Dear Parents and Guardians,

Once again I have the opportunity to reflect on Grandparents and Special People Day which is such a huge part of our tradition at St Paul’s.  Firstly I need to thank all those involved in making this such a successful day of acknowledgement for the work that grandparents and those special people in the lives of families, do to make family life the virtue it can be, even in those challenging times.  Infact, I see this day as a true acknowledgement of the christian story in word and action. The Christian way is one of new beginnings and hope. This special day, simply by its nature, is a story of hope and affirmation. Dreams and basic hopes in our lives are essential for being human.  We dream about what we shall be, what our life will become and those dreams were reflected in all on this very special day, right through from five to ninety-five! Moving through the various passages of life, dreams may be shattered, modified, lost and found and tested in various ways. Last Friday, there were all passages present as we came together in community and celebration.

Jesus carried with him the great vision of the Kingdom of God, his dream of what the world might be if God was accepted as Abba, Father.  Last Friday our school was a place where people can dream dreams and see visions. Every child carries many dreams with him/her.

Their dreams will one day turn into their stories about growing up and going to a Catholic school.  Part of their dream story was created last Friday.

In light of this I leave you with the following words of wisdom once given to me by a Josephite sister about creating dreams for little people:
“When you walk about me, walk gently, lest you tread on my dreams.”

As a parent, in a busy and demanding world, how skilled are you at doing this?  Something that last Friday made me stop and think about.

Go Gently,

Michael Reardon
Principal

Parent Teacher Interviews

I would like to thank the many parents who found the time to schedule this very important meeting into busy work and family calendars.  I know I used to find it challenging to get to the meetings when my children were at school, but somehow made it happen, largely due to the motivation given by Mrs Reardon!  I heard many grateful stories from parents and teachers as these meetings occurred. We very often talk about the impact that teachers have on young people’s lives, I know I have experienced this first hand myself.  Naturally, you the parent, have the greatest impact on your child’s development, teachers then come not far behind. When we treat each other with genuine appreciation at these meetings, even when the content delivered can be challenging, your child sees this and knows of a great sense of care and commitment that is surrounding them so that they are able to work towards becoming fully human and present to God’s love.  Sometimes, these meetings are very helpful for clarifying things, whether that be due to misinformation, excuse or communication problems. I took great satisfaction from the words of one parent who said in very simple terms: “I know my child out of school, I know she can be different in school, and the teacher has confirmed that.” My response to the parent was, “You are very wise.”

Staff Development Day: English

Staff Development Days are used by schools to improve the skills of teachers, school leaders and school administrative support staff. 

The purpose of staff development days:

They improve the learning outcomes of students by:  

• providing targeted professional learning for staff aligned to school review and improvement
• enabling whole school planning and enhancing teacher quality, school leadership and management practices 
• implementing policy, legislative and system requirements

Determining the content of staff development days:

• The content of staff development days is determined by data such as NAPLAN, PAT, the school assessment schedule and in consultation with teachers and leadership.

All content delivered in staff development days fully aligns with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers under the domains of: 

• Professional Knowledge
  
• Professional Practice
• Professional Engagement

Content focus for St Paul’s Staff Development Day

The content for the staff development held on Monday 22 July 2019 was English and Mathematics.

English: The Writing Process (Planning, drafting, editing, proofreading, publishing)

The learning intention for the first part of the day was:- 

‘We are learning to create a shared understanding of the writing process so that we can deepen our professional knowledge and skills in relation to writing.’

Teachers worked towards the success criteria:

• Revisit the shared definition of writing
• Understand the writing process document
• Explain what each step of the writing process looks like in each grade
• Generate a grade success criteria for each of the processes
• Reflect on our own knowledge of the writing process 
• Determine ‘where to next’ for SPC 

Using the Timperley Cycle to guide our learning, teachers were able to identify the knowledge and skills that they as educators need when teaching the processes of writing and to also highlight areas of further professional learning required to continue to build their collective capacity. 

          

The learning intention for the first part of the day was:- 

“We are learning to use the Mathematics Syllabus to develop a K-6 Maths Language Word Wall so that we can identify the importance of explicitly teaching the development of  language and linking W.M and automaticity.”

Teachers worked towards the success criteria:

• navigating the online Mathematics syllabus and locating where ‘Language’ is under each outcome.
• comprehending and responding to ‘why’ it’s important to explicitly teach Maths language
• defining the process strand of Mathematics - Working Mathematically.
• articulating the difference between Communicating, Reasoning, Fluency, Problem solving and Understanding.
• revisiting the importance of teaching automaticity to students
• identifying the link between Working Mathematically and automaticity

Staff participated in a hands on activity where they worked with other staff across other stages. They were given the opportunity to identify the progression of language from K-6. Vocabulary understanding is a major contributor to overall comprehension in many content areas, including mathematics. Teaching and learning the language of mathematics is vital for the development of mathematical proficiency. Students’ mathematical vocabulary learning is a very important part of their language development and ultimately mathematical proficiency and automaticity.

Teachers then unpacked Working Mathematically and how to enrich their students learning so that they have opportunities to understand, communicate, problem solve, reason and develop fluency in Mathematics.

Social Media Policy information Evening For Parents - Wednesday 31st August 7.00pm

Tomorrow, in the school hall at 7.00pm the Catholic Education Office will be presenting our school policies and regulations concerning the use of Social Media in school.  This presentation will last for approximately one hour. It is our intention, after this meeting, to begin the process of creating a formal school facebook page. It is critical that parents are across this policy as it will clearly outlines the protocols concerning the use of social media as a means of communication in catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Wollongong.

There are times when students, school staff or parents have been in breach of such protocols.  In many cases this is simply due to a lack of understanding or why such rules and expectations exist.  This is why it is very important that you are present at this meeting if at all possible, otherwise “You don’t know what you don’t know!”

Please try to make it - This Wednesday 7.00pm  School Hall

Compass Update

Parents can consent to excursions through the parent portal.

Parents are now able to provide online consent to events (School excursions) via the parent portal. This means excursion notes will no longer be sent home in a hardcopy parents will recieve an email altert directing them to log into their Compass site to view the excursion note and provide consent.

Please ensure your email address is up to date this can be done via the Compass portal.  If you require assistance please make contact with the school office.

Author Visit: Michael Salmon

New Zealand author and illustrator Michael Salmon will be visiting St Paul’s Thursday 22 August 2019. Kindergarten - Year 6 will be part of his presentation in the school hall. Michael will also be available for book signings and have his books available for purchase in the library after school on this day.

Michael Salmon has been involved in graphics, Children’s literature, TV and Theatre since 1967. He started his career with surfing cartoons and exhibitions of his psychedelic art and then joined the famous marionette troupe ‘The Tintookies’ as a trainee set designer/stage-manager in 1968 (The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, Sydney)

Since then his work has been solely for young people both here in Australia and overseas. His many credits include his ‘Alexander Bunyip show’ (ABC TV 1978-88), pantomimes, fabric and varied merchandise designs, toy and board game invention and the writing and illustrating of over 170 picture story-books and activity-books for young readers. Several million copies of his titles have been sold worldwide.

Michael has been visiting Australian Primary Schools since 1972. His hour long sessions are humorous, fun, interactive and entertaining, with a focus on Students developing their own creativity. Suitable for all years.

Many of these School visits can be seen on his website: www.michaelsalmon.com.au

As the students come back to school this week we will be focusing on re-establishing strong routines within the classrooms and across the playgrounds. This helps to maintain an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.

Trying to establish a morning routine for kids that actually works may seem in the beginning like a lot of effort, but with time, practice and praise (like everything we do with SPB4L) the effort made will be well worth it.

SCHOOL FEES
In Week 8 this Term, Monday, 9 September 2019 to Wednesday, 11 September 2019 Year 6 will attend their 3 day 2 night excursion/camp to Canberra and Cooba Sports & Education Centre, Snowy Mountains. This week fee account reminder statements and letters will be sent home to families with outstanding levies. If you are experiencing financial hardship please make contact with the school via info@spcdow.catholic.edu.au

BOTTLE COLLECTION
Our school is participating in a plastic bottle collection. The money raised will go to much needed assistance for those in need. Each grade will be issued with their own bin which will be labelled and positioned in front of the stage on Area 3.

Mini Vinnies will be responsible for measuring and recording the amount of containers collected throughout the term.  The grade that has collected the most by the end of the term will be rewarded with extra play.

We will be encouraging the children to throw their plastic bottles from lunch time into their grade bin and  to bring in plastic bottles from home. 

WINTER APPEAL
Our school will be participating in the “Hand-Me Ups” donation drive in conjunction with  the St Vincent de Paul Society.

The Vinnies Shop is in need of good, clean, quality items of the following:

• Winter clothing for women, men, children and infants (with tags left ON)
• Blankets
• Shoes and Bags
• Books (without inscriptions/names)
• Games (in tact/all pieces of puzzles included/no names)
• NO ELECTRICAL ITEMS

The “Hand-Me Ups” donation drive aims to promote thoughtful giving. Please consider your contributions before you hand it on and give a hand up to our friends in need.

The St Vincent de Paul collection bin has been delivered to St Paul’s last Friday, 26 July 2019and is positioned on Area 5 near the double gates. The bin will be left at the school till Monday, 5 August 2019. The families of St Paul’s are encouraged to drop off their donations into the bin. If the bin is full please leave the donations at the back of the Hall in the designated area. We do not want valuable donations left out in the rain.

Thank you for your continued support

Mary Hudd
St Paul’s Mini Vinnies Co-Ordinator

Catechists Needed
Our dedicated catechists have a great need for two more teachers to share their faith with the children at Spring Farm Public school on a Monday for 30 minutes from 2.10pm. This is a wonderful ministry that has over the years resulted in many children experiencing enormous assistance in being introduced to the catholic faith. For those interested, on-line training is available, and lessons & support are freely given. If able to assist please contact Elizabeth in the office during the usual hours.

Saint Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal
This winter, the St Vincent de Paul Society is already seeing an increase in calls for help from families that have fallen on tough times. That’s why the 2019 Winter Appeal has been launched and is focusing on homelessness caused by Domestic Violence. It’s hard to believe that Nationwide, there are single mum’s fleeing dangerous situations for themselves and their children, and they are homeless, sometimes for several weeks while they get the help they need to set up a safe and secure home for their children.

The Camden Branch of the Society is trying to ‘do its bit’ but as always funds are low.  The 2019/2020 budget is due for release soon but we have been advised that this will not be much more than last year’s budget which we found to be a shortfall for the last three months of the financial year.

On the weekend of Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th August, we are asking you to give generously for this worthwhile cause. We thank you very much as every little bit helps. Also, we would like anyone interested in joining the Camden Conference of the Society, to give their name to any Elizabeth at the Parish Office, and we will contact you regarding interest in the Society.

Book Club

Book Club Online ordering will close on Monday, 5 August 2019.

Book Week

The Book Week theme this year is “Reading Is My Secret Power”. Book Week will run during week  5,  17 – 23 August 2019.

Author/ Illustrator visit

Michael Salmon will visit our school on Thursday, 22 August 2019. He will have 4 sessions in the school hall with our school during the day. Parents with small children are always welcome to attend, free of charge. The cost of this is covered by your child’s excursion/incursion levy. 

Michael will be available from 3.00 pm in the Library for book purchasing and for author signings. There is a range of books suitable for all primary age groups.

Book Parade

Our Book Parade will be held on Friday, 23 August 2019  From 9:00am – 10:30am

Students may come to school dressed up as favourite book character or something fitting in with the Book Week theme of “Reading Is My Secret Power”. The parade will commence after a short assembly on area 2 & 3. After the parade, school will resume as usual.

The clothing pool will now open on the following days:

Monday Mornings - 9:00am - 10:00am

Tuesday Afternoons - 3:00pm - 4:00pm