“I have come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfil them.”

Matt 5:17

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

Dear parents and carers

What a difference a week makes! We have gone from drought, bushfires and heatwave to rain, storm and flood. Dorethea McKellar was correct! It has been lovely to welcome the rain at last and see the paddocks turning green after so long. However, it has come at a cost. There has been damage to property and loss of housing to some families in our community. We send our love and support to all those who have been affected by natural disasters in the recent months. Our Mini Vinnies group will be conducting a raffle in coming weeks to support those effected and in need. More information regarding this will be forth coming. As a community we need to stand together in these challenging times. This is what Jesus wants us to do.

Listening Interviews 

It has been lovely to meet with you regarding your child over the past week. These meetings are important in establishing a positive rapport between school and home. It is hugely beneficial that the teachers have an understanding of your child as both a person and a learner. You, as the parents of your child, are the expert in knowing your child. We both want and need to listen in order to understand so as to achieve the maximum growth and learning for your child. I thank the staff who have given generously of their time to facilitate these meetings. Such is the importance they attach to meeting with you. We look forward to a productive and harmonious year working together for the benefit of your child.

P&F Annual General Meeting (AGM) 

The P&F AGM was held on Wednesday evening. I want to thank the outgoing P&F 2019 executive team of Tim Eccelston (President), Erin Allison (Vice President), Jess Harris (Secretary) and Natasha Hucker (Treasurer) for their work, dedication and support of the school and our children. It has been a pleasure to work with them. Our whole school community owes them a vote of gratitude. The new 75” TVs and Apple TVs installed in classrooms as well as the purchase of iPads for use by our Kinder to Year 2 children are a direct consequence of the support of the P&F.

The new P&F executive team for 2020 is:

President- Amanda Eccleston

Vice President- Tim Eccleston

Secretary- Meredith Cassar

Treasurer- Natasha Hucker

We also nominated class parents for 2020. The classes we were able to assign were:

Kindergarten- Tina Malady

Year 1- Nancy Palfrey

Year 2- Amy Eggleston

Year 4- Cathie Curcuruto

Year 6- Natasha Hucker

If anyone would like to take the role of Year 3 or Year 5 class parent, please contact the school office to express your interest.

Swimming Carnival Friday 21 February at Moss Vale Pool

We will be conducting our 2020 swimming carnival next Friday 21 February at Moss Vale Pool. Our Year 1 to Year 6 children will be participating. You have received nomination forms to enter your child into events. If you haven’t returned your nomination forms, please do so immediately. Children who do not have nomination forms returned will be placed in a 25 metre freestyle event. Our Kinder children will have water play at school on the same day. More information will follow regarding this.

Our swimming carnival selects the school swim team to participate in the western region carnival to be held on 3 March at Bradbury. From this event, a western region team will be selected to compete in the diocesan carnival on 9 March at Corrimal.

Sacramental Program- Reconciliation

Sacramental programs are parish lead and school supported. The reconciliation program for baptised children enrolled in Year 3 or older will open next week. Enrolment packages can be collected and subsequently returned from any weekend Mass from 22 February until 8 March. Alternatively packages can be collected and returned from the parish office during the week. The parish office hours are 9:30am to 1:30pm Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Friday (closed on Tuesday). The sacrament of reconciliation will be celebrated with the candidates and their families on Friday 3 April.

Southern Highlands Independent Primary School (SHIPS)

The three Catholic primary schools in the Southern Highlands will no longer be participating in the annual SHIPS sporting events (swimming, cross country, athletics) effective from the beginning of this year.

This decision was reached after consultation with our diocesan Catholic Education Office. Our Diocesan sport arrangement now provides for many more sporting opportunities than was the case in previous years. Our Catholic schools are required to support these opportunities to ensure their continued viability. Therefore, our diocesan sporting schedule and participation obligations require precedence. We appreciate the independent schools in the local area allowing us to be involved over the years.

Photograph Permission- thank you for returning them asap

You have received the photo permission form for your children. We are required to seek this permission from you annually. The consent form allows for your child’s image to be used in the school newsletter, our school facebook page or by the diocese in their publications (print and digital). If you do not give consent for your child’s image to be used or do not return the permission form, we will not be able to use your child’s image. Your child therefore, will not appear in any of our school publications (print and digital inclusive). We love to celebrate your child’s achievements. Publishing pictures is a good way to do this. We ask that you return the consent forms at your earliest convenience.

