News
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.
Peter Judd Retirement
It is with mixed emotions of gratitude, celebration and sadness that I advise our community that our longest serving staff member has advised that he will retire at the end of 2024.
Mr Peter Judd is known throughout St Paul’s College as a diligent teacher in Health and Physical Education, as well as Mathematics, and having been the College’s Sport and Co-curricular Coordinator for many years. After 44 years serving as a Teacher at St Paul’s, at the end of 2024 our College will farewell and thank Mr Peter Judd and wish him well into retirement.
Launching Indigenous Round Uniforms
St Paul’s College is proud to launch our inaugural Indigenous round cocurricular uniforms. These unique guernseys, designed by our First Nations students, will be proudly worn over the next two rounds in AFL, Soccer, Basketball, and Netball.
Our First Nations students have been dedicated to developing these designs throughout the past semester. Students from both Primary and Secondary schools gathered to explore examples of guernseys and Aboriginal Art symbols, which were sourced by Brandon Jackson-Martin, our First Nations Education Support Officer. They carefully selected symbols that resonated with their personal experiences and the spirit of the College, incorporating these elements into their designs.
The resulting artwork tells the story:
“Our community sits under the stars that shine over Kaurna land. As a tight-knit community, we bond together at the meeting place. Each of us is unique, bringing our own shining light, having come a long way to be here. The river represents Dry Creek, with each student represented by their own unique symbol, showcasing their belonging and connection to the St Paul’s community.”
This incredible design, which truly reflects the voices of our students, would not have been possible without the contributions of Nick Gillard, Brandon Jackson-Martin, Claudia Lamberto, Alexandra Harrison, Stephanie Singh, the St Paul’s RAP committee, and, of course, our talented students.
“This initiative displays our commitment to promoting reconciliation at St Paul’s College, fostering a deeper understanding and respect for First Nations cultures among our entire school community,” said Campbell Burton, First Nations Key Teacher. “I look forward to seeing the guernseys being worn with pride during future co-curricular rounds.”
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
Families and School – on the same journey for success
A highlight of the past fortnight has been Learning Conversations that involved families and young people discussing learning, school experience and wellbeing.
While perhaps obvious, wherever families positively engage school community and staff, their child(ren) is more likely to experience connection to the school community, trust and relationship with teachers, and success (whatever that looks like for each student). For this reason, St Paul’s College expresses heartfelt thanks to families who booked and attended Learning Conversations to begin Term 2.
As a staff of St Paul’s College, we pride ourselves on proactive communication with families, especially wherever there have been successes or challenges. Of course, these conversations are centered on the child and student, meaning they are deeply important and often emotional conversations.
As we all know and appreciate, healthy conversations remain respectful and focused on the care that family and school have for the young person. There are opportunities to respectfully raise concerns and it is important that families and staff can talk freely with one another; however, the college continues to seek the trust and confidence of families that we always act in the best interest of all young people.
Above all, St Paul’s continues to prioritise partnership with families and seeks families to continue trusting that all decisions are made in the best interest of you and your child(ren).
Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) offer an array of information and resources for families around supporting their young people and the school, noting that families can and must support both parties, not one or the other.
As one body of work completed by CSPA, you may also find interest in the information at Gearing Up for Parent Engagement in Student Learning. Here, you can find resources for connecting with schools and teachers, as well as young people, as they navigate Primary or Secondary education.
From the perspective of St Paul’s College, there are some crucial point we encourage for all families:
Do not hesitate to communicate: sometimes a ‘wait and see’ approach to your child’s concern may seem appropriate – it isn’t! Please communicate early so that any concerns do not compound.
Phone and in-person is most effective: while it is sometimes appropriate to use email or SEQTA, emotion can often be confused in these modes of communication, making phone calls and in-person conversations most effective.
School staff are asked to communicate proactively and often: A college directive to staff is for them to communicate with families often, especially where there are challenges or concerns. Understanding that families are busy, we commit to this communication.
Staff don’t make things up: great work and effort goes into supporting students through moments of challenge, perhaps poor decisions, and moments of success. Like anybody, we make mistakes; however, we do ask for implicit trust from families in the first instance, whereby staff and families are the adults best equipped to support young people through challenge.
Thanks again for the ongoing connection of families with our college and its staff; may this continue as we strive to support our young people.
Paul Belton, Leadership Excellence
We are thrilled to share that Mr Paul Belton (College Principal) has received 2024 ‘Leadership Excellence’ Award, presented by Catholic Education South Australia. Mr Belton's dedication to Catholic education spans an impressive 45 years, including 10 years of exceptional leadership as Principal of St Paul's College!
From Josh Foulis, Acting Principal
Celebrating Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
Well underway for Term 2, we acknowledge the recent Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice that is celebrated globally each year on 5 May. At St Paul’s College, we paused usual learning schedules last Friday 3 May to celebrate the founder of the Christian Brothers who established St Paul’s College 65 years ago.
With thanks to many staff who organised the day of celebration, especially our Catholic Identity Team, students were able to focus on our exceptional school community and recall their place as part of a national and indeed international community.
Knowing that Blessed Edmund Rice was grounded in service, his Feast Day is a welcome opportunity for all of us to recall our purpose. Serving others is both selfless and life-giving, and we hope for countercultural young people and graduates who know their innate value and its worth to others. Amidst a world where selfishness and personal outcomes are measures of success, we use the historical account of Blessed Edmund Rice to challenge self-fulfillment by way of contributing to something greater than ourselves: community.
Reviewing Practice for Continuous Improvement
As previously communicated, St Paul’s College is currently undertaking a review of its Middle Years Program in Years 7-9, which currently hosts structures driven by integrating subjects and a focus on Project-Based-Learning. This approach to Middle Years has been an exceptional aspect of student-experience since its advent in 2019, when Year 7 moved from Primary Years to Secondary.
Like all components of our college, a commitment to continually improve requires review processes to ensure that practices are delivering the most meaningful experiences for students and the highest outcomes possible. St Paul’s constantly strives for our young people and given that the college has now delivered a cycle of students (our current year 12 cohort were the first group of Year 7 students to undertake the Middle Years Program in 2019), noting that the educational landscape is ever-changing, and recognising that students have changed in profile and grown in number since 2019, provide motivation to review our unique approach to middle years education.
In coming weeks, students and families and staff alike, will be asked to provide feedback as part of the Middle Years Review. This input is crucial and so families are urged to complete the 5 minute survey when it is provided. For our community’s knowledge and transparence, the review seeks to identify what is best for our students, as related to the following measures:
- Student experience
- Orientation to Secondary (high school)
- Student learning outcomes
- Student wellbeing outcomes
- Readiness for success in Senior Years
- ERICA (the college’s Learning Principles: Engaging, Relevant, Innovative, Creative, Authentic) and the college’s strategic directions
- Developments in education (landscape) and external contexts (EREA, CESA, Government Bodies, Research)
- Teacher administration (teacher efficacy, workload, capability, effectiveness, documentation)
- Meeting the requirements of the Australian Curriculum
Please keep your eyes-peeled for the parent survey, with thanks in advance for contributing to this important component of the review process.
*Photo - Mr Foulis recognising Walter Chatindiara on 10 years of service
