Filter Content
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the 2024 year! I hope families have had a wonderful summer break and have been able to spend some time with family, friends and loved ones in preparation for the new school term ahead.
This year we warmly welcome back all students and families, especially our Preps and new students to St Paul’s. I am personally very excited to begin my second year as Principal of this wonderfully vibrant school community.
First Day of School
On Tuesday 30 January, students from Prep to Year 6 will be welcomed back to school. Gates will open at 8:30am for supervision. Please remember that this is not a playtime for students. We ask that students find their new class line-up area and enjoy a catch-up with their friends. Students will be supervised on the playground until the bell goes.
Our bell times remain the same. Please see below for our before-school routine:
8:30 School gates open. Teachers on Yard Duty; Children sit in their class lines
8:45 Classrooms open
8:50 Bell rings
8:55 Meditation, prayer and class roll
Playground
For the safety of all members of our community, particularly our younger ones, it is essential that before and after school that there are no children playing on the adventure playground equipment. It is also very important for the safety of all, that scooters and bikes are not ridden in the schoolyard. They may be ridden to the gate, but then dismount and walk the bike or scooter through the schoolyard.
Meditation
The practice of Meditation is a well-established routine at St Paul’s. It is an excellent way to begin the day as it sets a calming tone for the classroom and allows the children to become more focused to enhance their learning. Meditation begins at 8.55 when the music plays. If any child is running a little late and the class has already begun, they are asked to quietly enter the classroom, put their bag down just inside the room and join the meditation space; they can unpack their bag and get settled in when it is finished.
New Staff
This year we welcome new staff members to St Paul’s:
Year 4: Ms Carlene Whitten
Ms Whitten has been teaching for 17 years all around the world. Most recently at Wesley College and Caulfield Grammar. Carlene is a mum to a gorgeous “threenager” who loves cupcakes (but only licks the icing) and ballet.
Year 5: Ms Flora Fisher
Ms Fisher has worked in various schools in Melbourne for 5 years, and then in a lovely private school in London for 6 years. She has a gorgeous baby daughter named Loretta and, in her previous life, was a registered nurse at a major Melbourne private hospital. She enjoys travelling, baking and now spending time with her daughter and fiance often frequenting playgrounds and cafes on the weekend. Flora is looking forward to settling into Melbourne life and the St Paul’s community.
Visual Arts: Ms Emily Thorowgood
Ms Thorowgood comes from the UK where she has taught for 6 years. Emily loves Art (of course) and travel. She has a passion for sustainability and is a lover of the outdoors. Emily is looking forward to the grand St Paul’s Art Show this year.
Prep Students
We are very excited to welcome our Prep students to St Paul’s. Prep classrooms will be open from 8.45am on Tuesday for parents to bring their child directly into the classroom to help settle them during the first week. We invite our Prep parents to the hall on the first day for a morning tea where you can get to know each other over a cuppa, and shed one or two tears (we’ll provide the tissues!).
The Prep students will finish at 1pm for the first week and will be brought onto the playground for parents to collect them each afternoon. They will then attend school for full days from Monday 5 February with the exception of Wednesdays. On Wednesday 7, 14, and 21 of February the students will have a rest day before starting full time on 26 February. These three Wednesdays will be used for teachers to schedule 1 hour appointments for each child for assessments. These assessments give us important information regarding the children’s basic Literacy and Numeracy skills. An email will be sent out in a few days with online booking details.
New Students Year 1 to Year 6
We also welcome 10 new families and 13 new students to St Paul’s this year
A very warm welcome to:
1A - Henrietta Elbert
1M - Georgia Swartz
2C - Ava Swartz, Lucia Krispens Hegouaburu and Amber Crasta
3A - Karline Elbert
3AM - Elijah Do & Abby Lo
4W - Nicolas Krispens Hegouaburu
5F - Emma Catalan Mangisch
5K - Lucas McElherron & Bastien Mayol
6WG - Ashleigh Washington
Parking
There are many parking bays in Higgins Rd for parents to park and walk their children into school. Please be aware of the red parking zones near the crossing, which are not to be used for parking between 8 - 9:30am and 2:30 - 4pm on school days. Remember to wave and say hello to our lovely Crossing Guard, Pietro.
Riddle Street parking outside the Tennis Courts is a drop off zone only. Parents are asked not to park and exit their vehicle; this is a “kiss-and-go” drop off point.
Parish car spaces are not to be used for drop off parking. This request comes from the Parish, and is also a safety issue as it is a bike entrance point and many students walk through this area.
Second-Hand Uniform Shop
The P&F second-hand uniform shop will be open the next two Fridays (2 & 9 Feb) from 8:30 till 9:15am. It is located just past the office reception area. Donations of items in good condition are very welcome and you can drop them at the office anytime during the school term. From Friday 23 February the uniform shop will be open every second week.
Mobile Phones
Any student bringing a mobile phone to school must hand their phone into the office at the start of the day and collect it again after the bell at 3.30pm. Permission slips will also need to be filled in by the parents - children or parents can collect this from the Office on Tuesday.
Last but not least…
Just a few messages and reminders to help ease the transition back to school life:
- Students must wear hats during play throughout Term 1. Students with no hat will not be allowed to play in the sun but will be in the amphitheater under shade sails.
- Dogs (including cute little puppies) are not allowed on the school grounds.
- An updated Term 1 Calendar will be sent out with the first official newsletter of the year.
- Tuck Shop will begin this Friday 2nd February. Please please please label EVERYTHING!...containers, lunch boxes, drink bottles, bags, clothing, hats - you name it!
We look forward to seeing everyone bright and early Tuesday morning with glowing tans, squeaky new shoes, and all those brand new haircuts!
Best Wishes,
Freda Tahtouh
