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- From the Principal - Mrs Katie Browne
- From the Assistant Principal - Mr Simon Farrugia
- From the REC - Ms Catherine du Bois
- From the School Office
- P&F News
- Mini Vinnies - Mufti Day Winter Appeal
- STEAM Fair - Tuesday 19th September
- Canberra Excursion - Year 5 & 6
- Year 5 Solar System
- Catholic Care - Counselling Service
- Pastoral Support
- Calendar Overview
- Community News
Our Lord showed me Our Lady, St Mary, to teach us this:
that it was the wisdom and truth in her,
when she beheld her Maker,
that enabled her to know him as so great,
so holy - and so mighty, and so good.
Julian of Norwich
Dear Families,
Today is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. The day when we remember that Mary the Mother of Jesus was assumed, body and soul into heaven. This is a special day in the Church and there will be masses available over the course of the day in various locations. We have had to postpone the school mass due to COVID. We will reschedule this mass so we can celebrate both Mary’s Assumption and the feast of St Mary MacKillop at a later date.
The ongoing challenge of COVID is making things very difficult at school. Many staff and students have been impacted by this terrible disease. We ask that you please do not send your children to school if they are sick and presenting with symptoms of any kind. We are finding it very difficult to replace staff and maintain our normal routines. We appreciate your patience as we work hard to ensure the school can run each day with minimal disruption.
On Wednesday children are invited to wear a touch of green and gold in anticipation of the Matilda’s semi final match. The joy that is spreading across the country as a result of this sporting event is delightful and brings a renewed energy to what has been a challenging few weeks dealing with COVID and other illnesses. It is great to see how this event is bringing so many people together and creating positive conversations amongst the children.
Thank you and God Bless,
Cyclic Inquiry
We are now in the final stages of preparing for our Cyclic Inquiry. Staff have spent many staff meetings reviewing school data and discussing what has gone well and where we need to focus our attention moving forward. The panel will attend school on Thursday 7 September and Thursday 14 September to review our work and provide further support and advice for us in developing our strategic direction. We will be seeking parent volunteers to attend an engagement session with one of the panel members on Thursday 14 September at approximately 12 noon for about 45 minutes. We will send out more details closer to the day.
Annual Improvement Plan
During the cyclic inquiry process we have continued to work on our Annual Improvement Plan focusing on Mathematics and embedding our vision and mission. Staff are continuing to work collaboratively in unpacking the new Mathematics syllabus and understanding the research behind the changes. We will showcase some of this work during our STEM day that has been moved to Week 10.
St Mary MacKillop STEM day
We will hold this day on Tuesday 19 September. We will send out updated details closer to the event.
Save the Date - Justin Coulson
On Thursday 12 October commencing at 6:30pm Justin Coulson will be presenting his Parenting Revolution Topic in our School Hall. Justin's presentation will run until 8pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from an expert in this area and see him live. We have joined with St Thomas Aquinas Bowral and St Michael’s Mittagong to bring this event to you free of charge. Mark it in your calendars now.
The Parenting Revolution
What does it mean to be a good parent? Are you a good parent when your child is compliant, but a bad parent when they're not? What if they're perfect at age three and challenging at thirteen? And what if your child has additional needs?
Join Dr Justin for a practical presentation which draws on content from his new book, The Parenting Revolution, and incorporates up-to-the-minute research in parenting science as well as studies of childhood development.
Dr Justin Coulson will show you:
- how our children thrive when we understand and meet their basic psychological needs;
- how our job is not to fix our kids, but to create an environment that supports their growth and development; and
- how children flourish when we minimise control, but maximise our warmth and involvement, and establish healthy boundaries.
Not all children are the same, and Justin considers a range of circumstances that you or your child might be in - including children with non-typical development.
His revolutionary approach and practical strategies will encourage you to change the way you parent forever.
This link takes you to a great article by Justin called Toolbox for When Times are Tough.
Assistant Principal Retreat
Mr Farrugia will be on retreat Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Book Week Parade
On Tuesday 29th August we will celebrate book week with our book week parade. Students can come to school dressed in costume and they can change into casual clothes for the rest of the day.
Families are welcome to come along to the parade to watch. Provided the weather is nice, we will have it out in the playground.
We will start at around 9:15am to 9:20am. We anticipate finishing by around 10am.
Our aim is to have our parade themed around Australian Authors.
Some suggestions are:
Attention Year 2 Parents
St Paul’s participates in the 1:1 iPad school managed program from Year 3. Parents purchase the iPad through school and pay for it over two years in the school fees. This program is compulsory. Future details will be sent out later this year.
