Dear Parents/Carers,                                                                        

I wish to welcome everyone back to the start of another term. My wish for the children, staff and parents where possible, is that the break gives most an opportunity to slow down and reset the workflow to a slower pace, just for a while. 

Staff at our Catholic school recently participated in a rich and meaningful Spiritual Formation Day, centered on the theme of presence and the images of God that reflect the values we hold dear. Throughout the day, we engaged in thoughtful conversation, quiet reflection, and communal prayer. Led through a series of experiences designed to deepen our faith and connection with one another, we explored how God's presence is revealed in our relationships, our vocation, and the everyday moments of school life. This time together served not only to nourish our individual spiritual journeys but also to strengthen the sense of unity and purpose within our school community.

It is important that as a leader in our school I place considerable focus on sensitising the staff, students and parents, in fact the whole community, including myself, about the true meaning of a catholic school and to bring to life our philosophical foundations that make us different and uncompromisingly important. Often we just accept that we are immersed in the catholic way, instead of reminding ourselves of the importance of exploring the meaning of the catholic school and its perspective from the scriptures. This is when we become open to doing God's work or being the face of Christ to the people we engage, model or serve.

This is why the spiritual formation of staff is important, as it gives the people who “do the work”  an opportunity  to be reminded.

Go Gently,         

Prayer in Memory of Pope Francis

St Vincent de Paul Society

This week the school was presented with a beautiful Peace Lily which has been placed in our sacred space in the office entrance area. This gift was presented to thank the school community for the many donations we gave to the St Vincent de Paul society during 2024. The St Vincent de Paul Society is committed to serving people in need in our community. We will again work towards supporting the St Vincent de Paul society this year.

The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) surveys are designed to gather insights into student wellbeing and engagement, as well as the broader school community’s perceptions of school practices and procedures. The student survey focuses on areas such as engagement, wellbeing, and classroom experiences, and includes indicators of effective teaching practices. It is administered online during class time.

This term we have the opportunity to also extend the survey to parents and teachers. These surveys collect feedback on the school’s culture, including how welcoming and supportive the environment is, and provide insights into the strategies parents and teachers use to support student learning both at home and in the classroom. Schools can also add custom questions to gather specific feedback on current priorities or initiatives. 

We are always looking for ways to improve our school community and better support our students and families. To help us do this, we invite you to take part in a short online survey.

Your feedback is important and will help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can grow. The survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete.

Here is the survey link to access the survey

The survey focuses on several key priorities within our school. Your timely response and honest feedback will be greatly valued, as it will help us identify areas of success and places for improvement. The sooner we hear from you, the sooner we can begin implementing positive changes.

This fortnight, our PB4L focus is on the important personal skill of self-control. Developing self-control helps students make thoughtful decisions, manage their emotions, and respond to challenges in positive ways—both in and out of the classroom.

Self-control is the ability to manage our thoughts, feelings, and actions—even when it’s hard. It means thinking before acting, staying calm under pressure, and making positive choices, even when we feel upset, excited, or frustrated.  For children, self-control helps them:

• Stay focused on learning
• Follow rules and routines
• Get along with others
• Solve problems in peaceful ways
• Build resilience and confidence

Like any skill, self-control takes time and practice to develop.  We are teaching students to:

• Stop, think and choose before they act
• Use words to express feelings calmly
• Stay focused during learning time
• Respect others' space and turn-taking.

You can support this learning at home by:

• Talking about situations where self-control is needed
• Praising calm, thoughtful behaviour
• Practising strategies like deep breathing or counting to five before reacting
  

St Paul's School Fete Raffle - Tickets Now Live

Our annual school fete is just around the corner, and we need your support to make it a huge success! By purchasing raffle tickets, you not only get a chance to win amazing prizes but also contribute to enriching our children's educational experience.

To purchase tickets please visit the link below or scan the QR code. 

St Paul's Fete Raffle Tickets

Mother's Day 

This year the Mother's Day stall will be held on Thursday, 8 May 2025. Gifts will be $10 and one gift per student.

If you prefer that your child does not make any purchases from the Mother's Day stall, please send an email to the school at info@spcdow.catholic.edu.au