30 September 2022

Dear Families and Friends of St Paul’s

Another term comes to a rapid close! I am not sure if it just because we all get a bit older, but our school terms just seem to by faster and faster every year. Maybe it is that we are so much busier and cannot fit it all into the ten weeks!

In many ways term 3 is the busiest. In addition to all the normal teaching and learning, co-curricular activities, staff professional development, meetings etc we begin the massive undertaking of preparing for the next year! This seems crazy, but has been bigger and more important than ever over the last couple of years as we have grown. We are currently interviewing numerous candidates for teaching and other ESO positions at the College. It has been a pleasure to read so many great applications and interviewing so many terrific teachers who want to join our community because of who we are and what we hold most dearly, the FRED values and EREA Touchstones.

In addition, to keep us on or toes, we are continuing to push on with planning regarding the new Primary Building that we hope to start before the end of the year. We have been to tender and will progress further over the next couple of weeks. More excitement for St Paul’s.

Over these last couple of weeks, the College has held or participated in:

An amazing College Music Night
Catholic Schools Music Festival
Report writing and Parent/Teacher Learning Conversations
Achilles Cup Athletics Carnival
Another college tour
School Advisory Council meeting
A 2023 girls transition evening
A sensationally successful Primary Market Day
And we finish of the term with our spectacular Colour / Slim Run Day and announcement of the winners of the prestigious Shannahan Cup – the trophy for the most outstanding “House” of the year.

Did we say we were busy having fun! These activities cannot happen without the exceptional commitment of our amazing staff who give so much of themselves, for the students. We are sure the families appreciate these efforts.

As term 3 concludes we again ask all students and families have a good round table conversation about school reports and all the efforts associated with the learning dimension of their lives. Hopefully, this conversation is a congratulatory one whereby recognition of the pursuit of personal excellence is the main topic!

I hope the upcoming break is an enjoyable time for everyone, that the weather improves and that you have some quality time with your loved ones.

My sincere thanks to everyone for what has been another wonderful term in this great community.

Take Care,

God Bless

Paul Belton

Stage 2 Biology students visited the Adelaide Zoo for a workshop applying their learning on speciation, natural selection and adaptations for their topic on Evolution.

From the Resource Centre:

It is with great sadness that Ms Gloria Calton will be retiring at the end of this term. What started as a 6 month contract, Gloria has given 31 years of service to St Paul’s working in various Library and IT roles as well as teaching International students English in her earlier years.

Gloria is thoughtful, kind, gracious, helpful, supportive and inclusive. She is diligent and hard-working and will stop whatever she is doing to help. In the 17 years I have worked with her I don’t ever recall her saying “no” to a colleague! She has a positive attitude. She is a strong, confident woman who will lend a shoulder to cry on if you need it. Gloria has always been fun, young at heart with a great sense of humour.

On behalf of the St Paul’s family, the contribution she has made to the 1000’s of students and many staff who have come and gone and are still here today know that the community are saddened by your departure. Enjoy this time to focus on your health and doing the things that matter to you most. We hope you leave with a heart full of memories of your time here, as the Library won’t be the same without you. We will miss you dearly.

Ms Rosemarie Sgro
Resource Centre Coordinator

Where you intend to withdraw your child from St Paul’s, one full term’s notice will be required. This must be in writing, addressed to the Principal. Failure to provide this advance notice will incur a term’s tuition fee.

We are currently developing our budget for 2023 and student numbers are a key component of the College’s income. If you do not intend to maintain enrolment in 2023, please provide written notice by no later than the end of Term 3 to ensure you are not charged one terms fees in lieu of notice.

To assist the College meet its financial obligations it is expected that families pay their schools fees in full by 31 October each year unless a prior arrangement has been made with the Business Manager.

If you are not in a position to clear your outstanding balance by 31 October 2022 and do not already have an agreed repayment arrangement in place, please contact us to discuss your circumstances.

As we reach the end of Term 3, and on behalf of staff, I wish all students a restful school holiday period as a chance to rejuvenate ahead of Term 4. As a community, this is also a time to wish our Year 12 students well for their final preparations before departing for Examinations early next term – we wish them every success.

Please be reminded that there is a student free day on the first Monday of Term 4 and therefore school returns from these holidays on Tuesday 18 September 2022.

Term 4 is scheduled to be a busy term and I would like to draw you attention to some of the many events happening in our college community:

Week 1

• Student-Free Day Monday 17 October
• This is a scheduled Professional-Learning Day for staff at St Paul’s College. OSHC is closed and there will be no care for students during the day. College Reception will be closed (College closed)
• Term 4 Commences Tuesday 18 October (as previously communicated)
• Year 5 Retreat to Monarto 19 October

Week 2

• Reception to Year 2 Swimming at Waterworld 24 – 27 October. Information to follow.
• Senior Years Awards Assembly, Wednesday 26 October 1.15pm
• Year 12 Breakfast and Graduation Mass, Friday morning 28 October

Week 3

• Year 7 Camps, 31 October – 4 November

Week 4

• SACE exams begin
• Year 8 Retreat, Wednesday 9 November
• Year 5 Camp, 7 – 9 November

Week 5

• Year 6 Rite of Passage, Monday 14 November
• Year 10 Retreat, Tuesday 15 November
• Year 6 Retreat, Wednesday 16 November
• Year 11 students conclude formal lessons with End of Year Liturgy, Thursday 17 November
• Transition Day for all Reception – Year 7 students, new Year 8 students. Student Free Day for current Year 7-11 students: Friday 18 November

Week 6

• Year 11 Exams begin, 21 – 25 November
• Year 12 Graduation Dinner, Thursday 24 November
• Year 9 Rite of Passage, Friday 25 November

Week 7

• Middle Years Learning EXPO, 5pm – 7pm Wednesday 30 November
• Primary Years Christmas Stalls, Thursday 1 December
• Year 10 students conclude final lessons with End of Year Liturgy, Friday 2 December

Week 8

• Primary Years Celebration Evening and Year 6 Graduation, 6pm Wednesday 7 December
• Middle Years Celebration Evening and Year 9 Graduation, 6pm Thursday 8 December
• Term 4 concludes Friday 9 December at 3.10pm (Activities Day, Reception to Year 9)

*** Note Year 12 Trial Exams 2nd week school holidays, Wednesday 12 October – Friday 14 October

Please engage our staff at any time, in support of your child. ‘Together We Grow’ is our college theme in 2022 – may you and your family continue to grow into our community and may our young people grow as learners and leaders in our world.

Josh Foulis
Deputy Principal 

View all term 4 events on the College webiste here: CALENDAR

It was wonderful to welcome back graduates from the Class of 2021 recently. It was a challenging year for this cohort with the many building works taking place throughout last year. They had the opportunity to collect their College Year Books and view our great new facilities. It was great to catch up and hear about what they have been upto this year. We encourage all our graduates to keep in touch!

Year 12 school leavers, be prepared for next year with the updated School Leavers Resource eKit. It contains many different resources that explain Centrelink payments, like Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY, and how to get started with myGov. It also has information to help students get their own Medicare card and proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Download the eKit at servicesaustralia.gov.au/schoolleaversekit

Catholic School Parents SA (CSPSA) is pleased to present the second Parent Engagement Evening and welcomes all parents and carers of children in Catholic schools to attend.
The event “Get off that computer now!” will be presented by Mark Le Messurier and is described as follows:
This is more than a workshop on “cyber safety” – it addresses the delicate balance required to support kids to manage real life responsibilities, screens, social media and video games.
In this workshop, Mark will take attendees down a road that creates a balance between screens and other aspects of living a real life. Capturing a balance is a healthier approach than endlessly fighting, banning and being the controller of screens and devices. You need to be empowered – not scared off.
Mark Le Messurier is a teacher, counsellor, author and public speaker. He works in private practice as a mentor to children and adolescents, and as coach to parents. His practice details are found at https://www.marklemessurier.com.au/

CLICK FOR FLYER