26th September 2025

Acting Assistant Principal - Ms Sharna Taranto

PB4L (Positive Behaviours for Learning)

This fortnight, our PB4Lfocus is Be Honest — a value that underpins strong relationships, the SEL competency of self-awareness, and personal growth.

This week each morning at assembly and in class, we have been highlighting with the students why honesty matters. Honesty isn’t just about telling the truth- it’s about being true to ourselves. When children learn to reflect honestly on their actions, they begin to understand their choices, take responsibility, and grow from their experiences. This kind of self-reflection is a powerful tool for emotional development and resilience.

Being honest also builds trust.

Home Link Activity: “Truth Tree” Create a simple “Truth Tree” together at home.

• Draw or cut out a tree shape and place it somewhere visible.
• Each day, invite your child to add a leaf (paper cut-out) with a moment they were honest — even if it was hard.
• Celebrate these moments together and talk about how honesty made them feel.

Thank you for supporting us in reenforcing this important value at home. Together, we help our children grow into thoughtful, trustworthy individuals.

Antibullying

At times it can be difficult for our students to differentiate between a situation where someone is unkind or if in fact, there is bullying behaviour involved. The image below from the Kids Helpline website explains the difference using simple language and images.

You may also find the link below- focusing on the strategy of humour, useful in supporting discussions with your child/ren.

https://youtu.be/hZqx0TewVP4

Staffing

We welcome back to St Paul’s Miss Teagan Ross for Term 4. Teagan has been appointed as 4M teacher, 4 days per week, working alongside Mrs Erin Tobin who will teach 1 day per week. The students are already familiar with Miss Ross who has previously worked with us as Learning Support Teacher as well as working casually at the school.

Mr Jacob Adams will continue in his full time position for the remainder of the year, covering the roles of; ICT RFF, PE and 5M class teacher.

I invite you to join me in welcoming Mrs Brooke Nelson to St Paul’s. Brooke will be joining the team in the Beyond The Gates (BTG) caseworker role. The BTG program works alongside the schools’ wellbeing, learning support, and counselling teams to support families in need through case management or case coordination.

Uniforms

A reminder that Term 4 sees all students wearing full summer uniform for the remainder of the year. If you are looking for secondhand options, please stop by our uniform shop and see Christa.

I ask for the support of families in reminding older students of the correct uniform options. Lately, we are seeing some mixing and matching of uniforms. It is important that we uphold the same uniform standards for all students. Students who repeatedly wear incorrect uniform (including jewelry and nail polish) will receive a consequence of time out. I thank you for your continued support in this.

Kindergarten Transitions

This week concludes the third session of our Kindergarten 2026 transition sessions. These sessions are an invaluable step in our enrolment process. Kindergarten transition sessions help our incoming students to feel confident and excited about starting primary school.

It was wonderful to connect with all of our new families and provide the opportunity for them to connect with the school community. A huge thank you to Mrs Cooper and Mrs Campbell for their organisation of these sessions along with our school supports- Mrs Wilson (ATSI), Mrs Warby (EALD) & Mrs Collingwood (LST)!

End of Term

It has been a very busy term, enriched with learning across a spectrum of areas; faith, academics, social and emotional development and sport.

I would like to thank our dedicated teachers who have worked tirelessly to support all students in their care. It brings me great joy to witness the daily interactions between staff and students. Moments filled with genuine connection and encounter, where the face of God is reflected in every child.

As we enter into the holiday period, I wish all staff, students and families a safe, restful and rejuvenating break. We look forward to seeing everyone back in Term 4!

Calendar Dates - Term 4 Week 1 & Week 2

Student Awards - Week 8 & 9

Religious Coordinator - Mr Robert Temesvary

Formation – Year 4

Last week, our Year 4 students participated in a truly meaningful Formation Day centred around our school value of 'serve'. The day was filled with rich discussions and engaging activities that encouraged students to reflect on their personal gifts and explore how they can use these to serve others in their families, classrooms, and wider community.

It was inspiring to witness the students’ thoughtful contributions and growing awareness of the unique ways they can make a difference. From creative group work to quiet moments of reflection, the spirit of service was alive throughout the day.

