Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the new 2020 school year. It has been my privilege to welcome back students, parents and staff to St Paul’s.  A special welcome to all new members to our community; the new students and families in Years 1-6, the new Kindergarten students and the new members of staff, Miss Rachel Allison, Miss Julianne Tonini and Mrs Nicola Turner.

Thank you to Fr. Leo Duck for celebrating Mass with the staff on our first day back. It was St Thomas Aquinas, whose feast the staff celebrated at Mass with Fr. Duck, once commented that “If you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because he himself is the way.” It is our hope that the students at St Paul’s will know and love Christ as he is the way and that our students will have an attitude to do the very best they can for themselves, for their parents, for their teachers and also for their peers.

I would like to thank the community for welcoming me so warmly, thank you for the kind words and welcoming emails. It has been a wonderful start to the school year and I look forward to the year ahead.

Our 2020 Kindergarten students will begin their formal schooling on Thursday 6 February 2020. We are all very excited to welcome our new students to St Paul’s and I know that the Kindergarten students are also very excited to join our St Paul’s community.   I would like to invite Kindergarten parents to the School Hall after they have spent some time in the Kindergarten classrooms, for a cup of tea, a chat and some tissues.

There have been some changes to the afternoon dismissal routines and I would like to thank students, parents and staff for your cooperation and support with these changes. I have received very positive feedback about the new afternoon dismissal routines, and I would welcome any further suggestions so we can make the dismissal routines as seamless as possible.

I look forward to meeting parents and carers at the upcoming St Paul’s events this term.

Wishing you every blessing,

Michelle Rodwell

Principal

Please keep Mrs Lisa Cooper our Administration School Support Officer (Mondays to Wednesdays) in your prayers and thoughts.

Mrs Cooper will be taking Term 1 off to recouperate after being diagnosed with breast cancer recently.  Mrs Cooper will undergo surgery next week to remove the lump and then will have chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Thank you to Mrs Vennessa McGeehan who has agreed to work full time to replace Mrs Cooper whilst she is away.  Mrs Robyn Warton will also be assisting in the office on a Wednesday for this Term.

Our condolences are offered to Mrs Judith Johnson one of our Classroom School Support Officer and to her family especially her grandson, Lachlan Johnson (Year 6) on the recent passing of her father and Lachlan's great grandfather. The prayers and support of the St Paul’s community are with the Johnson family at this sad time. May their father / great grandfather rest in peace and eternal light shine upon him.

Our condolences are offered to Jack Shoebridge (Year 4) and Riley Shoebridge (Year 5) on the recent passing of their grandmother Mrs Helena Shoebridge.  The prayers and support of the St Paul’s community are with Shoebridge family at this sad time. May Mrs Helena Shoebridge rest in peace and may eternal light shine upon her.

Thank you to Louise and Mark Frendo and their two daughters Tamara (Year 6) and Hayley (Year 4) who gave their gift of time over the summer holiday period to water the plants and lawns as part of the new landscaping in the front playground and the lawn in the quiet area.  Your gift of time is greatly appreciated.

Bishop Brian Mascord recently celebrated Mass on Saturday 25 January 2020 (The Feast of St Paul) to commission Fr Leo Duck as the Parish Priest of St Paul's Albion Park.

We here at St Paul's School welcome Fr Leo to our parish as he is such a valued and important part of our school community.

Students from Year 1 to Year and staff will attend a Welcoming Mass on Friday 21 February 2020 at 9:30 am.  Kindergarten students will not attend this Mass as they settle into school life at St Paul's.

As part of this Mass the School Captains, Rebecca McGlashan and Angus Bancroft will be presented with their School Captains Badges along with all the Year 6 Leaders.  

All parents and carers are invited to attend this Mass and join the school community for this important celebration.

Ash Wednesday is Wednesday 26 February 2020.

Staff and Students in Years 2 to 6 will attend Ash Wednesday Mass at 9:30 am in the Church.  Parents and carers are most welcome to join us for this Eucharistic celebration.

Students in Kinder and Year 1 will participate in an Ash Wednesday Liturgy in their classrooms during the day.

