In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong, last weekend was the culmination of the Liturgical Year, and this coming Sunday will begin the “new year” for the Church with the season of Advent. The culmination of the Church’s year is marked by the Feast of “Christ the King” – a reminder that we look forward to the coming of Christ as universal King. At the same time, this Feast reminds us of our own call to bring about this Kingdom of peace, justice and love in our own unique ways. 

The reflection by Loyola Press explains that in last Sunday’s Gospel, we hear one of two dialogues between Jesus and Pilate.  Pilate questions Jesus about the charges brought against him.  In his responses to Pilate’s questions, Jesus distinguishes his kingdom from the political powers of this world. King and kingdom may be appropriate terms for Jesus’ mission and promise, but only by analogy. Jesus is king, but not the kind of king we imagine or expect. He was certainly not the kind of king Pilate feared he might be. Jesus refers to a kingdom that does not belong to this world. 

Truth has been another important theme in John’s Gospel. We see it emphasized in the conclusion of the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. Those who know the truth will recognize Jesus as king and will know how to interpret this insight. Yet Jesus’ kingship was hidden from many of his contemporaries. Only those chosen, those who have the eyes of faith, are able to see. As modern disciples of Jesus, we also struggle at times to recognize Jesus as king. The Gospel invites us to see with eyes of faith that we might recognize that Jesus, through his crucifixion and death, is indeed king and Savior of all.

It was fitting that on this Feast Day the Diocese of Wollongong held our Catholic Mission Appeal. Catholic Mission operates in over 160 countries to help meet the material and spiritual needs of communities in need. It is a wonderful example of the universal church coming together in solidarity, to assist local churches in the areas of the world most in need. I had the privilege of listening to David Harrison who shared more about the work of Catholic Mission at my Parish Immaculate Conception Unanderra. David’s talk made me reflect on how we can renew our commitment to being missionaries of Christ’s love in our own local context - in the words of Pope Francis: “Always, but especially in these times of pandemic, it is important to grow in our daily ability to widen our circle, to reach out to others who, albeit physically close to us, are not immediately part of our “circle of interests”. To be on mission is to be willing to think as Christ does, to believe with him that those around us are also my brothers and sisters. May his compassionate love touch our hearts and make us all true missionary disciples.”

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Saturday 20th November was UNICEF World Children’s Day- A better future for every child. World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how inequality affects the rights of every child. From climate change, education and mental health, to ending racism and discrimination, children and young people are raising their voices on the issues that matter to their generation and calling for adults to create a better future.

This World Children’s Day, it’s more important than ever that the world listens to their ideas and demands. I witness this everyday at St Paul’s, staff listening and actioning the ideas voiced by our students. I would like to thank our staff and parents and carers for all that you do to ensure every student at St Paul’s has continual growth in their faith, learning, behaviour and wellbeing.

On Monday evening we held an information evening for our 2022 Kindergarten Parents and Carers. This was the first of many parent/carer and school partnership experiences that our Kindergarten 2022 parents and carers will engage in throughout their child's education. Monday evening was an opportunity to outline to the 2022 Kindergarten parents and carers our many achievements at St Paul's and the value we place on parent/ carer and school partnership. We welcome 52 Kindergarten students to the St Paul's Catholic Parish School community and I am certainly looking forward to this Friday 26th November and Friday 3rd December as we greet our new kindergarten students face to face during their onsite transition sessions.

Today I had the privilege of welcoming 16 students from Aspect as part of their transition to St Paul's. The students expressed their excitement about being part of the St Paul's community and I expressed to the students that the St Paul's community was very proud that our school was chosen for their education setting. I had the opportunity to explain to the students from Aspect that the St Paul's community is a community of welcome and that our staff, students, parents and carers value exclusivity and belonging. 

This Friday evening and coming weekend we celebrate with our Year 3 students and families as a number of our Year 3 students receive the Sacrament of Eucharist. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Fr. Leo, Therese McQuade, Jodi Marsh, Olivia Djodan and Julianne Tonini for their support in preparing our students to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist. I look with great satisfaction as many of our families continue to pass on their Christian tradition, faith and spirituality to their children.  This is not only something that happens within a Catholic school but must come from home, as well as from connection with parish. Jesus is obviously central to everything we do at St Paul’ s and I look forward to celebrating with the St Paul’s community this coming weekend and ask that you keep our Year 3 students and parents and carers in your prayers.

Each academic year every school in NSW is required to complete an Annual School Report. I am seeking the voice of parents and carers to complete the St Paul's 2021 Annual School Report. If possible could parents and carers complete a very quick survey indicating your satisfaction with St Paul's. The link to the survey is below.

The closing date of the survey is Friday 3 December 2021. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback to the school, as we value the feedback from our community.

I had the privilege of listening to the wonderful speeches delivered by our Year 5 students who have nominated themselves for School Captain for 2022. I was very impressed with our Year 5 students' understanding of leadership qualities, the importance of Christian values, being approachable and a role model for other students. The 2022 School Captains will be announced on Wednesday 8th December.

As the school year concludes our 2021 Year 6 Senior Leaders have captured the many wonderful learning experiences they have engaged in whilst students at St Paul's. I share this with you today as our students articulate what it means to be a part of the St Paul's community.

Yours in Faith and Learning,

Michelle Rodwell

Principal

Acknowledgement to Country

St Paul's Albion Park acknowledges and pays respect to the Dharawal people past and present, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school is built.

The Christmas Concert and End of Year Awards are scheduled for 10 December 2021. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions, this event will need to be changed to an online event. No parents and carers are allowed on site. 

With the support of the Creative Arts teacher, Mrs Relf students will be presenting elements of the Christmas Story. The awards will be distributed one grade at a time for the students. 

Both elements of the Christmas Story and the Awards will be filmed and made available for viewing on Youtube the night of 10 December. There will be more details available closer to the date.

St Paul's are currently in the process of reviewing the homework practices of the school. We are seeking information from parents are carers on the current homework structures and improvements of the processes.

Due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, adjustments to the curriculum have been made throughout Terms 3 and 4. Focus for Semester Two is on student wellbeing and learning, and priority has been given to Religious Education, English, and Mathematics. As a result of this extended period of Remote Learning and the limited opportunity for teachers to provide quality assessment tasks during the Remote Learning period to determine student learning attainment and growth, student reporting in Semester Two will look different from the Semester One Report you received earlier this year.

The Semester Two Report will provide you with information about your child’s participation in learning during this time of extended Remote Learning. The Semester Two Reports will be distributed to parents and carers on Wednesday 8th December 2021. That will allow you time to meet with your child’s teacher for a learning conversation.

Rebecca Nunes

Assistant Principal

Christmas should be a special time for everyone. Many within our local community find the financial strain of Christmas too much to bear, especially following the strain of Covid 19. Now is your chance to give back and help to change someone’s life for the better. This year we ask each grade to donate a specific non-perishable item.

Kindergarten – Christmas cookies, shortbread, 

Year 1 – Chips, popcorn, savoury biscuits

Year 2 – Dessert items - tin fruit, long life custard, Christmas pudding

Year 3 – Pasta, pasta sauce, noodles 

Year 4 – Christmas lollies, snack food items - chips, biscuits, 

Year 5 – Christmas Bon-bons, zooper doopers 

Year 6 – Drinks - soft drinks, cordial, non perishable juice

Please donate and give the gift of hope this Christmas. Donations can be donated to the school and will be collected in the classrooms. Please be careful to ensure that food is not past the best by or used by date for Christmas.

We are also taking donations of Christmas shopping bags to package the items in. All donations can be given to the class teacher.

These donations will be presented to St Vincent de Paul in the first week of December.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT

This weekend begins the Season of Advent in the Church calendar. The time of Advent is the four week period of preparation for the season of Christmas. Advent begins the cycle of the Liturgical Year and focuses on the coming of the Lord. The first weeks offer a vision of the future, looking to the end of time when Christ will come again. The final weeks point more specifically to the birth of Christ. Christ, the promised one, is awaited with joyful expectation. The prayer spaces within the classroom will change to purple the colour of Advent.

WORLD DIABETES DAY

Thank you to the St Paul’s School Community for supporting World Diabetes Day this year. Students dressed in blue for a gold coin donation raising over $370.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

First Holy Communion Masses will be celebrated in the Parish this weekend. Please keep the following children in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time.

ST PAUL’S WEEKEND MASS TIMES

Our church is now open to “mixed” congregations (fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated and as yet un-vaccinated). As a result of the latest easing of restrictions, we will no longer be taking bookings for weekend Masses since our capacity limit has doubled to 200. Masks must still be worn, and check-in with the QR code is still required. Congregational singing is still prohibited.

To ensure the safety of others, if you are sick or have symptoms of cold and flu, please do not come to Mass.

Saturday VIGIL Mass 6pm

Sunday 9am

Jodi Marsh

Religious Education Coordinator

Pope Francis has dedicated this year to St Joseph. He did this in response to seeing how much pressure Coronavirus put on so many families through anxiety, unemployment and fractured relationships. He emphasises St Joseph’s role as father of his family.

Saint Joseph was a carpenter who earned an honest living to provide for his family. From him, Jesus learned the value, the dignity and the joy of what it means to eat bread that is the fruit of one’s own labour.

In our own day, when employment has once more become a burning social issue, and unemployment at times reaches record levels even in nations that for decades have enjoyed a certain degree of prosperity, there is a renewed need to appreciate the importance of dignified work, of which Saint Joseph is an exemplary patron.

The world of work in St Joseph’s time differs from our own. He was self-employed as a carpenter, was skilled, saw his work through from beginning to end, and supported Mary and Jesus through his work. In his work he was relatively privileged – for many others work depended on being hired each day and could be back-breaking and dangerous. For St Joseph work was both a gift and a struggle. It remains so today for many people as they struggle to gain employment.

There are a number of events planned for Term 4 which are outlined below

Friday 26 November: Book Week Celebrations and costume parade

Tuesday 7 December: Year Six Fun Day

Wednesday 8 December: Semester Two Reports distributed to Parents and Carers

Thursday 9 December: Students meet their new teacher for 2022 during the Meet the Teacher Transition morning- 9am till 11am

Friday 10 December: Christmas Celebration and Awards for Students 

Monday 13 December: Year 6 Graduation

Wednesday 15 December: Last Day of the school year for Students

Thursday 16 December: Last Day of the school year for Staff

Thank you to all students who are trying their best to follow our school rules in the playground and classroom

PB4L is an evidence-based framework that emphasises school-wide systems of support for all students and staff. These include proactive strategies for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours. Positive behaviour supports are implemented for all students, across all school settings, by all staff, at all times. This continuum of support ensures students’ academic and social outcomes. All student behaviour expectations are founded on our three school rules – Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe. 

PB4L Focus of the week- Classroom Manners and Respect

This week all classes are revising and practising what is expected of all students and staff in the classroom. We are using our manners, speaking respectfully to each other, following the noise meter and following teacher instructions and directions responsibly.

Our PB4L Draw Winners for Week 8 are:

Chantalee Alaban - K Red

Aiden Cowell - 3 Blue

Ruby Baxter - 3 Red

Chloe Ndisabiye - 2 Blue

Wes Barrett - 1 Red

Lorcan Sutton - K Blue

End of Year Class Awards

Over the next few weeks, teachers will be making decisions about the worthy recipients of our school-wide class awards. The following table outlines each award and the criteria teachers use to make this decision.

The PB4L Team

On Friday 19 November Year 6 was meant to be at camp. The school was very disappointed that they had missed out on the experience. Year 6 teachers planned a 'Water Wars' afternoon to give them some experiences they may have had at camp.

Moving to a new class as students progress through their schooling is both an exciting and nerve-wracking time for all our students.  To ensure all students at St Paul's feel safe, comfortable and confident in their 2022 Classroom Environments, we have a number of processes in place to support students.  

During these transition processes, students will be moving across the school.  To ensure Covid safety, all students will remain only with students in their cohort.  All staff and students will sanitise their hands upon entry and exit of new rooms and desks will be sanitised between sessions.  

Meet the Teacher Sessions: All students attending St Paul’s across Year 1 - Year 6 in 2022 will meet their new classroom teacher on 9 December 2021.  During this time, students will meet and get to know their new teacher/s.  They will have the opportunity to engage in activities assisting the teacher to get to know the students.  Students will learn routines for their 2022 class including where to line up, where to place their school bag and where their classroom is located. All students will bring home a notification that afternoon outlining their 2022 class and who their 2022 Classroom Teachers will be.

2022 Student Handover: During Weeks 9 & 10, all current Classroom Teachers will meet with the 2022 Classroom Teachers to engage in a thorough student handover.  This will enable 2022 Classroom Teachers across all grades to be prepared to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement during Term 1 2022. 

Additional Transition Support: Throughout the remainder of Term 4, some students will engage in additional transition sessions with their current Teachers and School Support Officers.  These additional sessions will take place throughout the school day and will help students to become increasingly familiar and comfortable with their new classroom environment. 

All the staff at St Paul’s are excited to meet our students for 2022.  We look forward to assisting all students to feel comfortable, confident and safe in their new Classroom environments. 

Bree-Anna Fogliada

Diverse Learning Support Teacher

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’.

During Term 3 and 4, we will be sharing some specific strategies for helping develop resilience at home using each of the BOUNCE BACK key strategies.

The next letter of the BOUNCE BACK acronym represents the strategy Catastrophising exaggerates your worries.  Don’t believe the worst. 

The key messages are:

• Catastrophising means thinking about the worst possible thing that would happen and believing it will happen.  For example: 
• ‘If I don't do well in this test or project, the whole team will be ruined’
• ‘If I go to drama classes, I’ll probably make a fool of myself’
• Catastrophising makes you feel worried and miserable.  You probably won’t feel like doing anything because you expect the worst. 

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

• Weekly reflection: Could have been worse  At the end of each week, share something that didn’t go well.  Identify how it could have been worse than it actually was.  This reflection helps students to understand that when something ‘not-so-good’ happens it usually could have been worse.  This can help them to not catastrophise and to give them a small something to be thankful for, which will help them cope and feel better. 

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 Catastrophising exaggerates your worries.  Don’t believe the worst.  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

Last week Year 5 had the opportunity to present their leadership speeches. The students who are in the running to be School Captain presented their speeches to their Year 5 peers in the hall. These speeches were also viewed via zoom, by all Year 3 and 4 classes, as well as Mrs Rodwell and Mrs Nunes. The speeches were of a very high standard and we congratulate each and every student who prepared a speech and so confidently delivered it. We laughed, we cried, we were entertained and we were very proud of the individuality of each candidate's speech. The votes are currently getting tallied and we are anxiously awaiting the results. All the other Year 5 students had the opportunity to present their speech to their class teacher and peers to convince them why they would make a great contribution to the leadership group they hope to join. Year 5 continue to impress by showing their leadership qualities both in the classroom and playground.

Suzanne Hayes & Katie De Sousa

Year 5 Teachers

The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things but most importantly, Book Week!

Book Week will be celebrated this Friday 26 November.

Students, teachers and even parents are invited to dress up on the day as their favourite book character or in this year’s theme, Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. Dressing up is not only fun but also encourages enriching discussions between members of the school community about their favourite books and helps to nurture a lifelong love of reading for students. While we are not able to hold a whole school Book Week parade this year due to restrictions, photos taken on the day will be published in the Week 10 newsletter.

Students will be celebrating Book Week by exploring books shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Students will also be participating in a virtual author visit with local children’s author Sue Whiting. 

St Paul's will be holding a virtual talent quest to celebrate the end of the school year. All students K-6 can enter by filming a short video of themselves showcasing their talent. Videos are to be no longer than 1 minute. Talents can include singing, dancing, magic tricks, jokes etc. All classes will be watching the entries during Week 11. Please email the relevant stage contact your video by Friday 3rd December. 

Last week, St Paul's enrolled onto the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is a unique collaboration between the Vatican, an international coalition of Catholic organisations to take a truly ground-up approach to committing to a better future together. Action is urgently needed. Our creator called the human family to be the steward of creation, but we have neglected that call. Our hotter, dirtier, deader planet is driving up the risk of suffering. The most vulnerable suffer above all. This is an initiative from our Church that offers us opportunities to strengthen our ecological commitment to protecting and caring for our earth and all of creation. The LSAP will compliment initiatives that are already happening at St Paul’s and help guide us to further improve our commitment to our ecological conversion journey. 

We’re excited to continue on this journey of ecological conversion at St Paul’s and we look forward to the initiatives that will be continued and introduced throughout 2022. 

Katie De Sousa and Belinda Evans

St Paul's Catholic Parish Primary School has a duty to take reasonable care for the safety and welfare of our students.  This care extends to assisting students to manage their medical condition that requires medication, where medication cannot be administered outside of school hours.

If your child requires staff to administer prescription or over-the-counter medication at school, you will need to complete a Request to Administer Medication Form.  

School staff will only administer prescription medication that: 

• Has been prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist)

• Is in its original container 

• Has an attached pharmacy label to the container

• Has been delivered to the school by the parent / carer and is accompanied by a completed Request to Administer Medication Form 

School staff will only administer Over-The-Counter medication that: 

• Is in its original container 

• Has been delivered to the school by the parent / carer and is accompanied completed Request to Administer Medication Form including the signature and stamp from a qualified medical practitioner

If your child requires more than one medication, you will need to complete a form for each medication.

ASCIA ANAPHYLAXIS ACTION PLANS / ASHTMA MANAGEMENT ACTION PLANS

If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, asthma or an allergic reaction, it is important that the school is provided with a current ASCIA Anaphylaxis Action Plan / Asthma Management Plan completed by a doctor.  This plan provides up-to-date information for the school regarding the medical management of your child’s condition.  

If there are any changes in your child’s health care needs, please inform the school as soon as possible.

The following dates have been planned as Staff Professional Development Days for St Paul’s for the 2022 school year.

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

Students who need a School Opal Card or Travel Pass for 2022 can apply now. Parents/students will need to submit a new application if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation.

Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. School Opal Cardholders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

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

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

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022.

Students living in rural and regional areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator.

There are a lot of uniforms in lost property at the moment.  Could we please ask that parents encourage their children to check lost property if they have lost any items.  Any unclaimed items without names will be donated to the Second Hand Uniform Shop.