St Paul's Bulletin Term 2 Week 1 2025

Principal's Message

Heavenly Father, we pray in union with the whole Church for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Cardinals. May the Princes of the Church listen attentively to Your Spirit during the conclave. 

Almighty God, we pray that the conclave brings us a Pope who pleases You by guiding Your Church to grow in faithfulness to You. We pray together with the intercession of our Mother Mary and all the Saints. Please Lord, protect and guide your Church during this time of transition. 

Amen. 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Last week we received the news that Pope Francis had died. The passing of Pope Francis marks a profound moment for the global Catholic community. As a humble and compassionate leader, he inspired millions with his emphasis on mercy, care for the poor, and dialogue between faiths. For our school, his teachings remind us to live out our faith through kindness, inclusion, and service. We give thanks for his life and leadership, and we keep the Church in our prayers as it enters a time of reflection and transition. 

Next week we commence enrolment interviews for families enrolling at St Paul’s for 2026. On June 2 we will be holding an OPEN DAY, so all parents, including prospective families, can see the school in action. Everyone is welcome! Parents should note that the enrolment period for 2026 closes on May 23. If you know of any families interested in enrolling next year, please let them know about this Open Day!    

Mother's Day is nearly upon us! Next Thursday, May 8, the Mother's Day Stall will operate. On Friday, May 9, Mother's Day breakfast will be available from 7.30am for those who have pre-ordered. Many thanks to Mrs Moulder for coordinating the stall and breakfast. At 8.45am we will move to The Josephite Centre for a special Mother’s Day Liturgy. Please join us. 

We officially change to winter uniform at the beginning of this term. But while the weather stays warm, children may stay in their summer uniform for a short while. Please choose one uniform or the other; do not mix and match summer and winter uniforms. Children K-6 should continue to wear their sports uniform on Thursday and Friday in Term 2. The children look so smart in their correct uniforms, especially in their ties, showing pride in themselves, their families and their school. Thank you for your support in this regard. I will let you know when ALL children must be in winter uniform. 

Many thanks to Mrs Edwards. Mrs Lonsdale and their team of helpers who organised the Athletics Carnival on Tuesday. The weather was fantastic, making the whole day a great success! The day could not have gone forward without parent helpers, so a big thank you to all who could help on the day. Congratulations to the winning house, who will be announced at assembly on Friday, May 16. 

Following the dissolution of our P&F, we are pleased to announce that our first FACE Forum will be held on May 28 at 6pm in the school library. As requested at our last P&F meeting, the input at this meeting will be on cyber-bullying and keeping your child safe on the internet. The facilitator will be Snr Constable Elke Watts, Youth Officer for Lake Macquarie Area Command. Everyone is welcome! Please come with any questions for Elke. Elke spoke to our Years 5 & 6 children earlier on in the year. The FACE Forum will also include a Principal's report. We will also discuss upcoming events and taking ideas for future FACE forums. 

In staffing news, Mrs Lauren Ross has commenced maternity leave as she awaits the birth of her first child. Mrs Louise Lonsdale has been appointed Primary Coordinator and Pedagogical Mentor for the rest of the year. She will continue to job-share in 3B with Mrs Kate Smolen. Mrs Deb Edwards has taken over 1G full time for the rest of the year while Mrs Jodie Maxwell has moved to Year 1/2 to job-stare with Mrs Karly Castellas. Mrs Tess Jacobson has returned from maternity leave on 4B, job-sharing with Mrs Elise Kellaway. 

With every blessing, 

Greg Cumming 

Principal 

Important Dates

2025 School Dates 

Assistant Principal's Message

Mother's Day Stall Volunteers

We are still seeking Parent Volunteers for our Mother's Day Stall next week. If you can help to support the running of the Stall on either Tuesday, 6th May 2 pm-3 pm or Thursday, 8th May, 8:30-11 am, please call the front office to put your name down. 

Mother's Day Breakfast Volunteers

We are seeking some volunteers who can help man the BBQ and serve our Bacon and Egg rolls next Friday, 9th May. If you are able to give a hand between 7 am-8:30 am, please call the front office to put your name down. 

Positive Behaviours 4 Learning (PB4L) -Supporting Positive Behaviour at School

At St Paul's, we follow the Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L) framework, which helps create a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all. One of our key school rules is:

"We are Respectful - Have Safe and Caring Hands."

This means that students are expected to keep their hands and bodies to themselves, showing care for others both in the classroom and on the playground. Respectful hands help create a school where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.

To support students in following this expectation, we teach and model strategies for managing emotions and making positive choices. Here are a few key strategies we encourage:

• Stop and Breathe: When feeling frustrated or upset, students are taught to pause, take deep breaths, and give themselves a moment to think before reacting.

• Use Words, Not Actions: We encourage children to express their feelings using words rather than physical behaviour. For example, saying “I feel upset because…” instead of lashing out.

• Seek Help: Students are reminded that it’s okay to ask for help from a teacher or trusted adult if they feel overwhelmed or unsure how to handle a situation.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Through role-playing and social stories, students learn how to solve disagreements respectfully and find peaceful solutions.

Families play a vital role in supporting these behaviours. We encourage parents and carers to talk about what “Safe and caring hands” look like at home and praise their child when they demonstrate respectful choices.

Together, by consistently reinforcing these positive behaviours, we help our children grow into compassionate and responsible individuals.

Jessica Moulder

Assistant Principal 

Catholic Culture at St Paul's

Mother's Day Celebrations

Mother’s Day Celebration – Friday 9th May
At St Paul’s, we are looking forward to celebrating and honouring the incredible women in our lives this Mother’s Day. Join us on Friday 9th May for a special morning of gratitude, love, and community. We will begin with a BBQ breakfast, followed by a liturgy in the Josephite Centre to give thanks for the gift of mothers, grandmothers, and all mother figures who nurture us with care and kindness.

All families are warmly invited to attend this special event as we come together in faith and celebration.

A Prayer for Mothers
Loving God,
we thank You for the gift of mothers,
whose love is a reflection of Your own.
Bless all mothers with strength, peace, and joy.
Comfort those who grieve, support those who struggle,
and surround all motherly hearts with Your grace.
May they continue to guide with wisdom,
protect with courage,
and love with the gentleness of Your Spirit.
Amen.

Vinnies Winter Appeal – Milo Mornings at St Paul's!

Warm up your heart and your hands this winter with our Milo Mornings, running every Friday during Term 2 and 3 at St Paul’s. For just $2 per cup, you can enjoy a delicious hot milo served in your own travel mug, while supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
All funds raised will go directly to helping those in need stay warm and cared for this winter. Let’s come together as a community to make a difference—one cup at a time!

Sacrament of Confirmation

We congratulate our Year 4 and 5 students who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, 9th May at 6:00pm at St Mary Immaculate Church, Charlestown. This is a significant step in their faith journey as they are sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and strengthened in their commitment to live as disciples of Christ.

We invite the whole St Paul’s community to keep these students in your prayers as they prepare for this special occasion. May it be a time of deep spiritual growth and joy for them and their families.

A Prayer of Blessing
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of our Year 4 and 5 students
as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Bless them with wisdom, understanding, courage, and joy.
May they always feel Your presence
guiding their thoughts, words, and actions.
Help them to grow in faith,
to live with love,
and to be shining lights of Christ in our world.
Amen.

May we, as a school community, continue to support them with our love, encouragement, and prayers.

Mary Davison

Religious Education Coordinator 

Koori News

On Wednesday 9th April, Ayla (President) and Zac (Secretary) attended their first Powaikaliko Malang (Grow Together) Catholic Community of Schools Junior AECG meeting. The meeting, chaired by St. Mary’s Catholic College was a great success. Special guests included Aunty Louise, Aunty Marjory, Aunty Laurel and Aunty Rosie, who were deeply moved and inspired by the way our community of schools came together to support Aboriginal education. Each school presented a short report on their initiatives related to Aboriginal education. Some examples included plans for National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, as well as cultural excursions, story pole sharing and the formation of didgeridoo and dance groups. It was agreed that we will commemorate National Sorry Day on May 26th by scattering purple flowers across the gardens in our schools, symbolising the Stolen Generations. The next Powaikaliko Malang (Grow Together) Junior AECG meeting will be held on Thursday 22nd May.

Kind regards,

Dannielle Peachey 

Aboriginal Education Teacher

Sports News

School Athletics Carnival

What a wonderful day we all had at our school athletics carnival- thankfully, all our prayers were answered with beautiful weather! Congratulations to all students who participated on the day. We are very proud of everyone's participation and the sportsmanship everyone showed. 

Students will be notified next week if they have been chosen to represent our school at the Lakes Region Athletics Carnival and our ribbon and medal presentation will take place on Friday 16th May (Week 3).

Polding Sports Trials

We wish Maeva Clifford and Archie Cummings all the best at the soccer and rugby league Polding trials in Bathurst this week. A great achievement!

