Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                        

I am constantly surprised by the messages I hear and receive from the children at St Paul’s. I spend much of my time on the playground each day because I have learnt that presence is the most powerful gift a principal can give the children and the community. So where am I going with this? As I was out on the playground one morning, one of the students came up to me and said to me “Mr Reardon you’re my role model.” I must admit the words did stop me in my tracks and I asked him “What is a role model?”  He said that he looks up to me because I am kind and you care about us. I then thought, “Lucky you didn’t see me last night when I was lecturing my 28 year old son about picking his glass up off the floor and putting it in the dishwasher!” I must admit, when my son says to me “Dad I could never do your job!”, in a way he is also telling me that he looks up to me. I’ve long learnt, I am actually giving such messages to people, no matter whether they are 10 or 28, all the time and I need to be on my game. 

This is the unconscious part of our work, in my case as a teacher and principal, in yours, as a parent that we are doing all the time. It is non verbal and is strongly influenced by the quality of the relationship that exists between the model and the learner. I must admit it, when I put the parent hat on, it is a little scary. Someone is constantly watching and copying every move we make; the good and the bad stuff, the behaviours we are proud of and the behaviours we want to forget.

For healthy development our children need to be surrounded by adults who model responsible, caring behaviour. If they experience nurturance, they are more likely to be nurturing. If they experience encouragement they are more likely to encourage others and if they experience optimism they are more likely to develop a positive view of the world and themselves.

Twentieth Century poet Edgar Guest best expressed the power of modelling in his poem “The Living Sermon”:

“All the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.

Though I might not understand you and the fine advice you give.

There is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.”

I leave this with you to consider!

Go gently,

Michael Reardon
Principal

World Teachers Day

Teachers all over the world celebrated this special day last Friday. Teacher’s work is complex and never ending. I am in awe of our teachers as they go about the many complexities of their work, then go home at the end of the day to prepare their work for the next day. Yet they very rarely complain and just get on with it.

I’d like to SHOUT OUT a special thank you to the P&F for providing our staff with lunch last Friday. The food was great, the acknowledgement fantastic!

Principal Awards

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

Ryley Wisby, Paige Campbell, Laylah Gray-Green, Aubrey Cox, Isla Moon, Cameron Smith, Bianca Zovi, Holly Henin, Brooklyn Leahy, Cooper Johnston, Luana Devey, Nishan Singh, Louis Steck, Ariella Gomez, Alessia Faga, George Zammit, Lily Mackechnie.

Student messages received to the school office either via email after 9:30 am or telephone call after 2:45pm can not be  guaranteed delivery to the student.

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

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)'

Returning to school in term 4 has been a particularly exciting time for the students of St Paul’s, as the new play equipment is now open.  

Before allowing students to use the play equipment at lunch time, each class was taken to the play area by their classroom teacher. This was their opportunity to go over the rules and expectations on how to use this area safely and students were given an opportunity to play on the equipment. 

Students are enjoying this new feature and have been respectful of the rules for the play area.

Rules: 

1. If the supervising teacher sees there are too many students, they will limit entry. 
2. No running is permitted in the area
3. Students are not to take any equipment into the area.
4. All students need to wear a hat
5. No eating or drinking in the area
6. No climbing up the slide
7. No student or adult/parent is to be in the playground before or after school.

FORTNIGHTLY TARGET FOR PB4L

At St Paul’s I will allow others to play their games.  ‘Stop, Think, then Choose what to do.’

Over weeks 3 and 4, teachers have been teaching students about respecting other people’s games.  

When we have to move around the playground, we need to be aware of other people's games and not interrupt them.  Sometimes people interrupt our games and that can make us frustrated.

Students are being taught that they need to stop, think and choose so that they will allow others to play their games without interference.

Congratulations

Last Thursday, 26 October 2023, Mitchell J (Year 5) represented NSW Catholic Schools as a member of the Mackillop Team at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championship at Sydney Olympic Park.

Mitchell competed in shot put against 40 other students from public, Catholic and independent schools across NSW. His performance was outstanding and he was awarded a Bronze Medal in this event. 

Mitchell will now represent all schools in NSW as a member of the NSWPSSA Athletics Team at the School Sports Australia Track & Field Championships to be held in Tasmania in late November.

This is an exceptional result for Mitchell considering he had no prior experience in shot put and only started practising after the school carnival two months ago. Congratulations again Mitchell and good luck for the championships!

Canteen Caper Day

November P&F Meeting

The November P&F Meeting will be held tomorrow, 1 November 2023 at 7pm in the school hall. All Welcome.

To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, is working with NBN Co to provide up to 30,000 families with no internet at home free NBN for 12 months. 

The process for families to apply for the initiative is as follows:

• Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (10 am - 6 pm AEDT Monday to Friday)
• The National Referral will determine the family's eligibility
• Once eligibility has been determined they will issue the family with a voucher for 12 months of free NBN Internet to be used with a carrier of choice
• More information can be found at https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet/

To be eligible, a family must:

• Have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school
• Have no active broadband service over the NBN network
• Live in a premise where they can access a standard NBN service
• Not have had an active NBN service during the previous 14 days.