22 June 2023

There is no requirement to speak of one particular matter as we move well through the middle of Term 2, especially since there is so much to celebrate throughout the College, calling for gratitude from our community.

In a great celebration of students, the Primary Years assembly on Tuesday (19 June) witnessed many achievements across academic success, contributions exuding our College values (Faith, Relationships, Excellence, Diversity), and service evident in Jump Rope for Heart.

At the same time, our most senior students in Year 12 immersed themselves in their three-day Year 12 Retreat, where staff led a most formative experience on the theme ‘The End is a New Beginning’. To be so vulnerable with peers while considering the daunting next steps into life (without the daily support of St Paul’s College), is both brave and truly reflective, within a world that is decreasingly ‘present’.

These experiences are only two examples across our College and demonstrate the great breadth of celebration, within varying parts of life’s journey, that benefit our students.

In the coming weeks, our College also prepares for Semester One reports. This is one snapshot of learning over 6 months, knowing that individual feedback that has been given throughout the Semester is far more targeted, timely, and beneficial (since it is more regular). I request each family to use the Semester Report as an opportunity to positively and consecutively celebrate areas of strength and achievement while setting goals for the remainder of 2023.

Quite outrageously, families in Australia have traditionally asked questions such as, “Why didn’t you do better” and “What’s this grade for?”. This perhaps represents many experiences of parents that is now very outdated and unhelpful, since it has no direction on how to improve! Instead, let us seek means for improvement and remain positive, by way of helping our young people improve.

In the same way, I pleaded with our Year 12 students when I had the pleasure of presenting to their Retreat this week, let us ask our students “how they want to be” (positive, kind, fun, inspiring, honest) instead of only “what the want to be” (fireman, lawyer, engineer, teacher). What we are is hard to define and sometimes a long journey to achieve; how we are as people is a proposition each day.

Josh Foulis
Acting Principal

Regular attendance is essential for our students to be able to thrive at school. Coming to school every day not only ensures continuity of learning but also fosters a sense of belonging and supports positive social connections. We understand that absence can sometimes be unavoidable, particularly in the current season of colds and flu, and we thank our families for keeping their children home when they are unwell.  

There are also many students in our Primary Years community who are regularly late to school each day. Parents and carers are reminded that school officially starts at 8.40 am each morning.  It is understandable that on the odd occasion, something may occur to prevent you from being at school on time; however, a regular late arrival is very disruptive to the learning of all classes.  We aim to get the children into class as soon as possible each morning after the 8.35 am bell has sounded so that learning may commence. Thank you to the students and families who are always here and on time to commence their learning. 

Our college is participating in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability (NCCD Data Collection). This Data Collection is taking place in Catholic, Government, and Independent schools across Australia, and will provide valuable information about support required for a broad group of students. This will enable Australian and State governments to better target school support and resources and will also help the college give our students the support they need.

The definition of disability for the NCCD is based on the broad definition under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The NCCD Data Collection is not limited to students with diagnosed disabilities and includes a broad range of health and learning conditions that our college provides ‘reasonable adjustments’ to support. The NCCD fact sheet for families can be found here. To access this information in another language, you’ll find the link here.

Also, a reminder that Monday 26 June is a Pupil Free Day and our Primary Years staff are participating in the second day of our BSEM (Berry Street Education Model) training. The BSEM covers four domains, all anchored by the central domain of Relationships, which is our learning focus on Monday. The Relationship Domain encourages teachers to reflect upon the importance of setting up a learning environment that promotes and meets the needs of students to feel connected with their school community; emotionally, physically, mentally, and neurologically.

Discussions held with staff will centre on how our own actions as adults can impact, positively or otherwise, a child’s ability to satisfy three human yearnings: love, acceptance, and belonging. In turn, the environment which is created through our actions can create greater opportunities for “on-task behaviours” and lessen the interruptions to learning which can result from “off-task behaviours”.

As we are nearing the end of term, have you thought about the upcoming school holidays? Extend, our OSHC provider offers an onsite Vacation Care Program that you can access if you need care for your child/ren. They are in the process of developing an engaging program with a mix of days onsite and some excursions. A reminder that school finishes at 3.10 pm for the term on Friday 7 July.

Take care and have a great fortnight. 

Marianne Loftus
Head of Primary Years

Calling all Music lovers!

Primary parents, caregivers, family and friends are invited to our upcoming Primary Music Afternoon.

