Dear Parents,   

In this special season of Advent, we watch and wait for Christ’s coming! We light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer. Today at Assembly, we lit the candle of joy and invited each student to embrace the opportunities to see joy in each other and to be a person of joyfulness in all our words and actions to each other  this week. Let us look for ordinary ways, that we can be the change we want to see in the world. 

Mission Market

An extraordinary $2066.70 was raised for ‘Rural Aide’s Buy A Bale Initiative’ to be given to farmers in need. Thank you to everyone for your most generous donations and support of the Mission Market so that we can give to those in need.

St Vinnie's Collection

We are enthusiastically again helping out the Bentleigh St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Hampers Appeal for 2019. We are asking if you could please donate an item of FOOD (Packaged) to your child's classroom by THURSDAY 12th DECEMBER.  St Vincent de Paul will be coming on FRIDAY 13th December to collect all the food items.  PLEASE NO TOYS

As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank and acknowledge the many people who have contributed to the successes of 2019. Our School Board have met many times throughout the year where they have discussed policy and been a voice for other parents. Thank you Meghan Speers, Suzanne Commerford, Craig Schneider, Greg Ryan, Steve Savva and Helen Skinner for your service and positive contribution to the school. I look forward to working together again next year.

The Parents and Friends have had another very successful year of fundraising and building a strong community spirit. Thank you to the many families who have worked so hard across a variety of functions and events to allow us to achieve great outcomes for our school. I would like to especially thank Libby Dewar and Claire Stanley, Co Presidents of the Parents and Friends for their amazing contribution to all events, for their drive, calmness under pressure, and  generosity of spirit. I would also like to acknowledge the Father’s group who are always on hand to support school functions and provide a warm welcome to new and existing families. 

In just a few days we will be saying farewell to the Year 6 students and their families at the end of Year Mass and Graduation liturgy.  Thank you for your leadership and the inspiration you have been to other students.We wish you continued success and blessings for high school.

The final assembly for the year is the Walking out the Door Assembly for Yr 6 which will held on Tuesday 17th December at 3pm in the school hall - parents are most welcome to join us, this is them followed by the whole school guard of honour.

At St Paul’s we are very blessed with a dedicated and energetic staff who work hard every day to improve the learning outcomes for all students. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for what has been a very successful year, evident in our end of year results, friendships, respect and care for each other,  happy smiles and resilient children.

All families are warmly welcomed to join Fr Crawford and the staff and students in a Mass of thanksgiving on Tuesday 17 December at 10am where we will also farewell students and families who are leaving. 

Next Wednesday 18 December, your child will find out their class groupings and teacher for next year. As you can imagine many hours of work have gone into allocating classes, ensuring that every student is in the best learning space possible for a successful year ahead.  Lists have been triple checked by past present and future teachers. I know there will be some children who will be disappointed that they are not with a best friend. I ask you to support your child’s learning , resilience and optimism by having a growth mindset about the wonderful possibilities that lie ahead next year for new friendships and learning. 

Reports will be emailed for the first time on Friday 13th December.

I am pleased to announce the staff for 2020:

Leadership Team

Administration                                                        

Classroom Teachers

Learning Support Staff

Farewells

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff who are leaving:

Jess Bedson who currently travels over an hour to get to work has accepted a new teaching position at  St Peters in Mooroolbark, only ten minutes from home. Jess has been a very loved staff member and Prep hero for the past two years. We will miss her kind and generous spirit.

Aaron Juliff  - after six years at St Paul’s Aaron has accepted a position at St Thomas More in Mt Eliza.  He will be very missed by us all and has had such a positive impact on the lives of many children, families and staff members here at St Paul’s.  Our best wishes go with him at his new school.

Penny Trewavas is retiring after 22 years at St Paul’s! It is hard to find words to thank Penny who changed the lives of so many students and families over so many years. For the past 19 years Penny has run the Reading Recovery Program. Her patience, dedication, optimism and commitment to ensuring the success of students in reading has been outstanding. Penny is very loved and will be greatly missed.

Leave for 2020

Margaret Smith will be taking 12 months leave for family reasons.

Bernie Fitzsimmons will be on leave for Term 1 only.

We wish those staff leaving our best wishes for the future and thank them for their service and dedication to education.

Families leaving - best wishes from all of us at St Paul’s.

Students Leaving - you are always welcome to call in. Best wishes for the future.

Preps 2020

Last week we welcomed our new Prep students for their final Orientation. There was much excitement as they arrived eager to meet their teachers and their buddies for next year. The Year 4 students made special care bags to welcome their buddies.

Congratulations to Xavier, Lucas and Harrison.  The boys were among the top five junior players from local schools who were selected to play at the Chess championships last Thursday.

Harrison, Xavier and Lucas did a great job representing St Paul’s.

School Fees 2020

Families will receive an email tomorrow regarding fees for 2020.

Finally I would like to thank the parents and students of St Paul’s and wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas. 

Catherine