Dear Parents and Carers,

On Friday, 29th August, we had a fantastic day celebrating Father’s Day. The day began with our P&F Father’s Day Gift Shop, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers for assisting with the setup and sale of all the gifts.

Our fathers and father figures were treated to a delicious sausage sizzle, prepared by Jon Spicer, which added to the community spirit of the day. A special thanks to our SSSO Kristie Bicknell and our dedicated SSO team for their hard work in setting up the hall and ensuring everything ran smoothly.

It was wonderful to see our students invite their fathers onto the playground to join in the fun and games, creating special memories. In the afternoon, our Year 5 students presented a beautiful assembly, acknowledging the important role fathers play in our lives.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed to making this day special. We are so grateful for the ongoing support of our school community in creating such meaningful experiences for our students.

To ensure a well-rounded evaluation, we sought valuable feedback from our parish priest, parents, staff, and students. The panel members also had the opportunity to participate in a learning walk across K-6, observing learning in classrooms and speaking with students about their learning goals.

The next step in this process will be for the panel to provide us with feedback on our future strategic priorities, guiding us in our journey of continued growth and improvement. Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to strengthen our school community.

This morning, our Year 6 students left for their much-anticipated camp at Fitzroy Falls. Throughout the excursion, students will engage in a range of exciting team-building activities, providing them with an opportunity to challenge themselves individually, strengthen their connections with peers, and develop important skills in resilience.

We look forward to hearing about the wonderful experiences they will have and the personal growth they will achieve during this time.

Warm regards,

Angela Pecnik

Principal

Term Three aligns with the Planning Phase of the annual Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) cycle. The school would usually hold these meetings in Week 10 of Term 3. The portal that is used to record adjustments and goals has been redeveloped. The staff are currently training in using the newly developed tool. As a result, the meetings for students on personalised plans will be pushed back until the start of Term 4. 

Parents and Carers will be invited to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss their child's Personal Plan, review individual goals and adjustments that are in place to ensure that students with disability, or those students who require additional support in the classroom, are able to participate in learning and the life of the school on the same basis as their peers. 

These meetings are a key part of the consultation process with parents and carers, and the students who are at the centre of the plans. 

We look forward to sharing the new redeveloped look for the plans with parents next term.

We have purchased new epipen bags. These bags can be worn around the waist or across the shoulders. Students can also continue to hand their epi pen bags to the teachers on duty.

Students and staff at St. Paul's learn about how to stay safe online. We follow the Catholic Education Office's Social Media Policy.

See the eSafety Commission's advice on are your children old enough for Social Media?

On September 14 and 15, a number of our Year 3 students will have the privilege of receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist with the St Paul’s Parish. The Eucharist is a central and deeply significant sacrament in our faith, symbolising our unity with Christ and our commitment to the teachings of the Church. Over the past months, Year 3 students have engaged in sacramental classes, supported by St Paul’s Parish, to prepare for this important milestone.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Leo, the St Paul’s Parish Sacramental Team, Mrs April Grove, and Mrs Suzanne Hayes for their dedication in preparing our students for this sacred occasion. I also want to express my sincere thanks to the parents and carers for their vital role in guiding and preparing their children for this sacrament. Your support and commitment have been invaluable.

I wish all Year 3 students and their families the very best as we come together as a school and parish community to celebrate this significant event. I look forward to joining our community this weekend in this joyous and meaningful celebration.

This term, the Mini Vinnies team has embraced the art of knitting. Each student took on the challenge of learning this intricate skill, working collaboratively to knit squares that have been crafted into beautiful blankets and scarves for individuals experiencing homelessness. St Vincent de Paul will be distributing these warm items to those in need in the coming week.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Carol, Adriana, Maria, Diane and Sue for generously volunteering their time to assist the students with their knitting and for skillfully assembling the squares into stunning creations. Take a look at these images showcasing these beautiful masterpieces.

The Season of Creation, observed from September 1 to October 4, brings together Christians worldwide in a shared commitment to prayer and action for the protection of our common home. As followers of Christ, we embrace a collective call to care for creation, recognizing that our well-being is intertwined with the health of the Earth.

This year’s theme, “To Hope and Act with Creation,” invites us to infuse our actions with the hope inspired by our faith and the promise of resurrection. This hope is not passive but is manifested through tangible acts of prayer, preaching, service, and solidarity.

Last Friday, Mrs Colquhoun and her Waste Free Warriors led us in a liturgy to mark the beginning of the Season of Creation. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all parents and carers for their generous contributions. Together, we raised a total of $310.60, which will be used to purchase trees that students will plant on the Top Oval. This initiative, proposed by the PB4L Student Leadership Team, reflects the students’ desire for additional shade to enjoy time with their friends.

Catholic Mission, as the Australian arm of the Pontifical Mission Society, provides vital funding and project support to essential church-run initiatives across Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, and remote dioceses within Australia. The organisation offers opportunities for people to engage in mission through prayer, fundraising, and action, encouraging them to reach out and make a difference both locally and globally. Our mission is reflected in how we express our faith through our words, actions, and daily lives.

The Diocesan Launch for World Mission Month will be held on September 12 at St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Thirroul.

In early Term 4, St Paul’s students will participate in a Crazy Sock Day to raise funds for Catholic Mission. More details about this event, organised by the Mini Vinnies Team, will be included in the next newsletter.

Students will be attending Mass on the Friday’s below. Parents and carers are invited to attend Mass, followed by an opportunity to visit the grade classroom and have morning tea in the hall. Mass begins at 9:30am in St Paul’s Catholic Church.

