Dear Parents and Guardians,

There is a well known saying that I have used frequently throughout my career which is quite relevant at this time of year :”Bite off more than you can chew and chew like crazy!”  I don’t believe that I am the only one doing this at this time of year as we move towards that deadline everyone calls December 25!

Last week we finalised our staffing for the 2020 year.  Below is a summary of this very complicated jigsaw with hopefully no more staffing changes to come, three weeks out from the end of the year.  I thought long and hard about whether I would share this so early before the end of the year, however, as we have completed all our employment processes and class placement meetings there is no reason to hold off any longer.

Please note, I will not be changing students or teachers as we have provided ample opportunity for input from those with any concerns.  Please do not request an appointment based on this summary below as every opportunity for this to occur has well and truly been accommodated.  

2020 School Staff

Parish Priest:                    Father Michael Williams

Assistant Parish Priest:    Father Joseph Pothenparimpil

Pastor Emeritus:               Father John Whitty

Principal                            Mr Michael Reardon

Assistant Principal           Mrs Sheereen Brunetta

Religious Education Co-Ordinator/

Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Leader       Mrs Maria Debrincat  

Senior School Support Officer              Mrs Bronwyn Roberts

Middle Leader 2  

                            Mrs Catherine Hatter (Early Stage1,Mathematics& SPB4L)

                            Mrs Andrea Martin (Year 6. Mathematics. ICLT)    

                            Mrs Angela Mourinho (Year 1 & Year 2. Literacy Coach)

                            Mrs Kristen King  (Year 5, SEMP)

                            Mrs Julie Smith (Year 3 and Year 4. Instructional Coach.)

Tier 3 Learning Intervention

                                        Mrs Mel Waters (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs)

                                        Mrs Kerry Devine (Tues, Wed, Thurs am/PPT Kinder pm                                                                                             

Teacher Librarian   Mrs Christine Jaques (Mon - Thurs)

Sport Management & IT Support

                                            Mrs Kristy Fielding (Wed, Thurs am/PPT Kinder pm)

School Support Officers  

                                            Mrs Kim Mangiapane 

                                            Mrs Kerrie Fiez 

                                            Miss Rosie Larkin 

                                            Mrs Fiona Driver

                                            Mrs Sharon Ferdinands

                                            Mrs Stephanie Hardiman-Stone

                                            Miss Karen Meek

                                            Mrs Kaylene Moy

                                            Sr Helen O’Connell

                                            Mrs Natalie Poppleton

                                            Mrs Leanne Taylor

                                            Mrs Michelle Valente                                                 

Canteen                               Made Fresh                                                        

School Counsellor               Mrs Jo Rogan (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

Congratulations Domenico and Lilia

St Paul's Catholic Primary School has a champion public speaker to be proud of.  In fact, Domenico Cocco won the CDF Diocesan Public Speaking Competition in Year 5, last year, as well as Year 6 this year.  It is one thing to achieve this once in a lifetime, but to achieve something as significant as this twice, before highschool makes it an even greater achievement.  Domenico drafts his speech with minimal help from those around him and delivers it with the greatest sincerity, the mark of a true orator.

It was a good day for St Pauls as our very own Lilia Caridi also came second in the Year 5 competition.  Lilia's speech was delivered with passion and authenticity and we are just as proud of Lilia.  

I wonder if Domenico and Lilia would be prepared to write my speech for the Year 6 Graduation Dinner.  I’ve already been told by Mrs Brunetta to cut it in half and I haven’t even started to draft it!

Kind regards,

Michael Reardon
Principal

SCHOOL FEES - 2020
After careful consideration, Bishop Mascord has approved an increase in Primary tuition fees by 2% and the Parish SEDSO Levy by 4.5% for the 2020 school year.  2020 fees as follows;

                             2020 Family Fees (per family per annum)
                   Tuition Fees - $1678.00      Parish SEDSO Levy - $1025.00

2020 Student Fees (per child per annum)
Resource Levy - $150.00,    IT Levy - Kinder - Yr 5 - $70.00,  Yr 6 - $50.00

Excursion Levy (per child per annum)
Kinder - Year 2 - $50.00,       Year 3&4 - $70.00,  Year 5 $175.00
  Year 6 - $440.00  Year 6 T'Shirt - $20.00 

SCHOOL FEES 2020 – NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT BY INSTALMENT

The Catholic Education Office and its system of schools are in the process of a business transformation.  Part of this transformation involves a new administration and accounting package being rolled out to schools.  As you would be aware our school has been introducing Compass as our administration system over a period of time.  It is now fully functioning together with a new web based accounting system called Technology One.

This will allow for school fees in 2020 to be invoiced centrally by the Catholic Education Office under advice from schools.  Additionally, families will still be offered the opportunity of paying their school fees by regular payments over the school year as is the existing practice.  However, the new system also allows for instalments to be calculated and advised to families with a Schedule of Payments and the dates that they are due.  This replaces our current process of School Fee Agreements and the necessity for families to calculate their own payments.

Please note, families may elect to pay school fees by instalment under the following terms and conditions:

• The family must complete a Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment and present a separate request to each school in which their child/children are enrolled.
• Families may have only one instalment frequency. If the family has multiple accounts due to children at different schools, they may only elect one payment frequency eg fortnightly in both schools. 
• The instalments must pay the school fee account in one school calendar year with an end date of the first week in December.
• On receipt of the Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment, an Instalment Schedule advising dates and amounts, will be generated by our accounting system and forwarded to the family by email so that payments can commence.
• The Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment will continue year to year until a further notice is received from the family.
• If instalments are not paid as agreed and there is serious default, the school may withdraw the offer of payment by instalment at any time and all fees will be due and payable until such time as a further arrangement is agreed upon with the school. Please note, families will be informed of the withdrawal of instalments in writing by email.

FAMILIES WITH EXISTING SCHOOL FEE AGREEMENTS

If you have an existing School Fee Agreement and are meeting your periodical payments as set out in the agreement, you will automatically be allocated to the instalment process in 2020 with your payment frequency.  Therefore, it will not be necessary for you to submit a Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment.

FAMILIES WITHOUT AN ACTIVE SCHOOL FEE AGREEMENT

If you do not have an active School Fee Agreement in place and would like to pay by instalments, please obtain a Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment from the school office.  By submitting this request you may elect to pay your school fees next year by weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly instalments.  When fees are invoiced and issued in early 2020, you will be provided with a Schedule of Payments and due dates with your school fee statement to enable you to commence payments.  Please note, if you do not elect to pay by instalments, your school fee account will be payable in full 30 days after annual invoicing.  

FAMILIES WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP

For those families who are experiencing financial hardship, please do not hesitate to contact the school office to access an Application for Fee Concession, either when your 2020 school fee statement is received, or in the case of an existing Fee Concession arrangement, on the date of your annual review.

SYSTEM REMINDERS

With the introduction of the new system, we now have the ability to generate system reminders for late payments.  Should you default in your payments, reminders will be issued for each payment missed and they will continue to be issued until your account is brought up to date. 

You will also have the opportunity to contact the school, if necessary in these circumstances, to provide explanation and make a further arrangement for payment.

Please click link the link below to download the 'Request to Pay School Fees by Instalment' form

We are thrilled to announce that our school achieved success again at the Sydney Schools Christmas Art Exhibition and Competition Finals which were held on Sunday at Notre Dame University.

Jada Halls was awarded a Highly Commended for her artwork ‘The Inkeepers Welcome’ and Angelisa D’Costa won 2 awards,  placing 3rd for her artwork  ‘Choir of Angels’ and also winning the first ever 'Notre Dame’ Award!!!

It was beautiful seeing the looks on their faces and we were extremely proud of all of our students.  The quality and standard of the artworks and of our students entries were extremely high.

Thank You

Primary Schools One Day Chess Finals

Sacrament of Penance Programme

Parents with children in Year 2 or higher, and who have been baptised, are invited to begin the enrolment process with their children on this weekend, 30th/1st December. Parents will need to attend the Saturday evening Mass or one of the Sunday Masses with their children who are to be enrolled.

The requirements of the programme are quite serious, though still very reasonable. Over previous years, the large majority of parents have been very willing to commit to the programme and contribute to their children’s spiritual formation. Parents are asked to resist any temptation to simply arrive at the end of Mass. A large part of the preparation is for parents and children to have a regular experience of Mass with our own worshipping community. All very enriching, and thanks in anticipation.

Father Joe’s Farewell

Reminder that Fr. Joe will be farewelled from our parish in a week’s time on Sunday 8 December with Mass at 5:00 PM followed by finger food and refreshments in and around the Heritage Hall. It promises to be a memorable and nostalgic occasion. We understand that the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Our parishioners are warmly invited to attend. The evening is planned for about an hour with just a few formalities.

After Masses this weekend, there will be a ‘Leaving Appeal’. Parishioners are invited to contribute a few dollars towards a couple of gifts for Fr Joe & Little Joey.