Newsletter #39 December 16
Principal's News
Dear St Paul's families,
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2020. I would like to say thank you to all our families for all their support throughout the year. We were faced with challenges never seen before in our lifetime and we met them together head on. Many difficult decisons have been made along the way and there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. I know that we could not have been able to achieve what we did without the support of each other. It proves how important it is to work together for a common purpose. Our staff mantra is "collaborate to educate all". Our school motto is "Working together in love". I think we have achieved both of those in 2020 together. Well done!
As the year draws to a close it is time to say farewell to our families and year 6 students who are leaving St Paul's. I hope you have found the time with us to be fulfilling and leave you with long lasting memories. Good luck to the following St Paul's children and families whose journey ends today: Evan Beyer, Gabriel Collins, Joseph Coslovich, Joshua Davis, Christian Dobricic, Siena Fraser-Donoghue, Thomas Graham, Ben Harry, Bella Hensgen, Dustin Kennedy, Sophie King, Aphisit Morris, Jacob & Lachlan Nowak, Ky Ky Philp, Jannah Roberts, Leticia Sapuppo, Lila and Rosetta Senior, Daniel Sunna, Mason & Avy Tauelangi, Janelle Tran, Joel & Isaiah Tuifua.
I would like to extend a special farewell to two of our staff who are also leaving St Paul's. To Mrs Cathy Regester, I wish her all the best as she heads back to Adelaide to be closer to family. Cathy has been with us for two years and has certainly left her mark on the children she has taught and the staff alike. She is a wonderful teacher and she will be missed by us all.
Last week we announced that Mrs Naomi Kennedy had been appointed as the Interim Principal for the 2021 school year at St Joseph's Red Cliffs. Naomi has been an integral part of the success of St Paul's over the last eight years in particular. Her professionalism, knowledge, skills and compassion as a teacher and Deputy Principal has been exemplary. Her contribution to St Paul's over 26 years is an achievement in itself. We wish her all the best and know that she will do a wonderful job as principal. Please see below a farewell address from Mrs Kennedy.
Farewell from Mrs Kennedy
It is amazing to think that I have worked at St Paul’s for more than 25 years. I have spent all of my adult life as a staff member and parent in this wonderful community. As you know, alongside our Grade 6 students, I too am graduating, as next year I will be the new Principal at St Joseph’s in Red Cliffs. During my time at St Paul’s have been so lucky to work with hundreds, possibly thousands of amazing teachers, students and their families.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community and acknowledge our students, staff and families. St Paul’s has put immense faith in me and develop me as a teacher and leader. I would not be able to take this next step without your years of friendship, trust and support.
I have mixed emotions about leaving St Paul’s. I am excited for the challenges that I have ahead, but I am also sad to leave such a thriving community where I feel so much at home. I am so proud of what we have all built together and that St Paul’s is such a great place to grow and learn. To the entire St Paul’s family, thank you for making me part of your family, I will miss you very much.
Finally, I hope you all remember to follow the 3 B’s and look after each other, your friends, parents, teachers and even Mr M. I wish you all the best for the future and hope to visit you often in 2021 and beyond.
Kind regards,
Naomi Kennedy
Today at our assembly we announced the recipients of our Leadership awards for 2020. Congratulations to the following Year 6 students:
Fr Frank Monaghan Christian Service Award: Nathasha Allieu
Leadership Award: Mia Campbell
Academic Excellence English: Alissa Ovenden and Rosetta Senior
Academic Excellence Maths: Bianca De Maria
Academic Excellence The Arts: Alan Abraham-Jessil
Academic Excellence Sport: India Droffelaar
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our current school student leaders for their support in 2020. They have done a great job considering the year we had. Well done to: Joel Tuifua, India Droffelaar , Jacob Nowak, Eddy Lion, Josh Davis, Leylan Clifford, Sophie King, Lainesia Toutai, Letitia Sapuppo and Christian Panagiotopoulos.
