In Parishes throughout the Diocese of Wollongong we celebrated the 4th Sunday of Easter Year A. Sunday's Gospel reading invited us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Throughout the Gospel Jesus explained that those who follow him and his way will find abundant life as Jesus identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate. The Gospel also gave us the opportunity to reflect on being a Christian. Jesus’ words suggest to us that those who are Christian will be known by their faithfulness to Jesus and that having a good relationship with Jesus is the primary characteristic of being a Christian. As Christians we follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd for others.

Dear Parents and Carers,

A very warm welcome back to school and welcome to Term Two, and a very happy Easter to you and your families as we progress through the Easter season. It was such a pleasure to see students return to school looking relaxed and rejuvenated for what will be a busy Term 2. At St Paul’s we are all looking forward to celebrating a number of community events this term and also having our parents and carers celebrate together with staff and students. 

We have had a wonderful start to the term celebrating with a special assembly last Wednesday with the whole school community coming together as we celebrated Anzac Day. This was an opportunity to remember the fallen men and women who served our country and to show our respect respect for all Australian and New Zealander men and women who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.  We carried the notion of remembrance with our Easter Liturgy last Friday. This was led by Year 3 and Mrs Marsh and was an opportunity to celebrate the joy and hope of the Easter season. I would like to thank Mrs Marsh, Miss Tonini and Miss Ryan and Year 3 and Year 6 students who led our whole school celebrations.  

Staffing Update

This coming Friday 5th May we farewell Mr Brian McCann who will be taking up a teaching position at Edmund Rice Flexible Learning Centre. On behalf of the school community I would like to thank Mr McCann for his many contributions to the St Paul's school community especially in the domain of Sport. We wish Mr McCann all the very best for his new role and there will be a Liturgy of the Word at 2:30pm on Friday 5th May in the school hall to farewell Mr McCann, parents and carers are very welcome to join the school community as we pay tribute to the many contributions of Mr McCann.

I would like to welcome Mrs Bree-Anna Fogliada back to St Paul's who returns from parental leave this term. Mrs Fogliada and Mrs Linnett will be teaching 5 Red from the 8th May till the end of the 2023 school year and I thank both Mrs Fogliada and Mrs Linnett for their support so that learning continuity remains a priority for students in 5 Red.

Sacrament of Confirmation

Next Tuesday 9th May and Wednesday 10th May a number of our Year 6 students will join the St Paul's Parish to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. I would like to thank Fr. Leo, the St Paul's Parish Sacramental Team, Mrs Jodi Marsh, Miss Katie Colquhoun, Miss Alana Stroligo, parents and carers for preparing and supporting our students to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  With the strengthening of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit our students will have an opportunity to accept new responsibilities for witnessing Jesus to the world. I am looking forward to joining our students, parents and carers and the St Paul's Parish community to support, celebrate and give witness as our students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

School Disco

It was a pleasure to join our St Paul's and Aspect students at the St Paul's Parents and Friends School Disco on Friday 28th April. I woild like to thank Mrs Amy DeSantis the St Paul's Parents and Friends President and Mrs Michelle Hooper for their support with the organisation of the school disco and a huge thank you to Michelle Hooper for being the D.J for both the discos. A huge thank you to the St Paul's staff who helped suprevise the discos. Our students had a wonderful time and we are all looking forward to the Term 4 school disco.

Afternoon Tea with the Principal

It was a great privledge to join a number of our St Paul's students who received Principal and Mary MacKillop Awards in Term One. Congratulations to the following students 

Kindergarten 2024  

Last week I began Kindergarten 2024 enrolment meetings with existing and new families. It is such an honour to meet with parents and their child to discuss their vision of schooling and how the St Paul’s community can support this vision. This is a time of great privilege as we begin forming our relationship with families for the first time and also welcoming siblings into the school. Enrolment interviews will continue throughout May with offers of placement being sent at end of the term.

Mother's Day Celebrations 2024 

Students and staff are looking forward to celebrating Mother’s Day with our mothers and grandmother’s next Thursday 11th May. It is very fitting that we celebrate Mother’s Day in the month of May which is the month in the Catholic Church that we devote to Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary is a role model of love, strength, courage and faith. According to Pope Francis, a world without mothers, has no future.