Wednesday 28 June 2023
1.40pm - 2.50pm
New Street Gymnasium

All Reception - Year 6 Music students will perform in their class groups. The afternoon will also feature the following performances:

• Middle School Band
• Primary Band
• Festival Choir
• Wind Immersion students

Please come along and enjoy a great afternoon of musical performances.

Week 7 Results

Click here to view

Year 7 Debating

The year 7 debaters have won their third consecutive debate. They are currently 2nd on the Debating SA Ladder in the 6/7 division and only 4.67 points behind 1st place. The students are already starting their research for their fourth debate at the end of July.

Rhythm won Debater of the Round on Monday night, meaning that all 3 students have now earnt this impressive award. 

UN Evatt Diplomacy Debating

Congratulations to Archer and Jean who have made it through to the UN Evatt diplomacy debating Semifinals round, which will be held at Flinders University during the first weekend of July. An excellent achievement!

Matthew Muscat
Head of Teaching & Learning Yr 7‑12

Congratulations to Mr Damian Antenucci on receiving the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to secondary education. A most enormous recognition and most appropriate.
Damian taught at Kilmara College from 1977 to 1987, where he was the Director and Producer of School Musicals.
Since 1988, he has taught here at St Paul’s College, fulfilling many roles including: Head of Senior School, Head of Pastoral Care, Director and Producer of School Musicals, Coach of Badminton and the First 18 Football team, and mathematics teacher. These are only some of the ways Damian has served our community!
Damian was also a founding member of St Paul’s Old Scholars Football Club in 1992. Since that time, he has been Treasurer, President, and Coach.
As we know, old scholars remember Damian fondly and he is greatly admired by his colleagues. He has been a wonderful contributor to Catholic Education since 1977, and this honour is very well deserved.
 

Meet Ms Samantha Stokes - Primary Years Head of Wellbeing

"Sam is our Primary Years Head of Wellbeing. She is passionate about children’s learning and wellbeing and wants school to be a happy and safe place for all our young people and their families. Sam values the importance of families and the role they play in shaping their child’s learning and wellbeing which aligns with our own St Paul’s values. She loves getting to know the children and celebrating their successes.

Her love of wellbeing shines through her leadership of our Year 6 student leaders, co-ordinating our Peaceful Kids Program, Social Skills development and creating a platform for all students to have a voice through our Student Voice Council.

Sam lives and breathes her role as a wellbeing educator, to collaborate with students and families in helping them to always want to be a better version of themselves.

Our Primary Years team are currently involved in extending and enriching our learning in the area of childhood trauma and understanding how our brains and bodies work in different ways. We are following the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), with this learning taking place across 2023 and beyond. Sam is one of the leaders in this area.

Our Primary Team work collaboratively to develop a whole school approach to high-quality teaching and learning and this work is underpinned by our FRED values – Faith, Relationships, Excellence and Relationships."

Marianne Loftus, Head of Primary
 

St Paul’s College is again participating in the annual Walk a Mile in My Boots facilitated by The Hutt Street Centre. The purpose of this event is to raise funds and awareness for those facing the hardships of homelessness in South Australia. The Primary Years and Year 9 students will participate in this event on Friday 4 August (Term 3 Week 2). If you are in a position to support our fundraising, our school community would be extremely grateful. 

Click here to donate

How cold and wet have the days and nights been? Our families are once again asked to show their kindness by contributing to the Vinnies SA Winter Appeal. We welcome donations of winter woollies, (socks, scarves, beanies, blankets), and non-perishable items, (cans, pasta), to donate to Vinnies during this harsh cold winter. The winter appeal is driven by our Social Justice Committee, ending Week 9 this term. Let's come together to support those in need.

Thank you

Mrs Girolamo-Corbo, Mr Stramare, and Miss McGlaughlin - Catholic Identity Team
 

Students in Years 5 -12 may attend Homework Club in the Resource Centre, Monday to Thursday from 3.30 - 4.30pm. 

Staffing Week 9

Mon - Pupil Free Day
Tues - Kevin Wang - STEM
Wed - Michael White - Digital Tech
Thurs - Stewart Fraser

Staffing Week 10

Mon - Ryan Austin - STEM
Tues - Layal Andary - STEM
Wed - Emily White - STEM/Biology
Thurs - Stewart Fraser

Uniform shop operating hours for the July school holidays will be:

Week 1 - CLOSED
Week 2 - Wednesday 19 July & Thursday 20 July Open: 9am - 3pm

If you require several uniform items, appointments are necessary for fitting.

Make an appointment here

Midford website passphrase: Stpauls1958