Welcome Back to a New School Year!

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to another exciting school year at St Paul’s! Each year brings new opportunities, fresh beginnings, and the chance for our students to grow in faith, knowledge, and friendship.

I warmly welcome our new staff, students, and their families to St Paul’s. I know they will feel the friendliness and support of our school community as they settle into this new chapter. We are blessed to have such a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and encouraged to thrive.

This is a special time for students as they build relationships with their new teachers, form bonds with classmates, both new and familiar, and engage with the broader school community. As our classes are mixed each year, students have the opportunity to develop new connections while strengthening existing friendships.

At St Paul’s, we are guided by the richness of our Catholic faith and tradition. Central to this is the call to reconciliation—learning to forgive, heal, and restore relationships with one another. Through this, we nurture a culture of compassion, inclusion, and respect, ensuring that every child feels a sense of belonging and support.

As your child’s first educator, your role in their learning journey is invaluable. Building a positive relationship with your child’s new class teacher will help support their growth and success throughout the year. To foster strong partnerships between home and school, I am sharing the CEDoW_Lighting_the_Way_Together_Parent_School_Partnership_Framework_A4_1_2_.pdf, which outlines how we can work together to support student learning and wellbeing.

Additionally, I am sharing the CEDoW_Social_Media_Statement_and_Standards.pdf, which provides important guidelines for parents and carers regarding appropriate use of platforms such as Facebook. This policy helps ensure that our school community remains a respectful and supportive environment both online and in person.

We look forward to a wonderful year ahead, filled with learning, achievement, and community spirit. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support in making our school a place where every child thrives.

Wishing you all a blessed and successful year.

Angela Pecnik

I am absolutely thrilled to introduce myself as the new Assistant Principal at St Paul’s. I am so excited to join this wonderful school community and work alongside Miss Pecnik, the dedicated staff, and you, the parents, to provide the best possible learning experience for our students.

I've been working in Catholic education for 23 years and have a passion for innovative teaching practices, curriculum implementation and fostering a love of learning. I believe that a strong partnership between home and school is crucial for student success, and I am looking forward to getting to know you all and working together to support your children's growth and development.

I'm eager to learn more about St Paul’s and its traditions, and I'm particularly excited about meeting the students. I believe in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

Please feel free to say hello if you see me around the school. I'm always happy to chat. I am looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and working with you all to make St Paul’s an even better place for our children to learn and grow.

You are warmly invited to attend the Parent Information Sessions that will be held in Week 4 The purpose of the session will be for the grade to introduce their teachers, discuss learning for the grade, and explain other important organisation items specific to the grade. 

Tuesday 11 February is Safer Internet Day. Safer Internet Day is a global day of action dedicated to raising awareness of online safety. During this week Year 3, 4, 5, and 6 will all participate in a webinar that focuses on how to stay safe when using the internet.

At the start of each year, the school engages in teaching students how to be respectful, responsible, and safe when using technology. This is aligned with the CEDoW expectations listed in the Social Media Policy. All parents and carers were asked to acknowledge the Technology User Agreement that is visible as a Compass Insights to acknowledge the agreement for technology use in CEDoW schools.

The eSafety Commission hosts webinars for parents and carers. 

See the link for details on how to register for the webinars listed in the flyer.

You can access further information for parents and carers about keeping safe online from the Think U Know website

PB4L Focus Week 2 & 3 - Classroom Expectations, Rules and Routines

Rewards

• Playground Rewards -Teachers award raffle tickets to students displaying positive behaviour on the playground. Tickets are collected in classrooms and entered into a weekly school-wide raffle. One student per grade wins a prize from the prize box each week.
• Merit Awards - Each week, teachers award Merit Awards to students for positive behaviours or achievements, particularly those reflecting our School Values. The Year 6 Leadership Team presents these awards weekly. Merit Awards accumulate towards higher awards, tracked digitally by the school, so parents do not need to submit them.  

Update to Dismissal Procedures on the Front Playground

To ensure student safety, the following updates have been made:

• Students will move to the Front Playground and sit in their assembly lines, facing Tongarra Road, before the 3:15 pm dismissal bell.
• After the 3:15 pm bell, students must raise their hand to signal their teacher before leaving—whether for parent/carer pickup, walking/riding home, or attending OOSH. A teacher must acknowledge a student before they leave.
• Students not collected will wait with their classroom teacher until they are collected by a parent or carer
• Students who are not collected by 3:30 pm will move to sit in the Front Office

We kindly ask that parents do not approach the class lines or collect students from the class lines before the 3:15 pm bell or before a teacher has acknowledged that a student can be collected.  This is to ensure that all teachers are fulfilling duty of care requirements and are aware of a student's location until they are safely collected.  If a child is required to be collected before 3:15 pm, please sign your child out via the Front Office. 

We ask that all parents wait towards the Tongarra Road side of the Front Playground to ensure there is ample room on the Front Playground for our students. 

Road Safety

Please see the following information provided by the NSW Centre for Road Safety.

School safety

School-age children might seem independent, but they still need a hand. Young children learn how to safely use the road from you. The habits they learn stay with them when they’re old enough to travel alone.

Walking to and from school

• Plan your trip to school so you're using pedestrian crossings where possible. 
• Always hold your child's hand up until they're at least 8 years old. Young children need your help to recognise danger such as vehicles coming out of driveways. They can also be easily distracted and wander into traffic.
• Up until at least 10 years old, supervise your child very closely, holding their hand when crossing the road. If you cannot be with your child, organise for another trusted adult to accompany them. 
• Drop off and pick up your child near the school gate and never call them from across the road. Explain to your child the Stop, Look, Listen, Think method and practise it together every time they cross the road: 
  • Stop one step back from the kerb 
  • Look both ways continuously 
  • Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic 
  • Think whether it's safe to cross and keep checking until you're safely across. 

