We are so blessed to have our new parish priest Fr Leo Duck. Fr Leo is so happy to join this community and has already started to speak positively about the school. Last Friday Year 1 had their class Mass and the children were so pleased with Fr Leo and the way he spoke to them.

Fr Leo also announced his satisfaction about the school and asked us all to pray so that a principal will be appointed soon. The interviews for the new principal will be conducted this Friday with a parent representative from the school.

Mrs Annalise Hastings has returned from maternity leave. Mrs Hastings teaches Year 2 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. She attends to her Middle Leader role in a shared capacity on Thursdays once a fortnight. Mrs MacDonald Cook shares the class with Mrs Hastings. Welcome back Mrs Hastings, we are so glad to have you back at St Paul’s.

We are happy when our school’s good name is shared with the wider community and new parents and carers are seeking enrolment at our school. This term we welcome a new student to St Paul’s, Mitchell Diamant. At the end of last term we welcomed Ivy Armstrong, Ethan Aleckson and Samuel Mansbridge. We are happy to have you at St Paul’s and we know you will try your very best to achieve your learning outcomes.

I would like to sincerely thank students and parents who speak well about our school. When new families are asked why St Paul’s? New parents and children say they have friends here who love our Catholic school and because of the learning and the friends they have at St Paul’s.

Congratulations to Jordan Miller (Year 6) and Ella Di Martino (Year 5) who will represent St Paul's Catholic Parish Primary School at the Catholic Development Fund South East Primary Cluster Regional Public Speaking Competition to be held on Wednesday 23 October at St Joseph's Catholic Parish Primary School, Bulli.

Good Luck Jordan and Ella!

I invite you to join the students as they attend Mass each Friday. The children love to have their parents attend all school events and attendance at Mass is even more special to them. Please join your children at the Parish Mass ay 9.30am.

Thanks to all those who come along when our students have been to Mass.

• Week 2, Term 4 - Friday 25 November - Year 2 attending

Our Week 1, Term 4 Waste Free Warrior Winners are:

• Noah Abnett - Year 6 Red
• Jake Thompson - Year 5 Red
• Angus Bancroft - Year 5 Blue
• Lachlan Edwards - Year 3 Red
• Isaiah Infante - Year 4 Blue

Congratulations to these students who received an SPB4L Award in Week 1 Term 4 for following school rules in the playground:

• Phoenix Bradford - Year 3 Red
• Sophie Kennedy - Year 2 Red
• Poppy Faulks - Year 2 Blue
• Sienna Caruana - Year 2 Blue
• Deakin Cook - Year 3 Red

Principal's Awards

Congratulations Emily Di Pietro, Ebony McCloy, Amy Jedrzejczak, Sam Huetter, Connor Shelton, Jane Cabonara, Elias Maounis, Jordan Miller, Ewan Hatfield, Janae Robertson and Ethan Meehan who received a Principal's Award last Term at our Assembly on Friday 18 October 2019.

Mary MacKillop Award

Congratulations Janae Robertson who received a Mary MacKillop Award last Term at our Assembly on Friday 18 October 2019.

Next Assembly will be held on Friday 1 November 2019 - Week 3 Term 4 commencing at 2:20 pm in the hall and will be presented by Year 5.

Parents are asked to use the Parish side entrance to the hall.

Several families have not paid any or only small contributions towards their 2019 School Fees.

All 2019 School Fees need to be finalised by 6 December 2019.

As you would be aware back in June 2019 St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Albion Park transitioned to our new Financial Management System, TechnologyOne. 

School Fee Statements are still not available.  However, you will find your school fee information is now available to you on the Compass Parent Portal. 

If you are experiencing difficulty with your Compass Parent Portal please contact the school office so that we can assist you.

Parents who pay by BPay, Direct Debit and Centrepay using their old SAS Reference Numbers may continue to do so.

Should you have any queries about your school fee account please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

If you are experiencing difficulty in paying your school fees, please make an appointment to discuss this matter with Mrs Easton.  

Lisa Payne, Senior School Support Officer

Bee Wax Wraps - created by the Students of St Paul’s are now available for purchase.

Some of our Year 5 Environmental Warriors have been busy making sustainable Bee Wax Wraps. These are a great alternative to single use plastics SUP such as cling wrap and zip lock bags. They are perfect for wrapping crunch and sip snacks, a sandwich, a piece of fruit or a lunch box treat! Simply use the warmth of your hands to mold the wrap into its shape. Wash with cold, soapy water and drip dry and re-use.

Our students have been busy researching sustainable alternatives to single use plastics and believe they have found the perfect solution. They are an alternative to using cling wrap. These will even solve your missing crunch and sip container problems. We are selling a lunch pack, which includes 3 wraps for $15. They would be perfect for your lunch box or for use at home.

HOW TO ORDER?

To order, please write your family name, child’s name and class in an envelope and send into the office. We will send them home with the eldest child.

HOW DO I CARE FOR MY BEE'S WRAP?

Wash your Bee’s Wrap in cool water with mild dish soap. Avoid sources of heat, such as hot water and microwaves. Air dry, fold and store away. The organic beeswax antibacterial qualities that help to keep your food fresh and allow you to use the Bee's Wrap again and again.

World Teachers’ Day is an annual event celebrated on different dates across the globe.

This year it will be celebrated on 25 October 2019 in NSW.

World Teachers’ Day is an opportunity to celebrate the 160,000+ hardworking and dedicated primary, secondary and early childhood teachers in NSW.

The Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell has called on the wider community to thank a teacher this World Teachers' Day.

On behalf of the school community, I sincerely thank the staff for their dedication to the teaching profession and acknowledge the time and effort they put into their planning, teaching and learning. Thanks and Blessings

Sincere Thanks once again to Maria Bancroft who coordinated our Parents and Friend’s Association Fundraising activity with the school representatives of Mr McCann and Year 6 School Leaders, together with the many parents who supported Maria before and after the enjoyable event.

We had the perfect weather with threatening rain, for our Colour Fun Run; it was a day of tremendous success, not only financially, but also as community. The students hopefully will have that entire cornstarch colour well and truly out of their hair and skin by now.

Maria Bancroft reported to The Parents and Friend’s Association on the amount raised through this activity. Thanks to all those who came to join in the fun time we enjoyed on the last day of term. Sincere thanks Mrs Bancroft, Mr McCann and the many staff, students and parents for ensuring that everyone had a good time. The funds raised will be spent on Sporting Equipment and some STEM resources.

The Colour Run prizes have arrived and they will be distributed at the next school assembly on Friday 1 November.

Thanks to all our boys and girls who have been training since last term in preparation for our weekend away on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October in Albury. I thank staff, parents and grandparents who give so generously of their time from 7:30am each morning to train our children.

Joining with students from approximately fourteen Catholic schools from all over our state, we hope to share friendships and enjoy a fun filled basketball weekend. Thanks to our coaches, managers, ex students, parents and teachers for your ongoing support.

Our staff will travel to Albury to once again support the teams we are taking away. On your behalf, I sincerely thank them and their families for all that they give up during their family time to participate with the students. This coming weekend I will have the following staff members attend the Basketball Challenge with me: Mr Dutallis, Mr McCann, Mrs Ferguson, Mrs Nunes, Miss McGeehan, Mrs Miller, Mrs Hayes and Mr Edwards.

The first of our 8 Kindergarten 2020 Transition to School Playgroup sessions commenced today. The large number of parents brought their 23 children who were eager and ready to play and make friends on their first day of Orientation. Our Year 5 students provided the students with support together with the Kindergarten teachers. There was fruit and biscuits that the new Kindergarten students enjoyed.

Mrs Joanne Treffone from the Catholic Education Office was here with us to offer support for this new initiative. I spoke about these days and the importance of parents and child being engaged in a welcoming environment through playing with all the resources that were supplied by the CEO.

The idea behind this new initiative is that children bring diverse experiences, expectations, knowledge and skills to their learning as they enter their first formal year of schooling.

The parents mingled and made friends with new and existing parents. Parents were offered a choice to attend either on Monday or Tuesday.

Mrs Treffone commented on the warm welcome that was so evident for everyone this morning and the way that the parents engaged in conversations with others. She will be back again next week.

Many of schools have had this program implemented in their schools for the last five years. The observations that the Kindergarten teachers during these days moves beyond pre-conceived expectations of what children can do and learn.

Many of them have approached me in the playground informing me that they are ready to come to Big School. These are precious moments for me! ! Their smiling faces and enthusiasm for school is what we as teachers love.

The dates and times for Kindergarten Transition Playgroup are as follows:

• Monday 21October, Tuesday 22 October 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Monday 28 October Tuesday 29 October 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Monday 4 November Tuesday 5 November 9:30 am – 11:30 am
• Monday 11 November Tuesday 12 November 9:30 am – 11:30 am

All sessions are held in the hall and entry is through the front gate.

Parents and carers were sent these dates and times when they were sent an Acceptance letter.

I look forward to these days of learning through play as well as interacting with other children. I thank the Kindergarten teachers for preparing for these coming weeks of Transition.

An Information session for all Kindergarten 2020 parents will be held on Wednesday 20 November from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

I have had discussions about Outsourcing the Canteen commencing next year. The canteen has not been making much this year to sustain the supervisor’s hours. Due to the lack of parent volunteers each week the school has had to keep Mrs Arblaster from doing her educational hours in the classroom when we have insufficient help with children’s lunches etc.

We will have to put this out to tender and work on the finer details before a final decision is made.

As we can all see the entrance to the school has almost been completed and it is looking good. The turf was laid last week and we now wait this taking some weeks to settle before the guard fences are removed. The ramp rails will be installed and then those fences will be removed.

The fire hydrant at the entrance to the administration gates will be commissioned within the next day or two as it now requires some electrical work to be included. The pump in the Quiet Area along with the area that was dug up is also ready to use. The staff car park has had some additional work done to it with staff not having to drive over boulders of concrete.

The Outdoor Learning Area has also had some work done to it with some grading and levelling of soil.

At our Parents and Friends Association meeting last night, the meeting agreed that we direct funds to landscape the front of the school with the money that was put aside some years ago to do this. I will now seek quotes for this work to be undertaken as soon as possible.

On Thursday 31 October 2019 there will be a School Disco. 

Please note the new times for each session:

• The Junior disco (Kinder, Years 1 and 2) will run from 5 pm to 6 pm.
• The Senior disco (Years 3 to 6) will run from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. 

Please ensure that you collect your child at the conclusion of the session that they are attending.

Please remember to send a labelled water bottle with your child. Cost is $5 per child. Parent helpers are needed.

If you are able to assist, please email Sara-Jay O’Shea (P&F President) at sjayoshea@outlook.com  children will be fully supervised and will not be permitted to leave the school hall until parents come to collect their child.

Year 6 Parents are encouraged to assist with the supervision of both Discos as all monies raised will go towards the cost of the Year 6 Farewell and a Gift from the Year 6 Students to the School.  A note has been distributed to Year 6 parents and carers.  Please consider the gift of your time to this event.

Book Club Orders are due next Monday 28 October 2019.  No late orders will be accepted.

Applications for student travel in 2020 opened on Friday, 11 October 2019.

 Students progressing to year 3 and year 7 no longer need to re-apply if they:

• are continuing at the same school
• are residing at the same address
• have not been sent an expiry notification from Transport for NSW.

Where a student meets the new distance eligibility, the system will automatically update their entitlement. If they do not meet the new eligibility, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

If students need to update their information or re-apply, they should go online to https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/updateDetails

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2019 to ensure student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card is not cancelled. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2019, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.

Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2020.

Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the commencement of the new school year from their nominated operator, this may be distributed via the school or sent direct to their address. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/Parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Marian Devotions

Led by the Legion of Mary conclude this Wednesday, 23 October, with the praying of the Luminous Mysteries at 5.40pm, and the Marian Mass at 6pm with a Homily on Mary. Supper will follow.

A Weekend Retreat - Praying and Playing with Holy Wisdom

• 25 – 27 October at the Jamberoo Abbey

The retreat will be in the wisdom contemplative tradition, combining some sharing with meditation, silence and reflection
$90 for retreat plus accommodation costs See notice board for more information

A Vocation View

Pray persistently and God will respond. Ask God to bless the Church with faith-filled ministers. (Luke 18:18). Please contact the Vocations Team at  

Baptisms

This week we welcome into our parish community, through the sacrament of Baptism: Mia and Violet.

