Dear Parents,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our staff, students and families for your support in what has been a very busy and successful Term 3. The inquiry units this term have seen students engaged in investigations and innovations where they have explored Forces and Motion through the lense of Design and Technology. Our SMART Spelling program has continued to support a consistent and cohesive approach to spelling across all year levels. Our NAPLAN data indicates positive growth for a high percentage of students, with outstanding results achieved in Reading and Numeracy.   It has been great to see such a positive response to Seesaw, where families are able to connect to their child’s learning each week. 

On Friday at 10.30am we will be celebrating the end of Term with a Paraliturgy in the Church. We hope that you can join us as we give thanks for the many blessings of the Term 3.

As we prepare for the Fete early next term, I would like to thank and acknowledge the continued hard work of the Parents and Friends Committee and their commitment to raising funds to support the school and providing opportunities for parents to connect socially and support each other. The Parents and Friends meet each Term to organise current and upcoming events and to discuss opportunities to fully engage the support of our whole school community. Our outstanding Co Presidents, Claire Stanley and Libby Dewar, along with Bernadette Hyland, Secretary and Narelle Pesavento, Treasurer, and a small group of extraordinary parents attend these meetings each Term. In between PnF meetings, many sub committee meetings are attended regularly, in particular, the Fete Committee. Night meetings are never easy to attend with our busy lives, and the commitment of these parents is outstanding.

Many thanks to the Parents and Friends for the major events of Term three:

Bingo Disco Night - raising $18,000. An extraordinary effort by Georgie McMahon and Sarah Logan and their fabulous team. The artwork was again a huge hit and made possible by Donna Campbell and Marisa Manakis.

Bunnings BBQ 

Although we struggled to get volunteers, a small band of parents attended and raised an amazing $1600.

Fathers Day Stall

Another huge success for the students and lots of mums were on hand to sell items and help out with the breakfast. 

Fete

Chrisa  Anastasio has once again this year taken on the enormous job of coordinating our major fundraising event. She has been supported by the many parents who have volunteered to coordinate stalls and work at manning the stalls on the day. Your generosity and support is much appreciated.

This year the funds will support additional shade sails, landscaping, seating for passive play areas as well as refurbishing the Library. 

Thank you also to our class Reps who organise social functions and provide opportunities for families to connect.

Thank you to those who have attended Board Meetings, Assemblies, Liturgy celebrations, worked as classroom helpers, attended excursions or supported the parent seminar this term.

The benefits of a school community working together are extraordinary. 

Parental engagement recognises that both parents and teachers play an important role in children’s learning, development and wellbeing, and that children generally do better when there are positive connections between the different spaces they learn in and belong to. A key aspect of parental engagement involves family-school partnerships.There are many ways parents can get involved in schools. Some parents might like to help with classroom reading, whereas others find it easier to do committee work outside of school hours. Many like to come to Liturgies,special days and events or help out with excursions and fetes. 

Next Term we will host an evening to thank and acknowledge the contributions of all parents who make up a vital part of our school community. We are also hoping to cast our net wider as we try to engage more parents to be involved in the life of the school. 

Concert Update

The St. Paul’s 2019 school concert “The Mysterious Dream” is coming together fabulously as our main cast are learning scripts and rehearsing together.  

Classes are learning songs and dances and costumes are being finalised. It is fantastic to see our students working together and producing some class acts.

You will receive a CareMonkey letter today outlining the logistics of our rehearsal on Tuesday October 22nd and the performance on Thursday October 24th.  This letter also contains links to ticket sales, DVD sales and costuming requirements for your child’s class.  

Please make a note of costume requirements in case you have to source any particular items. We have tried to keep costuming needs to a minimum and thank you for your support in supplying these items for your child.

Don’t forget to purchase your tickets soon and also the DVD recording which will be a fabulous memento! 

Last week we had a special morning tea to acknowledge the wonderful work of our Learning Support Officers here at St Paul's.

Last Day of Term

On Friday 20 September we will celebrate the last day of Term with a Liturgy in the Church at 10.30am. All parents are warmly welcomed to attend. This is also our dress up footy day with a sausage sizzle and a play in the park. School will conclude at 2.30 for our Term 3 holidays.

Thank you to the parents who have completed the online CEMSIS data form. This information forms a crucial part of our School Improvement Review for 2020.

Wishing all our families and staff a safe and happy holiday. We look forward to seeing you all for the final Term for 2019 on 7 October. 

Best wishes,

Catherine

Mental Illness is an illness
At the end of every news article after learning the sad news of Danny
Frawley’s death mentioned was the line “Anyone needing help can contact
Lifeline on 13 11 14”.
Mental Illness is indeed an illness. This needs to be stated and it needs to be
treated as such. The hard aspect with this illness is that it is often extremely
difficult to see it and sometimes signs of it. We hear of so many people who
appear to be so happy on the outside but so deeply sad on the inside.
We obviously ask the question “Why?” and “How?”
In so many cases we cannot answer the questions except we are called to
hold the person deep in our own heart and prayers.
One of the hardest aspects of dealing with deaths like Danny Frawley’s is
that within three days of his death you need to search the papers to find a
mention of him. Other news becomes the front page news.
Newspapers move on quickly. We as humans don’t. We grieve and in
many cases grieve slowly.
SEN continues to tell stories, Fox Footy continues to tell stories and people
tell each stories about Danny.
Stories are the way we keep the Spirit of a person alive in our hearts.
At the end of the film “The Mission”, as a canoe with a little boy and girl in
it drifts down the river, a voice comes over and says, “The Spirit of the
dead is kept alive in the memory of the living”.
As we grieve Danny’s death we keep his Spirit alive through our memory.
But in a weeks’ time, a months’ time and a years’ time our prayers need to
move to the family. How do we help them and others in similar
circumstances to move on in their lives?
In moments of Death and Dying our Christian Faith kicks in. It is our
Faith which helps us and consoles us. In the Catholic Mass for Funerals
the Preface leading up toward the consecration of the bread and wine, the
presider says, “…those saddened by the certainty of dying might be
consoled by the promise of eternal life with God to come. Indeed, Lord, for
your faithful people life is changed not ended”.
It is this last line I hold dear to my heart. “Life is changed not ended.”