Parents and Carers are invited to meet our new Principal Michelle Rodwell on Thursday 13 February 2020 in the hall straight after morning assembly.  Come along for a cuppa and introduce yourself to Michelle.

Based on information received from the school community through surveys, St Paul’s will change their dismissal procedures to have students safely and quickly with the parents or carers each afternoon. Please see the below details about the changes.

3:05 pm to 3:10 pm The front gate will be opened. Please assemble in the front playground to collect your child.

Dismissal 1

The following children will begin to move from 3:10 pm

FRONT PLAYGROUND PICK UP:

All front playground pickups can go straight to their parent or carer. You may leave as soon as you have your child/children. Any remaining children will move to the waiter’s area on the handball court nearest the office at 3:15 pm.

BACK GATE PICK UP:

The children will assemble at 3:10pm. The teacher on duty will open the gate. Please remember no student is able to leave the school premises unless accompanied by an adult.

ST JOSEPH’S WALKERS:

Will meet at the front steps. The teacher on duty will give them directions about when to leave.

Dismissal 2

The following children will begin to move at 3:15 pm

WAITERS:

The waiters will be seated on the handball court nearest the office.

BUSES:

Bus children will move at 3:15 pm and go straight to bus lines.

2020 school fees have been invoiced to families and they are available to view in the Compass Parent Portal.  We anticipate that school fee statements will be issued by email within the next 10 days.  We apologise for the delay in distribution of statements, which was unanticipated and due to system issues.  For your information payment requirements are as follows:

• For families who pay annually, payment in full is due on 28 February 2020.
• For families that have submitted a Request to Pay by Instalment or who previously had a School Fee Agreement in place, a schedule of the required payments and the due date will be issued with school fee statements.  The first instalment payment will be due on 28 February, 2020.  Parents may commence payments earlier if they wish, however, it is important that any existing regular payment is equal to the instalment amount provided on the schedule and that payment is made on or before the due dates on the schedule.  Reference should be made to the Request to Pay by Instalments on the school’s website for conditions relating to payment in this manner. 

• For families who have a Fee Concession in place, you will be contacted prior to your review date to complete annual documentation and arrange an interview with the Principal.  If you have a current payment plan in place, and you are unable to increase your payments to meet your 2020 school fees, you may continue to make these payments until your next review date.

• Parents should be aware that our new accounting system will send automatic reminders for overdue payments.

The following documents are available on the school’s website for the information of families:

• Diocesan School Fee Management Policy
• Diocesan Frequently Asked Questions
• Diocesan Request to Pay by Instalments
• Information regarding school Fees at our school

It is recommended that parents make themselves aware of the contents of these important Diocesan Policy and Procedures.

Parents should ensure that if they are paying their fees by a regular Bpayment or Direct Debit that the amount is sufficient to cover their instalments for the year.

Should you wish to discuss your school fees for 2020 please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 4256 2772 

Lisa Payne, Senior School Support Officer

Twp documents were sent home with each child last week which need to be signed and returned to the school as soon as possible:

1.  CEDoW Student Responsible Use of Technology Agreement
2.  CEDoW Consent Form for Use of Student's Work 

Please note that NO STUDENTS will be allowed to use any technology at school until they have returned their CEDoW Student Responsible Use of Technology Agreement.

Please note that NO STUDENTS will be photographed during any school events until they have returned their CEDoW Consent Form for Use of Student's Images and or Work form.

If you have concerns about how student's images are used please contact the office to arrange an appointment to discuss this with a member of the Leadership Team.

Your prompt return of these two documents would be greatly appreciated.  Please return these documents to your child's classroom teacher - not the office.

Term 1 Grade Overviews will be printed and a copy sent home with each child before the end of this week.

Please take time to read this document as the class teachers have included important information for parents and carers for relevant grades.

