Last Sunday in Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrated the third Sunday of Advent Year A. The third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning “rejoice.”

Last Sunday’s Gospel reading continues our Advent reflection on the person and message of John the Baptist. We hear Jesus' message to John the Baptist, now in prison, about the signs of the kingdom found in Jesus' ministry and Jesus' assessment of John's role in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus' message to John about the signs of the kingdom being performed recalls the salvation described by the prophet Isaiah. Salvation is already in our midst as manifested in the miraculous deeds of Jesus and in the Church. Even as we observe our world today, we can find glimpses of God's work among us. Even more, we help to prepare the way for God's kingdom by our words and our deeds.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today we had the opportunity to come together as a school community to celebrate 140 years of Catholic Education at St Paul’s. The original school of St Paul’s Albion Park, that consisted of one large room and a verandah, was established in 1882 with three religious sisters of St Joseph sent by Mary MacKillop at the request of the parish priest, Rev Fr Augustus William Petre.

With an enrolment of approximately 40 students, two Sisters did the teaching duties and the third Sister of St Joseph looked after the convent. For over 40 years the Sisters taught in one large room.

The school was then called St Joseph’s and for some time also went under the name of St Patrick. Today, St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School prides itself on the charism of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Her spirit can be found in our students and staff, in their approach to learning, in their spiritual and other achievements and in their friendships and sport.

We are also blessed to have the patron saint of our parish school of St Paul the Apostle, whose spirituality influences our daily activities and invites Christ to be gradually formed in us and in those to whom we minister. Today we reflect on the precious gift of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon. I would like to thank Mrs Jodi Marsh and Mrs Amy Lyons and Mrs Kristie Bicknell for their leadership with our Liturgy and celebrations as we celebrate 140 years of Catholic schooling at St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School. I would also like to thank you to Sr. Lynette Raferty who spoke with our students and staff today about the rich history and traditions of St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School. 

School Captains and School Student Leadership 2023

It is my great pleasure to announce the 2023 Student Leadership Team that will represent the student body. These students will be formally recognised in a ceremony in February 2023. At this ceremony all Year Six students will also receive a special badge to acknowledge their important role as leaders.

School Captains 2023

Senior Leaders 2023

Pastoral Care Leaders 2023

ICT Leaders 2023

Hospitality Leaders 2023

Sport Leaders 2023

Semester Two Student Reports

I have had the pleasure to read the Semester 2 student reports. The reports are a testament of the high quality of work produced by students and the high quality of learning experiences planned and taught by teachers. The Semester 2 reports were released to parents and carers on Friday 9th December, this allows parents and carers time to contact teachers for a learning conversation.

I would like to thank the staff at St Paul’s for their professionalism. The comments staff have diligently and professionally written highlight the depth and breadth of their knowledge about students and their learning attainment and growth, student attitude to learning and their well-being and behaviour strategies.  I would like to congratulate the students of St Paul’s on their hard work and their pleasing results.

Year 6 2023

As a school community we had the pleasure of joining our Year Six students and their parents and carers to celebrate the Year Six Graduation on Monday 12th December. This was a wonderful occasion to recognise the many achievements of these students. This coming Friday 16th December our Year Six Students will complete a milestone in their lives, the completion of their Primary Education. For the majority of these students St Paul’s has been the only school they have ever known. As these students leave us to begin the next phase of their journey, we thank them for sharing their special gifts with all of us. 

For a number of our families their association with the St Paul’s Community will be coming to an end. I take this opportunity to thank these families for living out their commitment to the school and for contributing to the building of this wonderful community in a multitude of ways. We farewell the following families at the end of 2023.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Fr. Leo, Mrs Jodi Marsh, Mrs Rebecca Nunes, Mrs Kristie Bicknell, Mrs Katie Colquhoun, Mrs Bianca Koczka, Amy De Santis and the Year 6 parent and carer organising committee for their hard work and dedication to the wonderful organisation of the Liturgy of the Word and the Graduation Dinner. The Year Six Graduation was a community event and celebration that our Year 6 students and parents and carers enjoyed and will remember. On behalf of the St Paul’s School Community we wish our Year 6 students all the very best for 2023.

Staffing Update

As we make preparations to begin a new school year we do this with the knowledge that we will be farewelling some of the existing staff members of our community.

Mr Shaun Dutaillis has relinquished his permanent position at St Paul’s as he continues to work in the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese. Shaun had been a staff member at St Paul's in 2019 before accepting a secondment to the Catholic Education Office in both the Diocese of Wollongong and Canberra/Goulburn Diocese. Shaun’s passion for Sport and involvement in many aspects of the school community is testament of his commitment to his profession. We wish Shaun the very best for the 2023 school year. 

I would like to acknowledge the work of Mrs Bianca Koczka who was seconded to St Paul’s by the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong for a 12 month period. Bianca has made many wonderful contributions to the community in her role as classroom teacher and Middle Leader. We wish Bianca the very best for the 2023 school year. 

I would like to acknowledge the work of Mrs Monica Ward-McCann who has been in a temporary teaching position for the past three years. Monica has made many wonderful contributions to the community in her role as Reading Recovery Teacher and the Catholic Care Pastoral Care worker. We wish Monica the very best for the 2023 school year.

After much deliberation Doreen Waddington will be leaving St Paul’s at the end of the school year. Doreen has been at St Paul’s and has been instrumental in establishing many social skills programs and counselling initiatives and parent and carer workshops. Doreen has asked me to pass on this personal message.

With a heavy heart, I want to notify you that after five years at St. Paul's, I will be ending my time here at the end of this year to work at a school closer to home.  I am very sad to be leaving, but I am also thankful for all the wonderful time I've spent here.  A new Counsellor has been assigned for the school, and an extra day has been granted as well, so there will be a Counsellor here 3 days per week starting in February, which will be very beneficial. I will miss all the staff here at St. Paul's.  Wishing you all the best for Christmas, the new year and onward.  Thank you for five great years. Best Regards, Doreen Waddington.

To these valued staff we say ‘thank you’ for the contributions they have made to making a difference to the lives of our students. We wish each of them abundant blessings as they all begin their new adventures in 2023.

Classes for 2023

After completing the recruitment process, and careful consideration of class teacher placements. I am pleased to announce teachers for 2023.

Mrs Laura Miller and Mrs Angela Spaccavento will be taking 12 months leave for the 2023 school year. We wish them best for the 2023 school year.

Merry Christmas

As we come to the end of the 2022 school year I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support from our families across this year. We are very fortunate to be part of a community who work together for the benefit of all our students, who are at the centre of all the decisions we make and the goals we set. And to you, our parents and carers, my sincerest thanks for your support of the school this year, for the way in which you have engaged fully in the partnership with us in the education of your child. Thank you on behalf of all staff for everything you have contributed to our community this year.

I would like to express my sincerest thanks to the staff at St Paul’s, for guiding and supporting our students, for their commitment to St Paul’s, to the school’s purpose, mission, and values. I would like to acknowledge the staff’s commitment to the well being and the growth of our students. The staff have worked tirelessly throughout the year, demonstrating tremendous adaptability and commitment to ensuring learning continuity for all students as we have come out of two years of remote learning.

Thank you to our amazing students, who with the support of their parents and carers, once again engaged in remote learning with enthusiasm and confidence. It's often said that children are far more resilient and adaptable than we give them credit for! The courage, determination, openness to what might be, curiosity, love of learning, the attitude that springs from a place of gratitude are true testament of what our St Paul’s students have demonstrated this year. Congratulations to our students on all they have achieved in their own personal growth in faith and learning. 

A special thank you to Fr Leo for his unwavering support for our parish school. He is an inspiration to us all through the work of his ministry, constantly positive and deeply committed to our parish community.

I would also like to acknowledge Amy De Santis and the Parents and Friends Association at St Paul’s for their support throughout the year, as they have made genuine efforts to be invitational in creating community. Thank you for the wonderful fundraising opportunities that were planned and facilitated so well by the Parents and Friends Association. St Paul’s is very fortunate to have a culture of collaboration with parents and carers and we will continue this collaboration in 2023. 

With the many complexities the year has thrown at us I have felt secure in making many challenging decisions simply because of the wonderful leadership team and administration staff that prop up my leadership and Fr Leo’s quiet and generous wisdom that continues to help create a wonderful school culture.

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all members of this community for the care and support each of you have provided. I look forward to continuing our journey and am excited by the opportunities for continued collaboration in 2023. On behalf of the staff, I wish all of our families a blessed Christmas filled with hope, joy and love. I pray you all have a safe and happy Christmas and holiday break and we wish you and your families all the joy that Christmas brings. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you in 2023 and on behalf of the staff we look forward to seeing our students and parents and carers on 31 January 2023. Please see a Christmas message from our 2022 School Captains Charlotte Hooper and Oliver McDonald.

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

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.

On Monday 12 December Year 6 students celebrated their graduation from primary school with family and staff.

Fr Leo Duck presided over a Liturgy of the Word at St Paul's Church. This was followed by a graduation dinner at Albion Park Bowling Club.

During the dinner, a number of awards were presented to Year Six students.

We would like to thank the Year 6 parents committee who supported making the evening a special occasion for all the students. We thank Amy, Trish, Robert, Michelle, Cristine, Rebecca, Deanna, Joanne, Tanika, Kristy, and Alison who formed the parent committee. 

The Year 6 students all had a wonderful evening.

A huge thank you to all members of the St Paul’s community who have donated goods towards our Christmas Appeal this year. The goods were collected on Wednesday and will be distributed to families in need by the Albion Park St Vincent de Paul Society.

