2024 Newsletter #21 November 13
Principal News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to this week’s news update. The weather gods once again like to mix it up a little bit. There was a pretty good lightning show last night around the district and a steady amount of rain fell too. It’s getting harder and harder for the weather forecasters to predict what is going to happen. The gardens certainly had a good soaking. The downside is the temperature keeps on fluctuating and once again after a warm day it is followed by a cool morning.
SAC MEETING: Last night the School Advisory Council met for their November meeting. We discussed our annual action plan for the 2025 school year and the school review process as well. The SAC members also had an opportunity to walk through the staffroom extension and refurbishment. It is on track to be completed in the next couple of weeks. We also received new nominations, and I would like to thank those parents who have put their hand up. I will be announcing the new members in the coming weeks and acknowledging our current members who will conclude their term on the SAC for 2024
PRINCIPALS’ COUNCIL This Thursday and Friday I will be in Melbourne attending the final Principals Council meeting hosted by IEU Vic/Tas. This will also be my final gathering with my colleague principals from across the state. Mrs Sutherland will be the principal in my absence.
STUDENT ILLNESS: There has been a spike in recent weeks with gastro doing the rounds again. Unfortunately, we have had several children attending school and informing us they have been vomiting the night before, only for us to have to ring parents and collect them as the vomiting has continued the next day. Please, if your children are unwell, keep them home. The germs just spread and students as well as staff are falling ill.
SCHOOL UNIFORM: It is great to see so many children doing the right thing and wearing the correct school uniform. However, it is also disappointing that several children are not. Incorrect uniform items such as: socks, shoes, sports attire, jewellery and nail polish are being worn quite regularly. If your child does not have the correct uniform, please provide a written note to their class teacher with an explanation.
Congratulations to this week’s recipients of our Gotcha awards for following our school norms and reaching the important milestones.
BEE MILESTONE: Mason Roccisano, Sofia Cricelli, Faye Ratcliffe, Olivia Smith, Gerry Jayan & Kevin Norton.
HIVE MILESTONE: Lola Droffelaar, Heidi Slimmon, Lam Nguyen, Kalasia Fonua, Baine Hateley, Elijah Hunt, Alayna Anish, Mischa Pascale, Hollies Tickle, Montana Higgins & Jacob Echanes.
CALENDAR EVENTS:
NOVEMBER:
Thursday 14th – 2025 Foundation Transition session #5 at 12.15pm
Friday 15th – SRC Mission Month fundraising activities at 11.00am
Thursday 21st – 2025 Foundation Transition session #6 at 12.15pm (final Session)
- 2.45pm- 2025 Parent Information session. (uniform shop will be open)
Friday 22nd - SRC Mission Month fundraising activities at 11.00am
Tuesday 26th – Grade 5 visit to St Joseph’s College- Enright Campus
- Grade 6 Pool day and graduation practice
Wednesday 27th - First Reconciliation Sacred Heart Church
Friday 29th - Middle Unit Liturgy 9.15am
- SRC Mission Month fundraising activities at 11.00am
- Assembly 2.45pm in the hall
DECEMBER:
Tuesday 3rd – Grade 6 Orientation Day- St Joseph’s College
- St Joseph’s College Year 7 2025 Information evening
Friday 6th – Foundation Activities Day
Friday 13th – Whole school Transition to new classes 9.00am-11.00am
- End of Year Whole School mass 12.15pm
Sunday 15th – Year 6 Graduation Sacred Heart church
Monday 16th- Whole School Concert Rehearsal
Tuesday 17th End of Year Christmas Concert- 7.00pm
Wednesday 18th- Last day of school for students 3.25pm finish
I hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoyable weekend.
As always
Keep the Faith!
Vince Muscatello
Religious Education News
Senior Unit News
Leader Speeches
Well done to those students who presented speeches this morning (Wednesday 13th November)!
The remainder of the speeches will be held at 9am Wednesday 20th November.
Again, parents are welcome to attend to support their children.
Grade 5 St Joseph's Orientation Day
Grade 5 Students from St Paul's Primary School have been invited to participate in St Joseph's College STEM program on Tuesday the 26th Nov 2024.
We will be leaving St Paul's Primary school at 11am and arriving at St Joseph's College, Enright Campus by 11:35 am. Students will be bussed back to school in time for normal dismissal.
Please ensure your children are wearing sports uniform on the day. Students won't need to bring anything with them, all food and drinks will be provided by the College.