Loom Bands and Other Toys
Children are discouraged from bringing toys to school. They are not appropriate on the playground and can be a distraction in class. Please ensure your children keep their toys at home. If your child has been given a bracelet that has been made by a friend they can wear it at home. They are not part of the school uniform.
Father's Day Breakfast
See P&F News below for details
Chevalier College Enrolments
Chevalier College has contacted us to let us know that applications for Year 7 2024 and 2025 are now overdue, and they have a waitlist. They therefore request that if you are considering Chev and have not yet applied, you do so before 4:00pm Monday 21 August. You can apply online at https://www.chevalier.nsw.
Sport News
Diocesan Athletics Trials
Well done to all those students who took part in the Western Region Athletics Carnival on 4th August. We received fantastic feedback on your sportspersonship and the way you conducted yourselves on the day.
The following students have progressed to the Diocesen Athletics Carnival which will take place on Tuesday 15th August at Beaton Park, Wollongong - Sam, Bridie, Summer, Tilly and Matthew.
Basketball Gala Day
On Friday 15th September St Paul's will be hosting the Basketball Gala Day at Moss Vale Basketball stadium. We will be entering a team for Yr 3 & 4 Boys, Yr 3 & 4 Girls, Yr 5 & 6 Boys and Yr 5 & 6 Girls. We have already received a number of nominations and these will close on 31st August so that the teams can be finalised.
Matildas
It has been quite amazing to see the impact that the Matildas have had on the nation. Seeing sport unite the country and bring about so much interest in women's sport is nothing short of spectacular.
To help cheer the Matildas into the final of the World Cup we will be showing our support by wearing a splash of green and gold on Wednesday 16th August. This could be a hair tie, socks, hat, etc.
Go the Matildas!
Thank you,
Confirmation
Thank you to the families who have been involved so far in the Confirmation Program. Don’t forget to organise the sponsor for students and work on the Saint Poster, ready to share in Session 5.
Classes will be held at 8.30am on Sunday 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 10 Sep, 17 Sept followed by attendance of the 10am Mass which is compulsory. There will be no class on Father’s Day 3 Sept and on the 17 Sept there will be practice after the 10am Mass starting at 11am.
Thank you
Catherine du Bois
Religious Education Coordinator
They will reopen on Wednesday (just down the road from their old premises) at:
3/458 Argyle Street, Moss Vale
There is a new summer uniform item available for Girls, starting in Term 4.
You can now try on and pre order 'Tailored Girls Shorts' from Whytes at Moss Vale for $49.95 from Mid June.
They are a stretch gabardine fabric with:
- Wide curved waistband with 2 buttons
- 2 front pockets
- 2 back pockets
Girls could wear these in Term 4 and Term 1, along with the short sleeve blue button up collared shirt, also available from Whytes.
The other summer uniform option for girls is still the the dress.
Medication
Only medication that is prescribed by a doctor is permitted to be dispensed at School upon completion of a “Consent to Dispense Medication” form which is available from the office. The form and the medication are to be given to the office staff in the original packaging with the student’s name and dosage. We are not permitted to administer Panadol unless prescribed by a doctor and the necessary form completed. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
If your child is Asthmatic or Anaphylactic please ensure the necessary plan has been forwarded to the office along with any medication so that it can be processed. We also need a "Consent to Dispense Medication" form to be completed.
Payment of School fees
See document from CEO below:
Injuries
If a student has sustained an injury please inform the school office as we have to do a care plan and risk assessment. Please also forward any ED report or doctor letter as well.
Leave for students
If a student is going on leave for 10 days or more, parents will need to apply in writing and in advance for this leave.
Withdrawal
If you intend to withdraw your child from the school, the withdrawal form is available from the office. We currently have a waitlist, so advance notification would be appreciated.
Please see details below regarding the rescheduled STEAM Fair which will be on Tuesday 19th September.
On Monday 14th August 2023, Stage 3 took an adventure to our capital city, Canberra! This excursion links in with the unit “Australia as a Nation” and the students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs at The Australian War Memorial, National Electoral Education Centre and Parliament House.
Year 6 said...
"On Monday, the 14th of August, Year 5 and 6 visited Canberra for an excursion. They went to the War Memorial, NEEC (National Electoral Education Centre) and New Parliament House. The bus trip took around 2 hours. The students were thrilled to see the sights of Australia’s capital. Break times were enjoyable and exciting, for both students and teachers.
At the War Memorial, everyone learnt amazing stories about Australians fighting in the World Wars. We got the chance to see soldiers' uniforms, badges and planes. The NEEC provided a voting experience on fruits, a virtual interactive city and a video giving information on Australia’s history through voting. At the New Parliament House, students unfortunately didn’t get a glimpse of our Prime Minister, but they did see Australia’s most important rooms.
These included the Senate and House of Representatives where our government debates on laws being made.
