onto the grounds. This will hopefully deter intruders, maintain the safety of students and staff, and maintain our property. More information will be sent in the coming weeks, however, over the holidays if you notice something not right within the grounds of the school, please contact the Catholic school's office.

Excursions

We have had a great many excursions over the last few weeks with fantastic staff and supportive parents. Thank you to all parents and family members who volunteered 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 yr. 5 and 6 camp next term.

Happy holidays

Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday. These holidays I join other principals in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This experience is an opportunity to deepen my faith and connection with my Catholic traditions. Our school community will be in my prayers as we traverse the footsteps of Jesus.

Assistant Principal

PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning)

This fortnight our PBL focus is to Wear the correct uniform and care for our appearance. This focus aligns with our school rule of Responsible and our school value of Serve. It is wonderful to see so many of our students taking pride in their appearance this week, in particular I have noted many students wearing their hair tied up with the correct colour (or neutral coloured) hair ties.

A reminder that students are only permitted to wear their sports uniform on allocated P.E. rotation days (one day per fortnight) or on class sports days (1 day per week). On all other day's students are to wear one of the options from the formal school uniform.

Link to St Paul’s Uniform Policy: 

Peer Support

This week in Peer Support our focus was - Know your rights. During the session, our Year 6 students led activities that supported looking closely at the rights of each individual student in relation to bullying and harassment. The activities helped students to use a range of techniques to support those who have experienced bullying behaviour and encouraged them and the bystanders to take action. This fortnight, I encourage parents and carers to talk with their child/ren about what they would do if they experience bullying behaviour. It is important to also celebrate with our children, successful strategies that they may have used in the past. Celebrating and encouraging our children’s resilience helps them to build a healthy thinking and view of themselves. For example, ask them to think about a difficult time they had recently and how he or she coped well and moved on.

Wishing all our families a restful break and time with your children. See you all in Term 4!

Student Awards Weeks

Religious Education Update

END OF TERM 3

Wow how time flies! 3 terms down and 1 to go. I wish everyone a blessed and safe holiday and hope to see you back fresh and rested for our final term of 2023.

TERM 4 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

To give everyone a head-up I have added the significant liturgical events below. Please note that some still have the date/time to be confirmed so changes may occur.

Week 3 – Tuesday 24^th October – Parish Mass – 9:30am in the church – Yr. 5 attending
Week 4 – Thursday 2^nd November – All Saints/All Souls Liturgy – Time TBC – Yr. 3 leading
Week 5 – Friday 10^th November – Remembrance Day – Time TBC – Yr. 6 leading
Week 8- Tuesday 28^th November – Parish mass – 9:30am in the church – Grade TBC
Week 10 – Wednesday 13^th December – Yr. 6 Graduation Liturgy – 12pm Cola

SACRAMENTAL CALENDAR 2023

If you have any questions regarding the Sacraments of Initiation, please contact the parish office on (02) 4933 8918. Below are the significant dates for 2023: 

SUNDAY'S GOSPEL
25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 20:1-16
Parable of the workers in the vineyard.

Library News

Holiday Activities

Remember to keep reading during the holidays! It is a great opportunity to enjoy a novel as a whole family or listen to an audio book while travelling in the car together.

All students have access to SORA through their school logins. The app is easily downloaded. Remember to access through the ACEN (Australian Catholic Education Network) not St Paul’s Rutherford.

Story Box Library is another wonderful way to be listening to books being read online

School access is as follows:

Maitland Libraries are running many different activities these holidays. Most sessions in the Holidays are free though bookings are required. Follow the link to the website for more details.

