Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had an exciting start to the school term. We began the term with 100 Days of Kindergarten, a great acknowledgement of our Kindergarten students’ attendance and learning. It was lovely to see our students get into the spirit and dress up as “old people” on the day. We know our parents enjoyed joining their children for an afternoon of fun activities to mark this special milestone.

On Tuesday 22 July, our NAIDOC Week Liturgy was a beautiful celebration that highlighted and honoured the Aboriginal culture of some of our students and their families at St Paul’s. 

It was wonderful to see Sam Mongta begin the morning with a traditional smoking ceremony, followed by our Aboriginal students performing cultural dances. Our students then led us through a moving and meaningful liturgy.

A heartfelt thank you to Julianne Tonini, Aunty Jo Ball and Sam Mongta for their dedication in preparing the students for this special day. Following our liturgy, our parents, elders and visitors joined us for a lovely morning tea organised by Mrs Bicknell, our Senior School Support Officer (SSSO).

On Thursday 24 July, we laid to rest Fr David Catterall, the brother of Mrs Suzanne Hayes, one of our teachers at St Paul’s. This was a significant event for our school as Fr David was the former priest at St Paul’s Albion Park and held deep connections with our school and parish community.

The Mass was a beautiful celebration of Fr David’s life, which was tragically cut short at the age of just 52. We continue to keep Mrs Hayes and her family in our prayers and honour Fr David’s legacy as a parish priest by striving to live our lives faithful to our Catholic Church, showing love and compassion to others in all our interactions. 

Finally, on Friday, we had a fantastic day celebrating the 100 Years Kellogg’s Breakfast, which was won by our grandparent Mrs O'Dwyer. The students enjoyed a delicious selection of Kellogg’s cereals for breakfast and were then entertained by a magician, acrobatic performers, as well as balloon and bubble artists. It was a joyful and memorable occasion for our whole school community.

 

Staff Carpark and Access to the School Office

To ensure the safety and smooth operation of our school, the gates to the staff carpark are now being locked during the school day. Parents and students can continue to access the school grounds through the pedestrian gate, which will remain open throughout the day.

This decision has been made to reduce congestion in the staff carpark and to ensure it remains a safe space for staff and students. At times, cars entering the carpark have created difficulties with access for service vehicles and for staff members trying to exit at the end of the school day. Parents driving in while staff are attempting to leave at 3:00 pm, or using the driveway to make U-turns, can also create unsafe situations.

Please remember that the car spaces in the staff carpark are reserved for staff only or for those holding a valid disabled parking permit.

If your child is extrememly unwell and is unable to walk to your vehicle, a staff member will happily assist you and arrange for the gates to be opened in this emergency situation.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to keep our school a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Individual Student Reports for NAPLAN have been sent home to students in Years 3 and 5 who took the tests. 

An explanation of the report is attached for your information:

GRANDPARENTS DAY  

On Friday 1st August, St Paul’s will be celebrating Grandparents Day. This is celebrated close to the Feast Day of Sts Joachim and Ann, the grandparents of Jesus.

We will be having an afternoon event. 

The schedule will be:

1:45pm Grandparents arrive and sign in via the hall. Grandparents to bring their own afternoon tea to share with their Grandchildren (please no hot beverages without lids and no nut products)

2:05pm Students sit down on playgrounds to eat “afternoon tea” with their grandparents. Year 5 and 6 will move to the hall to eat in the hall area. Year 3 and 4 will move to the central playground to eat. Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will move to the front playground. Older siblings may go and collect younger siblings to eat with. 

2:30pm Students return to class in preparation for Open Classrooms.

2:35 - 3:05pm Open Classrooms - Grandparents are invited to visit classrooms

3:15pm Normal Dismissal

RELIGIOUS LITERACY ASSESSMENT

On Monday 4th August, students from Year 4 will take part in the Religious Literacy Assessment. This will be administered via an electronic google form on iPads. Students have been involved in practice assessments using the iPads in classrooms this last week.

The Diocese Of Wollongong Religious Literacy Assessment has taken place in Year 4 since 2003. Its intention is to influence learning and accountability and drive a culture of reflection on learning and pedagogy in the domain of Religious Education. 

To be religiously literate children leaving a Catholic primary school need to be able to communicate with and be at home in Catholic society and religion in general. Thus, assessment of religious literacy focuses on students’ knowledge and understanding of the key concepts that are being addressed by the Religious Education program and the children’s ability to communicate with their religious tradition.

If Year 4 students are absent on Monday 4th August, they will have an opportunity to complete the assessment the next day.