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Formation team for their ongoing support and leadership. A special thanks to Sister Joseph and Mrs Wilson whose presence and guidance helped shape the day into something truly special. We also extend our gratitude to Mrs Purdon, who helped to organise a delicious sausage sizzle and Mrs Marr for her amazing support of the students.

An introduction to Catholicism

The Catholic Council of Schools Parents NSW/ACT has developed a guide, ‘Our Catholic Faith.’ This guide is intended for parents and carers and is an introduction to Catholicism, with easy-to-understand explanations of Catholic beliefs and traditions. We will be using this in our enrolment packs, but as this is a ‘new’ resource, I am sharing this with our existing school community for you to access if you wish!

Sacraments of Initiation

A reminder that next year’s program will start mid-Term 4. If your child is ready to begin their Sacramental journey, or if you’d simply like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I’m proud to be part of the Sacramental team for the Chisholm region on a parishioner level and am happy to support you and your children in this journey. Now is a great time to express your interest so please reach out for any information.

End of Term 3

As we come to the close of another busy and rewarding term, I want to take a moment to thank all our families for your continued support and partnership in your children’s learning journey. It has been a term filled with growth, achievement, and community spirit.

As we head into the holiday break, I wish each of you a restful and blessed time with loved ones. May the holidays bring peace, joy, and renewal to your homes. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the new term ahead.

Take care and enjoy the break!

GOSPEL REFLECTION

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Luke 16:19-31

Parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Library - Katrina Howard

End of term brings a big call out for overdue books to be returned please. If these cannot be found payments are due via Qkr! App. Don’t forget to read over the holidays! It is a great opportunity to dive into a family chapter book or listen to an audiobook. The St Paul’s Street library, located near the church, is regularly being topped up with fresh used books.

Library Borrowing Cup 

Congratulations to 4W and 6W on winning the Library Cup this fortnight. It is great to still see some classes with regular borrowers and so many students remembering to return their books.

Premiers Reading Challenge (PRC) 

Congratulations to the following students who have completed the challenge this fortnight-

Alexander KW, Isaiah KW, Jasper KW, Madison 2W, Josef 3M, Ella 4W, Arie 6M and Sara 6M.

The end of term concludes the PRC for 2025! The 16 students from 3M who completed the challenge will be awarded a class party in term 4. Date TBC! Well done and thank you to the 56 students who have participated this year.

Book Club

All Book Club orders for issue 6 have now been sent home. Thank you to those families who continue to buy books through Book Club. The reward points we receive mean we can purchase new resources for our school. Thank you!

Holiday Activities

Lots of fun free events happening at Maitland City Libraries these school holidays. Including workshops with illustrators Jenni Goodman and Sami Bayly, Hindi Storytime and a reptile show! Click on the link to find out more and secure your tickets. Upcoming events | Maitland Library

School holiday events also happening at Maitland Art Gallery including recycled monster art and still life drawing art classes. Some events are free others require paid tickets. Calendar • MRAG

Primary Coordinator & Gifted Educator Mentor - Mrs Amanda King

Everyday Learning These Holidays

The school holidays are the perfect time for children to relax and recharge, but they also provide plenty of opportunities to keep learning happening in natural, everyday ways. Parents and carers don’t need to run formal lessons, often it’s the small moments that make the biggest difference.

Here are some simple ideas to try at home:

Read Every Day: Encourage your child to enjoy a book, comic, recipe, or even movie subtitles. Reading together or talking about what they’ve read helps build understanding and vocabulary.

Make Maths Practical: Cooking, shopping, board games, or planning a trip are all fun ways to use maths in real life.

Talk and Share: Ask open-ended questions about their interests, current events, or favourite school activities. Conversations help children express themselves and build confidence.

Get Creative: Drawing, writing, building, or crafting supports imagination and problem-solving.Most importantly, enjoy the time together. When children feel supported and curious, learning happens naturally. We look forward to hearing about their holiday adventures when they return next term! 

Becoming a Volunteer at St Paul's

Volunteers play a vital role in supporting the learning and wellbeing of our students. Whether it’s helping in the classroom, assisting with events, or sharing special skills, your time and talents make a real difference. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to connect with our school community and be part of your child’s educational journey. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please follow the link below

https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/volunteers/ 

Sport Coordinators - Melinda Walls & Jess Stefanish-Smith

Jump Rope For Heart 

We had an incredible time on Wednesday afternoon at Jump Rope for Heart!  The students did an incredible job showing off their skipping skills, and it was wonderful to see just how much progress they’ve made throughout the term. Their excitement, confidence, teamwork, and persistence really shone through — well done to everyone who took part!  

