Dear Parents,

What a wonderful few weeks it has been at St Paul’s! In my short time here, it has already become clear just how strong and vibrant our school community is.

Over the past fortnight, we’ve shared some special moments together. Our school leaders led an ANZAC Day reflection during assembly and our Year 5 students enjoyed an exciting and memorable time at camp. The Parents & Friends Committee (P&F) have been busy too, coordinating a successful Election Day BBQ and Mother’s Day lunch, and preparing for our upcoming Mother’s Day Stall and Breakfast.

I was fortunate to attend the Mother’s Day Lunch on Friday and to meet many of our lovely St Paul’s mums in person. Thank you to everyone who introduced themselves and extended such a warm welcome, it’s truly appreciated. A special thank you to the P&F for their efforts in organising both the Election Day BBQ and the upcoming Mother’s Day events, and to all the volunteers who supported these initiatives. As the saying goes, many hands make light work!

Our community spirit was also on display during the recent Year 4 Eucharist Family Workshop. It was a beautiful evening of reflection and meaningful discussion, reminding us of the importance of living like Jesus in our everyday lives. Thank you to our Year 4 families for their participation and dedication to this special sacrament.

I’d also like to officially welcome Franca Aldworth to our staff. Franca has joined us as the Year 4 classroom teacher and has already had a wonderful impact on the class. Thank you to our Year 4 families for your patience and support during the transition as we worked to find the best person for this role.

Finally, with Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’d like to wish all our incredible St Paul’s mums a joyful and relaxing Mother’s Day on Sunday. May you feel celebrated and loved, not just on the day, but always.

Kind regards,

Jussahra Treagus

Year 5 Camp - Sovereign Hill

Last week, the Year 5’s were on camp at Sovereign Hill. It’s always a fascinating experience learning about what life was like in 19th-century Ballarat. 

They went panning for gold (alas, no nuggets), went down the old mines, and were immersed in 19th-century gold rush life. From the hardships of trying to make a living as a miner, to a day in the life of a school child, the Year 5 students certainly gained a deeper insight into life in the 1850’s. 

The students were intrigued by many of the traditions and expectations placed upon people of this bygone era, in terms of what was deemed appropriate clothing for men, women and children as well as roles and responsibilities of family members. Candle making was of great interest to the students as well, and discovering that it was not just a fun and interesting pastime activity as we enjoy it nowadays, but an unpaid job that was only rewarded by free rent and food, definitely raised a few eyebrows among the students. The gold pour demonstration was another highlight of the visit and the students were fascinated by the process of smelting and purifying the gold.      

It was fabulous to see this wonderful group of students explore this environment with open minds, keen to take on new learning. It was also fabulous to see them challenge themselves in various ways to also learn a little more about themselves as well. They represented the school, their families and themselves with pride and respect.  Congratulations on a wonderful camp experience, Year 5’s and a huge thank you to those teachers who organised and attended this special learning event (Hollie Barrow, Flora Fisher, Danny Maher, Andrew Bath and Daragh Drummond)!