Dear Parents and Carers,

In Australia this week we acknowledge Harmony Week, and in schools across Australia this week we celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional owners of the land and to those who have come from many countries around the world. 

On Friday 20th March the students at St Paul’s will celebrate Harmony Day. The ongoing theme of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’. Harmony Day is a day of cultural respect for all and an opportunity to talk about how all Australians equally belong to this nation and enrich it. As Catholics we only have to look at the Gospel to see how Jesus is our role model, how he accepted and invited all people to his table, he shared a meal with people regardless of their ethnicity or status and created a sense of belonging for all. At St Paul’s I witness daily the way that our students, staff and community respect each other and create a sense of belonging where all are welcome.

I would like to express my gratitude to the staff, students and parent body for your continued support as we face the challenges of Coronavirus COVID-19. In consultation with the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) we will continue to implement the guidelines and recommendations set down by NSW Department of Health and Catholic Schools NSW that ensure we are providing a safe environment for all our key stakeholders. CEDoW has now launched a central COVID-19 Information Centre page on the their website: www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19 

This page contains a regularly updated overview of the systemic response by CEDoW to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, including:

• Measures being taken by CEDoW schools to keep our school communities safe and to minimise disruption to learning
• Advice for parents and carers to help you stay safe and prepared
• Advice regarding cancelled or postponed excursions and events across CEDoW schools

Information and updates specific to St Paul’s school community will continue to be provided directly to parents and carers by the school Office via Compass. We aim to keep a clear line of communication, so as circumstances change, we will be able to support our students. If parents have any concerns or enquiries please contact the school Office.

Wishing you every blessing,

Michelle Rodwell

Principal

This week we celebrate the feast days of two very important saints.

Saint Patrick's Day is the 17 March and is celebrated all over Ireland and everywhere in the world where Irish people or their descendants live. St Patrick is credited with teaching the Irish about the Holy Trinity by using a three-leafed shamrock as an illustration of "three-in-one". For this reason, shamrocks are a central symbol for St. Patrick’s Day. He is also known for marrying couples when it was prohibited by the King and for converting many to Christianity. 

May St Patrick guard you wherever you go,

and guide you in whatever you do,

and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always.

St Joseph’s Feast Day is 19 March.  St Joseph was the protector of Jesus and Mary and so is seen as someone to protect us as well. He is described as a righteous, humble, family man. He is the patron saint of fathers, families, homes, workers and a happy death.

 A Prayer to St Joseph for Parents

Dear St Joseph, who cared for Jesus,

We come to you and ask you to take under your special

protection, the children God has given us.

Guard them, guide their steps in life, form their hearts after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

St Joseph, you understand the worries of a parent.

Protect our children at all times. May you be their father and counsellor.

Let them, like Jesus, grow in age, as well as in wisdom and grace before God and others.

Preserve them from the corruption in our world;

And give us the grace and wisdom to be good parents.

Amen.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) strives to create vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and believes this is best achieved when there is a genuine partnership between home and school. 

The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework has been developed to support the creation and maintenance of this partnership. It outlines for parents and school the principles and expectations of the parent-school partnership so that together we can create:

• identifiably Catholic communities, inspired by the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, where all strive to act with hope, integrity, justice and compassion; and
• effective schools which enhance student learning and wellbeing.

The Framework includes a Partnership Statement and 5 Partnership Principles which include expectations. The Framework will be given to parents as part of the enrolment package for any CEDoW school. The Lighting the Way Parent-School Partnership Framework can be accessed on the CEDoW website:

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/for-parents/parent-school-partnership-framework/

As part of our focus on parent engagement and involvement in the learning occuring in our classrooms at St Paul's we will be sending student workbooks home throughout the year for parents and carers to view.

The purpose for this is so that parents and carers can talk with their child about the great learning occuring in Key Learning Areas. Next week student workbooks from the Key Learning Areas of Religious Education and Science and Technology will be sent home.

Inside each of those student workbooks will be a template for parents and carers to sign, indicating that you have engaged in a learning conversation with your child about the work they have been covering in their classroom.

Over the coming weeks students in Year 3 and Year 5 will participate in online NAPLAN practice sessions.

The purpose of these sessions is to check for internet speed and to provide an oppoprtunity for students to experience an online testing platform.

Could students in Year 3 and Year 5 please bring working headphones to school everyday over the next few weeks, thank you to parents and carers for your support with this and please see your child's classroom teacher if you have any conceerns about NAPLAN. 

The use of social media platforms brings with it an associated responsibility for the management of each user’s digital footprint. Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) launched its Social Media Policy last year, with the intention of encouraging the use of social media for open and productive dialogue within valid educational contexts. The policy outlines the expectations and responsibilities of all students, parents and carers within the system of schools. The policy states that when using social media, it is expected that all users will:

• respect the dignity of self and others
• not publicly criticise CEDoW, schools, staff or students
• not promote perspectives contrary to the Catholic faith
• not bring the school into disrepute
• align with the intended educational purpose of the social media presence.

