Luke 16:19- 31

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

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Saturday evening, twenty four candidates from across the parish, including our Year 6 students, received the sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Brian conferred the sacrament, which is a personal and communal commitment to living life as a disciple of Jesus and person of Christian faith. It was an absolutely beautiful Mass. The Bishop’s talk with the candidates was inspiring and a highlight. The whole parish community joined with the candidates and their families in accompanying these young people as they intentionally took this next important step in their faith lives. Pope Francis has often reminded us that as faith filled people we should also be joy filled people. That joy was certainly evident on Saturday evening within our parish. 

This morning we celebrated an end of Term 3 Mass with the whole school. Again, the joy was palpable in the church with the children’s singing and giving thanks for the many events of the past term. Tomorrow is the feast of St Vincent de Paul who we acknowledged at this morning’s Mass. The spirit of kindness and service given witness in St Vincent de Paul and inspired by the example of Jesus is an ongoing source of inspiration for us all. Most of all at Mass, we give thanks for the gift of each other in our little school community.

Tomorrow is the last day of Term 3. It has been an extremely busy term. We have achieved much. The children are tired and need a break. Be sure to take some time to be present to each other and your families. Be kind to each other! Have a great break. School resumes on Monday 14 October for all classes.

Book week parade and celebrations

This week we have been celebrating book week. This year’s book week theme was “Reading is my secret power”. 

Tomorrow we will be conducting a book parade at 1:30pm in the school hall. Children are to come to school dressed in their costumes. We are having an early second break which will allow time for the children to straighten up their costumes before the parade. Parents and community members are welcome to join us. After the parade, you are free to take your children home. Children can be collected from the weather shed. You must let the class teacher know that you are taking your child. Otherwise, normal dismissal procedures and times will be followed.

As part of our week long celebrations, Mrs Cassidy has been conducting “Book Hoop La” or as Shannon in Year 1 calls it “Book-la!” in the library during lunch breaks. Children win books as a prize. We are also conducting a raffle with a beautiful coffee table book celebrating the beauty of Mount Gibraltar or “The Gib” as the prize. We have eighteen books to win. Tickets, which are $2 or three for $5 are still available. They can be purchased in the library. The raffle will be drawn after the book parade on Friday. 

iPads in 2020

After much deliberation and research we have made a significant decision regarding the use of iPads at St Paul’s. For the past several years the school has operated an optional “Bring Your Own iPad” program from Year 3 onwards. Whilst this program has served the school well in the past, it is no longer an effective approach given the change in the technology available to schools. Commencing in 2020 with our incoming Year 3 group, we will have a compulsory 1:1 iPad program. The school will source and provide the iPads as part of your resource fee. Families will be asked to pay off the iPad over two years. At the end of Year 6 the iPad will be yours to keep. We will be writing to the current Year 2 families with details regarding the program including the management of devices at both home and school. Children in year 4 to 6 who don’t currently have an iPad,  will also be given the opportunity to participate in this resourcing arrangement. Obviously, this will mean an increase in your resource fee. The price the school is able to purchase iPads is significantly lower than the recommended retail price, being an education price.

Student Update Reports- Friday 27 September

Tomorrow 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 Reports 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.

Staff Development Day- Friday 25 October

We will conduct a staff development day on Friday 25 October. There will be no classes on that day and the whole staff will be working off site at Penrose Park. We are undertaking Module #4 of “Educating with a Mission Lens”, a professional development being rolled out across the diocese.

Basketball Gala Days 

Our Junior and Senior basketball teams represented our school community beautifully last week at the diocesan gala day at Minto. The accompanying teachers commended the children on their sportsmanship, team work, support of each other and manners. What a credit to our school.

Summer Uniforms in Term 4

When the children return from holidays they are to be wearing their summer uniforms. Summer uniforms are worn in Terms 1 and 4. Winter uniforms are worn in Term 2 and 3. Whytes in their shop front on Argyle Street and NSW Uniforms (mob: 0400805 596 email: ethnae@drewdesigns.com.au) stock a full range of our uniforms.

Term 4 date claim

I have included a Term 4 overview of significant dates for your information below. Please take a moment to review these dates in readiness for Term 4.

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:

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/policies/social-media-policy/

 Date claimers for Term 4:

Confirmation

Last Saturday evening, a group of students received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Brian spoke to the Year 6 students on a personal level and discussed how they can follow the example of Jesus, strengthened by the Holy Spirit. It was a beautiful Mass and a memorable experience for all of our candidates. Congratulations!

The Living Word

Thank you

Catherine du Bois
Religious Education Coordinator

Race night at MVASC is a fabulous, fun, Friday night activity for the whole family, children and adults are invited to join in, and week by week see their times improve!

Race night is a great opportunity for kids to get ready for upcoming carnivals and swim racing in general.