The bus arrived back outside of St Paul’s at 5:30, leaving kids heartbroken but tired as the excursion came to an end".
The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion and we thank the Australian Government for this contribution.
Year 5 are exploring the Solar System in their Science unit. They recently created dioramas of the Solar System and presented their projects to the year 3 and 4 students. They followed a rubric and received marks for creativity, organisation, proportions and presentations. We congratulate Year 5 on their achievements in this project. They have shared some interesting new learnings with the other students.
Building Confidence
Children are constantly learning and developing skills. When these skills are mastered, they develop a sense of confidence in them. However, children may need more confidence when these skills still need to be learned. It is essential to understand that confidence is a skill that can also be developed. When this is done, it allows children to try new things, learn new skills and face challenges healthily. They also learn to handle setbacks and failure and know they can try again. Below are some simple tips that you can use to help your children develop their confidence which can help them thrive in life.
Show Them Love
Children will fail, they will make mistakes, they will give up. They may not make the team or get the grades they want; they may even make you mad. It is during these times when children need to know they are loved. When they feel bad about how they are going in life, it is vital to show them you love them no matter what to help boost their self-esteem.
Failure is Okay
Children learn by trial and error. When we let children know that failure is not the end, they can bounce back, try again, problem-solve, and devise new ways to tackle challenges.
Helping Hand
Have children help around the home with age-appropriate tasks; you are not only allowing them to develop new skills here, but you are also showing them how teams (families) work together to achieve goals which is a crucial life skill and helps them feel valued as a team member.
Goals
Help your child set small achievable goals that boost self-esteem and confidence. If they have a big goal, help them break it down into smaller possible steps so they don’t give up when it seems too hard.
Praise Often
Rather than just giving praise when your child achieves something, praise them for having a good try, for the effort they put in and the perseverance they show to try again when they succeed. Praising your child helps to build resilience and self-esteem.
Seek Support
If you find your child struggling with their confidence, it can help to chat with their teachers and School Counsellor. We are all here to help, and getting directions around navigating what is best for your child can sometimes be helpful.
Bryan McDade
Senior Practitioner
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
www.catholiccare.dow.org.au
Dear St Paul's Families,
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Coffee Catchup Friday of week 2. It was wonderful to see families enjoy company together and chat about the current happenings at school, while enjoying some delicious cakes and treats. It was especially great to meet some new family members, while the younger siblings had fun with the toy shopping market. We discussed initiatives and small programs that I will be facilitating with some students and the new Seasons for Growth program which starts in week 5.
Thank you to Fr Marek for being there to meet with families and answer any parish questions and to Katie Browne for her constant attention and support to all school related matters. Thank you also to Rochelle (school counsellor) for coming along and sharing some valuable information to support families. I truly appreciate you all for spending time away from your busy schedules to catchup with us all. I look forward to the next term's Coffee Catch Up, so keep an eye out for the invitation.
Enjoy the photos!
Warm regards,
Bernadette Taylor
Pastoral Support Worker
Please see below the calendar overview for Term 3 2023:
| Week 5 |
Wednesday 16 August Wear a touch of Green or Gold Friday 18 August Mufti Day for Year 5 Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal |
| Week 6 |
Thursday 24 August Assembly 2:15pm |
| Week 7 |
Tuesday 29 August Book Week Parade Wednesday 30 August Fathers Day Breakfast 8am Wednesday 30 August Fathers Day Stall |
| Week 8 |
Thursday 7 September Assembly 2:15pm |
| Week 9 |
Wednesday 13 September Kindergarten Excursion to Calmsley Hill City Farm Friday 15 September Basketball Gala Day Friday 15 September P&F Movie Night at Empire Cinemas |
| Week 10 |
Tuesday 19th September STEM Fair Thursday 21 September Assembly 2:15pm Friday 22nd September PUPIL FREE DAY |
Raising Fathers
Fathering from the Front Line
You are invited to a special evening event on 28 August 2023 in Campbelltown with Robert Falzon from menALIVE, as he unpacks practical advice and shares stories that are powerfully important, informative, and instructional for fathering in today’s world.
In an age where there is training to do almost everything, there are so many fathers who are in desperate need of tips and tools to do one of the most important and impactful tasks on earth – Fathering! – and this evening will be a source of great formation and encouragement for dads.
Details:
Speaker: Robert Falzon: Fathering from the Front Line
Topic: Fathering from the Front Line
Date: Monday 28 August 2023
Time: 7 - 8.30 pm
Location: Level 1, Micah House Resource Centre, 35A Cordeaux Street, Campbelltown
Cost: Free
For more information and bookings visit: DOW Raising Fathers Evening.
Healthy Family Bulletin
Child Safety Hub Handbook