Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                        

I found writing this newsletter a great challenge as last week had many matters that needed a listening ear and an open heart. Sitting in my usual seat at mass was an important time as I reflected on the week I had just navigated. The Gospel spoke deeply to me as I tried to make sense of the world that constitutes family and community life.

In the Gospel reading for last Sunday (Jn 6:24-35) Jesus offers himself as the “true bread of life”. Yet the people miss the point - all they see is a good feed and an easy means of material security. Success - getting along with the crowd, power and pleasure are the values we are bombarded with and it’s so easy to build our lives around them.

Why do I share this with you? I was talking to some of the children the other day and I saw two very different views of reality. One child commented “It’s not cool to have your parents around” and even their presence at school is supposedly suspect. I was interested and followed it up as it seemed such an extraordinary attitude. It seems, some have the sense that if your parents are around the school they are trying to be “in” with the teachers and administration. Missing the point - yes. The gospel message speaks to us loud and clear but we are blinded by our own attitudes, preconceptions and judge others accordingly. In my conversation with the child I shared that this wasn’t and never has been what motivates parents. Inevitably you grow to know some better than others because they have the availability to help more but I hope and pray that we will live and grow together as equals and all students and all families are as important as the next. Now for the absolute opposite! Two days later a student came to the window sobbing, emotionally distressed and just needed to tell someone what was causing this. He couldn't tell mum or dad everything, because he didn’t want to load them up with more, in fact he said that he didn’t want to give them more problems to worry about. After sharing his story we called mum and she came and talked through some of his anxieties. This isn’t about a parent wanting to be “in” with school life. It was about growing together as equals because all children and families are just as important as the next. If only I could have shared some of this story with the other child, but unfortunately it came second.

Finally, the big message for me from this gospel was how patient and understanding Jesus is with himself and others. He must have become utterly frustrated and depressed with the “thickness of his hearers” and yet his understanding and love was always there, faithful and true. I pray that we grow in openness and trust with each other and become a community of understanding and peace. Thank you to the two children and their very different stories that I have shared with you. “I learn from you my friend!”

Go Gently,                     

Michael Reardon
Principal

Principal Awards

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

Maya R, Isabella R, Georgia N, Brysen D, Ava B, Emilia W, Sarah M, Kyron S, Logan H, Sophie H, Alexander B, Ellie-Rose R, Luka P, Daniel M, Obinna H, Lincoln T.

If your child is absent on the day their Principal award is to be presented the award will be heldover to the next school assembly.

Year 6 - New Class Representatives

Congratulations to Dominic P (6F), Noah A (6H) and Sofia C (6T), who have been nominated by their peers as Class Representatives for Semester Two. Each semester, one student per class is invited to join the Student Leadership Team in their work of leading the students of St Paul’s.

Mayor for a Day Competition

Each year, as part of Local Government Week, the Mayor of Camden hosts the Mayor for a Day Competition. One Year 6 student from each primary school in the local government area is invited to present a speech, outlining their ideas of what they would do if they were elected mayor of Camden.

Sofia C (6T) represented St Paul’s, presenting an excellent speech that included carefully considered ideas after she analysed the future prospects and history of our local area. Sofia was the embodiment of a St Paul’s student, as she presented her speech with confidence. Sofia was not elected Mayor for the Day, but she was an outstanding councillor, who will most certainly have a future in leadership.

 

Catholic Diocese of Wollongong - 'Who We Are'

September P&F Meeting

The September P&F Meeting will be held Wednesday, 4 September 2024 beginning at 7:00pm in the school hall. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Father's Day Stall - Monday, 26 August 2024

Save the Date - School Disco