Dear Parents/Carers,

I would like to welcome everyone back to school for Term two. Everything continues to gradually move back to preCOVID normal which is very satisfying. Last term we did have some challenges with student absences due to contracting COVID or close contacts.  In addition, staff absences for the same reasons placed considerable stress on being able to adequately staff the school and ensure that there was a teacher for every class. I am proud to say, there was virtually no class splitting due to staff being prepared to take on the extra challenges this situation created. We must never take for granted the preparedness of staff at St Paul’s to go beyond the call of duty as well as see their work beyond just their class responsibilities that this situation created on a regular basis last term.

Last week we had our first fete stall holders’ meeting where everyone who had volunteered for the fete to go ahead at the end of term three (17 September), met to clarify organisational matters and to provide contact details. I again was astounded by the positivity in the room to make this wonderful event happen. The fete is a significant part of the St Paul’s School story and it is with great satisfaction that it is coming back. Many of our parents were once students who shared in the excitement of the fete as a child, and it is obvious that they want the same for their own children. The next step will be for the Fete Committee to meet and begin the leadership planning that involves Council approval, booking rides, seeking sponsorship, planning for the fete newsletter and communication, booking plant needed to run the day, creating risk assessments and applying for relevant insurances.  It is a big job, however, knowing the people involved, I have total faith in their ability to bring everything together on the day.

Finally, I would like to thank those parents who were involved in the zoom goal setting meetings, held at the end of last term.  It would be my hope that parents are now clear about the focus points for their child in literacy and numeracy as they move into term two and beyond. The goals were formulated from the PAT assessment data collected from the second week of term one.  This meeting replaced the meet and greet meetings held at the beginning of the term each year in the past. We had planned for these meetings last year at the same time but again COVID forced the cancellation of this process for the whole school, except for Kinder. We have realised that the zoom meetings have been well embraced by parents, we are considering the opportunity to have the same option for midyear reporting. We will share with you further details about this option later in the term. 

It would also be remiss of me if I didn’t acknowledge the work of the teachers who provided you with this valuable information. For you it was a fifteen minute interview, for the teachers it was many fifteen minute interviews held over four days before and after school.

As you can see it was a busy but satisfying term as we started to gradually get back to business as usual.

Go gently,

Michael Reardon
Principal

Principal Awards

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

Kasabian Barnsley, Matilda Melisi, Amelia Dominelli, Eldan Varghese, Oliver Lynch, Samuel Kmet, Zoey Szabo, Felicity Oake, Jaxon Teuma, Samuel Vincent, Bianca Kral, Tabitha Danjoux.

Reminder P&F Meeting This Wednesday 7.00pm

This Wednesday, 4 May 2022, will be our first P&F meeting for the term. I encourage as many people as possible to attend. There is always considerable information provided about community events and other school related matters. The meetings are very tight and are usually finished by 8.30pm. I am aware that planning has begun for the school disco (Fri 3rd June) and Grandparents Day (Fri 29 July). It is great to see the planning of our community events being reactivated. Come along to the P&F Meeting tomorrow night (7.00pm) to get all the details.

Updated COVID Information

As of 6pm on 22 April 2022, close contacts (including household contacts) have been able to leave isolation with certain exemptions in place.  

For students and staff that have no symptoms they may continue to attend school in line with the following requirements;

1. The school must be notified that they are a close contact and returning to school. (please email the school via; info@spcdow.catholic.edu.au your child's name, class and that they are a close contact)
2. The student/staff member must undertake a daily rapid antigen test (RAT) and return a negative result each morning before attending  school for 5 school days.  (results do not need to be provided to the school). 
3. Staff must wear a mask indoors except when eating or exercising. Primary students are not required to wear a mask, but encouraged, to wear a mask indoors except when eating or exercising. 

Please note that students or staff who test positive for COVID-19, or who are unwell or show COVID-19 symptoms, must continue to isolate at home and not return to school until they are clear of all symptoms. 

Winter Uniform

All students will begin wearing their full Winter uniform from next Monday, 9 May 2022.

ANZAC Day March

Thank you to the students who participated in the ANZAC Day March.

Cross Country Carnival

On Thursday, 28 April, we finally held our Primary Cross Country at the Kirkham Oval after three previous postponments. All students ran the 2km course with tremendous determination and SPC spirit in very soggy conditions. Good luck to the students who will be competing at the Wollongong Diocese Cross Country Championships on Tuesday, 24 May, at "Willandra" Browns Mountain Road, Nowra.

Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN Testing Dates 

NAPLAN tests will be completed via the online assessment platform on the following days for both Year 3 and 5. Please ensure your child has working headphones.

Parish Renewal Program

Scholastic Book Club 

Thank you for supporting our school library. Scholastic Book Club Issue 3 catalogues were sent home yesterday. A reminder that cash payments cannot be received at our school but Scholastic’s online LOOP payment system enables families to make payments by credit card. scholastic.com.au/LOOP

On the closing date, book orders are submitted by the school to Scholastic, books are delivered to school and then sent home with students. This can take up to two weeks after the closing date.

The closing date for LOOP orders for Issue 3 will be Monday, 16 May 2022

Congratulations - Library Easter Hunt Winners

At the end of last term, during borrowing time, students participated in a bitmoji Easter hunt in the library. When students found a bitmoji, that was hiding amongst the books and bookshelves, they received one ticket to enter the library raffle. At this week’s assembly, we drew three winners. Congratulations to Willow, Joseph and Savannah.

Willow 1 Faith - First prize: $50 to spend on the next Book Club Issue.

Joseph 3 Truth - Second prize: $30 to spend on the next Book Club Issue.

Savannah 4 Hope - Third prize: $20 to spend on the next Book Club Issue.