News

Dear Families and friends of St Paul’s,

Week 6 term 1 already, how can we possibly slow all this time down? Week 6, like all weeks of a school year is full of activity, learning, and adventures. Our year 8 cohort has been away on camp and although the weather has not been perfect we are sure that they are all having a great time. From the stories of the first half returners on Wednesday it was a memorable experience.

I believe one of the greatest challenges schools have always faced, and what is even more important now in such an ever-changing world, is to try to prepare students for their life beyond school. While academic achievement is important the necessity to be good people, resilient characters and emerging adults who understand life is not always about themselves, but rather great love and happiness comes from within when we give of ourselves to others.

This week I was extremely fortunate to hear from an outside external provider of St Paul’s one of the best compliments we have ever received. We were discussing the many and varied options students have as they progress through the secondary years – University, TAFE, VET courses, Apprenticeships etc. The compliment came after we were discussing the notion of what is “cutting edge” in terms of education right now. In her opinion, enabling every student to be encouraged to follow their dreams, their own specific pathway, and to be supported in that is actually “cutting edge". The best part was she said, she knew this is what St Paul’s is already doing and what we are really good at. How nice is that? Combine this with another recent compliment at our School, Advisory Council “word on the street is that we are awesome at caring for the students through our pastoral care structures". These comments are so wonderful and to be honest, I could not have wished for better. It is such a credit to all our staff, teaching and non-teaching who are so friendly and welcoming, always showing genuine care for the students and families. I am sure Edmund Rice, Br Dally, and all our predecessors would agree. We have a great deal to be proud of here at St Paul’s but we also remain committed to continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence in all we do.

Parents and Friends – Inclusive Community

This week we held another Parents and Friends meeting. It was very much a “changing of the guard” meeting where Ms Felicity Bylhouwer handed in her final letter of resignation after six or seven years of formidable service to the community. Both Felicity and Ms Bec Verrall have been the stalwarts of this group for several years and have been absolutely wonderful in their support of the College. We thank them sincerely for their great passion for the college. As we are now growing and more able to fund many of the projects we have not been able to before, the nature of the parents and friends provide can change from a group that raised much needed funds for the College to one that has more of a community building focus. One of our EREA Touchstones is Inclusive Community and we believe that through an active Parents and Friends structure we can reach out even more to our families, especially those who may struggle to communicate with us and us with them.

Please if any parents are wanting or are willing to join this group please let us know, via the front office, our DP Josh Foulis, or email to kcasey@stpauls.sa.edu.au

International Women’s Day

This week we also celebrated International Women’s Day and not only had a beautiful liturgy in our Pastoral Care lesson but also celebrated the amazing work done by our wonderful and very committed female staff members. We are who we are at St Paul’s because of the great sense of community we have and our female staff add enormously to that great sense of family we have.

Cocurricular Recognition

It must be the week of good news, but you can never get enough of that. After Saturday’s round of cocurricular events, we were delighted to receive an email from a teacher of Rostrevor who took the time to write about how terrific our year 8/9 cricket team was. It said:

“I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the St Paul's boys. They were friendly, well-mannered and played with a really positive and encouraging team spirit. They represented themselves and the school in an exemplary manner and it was noticed by both myself and the parents from Rostrevor.”

Our thanks must go to our coach Mr Michael Szczpanik (Oliver’s dad) and Mrs Maria Gibson our staff member and manager for their encouragement of the boys and for upholding such terrific values.

It has been a terrific week or so for the College.

Take care, God Bless

Mr Paul Belton