It is my utmost pleasure to announce the new 2021 school student leaders.
School Captains-Lyla Ovenden and Darcy O'Callaghan
Mercy House Captains-Finn Droffelaar and Ruby Oliver
Chaffey House Captains-Jett Johnson and Oliver Welsh
McKenzie House Captains-Alexis Pantazopoulos and Jontae Moraitis
Hill House Captains-Ava Gemits and Ayesha Ram
Congratulations to our new leaders and also congratulations to our weekly Gotcha Winners.
25 GOTCHA AWARDS:Ben Boby, Charli Dunn, Lacey Hunt, Vienna Panagiotopoulos, Zeva Smythe, Harry Stanger, Owen Vo, Nayte Yates, Jessica Allieu
50 GOTCHA AWARDS: Gianluca Dimasi, Olivia Prescott, Candice Treweek, Harry Wiliams, Jessica Allieu, Laura Cifra, Lorenzo Pettinau, Lily O'Meara-Quayle, Gurman Singh, Victoria Finnochiaro, Ben Boby
Tomorrow we will be conducting interviews for a suitable replacement for Mrs Kennedy as Deputy Principal Wellbeing for 2021. Once an appointment has been made you will be notified promptly.
Please make sure you check the school calendar regularly for updates regarding the beginning of the 2021 school year. Hopefully we can start the year on the right foot and have all our parents back onsite engaging with us in your childrens' learning.
Finally on behalf of the St Paul's staff, School Advisory Council and myself, I would like to wish you all a blessed and holy Christmas with your families. May it be a wonderful time to gather and celebrate the birth of Christ and remember the true meaning of Christmas. If you are travelling over the Christmas holidays, please be safe and I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
As always,
Keep the Faith
Vince Muscatello
ADMINISTRATION NEWS
Student Medical Profiles
You will have received a notification to update your child’s Medical details on SIMON Everywhere. Please ensure you go in to each child’s profile – medical profile / edit details, scroll through, check, amend as necessary, tick the confirmation update details box. Click on UPDATE. DONE!
Please ensure this is done no later than Monday 18th January 2021.
Thank you from Admin to all our families for returning all their paperwork for 2021. Very much appreciated.
Wishing you all a safe happy & holy Christmas.
Kathryn & Loretta
Senior Unit News
Merry Christmas
From all of the Senior Unit Teacher and LSO's we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. Thank you for your support during 2020.
Best Wishes,
Ms Kedmenec, Ms Courtney, Mr Alexander, Mrs Thurman, Narelle, Meagan, Elise
CAMP DAYS
The photo gallery below caputres the fun we had last week on our camp days!
Camp Days 2020
Grade 6 Graduation
Sunday evening was a very special time for our Grade 6 students, their families and teachers. Together we celebrated their time at St Paul's with a graduation ceremony and liturgy at Sacred Heart Church. We wish all of our graduating Grade 6 students the very best for 2021 as they embark on the next chapter of their education.
Junior Unit news
Hello Junior Unit families and friends!
We can’t believe that this year has come to an end! We thank all the students and their families for the hard work and commitment that has gone into this year, during both remote learning and on site learning.
We look back on the year and we are thankful for so many things and think about our favourite moments. Here are some reflections about 2020 from students…
"My favourite part of this year was PE, Art, Technology and Italian" - Taylor, J5
"I have loved everything!" - Sophia, J5"
"I liked basketball and camp." - Lucas, J4
"Grade 2 camp!" - Antonio, J4
"Playing at school" - Dan, J6
"I liked meeting Mrs Chisari because she is really nice" - Blair, J7
"My favourite thing about this year was meeting Mrs. Chisari because she is very kind and nice" - Aisha, J7
"My favourite thing about this year was having nice friends and teachers." - Riana, J6
"My favourite thing this year was being in J8 and playing with my friends" - Jenny, J8
"My favourite thing about this year was being in Grade 2 in the Junior Unit" - Ethan, J8
Merry Christmas everyone and have a safe and happy New Year!
