Dear Parents and Carers,

I trust you all had a wonderful break with your families and are refreshed for the term ahead.

Term 3 is always a busy and exciting time for learning and this term is no exception. We’re kicking things off with a whole school focus on narrative writing. Current research continues to highlight the powerful impact of explicit instruction on student outcomes and at St Paul’s, we’re committed to using best practices to help our students thrive. Our students are already good writers but we are always striving to improve. This term, they’ll be immersed in a structured writing program that emphasises the key stages of the writing process: planning, drafting and revising. Using high-quality model texts, guided practice and ongoing feedback, students will be supported to further develop their writing skills. 

A consistent, school-wide approach to teaching writing strategies will be a major focus. I strongly believe in setting high expectations and that every student is capable of success. When we challenge students, they rise to the occasion and already today, I’ve seen some incredible things in action. I’m excited to work alongside our students this term and to watch them grow as both writers and learners.

I was lucky enough to be a part of the audition process for the upcoming school production ‘From Page to Stage’. The panel, consisting of Kassy Wira, Hollie Barrow, Connie Antenucci and myself, were blown away by the talent and confidence of our Year 5 and 6 students and we congratulate all students who auditioned for the lead roles. For some students, standing up in front of a panel is a daunting experience, while for others, it’s a chance to truly shine. Regardless of where they started, each student stepped outside their comfort zone and gave us their best in acting (and singing), making the casting process incredibly challenging!

The audition consisted of acting out a short known script in front of the panel. Each student was assessed for their acting skills and their overall performance quality. Based on these auditions, the panel determined which students would be called back for a second round, where they performed an additional scene ( to an unknown script). As you can imagine, with such a high level of talent, the decision making process was extremely difficult. Ultimately, our decisions came down to who performed the best on the day and we were looking for individuals who brought their unique strengths to each role.

Congratulations to every student who auditioned. Your enthusiasm and hard work were truly inspiring! We can’t wait to see this incredible production come to life. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to move the date of the school production to Term 4. We apologise for any inconvenience. We are in the process of locking in a date with OLSH and will communicate this date with families as soon as we have it confirmed. Just a reminder that this is a whole school event and it is a requirement for all children to attend. 

The students will begin rehearsals with STOMP from tomorrow. This will involve them learning movements to a song. These rehearsals will be in place of their additional sport lesson but they are still required to wear their sport uniform. Below is a timetable for when your child will need to wear their sports uniform as it may be different to previous terms. They will still be having their sport lesson with Mr Maher each week.

• Prep W - Monday, Tuesday
• Prep B - Monday, Thursday (Week 1) and then Monday, Tuesday (Week 2-9)
• Year 1 - Tuesday, Wednesday
• Year 2 - Tuesday, Thursday
• Year 3 - Wednesday, Thursday
• Year 4 - Tuesday, Thursday
• Year 5 - Tuesday, Thursday
• 6W - Monday, Tuesday
• 6S - Monday, Tuesday (Week 1) and then Monday, Thursday (Week 2-9)

Student Safety

As many of you may be aware, there was an attempted abduction of a 10-year-old child at Hurlingham Park yesterday. While distressing, this incident serves as an important reminder about the need to prioritise student safety, both at school and in the wider community. At St Paul’s, our school gates are locked each morning shortly after 9:00am and reopened at approximately 3:15pm for afternoon pick-up. Students in Prep to Year 2 should be collected by a parent, carer or older sibling. For safety reasons, younger students should not be leaving the school grounds on their own. Staff are on duty before and after school to supervise students. We ask that all students are collected by 3:45pm, as this is when staff meetings begin and supervision ends. Depending on your child’s age and level of independence, now may be a good time to have a conversation at home about personal safety and how to respond to unfamiliar situations. Reinforcing messages around ‘stranger danger’ can be a helpful step in keeping all children safe. We appreciate your support in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students.

Confirmation

On Sunday 27th July, the Year 6 students will be heading into St. Patrick’s Cathedral to make their Sacrament of Confirmation along with their peers at St. Peter’s and St. Catherine’s. We thank the students and their families for their continued commitment over the past term and thank the Year 6 teachers for their careful planning and tuition. Bishop Tony Ireland will be visiting the Year 6 students on Thursday afternoon during their Reflection Day. He will chat with them about their chosen saint and who they have chosen as their sponsor. We look forward to seeing our Year 6 candidates at the cathedral on Sunday.

Kind regards,

Jussahra Treagus

Upcoming Dates to note

Term 3 Dates: Monday 21 July - Friday 19 September

Tuesday 22 July - STOMP dance begins

Thursday 24 July - Reflection Day Year 6 Confirmation and visit by Bishop Tony

Friday 25 July - Grandparents Morning

Sunday 27 July - Year 6 Confirmation at St Patrick's Cathedral

Monday 28 July - Whole School Assembly

Friday 8 August - 100 days of Prep

Monday 11 August - Whole School Assembly

Monday 18th - 21st August - Book Week Fair

Friday 22nd August - Book Week Parade

Thursday 4 September - Father's Day Stall

Friday 5 September - Father's Day breakfast

Friday 12 September - RU OK Day? celebration

Friday 19 September - last day of term, finish 2.30pm

Term 4 Dates: Monday 6 October - Tuesday 16 December

At the end of Term 2, our Year 6 students enjoyed a special morning tea with their teacher buddies, generously provided by our wonderful staff. The Teacher Buddy Program is a much loved initiative at St Paul’s, designed to give students the opportunity to build meaningful connections with another adult in the school. It is a chance to check in, feel supported and know that someone is always there for them. Moments like these remind us of the strong community spirit that makes St Paul’s so special.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Wacky Hair Day. Your wild styles brought big smiles and brightened the school! The creativity was amazing. An extra special thank you to those who donated, every contribution is going directly towards fundraising efforts for our school. Your support helps make a real difference!