“Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matt 24:44

(from the Gospel for the first Sunday of Advent, Year A)

Dear parents and carers,

This weekend, our church enters the season of Advent and new liturgical year. Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation of the great events of Christmas. The mystery and wonder of the Christmas story where God is incarnated as fully human and fully divine in the person of Jesus is at the centre of our faith as Christians. This was an act of utterly gratuitous love and is offered to all humankind. Over the next month we contemplate and anticipate the coming of Jesus into our lives and hearts.

Kinder Orientation 2020

This morning we conducted our Kinder Orientation morning. The children spent time in our Kinder classroom with Miss Molloy before meeting their Big Buddies. The Big Buddies had a gift ready for each Kinder child. The parents participated in an information session which brought them up to date with the routines and many changes we have implemented at St Paul’s. We have twenty two (22) children enrolled in Kinder for 2020. There are 12 girls and 10 boys. We have 12 new families and 10 current families in our 2020 Kinder class. Kindergarten will start school on Thursday 6 February after completing their BestStart assessments. I would like to especially thank the Kinder parents who donated food items or their time in serving at the morning tea for our new children and families. 

P&F Annual General Meeting Tuesday 3 December and nomination process.

All parents of St Paul’s are automatically members the P&F. The P&F works to support the school and provide much needed resources for all our children to use. The AGM for the P&F will be held on Tuesday 3 December at 7:00 pm in the school hall. Attached to this newsletter is a nomination form for the executive positions within the P&F. If you would like to nominate someone for these positions, please write the person’s name and indicate the position (or positions) for which you wish to nominate them. Place the nomination form in a sealed envelope addressed to the Principal and return it the school office before Tuesday 3 December.

We are providing Christmas gifts for the children of the St Mary of the Angels Guyra, a severely drought (and bush fire) affected community in New England, northern NSW. We are calling for small gifts (pencils, colouring books, stickers, books) that could be placed into a small, shoe box size container to give to each of the sixty families of the school. We don’t expect expensive gifts. A visit to the Reject Shop with your children helping to choose small gifts would be a great way to gather donations together.  We will have the children write messages of support to be included in each box along with a prayer card. Mrs Burton and her husband have volunteered to drive the gifts up to Guyra and deliver them to the school on Thursday 12 December.

Could you please send your donated gifts, small boxes and/or Christmas wrapping paper into school as soon as possible. We have placed a box in the school foyer as well as in the church foyer. We have received many donations already for which we are very grateful. The gift boxes will be made up and finalised on Friday 6 December. Ideally, we will need all donations to be sent into school by Monday 2 December. The absolute final day we can accept donations will be Thursday 5 December.

Year 5 Leadership Day at Santa Sabina Outdoor Education Centre, Talong Friday 29 November

Tomorrow we will be taking our Year 5 children to Talong to participate in a leadership formation day. We will be leaving at 8:30am. Year 5 children are to wear casual clothes including a collared shirt, hat, sunscreen and enclosed shoes (joggers are fine). Each child will need a drink bottle. Morning tea and lunch are provided. Thank you to the parents who have offered to drive. 

Student Leadership elections Wednesday 11 December.

The student leadership election process will be held on Wednesday 11 December. Candidates for our school student leadership roles will be required to make a brief (1 to 2 minute) speech regarding their understanding of leadership and suitability for the role. The candidates will speak to to the assembled Year 3 to 6 students, who will also vote. The day at Talong is an opportunity to for the children work on team building, collaboration and deepen their understanding of leadership. The outcome of the election will be announced at the End of Year Assembly on Friday 13 December.

End of Year Assembly and Mass Friday 13 December

We have made some adjustments to the end of year arrangements. On Friday the 13 December, we will hold our final assembly at 11:00am in the Hall to be followed by the annual Thanksgiving Mass at 12:30pm. There will be a short comfort break between the two events. Our Student Leaders will be commissioned and installed at the end of the Thanksgiving Mass. Both events will take place in the school hall. Everyone is most welcome to join us in celebrating a very successful year and giving thanks for the many blessings on our community.

iPad arrangements for Year 3 to Year 6 in 2020 - survey due tomorrow Friday 29 November.

Over the past few months we have been writing to you regarding the changes to our 1:1 iPad program at St Paul’s. Year 3 are participating in the school managed device program. Our Year 4 to 6 classes who have formerly participated in a voluntary Bring Your Own iPad (BYOI) have been presented with options for participation. We need to place orders for the purchase of the iPads and thus we need to know what your intentions are for participation in our school 1:1 iPad program in 2020 and onwards.