Additionally, each grade will have the opportunity to present an assembly fortnightly on Friday afternoons in the hall at 2:30pm. ACE, Principal and Mary MacKillop Awards will be presented at these assemblies. Parents are welcome to attend. Please see below the dates for the remainder of the year.

Kind Regards, 

Miss Alana Stroligo

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

PB4L Focus Term 3 - Compassion

Students have learned about how to live out our Term 3 Values focus on Compassion. Inspired by St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, students have practised showing compassion to themselves, others and God's creation through their words and actions.

PB4L Focus Week 7 - 9 - Appropriate Games on Playgrounds

Students will revise what games and activities they can safely engage in on each playground.  Students will review the equipment available on each playground and practice using this equipment to play safe and respectful games during playtime. 

Principal's Awards: 

Mary MacKillop Awards:

Chase 3B
Alastair 4R
Baye 4R
Reuben J 4R
Penelope 4B
Lara W 4B

There has not been any updates regarding the changes to bus numbers or times for St Paul's. As soon as we are informed of any updates we will communicate this with our parents via the newsletter and Compass.

During week 7, the teachers in each grade had professional learning time. They collaborated with the instructional coach to thoroughly unpack the new Mathematics syllabus and develop high-quality assessments to support the planning of a unit of work in Mathematics. Teachers worked hard to use evidence from student learning to target instruction, both for the whole class and in small groups. Additionally, we analysed data from teacher observations to inform our instructional strategies and enhance our approach to support our student learning in Mathematics.

GOAL: Students will demonstrate continuous improvement in Mathematics as a result of explicit instruction at their point of need, informed by ongoing quality assessment.

Our staff also had the opportunity to share the wonderful learning happening across the school in alignment with our Mathematics goal. This collaborative sharing of practices and successes further supports our collective efforts to improve student outcomes and ensure consistency in our approach to teaching and assessment.

During Term 3, St Paul's has accumulated a large amount of Lost Property. On Friday the 13th of September, we will have all lost property out on the Front Playground after Assembly at 3:05pm. Parents are welcome to have a look through all items and see if any belongs to their family. 

Congratulations to Jacinta!

 

Congratulations to Jacob!

Jacob's U11s Kiama Rugby Union Team has recently won their Grand Final. 

Upcoming Gala Days

Basketball Gala Days

- Juniors Thursday 19th September Shellharbour Sports Stadium

- Seniors Friday 20th September Shellharbour Sports Stadium

We are still looking for parents who are able to assist with managing a team on the day, if you are able to assist please contact the school office. 

2025 Diocese of Wollongong Representative Sport Pathway Trial Nomination Information 

Please see the below information about the Diocese of Wollongong Representative Sport Pathway Trial Nomination Information for 2025. This information is for students who will be in Year 5 & 6 in 2025. 

St_Paul_s_2025_PRIMARY_SPORT_Representative_Trials_NOMINATION_PROCESS_INFORMATION_Parents_1_.pdf

St_Paul_s_2025_PRIMARY_SPORT_Representative_Trials_NOMINATION_PROCESS_INFORMATION_Parents_1 pdf 130.58 KB

Book Week Colouring Competition Winners

Congratulations to the lucky winners of our Book Week Colouring Competition! With so many outstanding entries from each class, the decision was incredibly tough. A big thank you to Mrs Schulz and Mrs Wilson for their efforts in coordinating this exciting event.

The winners from each class are:

KR – Cleo
KB – Sebastian
1B - Ruby
1R - Jensen
2R - Jeorgia
2B - Vai
3R - Ava
3B - Carter
4B - Jasmin
4R - Khye
5B - Grace
5R - Hamish
6B - Madelynne
6R - Mia
Aspect - Annabelle
Aspect - Koby

Our Year 6 Senior Leaders have launched the 2024 Handball Competition! Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 had the chance to nominate themselves for participation. Over the last few weeks, we kicked off the first round of the competition. The finals will be taking place on Thursday 26 September. Prizes will be awarded for good sportsmanship, encouragement, effort, and to the overall winner.

For Sport Frenzy Day, we encourage students to wear jerseys, sports uniforms, or attire related to their favourite sports. Students can also come dressed as their favourite sports athletes.

Kind Regards, 

Miss Alana Stroligo and Mrs Katie Colquhoun

As the canteen becomes increasingly busy we are pleased to extend our canteen service to St Paul’s Catholic Primary and open the canteen 5 days a week starting next Monday 9^th September. Every Monday is Pizza Party at the canteen!  Our large 18cm pizzas are coming back, keep an eye on the My School Connect portal for weekly pizza deals – Mondays Only!!

Canteen open Monday to Friday for Lunch break only.

Thankyou for supporting Take A Break Tuckshop

Kylie Thomas

I am very pleased that we have decided on a gluten free pita bread pizza base!

The pizza sauce, toppings and cheese is all gluten free.

The gluten free range of pizzas have been added online 

 

Thankyou

Kylie Thomas

Last day of term - Thursday 26th September Meal Deals

Uniting has launched all-day Info Hubs in its Illawarra and Shoalhaven offices to ensure community members can easily access information about the NDIS and other resources. No bookings are required!

Potential NDIS participants will:

• Learn more about the NDIS and how to apply
• Understand your options if you do not meet NDIS eligibility criteria
• Discover how to use your NDIS plan to its full potential
• Speak with an industry expert about your NDIS or Disability-related questions

Here’s when and where to find the Info Hubs in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven:

• Where? 1/1 Burra Place, Shellharbour City Centre
• When? Every first Tuesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
  
  
• Where? 35 Kenny Street, Wollongong
• When? Every third Wednesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
  
  
• Where? Level 2b, 57 Graham Steet, Nowra
• When? Every second Tuesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm