Last Sunday in Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong, we celebrated the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. The reflection by Loyola Press explains that in the presentation of the life and ministry of Jesus found in the Gospel of Mark, the deeds of Jesus have shown Jesus to be the Son of God. Yet many, including Jesus’ disciples, have not yet realised his identity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks the disciples for a field report by asking what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ.

Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting. Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Christ’s disciple is to follow in the way of the cross.

We can easily miss the fear that Jesus’ words must have evoked in his disciples. Death by crucifixion was all too familiar as a method of execution in Roman-occupied territories. It was also an omnipresent danger to the Christian community for whom Mark wrote. The path that Jesus was inviting his disciples to share meant tremendous suffering and death. This is the kind of radical commitment and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to adopt for the sake of the Gospel.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As the final week of Term 3 is upon us there is so much to be grateful for. On behalf of the St Paul’s staff we are grateful for the excellent work our students have produced and the way in which they have tried their best,  and our wonderful parents and carers who have juggled so much, so that home schooling can occur in households. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our community for the way in which you have all responded to the challenges posed by COVID 19 this term. 

As we head into this pupil vacation period, I would encourage every member of our community, staff, students, parents and carers, to really consider this as a time to take a break. Allow the body and the spirit and the mind to catch up with one another,  that you take a break from the intensity of the last 10 weeks. That you look for opportunities to really re-energise, so that when our school community returns next term, despite returning to remote learning for the first few weeks, that you come to Term 4 refreshed. 

As always, I'm ever grateful to our parents and carers and families for your support of the school, particularly during this term. I am incredibly grateful to our teachers and staff for the way in which they care for our students and families. They put so much care and thought into everything they have planned for our students this term, thank you.

Thank you to our wonderful St Paul’s School Captains Ivy Armstrong and James Allen for their encouraging messages for our St Paul’s students. 

I wish you well for the upcoming pupil vacation, a restful and rejuvenating period of renewal over the break, and may all families and members of our community remain well and safe.

I look forward to seeing you again in Term 4.

Yours in Faith and Learning,

Michelle Rodwell

Principal

Term Four commences all students wearing full summer uniforms. When students return after restrictions have eased they will be required to wear summer uniforms. Onsite students will be required to wear summer uniforms.

The St Paul’s school uniform is available for purchase at Hazeltons on Tongarra Road, Albion Park. The school and sport uniform should be worn in full by all students. However, we believe that no student should be disadvantaged because of financial difficulties – so parents are asked to see the principal if they are unable to purchase new uniforms. We have a second-hand clothing pool from which parents can select used uniform items left in good-condition.

Please ensure all return to school haircuts meet the following expectations:

HAIR CUTS

• The emphasis is on 'neat and tidy'
• Girls' long hair or hair below the shoulders is to be tied back
• Boys' hair should be no longer than collar length
• Extreme hair cuts and coloured hair are not permitted
• The emphasis is on evenly cut hair
• Extreme use of gel or products of that nature are not permitted

Maggie Dent is one of Australia's pre-eminent and much-loved parenting authors and educators. She's an advocate for kids and parents alike and is known for her common-sense approach to parenting.

How much screen time should you let your kids have? How do you talk to your tweens and teens about sex and consent? How do you keep your cool when your child throws a tantrum?

Maggie Dent, one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators gives you practical tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas.

Maggie talks to parenting experts from around the world to find practical solutions to the challenges every parent is facing today. 

She'll help you be the parent you really want to be and give you ideas on how you can raise healthy kids who thrive.

Listen for free from the ABC listen app, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. 

Access is also available via this link https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/parental-as-anything-with-maggie-dent/

Many apps that students use have age limits. With the fast pace of technology, it is difficult to keep up with apps, how to use these and how to keep your child safe. The Carly Ryan Foundation was incorporated by Carly’s mum, Sonya. Her aim is to create awareness and educate children and parents using the internet. They produce a range of resources that help parents understand the apps children are using or wanting to use.

Please click on the attachment below for some APP FACT SHEETS you will find very useful. I would like to highlight the age rating and how important it is that you ensure that your child/ren do not have accounts or access apps with a rating above their age. Most applications that allow social interactions are not rated at children of primary school age.

See the full pdf version atttached:

RU OK? DAY

Last week we celebrated RU OK? Day. Thank you to all the students who engaged in many activities throughout the week to nurture their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. Please find the link to the CEDoW FlashDance that was created to celebrate the day. Many students from St Paul’s feature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8FpqRVG7Ig

Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to creation and to God. Come and enjoy some Inspired Voices and Treasured Stillness.

Parents please find the link to Ripples Podcasts. https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au/ 

THE SEASON OF CREATION

We recognise the Season of Creation during September, beginning with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Wednesday 1st September.

Each year from September to October the Christian community celebrates the Season of Creation by praying and acting together to protect our common home. During this time Catholics unite with others in the global family to pray and protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation celebration is “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God”

See https://seasonofcreation.org/ for further information.

SOCKTOBER FOR MISSION MONTH 2021

Catholic Mission invites us this year to go on a journey of transformation of our minds, hearts and hands.

The journey will entail 3 elements:

• Listen - to the 'note of greatest need' in our neighbouring community of Thailand;
• Pray - for God to give our neighbours strength to prevail and ourselves the strength to respond
• Act- on the lack of resources in this community to enable them to continue to live with the dignity they deserve.

More information will follow early in Term 4.

PARISH NEWS

ST PAUL’S WEEKEND MASS TIMES

Currently due to restrictions there are no weekend Masses.

FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION

Thank you to those students and parents who have completed the First Communion Preparation. Mrs Marsh is sighting the modules each week and collecting names of those who have completed all modules to forward to the Parish Office. For those students accessing via email, please send a copy of your completed modules to info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au for Mrs Marsh to sight.

As you can appreciate no further plans have been made as yet for First Holy Communion.

Mrs Jodi Marsh

This month’s reflection is taken from a message from Robyn Rodwell, the Principal of Bethany College Hurstville (NSW), a school for year 7-12 girls. 

Earlier this year on the Feast of St Joseph, who as we know was Jesus’ earthly father, Pope Francis urged all dads in the world to stick by their children’s side, teaching them, guiding them and loving them.

He said: “I ask that you have the grace to be very close to your children, letting them grow, but being by their side. They need you, your presence, to be there, your love.

”St Joseph’s “great mission is to be a guardian”, the Pope said. 

The saint is a model for all educators, whether they are teachers, catechists, parents, religious or priests. 

Like an educator, St Joseph guided and accompanied Jesus so he could grow in “wisdom and age and grace”, Pope Francis said. This is the same thing all parents must do, and “it would be a serious mistake to think that a father and a mother can’t do anything to teach their children to grow in God’s grace,” he said. 

Even though God was Jesus’ father, St Joseph lovingly took on the paternal role and taught the young Jesus various skills, the value of work, reverence for the Lord and fidelity and obedience to God’s will. He also had to keep his family safe during the difficult period of their exile to Egypt. Pope Francis urged people to remember God the Father in heaven, but also their own fathers and every father, whether alive or deceased, especially in the month of September.

Mrs Amy Relf will be resigning from her permanent teaching position at the end of the 2021 school year so that she can care for her family. We will recognise and celebrate the many contributions Amy has made to the St Paul’s school community at the end of the school year. After a recruitment process Mrs Alexandria Hingston has accepted the permanent teaching position at St Paul’s. On behalf of the St Paul’s community I wish Amy all the very best and congratulate Alexandra on her appointment.

Thank you to all those families who have taken the time to speak with their child’s teacher over the past two weeks regarding their child’s Personalised Plan.  After reviewing your child’s Personalised Plan, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s goals and the adjustments being made to help your child access learning, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.  These plans will be revisited by teachers throughout Term 4 and communicated to each child’s 2022 classroom teacher once 2022 staffing has been finalised late in Term 4.

