Dear Parents,   

In this special season of Advent, we watch and wait for Christ’s coming! We light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer. Today at Assembly, we lit the candle of joy and invited each student to embrace the opportunities to see joy in each other and to be a person of joyfulness in all our words and actions to each other  this week. Let us look for ordinary ways, that we can be the change we want to see in the world. 

Mission Market

An extraordinary $2066.70 was raised for ‘Rural Aide’s Buy A Bale Initiative’ to be given to farmers in need. Thank you to everyone for your most generous donations and support of the Mission Market so that we can give to those in need.

St Vinnie's Collection

We are enthusiastically again helping out the Bentleigh St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Hampers Appeal for 2019. We are asking if you could please donate an item of FOOD (Packaged) to your child's classroom by THURSDAY 12th DECEMBER.  St Vincent de Paul will be coming on FRIDAY 13th December to collect all the food items.  PLEASE NO TOYS

As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank and acknowledge the many people who have contributed to the successes of 2019. Our School Board have met many times throughout the year where they have discussed policy and been a voice for other parents. Thank you Meghan Speers, Suzanne Commerford, Craig Schneider, Greg Ryan, Steve Savva and Helen Skinner for your service and positive contribution to the school. I look forward to working together again next year.

The Parents and Friends have had another very successful year of fundraising and building a strong community spirit. Thank you to the many families who have worked so hard across a variety of functions and events to allow us to achieve great outcomes for our school. I would like to especially thank Libby Dewar and Claire Stanley, Co Presidents of the Parents and Friends for their amazing contribution to all events, for their drive, calmness under pressure, and  generosity of spirit. I would also like to acknowledge the Father’s group who are always on hand to support school functions and provide a warm welcome to new and existing families. 

In just a few days we will be saying farewell to the Year 6 students and their families at the end of Year Mass and Graduation liturgy.  Thank you for your leadership and the inspiration you have been to other students.We wish you continued success and blessings for high school.

The final assembly for the year is the Walking out the Door Assembly for Yr 6 which will held on Tuesday 17th December at 3pm in the school hall - parents are most welcome to join us, this is them followed by the whole school guard of honour.

At St Paul’s we are very blessed with a dedicated and energetic staff who work hard every day to improve the learning outcomes for all students. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for what has been a very successful year, evident in our end of year results, friendships, respect and care for each other,  happy smiles and resilient children.

All families are warmly welcomed to join Fr Crawford and the staff and students in a Mass of thanksgiving on Tuesday 17 December at 10am where we will also farewell students and families who are leaving. 

Next Wednesday 18 December, your child will find out their class groupings and teacher for next year. As you can imagine many hours of work have gone into allocating classes, ensuring that every student is in the best learning space possible for a successful year ahead.  Lists have been triple checked by past present and future teachers. I know there will be some children who will be disappointed that they are not with a best friend. I ask you to support your child’s learning , resilience and optimism by having a growth mindset about the wonderful possibilities that lie ahead next year for new friendships and learning. 

Reports will be emailed for the first time on Friday 13th December.

I am pleased to announce the staff for 2020:

Leadership Team

Administration                                                        

Classroom Teachers

Learning Support Staff

Farewells

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those staff who are leaving:

Jess Bedson who currently travels over an hour to get to work has accepted a new teaching position at  St Peters in Mooroolbark, only ten minutes from home. Jess has been a very loved staff member and Prep hero for the past two years. We will miss her kind and generous spirit.

Aaron Juliff  - after six years at St Paul’s Aaron has accepted a position at St Thomas More in Mt Eliza.  He will be very missed by us all and has had such a positive impact on the lives of many children, families and staff members here at St Paul’s.  Our best wishes go with him at his new school.

Penny Trewavas is retiring after 22 years at St Paul’s! It is hard to find words to thank Penny who changed the lives of so many students and families over so many years. For the past 19 years Penny has run the Reading Recovery Program. Her patience, dedication, optimism and commitment to ensuring the success of students in reading has been outstanding. Penny is very loved and will be greatly missed.

Leave for 2020

Margaret Smith will be taking 12 months leave for family reasons.

Bernie Fitzsimmons will be on leave for Term 1 only.

We wish those staff leaving our best wishes for the future and thank them for their service and dedication to education.

Families leaving - best wishes from all of us at St Paul’s.

Students Leaving - you are always welcome to call in. Best wishes for the future.

Preps 2020

Last week we welcomed our new Prep students for their final Orientation. There was much excitement as they arrived eager to meet their teachers and their buddies for next year. The Year 4 students made special care bags to welcome their buddies.

Congratulations to Xavier, Lucas and Harrison.  The boys were among the top five junior players from local schools who were selected to play at the Chess championships last Thursday.

Harrison, Xavier and Lucas did a great job representing St Paul’s.

School Fees 2020

Families will receive an email tomorrow regarding fees for 2020.

Finally I would like to thank the parents and students of St Paul’s and wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas. 

Catherine  

Barbara Arrowsmith-Young is the founder of the Arrowsmith Program, an assessment process and a suite of cognitive exercises designed to stimulate and strengthen weak areas of cognitive functioning that underlie a range of learning difficulties, which has been delivered for 40+ years throughout the world. The Arrowsmith Program is offered in educational organizations in 10 countries. Ongoing research with neuroscientists, neuropsychologists and psychologists is demonstrating that the program not only changes the brain, cognitive functioning, and academic achievement but also leads to social-emotional well-being.