“Profits and profit alone do not give a future, on the contrary, they sometimes increase inequalities and injustices. Mothers, instead, make every child feel at home and give hope.”

As a mother, Mary teaches the art of meeting and walking together and at St Paul’s we recognise that our mothers and grandmothers are an integral part of our St Paul’s community and I would like to express my gratitude to all mothers and grandmothers and the love and support you express daily to our students and the support you provide our school community. It is exciting that we can publicly recognise our mothers and grandmothers next Thursday 11th May and I look forward to seeing you all at our Mother’s Day school celebrations.

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 Tuesday 25 April, the Senior Leadership Team attended the Shellharbour City Council ANZAC Day Commemoration. The students and their parents watched a reflective service that acknowledged the significant sacrifice that the ANZACs made for our country. They heard various members of the community speak about the importance of the day. They heard of the courage, endurance, and mateship displayed by those involved in the battle in Gallipoli.

The student senior leadership team laid a wreath in honour of the fallen ANZACs. 

Parents of students in Year One to Year Six will be provided with a Semester One report via the Compass Portal on:

Wednesday 21 June

At this time of year, Kindergarten parents have the opportunity to meet their child's teacher to discuss their progress so far this year. They do not receive a written report. Kindergarten only receives an end-of-year report (Semester 2).

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) states that students in Year One-Six receive grades ranging from A-E.

The A to E grade scale summarises the standard (or quality) of achievement associated with each grade. The scale describes:

• the depth of knowledge and understanding and
• the range of skills that students working at that standard typically show.

Grades are given for individual achievement. Students will get the grade that best matches the standard of their achievement. Teachers should consider all evidence gathered and should not be limited to a set number of children allocated to each grade within their class or school.

Grades are one aspect of school reporting to parents. Other important tools include:

• teacher comments
• parent-teacher conversations and
• information about student effort and application.

We are currently seeking feedback on the processes for electing student leaders at St Paul's. Could you please take the time to complete the attached survey with should take no more than five minutes?

We thank you for your feedback regarding student leadership.

Mrs Nunes

Assistant Principal

Each grade will have the opportunity to present an assembly fortnightly on Friday afternoons in the hall at 2:30pm. ACE, Principal and Mary MacKillop Awards will be presented at these assemblies. Parents are welcome to attend. Please see below the dates for the remainder of the year. 

NB: On Friday 26th May, Year One will present a liturgy with awards presented at the end.

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

HOLY WEEK

Holy Week was celebrated in Week 11 of Term 1. The events of Holy Week were recounted in prayer, beginning with Palm Sunday followed by Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet, The Last Supper, In the Garden, Jesus Meets Pilate, ending with Jesus is Crucified. It was a very moving occasion.

ANZAC DAY

The school celebrated ANZAC Day on Wednesday 26th April with a liturgy on the front playground. We thank Mr Robert Minns from the Albion Park RSL for being present with us.

EASTER

The key event of the story of Jesus is the Resurrection - Easter. It is the climax of Jesus’ life and mission. After the Resurrection the disciples were changed. Their memory and understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus are all viewed through this great event of his Resurrection.

The Paschal Mystery is a central mystery of the Christian tradition. The Paschal Mystery refers to the Passion, including death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead, then ascended into heaven.

Students celebrated Easter with a Liturgy on Friday 28th April. Thank you to Year 3 for leading this celebration.

PROJECT COMPASSION

A huge thank you to the school community for raising over $980 towards Project Compassion. These funds were a result of our Pancake Day in the school canteen at the beginning of Lent, our Fundraising Day on St Patrick’s Day and the collection of Project Compassion boxes from students.

Your generous support can help to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.

ATTENDANCE AT PARISH MASS

Students from the older grades will be attending Mass on the Friday’s below. Parents and carers are invited to attend Mass, followed by an opportunity to visit the grade classroom and have morning tea in the hall. Mass begins at 9:30am in St Paul’s Catholic Church.

LITURGIES AND RELIGIOUS OCCASIONS FOR TERM 2

Please find a list below of Liturgies and events that will be celebrated in Term 2. Some Religious occasions will be recognised in the classroom during Religious Education lessons.