For those parents to receive their child’s Personalised Plan via email - please email our School Office to confirm receipt of the Personalised Plan.

For those parents who received their child’s Personalised Plan via post - please return the attached Collaborative Planning note to our school Office via hardcopy or email at your earliest convenience.  

Throughout Term 4, teachers will be considering the transition process for students with Personalised Plans to their allocated class for 2022.  While the allocation of classroom teachers for next year has not yet been finalised, teachers will be working towards assisting students in becoming familiar with the environment and structure of their 2022 grades.  The parents of those students who will access extended or supported transition will be contacted throughout Term 4. 

Bree-Anna Fogliada

Diverse Learning Support Teacher

Our staff thanks you for the generous support and ongoing patience you have shown over the last few weeks while, together, we continue to live, learn, and work under the restrictions and challenges posed by COVID-19.

We urge everyone to continue to follow the advice from the NSW Government and NSW Health regarding Stay-at-Home orders and restrictions in keeping all members of our community safe and well. As you know, COVID-19 case numbers continue to be high across Greater Sydney, as does the number of people who have been in the community while infectious. In light of this, the NSW Government and NSW Health have again reinforced the message that parents and carers must keep children home if they can.

We understand how difficult it can be to manage working from home as well as supervising your child’s learning, however we are requesting your support to limit the risk of COVID-19 by having your child learn from home, rather than school, unless you absolutely have no other option. As we continue to plan for supervision of students who must attend school it is vital that we schedule only the minimum number of required staff members each day. This is to ensure we meet the direction provided by Catholic Schools NSW and NSW Health.

If it is absolutely necessary for your child to attend school for onsite supervision on any day, please complete this form:

This information will enable the school to organise appropriate supervision for students onsite whilst managing teachers working remotely and ensuring there is adequate access to electronic devices for students being supervised at school to engage in online learning.

NAPLAN 2021 student reports for Year 3 and Year 5 have arrived at the school and we have sent each student's report home via mail this week.  I encourage parents and carers to read through your child’s NAPLAN report and contact your child’s classroom teacher for further information. Teachers will be undertaking a thorough analysis of the results to inform classroom practice and planned teaching and learning experiences.

Resilience refers to the capacity of an individual to overcome odds and demonstrate personal strengths needed to cope with hardship.  At St Paul’s we teach our students strategies for building resilience using the BOUNCE BACK Acronym. The Bounce Back Program teaches students how to ‘bounce back’ after encountering negative events, challenges, difficult situations or adversity and return to a sound level of emotional wellbeing.

While the social and emotional skills for developing resilience start with the explicit teaching of these skills, it is through the continual practice of these skills that children build their resilience and capacity to ‘bounce back’

The next letter of the BOUNCE BACK acronym represents the strategy Concentrate on the good things and have a laugh.

The key messages are:

• Finding something positive in a difficult situation, no matter how small, helps you to hang on and feel a bit more hopeful.
• Feeling more hopeful helps you to feel better and cope better.
• Finding something funny in a difficult situation, even if it’s only a small thing, will help you feel better able to cope. Laughter helps to relieve stress and worry.  

Some strategies for supporting your children to learn and practice this strategy at home include:

• Create a bank of funny resources - This could be a YouTube playlist, a folder of memes or a journal of funny memories.  Draw on these resources when feeling down.

• Write a story- write an imaginative story with your child where the main character found something else that was worthwhile to do when they had a setback to their plans.  Possible scenarios include: A holiday you’re looking forward to is cancelled, A rainy day or other circumstances that causes your sports game to be postponed or You’ve got a cold and can no longer attend a friend’s party. 

The most powerful way to build resilience in children is to remind them of the strategies they have been practicing in real-life contexts.  Reminding children that Concentrate on the good things and have a laugh and that they have the ability to BOUNCE BACK when they are faced with hardship is integral to developing children’s resilience to a level of independence.  

Bree-Anna Fogliada

Diverse Learning Support Teacher

As part of our School Review and Improvement priority we are engaging parents in our students’ numeracy learning.This page in our newsletter is part of our strategy and gives helpful hints on how to assist numeracy learning at home. 

Multiplication and Arrays 

Arrays are an important part of developing students' understanding of multiplication and division. An array is a collection of objects that are arranged in rows and columns. Looking at how many objects are in each row and column and applying known multiplication, addition and skip counting strategies assists students in learning and understanding multiplication facts. See below some great examples of how you can use arrays. 

Holiday Activity

If you are looking for an activity for the school holidays, why not  go on an ‘array hunt’? Children can photograph arrays they find in their home and environment or create some using objects and toys.

St Paul’s staff will participate in DAY 3 of Professional Learning on Teaching Reading Strategies and Effective Literacy Teaching. The teachers have been collaborating and planning literacy lessons throughout the year to support student outcomes and develop higher-order critical thinking when reading and writing. 

In addition, many of our teachers have been involved in evidence-based practices to apply, reflect, refine and share their learning, increasing teacher collaboration and shared responsibility for student outcomes.

School Holidays in Lockdown

Hi everyone, 

I hope you are all giving yourselves a big pat on the back for getting through Term 3 in lockdown. I'm sure you are just as relieved as your children are that school holidays are upon us, and you can take a breather from home schooling. My only advice for the holidays is to give the children a complete break from anything to do with schoolwork, and to do as much outdoor, fun activity with them as you possibly can. It's been a hard 12 weeks for everyone, and it's time to wind down now. The 5-person rule has come at the perfect time, and it's going to make it easier to connect with others, have picnics, and see some of our friends and loved ones. I wholeheartedly encourage you to do as much of this as possible.  That said, there may be days when you are struggling for something new to do, so below is a great list of activities from the Ideas.com.au website.  I wish you all the best for the holiday break and will be here for you in term 4.

Regards, Doreen

Primary Age

• Building an indoor cubby or outside tepee
• Scavenger hunts
• Puzzles, Card games and board games
• Gardening or pick and press flowers
• Paper plane making – turn it into a competition
• Build a marble run from round materials
• Thinklum coding and robotics school offer Online Coding School Holidays Camps for Kids
• Hewlett Packard are offering free printables 
• Build a Domino trail
• Indoor or outdoor treasure hunt
• Water play with sprinklers - make sure it is supervised, but a fun way to cool down
• Scavenger hunt in your yard – Nature Play SA have some resources to use for scavenger hunts and outdoor play
• Make Sock puppets – a few socks, big buttons, needle and thread or glue, then put on a play
• Chalk art –draw, write, on concrete – your driveway, a path – share a positive message with your neighbourhood
• Go fishing (check on the latest regulations for this, you may not be able)
• Listen as David Walliams narrates some of his stories from “The Worlds Worst Children” Series (free during COVID-19)
• Little Scribe have free educational activities for literacy
• Story Factory offer free online workshops facilitated by Story Factory Storytellers
• Make a kite and fly it
• Play frisbee
• Let off some energy with Totem tennis
• Bounce on a trampoline
• Use posca pens or fabric paints to design and paint on fabric - a t-shirt, hat or drawstring bag
• Try origami
• Encourage Nature play, if you need a little inspiration check these kits from Poppy and Daisy Designs.
• Some areas, local sports clubs are offering virtual sports camps
• This list of 130 screen free things to do by Daniella Minns is full of different ideas too

