Dear Parents and Carers,

As we conclude this term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many wonderful events that have brought us together as a community. Through shared experiences, we continue to nurture our students' growth in faith, learning, and well-being—core pillars of our school’s vision.

Our grade Masses have truly been a highlight this term. The reverence, thoughtful responses, and beautiful singing from the students were remarked upon by Father Leo and our St Paul’s parishioners. We are so proud of the spiritual growth evident in each child. I extend my sincere thanks to the parents and visitors who made time to join us for these special moments, as well as the open classrooms and morning teas.

Last week, our Year 6 students attended camp from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th September. The feedback from staff on the students' exemplary behaviour and resilience was overwhelmingly positive. It was heartwarming to see the joy in the photos with students smiling, supporting one another, and embracing new challenges together. Camp provided a unique opportunity for students to experience new activities, foods, and environments, further fostering their independence and camaraderie.

A sincere thank you to our amazing parent community for your overwhelming support of the Year 6 Bake Sale! The variety of baked goods was impressive, and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the students during lunch and recess. Your contributions, both in providing goods and volunteering time, reflect the spirit of unity that makes our community so special.

I am pleased to share that Mrs Laura Miller will be returning to teach 5 Blue on Mondays and Tuesdays next term. Miss Beecher will continue teaching 5 Blue from Wednesday to Friday. Together, Mrs Miller and Miss Beecher will collaborate to provide enhanced, targeted teaching on Mondays and Tuesdays. In 5 Red, Mrs Nunes will be working throughout Term 4 to provide targeted instruction in English and Mathematics. Both 5 Blue and 5 Red will also benefit from an SSO present in the classrooms at various times to ensure learning and well-being are prioritised.

Last term one of our dedicated grandmother's entered St Paul's into a competition to win a 'breakfast celebration'. Mrs O'Dwyer has been a member of our school community for several generations. Her brothers and sister's attending the school in 1961, her children and now grandchildren Amellia and Sophia have all attended St Paul's Catholic Primary School. Mrs O'Dwyer has a geniune love and care for our school's rich history. I personally want to acknowledge the time and effort Mrs O'Dwyer spent in entering the competition.

"As part of Kellogg's 100 year celebrations, we asked Australians to get involved in our latest promotion by nominating their kids' local school, telling us in 25 words or more why that school was special and deserving of a breakfast celebration (valued at $5k). After careful consideration of entries, we've chosen St Pauls Catholic Primary School and would love to plan a breakfast celebration to get your school celebrating what makes them special." Demi Di Stefano - Brand Manager - Cornflakes, Kellanova

We will organise our Breakfast Celebration for Term 1 2025.

As previously communicated, Carter in Year 3 has been diagnosed with a childhood leukaemia. We are keeping Carter, his mother Codie and his brother Kyden in our prayers as we navigate this difficult time. 

Many parents have inquired about how they can support Carter and his family. Below is a link to a fundraising page. This page has been set up by a family friend of Codie, Carter's mother. 

Tap Here to Access Fundraising for Carter

Chewing/ bubble gum is not permitted at school for a number of reasons:
- It poses a choking risk for children
- It is very difficult to remove from clothing
- It destroys furniture that it is left on
- It can be stepped in and spread through buildings embedding in the carpet
The school requests that chewing and bubble gum are not sent to school. Teachers will be discussing this in their classes.

As mentioned in the last newsletter 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. 

Bookings will open in the coming week for meetings

The report includes 2 key features of the collaboratively developed personalised plan:
1. The current individual goals, including the recent goals that have been achieved, and
2. Adjustments that are designed to reduce the functional impact of the disability and achieve the goals.

St Paul’s strives to create an environment that is optimal for learning for our students. In an ever-changing technological world personal devices are available for all age groups. These devices include mobile phones and smartwatches. Personal devices provide messages, notifications, and communication that can distract a student or class from learning. 

Smartwatches and mobile phones have become increasingly popular and are often used as a convenient tool for communication. However, these devices can pose significant distractions during school hours and impede the educational process. To ensure our students remain focused on learning the school has put procedures in place to maintain an environment conducive to learning. 