Students will wear their Sports Uniform on the following days in 2020:

Kindergarten - Tuesdays and Fridays

Year 1 - Tuesdays and Fridays

Year 2 - Tuesdays and Fridays

Year 3 - Wednesdays and Fridays

Year 4 - Wednesdays and Fridays

Year 5 - Tuesdays and Fridays

Year 6 - Tuesdays (blue sports shirt) and Fridays (red Year 6 tshirt)

There are only a few more sleeps until the big day! We hope you and your child are feeling calm, confident and excited about the first half day of Kindergarten on Thursday 6 February 2020.  We look forward to welcoming you into the Kinder room, the school day begins at 8:52 am.

On your arrival anytime after 8:30 am please bring your child to the Kindergarten classroom where you can ‘kiss and drop’ at the door. The Kindergarten classroom will be set up for play (similar to the playgroup sessions). If your child experiences separation anxiety, the staff will be happy to help you. Try to say goodbye and leave as quickly as you can, this actually helps both you and your child. Please know that we will always let you know if they do not settle soon after you leave. We want your child’s first day at school to be a happy memory.

You are then invited to Tea and Tissues morning tea hosted by our new Principal, Mrs Michelle Rodwell in the school hall, if you can join us to celebrate or commiserate your children’s big step toward independence.  After an exciting day filled with learning and fun, pick up will occur at 12 noon. Parents are asked to gather in the front playground and your child will be brought to you. We look forward to letting you know what a wonderful first day your child had.

Please pack a lunch box for your child with their crunch and sip and lunch.  If you have not already, please help your child to practice unzipping/opening their lunch box and any containers or packets inside. Staff are available at eating times to assist students (especially Kindergarten).

Please ensure your child has their school hat and plenty of water. Children will be reminded to drink water throughout the day. Staff will assist children to refill their drink bottle with cold water if required. 

Please also remember to pack a spare pair of underpants (just in case!). If an accident does happen, we have spare uniforms. Please be assured that all accidents are dealt with quickly and discreetly and in a way that ensures the dignity and privacy of the child. Please avoid bringing toys to school as they could be lost or damaged.

We are looking forward to having you and your child join our school community on Thursday.

Our Year 6 students will attend Camp on Monday 10 February 2020 and returning on Wednesday 12 February at around 2:30 pm.

Students are to wear their red Year 6 Tshirt and sports shorts to and from Camp.

Students are required to be at school around 7:45 am for an 8 am departure.

All students require online consent via the Event in Compass.  Could parents please log on and give their consent for their child to attend by no later than Thursday 6 February 2020 at 11:59 pm.

Our Parent Calendar for 2020 can be found by hitting link on the Skoolzine Newsletter website. 

There is also and update of events on the sidebar of the page.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to remind you all that I am available to assist your child during school terms within school hours. I am available at the school every Monday and Wednesday. You can refer your child to counselling by filling in a request form at the school office.

Some of the issues that I can work with your children on include:

• Self-esteem and confidence
• Separation anxiety
• Fears and anxiety
• General sadness or depression
• Managing anger and emotion regulation
• Friendships and peer difficulties
• Family separation or breakdown
• Difficult life changes and adjustments
• Grief and loss

If you need to reach me, you can call the office on my work day, (Mon/Wed) and I will call you back as soon as possible. You can also reach me by email at: doreenw@catholiccare.dow.org.au

Tips for the new school year:

Ensure that your child is organised for the day:

Being organised will help your child feel calm and confident.  If a child forgets their homework, doesn't bring their hat to school, or has the wrong uniform on, they can become very worried and upset. This can negatively affect their confidence and ability to focus.

Reintroduce routines

Routines help your child understand what to expect, which can lower their anxiety. Try to have the same routine every day when possible. Having consistent mealtimes, homework times, play times and bedtimes can help your child predict their environment, which can help them feel more secure and calm about what they need to do. 

Ask your child open-ended questions

If you ask your child closed questions like "how was your day" you will usually get a one-word answer such as good or bad. If you get into the habit of asking open-ending questions about your child's day, you will find that you get much more information and will be able to have a clearer idea of whether your child is worried about anything. Some examples include:

• What were the three best things about school today?
• What are 2 fun things you learned today?
• Who were the friends you played with in the schoolyard today?
• What were the things you were not confident about today?
• What was the one thing you'd like to change about today?