Foundation Unit News
The Foundation Unit staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We hope you all enjoy your time away from school, the routines and early mornings. We look forward to seeing you all next year and once again thank you for your patience and cooperation this year.
Languages - Italian News
... And just like that we have arrived at the end of the year ...
I would like to take this opportunity to wish every-one a truly blessed and beautiful Christmas ~ I hope you will be able to celebrate the joyous festive season with your family and loved ones near and far. Enjoy a well earned rest over the holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone again in 2021.
Buon Natale a tutti ~ Grazie Signora Ghidinelli
Technology News
Our last Technology lessons for the year were extra special for the Foundation students. They loved coding with the Christmas themed 'Code and Go Robot Mouse' mats designed and created by students in Year 3/4.
Year 1/2 students were thrilled to finally finish their unit of work investigating push-pull forces by creating working toy elves. Along with their elves, they have a very special message for everyone.
Important Information for our leaving
Year 6 students
Attention 2021 Year 5 Students & Parents/Carers
At the beginning of Year 5, as part of our school's Chromebook program, all students are issued a Chromebook to enhance their learning at St Paul's. Before students receive these devices, ALL Yr 5 students (accompanied by at least one parent) MUST attend our Chromebook and Cyber Safety Parent Information Session.
In 2021, this session will be held on Wednesday, 3rd of February from 6pm to 7:30pm. Attendance at this session is COMPULSORY and Chromebooks will only be issued to attendees at the end of the session.
Until next year, remember...
TECHNOLOGY, like art, is a soaring EXERCISE of the human IMAGINATION ~Daniel Bell
Wishing you all a very Merry, Safe and Blessed Christmas.
Enjoy your holidays.
I look forward to seeing you all back in 2021 for another exciting, although hopefully much more normal, year of learning.
Mrs Simms
Arts News
Firstly, I just want to say a massive THANK YOU for all of the lovely comments and feedback about the Virtual Concert, both on the facebook page and sent to me directly. I had a blast with the children putting it all together. The hours of planning, filming, recording, sewing and editing were certainly worth it for the end result! What a heart-warming way to finish the year.
The last week of specialist classes saw the Arts roomcoming alive with Christmas! What a lovely way to finish off a great fourth term back together after all of the ups and downs of this year.
The juniors had a great time creating these very cute reindeer, each one special and unique.
Reindeer
Meanwhile, the middles have been thinking about Christmas in Mildura and the sights of the beautiful jacaranda trees down Deakin Avenue and all around our district as this time of the year. So much effort and care went into each one!
Jacarandas
I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas and happy and safe holidays! Looking forward to bring you more of The Arts in 2021!
Ms Jess
Physical Education News
2020 will certainly not be forgotten quickly, but despite everything, there are lots of positives we can take from this crazy year. Physical Education not only helps our bodies grow and develop, but also keeps our minds healthy too! I pray that everyone has a wonderfully blessed summer break. Here are the final photos for the year, showing the different activities some classes chose to play last week. Enjoy spending some time outdoors exploring together these holidays!
Final week of choice
Sunraysia Catholic Communities Bulletin
Continuous Raffle Draw
Congratulations to the following families who won a prize in the Christmas Continuous raffle drawn at today's assembly.
- Beach Tennis Set & Pop up net donated by Rebel sport won by Traeger family
- Bocce Set, Flexi Skipper & Catch ball set donated by Rebel sport won by Welke family
- Zoom ball, Phlat ball & Zee Rocket donated by Rebel sport won by Hannah Davies family
- Cinema voucher & Skip rope donated by Nowak family & Rebel sport won by Kuruvilla Robin family
- Cinema Voucher & Zee rocket donated by Traeger family & Rebel sport won by Dustin Kennedy family
- Beach Cricket & Frisbee donated by Rebel sport won by Langford family
Thank you to the families who supported the raffle in 2020.
MADEC