Mobile phones/ smartwatches should not be brought to school.  However, we are aware that there are some parents and students who feel mobile phones/ smartwatches are necessary for safety reasons. 

Conditions:

The school accepts no responsibility for mobile phones/ smartwatches students bring to school. If students bring a mobile phone/ smartwatches to school it is entirely the responsibility of the student and their family.

Mobile phones/ smartwatches will be turned off while on school premises.

Mobile phones/ smartwatches will be taken to the office for storage during school hours.

Mobile phones/ smartwatches discovered at school that students use to make or receive phone calls, check for or send messages, take out to show other people, play around with to change the settings, use to play games etc. will be confiscated. Mobile phones/ smartwatches that are confiscated will need to be collected by parents. This is to help ensure that parents are aware of the problem we have had with their child and their mobile phone/smartwatch.

New permission notes will be sent home for all students with a smartwatch and mobile phone. Even if you have previously signed this form you will be required to sign the new agreement in place from Term 4 2024.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring all students have an optimal learning environment.

This term, our Mini Vinnies team has taken on the rewarding challenge of learning the art of knitting. Each student enthusiastically embraced this intricate skill, working together to create knitted squares that have now been transformed into stunning blankets and scarves. These heartfelt creations will soon provide warmth and comfort to those experiencing homelessness, with St. Vincent de Paul distributing them in the coming week.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Carol, Adriana, Maria, Diane, and Sue, who graciously volunteered their time to assist the students throughout this project. Their guidance, along with their expertise in assembling the squares, has resulted in these truly beautiful and meaningful pieces.

Yesterday, our students were honoured with a visit from Kelly McCrohon, who works with the St. Vincent de Paul food trucks. The students proudly presented Kelly with the winter woollies, which will soon be given to people in need who visit the food truck. Take a moment to admire the below image showcasing the incredible handiwork of our students and parent and grandparent volunteers.

Catholic Mission supports church-led projects in Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, and remote Australian dioceses. It provides funding and resources to help vulnerable communities. People can engage through prayer, fundraising, and action to make a difference locally and globally. Our mission shows how we live our faith through our words and actions.

On Thursday, 31 October, St Paul's students will take part in Crazy Sock Day to raise funds for Catholic Mission. This fun and meaningful event will feature a variety of activities organised by our dedicated Mini Vinnies students. Each student is encouraged to bring a gold coin donation, which will go directly towards supporting Catholic Mission’s impactful work. The day will not only be an opportunity to raise much needed funds but also to engage our students in living out their faith by supporting those in need around the world.

Throughout Term 2 and Term 3, Mrs Linnett and Mrs Floro has supported and led our Stage 3 students through the process of creating an artwork for this year's CEDoW Christmas Art Competition. We would like to congratulate all Stage 3 students for their incredible artworks that were created. This competition provides the opportunity for Years 5 and 6 students to share with the wider community a greater awareness of the role of the arts in Religious Education. It allows students to develop an appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith. 

We would like to congratulate the following students and wish them luck as they move to the next stage of the competition. From here artworks are shortlisted and if chosen will be put on display at the Wollongong City Art Gallery. 

Please review the attached documents for details regarding the Term 4 Assemblies, Grade Mass, and Liturgies. In addition, I kindly ask you to note the important upcoming events, including the End of Year Mass, the highly anticipated Christmas Concert, and the End of Year Awards ceremony. These events mark significant moments in our school calendar, and we look forward to celebrating them together as a community.

PB4L Focus Term 3 Week 10 and Term 1 Week 1: Playground Games and Expectations

Next week and during Week 1 of Term 4, each stage will participate in a PB4L initiative focused on playground games and behaviour. Staff will guide students by explicitly teaching expectations for appropriate behaviour during playground games. Each Stage will visit their designated playground area to go over the rules and conduct expected in these spaces. This initiative aims to create consistency across all stages and reinforce positive behaviour, ensuring that playground activities are safe and enjoyable for everyone.

