News & Events
From the Principal
Dear Friends of St Paul’s,
Last Wednesday we began the important Christian season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday liturgy (by Zoom!) It was a particularly powerful liturgy and with the involvement of our students for the first time, became significant. As a very multi-cultural and multi faith College we welcome and celebrate inclusivity regularly. At the same time, we will always remain faithful to our Catholic and Edmund Rice charism and history. The way all our students embrace this spiritual setting is one of the most wonderful aspects of this great school. We are sure the students, from reception to year 12 will now understand the significance of this Lenten season and make every attempt to put that understanding into practice (hopefully around the home!!)
Year 8 Camps & Tours
With the distinctly various times we are living in, the staff of St Paul’s need to be even more adaptive and flexible than ever. This has been clearly demonstrated by Mr Campbell, Mr Stewart and our marketing department in recent times. We have been scheduled to run several camps and College tours throughout the early part of the year and COVID has made it exceedingly difficult. Our staff have negotiated different structures, times, and scenario so that the students and prospective families can experience the full vitality of the College. We thank the staff for making sure these events happen in some way shape or form!
In terms of tours and enrolments can I encourage all families who may know of others who are considering enrolling children at St Paul’s to tell them to do so as soon as they can. With pressure on now for positions we are having to close our books and stop accepting enrolments over 18 months to two years out from commencement. While this is positive for the College it is an awful situation where we have to say no to families. It is by far one of the worst parts of our roles here.
From the Head of Primary
Dear Families,
This past couple of weeks I have enjoyed talking to students during my duties. They have been sharing memories of their holidays and camping trips, not only from recently, but previous months and even from some years ago! The conversations were many and varied.
Through our musings I was reminded of AA Milne - “We didn’t realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” How lovely that these children I spoke with have the opportunity to build memories. There was a touch of mischief, adventure and as another cried very enthusiastically, “I had to make my own fun playing outside and not with my iPad”. Our memories, feelings and thoughts affect all of us and what is created in childhood is often transferred into our adult lives.
From the Principal
Dear Friends of St Paul’s,
Our start to the 2022 school year continues to be extremely positive, despite all the world problems that surround us! Like all society we have been impacted by the COVID scenario but nowhere near as bad as other schools or communities, and our processes are well and truly established and working well. As always, we ask that if any family has any concerns, please contact us and we will assist you in any way we can. Our community relationships have always been built around trust and our commitment to our three-way partnership (student/ family/ college) remains as strong as ever.
Communication is always the key, and we will continue to be proactive in this space and ask that you feel free to contact us whenever you need.
Lent
As a Catholic College in the Edmund Rice tradition, we are very aware of our mission and obligations in remaining authentically Catholic while being extremely inclusive and welcoming families from all different faith backgrounds. Next Tuesday and Wednesday, we enter the most significant period in our church’s calendar – LENT. Lent is a season of preparation and perspective! We celebrate on “Shrove” or “Pancake” Tuesday and move into the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. On both Tuesday and Wednesday, we will share with our staff and students a clear explanation of the significance of these days and this season.
St Paul’s College Car Park: Drop-off and Pick-up (Kiss and Drop)
Our College’s only carpark continues to be a matter requiring improvement to address access for cars at the two key times of each day (morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up). This is intensified as our College welcomes more families to our community in 2022.
As previously communicated to families, this matter is so significant that St Paul’s College remains in meaningful communication with local Council, and we are working towards a long-term solution within the next 18 months.
One short-term solution to ease traffic in our carpark has been staff parking on the College sports fields; this decision has reduced cars in the carpark to manage increased drop-off/pick-up that occurs at the start of the school year.
Welcome from the Deputy Principal
In a historical year for St Paul’s College, with co-education beginning and so many new families joining our community, I excitedly add my welcome to the 2022 school year: Together We grow.
Staff Preparations for 2022
The contributions of so many new staff across various roles have been an absolute joy to witness in the opening weeks of the year as staff readied the College to welcome students. Rivalling this highlight has been the welcoming, selfless, and caring way that continuing staff have embraced new colleagues to ensure they are most comfortable and prepared for students.
As families of St Paul’s, you will have already witnessed the year’s theme in motion as staff model their growth together, into the new era of St Paul’s College.
Welcome to the 2022 school year
2022 Back to School
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
I hope you and your children are enjoying the school holidays. Above all, I hope you are safe and well during these challenging times.
We very much look forward to the upcoming 2022 school year, where our College’s greatest priorities remain safety, wellbeing and learning for your child. This time is especially exciting as St Paul’s move into co-education, while welcoming many more families to our community. Amidst the challenges presented by COIVID-19, we cannot lose site of the importance of this historical beginning.
2022 Student Leaders
Dear Friends of St Paul’s,
It is with much pleasure that we inform our extended St Paul’s community the names of the Student Leadership Group (Prefects) for 2022.
In doing so, I thank Nick Callary and the Leaders of House for their work with this process.
These young men have a very important role in 2002 as we enter a whole new chapter of life at the College as a co-educational school.
- Lucas S - College Captain
- Aiden F - College Vice-Captain
- Harison D - House Captain / Prefect - Dally
- Chetas B - House Captain/ Prefect – Gleeson
- Konstantinos D - House Captain / Prefect – Marlow
- Thomas S - House captain / Prefect – Nagle
- Ryzar G - House Captain / Prefect – O’Loughlin
Please join with us in congratulating these boys – and all who were courageous enough to nominate for the process.
The team was formally welcomed at the Year 12 Grad Mass.
Mr Paul Belton
Principal
Photo: Lucas and Aiden
Introducing Nagle House
Excitingly, our College will experience a significant increase in students for 2022. Within this growth, student wellbeing, safety and learning must remain central to the liberating education that we offer as a College in the Edmund Rice tradition. In 2022, St Paul’s College will welcome the addition of a fifth house: Nagle House. This is named after Nano Nagle, founder of the Presentation Sisters and a crucial influence on Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of St Paul’s College, the Presentation Brothers, and the Christian Brothers. Nagle is an important person in the life of our charism and therefore, our College.
Andy Thomas Space Foundation Mentor Visit
Professor Jenny Mortimer, a plant scientist from the Waite Institute, Nicola Sasanelli, CEO of Andy Thomas Space Foundation, and Imogen, our Challenge Liaison, visited the Year 7 classes Wednesday morning.
Kovid, James, Liam and Kavisha had this to report about the visit:
