In the Catholic tradition, November is traditionally a month of remembrance of the dead. The month begins with the Solemnity of All Saints on 1 November and the Commemoration of the All the Faithful Departed-All Souls Day on 2 November. 

Although many of the known saints have their own feast day during the year, on November 1 the Catholic Church remembers them all through the Solemnity of All Saints.

For the saints that we do not have as much information about, or for those whose feats are still relatively unsung, the day offers an opportunity to commemorate their accomplishments and to pray to them, asking for their intercession.

According to Catholic doctrine, all the world’s saints are forever spiritually connected with the world and can intercede on people’s behalf because of a shared communion with Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Catechism also believes us all to be connected with each other through this shared communion with Christ. 

On November 2nd, as a Catholic Church, we observe All Souls’ Day, a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died.

A Special Prayer Prayer for All Souls Day Offered By Pope Francis

We entrust to you, oh Lord,

The souls of our beloved dead.

May none of them be afraid to meet you,

after their earthly pilgrimage but may they always hope to be welcomed 

in the embrace of your infinite mercy.

Lord, may no earthly thing 

ever separate us from You,

 but may everyone and everything 

support us with a burning desire

to rest peacefully and eternally in You.

Amen

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was fabulous to see so many students at the second after hours school disco in three years. A huge thank you to Michelle Hooper who was the resident D.J at both discos and to the St Paul’s Parents and Friends Association for organising the disco and those staff members who supported the Parents and Friends Association with supervision.  

On Wednesday 26 October the Southern Region Catholic Development Fund Regional Public Speaking Competition was held at St John's Catholic Primary School Dapto. A huge congratulations to Anabelle Maounis who was placed 2nd in the Year 5 Competition and a huge congratulations to Isabella De Santis who also placed 2nd in the Year 6 Competition. Both Anabelle and Isabella will now compete in Catholic Development Fund Regional Public Speaking Grand Final on the 7th November. 

I would like to thank Mrs Suzanne Hayes for her organsiation with the SPAP Public Speaking Competition for our Stage 3 students and for her support in preparing Anabelle and Isabella for the Southern Region Catholic Development Fund Regional Public Speaking Competition. 

Congratulations Anabelle and Isabella and we wish you all the very best for the upcoming Catholic Development Fund Regional Public Speaking Grand Final.

Welcome to our Kindergarten 2023 Students

Last week we welcomed our Kindergarten 2023 students and their parents and carers to their playgroup sessions. This opportunity for transition to school has been disrupted over the last two years due to COVID 19 restrictions and  we are pleased to be able to resume the eight sessions throughout the term.

We have had very excited Kindergarten 2023 students and their parents and carers, who have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new classmates and other parents and carers. We particularly welcome our newest parents to St Paul’s and know you will enjoy the community and opportunity for your child to grow and learn in our rich and vibrant Catholic community. I would like to thank Mrs Olivia Roberts and Mrs April Grove for their organisation of the playgroup sessions.

 

Annual School Report Parent and Carer Survey

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 2022 Annual School Report. The St Paul’s Annual School Report Parent and Carer Survey is now available for completion.This survey is designed to capture a range of experiences and attitudes of the school community towards school practices and procedures. The survey aims to capture opinions about the culture of the school, including how welcoming and supportive the school is.  The data captured in the survey will be used to plan for continuous school improvement and to measure and monitor the effective practices and procedures of the school over a period of time. The Annual School Report Parent and Carer survey will be triangulated with the data from the student and staff surveys that will also be completed over the coming weeks.Please see the link below to access the survey and  I thank you very much for taking the time to complete the survey which will close on Friday 18 November.

2023 Class Placements

As we begin to move towards the end of the year, planning for 2023 is under way and as a teaching staff we continue to focus on our students and their learning. The process for student class placement will commence this Term.

At St Paul’s we take into account the spiritual, academic and emotional well-being of each child, as well as considering their social interactions, so that we work towards our main goal of having balanced classes in all grades. I also recognise that as your child’s primary carer, parents and carers may have specific information that you wish to share with me, as the Principal of the school, that may assist in the organisation of class placements for next year.  

