Dear Parents and Carers,

On Monday we celebrated the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul. St Paul our school’s patron saint is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers and public workers. St Paul is known worldwide as one of the earliest Christian missionaries. The feast day was also an opportunity for our school community to reflect on the school’s’ Vision Statement In the richness of our Catholic faith and tradition we achieve excellence.

Throughout the week you will have or have had an opportunity to hear how your child has achieved excellence throughout Semester One at St Paul’s. I have received positive feedback from both staff and parents/carers that the learning conversations have been very insightful and an opportunity to further develop relationships between the school and families. If you have not booked a time for a parent/carer-teacher learning conversation this week please contact the school office and we can make arrangements.

Staff Farewell

This week we farewell a number of staff members. Mrs Jacqueline Agostino who has replaced Ms Lisa Cooper in the school office will be leaving at the end of the term. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Jakki for her support over the past two terms in our school office, and wish her well in the future. We farewell Mrs Marianne Stevens who will be resigning from her position at St Paul’s at the end of the term. Marianne and her family will be moving from the area. I thank Marianne for her work with Year 5 Red and I wish Marianne and her family well in their new travels. We farewell Mrs Amy Relf as Amy and her husband prepare for the birth of their first child. Amy will begin 12 months maternity leave at the beginning of Term 3. I thank Amy for her work with Year 5 Red and in the Diverse Learning Needs support teacher role at St Paul’s and wish her all the very best.

Staffing Announcements 

I would like to welcome Miss Katie DeSousa to St Paul’s. Katie was the successful applicant for the temporary full time position replacing Mrs Amy Relf who will begin her maternity leave next term and Mrs Marianne Stevens who will leaving St Paul’s this Friday. I would like to thank both Mrs Relf and Mrs Stevens for their tremendous efforts this year teaching Year 5 Red and wish them well. 

Congratulations to Miss Bree-Anna McGeehan who has accepted the Diverse Learning Needs support teacher role at St Paul’s. Miss McGeehan will replace Mrs Relf in this role for the remainder of the year. I would like to congratulate Mr Cain Holgate who was the successful applicant for the temporary teaching position for Year 6 Blue. Miss McGeehan will be teaching Year 6 Blue Monday to Wednesday and and Mr Holgate will be teaching Year 6 Blue Thursday and Friday. 

COVID-19 Response during the School Holidays

It is important that during the school holidays if your child tests positive for COVID-19 that you contact the school. I will be monitoring the school phone line daily during the school holidays, so please contact the school on 42562772 and also email Michelle Rodwell via rodwellm01@dow.catholic.edu.au. Thank you for your understanding and support with this communication.

Preparing for the Possibility of a Temporary School Closure - COVID19

While every reasonable step has been taken to ensure our schools are safe, we are prepared for the possibility that our school may need to close temporarily as a result of a confirmed case of COVID-19. You will receive timely updates via the COMPASS App.

If we are required to close during school hours parents will be asked to collect their child/children in a co-ordinated student departure process. There will also be supervision available for students unable to return home, with reduced interaction between students.

Please ensure that the school office has your most current mobile telephone number and email address. This will help the school to make contact with you and ensure that you are kept up-to-date with important information. As part of our coordinated student departure process parents will be given a time to pick their child/children from the school if they are available. The designated pick up point for students being picked up by parents will be the back gate. Two laminated cards will be sent home with your surname printed on the cards. In the event of a school closure during school hours we would ask that you place the laminated card with your surname on your dash board so when you drive to the designated student pick up point at the back gate staff are able to call students to the car line promptly and efficiently.  

The well-being and safety of all students and staff at St Paul’s remains our constant priority. We are most grateful to parents for their understanding and support.

School Pupil Vacation

At the end of this week, we begin our Term 2 school pupil vacation. I would like to express my gratitude to the students, staff and families for the wonderful way in which the community has responded to the many changes that this term has brought us all. I wish all our students, staff and families a relaxing holiday and hope the holidays are a time to spend with loved ones. I look forward to seeing you all next term.

