Dear Parents, 

As we gather here for another edition of our school newsletter, I wanted to take a moment to extend a heartfelt message of support to our Principal, Freda, as she travels to be with her Father, during this challenging time. It is the strength of a community, such as St Paul’s, that shines through as we offer our support through prayers and understanding for Freda and her family. 

This week's newsletter is packed with updates on our students' accomplishments, upcoming events, and important announcements. Let's dive into the latest news and updates that make our school a vibrant and thriving educational hub!

School Disco - Thursday 8 June

Thursday is a casual day. No gold coin donation required.

Students competing in interschool sports can wear their sport uniform all day and bring a change of clothes for the afternoon if they so wish.

School closure day - Friday 9th June

On Friday, June 9th, our school will be closed for a special day focused on enhancing behaviour management skills. Teachers will have the opportunity to collaborate with renowned expert Patrice Wiseman, an authority in the field. This dedicated day aims to empower our educators with effective strategies and techniques to address and support student behaviour in a positive and constructive manner. By working closely with Patrice Wiseman, our teachers will gain invaluable insights and practical tools to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment, ensuring the academic and personal growth of all our students. We are excited about the potential impact this day will have on our school community and look forward to witnessing the positive changes in our classrooms.

Reconciliation

Over the weekend, the first of our special Sacrament of Reconciliation masses for our Year 3 students who were receiving this sacrament took place. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement as the young children prepared to embark on their journey of spiritual growth and forgiveness. The students, accompanied by their families, approached the sacrament with reverence and humility, ready to confess their sins and receive the loving forgiveness of God. The priest, Fr Terry Keen, offered words of encouragement and support, assuring the children of God's boundless mercy. We wish all the Year 3’s well as they make their first Reconciliation at Masses over the coming weekends. 

Confirmation

Congratulations and good luck to the Year 6 students as they embark on their Confirmation journey this Wednesday 7th June. This night marks a significant milestone in their lives, as they affirm their faith and embrace their spiritual growth. May this special occasion fill their hearts with joy and bring them closer to God's Grace. 

Classroom Awards

Maths - Bebras Challenge

The Bebras Mathematics Challenge proved to be an incredible success, with an outstanding performance by every student who participated. The challenge pushed their problem-solving skills to new heights, and their hard work and dedication were truly commendable. Notably, several of our students achieved distinctions, showcasing their exceptional aptitude in mathematical reasoning and computational thinking. This remarkable achievement reflects the students' enthusiasm for mathematics and their ability to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. The Bebras Mathematics Challenge not only fostered a love for maths but also recognized and rewarded the students' exceptional abilities. 

Here’s what some of the students had to say about participating in the challenge:

Max - Participating in the Bebras challenge is to test your computational maths skills. You will face a wide range of different questions that will allow your teachers to find your full ability. 

Matthew - Taking part in the Bebras challenge was a great experience. The problems were mind-bending and very tricky, but we all had fun. 

Cassie Year 5 - Japanese 

Cassie accomplished an extraordinary feat by achieving a flawless score of 100% on her initial attempt at the prestigious Hiragana Masters Test. This challenging assessment evaluates students' proficiency in recognizing and utilising the intricate Hiragana characters, including their relationships as siblings and cousins. Cassie's exceptional performance demonstrates her unrivalled dedication and unwavering focus. Congratulations to Cassie for her remarkable accomplishment – she has truly earned this well-deserved recognition.

Lost Property

The containers and uniform items continue to mount up.  Please check for any lost items just outside the second-hand uniform shop. All containers will be thrown out this Thursday as many contain food.

Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Kind regards,

Margy D'Rozario

Sacrament of First Reconciliation 2023

Our Year 3 students are already busy preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation beginning with their Commitment Mass on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May. It was wonderful to see the students and parents make their commitment to this sacrament which they will celebrate in the coming weeks. 

Our Year 3 students and teachers had their Reflection Day on Thursday 25 May. Some highlights from the children included: “I really enjoyed the mosaic Crucifixion activity and role playing to practice the sacrament” - Mason Wiley

“My favourite part of the Reflection Day was watching the story of Zaccheaus and eating the delicious pizza” - Max Ponce

“The highlight from Reflection Day was role playing and eating delicious pizza.” - Ella Baker

“The leaf art activity we did for the Zaccheus story about forgiving was fun. I also loved having pizza for lunch.” - Ava Friend

“The crucifixion actively was really lovely. I also loved eating pizza!” - Cayla Robb

“The highlight of Reflection Day was role playing. I was St. John and changed people. I loved eating the pizza.” - Oscar Pope

“The rotation activities were lots of fun and so was eating pizza for lunch.” - Harrison O’Reilly 