ACE Awards:
Lachlan M 2R
Kleo 2B
Xavier R 2B
Mia K 3B
Zeppelin 3B
Lachlan 3B
Liara 3B
Oliver D 3B
Stella 3B
Stephanie 3R
Esther 6R
Brayden 6R
Eva 6R

Principal's Awards:
Kleo 2R
Xavier R 2B
Lachlan M 2R
Stella 3B
Eva 6R
Esther 6R

Mary MacKillop Awards:
Stella 3B
Mason 4B

New Mathematics Curriculum:

Backward by Design Professional Learning 

Mrs Evans and Mrs Hastings recently participated in a professional learning day with CEDoW Education Officers, Patricia Foster and Mark Boss to deepen their understanding of the K-10 Mathematics curriculum. The professional learning focused on planning mathematics lessons using the backward design model. The teachers at St Paul’s Albion Park had already been planning mathematics lessons using this process to deepen their understanding of essential knowledge and skills within the syllabus and was pleasing to hear our school is on track. Mrs Evans and Mrs Hastings will participate in Day 2 of this learning next term, to make units of work available for other teachers within the diocese.

English Curriculum:

Textual Concepts Professional Learning

Belinda Evans recently participated in a professional learning session with Educational Officers at CEDoW, Lexi Hingston and Sharyn Stafford, aimed at deepening understandings of the new English curriculum, particularly in the focus area of Understanding and Responding to Literature. The day highlighted the use of textual concepts and the power of carefully selected mentor texts and picture books, which provide rich opportunities for students to explore concepts such as characterisation, narrative, argument, authority, and perspective. Additionally, examining how these concepts are blended throughout a series of lessons allows teachers to map each stage of learning in alignment with the progression of the curriculum. This approach ensures that students build a solid foundation in these essential concepts.

Staff Development Day Professional Learning

Friday 27th September 

As we continue our focus on the 2024 Annual Improvement Goal in Mathematics, our teachers will engage in professional learning on Friday, September 27th. During this session, teachers will use their assessment data to plan a well-sequenced unit of work that includes problem-solving activities and differentiated learning. This approach aims to deepen students’ understanding of key concepts and skills while providing opportunities to work mathematically. By engaging in hands-on tasks and real-world problems, students will develop their reasoning skills and learn to explain, justify, or prove their strategies through effective mathematical reasoning. 

Mrs Belinda Evans - Instructional Coach 

On Monday, 16th September, students in Years 1, 3, and 5 took part in the Bully Zero Program. This program provides young people with evidence-based information on what bullying is, what bullying is not and the impact of both bullying and being unkind. Students learned a variety of strategies to assess and respond to bullying situations and gained a deeper understanding of the role bystanders play in addressing bullying. Most importantly, students learned ways to be an upstander and to interact with their peers respectfully and kindly. This valuable learning experience empowers our students to foster a safer and more supportive school environment.

Basketball Gala Day

We had approximately 60 students over two days attend the basketball gala days last Thursday and Friday. The students participated in many games of basketball against other local schools. We are very proud of our students who demonstrated sportsmanship and fair play. The students have had fantastic days and we would like to thank Mrs Tami Hennock and Mrs Amy Lyons for their organisation of the day and also Mrs Suz Hayes and Mrs Belinda Evans for their supervision. Thank you also do our amazing parent helpers on the day. 

Congratulations Flynn G

On RUOK? Day, St Paul’s Albion Park joined in the nationwide initiative to raise awareness around mental health and the importance of checking in with those around us. Students and staff embraced the spirit of the day by wearing a yellow accessory, symbolising the bright, supportive conversations that can make a difference.

Throughout the day, classrooms buzzed with activities and lessons designed to encourage students to ask, “Are you OK?” and understand the power of a simple conversation. Teachers facilitated meaningful discussions on how to recognise when someone might need help and ways to offer support.

By coming together to celebrate RUOK? Day, St Paul’s has strengthened its commitment to fostering a caring, connected school community where every student feels seen, heard, and supported.