Wishing you every blessing,

Michelle Rodwell

Principal

Congratulations to the following students who have received or will be receiving a Principal's Award or a Mary MacKillop Award:

Principal's Awards 

• Keiran Strawbridge 4 Blue
• Charlotte Hooper 4 Blue
• Jack Miller 4 Blue
• James Allen 5 Red
• Will Fleming 4 Red
• Lily Harris 2 Red
• Joseph Jedrzejczak 2 Blue
• Dakota Sydenham 2 Blue
• Zara McCloy 2 Red
• Dominic DeSantis 2 Blue
• Deakin Cook 4 Red

Mary MacKillop Awards

• Leah Carbonara 4 Blue
• Max Elliott 4 Red
• Wezley Smith 4 Red
• Will Fleming 4 Red
• Keiran Strawbridge 4 Blue
• Jack Miller 4 Blue
• Charlotte Hooper - 4 Blue

  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ Sunday

The first Sunday in July is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ Sunday.

On this Sunday we think about healing, mercy and compassion. Many indigenous people have been faced with hopelessness and despair of life, causing much hurt and anger

We ask our Lord to touch the hearts of these broken people. Mend their paths and walk with them. May they feel the Spirit of Aboriginal ancestors. strengthen and guide them, on their journey back to hope and the love of life.

Attending Parish Masses

A number of parents have recently asked about the return to Mass and have missed the information that I put into the newsletter a few weeks ago.

As cases of COVID-19 have decreased the directives from the Government and the Bishop have allowed Masses of 50 people to commence with strict regulations of physical distancing and sanitisation at these events. I have attached these directives below
https://www.dow.org.au/covid-19/parish-and-school-directives/

Fr Leo is holding daily Masses and is carefully following these guidelines in our parish.
If you wish to attend a Mass you are required to ring the parish office 
Ph: 42 562038 (Tuesday- Friday 8.30am - 3.00pm) to BOOK a time so numbers are controlled at each Mass and the parish has details of who attends (as is required by present COVID-19 rules.)
The times for Masses are
Saturday Mass: 6.00pm
Sunday Mass: 9.00am

Weekday Masses
Monday: 8am
Tuesday: 6pm
Wednesday: 6pm
Thursday: 8am
Friday: 9.30am
For further details of worship visit the St Paul’s Parish Website https://stpaulsparish.org.au

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

The staff at St Paul’s wish all the students and their families a relaxing and happy two weeks break.

The prayer below sums up our past term at school and our hopes for the holidays and future terms ahead.

We thank you Lord, for this term.

 For the challenges, the successes,

And the mistakes from which we have learnt.

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right:

to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays,

to appreciate what others do for us,

to give time and effort to help others.

To be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities;

give us good rest and good fun.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents

And a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.

Amen

Mrs Julie Ferguson - Religious Education Coordinator

Our PB4L focus for weeks 9 and 10 was Putting Away Equipment & Wearing Hats.

Congraulations to the following students who have set a great example in weeks 9 and 10.

Week 9

• Chase Young 1 Blue
• Brianna Greig KBlue
• Abbey McCabe 1Blue
• Jaden John KBlue
• Imogen Gauci 4Blue

Week 10

• Baye Bissett-Amess KBlue
• Sophie Groznik 5Red
• Poppy Faulks 3Blue
• Penny Cook KRed
• Wes Barrett KBlue
  

Friday Fun Day!

This Friday on the last day of term we will be having a Fun Friday to thank and congratulate the students for their positive attitude towards their schooling as we moved to remote learning and then transitioned back to face to face teaching. The staff have been very impressed and appreciative of the way the students have taken all the changes in their stride and have maintained a positive approach to their learning.

Library News 

Could all outstanding library books please be returned to the school before the end of the term.

School Shoes and Joggers

We have kindly received a donation to the school of 2 pairs of new black leather school shoes in sizes 12 and 13 along with 2 pairs of white leather joggers in sizes 12 and 13.

These are free  - first in best dressed!