Mrs Jodi Marsh

Religious Education Coordinator

PARISH NEWS

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS

RECONCILIATION AND FIRST COMMUNION IN 2023

Dear Parents and Carers of Catholic Children in Years 3 to 6 in 2023.

If you wish for your child to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in 2023, please check the St Paul's Parish website (www.st paul's parish.org.au) for information on dates and expectations of the parish for each of these sacraments.

Thank you,

Therese McQuade

Coordinator, Sacramental Programme

St Paul's Parish

First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion Parent/Carer Meeting, will be held in church on Tuesday, May 16th at 7pm.

CONFIRMATION

On Tuesday 9th May and Wednesday 10th May at 7pm, Confirmation candidates from the St Paul’s Parish will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We keep these students in our prayers over the coming weeks.

PASCHAL PRECEPT

Each of the faithful is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year. This is to be done between Ash Wednesday (17 February) and Trinity Sunday (30 May) unless for a good reason it is done at another time during the year. All the faithful are obliged to confess their grave sins at least once a year. 

Curriculum implementation is a continual journey where leaders and teachers learn most effectively by 'doing the work'. On Monday 24th April 2023, staff engaged in a day of professional learning which focused on building deep knowledge and understanding of the new English and Mathematics syllabus. We engaged in professional readings and current research around the importance of oral language and its link to overall student achievement in English, Mathematics and the impact of this across all Key Learning Areas. We then focused on making connections across the content and outcomes of the English and Mathematics Syllabus. When learning is connected, students have opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills across multiple contexts, develop the ability to problem solve, think critically and creatively and develop a deep understanding of key concepts. 

Kindergarten - Year 2:

K-2 teachers are operating within the 'Implementation phase' and we are working to continually refine practices and systems which support teaching, assessing and reporting using the new syllabuses. At the end of last term, the k-2 team worked collaboratively to plan teaching programs to optimise learning for all students. 

Our current PB4L focus is on Playground Expectations. Throughout Week 2 and 3 teachers will explicitly teach students respectful behaviours when interacting with their peers and the staff on the playground. Students get the opportunity to enjoy their playtime on various playgrounds around the school throughout the week. 

Please refer to the attached document for our current Playground PB4L focus matrix.

The PB4L Student Representative Team updated playground posters that have been put on display around the school. I would like to thank the students from the PB4L Team who went above and beyond to update the posters as part of their leadership role. 

Our next focus will be ‘I can ask for help when I need to’. For some students, asking for help can be overwhelming as they may be uncertain:

• Who to ask for support
• How to ask for support
• When to ask for support                                         

When children know that they can talk to those around them about their problems, they are more likely to seek help before they reach a crisis.

Please refer to the attached document for the next PB4L matrix ‘I can ask for help when I need to’.

This term students in Years 3-6 will complete a weekly PIVOT check-in survey. This survey provides staff with school based trends and gives students more voice in their classrooms. Last term students completed the Baseline survey. Teachers will be encouraged to reflect on the data to support students with wellbeing needs. The image to the right shows an area for conversation at St Paul’s. We encourage you to speak to your children at home - ask them who they may go to when they need help in the classroom or on the playground, ask them what they might look forward to when they go to school. 

These will be areas that teachers will be focusing on over the coming weeks. The PB4L Student Representative team will support the PB4L Committee in conducting surveys relating to these questions with their class. 

Playground Equipment

Just a friendly reminder that students are encouraged to leave equipment at home to alleviate playground issues and to promote inclusion.

Kind regards, 

Miss Alana Stroligo

Ace Awards

Sophie Edwards

Kleo Yates

Jade Wibawa

Ava Staff

Aspen Young

Lex Macintyre

Wes Barrett

Sofia Lautasi

Jack Hingston

Zali Barrett

Roman Melilo

Madelynne Dowel

Ruby Hobbin

Elise Jennison

Milla Nagy

Principal Awards

Abbey Adams

Milla Zanin

Madelynne Dowel

Mary MacKillop Awards

Madelynne Dowel

Isaac Starling

Throughout the year teachers have access to a variety of quality professional development opportunities. Casual teachers are employed to cover classes with the teacher ensuring the teaching program and routines are followed. 

“Those who dare to teach, never cease to learn” John Cotton-Dana

The 2023 SPLICED has commenced and this year we have 15 students across Years 2 - 6 who are participating in this program. Our second workshop will be held in Week 8 of Term 2 and a small group of students will be selected to attend this workshop. More information will be distributed closer to this date. 

Mrs Alexandra Hingston

A group of Stage 3 students are working to represent St Paul's in the 2023 Maths Olympiad Competition. This is an inter school competition run across Australia, New Zealand and beyond throughout Term 2 and 3. The competition structure consists of four separate contests that develop students' mathematical thinking, problem solving, communication and reasoning. Our Maths Olympiad Team meets weekly to prepare for these competitions and we are looking forward to completing our first competition paper in Week 3. 

Mrs Alexandra Hingston

On Friday 28 April St Paul's and Aspect students were entertained by 30 Year 10 and Year 11 students from Manly High School. The concert was not only educational but also interactive, fun and entertaining and our students had the opportunity to learn a great deal about a variety of musical concepts. The concert featured the Wind Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra and students had an opportunity to perfom with musical instruments. A huge thank you to Aspect staff for organising the concert.

As part of St Paul’s commitment to developing student leadership all of our students in Years 5 and 6 will be participating in a Stage 3 Leadership Day program facilitated by Cameron Brown from Explore! Discover! Act! and supported by our Stage 3 teachers in the school hall on Monday 8th May.

The purpose of the program is to engage, challenge and inspire our Stage 3 students so they can consistently own, notice and act on the opportunities they’re presented with to make a difference. It will support students to move beyond seeing leadership as a badge or a position; to embrace the purposeful skills, attitudes and behaviours that are open to us all. The day will focus on the following three elements: exploring leadership, owning leadership and being the change.

Activities are experiential, hands on with reflection, that allow participants to gain greater connection to self, others and the world around them.

St Paul's Cross Country 

To end last term we had a whole host of sporting achievements that need to be celebrated! 

Firstly what a fun, mud filled day as a school community at our St Paul’s Cross Country Carnival. We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all the parents and carers who helped out on the day. We honestly couldn’t run our school carnivals without you! 

A huge congratulations to the St Pauls (Red) team for taking out the win on the day!

We have our St Paul’s Cross Country team competing at the Diocesan Carnival on the 23rd of May at Willandra Cross Country Course. We wish you all the best.

St Paul’s Diocesan Cross Country Team 

NSWCPS Mackillop Swimming

On the same day our school was running through the mud Jacob Mackiewicz was swimming with the superstars at Homebush Olympic Pool. Jacob swam in two events and in the 50m breaststroke he achieved a personal best time and came 18th in NSW. What a wonderful achievement! Congratulations Jacob.  

Paul McGrgor and Rod Wishart League Gala day

We also had the Paul McGrefor and Rod Wishart League Gala day in week 11. We had six teams across year 3-6, including one girls tag team. All teams showed great sportsmanship to all players and referees. We were very proud of all the students. A huge thank you to the team's managers on the day! Our parents' volunteers and support made the day possible. 

NSWCPS Mackillop trails

This Friday the NSWCPS Mackillop trials will be held in Canberra. We have two students who have been selected in the Wollongong representative team for Hockey and wish them all the best on this day. 

Good luck to Harrison McDonald and Laikyn Shelton. We are already extremely proud of your achievements! 

Friday 19th of May is Walk Safely to School Day.

Mother's and Grandmother's Day at St Paul's

Please see the below flyer for details of our Mother's and Grandmother's Day at St Paul's. RSVP ASAP

The Breakfast will commence from 8.15 am in the hall. This is an Adults only event, there will be supervison for students on the Front Playground.

Miss Julianne Tonini

This term, the running club will be focussed on athletics type skills in preparation for the school Athletics Carnival. Students will be able to further practise skills learnt in PE, such as sprint running, relays, shot put, discus and long jump. As always, all grades are welcome to join the running club on Wednesdays at recess time. 

The beginning and end of the school day are busy times for pedestrians and vehicles outside the school. That’s why you need to take extra care in 40km/h school zones. 

Park safely and legally, even if it means walking further to the school gate. Parking signs are planned with children’s safety in mind. Slow down to 40km/h in the school zone and stay aware of crossings. 

