Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                 

As we reach the final week of Term 2, our semester one Parent-Teacher Interviews have now mostly concluded. It’s a wonderful time to pause and reflect on what has been a full and eventful term.

There was great anticipation in the lead-up to our school fete midway through the term, followed by the excitement of our Athletics Carnival. Staff also came together for a professional development day, where we explored the new syllabus and restructured our professional learning teams. These teams now work more closely within their respective grade levels, allowing them to address specific challenges and opportunities unique to each grade.

Who could forget our Truth, Love, Faith Awards? Parents, grandparents, friends and extended family came together to acknowledge those students who in so many different ways have been a true “advocate” of Jesus' love to others and themselves as they have maximised their learning experiences at St Paul’s this semester. For the first time we had a family of three students receive the award on one occasion. Congratulations to William, Thomas and Evelyn for a family first three achievements. We have had numerous “doubles” in the past but never a “triple”!

We will conclude the term with our St Paul’s Feast Day Mass—a fitting way to close a busy and rewarding few months. Earlier this term, we also celebrated Mother’s Day, with a beautiful “Muffins with Mum” morning organised by our P&F. It was a lovely moment to recognise and honour the mothers and mother figures in our community.

Of course, at the heart of all we do is our core mission: educating your children. Amidst the events and initiatives, we have continued our commitment to quality teaching and learning. While the term has brought its challenges—as any school term does—we have met them together with resilience and collaboration.

There are times, however, when things don’t go to plan. I experienced this personally last week. In trying to resolve a student issue, I acted on a misunderstanding and handled the situation poorly. Once the parent helped me to see the full picture, I realised my mistake and apologised to the student. It was a moment of humility and learning. I believe it’s important for students to see that even adults—especially those in leadership—make mistakes and must take responsibility for them.

What I’ve come to value most in these moments is the power of authenticity. When we act with sincerity and own our missteps, it strengthens trust and respect in our relationships. I often say to our staff, students, and parents that blame is a draining and unproductive energy. Working together, with grace and understanding, even difficult moments can become opportunities for growth and deeper connection.

Thank you to the parent and the six children involved for walking through that experience with me.

This weekend, we also hold in our prayers our Year 6 students as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Jesus reminds us in John 15:26:

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

The word Advocate means “one who stands beside you.” It’s a powerful reminder that through the Holy Spirit, we are called to stand with and support others as we continue to build the Kingdom of God. As baptised Catholics, we are called to bring the Spirit into our daily actions through kindness, courage, and compassion.

As we enter the school holidays, I wish all families a restful and enjoyable break. I hope many of you get the chance to enjoy some slower mornings, time with your children, and perhaps even the luxury of a sleep-in!

To our dedicated teachers and staff—thank you for the care, passion, and commitment you have shown our students and families this term.

Go Gently,

Michael Reardon

Who We Are 

St Paul’s Feast Day Celebrations

Schools draw inspiration and direction from the stories of how their founding religious congregation, patron saint or significant people in the school's history exemplified particular gifts of the Spirit in living out the gospel of Jesus Christ. We at St Paul's Primary School, draw from the model and examples of St Paul and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop as highlighted in our school’s vision statement:

On Friday, 4 July 2025, we will especially focus on the charism that St Paul offers our school as on Thursday, 29 June, the church worldwide celebrates the Feast day of Sts Peter and Paul's.

St Paul taught the Gospel of Christ to the first century world. St Paul is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, journalists and authors. He was a teacher of people and through his teaching helped to establish the Christian Church. The school seeks to do the same as it provides opportunities for all stakeholders to be truly present in faith and life. The students are constantly reminded that Christ is with them as they learn in a community embedded in ritual, prayer, sacred music, signs, symbols and our Catholic tradition. This creates a distinctly Catholic pedagogy, the way of St Paul.

The students will learn some facts about St Paul during their Religion lesson. We will gather together as a whole school community to celebrate Mass at 10:00am. During the day, each grade will also have an opportunity to attend a Mini Fair prepared by the Year 6 students and their teachers. Some of the activities on offer include sporting activities, carnival games, face painting, nail polish station and temporary tattoos.

Students are to wear the uniform that they normally wear on a Friday.

At some point during the day, each child will also receive a packet of Smith's chips to add to the celebration of the day. If for some reason you choose for your child not to have the chips, please send an email directly to our school office via info@spcdow.catholic.edu.au

House Cup Update – Term 2

Each term, students earn House Tokens by demonstrating the positive behaviours we teach and reinforce at school. These tokens contribute towards their House Cup points, along with participation in initiatives like Waste Free Wednesday.

This term, a big congratulations goes to Macarthur House (Yellow) for their outstanding behaviour and teamwork! Macarthur students consistently displayed respect, responsibility, and school spirit — setting a great example for others across the school.

As a reward, and in celebration of their win, Macarthur students will enjoy their House Cup prize on Tuesday of Week 1 next term.

Well done, Macarthur – we are proud of your efforts! Let’s see who rises to the challenge next term!

Term 2 Sports Wrap-Up

It’s been another action-packed term for sport at St Paul’s! Our students have embraced every opportunity to get involved, challenge themselves, and representing our school with pride. Here's a look at the highlights from Term 2:

Diocesan Cross Country

On Tuesday, 27 May, nine students competed at the Diocesan Cross Country at the Illawarra Criterium Track in cold and windy conditions. Congratulations to Ruby, Isla, Oliver and Emerson, who qualified for the NSWCPS Cross Country at Eastern Creek! These students ran incredibly well against competitors from across the state. We are proud of their determination and effort. Well done!

School Athletics Carnival

Our Athletics Carnival was held on Thursday, 5 June at the Narellan Sports Hub. Students gave their all in sprints, relays, long jump, high jump, shot put, and novelty events. For many, it was their first time competing on a track, and their enthusiasm and sportsmanship were a joy to witness.

Congratulations and good luck to those who have qualified for the Western Region Athletics Carnival next term!

City v Country Rugby League Gala Day

On Tuesday, 20 May, our U12 Rugby League team took part in the City v Country non-competitive gala day at Campbelltown Stadium. Despite experiencing all four seasons in one day, the boys played five fantastic matches, showing resilience, teamwork and outstanding sportsmanship. A special moment was running out through the Wests Tigers tunnel, a memory they won’t soon forget!

Netball NSW Schools Cup

On Thursday, 19 June, our Year 5/6 netball team proudly represented St Paul’s at the Netball NSW Schools Cup.

The team played with energy and enthusiasm, showing excellent teamwork and determination throughout the day. They supported each other on and off the court, gaining new skills and making wonderful memories. Well done, team!

Diocesan Western Region Netball Gala Day

On Thursday, 26 June, 125 students from St Paul’s proudly represented our school at the Diocesan Western Region Gala Day in Minto, participating across 13 teams. We congratulate all students who took part and commend them for displaying outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day. Many students were recognised with raffle tickets for their positive behaviour, and we were thrilled to see three of our students drawn from the bucket to receive a special ‘Sportsmanship Prize’.

These diocesan gala days are designed to provide students with a fun, inclusive, and non-competitive environment to enjoy and explore their sport. It was wonderful to see our students embracing the spirit of the day, developing new skills, making new connections, and most importantly, having fun in every game.

Sporting Schools Clinics

This term, our Year 5 and Year 6 students enjoyed sports clinics, thanks to funding from Sporting Schools. Year 5 participated in a four-week Rugby League program, while Year 6 took part in a four-week Cricket clinic. These sessions promoted skill development, teamwork, and a love for sport, helping students discover new interests and local sporting pathways.

Macarthur Bulls Football Clinics

This week, our students enjoyed a fun football session with the Macarthur Bulls. Each class participated in a 30-minute clinic where they learned new skills and enjoyed the game in a friendly, inclusive environment. We are grateful for this opportunity to inspire young players!

Representative Pathways Success

Congratulations to our students who have achieved success beyond the school in representative sport:

• Jaimee & Chase – Represented at the MacKillop Swimming competition
• Hunter, Max & Oliver – Participated in the MacKillop Rugby League trials
• Hunter – Selected for the MacKillop team and competed at the NSW PSSA Rugby League Championships
• Bianca & Indie – Selected into the Wollongong Football team for the MacKillop trials
• Jaimee – Selected for the MacKillop team and competed at the NSW PSSA Hockey Championships
• Felicity - Selected for the MacKillop team and competed at the NSW PSSA Softball Championships
  

  A huge thank you to the volunteers, teachers, and parents who support our sporting programs. Your time, encouragement, and dedication enable us to offer students these rich and rewarding experiences. We are grateful for all that you do to help our students thrive through sport.

  Next term, we’re looking forward to providing students with even more exciting sporting opportunities. Programs in basketball and soccer, among others, are planned, allowing students to continue building their skills, confidence, and love for physical activity in a fun and supportive environment.

ASPIRE OSHC July Vacation Care