Dear Friends of St Paul’s,
As our correspondence to families this week suggests, we are continuing to progress through the term, running exams, celebrating through significant events and undertaking more interviews for prospective staff for 2022.
Our Year 12s will celebrate their final event tonight at the Graduation Dinner. The numbers for the event are excellent and we are always pleased to be able to offer a sincere vote of thanks to the families for all their years of sacrifice to send their sons to St Paul’s and for the trust they have placed in us throughout that journey. As I mentioned on several occasions, we are very proud of this year’s Year 12 cohort, most particularly for the way they have conducted themselves in very trying times due to COVID restrictions and our building program.
Transition Day
Last Friday we held our Transition Day for all the Primary to Year 7 students and all the incoming Year 8 students for 2022. This was the first of its kind as we welcomed all the new girls who will be joining the new St Paul’s in 2022. Judging by the smiles at the end of the day and the genuine excitement during the day, all was successful.
Exams
Our Year 12s have finished, and the Year 11s are finalizing their end of year exams this week. Understandably these exams can cause stress and anxiety for some students, and no doubt families, but we sincerely hope they are seen as opportunities for the student to show what they have learnt during the year and provide them with an opportunity to celebrate that success.
There are only a few weeks left of the school year but there is much water to go under the bridge.
Take care everyone.
God Bless
Paul
Photos: Transition Day & Resource Centre
Transition Day 2021
Last Friday, we enjoyed having all our 2022 students visit St Paul’s for our annual Transition Day. Starting school for the first time, changing classes or schools is a significant milestone for children and their families. The transition between learning environments can be both challenging and exciting. Our aim is to make our transitions as comfortable as possible.
The day involved smaller transitions around the college, moving from one setting to another or one activity to another, offering many learning opportunities for our students and staff.
Transition Day offered opportunities for students to:
Develop new friendships and improve self-esteem and confidence
Settle into a new school life
Share who we are as people with others; interests, likes etc.
Show an increasing interest in school offerings, curriculum and cocurricular
Become familiar with new routines and daily organisation
Experience the new facilities and see the updated building works
Our role as educators is to understand each child, what they are saying through their behaviour and what they feel and think. The activities and experiences planned for Transition Day offer us some hints into what support is required for smooth transition into 2022.
Overall, the day was a great success as we welcomed many new students and several new staff to the college. We are all very excited for next year as we officially open 2022 as a coeducational college.
Year 5 Camp
Currently, our Year 5 students are at Mylor Adventure Camp in the Adelaide Hills. Mylor is the perfect place for students to get away and experience adventure on a whole new level. It’s a place for students to connect with themselves, their community, and the natural environment. It allows students to make and strengthen friendships, build personal skills and have fun!
We hope that the students walk away energised and proud of their accomplishments, whilst building skills that will last a lifetime.
Our staff involvement is, of course, vital to every successful camp. The bonds created between students and teachers is strengthened away from the classroom. We look forward to hearing the stories from Ms Stokes, Mrs Jones, and Ms Iuliano when they return on Friday.
Whilst there are many benefits to the experience of school camps, Mylor supports St Paul’s students to develop team-building qualities, leadership skills, the ability to overcome limitations and a growth in confidence.
Keep an eye on our social media pages for camp updates.
Children’s University
As I mentioned in our previous newsletter on the 10th of November, 15 of our Primary students graduated from Children’s University. These students have participated in activities and learning outside of school hours over the last few terms. The University of Adelaide formally recognised them in a graduation ceremony held at Bonython Hall. We celebrated the evening with over 280 other students from around Adelaide.
I strongly encourage more families to participate in the event next year.
Christmas Stall
Our annual Christmas Stall is again up and running this year with the support of our Parents and Friends committee. With a huge thanks to Mrs Kerrie Greig and our Year 6 Primary Leaders, the stall is bigger and better this year. Kerrie has worked extremely hard over the last two terms to ensure all the gifts have arrived on time and without a Covid delay. Thank you, Kerrie, for your outstanding work!
We look forward to seeing our students purchase gifts for friends, family and loved ones.
Mr Jake Stewart
Acting Head of Primary
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport offer annual awards for indigenous students in the form of a laptop. The application process involves details presented from the school, parents and the student who is nominated. Damian F was successful in winning a laptop for 2021 and it was presented at Marlow House Assembly by Vonda Last from the DIT. Also present was Damian’s grandmother. Mr Belton congratulated Damian for his winning application. The award name means “clever one” and the intention is to encourage Indigenous students to remain at school to complete year 12.
Mr Austin’s Year 7 class recently taught Ms Barone’s Reception class all about push and pull forces, and how these forces make objects move. The Year 7s used everyday objects such as basketballs, paper planes, skateboards and boats in water to demonstrate how different forces produce different movements. The Reception students were very curious and eager learners, enjoying the practical experience provided by some of the older students at St Paul’s.
Middle A1 Volleyball - St Paul's College defeated by Concordia College
Thank you to all the players who returned to school to play this match. The rallies were long and the competition close, but Concordia College managed to keep ahead of St Paul’s College by serving deeply and spiking frequently. Thanks to Hayden Connell who joined the team to ensure the team had 6 players. We were fortunate to also have Musti Ibrahimi and James Lawton join the team for the first time.
Edda Gastaldo
UCAT Strategy Weekend 2022
Our organisation focuses on helping students prepare for entry into Medicine and Dentistry.
Normally Strategy Weekend is $249 however for all interested students at St Paul's College be able to attend for FREE on January 21st-23rd. Simple sign up using the link and custom coupon code below:
Link: https://frasersgamsat.samcart.com/products/ucat-strategy-weekend
Custom Code: StPaul_SW100%
A free community event for everyone!
Bring your picnic rug, chairs, drinks (no alcohol) and nibbles and enjoy a night on the lawn area of the Adelaide Planetarium.
Time: arrival from 7.30pm with show and telescope viewing once the sun has gone down.
Location: UniSA Mawson Lakes lawn area next to the Planetarium (signs will be out to guide you to the area)
Brightside Deli will open its doors for coffees and drinks for the evening.
Registration required click here to register
Click here for a MAP of the event
*if a cloudy night we can still go ahead with celestial show and movie*
Upcoming Events
Year 10 & 11 Subject Selection Review Meetings
Primary Years Celebration Evening & Yr 6 Grad
Middle Years Celebration Evening & Year 9 Grad
Activity Day R-10 and Final Assembly L6
Term 4 Concludes 3.10pm, reports released