Dear Parents/Carers,

This past week has been a more settled one now that the floods are over!  Our P&F meeting had to be rescheduled and we finally had the AGM last Wednesday.  Daniela Ryan has been re elected as president, along with Emma Jane Garbutt, Vice President, Melissa Maydew as Secretary and Roberto Santucci as our new Treasurer.  I’d like to acknowledge the wonderful work that Michelle Muscat has provided to the role of Treasurer over the previous five years and I’m sure Roberto will benefit from Michelle’s work.

The P&F are a critical part of building community in any school setting.  It is the primary advisory to the principal concerning school matters. They provide a forum where matters relating to the growth and development of the school community can be explored. It is a means by which the school can also promote social contact between parents and friends of the school.  The P&F is a consultative body under the auspices of the principal. The quality of the relationships between parents and the school is reflected in how each member present is significant for the education of the child.  Such relationships call for tolerance and mutual respect for the position and perspectives of the other person.  This is the goal for every P&F meeting.

If the Catholic school is to engage in spreading the Kingdom of God, then it is vitally concerned with the people of the community.  A school cannot be some kind of island which ignores the world. The pattern of relationship in our school must always be two way and based on relational covenants. A covenant is a contract built upon the sacred relationships between individuals and groups. They are founded on a moral purpose which is the glue that binds people together in community. When school communities maintain their focus on the children and the better good of all, covenants are created between participants where each member seeks to reach out to others to support their contribution in achieving successful learning opportunities for the children and community experiences that make people feel welcome at St Paul’s.  This is the work of the P&F.

Go Gently,

Michael Reardon
Principal

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have recently recieved a Principal Award. 

Alessio Silvano, Corey Teuma, Noah McAllister, Ariana Criniti, Elizabeth Knapp, Indie Tulich, Braxton Small, Sarah Murphy, Chiara Musico, Abel Lockett-Salo, Joseph Iofrida, Sebastian Vella, Edward Knapp, Oliver Mackie, Oliver Duggan, Maddison Maycock, Lucas Muscat, Mackenzie Bowen, Emily Caudle, Layla McCarthy, Addison Russell, Maddison Scott, Jackson Carney, Obinna Hampo, Harrison Brookes, Bianca Colusso, Jaime-Lea Middleton, Olivia Davies, Elise Murphy, Angela Pisanko, Isabella Cefai, Archie Milne, Atticus Booth, Alexa Wiles, Annabelle Duggan, Edwin Costelloe, Eve Rota, Ella Mulholland, Isla Fuller, Lenny Sacilotto, Marlee Evans, Liver Lawrence, Poppy Begovich, Jett Wisby, Savannah Stanley, Willow Grimson, Max Young, Jacob Dunbar, Mark Starr, Lucy Farrugia, Ryan Maydew, Jonah Hatcher, Lorena Brescia, Anabelle Knapp, Clare McLachlan.

Staff Spirituality Day - Student Pupil Free Day

On Tuesday, 26 April 2022, staff will participate in a spirituality day at Mary Mackillop Place in North Sydney.

This day will be a pupil free day and no staff will be onsite  to supervise children. 

Jo Rogan Finishing At St Paul’s

It is with a sense of sadness that I inform the school community that Jo Rogan will be finishing in her role as school counsellor, effective from the end of term.  Jo has given remarkable service to the students over my time at St Paul’s and prior.  Jo has been a key support to student well being and would also support parents indirectly through  her work with the children.  There were many times when I would seek out Jo’s advice in order to support particular family situations or even staff well being.  I wish to acknowledge the great “hole” that will need to be covered due to Jo’s work.  Catholic Care are engaged by CEODoW to provide counselling support and will be involved in replacing Jo next term to continue this very important work. 

St Paul’s Fete Meeting - Thursday 31 March 2022 (next week)

Next Thursday at 7.00pm there will be a meeting in the school hall to determine the potential viability of a school fete, to be held late term 3 during September.  The St Paul’s school fete has a long tradition and is a part of every child’s story who has attended school.  Even parents are able to tell their story about attending the fete as a child.  As the fete was cancelled for the past two years due to COVID directives by NSW Health, it has not been possible to celebrate this wonderful event. However, with many key people now leaving the school we have to establish whether it is still viable. Therefore, it is critical that we have as many people as possible at this meeting to vote in a new fete committee and to also enable a decision about the fete’s ongoing viability.  Mark McInness will be chairing the meeting.  The purpose of the meeting is to establish a new fete committee and document potential names of stall holders and teams to run each stall.  Please come along otherwise we will not be able to reactivate this wonderful experience for the children.

ANZAC Day March