Infants Athletics Carnival 

Our Infants’ Athletics Carnival was such a joyful session! Kindergarten and Year 1 students took part in a variety of track and field activities including relays, sprints, hurdles, discus, shot put and javelin, giving their best effort while having so much fun. It was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves, cheering each other on, and building their skills in a supportive and positive environment. 

Many thanks to Year 6 and their teachers who joined their kindergarten buddies. It was so special seeing our Year 6 students encourage and support their buddy and share this experience. Moments like these really highlight the strong sense of community in our school. 

 Basketball Tournament 

Thank you to the families that have registered their child’s interest in representing St Paul’s in basketball. We will organise teams and the Compass event, ready for Week 1, Term 4.  

Please note that Years 5 & 6 will be at camp on the second day of the tournament.  

https://forms.office.com/r/z0MGWwnrUL  to register.  

Hockey Gala Day 

Thank you to the families that have registered their child’s interest! This is a “come and try” day where students will learn the rules and skills of hockey!  

Year 6 families, please note this is the same day as the St Joseph’s orientation day and Rugby 7’s tournament.  

Date 14th November 2025 

https://forms.office.com/r/wwQzzjsQCt to register.  

 Stage 1 League Tag 

Stage 1(Year 1 and 2) have been invited to an NRL League Tag day. This will be held on the 19th November 2025 at Sommerset Park in Thornton.  Please check Compass for the form to register your child’s interest. https://forms.office.com/r/747xk0nVtN 

The game will have 6 players on field at a time and up to 6 players on the bench.  

Swimming Carnival 

We have been made aware of Maitland Council’s announcement on social media about the outdoor pool at Maitland Aquatic centre. Alternate arrangements have been made. The date of the carnival remains the same.  

SwapIt 

Do you have a fussy eater at home?  

Try this SWAP IT tip. For more fussy eating ideas visit: 

www.swapit.net.au/fussyeating 

2025 School Fees Reminder

We extend our sincere thanks to all families for your continued support of Catholic Education through timely school fee payments. Your dedication is genuinely appreciated.School fees should be well and truly on their way to being fully paid for the 2025 school year.  With only 9 payment weeks remaining, we kindly remind families that all school fees are due in full by 30th November 2025. 

If something has changed in your family situation or you are unable to have fees cleared by the due date please reach out for assistance. We may be able to extend the due date for you. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact our friendly school office team.

Health Care Cards

If you haven’t submitted your Health Care Card yet, please use the following link to do so:https://cefmsmn.t1cloud.com/T1Default/CiAnywhere/Web/CEFMSMN/Forms/FillOut?formDef=542f8b0a36f27c118b055b26d933c4fe&suite=CES

Spring Holidays at the Wetlands

SPRING FESTIVAL on Sunday 28 September. With markets, food, music, tours and fun stuff for kids. Entry is FREE!

Ponds Scavenger Hunt - look in, on and around our ponds as you complete our scavenger hunt.  Drop your completed sheet at reception and you could be a winner $FREE with Entry.

After Dark Tours - as the sun goes down many nocturnal critters come out. Our expert guide will take us on a torchlight tour of our grounds. Tues 30 Sept & Thurs 2 Oct at 6pm. $7.50 Kids $15 Adults. Buy your tickets online. https://www.wetlands.org.au/upcoming-events

Reptile Encounter - get 'hands on' with nature and learn about our fascinating reptiles, even pat them - if you dare.  Sat, Sun and Wednesdays (during school holidays) at 11am. $5pp + entry.

Wetlands Wednesdays are for Water Science as we explore how wetlands work and the cool ways water works. Experiment with water filtration, what to flush down the toilet, make a boat that floats and discover what underwater in our pond. $Free with Entry

Canoes - Spring weather means its time for families to get out and see the wetlands from the water! Canoe hire is just $30 for 2 hrs, lifejackets included. Enquire at Reception. (Kids 5yrs+ please!)

Bird Feeding-  every day at 10.30am Free with entry.

More Information https://www.wetlands.org.au/upcoming-events