If there are any special considerations or concerns that parents and carers feel the school should take into consideration, please put the requests in writing no later than Friday 11 November 2022 via email to Michelle Rodwell at

rodwellm01@dow.catholic.edu.au

In light of the above, the following factors be taken into consideration when making a request for class placements in 2023: 

• All requests must be in writing no later than Friday 11 November 2022 via email to Michelle Rodwell at rodwellm01@dow.catholic.edu.au 
• As there will be changes with teaching staff for 2023 please do not request a particular teacher as there is a possibility that the current classroom teachers on a grade for 2023 will not be the same in 2022.
• Please note that no changes to class placements will be made after classes are announced at our Meet the Teacher Transition morning on Tuesday 13th December

New Stage 2 and 3 Furniture

It was wonderful to see the faces of our Stage 2 and 3 students on Monday morning as they walked into their classrooms to see new student desks and chairs. Removalists worked very diligently on Sunday to move the old furniture out of 10 classrooms and replace this with new furniture. Early in 2023 new furniture will be placed in our Early Stage 1 and Stage 1 classrooms.

I look forward to seeing parents and carers at the Term 4 SPAP Parents and Friends Meeting next Monday evening the 7th November at 6:30pm.

Thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support.

Your child would love you to look through their book and use this as a starting point to discuss what they have been learning. If you would like to give your child some feedback you might like to try the following format. 

Acknowledge a success	✓ Identify what is done accurately ✓ Describe something that is quality work ✓ Point out if they have used a good strategy eg: evidence of editing
Guide a future action	✓ Ask a question about something  ✓ Offer a suggestion to improve one aspect of learning- try to reinforce any comments from the teacher

On Friday 21st October many students came together to dance the night away at the disco. There were two sessions- one disco for Kinder- Year 2 and one disco for Year 3-6. The students had a wonderful time dancing with their glow sticks.

We sincerely thank Mrs Michelle Hooper for her organisation as the DJ for the evening. The community of St Paul's thank you for your time. 

Last Friday students wore their crazy socks to raise money to support the Catholic Mission, especially the country of Ethiopia. A big thank you and congratulations to all who supported the day.. 

The Mini Vinnies Team were involved in creating posters to promote the event, making the ‘sockballs’ and helped run our ‘sockball’ kicking competition in the hall at Recess time. There was a huge turn out of students wishing to be involved in the kicking competition with the Mini Vinnies team assisting with the collection of money, organising lines and judging whose ball entered the net. The sock balls proved to be harder to get in the goal than some students expected with not as much bounce as a normal ball.

Our Mini Vinnies team has been revived for Term 4, with a successful fundraising for Catholic Mission. This week at our Friday meeting, we will have a visit from a member of the Albion Park St Vincent de Paul. We will be discussing the needs of the wider community and how the St Paul’s community can support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.

All Saints’ Day is celebrated every year on 1st November; it is a holy day in the Catholic Church. It is a day when we celebrate the saints of the church as well as those saints who have not yet been recognised. We celebrate the lives of the saints, those men and women whose goodness and love of God have inspired the world. Saints have allowed God’s love to shine out through them, and their lives inspire us to show this love and goodness to all.

Each year on the 11th November, Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

At 11am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of war. In November the Germans called for an armistice (a ceasefire) and they accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month became universally associated with the remembrance of those who died.

Students at St Paul’s will commemorate this important event on Friday 11th November at 11:45am in the hall with a liturgy.

SUPPORTING WORLD DIABETES DAY

The St Paul’s School Community will be supporting World Diabetes Day again this year. Students are invited to dress in blue for a gold coin donation on Monday 14th November. Please make sure students wear appropriate clothes with closed in shoes.

Our school is learning about diabetes. 

You might not know that our school has a number of students and/or staff living with type 1 diabetes. This is because they look like every other person, but they have an important difference. People living with type 1 diabetes have an autoimmune disease that means they cannot produce their own insulin. You can’t catch type 1 diabetes and it’s not caused by lack of exercise or too much sugar. 

It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Everyone needs insulin to live. 