YEAR SIX MASS WITH THE BISHOP

Year Six will be attending Mass with the Bishop at St Therese Catholic Church West Wollongong on Wednesday 6th August. Year Six will join students from other schools, gathering together in prayer and friendship.

ST MARY MACKILLOP FEAST DAY

On Friday 8th August, we are going to celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with a day of activities. St Paul’s Catholic Primary School follows the charism of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. We will begin the day with the whole school going to Mass at St Paul's Church at 9:30am. Parents are welcome to attend.

The activities will include a connection to the Jubilee year “Pilgrims of Hope” with a pilgrimage around the school and parish areas. One of Mary’s sayings was “Never see a need without doing something about it”. To further support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal we will be seeking donations of boxes to make a boxed wall. We ask that each school member brings a box of non-perishable goods. This could be a box of savoury biscuits, cereal, tea bags, macaroni and cheese packs, boxed pasta or cup of soup mixes.

CHRISTMAS ART

Catholic schools from the Diocese of Wollongong are invited to take part in The Christmas Story 2025 – a visual arts exhibition and competition for children in Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6).

Students in Year 5 and 6 will work on their artworks in class. It is essential that all artwork creation takes place on-site at school and no work is completed at home to ensure the authenticity of students' work. 

Minimum size for artwork is 30cm x 40cm; Maximum size is 80cm x 120cm.

ASSEMBLIES 2025

Each grade will have the opportunity to present an assembly fortnightly on Wednesday 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 Semester One.

Term 3

Good afternoon everyone, we are your senior leaders signing in for the week Sienna and Harrison. This is only the second week of term 3, however alot has happened. 

• On Tuesday the 22nd of July we had Nadoc Week where we had the opportunity to dress up in mufti. We wore the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags. Also Aboriginal students performed multiple cultural dances that were enjoyed by parents, teachers and students. Thank you to Sam Mongta for doing a smoking ceremony to cleanse the area from evil spirits.

• On the 21 of July we had 100 days of Kindergarten, where the Kindy’s dressed up as elderly people. Some people brought walking canes, some brought a fan, and you know what kindergarten you looked amazing for your age.

• Sadly on the 8 of July 2025, Father David passed away. Father David was a beloved priest who was admired by many. Our church held a funeral that was live streamed into the hall. Thank you Father David for contributing to our school, we know you lived a joyful and faithful life.

• On Friday we had our Kelloggs Cereal Breakfast Celebration where we received free cereal and some entertainment from Clowns, Magicians and More. 

• Also on Friday we had our school disco and we dressed as people from the 80s. We danced and sang to fun pop songs as well as following along to some JustDances.

• Yesterday on Tuesday, Kindergartens had their excursion to Symbio Zoo where they got to see cool mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians.

What a good start to the term! 

These are you senior leaders signing out for the week, Sienna and Harrison, have a good week!

In Week 2, the PB4L focus is using playground equipment safely

The staff and students want to say a big thank you for the fundraising from the P&F which enabled us to purchase new equipment. The students have been really excited trialling all the new equipment on the various playgrounds. 

The students have been reminded about which equipment belongs on the various playgrounds. Students have also been reminded how to pack up and use the equipment safely. 

The teachers will

• Remind students of the expectations on playgrounds
• Reward and praise when students are demonstrating desired behaviour

Gemma Bolton

On Wednesday 20 August, our staff will continue to deepen their knowledge of the Mathematics syllabus as part of our ongoing commitment to improving student learning in Mathematics. This professional learning aligns with our 2025 Annual Improvement Plan (AIP) goal:

"Through evidence-informed, contemporary pedagogical practices, students will be engaged and demonstrate growth in Mathematics."

Teachers and School Support Officers will once again be working with Kate Thomas, Education Officer: Numeracy | Curriculum Implementation, Learning K-12 Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing. During this session, our staff will:

• Build their capacity to use High Impact Teaching Strategies when designing high-quality Mathematics programs.

• Analyse student learning data to identify areas where students require explicit teaching.

• Collaboratively plan and refine teaching practices to ensure all students experience growth and success in Mathematics.

We appreciate your support as we invest in this important professional learning, which directly impacts the quality of teaching and learning in our classrooms.

ACE Awards:
Sofia 2R
Nikiiah 2R
Parker 2R
Levi 2B
Oliver 2B
Olive 3R
Jaden 5R
Brianna G 5R
Zoe 5R
Lukas 5B
Mihael 5B

Principal's Awards:
Sofia 2R
Nikiiah 2R
Parker 2R
Levi 2B
Oliver 2B
Olivia 3R
Lukas 5B
Mihael 5B

Mary MacKillop Awards:
Lukas 5B
Mihael 5B

A school camp at Berry Sport and Recreation Centre has been planned for students in Years 5 and 6 from Monday 8th September until Wednesday 10th September. The camp will support the concepts taught in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. The overall aim of the learning experiences is to enhance self resilience, increase their confidence in their own abilities and assist them in learning to cooperate and work with others through controlled experiences. Please see below details regarding the Stage 3 School Camp.

Venue Berry Sport and Recreation Centre

Date Monday 8th  until Wednesday 10th September

Cost The cost has been included in the 2025 school fees

Staff Attending Mrs Jodi Marsh, Mr Samuel Wallace, Mrs Laura Miller, Miss Megan Beecher, Mrs Koby Allan, Mrs Nichole Benoit, Ms Chloe Tighe                                                    

Method of Transport Coach with seatbelts

Departure time from School Arrive at school at 8:55am for a 9:25am

departure from St Paul’s Catholic School Albion Park

Departure time from Berry         1:30pm from Berry Sports and Recreation Centre

Return to school on the 10th September Approximately 2:30pm 

Dress Code

Students are required to wear comfortable mufti clothing for the duration of the camp. 

Students must also have enclosed shoes and a hat. A note will be sent home with a full 

packing list closer to the date. 

Food

Students please bring crunch and sip and morning tea for Day 1. Please pack food and a drink bottle in a small backpack clearly labelled with your child’s name. All other meals and snacks will be provided. NO NUT  PRODUCTS ARE TO BE INCLUDED WITH YOUR CHILD’S FOOD.

Activities

The students will participate in the following activities over the three days.

• Canoeing - Using single blade paddles, participants paddle in 2 or 3 seated canoes around the local waterways. This activity takes 3 hours.
• Rock Climbing - Scale a vertical wall in a harness that is attached to a safety line. This is an indoor activity. This activity takes 3 hours.
• Dark Maze - This invites participants to navigate their way through a maze of darkness and confined spaces. This is an indoor activity that lasts for 1.5 hrs.
• Orienteering: This sharpens particpants' navigation skills as they explore outdoor terrain and enjoy the magic of outdoor life using maps and landmarks to get around. This activity lasts 1.5hrs.
• Camp Cookout - A great teamwork activity where groups build and light a campfire and cook some authentic damper. This activity takes 3 hours.

Please follow the link to register and complete the online medical form:

Registration Link - https://officeofsport.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/register.aspx?eid=UjRkY013MVBCVUgyTlZLT0FkL1Fadz090

Consent will need to be given for your child to attend the Stage 3 camp in two areas,  via the Compass Event, and through the Registration link for Berry Sport and Recreation Centre. A risk assessment has been developed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students. 

Behaviour at Camp

We expect all students to follow the school rules while participating in all activities at the School Camp. Parents will be contacted if student behaviour is inappropriate and may be asked to come and collect your child from camp.

Medication

If your child receives medication you will be required to complete “Request for the School to Administer Medication Form”. This note must be stored in the zip lock bag  with the medication. All medications must be handed in to Mrs Benoit prior to getting on the bus for camp. Please note this applies to all medication that is prescribed and over the counter. 

We are looking forward to the opportunity to establish further relationships with our students through the planned learning experiences offered at the school camp. Please do not hesitate to contact one of the Stage 3 classroom teachers to discuss any details regarding the camp and your child.

We are excited to celebrate Book Week on Monday, 25th August, with this year’s adventurous theme: “Book an Adventure!” The day promises to be full of fun and imagination as we inspire students to explore the magical world of stories.

The celebrations will start off with a costume parade in the morning, where students are encouraged to dress as their favourite book characters. Throughout the day, students will enjoy a variety of engaging activities including a live-streamed author reading, classroom-based learning tasks, and a book cover design competition. The library will also feature a special display of shortlisted books, showcasing some of the best children’s literature of the year.

To keep the excitement going, the Book Fair will be held in the days following in order to provide families with a wonderful opportunity to purchase books and continue the celebration at home.

Please continue to check Compass for further updates and information about the day as it approaches. We can’t wait to share the joy of reading with our school community!

New 6” subs available $7.00+

Mango Frozen Yoghurt – Everest. Now in stock $3.00

Oak Milk 300ml NEW* $2.95

Order Online: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

The P&F Meeting for Term 3 will be held on Wednesday 13 August, via zoom from 6.00 pm. A zoom link will be shared on the day.