News & Events
From the Principal
Dear Friends and families of St Paul’s,
Yet another term has flown by and 2024 seems to be disappearing before our very eyes! At the conclusion of every term, it is so especially important for all of us, students, families, and staff to stop and contemplate the last ten weeks. I say this not only because we all need to honestly reflect on whether the terms work is an indication of our absolute best efforts. In addition to that however we should also look back with much enjoyment and pride in acknowledging all the wonderful things that have occurred at St. Paul’s.
Our students are provided with such an impressive array of opportunities that cover all aspects of college life, and we hope that is appreciated by all. These include but are not limited to: excursions, retreats, subject and learning expos, assemblies, cocurricular opportunities, career and subject selection and advice, photos, pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives, health initiatives such as medical injections, camps and leadership opportunities. All this occurs while thousands of great learning experiences take place in classrooms while in background the leadership and admin teams of St Paul’s are busily preparing for 2025! We have already employed several more outstanding educators to join our staff, and we will announce all of these in Term 4 once all our recruiting is completed.
Mr Joe Hicks and Mr Frank Ranaldo
While speaking of staffing, it is with a great deal of mixed feeling that we announce that our substantive APRIM (Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission) who has been acting as Deputy Principal in Darwin this year, has been announced as the new principal of St Joseph’s School in Clare in 2025. We wish Joe well and sincerely thank him for what he has brought to St Paul’s in the past. His enthusiasm, energy, and passion for all things Catholic and Spirituality greatly impacted the staff and students at the College.
We also say farewell and a huge thank you to Frank Ranaldo who has filled in for us in the role of Deputy Principal over the last two terms while Mr Foulis and I had some leave. Frank not only enjoyed his time with us, but he also made an immediate and huge impression on all the staff for his great enthusiasm, support, and work ethic. We will miss him also but wish him and his beautiful family all the best in the future. In our farewell Frank, we also welcome back Mr Foulis from his leave.
Year 12 Students
With three terms down we turn our attention to our Year 12 cohort who only have two weeks of their college life left with us. For most this represents the culmination of 13 years of schooling and while we are sure their parents and families may be close to breathing a sigh of relief, we know there is still much to do and achieve with the limited time remaining. The whole group have been lovely to work with throughout this year. I personally thoroughly enjoyed the Yr 12 Retreat with them and that opportunity to talk to so many about the incredible positive experience that has been their time at St Paul’s. We certainly hope they finish strongly and that their final grades are a true and accurate reflection of both their abilities and the effort they have put into their whole schooling here at the College.
Shannahan Cup
One of the highlights of the entire year is the final assembly of Term 3. On the Friday of week ten the whole college gathers to have a bit of fun involving students from across the College and to announce the winners of the Shanahan Cup. This cup is named in honor of Mr Peter Shannahan a former long serving Deputy and Principal of St Paul’s. Points toward this cup are earned by every student in the College across a wide range of events and experiences from Sports Day to Academic grades, to involvement in assisting the college in duties such as our Road Monitoring, or simply doing charitable deeds for each other. The awarding of this “House Shield” brings enormous pride to the winning House and is very much sought after. The year of accumulating points runs from Term 4 to the end of term three the following year so the Yr 12 students can be involved for the full 12 months – such is the pride in contributing to “The Cup!”
Achilles Cup
On Thursday of this week, we also had a substantial number of students represent the college at the annual Achilles Cup. This is an athletics event held at SANTOS Stadium for boys (7-12) across all the major College in SA. As always St Paul’s competes very well on this stage against much bigger schools. We finished a very creditable third in our division and finished in first place in the U13 and U14 age divisions and second in the U15’s and U16’s. This is quite outstanding, and our thanks go to the staff who have helped the boys train for the event and to Messer’s Gillard, Deluca, Austin, and Dorsi for accompanying the team at the carnival.
Have a great break everyone and enjoy spending time with your loved ones.
Take care, God Bless
Paul Belton
From the Principal
Dear Friends and families of St Paul’s,
This fortnight is a particularly significant fortnight in the life of the College (as they all are) for several reasons.
Last week was ESO Appreciation Week. ESO stands for Education Support Officer and at St Paul’s this represents every member of staff who is not a teacher. Our college would simply not exist nor be capable of providing the holistic service we do without these staff members. They range from our Grounds and Maintenance team to our Finance and Admin staff, to our Academic Support staff. As we with all our staff we are absolutely blessed with the quality of staff who do this most important work for all of us. For many they work more weeks on site than our teachers and carry the loads of genuine carers for our families at important moments in their, and all our lives.
On behalf of the entire community, I thank all our ESO staff for their enormously enthusiastic work and support for us and hope they are both enjoying their role and understand how important they are to the life of the College.
Staff Professional Development Day
On Monday 7th September we had a student free day which to our staff is an important part of our Professional Development schedule for the year.
Throughout 2023 our Primary staff had a focus on trauma informed practice through the Berry Street organisation. Last Monday they continued their work with Anita Schneyder from Teams On Purpose further developing an understanding of the intricacies of what makes great organisations and great teams. Our Secondary staff undertook their Trauma Aware training through Connected Self Wellbeing Services. I am sure all families would agree these staff undertakings are crucial for the college to provide the absolute best educational service we can. We will continually strive for excellence in all we do and appreciate the support we receive from our families in supporting this endeavour.
Cocurricular Assembly
On Thursday morning we had the opportunity to celebrate our Yr 7-12 Winer Cocurricular assembly. These occasions are so especially important in the life of the College. As I explained to the staff and students the celebration is not simply an award ceremony for all those who perhaps have won an award, nor is it simply about saying thank you for all the staff and students who have participated in the myriad of opportunities that are provided within our community. The assembly and celebration are an opportunity to further develop a deep understanding of both WHO we are as St Paul’s but more importantly WHY we exist.
We are a catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition. Our four college values are Faith, Relationships, Excellence and Diversity. The assembly acknowledges the importance of the “R” word i.e. RELATIONSHIPS and the vital role we all play in each other’s lives. Cocurricular and sport activities all revolve around teams. They all reflect life itself with its successes and failures, difficulties and they help up build on the values we all need and value such as persistence, hard work, resilience, dignity, integrity, courage and most importantly humility. These values, as Sir Donald Bradman once said are totally compatible with pride, ambition, and competitiveness.
R U OK? day
I was particularly pleased that our cocurricular celebration assembly also occurred on the national R U OK? day. At St Paul’s, given what I have just said about the importance of relationships, means that we should be living, experiencing, and having an R U OK? day everyday of our lives. We should not have to even talk about it - it should simply be the very fabric of who we are and why we exist.
To let every person on this college site achieve their full potential, to know that they are loved and worthwhile is at the core of our existence. Our leadership model is that of servant leadership, as modelled by Jesus and Edmund Rice, and our care of each other must ensure that as much as humanly possible, students know there are people here that they can turn to without fear or failure, knowing they will be supported.
I thank all our staff, students and families who share this endeavour and who full-heartedly live the R U OK? mantra daily.
God Bless
Paul Belton
From the Principal
Dear Friends and families of St Paul’s,
It is great to be back! While it seems like it has been considerable time since I left for some leave, time passes very quickly and getting back into the pace of school life is immediate!
I would like to thank the staff and particular our Leadership Teams for their ongoing diligence, dedication and commitment to all things St Paul’s. To Mr Josh Foulis and Mr Frank Ranaldo can I offer a special vote of thanks for their enormous work in their acting roles of Principal and Deputy respectively. At St Paul’s we are particularly blessed with awesome staff across every area and the amount of work that gets achieved for us to provide our absolute best for the students and families, I believe is second to none.
There has been an enormous amount of work undertaken and a great deal achieved over the last few months. The Middle Years Review is one example, and I thank staff, students and families for their active participation in this. As a result of that there is a great deal happening in terms of staffing, curriculum mapping and review as well as an analysis of all the physical resources that may need to be revisited or purchased.
I hope Mr Foulis enjoys his much-deserved break and holiday with his family.
Fathers’ Day
To all the fathers, male mentors, guardians, grandfathers and wonderful men in the lives of our students can I, on behalf of all the staff of St Paul’s, wish you a very special day on Sunday. I know that significant days like this one can be difficult times for some and the most special to others. So, to all I hope the day brings joy in some shape and form. I know I am so blessed to have my 95-year-old father still with us and I know how much I still turn to him for advice and inspiration. Our celebrations at St Paul’s are always extremely wonderful and this week will be no exception.
Preparation for 2025
We may still only be halfway through term 3 of 2024 but in the background the College staff are working assiduously on preparing for 2025! So much goes on behind the scenes that it appears to be a bit like a duck on a pond – everything looks calm and smooth on the surface, while the feet are going flat out below!
We will grow again in student numbers next year and this will bring with it the need to appoint additional staff across all areas of school operations. This is a very time-consuming and sensitive process the leadership teams of the College handle with the utmost care and respect to all. Our students in the more senior years have been, and continued to be, counselled in all things subject selection and career advice which in turn may and does affect the staffing scenario and the analysis of what subjects need to be planned for 2025. We appreciate everyone’s patience in this regard and encourage all families to contact our staff should you have any questions or concerns.
There is so much happening and still to occur over the last month of the term and we encourage all students and families to be as involved as is possible given everyone’s busy lives.
Take Care, God Bless
Paul Belton
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
Respect and Women in our Community
Thursday 15 August marks an important day (a Day of Obligation) in the global Catholic Church, as it is the Solemnity of the Assumption, and I am grateful to Acting Deputy Principal Mr Frank Ranaldo, for his reflection in this edition of our Newsletter.
I am grateful to Fr John, Parish Priest of our Dernancourt Parish, who continues to partner with our school, devoting so much of his time and energy for the benefit of our students and staff. Fr John joined us for our Feast of the Assumption Mass, where his Homily challenged us to consider how we celebrate birthdays and Mother’s Day, as known examples of celebrating women who are special to us, and for all that they have done for us. In our Church, we similarly celebrate Mary and especially on the Feast of the Assumption.
While concluding the gathering after Mass, I asked students and staff to consider the term’s focus on ‘respect’, especially considering women in our world, our lives and our college community. We know that so much gender injustice and inequality remain throughout our world, and our St Paul’s community must be a true representation of what a respectful environment should look like.
Importantly, we must not consider the likes of Mary to be only supporting Christ, nor the likes of Nano Nagle in only supporting our founder Blessed Edmund Rice. Instead, respect for these women and all women in our world, demands acknowledgement of women’s individual journey, strength, bravery, successes, and challenges. Only when our world recognises women in such a way, will our world realise the equality deserving of all people.
Again, we respect what we value. In this way, our challenge is to ensure that on the Feast of the Assumption and always, our respect for women is a model to our society and world.
Congratulations again, Mr Paul Belton!
Understanding that Paul Belton has received significant accolades from Catholic Education SA (locally) and Catholic Secondary Principals Association (CaSPA, nationally), it is my pleasure to advise that Paul has been awarded the ACEL SA Educational Leadership Medal, as one of three recipients in the state for 2024. Once again well-deserved and worth celebrating!
Congratulations, Paul! We look forward to welcoming Mr Belton upon his return from leave to begin Week 6, from Monday 26 August.
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
A New Semester Begins – Respecting person, place and space
Primary Years and Secondary assemblies welcomed students to the new Semester this week, including celebrations of academic success in secondary during Semester One; there was certainly lots to celebrate.
As communicated to families in my opening letter for Term 3, a very basic and essential focus on ‘respect’ was the centerpiece of both assemblies. Our Common Ground guides all that we say and do at St Paul’s College; founded on respect, this essential document obviously lends itself to our requirement for respect, in all places and at all times.
Put plainly, students were urged to note that one is either respectful, or disrespectful…there is no middle ground. Urging a most respectful approach to Term 3, I outlined what respect ‘looks like and sounds like’, making no assumptions and to ensure all members of students and staff can reflect on the positive behaviours they wish to emphasise in the term ahead.
Respect demonstrates value in the person, place or space that we are engaged with. Disrespect demonstrates that we do not value that person, place or space.
We are urged to continue this deep conversation on a most basic concept (respect), throughout our Term 3, noting that we can always strive for improvement.
Update: Middle Years Review
As our community has been informed, the college is undertaking a rigorous review of the Middle Years Learning Program, which is undertaken in Years 7, 8 and 9.
I am grateful to the significant number of families who responded to the parent-survey as part of this review, and likewise I thank the students in years 7-12 who all submitted feedback. The information from students, families and staff has been pivotal in reviewing the current model. Our Secondary Learning Council has been particularly important in analysing information and considering options that respond to the wants and needs of our community, as well as the ever-changing educational landscape and best practices for learning.
In coming weeks, I will share the outcome of the review with our community, as the college finalises the implementation process ahead of any changes beginning in 2025.
Communication with Staff
Communication between staff and families is a cornerstone of the care for students at the centre of St Paul’s College. For this reason, we always encourage families to liaise with staff to celebrate success, name challenges, or provide updates related to their young person(s) at the college.
It is therefore essential to clarify communication expectations to ensure families know when and how they can gain responses from staff, and so that staff can appropriately work within reasonable expectations, while supporting students.
Phone calls are always preferable and encouraged, noting our office ours are 8am – 4:30pm weekdays, during usual school days. A staff member will endeavor to phone back within 2 school days, if unavailable at the time a family phones the college.
Given that technology is at the centre of our world, we understand that communication via email or SEQTA may be preferred. Again, two school days for acknowledgement of receipt is our aim.
Importantly, families cannot expect communication with staff outside of 8am - 4:30pm. For this reason, families are asked to consider emergency responses if ever the need arises outside of those hours, rather than relying on the school after hours.
We thank all families for their ongoing partnership and communication.
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
Blessing our Br Ambrose Treacy Building
Since the opening of our school year, we have been blessed to enjoy our remarkable Primary Years Building, nature play areas and open spaces surrounding the building. We have witnessed the creativity of learning maker-spaces and our STEAM room, the independence of breakout spaces and sensory areas, the collaboration centered on shared learning spaces, as well as opportunities to host our own Primary Years office spaces to welcome our youngest students and their families.
For that reason, it was especially welcome that last Friday 28 June, we held an Official Blessing of the Br Ambrose Treacy Building (our Primary Years Building).
Officially blessed and opened by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, a blessing ceremony was held upstairs in our Year 6 classroom, vacated to welcome many dignitaries and invited guests, as well as students, staff, parents, members of our Parents and Friends Committee, and members of our School Advisory Council.
A great point of recognition, is that the blessing ceremony coincided with the Feast of St Peter and St Paul, our school’s namesake. A reading from St Paul echoed throughout those gathered, as perfectly befitting for the occasion.
Importantly, the blessing was filmed and live streamed into classrooms so that our primary years students could partake in this important aspect of their journey into a new space, which they have made their own.
Mr Dale Clarke and Ms Miranda McGlaughlin are to be congratulated for a relevant, meaningful liturgy to bless our Treacy Building, which involved students throughout. Led by Archbishop O’Regan, the blessing ceremony included students who were reading, dancing, and singing, indicative of St Paul’s placing students at the centre of all that we do.
Organisation by Mrs Kerrie Cook, Mrs Bec Woodcock, and Mr Tim Martin, as well as grounds and maintenance, likewise our ICT team, made it a most enjoyable celebration and recognition of achievement for what the college has achieved in recent years.
Amongst many Principals from Catholic Schools across the state, and Most Reverend Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, other guests mentioned included:
- Mr Chris Woolley, Chief Executive Officer, Edmund Rice Education Australia Colleges Ltd,
- Mr Chris Leadbetter, EREA Regional Director of Education for WA and SA,
- Mr Vin Thomas, member of the EREA Colleges Ltd. Board
- Ms Catherine Greenley, Chair of our School Advisory Council, as well as many other past and present members of our School Advisory Council joining us today,
- Mr John Neate, Chair of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools,
- Dr Neil McGoran, Executive Director of Catholic Education South Australia,
- Mr Paul Belton, Principal of St Paul’s College,
- Mr James Stevens, Federal Member for Sturt
- Mrs Dana Wortley, State Member for Torrens
Our Treacy Building was blessed in the name of Br Ambrose Treacy, who successfully brought the Christian Brothers’ mission to Australia and New Zealand, and for whom we give thanks for his courage and passion; it is because he carried Edmund Rice’s mission, that we are a proud Catholic College in the Edmund Rice Tradition.
Mr Peter Judd – Final classes conclude after 44 years!
This week, and specifically Thursday 4 July, marks the final lessons for our college’s longest serving teacher. Mr Peter Judd goes on leave for the remainder of the year; while we understand the opportunities we have to celebrate Mr Judd at year’s end (as students and then as staff), I can only imagine there is something special about concluding your final day of classes after 44 years of service.
Congratulations Peter, enjoy your leave, thank you, and we look forward to showing our gratitude most appropriately at year’s end.
Ending Term 2 with Gratitude
As we prepare for the upcoming school holidays, it is with thanks that I congratulate our community for the successes and the overcome of challenges, of Term 2.
To our families, I plead with you to discuss the term with your child(ren), beginning with highlights and working through areas for improvement. Formal Semester One Reports will assist these conversations somewhat, but the conversation itself will be the most important investment in the young person we cherish together.
May the school holidays be a point of connection, love and safety, as we look forward to the joy that Term 3 brings.
Reconciliation Action Plan Approval
It is with great excitement that I share with the St Paul’s College community that our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has been approved and published via the Narragunawali website. This is a significant achievement and milestone for the College highlighting our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. Our college website has been updated with a link to our Reconciliation Action Plan that details the 14 actions we are committed to as a college community. It is truly wonderful to be able to share this with the community especially during NAIDOC week and in acknowledging the theme of ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
I have outlined below a list of some of the actions taken so far by the College in working towards our commitment to reconciliation:
- Accurate identification of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their country
- Regular sessions for our students to connect and participate in activities together
- Mentoring Workshops run by Naomi from Deadly Mentorz
- Art workshops run by parent Stephanie Singh
- Participation in the Thriving People CESA events – both primary and secondary students
- Weaving workshops run by Naomi from Deadly Mentorz
- Artist in Residence project - A mural painted with workshop ideas/story generated by students and led by artist Scott Rathman in 2023
- Student led assemblies acknowledging Reconciliation Week
- PC Programs/activities designed to explore reconciliation and NAIDOC week in depth with our students
- Performances by Craig Atkins both with our school band and as a concert for our students during NAIDOC week in 2024
- Presentation led by former First Nations student Nicholas Emili on The Voice and Constitutional change to our senior students in 2023
- Workshop design process with our students to create our first Indigenous Round Guernsey worn this term during Indigenous Round games and knockout matches in 2024
- Engagement of Uncle Moogy who delivered a smoking ceremony, welcome to country and speech during NAIDOC week in 2023
- Development of our College acknowledgment of country led by Naomi from Deadly Mentorz with our First Nations students
- Creation of the acknowledgment of country video
- Regular RAP meetings (twice per term)
The above list is not exhaustive; however, it indicates some of the ways we have engaged those within our community and those outside of our community to ensure we continue to work towards reconciliation.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to those staff and community members involved in the process to develop the RAP, but most specifically, to the RAP committee team; Christabella Iuliano, Claudia Lamberto, Brandon Jackson-Martin, Campbell Burton, Nicholas Gillard, Stephanie Singh, Paul Belton and Frank Ranaldo. We are looking forward to continuing to work towards our RAP deliverables and ensuring that reconciliation actions are embedded in our ongoing and everyday practices here at St Paul’s.
Click to read the Reconciliation Action Plan
Alex Harrison - Head of Learning Diversity
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
EREA Charter Forum: Renewing the EREA Charter and EREA Touchstones
Alongside Senior Leaders from across Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), Mr Frank Ranaldo (Acting Deputy Principal, St Paul’s College) and myself had the pleasure to attend the EREA National Charter Forum in Wollongong last week.
The EREA Charter, available HERE, guides all schools in the quest towards greater authenticity as Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition, challenging each community to be faithful to the four touchstones of EREA: Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity.
The Forum offered Senior Leaders (from EREA Colleges and EREA Flexible Learning Centres) the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the renewal of the EREA Charter.
Informed by feedback already gained from many students, staff and leaders across the country, the purpose of this Charter Forum was to consolidate feedback and refine the Charter, which drives the mission of our College.
Practically, you will see the touchstone symbols throughout our college, they drive appraisals and reviews for senior leaders at our college, inform our Strategic Plan, focus formation for our School Advisory Council, and provide the basis of EREA’s School Renewal Process every 5 years. While these are only some examples of how our Charter and Touchstones come to life at St Paul’s, they demonstrate the significance of the Charter and therefore the current Charter renewal, in the life of our community.
Contemporary and refreshed Touchstones and EREA Charter were key hopes from the Forum in Wollongong and our community will remain connected to any developments relating to the mission of EREA that so proudly informs the mission of St Paul’s College as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition.
Appointment of Principal
Edmund Rice Education Australia is delighted to announce that, after an open selection process and a significant period of discernment, Mr Patrick Harmer has been appointed as the next Principal of St Paul’s College commencing in January 2025.
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
Welcome Mr Patrick Harmer, College Principal
Already communicated to community this week, it is a pleasure to add my welcome to Mr Patrick Harmer, St Paul’s College Principal from 2025. While Mr Chris Woolley, CEO of EREA Colleges Ltd, has provided the most representative summary of Patrick’s appointment in his letter to our community (available here) I add the excitement shared by College leadership and staff for Patrick’s appointment.
Upon his return from Long Service Leave in August, Mr Paul Belton will undertake a thorough handover with Mr Harmer who will have opportunities to be onsite on occasions this year, as he familiarises himself with our community.
Congratulations and welcome to Mr Patrick Harmer. Welcome to St Paul’s College!
Josh Foulis - Acting Principal
Leadership Charter of St Paul’s College
Synonymous with our community, Our Common Ground (click HERE to open) is a document driving personal responsibility to our college values and naming the expectations shared by all members of our community.
Adding depth to our Common Ground, all staff with a position of leadership (teaching and non-teaching) have collaborated and created the St Paul’s College Leadership Charter. This Charter identifies what our community can expect from leaders and leadership teams alike, providing clarity and accountability via this public-facing document.
In January of this year, all leaders on college staff engaged with a Leadership Day at the Grange Surf Life Saving Club, Outlining requirements and goals for the year was followed by professional learning around effective teams. The final component of the day started a six month journey in collaboratively developing this Leadership Charter, which is proudly launched to our staff and community this week.
Leadership development and efficacy is a pivotal component of the college’s strategic plan and this Leadership Charter provides clarity and accountability for the benefit of our leaders and community.