Kind Regards,
Katrina Howard and Penny Sneddon

LUNCH ACTIVITIES

Guitar, Bass & Ukelele Lessons available at school

Term Dates 2023

Term 1 Friday, 27^th January – Thursday, 6^th April
Term 2 Monday, 24^th April – Friday, 30^th June
Term 3 Monday, 17^th July – Friday, 22 September
Term 4 Monday, 9^th October – Tuesday, 19^th December

Term 3 2023

Week 9 11^th Sep – 15^th Sep

Mon 11^th Sep – PUPIL FREE DAY – Staff Formation Day
Tue 12^th Sep – Stage 2 Rotations
Tue 12^th Sep – Breakfast Club 8.20am – 8.45am
Wed 13^th Sep – Newcastle Science & Engineering Challenge – Tomaree High School Yr. 5 & Yr6
Wed 13^th Sep – Stage 1 Rotations
Thu 14^th Sep – Breakfast Club 8.20am – 8.45am
Fri 15^th Sep – Hunter NRL 9’s - Under 10 Gala Day
Fri 15^th Sep – Kindergarten 2024 Transition Day 9.30am – 10.30am
Fri 15^th Sep – Kindergarten 2024 Transition Day 10.45am – 11.45am
Fri 15^th Sep – Kindergarten 2024 Transition Day 12pm – 1pm
Fri 15^th Sep – 3W Assembly 2pm

Week 10 18^th Sep – 22^nd Sep

Tue 19^th Sep – Stage 3 Rotations
Tue 19^th Sep – Breakfast Club 8.20am – 8.45am
Wed 20^th Sep – Opal Visit
Thu 21^st Sep – Breakfast Club 8.20am – 8.45am
Thu 21^st Sep – Yr. 2 Taronga Zoo Excursion – 7.30am
Fri 22^nd Sep – LAST DAY OF TERM 3

P&F News - September 2023

September News 

Cadbury fundraising boxes have been sent home. If you feel the need to have more chocolate and candy to sell over the holiday period, we can arrange for some extra boxes to be sent home on Friday. Money is due back on Monday 9 October!

Sock drive is underway thank you to the families that have purchase already we have sold 46 pairs. Hurry to get your orders in. Cut off will be 9.30am on Monday 9 October.  Place your orders through QKR! 

A big thank you to Mandy Shipard and her family for donation of the sensor lights to the Father’s Day stall. They are a great hit with many of our grandads. 

What’s New

Term 4 is ready to go.

Wine Drive to commence from the 16 October 2023…. Super simple we will send the order form home, all you need to do is complete your order email it back and the wine will be delivered to your door!! Time to stock up for the festive season

Colour run Date has been set for 16 November, the event will be open to families and friends to attend. Full details will be sent out at the start of term 4!

Christmas Disco Friday 1 December 2023!! Free kids disco under the cola, dress to impress with your favourite Christmas attire! We have some wonderful festive light up items for purchase, pricing will be between $2 - $12.

We will be looking for volunteers for both the colour run and disco if you can assist, please email the committee or contact a committee member.

We would love to hear what you would like to see in the 2024 fundraising calendar!! Join us for our next meeting or send through a quick email. All ideas welcomed to be discussed!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the P & F changes over the next few years, please do not hesitate in contact us, if we can’t assist in answering we will seek advice in finding a suitable answer.

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 17 October 2023
6.30pm
School Library

Uniform Shop News - September

Fundraising Plans for the rest of 2023

• Wine Drive – Tamburlaine Wines get ready for the festive season and order wine delivered to your door!!
• Colour Run – final details to be announced at the start of term
• Summer disco – date TBA in the Cola

We would love to hear what you would like to see in the 2024 fundraising calendar!! Join us for our next meeting or send through a quick email, all ideas welcomed to be discussed!

How to Contact Us

Send us an email – stpaulspandfrutherford@gmail.com 

Ask a committee member to invite you to the closed Facebook group Join us at the next meeting either via zoom or in person

Uniform Shop Hours 2023

Monday 2.15pm – 3pm
Wednesday 8.30am - 9.30am
Friday 8.30am - 9.30am

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.

Healthy Lunchbox

Useful blogs

• Packing a healthy lunch box – what to include
• Healthy lunch box tips for school
• How healthy are your kids snacks
• Top tips for packing a healthy lunch box

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