Grade 6 Pool Day
Grade 6 Students will be attending a graduation practice at the Sacred Heart Church on 11th Street between the times of 10:30am - 11:30 am. Students will walk from the school, so please ensure they have hats and that they are also wearing their sport uniform . After the Practice students will then walk to the Mildura Waves to go swimming. This activity will be from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Please ensure you have given consent on SIMON everywhere App.
For the day, students will need to bring their own Snack, Drink Bottle, Bathers/ Towel/ Plastic Bag, Back Pack & Hat. Lunch will be provided by the School (hot chips) Students will walk back to school in time for normal dismissal.
Grade 6 Graduation
The Grade 6 students will celebrate their Graduation on Sunday December 15th. Students will participate in a Graduation Mass, followed by a ceremony and then dinner at Pizza Café. More details to follow.
Middle Unit News
STEM Activities
On Friday 8th November the Middle Unit participated in three STEM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which were so much fun! There were ‘Candy Cars’ to be made and put to the test going down a cardboard ramp, ‘Trap the Gingerbread Man’ where students created a trap that would assist the ‘Three Superpigs’ to catch the gingerbread man (doll) in the most efficient and effective way and finding ‘Symmetry in Nature’ using iPads.
Cricket: The other exciting activity on Friday 8th was our cricket players attending interschool sports. All students played four games in two teams. Both teams increased in skill level as the day progressed. The boy’s team won one of their games. Congratulations to all who participated. We are all proud of their achievements and how they represented St. Paul’s.
Ambulance Victoria Visit:
On Monday, two paramedics from Ambulance Victoria spent an hour with the Middle Unit, teaching us how to recognise if someone needs medical assistance and how to perform CPR. We spent some time with a practice defibrillator machine and also looked inside the ambulance.
Buddies: Our Grade 4's are eagerly awaiting the meeting of their new 2024 Foundation buddies. On Thursday next week, they will have a chance to meet them, followed by a play date the following Thursday. We are sure our Grade 4's will be the best role models to help out our new students as they begin their school journey.
End of Year Excursion: On Wednesday 11th December to celebrate the end of the year the Middle Unit will be going on an excursion to Ten Pin Bowling. Please ensure you have given consent for this activity on the SIMON Everywhere App.
Puberty Sessions-
During Weeks 8-10 we will be learning about physical, social and emotional changes in our bodies.
Week 8 - An introduction to puberty.
Week 8 - Using anatomical names for internal and external reproductive systems.
Week 9 - A basic understanding of human reproduction.
Week 10 - Reflection and summary of learning.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, don't hesitate to get in touch with your child's classroom teacher.
STEM Activities
Interschool T20 Cricket
Ambulance Visit
Junior Unit News
On Thursday the 7th of November, the Junior Unit participated in our Junior Unit Activity Day. Here are some photos from our day.
Junior Activity Day
Ambulance Victoria Visit
Foundation Unit News
On Monday the whole school had a visit from the Ambulance Victoria. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about what the role of an Ambulance officer involves. The children enjoyed looking inside the ambulance, having their blood pressure taken, laying on and operating the stretcher. They also tried bandaging each other up, applying a neck brace and wearing masks filled with water to experience what it is like to have a nebulizer on. It was a wonderful experience and Bree, Bobby and Stretch were very accomodating.
This Friday the Foundation Unit will be presenting at assembly. They will be singing some songs and sharing a little bit of information about their buddies.
The children took home information sheets for parents to share about their birth story. Could you please complete them and send them back to school asap. The children are enjoying sharing their stories.
Ambulance visit
2024 Christmas Concert
Our Christmas Concert will be on Tuesday 17 December at St Paul's Primary School, beginning at7pm.
The students have been practising their performance and are looking forward to the concert.
Please see below for what students will be performing and what they will require for their costume.
