Dear Parents and Carers,

On 11 November, I had the privilege of attending the Remembrance Day commemorative service at Albion Park RSL, alongside members of our school community. It was a moving experience to see our school captain, Harrison, proudly laying a wreath on behalf of our school, honouring those who have served. Additionally, some of the choir members performed beautifully, representing our students with grace and respect.

Following the official ceremony, our students were treated to a delicious lunch generously provided by Bob Minns, Hon/Secretary of the Albion Park RSL Sub-Branch. This thoughtful gesture was greatly appreciated, and our students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the community in this way.

Remembrance Day is one of the most significant dates on our commemorative calendar. It is a time for us all to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have served in wars, conflicts, and peace operations. Held annually on 11 November, this day marks the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918, which brought an end to the fighting in World War I.

I am incredibly proud of our students for embodying the values of respect and remembrance on this solemn occasion.

On Thursday 14 November, we acknowledged World Diabetes Day, a global event aimed at raising awareness about diabetes and the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Diabetes is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, including many students in schools across Australia. 

At St Paul’s, we continue to provide support for our students with diabetes, acknowledging their needs and ensuring they have the resources they require to manage their condition effectively. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all our students feel supported and empowered, not just on World Diabetes Day, but every day.

As part of our commitment to delivering meaningful and engaging learning experiences, our staff have been reviewing the current excursion program for Year 5 and Year 6. These updates aim to better align with the curriculum and provide enriching opportunities for our students.

What’s Changing?

To support the NSW Human Society and Its Environment Syllabus, Year 6 students study the origins and features of Australia’s democratic system of government and laws. To deepen this understanding, we plan for Year 6 students to visit Parliament House in Canberra as part of their learning journey.

From 2026 onwards:

• Year 5 will participate in a one-night camp to build teamwork, independence, and resilience.
• Year 6 will attend a one-night excursion to Canberra, providing a hands-on experience of our nation's capital.

Transition for 2025

To ensure a smooth transition in 2025:

• Year 5 students will attend a two-night overnight camp.
• Year 6 students will attend a two-night overnight camp.

We look forward to this new structure enriching our students’ educational experiences. More details about the excursions, including dates, costs, and itineraries, will be shared closer to the time.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to create opportunities for growth and learning.

Angela Pecnik

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Throughout this year our school has engaged in a Cyclic Inquiry process which is an opportunity for the school to reflect on how effective it has been in the past four years, from 2020 - 2023, improving the faith, learning and wellbeing. The school prepared a detailed self review that identified its achievements and challenges using data and feedback from students, parents and staff. A panel of experienced, independent Catholic educators spent two days at the school and prepared a detailed report which included recommendations for improvement priorities. 

I would like to share with you the School Cyclic Inquiry Executive Summary which outlines the recommendations for future school improvement. These recommendations will form the basis of the school’s next School Strategic Improvement Plan and Annual Improvement Plan. These plans will be aligned with Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong’s Strategic Plan Lighting the Way.

Warm regards,

Angela Pecnik
Principal

Your child’s Semester Two report will be available via Compass on Friday 13 December. 

If you would like to take up the opportunity to meet with a teacher please email the office info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au

Your request will be forwarded to the class teacher for a phone or face-to-face meeting between 16-18 December. Requests for meeting close Monday 9 December.

Teachers award students' overall grades based on the common grade scale. Below is information taken directly from NSW Education Standards Authority’s website. If your child receives a ‘C’ grade, this means that they have achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills at their stage level. It is important to remember that if your child receives the same overall grade for two consecutive reports, they have made progress. Between the two reporting periods, your child will have learned new knowledge and skills of a more advanced nature. 

The Common Grading Scale: Years 1-6

The Common Grading Scale: Kindergarten

We are thrilled to announce the SPAP X Factor event, happening on Tuesday, 17 December (Week 10)! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to share their talents in a fun, relaxed, and non-competitive environment.

Whether it’s singing, dancing, comedy, acting, or playing an instrument, students can take the stage and wow their friends with their skills. Performances can be solo acts, duets, or small group collaborations.

Event Details:

• Students may participate in one act only.
• Each act must be no longer than 1 minute.
• Sign-ups open with classroom teachers next week.

Encourage your child to join in and let their talent shine. We can’t wait to see the incredible acts in this year’s SPAP X Factor!

PB4L Focus Week 6 - We need to be self-aware so that we can identify and manage our triggers.

Students learned to identify what a trigger is and what it feels like in their body.  They learned to list strategies for managing their emotions when they are triggered so they can follow the school rules.

PB4L Focus Week 7 & 8 - Showing respect towards others (peers and teacher).