• Always park and turn legally around the school. 
• Never double park as it puts children at risk. 
• Manoeuvres such as U-turns and three-point turns are dangerous. 
• Never park in a bus zone or in the school bus bay. 
• Make sure your children use the Safety Door (rear footpath side door) to get in and out of the car. 
• At a supervised crossing, observe the directions of the school crossing supervisor. 
• Model safe and considerate behaviour for your child – they will learn from you. 

Remember to always give way to pedestrians particularly when entering and leaving driveways. Don’t park across the school driveway or the entrance to the school car park. It’s always a good idea to use the drop off and pick up area suggested by your school. This will help keep all children as safe as possible during the busiest times of the school day.

Walking to school and back home again is a great way to spend time with your children and encourage safe and healthy behaviours. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your children safer as a pedestrian:

• Talk with your children about being alert in the road environment. 
• Plan and practice your trip to school so you use pedestrian crossings where possible.
• Always hold your child’s hand. Children need your help to spot dangers such as vehicles coming out of driveways. They can also be easily distracted and wander into traffic. 
• Meet your child near the school gate and don’t call them from across the road. 
• Explain why the place you have chosen is the safest place to cross. 
• Remind your child to STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! THINK! every time they cross the road and keep checking until safely across. 
• Talk to them about why they should stop, look, listen, think before crossing a driveway, road or carpark. 

Young children can learn and practice these safe pedestrian behaviours with you. This will help them to be safer pedestrians when they are old enough to travel alone.

As part of the K-6 NSW Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Syllabus students learn content related to road safety. This learning includes strategies for road safety and awareness. On Friday 19th May St Paul's students will participate in Road and Bike Safety Workshops facilitated by NRMA. The workshops aim to increase our students' knowledge about road safety. The road safety shows use visual learning and science demonstrations to debunk any myths that students have about road safety. Please note that students are invited to bring their bike helmet to school to practise how to fit their helmet properly.

The Year 6 Graduation Committee are holding a Pie Drive fundraiser to raise funds for the 2023 Year 6 Graduation. +

Thursday 22 June 2023 - Winter Uniform

Maggie Dent has become one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. She has written seven major books including the bestselling Mothering Our Boys and her 2020 release, From Boys to Men. Maggie is host of the ABC podcast, Parental As Anything. She is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. For further details visit maggiedent.com. Please see below an article by Maggie Dent for parents and carers.

The St Paul's Parents and Friends Association will be holding the Mother's Day Stall on Thursday 11 May in the school hall from 11.30am till 1.30 pm.

The cost of the Mother's Day gifts is $5.00 each and students are asked to bring a bag to carry their gift home.

If there are any parents or carers that are able to help out with the stall could you please email the school info@spapdow.catholic.edu.au

The St Paul's Parents and Friends Association's Term Two meeting will be held on Monday 22 May at 6:30pm via Zoom. A Zoom link will be shared with the school community via Compass prior to Monday 22 May. All parents and carers are warmly invited to attend the Term Two meeting. 

On Friday 28th April we held our first school disco for the year. Our students had a fabulous time!! Thank you to Michelle Hooper for being our sensational D.J on the evening and the wonderful St Paul's staff for supervising students at the school disco. Thank you to our parents and carers for supporting our fundraising initiative and we look forward to seeing our students at our second disco in Term 4.

Congratulations to the lucky winners! Isaac Starling, Luca Kendall, Canteen Kat, Renae Babi, Logan Smallkowski, Lachlan Merret, Mia Robertson, Savannah Apps, Annette Hoffman, Harper Anderson and Abbey Adams.

 

Discover the wonders of The Enchanted Forest!

May 19 - June 11, 2023

Journey through a spectacle of light and sound in the heart of the native forest and parklands of Blackbutt Forest Reserve.

Explore and immerse yourself in unforgettable and vibrant installations, including dazzling laser effects, interactive projection, and magical holograms.

These multiple artistic projections, lush soundscapes, and digital art experiences are sure to excite the senses while you follow the gorgeous walking paths through the towering trees.

Low sensory sessions start at 6pm every night. They are designed for people with specific sensory needs or who prefer a more subdued environment. These sessions feature smaller crowds and a lower-intensity light display with reduced sound levels.

Tickets start at $8.50 so bring the entire family and take the magical journey that is THE ENCHANTED FOREST!

www.enchantedforest.com.au