Kindergarten

It is not unusual for some new Kindergartener's to feel worried about leaving their primary caregiver. If your child is upset, the best thing you can do is to have a consistent routine that you do when dropping off your child. This might be that you walk your child in to a teacher, give a kiss and a hug, and reassure your child he/she will be fine and that you'll see him/her later. The longer you stay around (if your child is upset), the harder it will be for the child to settle. You might also give the child a small soothing object that can be kept in their pocket – such as an inexpensive charm, figure or memento. Also, don't stress. If your child sees that you are upset, he/she will be upset too.

Wishing you all a great first term for 2020. 

Doreen Waddington

CatholicCare Counsellor

Pastoral Support at St Paul’s in 2020

It’s great to be back for my 4^th year as Pastoral Support Worker at St Paul’s.

My role as Pastoral Support Worker is to provide pastoral support across the entire school community and my days of work this year are Mondays and Wednesdays.

Pastoral support can come in many forms and following are some of the ways in which I can offer support within the school community.  Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive, so please free to contact me via the school office if you require support or assistance in any way or would just like to have a chat.  I look forward to another year of working with and supporting the students and families of St Paul’s.                             

• Classroom support
• Small group programs on various topics such as social skills, communication, resilience
• Family support
• Parent/Grandparent/Carer support and interaction
• Individual pastoral support
• Mindfulness
• Mini Vinnies social justice group
• Playground support
• Lunchtime/recess activities and groups
• Seasons for Growth grief and loss program
• Teacher consultation
• Collaboration with school Counsellor

Lisa Pannell, CatholicCare Pastoral Support Worker

On Friday 14 February 2020 our Annual School Swimming Carnival will be held at the Albion Park Swimming Pool. This event is compulsory for all students from Years 3 to 6. Students in Years 1 and 2 may also attend the carnival if they can competently swim 50m. Any parents wishing to have their Year 1 or 2 students attend are asked to email Mr Brian McCann via the info account:  info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au by this Friday 7 February 2020.

The Carnival will Commence at approximately 8:30 am and is scheduled to conclude by 2:30 pm. We ask all students to arrive and have their names marked off by their classroom teacher prior to this time. The pool canteen will be available and a sausage sizzle will also be run by our P and F on the day.

All students are reminded to bring a water bottle, sunscreen and a hat. In keeping with our Sun Smart Policy, students are required to wear a shirt in between races whilst not in the swimming pool.

Permission is required to attend the Carnival.  An event has been created in Compass.  Please give consent for your child to attend.  There is a link in the Event for parents to complete a google doc Nomination form where students can select the events they wish to compete in.  Please ensure that a google doc is completed for each student.

Brian McCann, Sports Coordinator

Scholastic Australia Book Club Orders from Issue No. 1 are due by Monday 17 February 2020.  No late orders will be accepted.

Robyn Warton & Louise Frendo, Library School Support Officers

Thank you to Mrs Annette Hoffman who has volunteered to be our School Banking Coordinator this year.

Mrs Hoffman will commence this role next Wednesday 12 February 2020.

School Banking days are Wednesdays.

This year the Dollarmites are taking the children on a Treetop Savings-themed Adventure with all new Treetop Saver Rewards.  

See attached a copy of the Treetop Savers Rewards for 2020.

The Parents and Friends Association will hold their Annual General Meeting next Monday 10 February 2020 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the St Joseph's Room.

All parents are encouraged to come along and be an active member the Parents and Friends Association.

The first General Meeting of the Parents and Friends Association will be held on Monday 17 February 2020 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the St Joseph's Room.

All parents and carers are encouraged to attend this meeting and be an active member of the Parents and Friends Association.

Learning Labs is an academic and creative arts enrichment holiday program. We are targeting students from Year 1 to 6 during 2020, who are passionate, self-motivated and curious learners. Please see the schedule below and follow links to each region’s webpage:

Dates:                   Wollongong campus: 14 – 17 April, 2020

Venue:               Wollongong campus: Little & Early Learning Labs

Applications close: 27 February, 2020