These awards will be given out at our Friday morning assembly on 16 December

Ace Awards

Scarlet Hu

Mya Thompson

Lily Harris

Imogen Gauci

Preston Apps

Vincent Pires

Max Elliott

Toby Shaw

Mia Robertson

Principal Awards

Cooper Shepherd

Chloe Fletcher

Amaliah Reynolds

Max Elliott

Mary MacKillop Awards

Piper Smith

Chloe Fletcher

Abby Goodwin

Matthew Parker

Beck Bissett-Ames

Elise Jennison

Jessminda Borg

Please find a snapshot of work of students who have had their work published on the SPLICED website for 2022. Please view the website for more: https://spliced2022.dow.catholic.edu.au/home

On Tuesday morning the students had an opportunity to meet their classroom teachers for 2023. It was an exciting time for both teachers and students across the school. The students spent the morning session in their 2023 classroom with their new classmates and teachers. The students and teachers had an opportunity to participate in some activities to get to know each other, the classroom environment, routines and classroom expectations. 

Please check your child’s bag for some notes about who your child's teacher is for 2023 and the resources they need to bring to the classroom for 2023.

Some students said:

Poppy: Year 5 “I was excited to meet my new teacher. She told us about herself”

Nika: Kindergarten: “I saw Mrs Whalan and I had lots of friends with me”

Hannah: Kindergarten: “It was good because we did craft with my new teacher”

Angelo: Year 4: “I had a good time with my new teacher Mrs Hayes and she loves dogs.”

Taig; Year 3: “I had a really good morning. I enjoyed meeting my new teacher. The task was very fun and I liked being with my friends.”

Tylan: Year 3 “ I had a good morning because all the tasks were very fun!”

aa

On Monday we held the SPAP X Factor to show off our students' many talents. We had a variety of acts; dancing, singing, sport skills, karate and jokes. We are so proud of not only the talent our students have shown but how brave they were performing in front of their peers.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. 

Well done to Kindergarten, Years 1 and 2 who completed the challenge as a class. A special mention to Toby Bancroft and Jasmine Wau in Year 2 who completed the challenge individually. 

Congratulations to the following students in Years 3-6 who completed the challenge individually: Mia Rossi, Alexis Wau, Aiden Cowell, Nicholas Carbonara, Kate Bancroft, Scarlett Carrett and Ava Quinones. 

Congratulations to the following students who received a Gold or Platinum Award for participating in the challenge for 4 or 7 years: 

Gold Award (4 Years): 

Logan Carrett

Abbey McCabe

Mila Quinones

Platinum Award (7 Years):

Myah Bramstedt

Leah Carbonara

Hayley Frendo

Eamon McCann

Thank you to Mrs Carol Harb for assisting with the coordination of this year's challenge. 

Louise Frendo

Library SSO

If your child will be leaving St Paul's at the end of 2022 to attend another Primary School a form will need to be filled out prior to this. Please come to the school office to complete.  If you have any questions please contact Kristie at the school office.

The Secondhand Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday afternoon after the End of Year Concert and Awards.

Deanna Carbonara

Hazeltons Uniforms and Clothing is now accepting the NSW Back to School vouchers.

Families eligible should receive 3 x $50 vouchers per student. Vouchers can be combined in the one transaction.

As per Service NSW requirements….No credits will be issued if the full amount is not spent, nor are the vouchers transferable.
For more information, please see ServiceNSW.

Please feel free to contact Hazeltons Uniforms if you have any questions.

Warm Regards


Diane Hazelton
Manager
Hazeltons P/L
115 Tongarra Rd
Albion Park NSW 2527
Ph: 0242579155

On Friday 2^nd December the P&F held the annual Christmas Stall. We would like to thank Sara-Jay O’Shea for her amazing work in preparing all the wonderful gifts. The children all enjoyed purchasing a gift or two for a special person in their life.  We would also like to thank the following parents and carers for your assistance with the stall – Virginie Rutgers, Melanie Jennison, Carole Jennison, Olivia Abnett, Diana Young, Mark Dalkeith, Claire Phillips, Nicole Zonneveld and Katie Zanin.

Following the Christmas Stall the P&F ran another successful Pizza Meal Deal lunch. We would like to thank Kelly Rayner for all her organisation of the event. We would also like to thank Olivia Abnett, Nicole Zonneveld and  Alastair Rayner for their valuable help on the day. We hope all the children enjoyed their Pizza and Popper!

Finally we would like to thank Deanna Carbonara for her wonderful management of the second hand uniforms this year. We appreciate all the time, care and effort you have put into this service to assist our school community.

We wish all our parents, carers, students and families a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy holidays.

Regards

Amy De Santis

P&F President

With a heavy heart, I want to notify you that after five years at St. Paul's, I will be ending my time here at the end of this year to work at a school closer to home.  I am very sad to be leaving, but I am also thankful for all the wonderful time I've spent here. Your children have been amazing and resilient, and I have so enjoyed working with them.

A new Counsellor will be assigned for the school, and an extra day has been granted as well, so there will be a Counsellor here 3 days per week starting in February, which will be very beneficial. Your children will be in good hands, but I will miss them, the parents and all the staff here at St. Paul's. 

Wishing you all the best for Christmas, the new year and onward.  Thank you for five great years.

Best Regards, Doreen Waddington