Life has indeed changed for Danny Frawley because he, like us, learned in
his Catholic education that when we die life continues with God for
eternity.
For us still living the earthly life, our life too has changed but not ended.
The reason is because life will never be the same. Life can never be the
same. Life without Danny changes many people lives. Life without our
loved ones changes the way we live life.
But what we can do is keep those we truly love who have died alive in our
hearts. We can also ensure that we tell those we love that we do love them.
That we take the time to ask those whom we are concerned about R U
Okay?
The Good News of Jesus Christ is about LOVE. The end of Matthew’s
Gospel in chapter 28 Jesus commissions all of us in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit to go out and spread this Good News
of love.
Don’t wait till your loved one dies before you tell them that you love them!

Edward Dooley

Mission and Faith Leader

Fete Dress Up Day on Friday: Wear favourite sports gear or footy colours and bring along second hand clothes. Donations need to be in good, clean condition. No underwear please. Drop your donations to the school hall.

Joshua (6J) & Daniel Ianchello (4GM) recently competed in the Australian Nationals Taekwondo Championships held in Queensland for 2019.

In the Victoria Taekwondo Championships held in July, Josh was placed 1st in Victoria (Gold medal) and Daniel was placed 2nd in Victoria (Silver medal).    

As a result, Josh and Daniel were invited to compete in the Australian National Taekwondo Championships     

The results were:

Joshua was ranked 3rd in Australia - He received the Bronze Medal!

Daniel was ranked 5th in Australia!

Congratulations Joshua and Daniel - an incredible achievement.

Congratulations to the Bolton family - Courtney, Ciaran and Christian (2S) on the safe arrival of their beautiful daughter and sister Blair, weighing 9lbs.

All doing well!

Dear Parents,

By now you should all have received an email from Customer Service regarding the holiday club at St Paul's. Due to works being carried out here, we are unable to offer our planned holiday program. 

However the holiday club at St Peter's East Bentleigh is operating and I strongly encourage you to book your children in there. I will be coordinating with Carrey the lovely new Coordinator at St Peter's. Sue Duffy and Allard will also be there so the children will see familiar faces.

Lots of fun themes and activities have been planned including four excursions,  Roller Skating in Mordialloc, Bowling and laser Tag at Strike Bayside,  Inflatable World in Oakleigh and Science Works. 

Come along and join in the fun!

Brochures are available at the sign in table and online through our website 

The activities were chosen were chosen in consultation with the children

PLEASE NOTE:

Before making your booking & cancellations All children must be enrolled with OSHClub prior to booking via oshclub.com.au. Bookings made within 5 days for a Vacation Care session will incur an extra charge of $4.00 per day per child. 7 days notice is required for cancellation of a Vacation Care booking to ensure you will not incur out of pocket costs. Please note that bookings can not be made online within 5 days of the session commencing. In order to book within this period, you will need to contact the service directly, the Customer Service and Billing Team on 1300 395 735 or by emailing oshaccounts@junioradventuresgroup.com.au. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Final item for the week...

Our Oshclub legend of the week goes to Ebony Grima. Ebony is always smiling and happy, loves volunteering to assist staff in running activities and is friends with everybody. She was a kind and caring big sister last week when her brother hurt himself. Great job Ebony!

Kind regards,

Sharna Shulman

Kind regards,

Program Coordinator

St Paul's Oshclub Bentleigh.

A huge congratulations to the chess team for representing the school
and winning 5th place out of 12 schools at the chess championship on
September 6th! A very strong performance as usual. We were only 1.5
points away from the 3rd place trophy!
This exciting and fun event represented the culmination of months of
dedication and practise by the team.

Special congratulations to Charlie Willers and Thomas Savva, both
winning 3.5/ 7 games for the day. Also to Rhys Jones and Thomas Regos,
winning 4/7 games.

We are proud to have such a dedicated and exceptional chess club and
look forward to more new players joining us for future competitions.

Felix

The school crossing plays an important part in us getting to school safely. The following are some reminders of how to use the school crossing correctly to ensure maximum safety for all users.

• Always use the crossing - do not cross the road before you reach the school crossing.
• Cyclists are to dismount before using the crossing and then walk their bike. The law states that a bike is a vehicle and if you hit anyone with your bike on the crossing the cyclist is liable. If a cyclist is knocked off their bike while riding on the crossing they may not be covered for claiming injury.
• Do not be on your phone when using the crossing as this will impair your awareness.
• Cars are not permitted to stop at the crossing to let passengers out.

We are very lucky to have such dedicated Crossing Supervisors: Pietro on Higgins Rd, Sammy on Jasper Rd and Archie on London St, and we all need to use our school crossings correctly.