I ask that ALL Year 4 to Year 6 families for 2020 (our current years 3 to 5 classes) complete the short survey below for each child you have in Year 4, Year 5 or Year 6 in 2020. 

The link to the survey is 

https://forms.gle/bxaHN9vCC4P3bnYZ6

I ask that you complete this by Friday 29 November. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Student Resource Packs for 2020

This year the school introduced student resource packs. These packs include what your child needs at school. The cost of the resource pack is fully covered by your school resource fee. By bulk purchasing we are able to buy items cheaper than what is available in retail outlets. In organising this, we will no longer be sending home a list of supplies that you need to provide. Items such as pens, pencils, work books, art materials and glue sticks are included in the resource packs. Teachers have worked out what the children need in class. In introducing this efficiency, we are saving you money. The only items we ask you to provide is an art shirt, library bag, pencil case and headphones. We acknowledge that children usually like to choose these items themselves. We are currently organising the student resource packs for 2020. They will be ready for the return to school in January.

Summer Uniforms in Term 4

Now the children have returned to Term 4 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, Moss Vale and NSW Uniforms (mob: 0400805 596 email: ethnae@drewdesigns.com.au) both stock a full range of our uniforms.

Full Implementation of the new uniform from Term 1 2020

The two year transition period from the old to the new school uniform concludes at the end of Term 4, 2019. From the beginning of the new school year, all children will be expected to be wearing the “new” school uniform that was designed in 2017 and introduced in 2018.

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.

Skoolbag Closure

In the past we have discussed moving away from Skoolbag and into Compass for all notifications such as the weekly newsletter and notifications to parents. 

Skoolbag has now been de-commissioned.  There will be no further messages sent via Skoolbag this week or in the future.

They are now sent via email and a compass notification.

Any future notifications will also be sent via compass, with last minute messages sent via SMS.  Please make sure SMS notifications are turned on in your Compass settings if you wish to receive the notifications this way.

If you need your Compass log in details again, please contact the school office.

St Paul's Facebook page

Our Facebook page is now established and we are enjoying using this platform to promote the positive school community we have here at St Paul's.  Please remember to 'like' the St Paul's Moss Vale page (click the link below)

Date claimers for Term 4:

Advent

This Sunday the 1st December we commence the liturgical season of Advent. The term “Advent” derives from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”. It refers to the period immediately before Christmas, during which time we prepare for the symbolic birth of Christ each year. We prepare not just for celebrating his birth, but we get ready for the second coming and remember how he comes to us in our daily lives.

Advent is a period of reflection, repentance and belief in Jesus Christ. It is also a time where we prepare for the real meaning of Christmas. Purple is historically the main colour used for Advent because it reflects penitence, fasting, and the colour of royalty to welcome the Advent of the king (Jesus Christ). There are many practical ways to celebrate Advent, such as making an Advent wreath, setting up a nativity scene and helping those less fortunate.

 Thank you

 Catherine du Bois

Religious Education Coordinator

Just a quick reminder that the weekly awards will be given out at the assembly tomorrow morning at 8:50am.  There will be NO assembly on Friday afternoon.

As the end of the school year is approaching fast we ask that all library books are returned, especially those that are overdue.  Children may still borrow until the end of Week 8. Overdue notices have been sent out and will be sent out again.  If books have been lost we kindly request that these books are paid for so a replacement can be purchased.

Kind regards,

Louise Cassidy

Today we had our Kindergarten Orientation to welcome the new 2020 Kindy class and their families.

The new Kindy students were dropped off to their classroom with their teacher Miss Molloy.  Families then went to the school hall where they were welcomed by our principal, Mr O'Brien, with an information session. Guest speakers included Father Richard, Whytes uniforms, Athletes foot and OOSH.  Meanwhile in the classroom the children had a wonderful time getting used to their new surroundings, story time and then meeting their big buddies, who will be in Year 6 next year!  We ended the orientation with some morning tea.  Thank you to everyone involved for a fun morning!

On Friday 22nd November we had our annual swimming carnival! It was a fabulous day and all students and teachers had an amazing time. The house colour war cries could have been heard from Sydney! Congratulations to everyone who competed and those who cheered their teammates on from the sidelines!

GUNDUNGURRA NATION CORROBOREE

Come along to the Mittagong RSL annual Kids Christmas Fair.

For children of Club Members. Sunday 8th December from 10am to 1pm.

Tickets: Free - available at Club Reception.

Enjoy the jumping castle, fairy floss, magician, wildlife display, petting zoo and more!

Children of Club Memers receive a free can of soft drink, sausage sizzle and slushy.