29 July 2021

Dear Friends of St Paul’s,

Welcome Back and Welcome Back!!

The last 18 months has certainly served up several first-time events. This week we start Term 3 for the second time – in a little over a week! To all our staff, students, and families we say a very big thank you for your patience, cooperation, and resilience in dealing with yet another interruption to the academic year. We feel for our brand new Reception students and their families for the awkward beginning to their school journey. We apologise for the parents not being able to escort the boys into their classrooms, sit for a while and experience all the wonderful first days of their life at St Paul’s. Hopefully things will return to a more normal routine and these experiences can recommence.

Building Update

At present our site looks very little like it did a month ago and certainly far from the beautiful pictures of what we hope for by the beginning of 2022. The demolishing of the changeroom and amenities block, and the gutting of the Wilson building has all been completed and the preparation of the below ground level works is well underway. Unfortunately, wet weather can slow things down as can COVID lockdowns! While we have lost several days to the poor weather, the builders are working very diligently to attempt to make those up and stick as tight as possible to a very tough timeline.

For those of us not experienced in the building process, developing an understanding of just how much must be done before we see anything above the ground is very complicated. With all two-story buildings now, a lift must be part of the design and given the nature of the soil in our area the below ground level piers must go down several metres. For the students, the process has been a very authentic learning experience and many love watching the heavy machinery in action.

We must compliment and thank the students on the way they have handled the degree of interruption and inconvenience. They have been terrific in their acceptance of the disruption and of the limited places they can spend their recess and lunchtimes. All have certainly risen to the challenge, and we are all getting a bit fitter having to do a fair bit more walking to get around the site and into classrooms!

Communications

Over the last month you would have all received a significant number of letters, emails, messages, and calls regarding COVID news, parent-teacher conversations, and staffing news. If families have any concerns about any aspect of these please feel free to contact a member of Senior Leadership and we will respond as soon as we can.

As you all know, the College is experiencing significant growth – in both the building program and student numbers because of the coed announcement. This is creating a very significant amount of extra work for everyone onsite and this involves both the planning for 2022 and beyond as well as our commitment to continuous improvement on a term by term basis. The planning for next year is in full swing and given our growth we will have a significant number of staff appointments to make during the next couple of months.

College Activities

Given the current COVID scenario, there has been a significant amount of disruption to College activities such as, retreats, camps, excursions, and the like. Most notably was the forced postponement of the Year 12 Retreat, which for most of the students becomes one of the most significant experiences of their St Paul’s journey. As much as is humanly possible we will reschedule these events, understanding that the opportunities to do so may vary.

Our Year 12 students have been absolutely awesome in accepting the extreme levels of disruption to their senior school experiences. They have show great leadership and commitment to the College and each other, for which we are very appreciative.

Take Care and God Bless,

Paul Belton
Principal 

Last week I shared a virtual prayer session with staff and chose a reading from the First Book of Kings where the Prophet Elijah appointed his successor – Elisha. It is an interesting reading and I admit tangents were taken. Elisha was ploughing a field when Elijah called him, but he was not ploughing alone – there were 11 teams ahead of him. Drawing on this I referred to an Ignatian Spirituality writer Margaret Silf and acknowledge her wonderful reflections (and whilst I adjusted to suit they are not my original idea and am crediting Silf for her words of wisdom).

Sometimes we are called from a task to do it another way. Our eyes remain firmly fixed on the horizon (as any good person at a plough creating a straight furrow will tell you to do). Our objective remains the same – we are focused on the education and wellbeing of our students. For a week we ‘ploughed’ differently, but never alone, we could look up at any time and see those journeying ahead and towards that same horizon. Perhaps we adjust our plough and our team but we can never lose sight of that endpoint.

Things will change, both short and long-term, but that is ok. We will traverse this field together.

In times like these prayer can really help quiet our soul and provide calm in a sea of uncertainty:

O Divine Inspiration,

Just as Elisha was called to a new direction by Elijah we too are called to plough our field slightly differently but to still keep our eyes on the goal that has not changed, simply our footsteps are walking a different path to that same horizon.

Grant us your grace and insight to both hold fast to our purpose in an educational institution and to deeply understand the importance of our connection as a community – both for ourselves and the families that we serve.

May we continue to plant a harvest yet to be brought to fruition.

For all the intentions that lie within our hearts, Lord hear us.

Blessed Edmund and St Paul … pray for us

Live Jesus in our hearts … forever

Go gently amid the noise.

Blessings,
Angela
APRIM

We are excited to share the new uniform designs for our girls commencing in 2022! Since the 2020 announcement of our co-educational journey, the St Paul’s uniform working party has undertaken extensive community consultation and research. The design and consultation process has taken almost 12 months and has seen us working in partnership with our new uniform supplier, Midford. 

St Paul’s College is one of three metropolitan schools to be awarded a $5,000 grant in the Andy Thomas Foundation Challenge.

The Challenge encourages Years 7, 8 or 9 students in South Australian schools to create a project highlighting the importance and potential use of space technology in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Schools are encouraged to identify a challenge or real-world problem and to propose a solution that would be useful in addressing or solving it.

St Paul's was awarded $5,000 to implement their proposed idea of exploring how space technology of vertical farming could help the people of Mangaran, a remote Indonesian village.

The Girls' Leadership Academy is an opportunity for all Year 8 girls in 2022 to develop effective leadership qualities through ongoing and targeted leadership development opportunities throughout their five years at St Paul’s College.

The program will be delivered in an inclusive, friendly, and nurturing environment which promotes mindfulness, fostering a positive mindset and understanding one’s self-identity. Coaching and positive education will inform the academy, which will develop throughout the girls’ five years as the ultimate female leaders in our community.

For Year 10 and 11 Students
Thursday 5 August 2021, from 6.00-8.00pm

VIEW FLYER

A reminder for current families to submit enrolment applications for any younger siblings planning to commence at St Paul's in Reception or Year 7 in 2023 and beyond. Although priority is given to sibling enrolments, we do require a completed application form for each younger sibling ASAP. The application deadline has now passed and we are expecting to reach capacity and commence a waitlist soon.
You can access an enrolment application form on the College website at the below link or by contacting our Enrolments Office on email: enrolments@stpauls.sa.edu.au
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about enrolment of your son or daughter.
Click here to REGISTER INTEREST

The College is soon to commence consultation with the Council regarding possible solutions to assist the carparking congestion that currently exists.

In the interim, to help improve the flow of the carpark, and to avoid at all costs an injury to a student or parent please remember the following key points:

When driving in the carpark you should be travelling at no more than 10 kph which is just above walking pace. 
Please do not stop in the carpark unless you are moving into a vacant carpark. If no carpark is available, you are to continue moving and do a loop back to the carpark via Grand Junction Road.
If your child is not there to be picked up when you are in the carpark and you do not have a carpark to go into, you are to continue moving and do a loop back to the carpark via Grand Junction Road.
If your child is to be picked up from the carpark they are to wait outside Callan Hall or further towards the Eastern end of the carpark i.e. closer to the Design & Tech building. Please do not stop and pick your child up from outside the Administration Building as that holds up traffic behind you which banks up to Blacks and Grand Junction Road.
Handicapped carparks are only to be used by those members of the community who are legally allowed to park there. Please ensure your exemption ID displayed at all times. It is disappointing that we have had parents illegally park in these spaces which can carry a significant fine.

Can I remind all parents that both on the road, and in the carpark you are required to obey the road rules and operate your vehicle in a safe and courteous manner.

Your assistance in keeping our students safe is appreciated.

Current restrictions are likely to have an impact on the financial well-being of many people and we want them to know that free financial counselling is just a phone call away.

Free financial counselling is available through the National Debt Helpline (NDH) and Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH). 

Financial counsellors provide independent and confidential advice to people who are struggling with debt and bills. They are thoughtful and kind professionals who are dedicated to getting people back on track financially.

The two national not-for-profit services run free financial counselling helplines and chat services, to help individuals and small businesses cope with financial hardship.

Please see the FLYER with information and contact details.

Please contact the College if support (including financial) is required.

There is a great deal of lost property at the Student Office. Please see the staff if you have lost anything of value such as headphones, glasses etc.

A reminder to please name everything, so we can quickly return lost items.