Upcoming Sport Dates

- Diocesan Cross-Country Wednesday 14th May (Week 3)

- Athletics Carnival and Cross-Country ribbon presentation Friday 16th May (Week 3)

- Stage 3 AFL- Paul Kelly Cup Tuesday 20th May (Week 4)

- Under 10s Rugby League- postponed day has been rescheduled for Friday 23rd May (Week 4)

- Diocesan Rugby Union Trials (for already selected students) 28th May (Week 5)

- Regional Athletics Carnival 24th June (Week 9)

Parent News

Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Forum - May 28 6pm Library

Following the dissolvement of our P&F, we are pleased to announce that our first FACE Forum will be held on May 28 at 6pm in the school library. As requested at our last P&F meeting, the input at this meeting will be on cyber-bullying and keeping your child safe on the internet. The facilitator will be Snr Constable Elke Watts, Youth Officer for Lake Macquarie Area Command. Everyone is welcome! Please come with any questions for Elke. Elke spoke to our Years 5 & 6 children earlier on in the year. The FACE Forum will also include a Principal's report. We will also discuss upcoming events and taking ideas for future FACE forums.

Volunteering at St Paul's

Please see the below link if you would like to register to volunteer at St Paul’s. Our school is always in need of volunteers for many school activities. We will let you know once we receive your clearance from your registration; this must be received before you volunteer. 

Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. As well as partnering directly with our school to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, there are a range of webinars and information sessions provided each month by reputable providers specifically for parents and carers- free of charge. To view a list of upcoming webinars and information sessions that may be of interest to you, click the link below at any time. The list will be updated weekly throughout the school term, so be sure to check the page regularly.

www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/

Another useful resource for parents and carers to access timely information on a range of topics including cyber safety, mental health, positive parenting, school survival, diversity and inclusion and healthy bodies is via School TV. Our school invested in this online platform so that our parents and carers can conveniently access reliable information from credible sources all in one place - when you need it most - not just at a specified webinar time.  It includes videos, fact sheets and podcasts all delivered by leading psychologists and experts.

To access our school’s SchoolTV site visit https://gatesheadsp.catholic.schooltv.me/ 

Gifted and High Potential Education News

CogAT 2025

In Term 2, students in Years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school:

1. Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
2. Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
3. Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student.

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Wesley Yarnold (wes.yarnold@mn.catholic.edu.au), or Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au), for further assistance.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students.

2025 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

Key dates
• Entries opened on Saturday 1 March 2025.
• Submissions close Monday 30 June 2025.
• Winners announced at 10 am on Friday 5 September 2025.

For more information on the competition and how to enter CLICK HERE.

The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”.

WriteOn Competition

The annual WriteOn Competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors.

The competition is for students in Years 1 to 6 who are accessing NSW syllabuses, including students registered for home schooling. Students create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.

Each year, winners are celebrated at an award ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology.

WriteOn 2025 opens Monday 24 March 2025. This year the competition is held in association with the State Library of NSW. For WriteOn 2025, students use a stimulus quote to explore their voices as authors when creating an imaginative text.

The new stimulus for WriteOn 2025 is the quote:

“Could they be changing?”

Entries close on Friday 20 June 2025.

For further information about the WriteOn Competiiton please see the following

website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/awards-and-events/writeon-competition

Any interested students are encouraged to have a conversation with Mr Yarnold (Gifted Education Mentor).

Wes Yarnold

Gifted Education Mentor

Creative Arts News

Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn Guitar at school with Ricky’s Music Tuition

Open to Years K to 6, students will learn everything from Billy Eilish to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to AC/DC. Students will learn in small groups at school, and have the opportunity to perform as part of an ensemble, enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email enrol@rickysmusictuition.com.au

Office Messages

IMPORTANT - School Fees

We would like to kindly remind all families that fee payments should have started now, as per the school’s payment schedule. For families who have already started making payments, we sincerely thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Your continued support is deeply appreciated.

For those who have not yet started payments, we kindly ask that you start making regular payments moving forward. The Catholic Schools Office requires a steady payment schedule, and timely payments are essential for maintaining the smooth running of the school.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the payment process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you once again for your support.

Complaints, Resolution and Feedback

St Paul’s Primary School, The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) and Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are committed to providing a positive, safe environment for all staff and students. There are occasions, however, when members of our schools and wider community are concerned about something happening at a school that appears to be unsatisfactory or unreasonable.

If you have a complaint, please follow this procedure. 

Volunteering
Throughout the year, we invite parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction. 

Parish News

Children’s Liturgy is held every Sunday at 9:30am during Holy Mass. WE ARE NOW BACK IN ST PAUL'S CHURCH! We have a beautiful, dedicated room at St Paul’s Gateshead where we hear and discuss the Gospel each week, working our way through the Liturgical Calendar.

There’s always lots of friendship and fun activities.

Safeguarding is our highest priority. Children’s Liturgy will only go ahead if there are two volunteers with current Working With Children Checks.

All are welcome! We look forward to meeting some new friends!

Jacqui Wilson (school mum at St Paul’s Primary) and the Children’s Liturgy Team.