Dear Parents/Carers,

As we move towards First Holy Communion, Advent and the end of the year, I am very much aware that during this time things escalate and become incredibly busy as we lead up to Christmas. In addition to this, we have just completed for the first time, four weeks on Tuesdays, playgroup as part of our Kindergarten Orientation process for our 2023 kindergarten cohort.  It was wonderful to watch the children engaging with each other and new parents being welcomed into St Paul's way.

This is also another measure of how we create community together at St Paul’s. The return of our community based initiatives this year has helped create this vital sense of community in the school.  In a person oriented school community, people are appreciated for who they are and not simply because they contribute in some special way that indicates some form of prestige.  At the Kindergarten Playgroup the values of hospitality and inclusion created a strong sense of purpose.  Whilst diversity flourishes in our school, during playgroup, for many of our new students and their parents, the collective identity and school spirit we value so deeply, has begun to be nurtured.

In light of the above I leave you with the wise words of Martin Luther King Jr:

“We must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools.”

I would like to add, in wisdom schools that promote healthy relationships, power is not used for control but to liberate energy in others. Ultimately, all our work leads back to how we teach and learn from the students. Our focus is on living peacefully in communion with self and others rather than focusing on our National Testing data, or a personally successful material career, important though they may be, to develop wholesome attitudes for life and a deep appreciation of the “we” found in the common good. To me, that was largely the message shared at the Kindergarten playgroup.

Go gently, 

Michael Reardon
Principal

Fire & Lockdown Drills

As part of compliance and for the safety of all, it is important that schools regularly conduct fire and lockdown drills. This process allows school staff to ensure that planning for such an event is effective and allows students to be familiar with processes should there be an emergency. The school would like to inform parents that a drill will be held at some point next week.

Principal Awards

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

Cathal Wilson, Gideon Korny, Ella Mulholland, Savannah Stanley, Isla Wade, Isabella Meekin, Sebastian Bonvini, Samson Quagliotto, Addison Leetch, Bianca Kral, Addison Lovett, Carla Macri, Aislinn Mulholland, Eva Rota, Elizabeth Knapp, Edward Knapp, Tate Durrington, Archie Colliss, Brenden Grech, Joseph Samia, Lucas Rota, Sienna Yerou, Louis Steck, Ryan Grech.

Stop Work Information

Truth Love & Faith Awards

The Truth Love Faith award is the formal recognition of students’ commitment to Catholic learning, belonging, celebration, hope, respect and justice. This includes achievements, appropriate behaviour and consistently doing their best.

Criteria for award selection 

The criteria used for selection of the award are:

• Evidence of academic growth in 1 or more KLA 
• 3 or less minors and no majors within the semester and/or Evidence of significant improvement in behaviours 
• Works collaboratively with others 
• Supportive of others 
• Takes ownership for behaviour and accepts responsibility 
• Regular class participation 
• Completes tasks to the best of their ability 
• Reflective learner who shows ownership for learning (actively responds to feedback)

The Truth Love and Faith Awards in Term 4 will be presented Monday, 5 December 2022. 

November Meeting Minutes