St Catherine’s in Moorabbin is one of 4 schools in Victoria that offer the Program. For more information about this amazing program that supports children with learning difficulties then go to the website: https://www.scmoorabbin.catholic.edu.au/about-us

Holy Trinity Parish - St. Catherine's Primary School hosts a presentation by Barbara Arrowsmith-Young: Changing Brains, Exploring a New Reality – Neuroplasticity and Learning

Venue: Holy Trinity Parish - St Catherine's Primary School
14 - 28 Fletcher Street, Moorabbin

Date: Monday 17th February 2020

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm followed by book signing

In this presentation Barbara Arrowsmith Young will talk about how harnessing the principles of neuroplasticity leads to changes in the brain and how each individual can create a new reality for their future. She will discuss the latest research on the Arrowsmith Program which shows changes in the brain as well as academic, emotional, social and cognitive changes.

She will describe how a learning difficulty impacts the learner in school as well as in life and that the research shows that this reality is not lifelong and can be changed. The audience will gain insight into and begin to look at behaviour through a cognitive lens. They will build an understanding that through harnessing the principles of neuroplasticity we can change the brain and overcome learning challenges.

Click here to find out more information and register for the night.

The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light.

What to do with Wally? Wally was an awkward and shy child who belonged to the church kids club. It was time to hand out roles for the Christmas play, but what role should the teacher give Wally?

She decided on the inn-keeper. It was an important role, but required Wally only to shake his head and say one line "Sorry, we've no room." Wally grinned from ear to ear when he learned of his important role and he couldn't wait for the big night.

It arrived soon enough, and the play was proceeding according to plan. Mary and Joseph had travelled to Bethlehem and come to the door of the inn.

Joseph knocked on the door and it opened to Wally. "Please sir, do you have a room we could take?" asked Joseph. Wally shook his head and replied. "I'm sorry, we've no room".

Now the boy playing Joseph was a particularly confident child, and while the script called for him and Mary to turn away at this point, Joseph decided to exercise some dramatic license. "But sir" he said to the innkeeper, "My wife is about to have her baby and we need somewhere to stay. Couldn't you find us a room?" Wally's face went white - this was not planned for! - And he paused for a moment before repeating his line. "I'm sorry, we've no room."

"But sir" replied Joseph, "We've travelled such a long way and we've nowhere else to go and my wife is very tired. Surely you can find us somewhere." Wally bowed his head, shook it sadly and said, "I'm sorry, we've no room."

Forlornly Joseph and Mary started walking away. Wally, now fully into his role, felt shamed and saddened. A tear trickled down his cheek. Then his voice was heard calling out. "Wait! Please come back. You can have my room."

It may not have been according to script, but at that moment Wally gave perfect expression to the Christmas story.

What Wally does for us in this story is to bring darkness into light. 

Wally is able to adapt himself to the mystery and the unknown and the chaos of drama and through this be moved by the Holy Spirit.

Wally does what we all pray for in following Jesus……stop……..I will move out so you can have my room.

Luke’s Gospel is often referred to as, “The Hospitality of God”.  Wally is doing everything that Luke would want.  He is being hospitable.

The Christmas story tells of the birth of a new king, a new kind of king.  The birth reveals a new world order, a world not under Caesar but under the direction of God’s design for redemption of all peoples. 

In this world, God’s Word is heard by the humble.  God has not forgotten us or abandoned us to the brokenness we have created.  The story of Christmas is both an announcement of hope and a call to humility.

The story of Christmas is about having the humility and the emotional wisdom of Wally to be able to say, "Wait! Please come back. You can have my room."

Happy Christmas and New Year.

Edward Dooley (Mission and Faith Leader)

STATE TEAM TRIALS 2020

School Sport Victoria conduct State team trials for the sports listed (below) along with other sports that can be found on their website; AFL, Netball & Soccer nominations open on December 1st and close March 1st. There will not be District trials, instead elite & outstanding performers in each specific sport can only apply via the School Sport Victoria website. The expectation is that students nominating would have won at least a Best & Fairest or MVP in their chosen sport at the highest level of competition offered at their club, preferably finished high in League voting, along with being very fit, most likely in Cross Country and Athletics teams as well as being outstanding players in our Inter-school Sport Program. Any parent considering nominating should consult Mr Danny Maher prior to paying the nomination fee to assess the student's suitability. The closing date for initial school (not SSV) nominations to ensure your child's participation is Tuesday 10th December.

Should your child ultimately be successful, there may be multiple days of trials & camps requiring parents to  transport / attend with their child in order to be involved. There are also significant monies required if selected.  Parents must be committed to the entire process and understand this is not a come and try activity. Sending students without the necessary skills / talent could not only undermine their confidence but will also increase numbers at the trial making the selectors job a lot more difficult. If there are more than 3 students nominated in a chosen sport a school based trial may be required. Generally these trials are for Year 6 students or exceptional Year 5's. (Top 3 in League B&F standard)

After consideration and consultation, if you think your child is ready for State Team selection trials .. .. Parents can then Google School Sport Victoria or go to http://www.ssv.vic.edu.au/team-vic

for more information and should monitor this website for closing dates and relevant information.

There is also a link to SSV home page on our Bentleigh District web page.

12 Years and Under Sports Sports include but not limited to :

Australian Football (Boys / Mixed & Girls) , Baseball , Basketball, Football (Soccer), Hockey, Netball, Touch Football and Cricket which has a different process (see SSV site for details). 

Check the website for all other sports noting some years State Swimming and Athletic teams are chosen via external competitions rather than through school based District / Division/ Region/State Competitions, Cross Country is done via Bentleigh District Carnivals and beyond. When nominating your child for more than one sport you should also note that trials for AFL, Soccer, Netball & Basketball may be on the same day, therefore eliminating the possibility of going through for more than one main stream sport.

Regards

Danny Maher

Phys Ed & Sport Coordinator

End of year Grade 5 Mums' get together
Where: Wines on Poath (76 Poath Road, Hughesdale)
When: Thursday 12th December
Time: 7pm

RSVP to Renee Smith