People with type 1 diabetes require up to 6 insulin injections every day. They also need to check their blood glucose (sugar) levels up to 6 times a day (by way of a finger prick) and carefully monitor their food intake and exercise regime daily. If their blood glucose level drops too low (commonly referred to as a “hypo”) they require a quick dose of sugar to prevent them going so low they go into a coma. Type 1 diabetes is difficult to manage. 

Around 11,000 kids in Australia have this form of diabetes, which accounts for around 10% of all people with diabetes. It is with you for life as there is currently no known cure. Every day 7 more Australians are diagnosed with this disease, most of them are children. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but scientists are working on it. 

That’s where we come in! JDRF Australia supports research to cure, treat and prevent T1D. We’re working hard to find a cure, while also finding ways to improve the lives of people with T1D right now. Our school will be supporting JDRF and helping to deliver a better future for kids with type 1 diabetes by dressing in BLUE on Monday 14th November for a gold coin donation.

ASSEMBLIES TERM 4

In Term Four, the following grades will be hosting the fortnightly assembly.

ATTENDANCE AT PARISH MASSES AND CHURCH VISITS

Please see the table below for times that students will be attending Parish Masses, Reconciliation and Church Visits for the younger grades. Parents and family members are invited to attend the Friday Parish Mass with the students at 9:30am.

PARISH AND COMMUNITY NEWS

Weekend Mass times at St Paul’s Albion Park, are 6pm Saturday & 9am Sunday.

2022 SHELLHARBOUR CITY COUNCIL MAYORESS GIVING TREE APPEAL

 

Once again the Shellharbour Council Mayoress’ Giving Tree Appeal will be happening this year. Community members are invited to leave donations of gifts or gift vouchers to Target or Kmart in the box located next to the tree in the foyer on the ground floor at the Shellharbour Civic Centre from 14 November 2022.

 

Mrs Jodi Marsh

Religious Education Coordinator

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.

Based on the PB4L data, the focus for weeks 4 - 7 will be Respectful behaviour at dismissal. The students will revise how to line up and wait patiently for parents and carers to collect them. Students in bus lines will revise how to wait respectfully and patiently for buses to arrive.

ACE Awards

Leila Horrell

Shontel Ristevski

Mila Quinones

Abby Goodwin

Christian Georgievski

Ava Dawson

Ameirah Stonham

Will Fleming

Lachlan Edwards

Aden Nixon

Principal Awards

Abbey McCabe

Jack Miller

Isabella De Santis

Anabelle Maounis

Leila Horrell

Mary MacKillop Awards

Ruby Whitehead

Students from Year 3 to 6 continue to have the opportunity to be involved in the Pivot Survey each week on a Wednesday.  

Following a review of the data, an area of need identified in PIVOT Survey is promoting a positive response to the question: 

“I believe I can learn things that are difficult.”

Over the next few weeks we ask that you promote a Growth Mindset:

“Students with a growth mindset are able to persist in times of adversity and this can help to build their resilience. Having a growth mindset encourages students to view their failures and setbacks as an opportunity to learn and as a sign they should continue persisting to achieve their goals.”

One way to promote a growth mindset is to:

Use the language of a growth mindset. 

Model using language such as “I can’t do that yet…”, “What am I missing?” or “What strategies can I use to work this out?” to promote a growth mindset and help move students from using defeast language like “I can’t do that”, “I’m not good at this” or “This is too hard”

Mrs Jodi Marsh

Diverse Learning Needs Support Teacher Monday - Thursday

Mrs ALexandra Hingston

Diverse Learning Needs Support Teacher Friday

Staff professional learning is a key component for professional growth for the staff at St Paul's and a key component for teacher accreditation and maintenance as established by the NSW Education Standards Authority. At St Paul’s, we value the critical role ongoing professional development plays in enhancing quality learning and teaching. Therefore, throughout the year all staff are encouraged to engage in professional learning opportunities. The New South Wales Education Standards Authority requires Staff to ‘participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities’ and regularly ‘undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs’. (NESA Standard 6)

Week 4

We are focused on improving student outcomes!!