Tweens and Teens

Encourage unplugging from devices

• Pull out some costume jewellery, take it apart and re-style it
• Learn how to make things from polymer clay
• Master the art of beautifully iced cupcakes
• Make pasta, and clean up afterwards
• Have a family karaoke party
• Mindfulness colouring or activity book
• Colourscape App can turn photos from your photo stream into colouring pages
• Join a virtual book club
• Life skills like cooking if not already mastered, now is a great time to share the load
• Try renovating a piece of furniture
• If you live close by a mountain bike trail, hit the tracks
• Learn how to do a basic service on your mountain bike
• Do a crossword or sudoku puzzle
• Home manicure and paint nails
• Take the time out for a home spa with face masks, exfoliators and letting your skin breathe without makeup
• Learn calligraphy
• Make a beaded wreath, switch up the flowers for some Christmas baubles and get into the season early - its only 3 months to Christmas
• Macrame is trending! From starting out with key rings and wall hangings to making indoor tee pees, outdoor porch swings, the inspiration is out there! Mary Maker Studio is an Australian stockist of fibre, cords, ribbons and tools and accessories.
• Sew a garment or reversible bag –  Here are some purse and bag projects to try
• Learn a language – try Duolingo
• Curate a Spotify playlist if you haven't tried it already
• Start a book club (virtually, of course)
• It's never too late to learn a musical instrument, and many teachers are offering virtual or video-call lessons.
• Creative photography portraits or still life
• A 1000 piece puzzle
• Learn how to make candles, or soap - kits are available from crafting suppliers.
• Go for a walk and check out street art in your area
• Download an audio book and go for a walk, listen as you get your step count up
• Try Yoga or Pilates.
  
  

The Whole Family

• Encourage outdoor time in your backyard, skipping, shooting basketball hoops, playing tennis against a wall
• Have a cupcake decorating competition
• A picnic in your yard. The blanket, the thermos, and picnic food. You could also try this indoors if the weather is wet!
• Camp in your backyard – pitch the tent, build a campfire, cook damper and toast marshmallows
• Keep a gratitude diary, or take photos to record your gratitude moments
• If you are using isolation to repaint a room. Older children (that understand not to do this every day) can draw artwork on the wall before you paint
• Plant a garden. If you only have a windowsill, herbs like mint, chives, thyme and rosemary are easy to grow and take up little space.
• Wash the car - have fun getting wet.
• Is it too early to start Christmas baking? Or hand-making Christmas Gifts?
• A treasure trove of online games and puzzles can be accessed at Crazy games.

Recently school fee statements were forwarded to families via email from the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong. Attached to this school fee reminder email is information from the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong regarding Deferred Payment Option and Fee Concession Applications in the case that families are experiencing difficulty due to COVID19.

The school fully understands that in the current climate families are under financial pressure, please remember we are here to help.  The school is here to assist, you just need to make contact with the school office. Please email the school via info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au or alternatively call the school on 42 562772 and ask to speak with Michelle Rodwell or Kristie Bicknell, all communication is confidential.

New Enrolments for 2022 are now open. Enrolments packs are available for collection at our school office. Please let your friends and the wider community know that enrolments are now open.

Pease join us on Friday, 12 November 2021 for the 24th Annual CDF Sports Awards to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our student athletes. This will be an engaging presentation with action videos and also feature guest appearances from past students who were in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Over 150 students and 9 school teams will receive awards and showcase the incredible talent we have in our Wollongong Diocesan schools.

Hey families! From the OSHC team we would like to thank you for another wonderful term. This term has been unique and we thank all of our families for their ongoing support of the OSHC program. As we set our eyes on holiday care we would like to remind that you are still able to book in for any of our fun filled days spanning from Heroes vs Villains, Wonderwalls and Small Spielbergs.