Find out the difference between pedestrian crossings and children's crossings via our pedestrian safety page.

Driving to and from school​

• Make sure your children are in the correct child car seats for their height and age. To be effective, child car seats need to be fitted and used correctly. 
• Drive under the 40km/h speed limit in school zones as these are the busiest times and places. 
• Give way to buses pulling out – watch for bus flashing lights. 
• Always park and turn legally around schools. Avoid dangerous manoeuvres like U-turns and three-point turns. 
• Always give way to pedestrians, especially when entering and leaving driveways. 
• Drop off and pick kids up on the school side of the road in your school's designated drop-off and pick-up area. Never call out to children to cross the road. 
• Make sure kids get out of the car on the kerb side of the road to be away from passing traffic. 

Getting the bus

• Always meet your child at school or the bus stop. Never wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across.
• Always hold your child's hand up until they're at least 8 years old when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange and when crossing the road. Up until at least 10 years old, supervise your child very closely, holding their hand when crossing the road. If you cannot be with your child, organise for another trusted adult to accompany them.
• Wait until the bus has gone then use a safe place to cross the road
• Encourage your child to take a seat quickly when they get on the bus and to buckle up if the bus has seatbelts.

Staff Development Days

On Friday, 31st January, and Monday, 3rd February, the staff at St Paul’s participated in Professional Learning to prepare for the year ahead. We were delighted to welcome our new staff members, who bring fresh ideas that will enrich student experiences and contribute to our vibrant learning community.

Our Professional Learning sessions focused on:

• Programming and NCCD Requirements
• PB4L at St Paul’s (Positive Behaviour for Learning)
• Religious Education at St Paul’s
• Apple Classroom Professional Learning

These sessions were invaluable in deepening staff understanding of key policies and procedures, ensuring consistency and best practices across our school. They also provided a valuable opportunity for collaboration and planning, setting a strong foundation for the year ahead.

Following on from our Cyclic Inquiry last year, one key area for improvement identified was managing student behavious in the classroom and on the playground. In response, our staff will be focusing on developing consistent PB4L approaches K-6. By strengthening these strategies, we aim to foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Staff also enjoyed the opportunity to work with Ben and Mark, Education Officers for Information Technology from CEDoW, who supported them in deepening their knowledge of how to use Apple Classroom effectively for learning. This session provided valuable insights into integrating technology into the classroom to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

We look forward to applying this learning to create a positive, faith-filled, and enriching environment for all students.

.  

. 

BEGINNING OF YEAR MASS AND COMMISSIONING OF SCHOOL STUDENT LEADERS

On Friday 7th February at 9:30am we will have our 2025 Beginning of School Year Mass in the Church at 9:30am. At this Mass, Years 1 to 6 will come together to welcome all to the 2025 school year. The School Captains, Vice Captains, House / Sports Captains and all Year 6 student leaders will receive their badges and read their commitment to the role they are taking in 2025. Parents from all grades are welcome to attend.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church’s season of Lent. At the Ash Wednesday Liturgy we receive a cross on our forehead of ash. This year we will celebrate with a liturgy on Wednesday 5th March in the Church for Years 1-6. Kindergarten will receive ashes in their classroom during a prayer celebration.

GRADE MASSES FOR TERM ONE

Students from Years 3 to 6 will attend the Parish Mass this term on Friday’s at 9:30am. Below are the dates for the Masses. Parents and Carers are invited to attend Mass with the students.

VALUE OF INTEGRITY

This term, our value is INTEGRITY! Integrity has been linked to St Joseph which is Blue House. St Joseph was strong enough to choose to be the husband to Mary and earthly father to Jesus. 

This term we will be celebrating the feast day of St Joseph on 19th March. On this day students will be engaging in prayer and responding to activities in their classroom. 

At school we will use the Parable of the Good Samaritan as an example 

of integrity. When you have integrity, your actions match your words, even when you don’t feel like it. The Samaritan man stepped outside of the norm. He took a risk and spent money and time to care for a stranger, who was most likely Jewish – a people at odds with his people. Nevertheless, his heart and character held enough love to cover over any rivalry or pride and to do what was right. We need courage, like the Samaritan man, to do what is unpopular and unexpected, when it is the right thing to do. 

At St Paul’s we encourage all students to have courage to choose to do what is right and stand up to others, showing honesty and integrity.

Mrs Jodi Marsh

Religious Education Coordinator

As we begin the new school year it is important that your contact details are up to date.  It would be appreciated if you could log onto the Compass Parent Portal and check that your mobile/telephone number and email address are correct.

If you find that they are incorrect, you may update them in the portal.

Please also check that your email address is reachable, we sometimes find that we receive ‘bounce backs’ due full inboxes.

Thank you for your assistance.

Kristie Bicknell

Senior School Support Officer

Please see the attached note that has been sent home with Students in Year 2-6 today regarding the 2025 Swimming Carnival.

Our Welcome BBQ will be held on Thursday 13th March from 4 pm. More information to follow shortly!

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS

Dear Parents and Carers of Catholic children in Year 6 in 2025,

If you wish for your child to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2025, there will be a Parent Discernment Meeting on Tuesday, 26 February 2025 at 7:00pm in the church.

This meeting is for parents and carers only. If you are unable to attend this meeting, you will need to arrange a private meeting with Father Leo. No application forms will be issued to anyone who has not attended either the Discernment Meeting or a meeting with Father Leo.

Please check St Paul’s Parish website (https://stpaulsparish.org.au/parish-sacramental-programs/) for information on dates and Parish expectations for next year’s Sacramental Program.

Many thanks

Therese McQuade

Co-ordinator, Sacramental Programmme            
St Paul’s Parish, Albion Park