In creating a positive experience and the maintenance of respectful relationships, the policy explicitly states that no material posted:

• includes any content that a reasonable person considers in any way is defamatory, discriminatory, rude, aggressive, abusive, harassing, intimidating, threatening, insulting, hurtful, hateful, offensive, obscene or indecent
• breaches or invades anyone’s privacy
• consists of any proprietary, confidential, sensitive or private information.

Our school has an authorised social media presence managed by the school with regular updates to celebrate the wonderful happenings within our community. Only social media platforms authorised by the school can use the school name. Facebook and other social media plaftorms that have been established by parent groups and use the school name have no status in the school community. In the case that such sites can be linked to the school name and the use of inappropriate material, the enrolment of a student can be reviewed.

Information about the CEDoW Social Media Policy can be found on this link:

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/policies/social-media-policy/

Over the past two weeks a number of improvements have been made to the playground spaces. On the top oval there is now opportunity for students to play volleyball with the introduction of some volleyball nets. In the quiet area there is opportunity for students to use the new vertical tunnels to throw balls and the sand pit has new sand, a cover and shading. On the front playground we have put padding around the poles for the safety of our students. A huge thank you to Mr Mark Frendo for spending his time making the covers for the sand pit and the long jump area. We are very gratreful for your hardwork Mark. Over the coming weeks we will continue to introduce new playground equipment for the studends to use whilst on the various playgrounds. 

We have been informed by The School Photographer that our rescheduled date for our School Photos will be Friday 23 October 2020 (Week 4 Term 4).

Parents are still encouraged to return your child's photo envelopes by the end of next week - Friday 27 March to ensure that they do not get lost prior to our new photo day date.

Any monies paid by cash will be kept in the safe and The School Photographer personnel will collect this and process the payment at the end of the Term.  Parents are encouraged to make payment online.

Thank you to Mrs Groznik for covering books for the library. Your gift of time is greatly appreciated.

Robyn Warton & Louise Frendo, Library School Support Officers

15 to 21 March is Harmony WEEK

Harmony Day is 21 March 2020

Harmony Week “is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it. Harmony Week about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.” https://www.harmony.gov.au/about

Unfortunately, our planned assembly to celebrate Harmony Day this Friday 20 March has had to be cancelled.  However the students may still add a touch of something orange to their school uniform such as a t-shirt, ribbon or socks on Friday 20 March 2020. 

Rebecca Nunes, Assistant Principal

Due to the current situation with coronavirus all face to face CEDoW Professional Learning has been cancelled. School level Professional Learning will continue due to the minimal number of participants involved and the current preventative protocols in place.

Week 7

Friday 13th March

• Stage 2 Teachers released to develop their own Professional Learning Goals.

Week 8

Tuesday 17th March

• Individual Teachers released to develop Student Learning Plans
• Stage 3 Teachers released to develop their own Professional Learning Goals.

Wednesday 18th March

• Individual Teachers released to develop Student Learning Plans
• Early Stage 1 Teachers released to develop their own Professional Learning Goals.

Thursday 19th March

• REC Network ZOOM Meeting: Mrs Ferguson attending via video conference
• Inschool NAPLAN Test Administrator Training: Mrs Relf, Mrs Ward-McCann, Mrs Steven and Mrs Turner attending

Week 9 

Tuesday 24th March 

• Stage 1 and Stage 3 Teachers released to plan their own Professional Learning Goals.

Thursday 26th March

• Cooperative Meetings: Stage 3 Teachers, Stage 2 Teachers, Mrs Evans and Mrs Nunes attending

Friday 27th March

• Cooperative Meetings: Stage 1 Teachers, Early Stage 1 Teachers, Mrs Evans and Mrs Nunes attending

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.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our communities and our people is our first priority. Due to the rapidly developing situation with coronavirus, School Banking has been temporarily paused from 20 March 2020 until the start of Term 2. Please don’t bring your deposit book with your weekly banking into school and we will notify you when banking will recommence.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr & Mrs Hoffmann - grandparents of Mitchell Diamant (Year 3 Red) who are our School Banking Coordinators for this year for their generous gift of time each Wednesday morning processing our School Banking.

Albion Park Youth and Community Care Inc. wish to advertise the Brekky Club program that is free and available to all students who wish to attend.

This program provides a range of healthy breakfast foods in a setting that creates opportunity for social interaction.

The program is run every weekday 7:30am-9:00am during school term at the Albion Park Community Centre.

 Attached is a copy of the healthy breakfast menu for your information.

It is time for our Big Book Fair again!

Attached is a voucher for 20%.  The voucher is valid for Saturday afternoon, March 21 from 12-5pm and must be presented and collected at the register to receive the 20% discount.

The voucher offer coincides with Family Afternoon, where we are offering free face painting and a balloon artist from 12-2pm. As always there will be plenty of choice available from the Illawarra Sports Stadium canteen.