Your Word, loving God, promises that if we continue to search for you, the Holy Spirit will reveal your presence more and more. 

Dear Families,

As we come to the end of the Season and Easter and enter Ordinary Time in the Church we remember what Jesus said at the passover. He said,  “I am the body”. In saying this Jesus was referring to us. We are the body of Christ. We are the people that make up the Kingdom of God.  I often reflect on the line, “To love another is to see the face of God.” It is an interpretation taken from 1 Peter 4:8 and is a line from Les Miserables. When Jesus said “This is my body” he was revealing his love for us and teaching us that we are all part of one whole. We are all made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore when we see another person for who they truly are then we are seeing God and revealing God’s full love for us. At the end of this term we will celebrate our school’s feast Day, the feast of St Paul. As a school we have aligned the value of respect to St Paul as he himself saw God and realised he needed to change his ways. He realised he needed to start showing respect towards others. As we prepare for the feast day let us prepare ourselves by taking some time to think about what respect means and how we can show it each and every day through our words and actions. So we are truly revealing the face of God in everything we do.

Respect means: 

• a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

• due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.

Reflect: Think about the last time you showed respect to someone by putting things back where they came from or saying thank you. How did it make you feel? How did it make them feel?

As we continue to progress our annual improvement goal in the area of Mathematics teachers are also continuing to focus on literacy to ensure that we are maintaining our course of action and reflecting on our progress. In Weeks 5 and 6 teachers will gather to assess how we are ensuring reading progress following the implementation of InitaLit, Spell X and Spelling Mastery. They will also spend time learning about assessment moderation in order to develop a consistent approach to this. Ongoing reflection is important to ensure we are maintaing a constant level of improvement and not heading in the wrong direction.

Staff Development Day - No School Friday June 7

On Friday 7 June staff will spend time working with Mark Boss from CEDoW on assessment in Mathematics. We hope this gives families the opportunity to extend the long weekend.

Tell Them From Me - Survey

Thank you to all the families who have taken time to complete the survey. Your response has been fantastic. The survey window closes this Friday 31 May so there is still time to complete the survey if you have not yet had the chance. Completing the survey provides the school with data that can be used to support our improvement agenda. http://tellthemfromme.com/spmv2024

Changes to Academic Reports

As you may be aware, the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) have undertaken a comprehensive review of the NSW Curriculum, leading to curriculum reform and subsequent implementation of a reformed curriculum which commenced in 2023. In response to the curriculum changes, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong has made significant modifications to student semester reports for Primary schools to better reflect your child's academic progress at key points throughout the year and provide parents and carers with a clear picture of their child’s strengths and areas for improvement in specific subject areas.

The following changes will be evident in your child’s semester report from Semester 1 2024: 

• A ‘new look’ report format released via Compass reflecting the outcomes of the new K-10 English and Mathematics syllabuses providing a descriptor for each of the focus areas found in the respective syllabuses
• All Kindergarten students will now receive a written report in Semester 1 and Semester 2 with a three-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors:
• Thorough
• Sound 
• Basic
• Students in Year 1 - Year 6 will continue to receive semester reports twice a year with a five-point grade scale used to report student achievement using the following performance descriptors: 
• Extensive
• Thorough
• Sound
• Basic
• Elementary 

Report formats are also available for students who are working towards outcomes by which a graded report will not accurately represent their learning progress. As an alternative to a graded report, a comment is provided for each Key Learning Area in line with the student’s goals identified in their Personalised Plan. These reports are only used following consultation between school and parents/carers. 

We look forward to this positive shift in our reporting system and appreciate your continued support in your child's educational journey.

How to talk to your child about relationships, romantic feelings and sex

It is important to have open conversations with your children about these topics. We have noticed an increase in children saying they have a crush on someone and wanting to date each other. Children may have different understandings of what it means to be dating which could lead to misunderstandings and boundaries being crossed. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children to understand what they are feeling and be clear about your family’s expectations around this. We are all made in the image and likeness of God and respecting our human dignity is vital. Therefore having a clear understanding of what is part of normal growth and development and how to set boundaries is important. At St Paul’s we encourage everyone to be friends. Being exclusive at this age is not recommended. Raising Children Network has a range of resources to support you in talking to your children in an age appropriate way.

Parent Forum - Think u Know Social Media and your Children and SCAM Awareness by BDCU Wednesday 12 June.

6:00 pm ThinkUKnow

Senior Constable Rachel Kennedy will present: what young people see, say and do online, the challenges they may face and how to report and get help if things go wrong.  This will be an adult only forum as it will touch on sensitive topics.

7:15 pm SCAM Awareness

Hosted by BDCU: It will touch on how to spot a SCAM and what to do if you get scammed. Please mark this date  in your diary now as this is a must attend event.

System Professional Learning

Tuesday 11 June - Mrs Browne, Mr Farrugia and Ms DuBois will be attending System Professional Learning day. Mrs Sandra Hogan will be at school as the Relief Principal.

Wednesday 12 June - Mrs Browne, Mrs Claremont and Mrs Adams will be attending the NSW curriculum Mathematics Day. Mr Farrugia will be Acting Principal

Thursday 13 June - Mrs Browne and Mrs Claremont will be attending a day with Professor Jim Tognolini on assessment. Mr Farrugia will be attending MacKillop touch Trials. Mrs Sandra Hogan will be at school as the Relief Principal.

Bernadette Taylor

CatholicCare Student Wellbeing Officer

Hello Brain Busters,

We hope that you enjoyed the family fun of the Rainbow Serpent game .

This week's newsletter has a GO FISH - (different versions) that can be played with 2 - 4 players.

We hope that you play and learn along with your children.

Until next time,

Mary Lou Claremont

Diverse Learning Support and Instructional Coach