“You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Luke 16:13

(from the Gospel for the twenty fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C)

Dear Parents and Carers,

On Saturday, at 6pm our Year 6 students will receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Brian will confer the sacrament. Confirmation is the final sacrament of initiation. In receiving the sacrament, the candidates are accepting their place in our church and our Catholic tradition. The gifts and fruits of the spirit are the motivations and evidence of the presence of Christ in our lives. Whenever we see, for example, kindness, forgiveness, generosity, peace or love we see the work of the Spirit active  in our lives and relationships. Confirming that this is how they wish to live and following Jesus’ example, is what the candidates are committing themselves to this weekend. This weekend’s Gospel, spells out this choice clearly. Let’s pray for our Year 6 Confirmation candidates.

STEM Vex scrimmage at St Clare's Narellan Vale

Our Year 6 students participated with great success at the diocesan VEX robotics scrimmage at St Clare’s last Friday. Our children’s coding skills have certainly developed across the year. All four of our teams made the finals. This is an outstanding result given the strength of the competition from other primary and secondary schools. Well done Year 6.

Basketball Gala Days Thursday 19 September (junior) and Friday 20 September (senior)

Today our Junior basketballers participated in the diocesan basketball gala day at Minto. Tomorrow our Senior basketballers will play also at Minto. Thank you to the families of the players for your support in getting the children to the train bright and early. The children had a great day today and we expect the same tomorrow!

Chess Tournament Monday 23 September at Tudor House

We will be participating in the NSW Junior Chess League tournament hosted by Tudor House on Monday 23 September. The tournament commences at 9:15am until 2:30pm. Our chess team has been consistently practicing at lunch times throughout the year under the guidance and instruction of Mrs Iliani. Permission notes went home last week. We ask that any outstanding notes be returned tomorrow Friday 20 September. 

Book week parade and celebrations

We will be celebrating book week in the last week of the term culminating in a dress up book parade on Friday 27 September. This year’s book week theme is “Reading is my secret power”. We received feedback last year regarding the community’s desire to have a book week parade. 

On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Mrs Cassidy will conduct “Book Hoop La” in the library during second break. A coin is the entry price and all prizes will be books. We are also conducting a raffle with a beautiful coffee table book celebrating the beauty of Mount Gibraltar or “The Gib”. We have eighteen books to win. Tickets are $2 or three for $5. They can be purchased in the library. The raffle will be drawn after the book parade on Friday. The week culminates with the parade on Friday.

Children are to come dressed in their costumes for the day. The parade will commence at 1:30pm in the school hall. After the parade, you are free to take your children home. You must let the class teacher know that you are doing so.

Student Update Reports- Friday 27 September

Next week all children in all classes will receive a Student Update Report. These reports are a brief “check-in” with your child’s progress and development. The Student Update Report are issued by our school in addition to the diocesan mandated reporting schedule at the end of Term 2 and Term 4. We introduced these reports last year in response to a community perception that we need to communicate more frequently regarding your child’s progress. The Student Update Reports are a formal opportunity to reflect upon and potentially meet with and discuss your child with your child’s teacher. We of course are happy to meet at a mutually convenient time at any time. Please read your child’s report and celebrate your child’s achievements. They work very hard at school.

NAPLAN reports for Year 3 and Year 5

The individual reports regarding the NAPLAN assessments undertaken by Year 3 and Year 5 in May have arrived. They have been sent home today. If you would like to discuss your child’s assessment, please make an appointment at a mutually convenient time with your child’s teacher.

St Paul’s Facebook 

There has been operating for some time a facebook page for the St Paul’s P&F. This page will shortly be closed. A St Paul’s School facebook page that is operated and managed by the school will be launched once the existing page is closed. Within the new page we have the capacity to create groups such as, for example, class pages or a P&F page. We will advise when we are ready to launch the new school based facebook page. This action is necessary under the diocesan Social Media Policy launched earlier this year. 

If you would like to read this policy you can follow the link below:

Date claimers for Term 3:

Confirmation Program

This Saturday evening, a group of students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This will be held in Saint Paul’s Hall, commencing at 6pm. Students are asked to arrive at approximately 5:50pm. Please continue to pray for these students and their families as they complete this Sacrament of initiation.

End of Term Mass

On Thursday the 26^th September there will be a Whole School Mass to end the term. This Mass will also celebrate the feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul. Some students will have roles to fulfil during the Mass, such as altar serving and doing the readings. All are warmly invited to attend this Mass.

Thank you

Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

Kindergarten Parents - Just a quick note to let you know that next week Kindergarten will be going to the library on Monday (23rd September) instead of Wednesday.  So please make sure your child brings back their library books on Monday.

Catholic schools from the Diocese of Wollongong are invited to take part in the 2019 Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition.  This is an inititative of the Catholic Education Offices in Wollongong, Sydney and Bathurst to celebrate and explore children's creative and artistic ability in illustrating the Christmas story.

This exhibition and competition provides the opportunity for teachers to select artworks from years 5 and 6 to share with the wider community and create a greater awareness of the role of the arts in Religious Education.  Students can develop a deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.

Ready for some laughs? Magic Jester will be performing for in the Mittagong Community Centre, located in the same precinct as Mittagong Library during the holidays on Thursday 10th October at 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

It is free, however bookings are required for children only, no need to book for accompanying adults.

Here is the link to register: