Dear Friends of St Paul’s
Building Community
Over the first three weeks of the College Year, we have held several significant events all of which continue to strengthen our communications with and support for our families. This is, of course, withing the limits of the COVID restrictions.
Our Year 7, Year 8 and Year 12 Parent Information evenings were extremely well attended and provided the College with the opportunity to outline our Middle Years philosophy and programs (to the 7 and 8 families) while the Yr 12 families were offered support with a presentation from Ms Kirrilie Smout from Developing Minds, a company that will work with us and the Year 12 cohort throughout the year.
Perhaps the highlight of the week (for me anyway!!) was the Welcome to St Paul’s / Rite of Passage Ceremony, for our Reception students and their families. This is a very beautiful and special ceremony that has been developed over the last few years to signify the beginning of a 13-year journey and partnership between the boys, the families, and the school. As with all ceremonies and liturgies it was filled with symbolism and our presentation to the boys of a blueberry plant represents the nurturing and growth that we will all experience together.
It was lovely to speak to some families who have an older boy who experienced this ceremony two years ago and to hear that their lemon tree is flourishing – just like the boys!! Our thanks must go to Ms Angela Collins (our APRIM) and Mrs Emily Sayer (Head of Primary) for the preparation and conducting of this inspirational event. We are grateful that Fr Matthew could also attend and offer a very special blessing to the boys and families.
LENT
This week we begin the very significant Christian season of Lent. Lent is a time of both repentance and humility. It is a time when we acknowledge that we are very much human, prone to making mistakes and we must accept the responsibility for this and be determined to atone for any wrong doings of the past. We can do this in two ways. Firstly, by the traditional “giving-up” of something we like or just as powerful by “taking-up” new positive, live-giving habits that will benefit other people. This Lenten season also prepares us for Easter and the most powerful event in the history of the Christian world where Christ gave his life for us and then proved everything we do in this life, has a purpose, by rising from the dead.
Lent began for us here at St Paul’s by the celebration of our Opening School Mass and Ash Wednesday Liturgy which we combined. Again, Fr Matthew presided and the liturgy, prepared by Ms Collins, was again very moving and powerful. I would particularly like to sincerely thank the students whose reverence, behaviour and participation was nothing short of sensational. Wednesday was a very hot day, the distribution of the ashes had to change in format due to COVID restrictions, which proved challenging, but the students were awesome in their commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of complete respect for the occasion.
College Tours / St Paul’s Girls Introductory Night
On Wednesday 10 February we held our first College Tour for the year, and as with the remaining three we are to hold (dates on the website) it was booked out, with over 160 people in attendance. The response to our move to becoming a co-ed school next year continues to grow and put pressure on for places.
Tonight (Thursday) we will hold an exciting and first-time event, where we welcome all enrolled and prospective girls and their families. We will be providing feedback on uniform, building developments, and answering any questions and enquiries that families may have as we transition into this exciting new era for the College. Again, this has been booked out to capacity and signifies the start of a year-long program of communication and events for these and all incoming families to St Paul’s in 2022 and beyond.
God Bless
Paul Belton
Principal