Students will meet as a Stage to learn about what respectful behaviour looks like at St Paul's.  Students will work with their class towards a goal of our school rule "Be Respectful" as their Green Zone Reward focus. 

As we approach the festive season, we are excited to share with you the various activities and events planned at St Paul’s Albion Park to celebrate the season of Advent. This special time provides us with the opportunity to come together as a school community, reflect on the meaning of the season, and engage in meaningful activities that embody the spirit of hope, joy, peace, and love.

Join us on Friday 6th December for our Advent Liturgy that will be led by Year 1. During Advent we await the birth of Jesus Christ. Each week, students will have the honour of lighting a candle, representing the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in their classrooms. We invite you to join us in this reflective and joyous occasion that will take place in the School Hall from 2:15pm.

In the spirit of giving, St Paul’s will have organised a community outreach initiative with St Vincent de Paul throughout the Advent season. We encourage students and families to participate as we seek to make a positive impact in our local community. Students are asked to bring in an item to be placed in a hamper for families in need.

During the season of Advent children may like to participate in daily activities, reflections and small acts of kindness during the countdown to Christmas. We encourage families to engage in these activities together, fostering a sense of unity and shared joy. Please refer to the image below.

We look forward to embracing the spirit of Advent together as a school community. Your involvement and participation make these celebrations even more special. If you have any questions or would like more information about specific Advent activities, please feel free to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Advent season filled with hope, peace, joy, and love.

Join us on Thursday, 12 December, for our End of Year Mass starting at 9:30 am. We warmly invite all parents and carers to attend. Following the Mass, we will gather in the School Hall at 11:30 am for the SPAP 2024 Christmas Concert and our End of Year Awards ceremony. More details will be shared soon—stay tuned!

ACE Awards:
Eli B 3R
Prynceton 3R
Abbey 3R
Stella 3B
Lucia 4R
Hayden 4R
Vito 4R
Arianna 4B
Jack 4B
Mary 4B
Kriston 4B
Toby 4B
Hamish 5R
Chloe 5R
Koby 5R
Ava 5R
Jackson 5B
Jennifer 5B
Phoebe 5B
Mya 6B
Matthew 6B
Lily H 6B
Aiden C 6B 
Charley 6B
Thomas 6B
Kaleeah 6B
Orlando 6B
Kate 6R
Alexis 6R
Beau 6R

Principal's Awards:
Lucia 4R
Hayden 4R
Arianna 4B
Jack 4B
Kriston 4B
Toby 4B
Mary 4B
Chloe 5R
Ava 5R
Koby 5R
Phoebe 5B
Charlotte 5B
Aiden C 6B
Lily H 6B
Mya 6B
Alexis 6R
Kate 6R
Beau 6R

Mary MacKillop Awards:
Jack 4B
Arianna 4B
Toby 4B
Mary 4B
Ava 5R
Koby 5R
Chloe 5R
Ruby 6B
Mya 6B
Lily H 6B
Aiden C 6B
Beau 6R

Belinda Evans and Annalise Hastings recently attended professional learning focused on the new Mathematics syllabus implementation at CEDoW. The session explored strategies for teaching and assessing the syllabus outcomes and unpacked the elaborations to support deeper student understanding.

The professional learning emphasised working mathematically and provided practical insights into incorporating key components such as:

• Communication: Encouraging students to clearly articulate mathematical thinking through discussions, written explanations, and visual representations.
• Reasoning: Developing students’ ability to justify solutions, make connections between concepts, and use logical processes.
• Problem-Solving: Equipping students to tackle non-routine and real-world problems, applying critical and creative thinking.
• Understanding: Supporting students in developing conceptual knowledge to make sense of mathematical ideas.

Mrs Belinda Evans - Instructional Coach

Congratulations to Harrison and Madelynne!

I had the honour of watching our students, Harrison and Madelynne, at the CDF Sports Awards last Friday night, at St Mary's Star of the Sea. At the ceremony they both received special awards for their Sporting achievements in 2024.

The night celebrated the Sporting skills and talents of students from both Primary and Secondary across the Diocese. They were acknowledged for their individual achievements but also for their sportsmanship, leadership and attitude by upholding and demonstrating school values at both School and Diocesan level. 

Harrison received a Primary Red Medallion and was acknowledged for his selection in the PSSA hockey team. 

Madelynne received a Primary Medallion and was acknowledged for her selection in two Mackillop representative teams, Cross Country and Football (soccer). 

We are very proud of their achievements and the way they have represented our school with pride and integrity throughout the year!

   

On the last day of school the 18 December students are invited to wear Christmas mufti clothes and there will be games, ice blocks an loads of Christmas fun to celebrate the many achievements our students have made this year. 

Please see the attached school holiday flyer.