We are also still taking expressions of interest for the pupil free days on both the 5^th and 29^th of October (See link to expression of interest below). We hope everyone stays safe during this coming school holidays and we are excited to see you all soon!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=zlmHQHHqOUOz47-22C6OuDU3mCK-EnxGsym12WV0MppUQklNOTJUQThJNURPNTRXSU9ZNFk4VDY0WS4u

The following dates have been planned as Staff Professional Development Days for St Paul’s this year. Being Staff Development Days they are pupil free days, so children do not attend school. The dates are as follows:

2021 Term 4 Pupil Free Dates

Term 4- Tuesday 5th October

Term 4- Friday 29th October 

The Catholic Education Office has released information on changes to when staff development days are held. This will now be the case from 2022 onwards, this change is in line with the direction that the NSW Department of Education has also taken. Please see below a summary of the dates for 2022. (Term 2 and Term 3 2022, Staff Development Days are yet to be determined)

Specifically for 2022 the CEDoW gazetted dates are as follows: 

• 26 January - Australia Day holiday (Wednesday) 
• 27 January - Student vacation (Thursday) 
• 28 January - Staff Return Pupil Free Day (Friday) 
• 31 January - Staff at School Pupil Free Day (Monday) 
• 1 February - Students in Years 1 to 6 return (Tuesday) 

For Primary schools - Best Start Kindergarten Assessment will be conducted 1 February to 7 February and the first official day of the school year for the 2022 Kinder cohort is 8 February (Tuesday). 

• 8 April - Last day of Term 1 (Friday) - 11 weeks (10 plus 1 day) 
• 25 April - First day of Term 2 (Monday) 
• 1 July - Last day of Term 2 (Friday) - 10 weeks 
• 18 July - First day of Term 3 (Monday) 
• 23 September - Last day of Term 3 (Friday) - 10 weeks 
• 10 October - First day of Term 4 (Monday) 
• 19 December - Last day of Term 4 (Monday) - 11 weeks (10 plus 1 day)
• 20 December - Pupil Free Day 

The Teachers would like to thank the Parents and Students for the lovely grazing platters!! What a lovely community we have here at St Paul's! 

Just a couple of the beatuiful grazing boxes we received!

CatholicCare is opening a New Early Learning Centre, Long Day Care/Preschool for 2-5 year olds.

Located within the precinct of All Saints Parish and Nazareth Primary School, the proposed DA is currently before Shellharbour Council. The centre will include a new 60 place long day care centre and will provide a high-quality, early education and care experience for children and families, supporting a seamless transition to school. Highly qualified educators will deliver pre-school programs, catering for each child's needs and development, underpinned by the National Early Years Learning Framework and Quality Standards to guide and build strong early learning foundations so the children can thrive in the early years  of their education journey, fostering a life-long love for learning.

We are currently consulting with local schools, parent groups and parishioners to understand how we can best meet the needs of the community. We value your voice, which will help shape the planning of the new Early Learning Centre and we would appreciate you completing this short survey: https://ncv.microsoft.com/wURfLQLpnx

Thank you for your time and sharing your opinion. Your feedback will help us shape a nurturing, quality education and care experience for your child and the community. If you'd like to register your interest for a placement, please go to catholiccare.dow.org.au.

Teen Life webinar series by LIFESTART

Please find attached a flyer for the Teen Life webinar series by LIFESTART starting from Monday October 11^th  2021. There are 4 webinars being held on consecutive Mondays at 7.30pm.

LIFESTART have organised for these webinars to showcase young people with a disability and their families, and the journeys they have taken to achieve the outcomes they desired.

 

The topics of the webinars are:

Webinar 1: Getting it Right with School Meetings – Achieving Greater Outcomes

Webinar 2: Choosing a high school – Advice from parents and young people

Webinar 3: What comes next? Hear real stories of post-school outcomes

Webinar 4: Keeping Connected – Creating possibilities post high school

 

The webinars are free, and everyone is welcome to join. The webinars will be recorded and will be available to watch from the LIFESTART website after each event. LIFESTART will also be including a resource factsheet with additional information and topics of interest for young people, parents, and carers to follow up together.

Flyer_Family_webinar_series_Oct21.pdf

Flyer_Family_webinar_series_Oct21 _pdf 752.35 KB