This year, our classroom teachers continued the professional learning around Teaching Reading Strategies, Vocabulary and Phonics. Our staff development days focused on upskilling our teachers to develop and deepen knowledge in teaching reading and comprehension across K-6. Our instructional leaders have been working alongside classroom teachers to improve knowledge and teaching based on evidence-based practice. The teachers have observed colleagues in the classroom and sought feedback to improve teaching strategies, identify student needs and analyse assessment data in reading and writing. It has been wonderful to see student improvement and growth throughout K-6 in reading and comprehending. In K-2, the students have gained knowledge in segmenting and isolating sounds to help them decode words in reading texts. Our 3-6 students have improved their reading skills when summarising a text and can have active discussions with peers about texts and topics during reciprocal reading groups. Just ask them!

Mrs Belinda Evans

Middle Leader 2

As mentioned last term, next year will see the introduction of the School Managed iPad Program into Year 4 and the continuation of the program in Year 5 and Year 6. The ordering process for Year 4 and Year 5 2023 will commence in early November through Compass Insights. An alert will be sent out through Compass to parents and carers of these grades once this is made available.

Thank you to the parents and carers of our current Year 3 and Year 4 students who have returned their signed acknowledgement of the School Managed iPad Program note to school. Please return the note if you haven’t already done so.

For further information regarding the School Managed iPad Program please contact Bianca Koczka through the school office.

Bianca Koczka

Middle Leader ICT and Special Projects

Starting school is an exciting milestone for children and their families and transition to school through playgroup prepares them for future learning and development.

 

Last week we welcomed Kindergarten 2023 to our first of 8 playgroup sessions. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to:

• Get to know the school
• Meet their teachers
• Learn through play
• Make new friends
• Prepare for school and learning

It was lovely to meet all the parents and we look forward to the rest of the playgroup sessions over the next 3 weeks.

Mrs Olivia Roberts and Mrs April Grove

Kindergarten Teachers 2023

On Tuesday, the Waste-Free warriors met to discuss some of the pressing issues with our environmental initiatives since returning in Term 4. We did some investigating and noticed that the soft-plastic bins were not being used correctly. We collected them all, cleaned them out and we’re currently working on a plan to roll out soft plastic recycling at St Paul’s so that it is successful for the remainder of the year and into 2023. 

Next week, we will be presenting to all the grades about the correct uses of our bins and we will be looking at giving prizes to the best class.

Sophie, Jessminda, Poppy, Chelsea, Annabelle and Scarlett

 

This term selected students from year 3, year 4 and year 5 have been participating in a martial arts club with Mrs Lyons and Mrs Miller at recess on Wednesdays. Students have been practising their martial arts skills and learning movement patterns. Everyone involved has been having fun and enjoying the movement challenges. If any new students would like to join, please see Mrs Lyons. 

Amy Lyons

During Term 4, students in Year 3 and Year 4 have been participating in specialised rugby league sessions as part of their PE program with Mrs Lyons. The program will run for 7 weeks and is taught by coaches from NRL Wollongong. The students have been learning specific skills, such as dummy passes, chip and chase kicks, grubber kicks and many more. They are enjoying this great opportunity and are looking forward to the upcoming lessons. 

Amy Lyons

On Wednesday 26th October Mrs Rodwell and myself had the pleasure of attending The Southern Region Public Speaking Competition held at St John's at Dapto.  Anabelle Maounis (Year 5) and Isabella De Santis (Year 6) represented St Paul's and and there were 15 schools in attendance from; Bulli, Albion Park, Warrawong, Nowra, West Wollongong, Shellharbour City, Unanderra, Corrimal, Dapto, Fairy Meadow, Shellharbour, Kiama,  Milton, Port Kembla and Thirroul. The speeches were of  a very high standard and we were thoroughly entertained throughout the day.  We are thrilled to announce that both Anabelle and Isballea placed 2nd in their respective Year 5 and Year 6 competitions and will now go on to represent the Southern Region of the Diocese at the CDF Public Speaking Grand Final, to be held at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School in Bowral, on Monday 7th November. We wish both Isabella and Anabelle all the best for the next stage of the competition and we are very proud of their achievements. 