| Grade | Song | Costume required |
| Foundation Unit | The Grinch 'All I want for Christmas is you" | Christmas shirt |
| J4 | Aussie Jingle Bells | Christmas shirt, shorts and thongs. |
| J5 | 12 Days of Christmas | Red and White Christmas item or red and white clothing |
| J7 | Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer | Christmas T-shirt Optional: Red noses and/or antlers |
| J8 | Comin’ Down The Chimney | Christmas T-shirt or colours (red, green, white) |
| M1 | Rockin Around the Christmas Tree | Christmas T-shirt with school sports shorts and a Christmas hat or headband. |
| M2 | Xmas tree | Long skirt (white, black or red) or black pants/shorts. Plain t-shirt (white, black or red) Contrasting colours preferred. |
| M9 | Little Drummer Boy | Christmas clothes or colours |
| M10 | We wish you a Merry Christmas | Christmas T-shirt or Christmas coloured t-shirt (red/green), black school shorts. Santa hat or tinsel in hair |
| S11 | I want a hippopotamus for Christmas | Elves/dancers/backup singers/props - red or green t-shirt with black shorts Hippopotamus - grey or white shirt and shorts Girl - Christmas pyjamas |
| S12 | Hark The Herald Angels | Dancers - all white Drummers - Christmas t-shirts (green and red) and black basketball shorts |
| S13 | Run Rudolph Run | Sunglasses Plain red shirt Black sports shorts Black shoes |
| S14 | Here comes Santa Claus | Elves - green or red shirt with black shorts Reindeer - reindeer antlers, black shirt and shorts Snowmen - white shirt, black shorts Santa - red shirt, black shorts |
Interschool T20 Blast Cricket
Last Friday, some of our Middle and Senior students participated in Interschool T20 Blast Cricket. In windy conditions at the Mildura Sporting Precinct, our students battled hard throughout the day and represented St Paul's extremely well.
It was encouraging to see the improvement of our students throughout the day, particularly from those who have not played much cricket previously.
Well done to all involved!
Maths Competition Results
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the APMSO Maths Competition. Certificates will be handed out at assembly this week.
Distinction & Best in School
Alice Blanchard
Credit Award
Harriet Gibson, Harvey Heagerty, Ryan McDonald, Levi Morton, Nimrat Singh Dhaliwal & Aiden Silcox
Proficiency Award
Dan Boby, Natasha Cavallo, Joseph Lloyd, Geordie Moraitis, Jessica Ram, Dustin Scott, Jaxun Thouliss, Jasper Trinh, Alayna Anish, Taylor Burns, Khloe Garland, Nicholas Horne & Ariah Tickle.
Participation Award
Jessica Allieu, Liam Aranas, Kooper Carmichael, Fletcher Divola, Willow Droffelaar, Joseph Fotheringham-Gottardo, Sienna Humphrey, Skylar Humphrey, Seth Ram, Faye Ratcliffe, Ruby Slimmon, Jordan Tran, Samuella Allieu, Ariani Arden, Zac Erben, Cohen Hateley, Kenolee Hettiarachchi, Konna Peters & Hayden Rowe.
Hands Up Mallee
This Friday any student in the Junior Unit that rides or scoots to school can meet Narelle Simpson at the front of the school during the first half of lunch play for some fun with their bikes and scooters. Just a reminder that helmets are a very important safety factor when riding a bike or a scooter and must be worn to be able to take part.
Mildura Show Art Competition
Congratulations and well done to all of our budding artists this year!! We had around 120 wonderful entries in the Mildura Show this year and there were 31 of our entries that were awarded with either a 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th prize place or an encouragement award!! Amazing effort by everyone involved from our creative artists to our team of staff organising all of the pieces to be entered.
The following students received prizes for;
Middle Unit
Handwriting: Harlow Johnson-1st Prize, Hannah Davis- 1st Prize, Yana Ayala- 2nd Prize, Aiden Varghese Moolayil- 3rd Prize, Sylvia Jade Simmons- 4th Prize, Emma Williams -Encouragement Award & Andrea Norton- Encouragement Award
Senior Unit Decorated Masks:
Victoria Finocchiaro- 3rd Prize, Ariah Tickle- 4th Prize , Harriet Gibson- Award of Merit, Blair Traeger- Award of Merit
Poppy Thannhauser- Award of Merit
Student Art:
Foundation: Emelia Barlow- Encouragement Award
Year 1: Elsie Freeman- 2nd Prize , Ira Janssen- 4th Prize & Yindi Lopez-Bertalli- Encouragement Award
Year 2:Olivia McKay- 3rd Prize, Sofia Cricelli- 4th Prize & Aubree Carmichael- Encouragement Award
Year 3: Alia Lijo- 1st Prize, Mischa Pascale- Encouragement Award
Year 4: Annalise Goncalves-Wood- 1st Prize, Mihle Linde- 2nd Prize, Nhu Nguyen- 2nd Prize
& Kalasia Fonua- 2nd Prize
Year 5: Alice Blanchard- Encouragement Award
Year 6: Matilda Wilkinson- 2nd Prize, Blair Traeger-3rd Prize, Blair Traeger-Encouragement Award , Erin Taylor-Encouragement Award & Poppy Thannhauser- Encouragement Award.
Thank you to Anne-Marie Sapuppo and all her helpers for organising all the Art Show entries.
Congratulations and well done to everyone!!