Vocations:  Invitation to Young Men 18+

Are you a young man discerning your vocation? Bishop Brian, the Vocations team and our two Wollongong seminarians James Arblaster and Sinh Le invite all young men considering their vocation to come together for a shared meal on Friday 8 November 6:30pm at the Xavier Centre, Wollongong. Come along and enjoy a relaxed time of fellowship and encouragement in your faith journey. Please RSVP to Fr Duane Fernandez at vocations@dow.org.au as soon as possible for catering purposes.

November All Souls Masses

If you would like Masses offered for your deceased relatives and friends, and their names inscribed in a special Book of Remembrance that will be placed near the altar during November, please write their name(s) on a NOVEMBER MASS ENVELOPE available in the Narthex, and either drop the envelope into the Parish Office or place it into one of the collection bags at Mass. All Masses during November will be offered for the Holy Souls. Envelopes need to be returned no later than Friday 25 October, so that names can be printed in the special commemorative book.

Parish Memorial Mass  

• 8 am on Saturday 2 November (All Souls’ Day)

Each year our parish holds a special Memorial Mass to pray with and for parishioners and friends of St Paul’s Parish who mourn the death of loved ones. The Mass will be preceded by the recitation of the Rosary in the Chapel at 7.30am. A cuppa will follow, in the narthex. Please RSVP to the Parish Office for catering purposes.

Rosary at Croome Rd Cemetery

The Legion of Mary invite everyone to attend the annual praying of the Rosary at Croome Rd Cemetery on Saturday 2 November at 10am, for all the deceased relatives and friends buried there. Please bring a chair or something to sit on and, if it is hot, an umbrella for shade.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Marriage Enrichment Weekend 8–10 November at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW. Take the time to step back from everyday distractions and rediscover your relationship! Book online at Alternatively contact Adrian and Janet Sullivan: on 0490 774 419 or adrian.janet1@bigpond.com

Total RAISED $11,270.02

This amazing amount of money that our school community has raised, is to be donated back to the school to purchase SPORT and STEM resources.

The winning class and top 3 fundraising students will be announced when all the prizes have been delivered to the school.

Thank you once again for your amazing effort and support.

Maria Bancroft, Colour Fun Run Coordinator

Uniforms will be available to families at assemblies throughout this term. Please head up the ramp in the hall to the room at the back of the stage. All items are $5.

Please Note: We can only accept CORRECT CHANGE when purchasing uniforms. NO CHANGE CAN BE GIVEN. Alternatively, families can pay by EFTPOS at the front office.

Donations of uniforms no longer required are always needed to replenish our stock. Please make sure uniforms has been washed and are in GOOD condition (no broken zippers, rips or big stains please).  Parents are welcome to drop off the uniforms at the office.

Please note that we are no longer accepting clothing from the old sports uniform.  

Parents/cares who are unable to attend assemblies and require uniform items throughout the term, please contact Maria Bancroft (0400570105). Items requested can be left at the office to pay and collect.

Maria Bancroft, Second Hand Uniforms Coordinator

Please find attached information for St Mary Star of the Sea College and Edmund Rice College's Try Year 7 for a Day on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 November 2019.

Parents / carers can register their child for Try Year 7 for a Day via the Edmund Rice and St Mary's College websites.

Parents / carers are required to make their own private transport arrangements for their son / daughter on the day.

In Term 4, two new reward items from our Polar Savers range – Water Skimming Bounce Ball, Polar Pencils & Pencil Toppers – become available to redeem!

There are also previous rewards available. You can download and print the 'Past School Banking rewards insert at: 

https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank-assets/banking/school-banking/2019-04/past_school_banking_rewards_slip_colour.pdf

The University of Wollongong would like to invite your students to LITTLE and EARLY LEARNING LABS, an academic enrichment holiday program. We are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 during 2019, who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners. Dates:                   

• Little Learning Labs (Years 1 and 2): 6^th – 8^th January 2020
• Early Learning Labs (Years 3 to 6): 14^th – 16^th January 2020 

Venue: University of Wollongong (Wollongong campus only)
Applications close: 6th November 2019