Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                        

I’d like to welcome everyone back to the final term for 2023. Term 4 can be a challenging time as we are confronted by the many deadlines that run up to school finishing and that special date called Christmas. The focus needs to be keeping things in perspective and as calm as possible so that we enter the Christmas season with excitement and expectation rather than being overwhelmed with all the deadlines we are expected to meet as a school, as a community and personally.

Since COVID and the many wellbeing challenges that have surfaced after the event, as well as being mindful of the impact the above can have on families, the story I am about to share with you is all about “dancing in the rain”. I was fortunate enough to be reminded of this by a student and it continues to stay with me. When he finished Year Six in 2012, he and his mother gave me the following painting which has pride of place on the wall in my office. Sometimes we need to let go of the external factors that hold us back personally, or our school community, and instead:

 “stop waiting for the storm to pass… it’s learning to dance in the rain.”

Principal Awards

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

Nicholas Bright, Hugh Burke, Scarlett Garland, Archie Milne, Georgia Hobbs, Poppy Begovich, Isabella Tree-Wadley, Alexis Kenyon, Grace Tidy, Obinna Hampo, Monique Azzopardi, Isaac Nauta, Bianca Colusso, James Fitzpatrick.

2023 Diocese of Wollongong Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition

 

We would like to congratulate Jemma (6 Truth), Heath (5 Hope) and Ruby (5 Faith) on their artworks being successfully selected in the 2023 Diocese of Wollongong Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition. Samuel's (6 Faith) entry was unsuccessful in progressing, however he should be highly commended for all his hard work and commitment to create a unique and beautiful artwork.

Jemma, Heath and Ruby attended the official opening night and prize presentation at the Wollongong City Art Gallery last Wednesday, 11 October 2023.

Both Heath and Ruby's Artwork were chosen as finalists and will go through to the Sydney Christmas Art Competition in December at Notre Dame University. Jemma's artwork did not continue to the next stage, however she was so gracious and appreciative for the opportunity and is congratulated for her beautiful artwork.

We wish them all the best for the competition and praise them all for their dedication, passion, commitment and creative expression throughout the whole competition process! 

Congratulations

Congratulations to Anthony, (6 Faith) who was recently awarded first place in the Primary School Division of the Australian Native Plants, Animals and Pollinators Category in the 2023 MacArthur Nature Photography Competition at Wollondilly Council!  

Anthony's entry was a photo of a water python he captured at Fogg Dam whilst holidaying in Darwin.

Australian Government Assistance for National Capital Excursion

Last week, Year Six students undertook an educational tour of the national capital.  While on this tour they participated in a variety of educational programmes focused on Australia’s history,  culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit their National Capital as part of their civics and citizenship education. To assist in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30 under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) program toward the travel expenses incurred. This contribution is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

We would like to thank the Australian Government for their support of this program. The excursion was a rewarding  experience for all the students in Year 6.

School Fees

Students Not Returning in 2024

Students from Kindergarten to Year 5 (excluding Year 6 students) who will not be returning to St Paul’s in 2024 are requested to complete the attached form and return to the school office as soon as possible.

2023 - St Mary MacKillop Awards

P&F Treasurer Update

The school has been notified that Mr Robert Santucci, the current Treasurer has resigned from his position. 

As the P&F AGM will be held at a later date, Mrs Michelle Muscat has been placed in this position in the interim as temporary treasurer. 

2024 School Travel Application Now Open

Yeronga School Uniforms Moving Premises

Yeronga has notified the school  of the following information;

'We are pleased to advise that our Yeronga Camden store is moving to larger premises.

Over the next 2 weeks we will be moving into our new store, we apologise for any inconvenience to the community, but it will be great once we are finished.

Our current store will continue trading for now, and our new store will be fully operation from Monday, 23 October 2023.

New Address: Shop 17, 1-5 Murray Street, Camden, NSW 2570 (Opposite Coles)'

October - Month of the Rosary

By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates the month of October to the holy Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. During this month especially, we are asked to pray the Rosary. The Rosary has been a sign of hope and a source of many graces.  We are told that in 1214, Our Lady appeared to Saint Dominic and gave him the Rosary as we know it today. 

The Rosary draws its mysteries from the New Testament and is centered on the great
events of the Incarnation and Redemption with each decade referring to an event in the life of Jesus and Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary give us “thumbnails” of the life of Christ and to his Mother Mary.

• The Joyful Mysteries are taken mostly from Saint Luke’s Gospel in the New Testament. They involve the joyful events of Jesus’ childhood.
• The Luminous Mysteries bring a deeper understanding to the public life of Jesus. They fill in the blanks between the childhood of Jesus and His suffering and death on the cross.
• The Sorrowful Mysteries remind us of how much Jesus loves us. They recall how He suffered and died just for us.
• The Glorious Mysteries tell us what happened after Jesus died-His Resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit and the love Jesus had for his Mother.

In this month of October, at St Paul’s we will aim to recite a decade of the Rosary daily as a means to help our students draw closer to Jesus and Mary. In Kindergarten, students will say the Hail Mary daily. All classes have been supplied with a class set of Rosary Beads and a statue of Our lady of the Rosary to place in the class sacred space.

Praying the Rosary as a family is also a highly encouraged practice. Children can learn to pray the Rosary at an early age, due to the simplicity and repetition of the prayers. They can begin by simple listening then move to responding, and eventually to leading one of the decades.  The process can take time, but will eventually prove fruitful.  One can only imagine what the power of the Rosary and children’s prayers can accomplish. They may not understand what they are saying at first, but understanding will come with time.  Reading small passages from a children’s Bible and explaining the significance of the Rosary and the meaning and power of the prayers, may help children understand the true power and value
of the Rosary.

The month of October is a powerful time to draw close to Our Blessed Mother by praying the Rosary.  During her lifetime, Mother Teresa always carried a rosary in her hand.  In this way, she said, she was holding Mary’s hand. Saint Louis de Montfort said, “Mary is the safest, easiest, shortest, and most perfect way of approaching Jesus.”  May she draw us ever nearer to her Immaculate Heart and to that of her beloved Son.

Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Victory – Pray for us!

Maria Debrincat
Religious Education & Pastoral Care Coordinator

Upon the return of students to school, we will focus on establishing strong routines. This helps to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning. Each week the students will be given the opportunity to unpack a fortnightly target with their classroom teacher.

FORTNIGHTLY TARGET FOR PB4L

At St Paul's I Will Be Quiet on Lines

Teaching students appropriate behaviour when walking around the school is crucial for maintaining a positive school atmosphere and minimising disruptions to other classrooms. By walking slowly and quietly around the school, students demonstrate respect for their peers and teachers. Additionally, it helps to create a sense of order and safety in the school.

It is also important that students are quiet when someone is speaking on the microphone, showing them respect by looking and listening to the person who is speaking, so that we can all hear messages that are being shared.. 

Students are being reminded to use our Stop, Think, Choose process at these times when seated in lines or walking around the school.

Library Borrowing Days - Term 4

There has been a few minor changes to the library borrowing days for term 4.

Book Club

Book Club Loop Order are due online by Friday, 27 October 2023.

School Safety Program