Responsible User Agreements- thank you for returning them asap

Your child’s Responsible User Agreement was sent home last Friday for you to review with your child, co-sign and return to school. The Responsible User Agreement sets out the school’s expectation for the use of technology at school. The Responsible User Agreements are signed annually and placed on your child’s file. Thank you everyone who has already signed and returned your child’s Responsible User Agreement. We ask that you return these as a priority if you haven’t already done so.

All children will be undertaking a digital citizenship program with Mrs Cassidy throughout Term 1.  These programs and lessons are developed for each of the stages within the school and are age appropriate. If there are any problems with technology, please let us know.

Gym on Fridays for all classes and sports uniform

We have engaged a specialist sports company, Gymnastrix, to conduct gymnastics lessons with all classes on Fridays. The company provides qualified teachers, who deliver the program and assess the children. They also provide all the necessary equipment. The cost of this program is included as part of your school fees. 

All children will need to wear their sport uniform on Fridays for Term 1. We have booked nine lessons to accommodate the swimming carnival to be held on Fri 21 February. You have not paid for a gym lesson on this day.

Assembly on Thursdays fortnightly

Due to Gym classes on Fridays, we have moved our fortnightly assembly to Thursday afternoons in odd weeks (Wk1, Wk3, Wk5, Wk7, Wk9). 

Please note that in Week 11, we will conduct a Holy Week liturgy in place of the assembly.

Interest Groups have commenced

Last week, we commenced interest groups with children on Thursday afternoons. Interest groups will be held on even weeks (Wk 4, Wk 6, Wk 10). In Week 8, we are conducting the school cross-country on Thursday 19 March and thus will not hold interest groups on that day.

The children in Year 2 to Year 6 had a choice to participate in drama, audio visual club, environment group, singing and choir, drawing and STEM. Most children were able to be accommodated in their first preference. The small number of children who were placed in their second choice will be given priority in receiving their first preference when we rearrange the interest groups for Semester 2. 

Environment Interest Group- gardening gloves required

If your child is part of the Environment Interest group, we ask that you send some gardening gloves to school for your child’s use during the Thursday afternoon interest group. Gardening gloves are available at most supermarkets or variety stores. They are inexpensive but very helpful for the children who will be doing some gardening.

Sacramental Programme

 First Reconciliation

Enrolment forms are now available for those who wish to participate in the Reconciliation Programme (students in Year 3 or older). These can be picked up and returned to the Parish office or at any of the weekend Masses.

• Enrolment period: 2nd February – 9th March
• Reconciliation Classes: 15th, 22nd and 29th March
• First Reconciliation: Friday 3rd April

What do I do when my child is sick or we are going on a holiday?

Sick Leave

Part of growing up includes getting sick from time to time. When your child is sick please keep them home as this reduces the chance of the illness spreading. It is also very difficult for children to learn and socialise when they are unwell. It is essential you notify the office that your child is sick and will not be coming to school, you can email or make a phone call and leave a message. The class roll will be marked to reflect that your child was absent due to illness. 

Unexplained absences

When children are absent for several days in a row and the school has not been notified the school will contact you to confirm why your child is absent. If you know you are going to be away or your child is unwell then please let the office know via a note, email or phone call.

Approved leave

If you are planning to have a holiday during school that requires more than a week (5 days) away from school you are required to seek approval from the principal. This can be done by contacting the school office to obtain the appropriate forms.

Regards,

Katie Browne

Assistant Principal

St. Paul’s Swimming Carnival Event Program 

Friday 21st February

Carnival commences approx. 9.45am

Order of Events

100m freestyle – Open boys and girls 

50m freestyle – 8 yrs, 9 yrs, 10 yrs, 11 yrs, 12yrs boys and girls 

25m races for Years 2-6

4 x 50m Individual Medleys (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle)

50m breaststroke – Junior, 11yrs, 12 yrs boys & girls

50m backstroke - Junior, 11yrs, 12 yrs boys and girls 

50m butterfly – Junior, 11yrs, 12yrs boys and girls 

Junior and Senior House Relays 

N.B. War Cries will take place at approx. 11.30am (when Year 1 arrives at the pool) followed by Year 1 doing their 25m races.

Kindergarten won't be attending this year's carnival, they will stay back at school to participate in some water activities.