Dear Parents and Guardians,

A very warm welcome back to all our families as we begin Term 4! I hope the school holiday break offered a chance for rest, connection, and rejuvenation. This final term of the school year is always a vibrant one, filled with important learning milestones, school events, and preparations for the year ahead, including our Year 6 students’ transition to high school.

As we return to our school routine, I invite you to reflect with me on the Gospel from Sunday, October 12th (Year C, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time), the beautiful story of The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19).

In this reading, Jesus heals ten men suffering from leprosy—a dreadful, isolating disease. He simply tells them to "Go and show yourselves to the priests," and as they go, they are all cured. This demonstrates Jesus' immense power and mercy. However, the story takes a turn:

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.

Only one of the ten, a foreigner whom the Jewish community often shunned, takes the time to turn back and give thanks. Jesus responds, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"

The central message for us as a Catholic school community is a vital one: Gratitude is the sign of a truly faithful heart.

• God's generosity is universal: Jesus healed all ten lepers, showing His love and mercy are given freely to everyone.
• Our response matters: The nine who kept going received a physical cure, but only the one who returned received a deeper gift. Jesus told him: "Get up and go; your faith has made you well." His act of thanks turned a simple cure into salvation.

As we dive into the busyness of Term 4, let us model the deep gratitude of the Samaritan leper for our children. Let’s encourage our students to pause and recognise the many blessings in their lives—the gift of friends, the joy of learning, the safety of our school, and the unconditional love of God. By consciously giving thanks, we deepen our relationship with Christ and allow His love to truly make us whole.

We look forward to a rewarding and grateful term together.

Blessings,

Simon Farrugia

Acting Principal

Uniform reminders

We have begun to see the new logos coming through on new items and they look great. We will allow the next two years to phase in the updated uniform and by the beginning of 2028 all old uniform items will need to be retired.

Attendance reminders

Regular attendance at school is integral to students’ learning, wellbeing and future life opportunities. Every day of attendance provides students with the opportunity to experience a sense of belonging within their school community, to grow in their faith and to realise their learning potential.

Parents are responsible for: (Taken from CEDoW Attendance Policy) 

(a) communicating to the school any concerns they have identified in relation to their child’s pattern of attendance;

(b) working in partnership with the school to plan and implement strategies to support their child’s regular attendance at school;

(c) promptly, and within seven calendar days of the beginning of the leave, explaining to the school any absence of their child from school. 

(d) providing to the school reasonable advance notice of any extended absence for their child;

(e) providing to the school reasonable advance notice when seeking an exemption from enrolment or exemption from attendance for their child;

(f) promptly providing to the school any documentation required by the school in relation to attendance or enrollment.

Transition to school

Transition to school is not a single event but rather a process of change that begins well before

students start school or enter high school. For children and their families, transitioning to school is a significant time that can have a considerable impact on a child’s longer-term academic, social and wellbeing outcomes. 

Kindergarten 2026 play based transition sessions will begin in week two of this term. ‘Transition to School Through Play’ is designed to enable conditions that support positive educational, social, and emotional outcomes for children and their families while building a sense of belonging to the school community. Successful transition is marked when a child and their family feel a sense of belonging to the school community.

Year 7 2026; our Year 6 students will begin their transition to high school during term four and for many this  has already begun. This transition is supported by our St Paul’s staff through transition meetings with the high schools our students will attend. These meetings allow for the individual strengths and needs of the student to be discussed in a confidential environment allowing for a smooth transition academically and socially. Some students will also have an opportunity to visit their future school and meet staff and other students who will also attend that school.

October is the month of the Rosary

The Month of the Rosary is October, a time dedicated to the Holy Rosary devotion in the Catholic Church. It is celebrated in October because the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary is on October 7th. This month is an opportunity to pray the rosary, which involves meditating on the lives of Jesus and Mary through different sets of mysteries: the joyful, sorrowful, glorious, and luminous mysteries.  

Each class will be praying the Rosary daily - you could also do this at home!

Yours in Faith,

Mittagong RSL Junior Disco

If you are looking to have a birthday party , please contact the wonderful team at the RSL for help 4872 6700 – they can organise catering for your special occasion while the children have a great time dancing and catching up with their friends!  

The cost for your catering is separate to the door entry tickets.

We have multiple gift vouchers that are drawn on the night .

We are having a ** Halloween Theme Dress Up ** ( NOT compulsory )