revelations - st paul's grammar school€¦ · revelations - st paul’s fortnightly...

RevelationsThe fortnightly newsletter for Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 families of St Paul’s

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 2 1

Issue No. 02 Friday March 17, 2017

You may have noticed that the school has launched a brand new website. The new site has been totally redesigned and rebuilt and was launched last week. If you haven’t seen it yet you can follow this link www.stpauls.nsw.edu.au and take a look for yourself. I am sure you will agree that the new site is fresh and engaging and seeks to capture the essence and atmosphere of our unique school. The other aspect of the website that you may notice is that it is not designed to be a source of information for our current families. All of the detailed information about the school that families need to access is now on our my.stpauls site. This means our website has been tailored to families who are in the process of looking for a school for their children. If you want calendar dates, account information, school procedures etc. These resources are all best found using your my.stpauls login. Please contact the school if you are unable to access my.stpauls for assistance. It was wonderful to see so many of our sporting teams compete in the grand finals recently. My congratulations to all our teams. Watching our teams in action highlighted for me how

encouraging and supportive our students are of each other. This is a lovely aspect of our school culture that people often remark upon. I would also like to acknowledge Darryl Kelshaw,

Junior ISA Softball Girls won 17-1 in Grandfinal vs Chevalier College.

our Sports Academy Coordinator, for his leadership in this area. It is so encouraging to see St Paul’s sporting program grow in strength from season to season. Daryl manages a team of coaches and managers who have also done a wonderful job.With regard to sport: a decision has been taken for St Paul’s to get back to the water and reintroduce Rowing as a sport for our students. This will operate in a similar manner to our Equestrian program, with Mrs Monique Joines, a member of our staff to co-ordinate. You may be interested to know that the school already has a number of boats and rowing equipment, which have been in storage for a number of years. If you would like some more information about this program please contact Mrs Joines directly or students can drop into student reception to ask questions.

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105: 1 -2

From the Principal

CRICOS 02267A

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 02, March 2017 2

St Paul’s is a White Ribbon SchoolI am delighted to advise our school community that our school is now officially accredited as a White Ribbon School with White Ribbon Australia, following a recent presentation and workshop that Mrs Julie-Ann Thomas and I attended, at which we delivered a presentation on our 2016 White Ribbon Project. We were very proud of our 2016 achievements and were able to reflect on the impact of the work our school community did last year for this important cause. Thank you to our school's White Ribbon Committee for their part in this success; it really was a team effort. We are working on some exciting initiatives for St Paul's this year to keep the White Ribbon 'respect' message coming through for our students.

"The work of our Middle and Senior Prefects was significant last year as we launched this project. I look forward to working with the new prefect bodies this year as we approach the 2017 White Ribbon Day."

The St Paul’s White Ribbon Committee members are: Ian Wake, Philip Heath, Catherine Corry, Julie-Ann Thomas, Justin Warner, Ian Brooker, Jacqueline Tuting, James Grady, Sarah Galea, Amanda Sharpe, Stephanie Paragalli, Lindsay Smith; Erica Galbraith, Leanne McLean, Michael Jeffery, Mandy Turner; Katy Whale, Rachael Jamieson-Newton, Catherine Stacker, Melissa Mavin, Matthew Berg and Karen Keogh.

ISA Sport Grand Finals

As our school came into the grand final week of the summer season of ISA sport, we had eight ISA teams participating in grand finals at Penrith Basketball Stadium and Blacktown International Sportspark. The students in these teams have worked hard for two terms to get into these finals. The grand final day saw our students play with outstanding spirit and sportsmanship; I was so pleased to watch the basketball games played in such wonderful way. It was fantastic to see so many of our students and wider community together at these finals to support our students. Thank you for your support and encouragement of our students!

The results were:ISA Junior Softball Girls – Win - Semi-final vs Central Coast

Grammar 21-5Win - Grand final vs Chevalier College 17-1

ISA Basketball Girls – Loss – Juniors - Grand final vs Central Coast Grammar 27-13Loss – Inters - Grand final vs Redlands 26-40Loss – Opens - Grand final vs St Spyridon

ISA Basketball Boys – Win – 13 - Grand final vs St Pats 24-15Loss – 14 - Grand final vs St Andrews Win – 17 – Grand final Vs St Pat’s 34-20Win – Opens - Grand final vs St Pius College 25-17

Year 12 Exams & Camp

Years 12 students have been undertaking their half-yearly examinations these past two weeks. Exams provide a wonderful opportunity for the students to receive feedback on their performance to date and an indication of where to do some more work. This feedback will enable the students to progress forward to the next stage in preparation for their Diploma/HSC. While the examination process is often considered arduous by the students, I challenge the students to use the feedback

From the Head of the Secondary School


they receive after exams to recalibrate their study routines to ensure that their studies are receiving due attention to get them to their post school destinations. If the students need help, I encourage them to make an appointment to see Mrs Moon, for career guidance and university entrance assistance, or Mr Mayrhofer or their Head of House for more specific support in the academic or pastoral areas. As parents, please feel free to make contact yourself with these staff if you would like some clarification or help to support your child at home. Year 12 have been in the Snowy Mountains this week on their final school camp, it is a very special time for the students together.

