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Dear Parents,
After a wonderful 7 years at St Paul’s, I will be retiring at the conclusion of Term 4, 2022. I am still getting used to saying it out loud, having been in Catholic education for 40 years and I wonder what new adventures are ahead. The highlight of my time here has been in the relationships I have developed with the students, parents and staff and I will miss you all dearly. New Principals are appointed as leaders of change, innovation and honouring the sacred mission of Catholic Education. I look forward to reflecting on my journey with you all later in the year.
The position of Principal will be advertised early next term and a process of discernment will begin with applicants soon after. A representative from Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS) will speak to staff in week one of next term and attend an Advisory Council meeting the week after. More information from MACS will be forthcoming to the community.
Reminders for the final week of Term 2
- End of Term Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10am. Parents are most welcome to attend.
- The Colour Blast is scheduled for Thursday to celebrate St Paul’s feast day. Parents are welcome to attend or help out at the colour stations. A Working With Children Check is required if you are assisting on the day. Children are asked to wear a white or lightly coloured t shirt and casual clothes.
- Reports will be emailed to families on Thursday.
- Friday is the final day for Term 2 with a 2.30 finish.
Farewell
Mrs Kat Gardiner, Wellbeing Leader and Year 4 teacher, is expecting her third child in only a few short weeks. Kat will be replaced by Cathy Lawrence who will increase her days to 4 and Freda Tahtouh, who will teach the students one day a week. Together they will make a fabulous team. Kat will be on maternity leave for the remainder of the year. We wish Elle, Georgia, Mark and Kat our very best wishes for a safe and happy time ahead.
Disco
It has been several years since we have had a disco due to COVID restrictions, but last Thursday night saw over 95% of the student body attend a fabulous evening of dancing and fun. The organisation and preparation for the event was extraordinary! Many thanks go to Rebecca D’Angelo, Florence Nadya, Sumeet Kaur, Laura Broadhurst, Lizzy O’Shannessy, Donna Campbell, and the fabulous team of parents who attended, ensuring the students were safe, well fed and had a wonderful night.
Second-Hand Uniform Shop
The second-hand uniform shop is open fortnightly on Mondays from 8:45 till 9:15am. It is located just past the office reception area. It will next be open on 11 July (first day of Term 3). School jumpers are $10, Dresses $8, all other items $5. If you are unable to make it on Monday mornings, you can send an email request to Louise in the office with the item/s and size required and she will let you know when they are ready for pickup. Donations are also very welcome, you can drop them at the office.
What a term it has been with the challenges of COVID meets flu season! Thank you again for your ongoing support of the students, staff and families at St Paul’s. Wishing you all a safe and relaxing holiday. Term 3 begins on Monday 11 July. Take care.
Catherine
Dear Parents,
It is very important that we meet the needs of all children to support their learning and social and emotional Well Being. Fair isn’t about equal, it is about giving children what they need to be the best learners they can be. At St Paul’s we monitor the students ’growth over time’ All teachers make adjustments to support the children’s learning. The NCCD program enables us to identify the needs of children, make adjustments and monitor progress.
The National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) is an annual collection of information about Australian school students with a disability. The NCCD enables schools, education authorities and governments to better understand the needs of students with disabilities and how they can be best supported at school. Each year our school provides de-identified data regarding the students in our school who have a disability and the level of adjustment each student requires in order to access their education on the same basis as other students.
Below is a copy of the fact sheet that will provide an understanding of how the NCCD works, who it provides for and how the data is used.
NCCD Information Sheet for Parents, Carers and Guardians
If you have any questions regarding the NCCD or the needs of your child at school, please don't hesitate to get in touch me mmitchell@spbentleigh.cotholic.edu.au
Kind Regards
Marg Mitchell
Learning Diversity Leader
Students in Prep to Year 6 have been participating in URSTRONG ‘Friendology’ sessions as part of the Wellbeing curriculum. At St Paul’s we always ensure any program we use is well backed by current research. Friendology encourages students, teachers and parents to use the ‘Language of Friendship’ when learning how to resolve conflicts with friends and maintain healthy relationships. The child centered approach looks at equipping our children with strategies on how to best deal with ‘Friendship Fires’ and ‘Mean-on-Puropse’ situations.
A ‘Friendship Fire’ is an issue or situation between you and a friend that results in negative feelings’. Students from Years 3-6 also learn strategies for dealing with ‘Mean-on-Purpose’ situations. ‘Mean-On-Purpose’ replaces the term ‘Bullying’ which can often be misinterpreted. Students come up with a ‘QUICK NINJA COMEBACK’ to use when or if they find themselves in a ‘Mean-On-Purpose’ situation.
All students have learnt to use a ‘Friend-o-meter’ when thinking about whether certain friendships are healthy or not. They also revise the ‘4 Friendship Facts’ regularly.
I hope this information can help you as parents when you find yourself trying to help your child/children navigate their friendships. The URSTRONG website has a number of excellent resources for parents when you sign up for a free membership. https://urstrong.com/parents/
Katrina Gardiner
Wellbeing Leader
Grade One Sporting Achievements:
Congratulations to the Grade One basketballers who played in their Grandfinals last week. The girls team had a big win of 20 - 1 against their opponents and the boys team had a tough competition against each other. Well done to everyone who played and had fun!
Junior School Star Work
Next Term in the Junior School we will be spotlighting some of the fantastic work that is happening across P-2. Come visit the Junior building to see our Star Student work that will be displayed.
Junior Lost Property
If your child in the Junior School has lost any belongings, please check the lost property tub outside the toilets. It is full of unnamed Sports & Winter jumpers and hair accessories. Please ensure your child’s belongings are clearly labeled so they can be returned if lost.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the families who donated items to our chosen charity for Term 2, ‘300 Blankets’. We know that these items will help many of the members in our community who are living in poverty and homelessness. We will have Loretta from ‘300 Blankets’ coming to speak to the students at our next assembly where we will also hand her all our donations.
Thank you for all your support.
From the Year 6 Social Justice Group
The Victorian Government is upgrading the Jasper Road and Brewer Road intersection with new traffic lights with pedestrian crossings to improve access to nearby schools, aged care facilities and recreational spaces. As part of works VicRoads will be widening Brewer Road to provide right and left turning lanes to improve the flow of traffic. The new traffic lights will also help drivers to safely turn from Brewer Road onto Jasper Road and improve the experience for drivers turning onto Higgins Road.
Please click on the link below for more information on the upgrade.
http://www.nickstaikos.com.au/
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