“I liked having a speaking part for the Liturgy. I like making the crucifix too.” - Tom Davoren

“I loved all the rotations and praying in the church. I also learnt how to genuflect. It is like a lunge.” - Eve Keeble

“The liturgies in the hall and the church were my favourite and eating pizza for lunch.” - Rosie O’Shannessy

The Sacrament of Reconciliation  (previously referred to as Confession or Penance) has undergone some changes since the Second Vatican Council. The major renewal in thinking revolves around reaffirming the truth that God loves us without fail and forgives us before we even recognise our need to be forgiven. Therefore when we make poor choices we are also damaging our relationship with God, with others and ourselves. Reconciliation is about building bridges and making an attempt to make things right. No matter our age, we make mistakes and the Sacrament of Reconciliation reminds us to focus on the social aspect of our wrong-doing in the hope of making better decisions in the future.

Sacrament of Confirmation 2023

The celebrations of the Sacrament of Confirmation begin next week. With over 40 children in our school to be confirmed. We are very grateful for the support and cooperation shown by the parish, families and school staff to make this occasion meaningful and special for our young people. I appreciate that parents and carers are mostly understanding of the challenges with such a large group and are working with us to ensure a sense of prayer and community.

The students, assisted by their teachers, have been preparing throughout the term for this special occasion. We were very honoured to have Bishop Tony Ireland visit St. Paul’s last Friday 26 May 2023. Bishop Tony met with the Year 6’s and spoke to them about the Sacrament of Confirmation with a focus on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the highlights from the Confirmation Reflection day of the students included: 

“I really liked the dove activity and being able to come to school in casual clothes and eat pizza; it made the day extra special.” - Zac Morris

“It was nice to be able to practice in the church and be told what is going to happen on the night of our Confirmation. The Hawaian pizza was also delicious.” - Mia Benvenuto

“The art activity which is going to be the sign for our pew was a great activity. I also loved the cheese pizza.” - Layth Soufan

“Creating the origami dove and hearts was a really beautiful reflection day activity. The pepperoni pizza was another highlight of the day.” - Hayley Draper

“The highlight of my day was practicing so we know what to do on the night. The margherita pizza was also another highlight from the day.” - Matthew Strupl

“I thought the origami activity with Ms Lachal was fun. We also learnt some more about the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Hawaiian pizza was delicious.” - Cristian Bianchi 

“Creating the pew sign for our Confirmation was fun. It was nice to be in casual clothes and eat pizza.” - Ebony Grima

“My favourite activity was with Ms Lachal creating the dove and hearts origami. The pepperoni pizza was also delicious.” - Nicholas Sabbadin

“The dove activity with Miss Berends was a highlight. It was really good of the school to buy us pepperoni pizza for lunch.” - Jeremy Bobik 

Our school community is looking forward to a joyful celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday 7th June 2023 at 6pm. 

Dear Parents,

We are excited to share some wonderful news with you regarding our students' engagement with the Friendology program by URSTRONG.

Over the past weeks, our students have wholeheartedly embraced the Friendology program, and it has been a joyous experience to witness the incredible growth and achievements that have unfolded as a result. Friendology has provided them with a platform to explore crucial aspects of friendship and personal development.

Through Friendology, our students have learned about the significance of embracing their uniqueness and celebrating diversity. They have gained valuable insights on self-regulation, empowering them to manage their emotions effectively. Furthermore, they have been equipped with strategies to navigate and resolve conflicts, referred to as ‘friendship fires’ when they arise within their social groups.

We are immensely proud of our students for their active participation and willingness to apply these newfound skills in their daily lives. It is truly heartwarming to witness the positive impact Friendology has had on their friendships and overall well-being.

We must acknowledge and express our deep appreciation for the exceptional efforts and dedication of our teachers. Their hard work and commitment have been instrumental in bringing this program to life. 

As we embark on this journey together, we invite you to join us and sign up for a free URSTRONG Friendology account. By doing so, you will gain access to a wealth of fantastic resources designed to support your child in fostering meaningful friendships. It also provides you with the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the language and strategies that are being taught at St. Paul's. Attached you will also find a Friendology Glossary of all the terminology that we use. I encourage you to print this off or screenshot it on your phone so you can refer to it if you are having conversations about friendships at home. It can be an extremely helpful guide.

We firmly believe that a strong partnership between home and school is key to the holistic development of our students. Together, we can create an environment where they feel supported, empowered, and equipped to navigate the complexities of their social interactions.

Thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of Friendology grow within our school community.

Kassy Dowling

Student Wellbeing Leader

An update from South East Water:

We’d like to let you know works are progressing well along Higgins Road and Wood Street and we anticipate the completion of the final stages of construction and reinstatement by mid July 2023.  Please refer to the pdf for more information.