Years 7 & 11 Parent Teacher Night, 21st March

Parent-teacher evenings are an important part of the partnership between school and home, designed to support students in their education. This year we have made the provision for Year 11 Parent/Teacher interviews be held early in the year so parents can be apprised of their students’ progress in their new environment of

Senior Schooling. These interviews will take place next Tuesday 21st March in the Junior School Hall. I wish to extend an invitation for you to come and meet your child’s teachers and discuss his/her progress. Where appropriate, we encourage students to be present at the interview. It is often helpful for them to hear the nature of the conversation and have opportunities to ask questions.

From time to time, parents and caregivers would like a longer conversation to explore a student’s progress. If you wish to make a separate appointment, please contact the teacher directly.

It is anticipated that all parents and students take this opportunity to meet with staff. Full school uniform is required for students attending interview, please support the staff in reminding the students of this requirement.

30th Anniversary Annual Ball with Debutantes

St Paul's Annual Ball with Debutantes is our school Gala event. This year marks the 30th anniversary of this formal occasion. It is a special evening

of fine dining, celebration and dance, with the traditional presentation of our Year 11 Debutantes and their Partners. All members of the St Paul’s community are invited to attend.

Year 12 on Camp

Year 12 on Camp

Year 12 on Camp



Our Guest of Honour for the evening is St Paul’s alumnus, Tom Pollett.

Date: Saturday 13th May, 2017

Time: 7:00pm (pre-dinner drinks) for 7:30pm start

Venue: Curzon Hall, 53 Agincourt Rd, Marsfield

Tickets: $150

Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased through Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=258562

Uniform Change over for Term 2The end of Term One is fast approaching. Please be organised for the changeover to Winter uniform in Term Two. As in past years, we will have a two-week window at the start of Term Two, where students can wear either full Summer or full Winter uniform. To avoid disappointment, please purchase any Winter uniform items your student may need as soon as possible. Currently, the full range of winter items is available at the Blue + Green Threads.

If your child has special fit requirements, please see our store managers, Brenda & and Rebecca soon to have this accommodation met at no additional charge.

Blue + Green Threads April opening hours (closed during term break)

Wednesday 26th 8am - 4pm (School resumes)

Thursday 27th 8am - 4pm

Karen Keogh

Head of Secondary School


Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 02, 2017 5

From the Head of the Junior School

Farewell to Mr Linton

You may recall in the last edition of Revelations, announcing that Mr Linton had accepted a position at Redfield College in Dural. This is a 'step-up' for Mr Linton which will allow him to teach senior high school classes. At Monday morning's assembly there will be an opportunity to publicly farewell Mr Linton. Mr Linton's last day is Friday 24th March. Arrangements are currently underway to replace him.

Junior School swim team shine at HICES Carnival.

Congratulations to our swim team who were successful in winning the Division 2 competition at the recent HICES (Heads Independent Coeducational Schools) carnival. The team swam superbly and came from behind to take out the competition by the end of the day. The students behaviour and positive attitude was commendable. My thanks go to Mr Linton, Mrs Storrie and Mr Wotherspoon for accompanying the team on the day.

Parent/ Teacher Interviews

By now, parents should have booked appointments for the Parent/ Teacher Interviews scheduled for Monday 20th March. If parents are unable to book an appointment with their student’s teacher but still want to, they can contact the teacher after Monday night to find some other time to meet before the end of term.

Mr Ian BrookerHead of Junior School

Kindy 'Live Graphing' at heJS Inquiry Centre

JS Swim Team at HICESFitness stations with Mr Linton


From the Director of Student and Family Services

As a school, St Pauls aims to develop the whole student. This incorporates seeing growth in the academic, spiritual, physical, social and emotional well-being of our students. The provision of a wide range of experiences is utilised by St Paul’s to assist in the development of all these key components of student well-being. One such experience is through involvement in the school’s sporting teams. St Paul’s is a member of the Independent Schools Association sporting completion and last weekend saw the culmination of the ISA’s summer competition with grand finals being played in all sports. St Paul’s was fortunate enough to have eight of our ten teams competing in these Grand Finals. Four of our seven basketball teams were victorious with the Open boys completing the season undefeated and our under 17 boys, under 13 boys and our junior girls also being successful on the weekend. Our other successful team was the Girls Softball team who also went through the season undefeated. Whilst these are clearly fantastic results, and these achievements should rightly be celebrated, our students

gain so much more than mere results from their involvement in our sports teams. There is the obvious physical benefits from being involved in the training for, and playing of, a sport. In addition to this in a vast majority of cases participation in our school sport team leads to friendships forming with others beyond a students’ regular circle of friends. Repeatedly staff at St Paul’s see these friendships and connections extend across the traditional year groupings of the school. This greatly contributing to the sense of community that exists within the school. In this way our sports teams serve our students as a very real source of connection and belonging, both to one another and to St Paul’s. Strong feelings of connection and belonging are key elements in the emotional and social well-being of adolescents. Furthermore, such feelings of belonging greatly assist the development of resilience in teenagers. Another integral part of life at St Paul’s is our Year camps. By the time this edition of Revelations arrives to in boxes our current year 12 cohort will just be returning from their final experience of camp as a cohort, this time to the Snowy Mountains. These camps

provide an ideal environment away from the setting of the school grounds, to strengthen relationships and connectedness amongst year groups. Working together on various physical challenges promotes teamwork and the break from school routine certainly provides a timely a circuit breaker from the academic stresses experienced during the recent half yearly exams. In addition to this, students receive the opportunity to contemplate issues surrounding their faith in a supportive and caring environment whilst away on camp. In this way St Paul’s mandatory program of year camps across the 6 years of High school works in partnership with activities such as our sporting teams to promote the well-being of our students. Mr Philip Heath Director of Student and Family Servces

Year 12 Camp, Mt Kosciuszko, Kosciuszko National Park


From the Director of Policy and Compliance

Parents/Carers are reminded to please be aware that the areas marked on the map below are not to be used by parents picking up their children from Kiss and Drop.The reason for this notification is that staff are witnessing unsafe practices: Cars that are parked in the car park have to squeeze through the parked cars to get out of the parking areas. Students are being taken across hazardous areas of the carpark with limited visibility for the cars coming around the corner. Parents parking in the staff car park have to back out into oncoming traffic. Staff wishing to leave when there is a car parked in the

staff car park are having to manoeuvre in a tight space to get out, risking car damage. At St Paul’s, we make every effort to keep children safe. We educate them to make wise choices. We need parents to come along on this journey with us for the best outcomes for all. Parking in “No Standing” areas is sending your children a mixed message that can be confusing. “Here is a rule, but it doesn’t need to be obeyed.”We are blessed to have very large grounds and an ‘off-street’ Kiss and Drop. Be encouraged to take the walk from a designated parking bay to Kiss and Drop and

count up your steps. Or is you are tired or mobility impaired, stay in the Kiss and Drop line and have your children come to you, it doesn’t take long for the line to clear. The JS Staff are there to watch over and organise the children. The system works exceptionally well due to the high commitment of the JS Staff. Please work with us on this. We can achieve amazing things for your children when we work together.

Glenda Clapin Director of Policy and Compliance


Junior School News

Claremont and Cornwallis hosted the first House Day in

the Junior School for 2017

There was a wonderful array of cupcakes and jelly cups for students to purchase and the lines were out the door.We want to thank all the families of primary students in these houses who worked behind the scenes to provide the goods. All the money raised goes towards our support of Compassion sponsor children.

Thank you also for the enthusiastic help of the Year 6 students who manned the stalls. A great day!

Mrs Bromage – Cornwallis & Mrs Bonazza - Claremont

From the Junior School Inquiry Centre

The Inquiry Centre has been a hive of activity! It’s great to see so many students reading and enjoying a variety of learning experiences at lunchtime. Please pop in and visit us, or visit us online at http://my.stpauls.nsw.edu.au/homepage/1750 where you will find many links and resources to support your child’s educational journey at St Paul’s.

Reminder: All Book Club orders are due by Monday 20th March and to be placed online through the ‘Loop’. This year we are moving exclusively to online ordering.

To place an online order click on the following link ‘The Loop’ https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au and register for an account.

If you have any difficulties, simply call customer service on 1800 021223 or come in to the Inquiry Centre and see Mrs Mitchell who can guide you through step by step. All orders are delivered directly to the school and distributed to students.

From now on, no cash or cheque orders will be taken. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Kerry McCafferyTeacher Librarian

'Coding Mice' Fun at the JS Inquiry Centre'

Claremont and Cornwallis House Day Library Monitors hard at work

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