Mrs Monica McCann

To celebrate the end of the year St Paul’s will be holding a talent quest! 

WHO: Any student K-6

WHEN: Monday Week 10 

WHAT: Students can prepare their ‘special talent’ which may include dancing, singing, telling jokes, playing an instrument etc. Their performance should be no more than 2 minutes. 

Students will perform their talent to their stage peers on Monday December 12th. Teachers will be speaking to students about this special event over the coming weeks and more information will be provided.

Please ensure when your contact details change to email the info account, so we have a record of the new details. info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au

Please join the SPAP Parents and Friends Executive for the Term 4 SPAP Parents and Friends Meeting on Monday 7 November at 6:30pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be shared with parents and carers via Compass. If you have any agenda items you would like to add to the agenda please email Kelly Rayner via fuller.kelly@abc.net.au

Prices are $15 for 1 or order 3 for $40.

Final orders are due online by 6th November 2022. Sorry, no later orders can be accepted.

P&F Gingerbread House Fundraiser

It’s that time of year again, our Gingerbread house fundraiser! Click the link to order your choice of three different houses to be delivered to your front door.

• chocolate
• plain
• gluten free

The gingerbread house kits cost $44.99 each, and you can order up until November 30th.

Thank you in advance for supporting the P&F in fundraising for St Paul’s. 

https://www.gingerbreadfolk.com.au/collections/christmas-online-fundraiser?mbsy_source=e153e372-53ae-4d25-9582-c836fd6f9f82&mbsy_exp=Sat%2C+10+Dec+2022+00%3A45%3A54+GMT&campaignid=49667&mbsy=6mwhzL

Amy De Santis

P&F President

As children start thinking about the end of year, Christmas, and summer holidays, it can be hard to keep them motivated to do their best in term 4. 

Child Psychologist Eleanor Mackey offers the following tips: 

• Acknowledge that you understand it is difficult to stay focused. Let them know this is something we all experience sometimes.  Be careful not to label your child as “lazy” or “unmotivated”.

• Encourage and praise your child when they are staying on task or completing work.

• Help your child list out the big and little things that need to get done. Put those tasks on a calendar so they can see what they need to do each day.

• Schedule time each day to do homework. Some will benefit from getting their work done as soon as they get home, while others may need a mental/physical break between school and homework.

• Find ways to motivate your child. Plan small rewards such as getting out of a chore or choosing a family movie or activity to encourage success. 

More tips:

• Focus on the process of learning, not the results. That way, you cultivate a love of learning for its own sake.
• Use active listening by reflecting back what you hear your child saying to you, and then work with them to problem-solve. For example, “What I hear you saying is that you feel tired and over it. How can we work together to help you feel better about these last weeks of school?”
• Don’t make threats, offer collaboration and assistance instead
• Focus on your child’s strengths
• Gently remind them what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable but give them some agency in how they do things.

Have a great term 4.   Doreen

Please find an article from Michelle Mitchell. Michelle is an award-winning speaker, and best-selling parenting author. She has been termed ʻthe teenage expertʼ by the media and is sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens. Michelle started her career as a teacher, but soon discovered a special interest in well-being.

The School Crossing Supervisor at the Tongarra Road school crossing has made a request that we remind the students and parents to follow the supervisor’s instructions at the crossing.

Kristie Bicknell

Senior School Support Officer

The Shellharbour City Chorale has been asked to participate in the festival with a large choir and we would like to offer this opportunity to all children in the local community.

Date: 21st January, 2023

Venue: Croome Sporting Complex

Information: We are building a 100 person choir to sing on the main stage at the festival! This is open to students 8yrs and over.

We will be sending out rehearsal packs to anyone interested in being involved. Rehearsals will be held during the January school holidays before the performance. Our Tuesday choirs will also rehearse during the term however it isn't necessary to be able to attend on Tuesdays. 

There will be a small fee to cover rehearsal materials and copyright.

Kind regards, 

Jessica Soden 

Illawarra Vocal Academy