Principal's Message
Remembering a Humble Servant - Pope Francis (1936-2025)
For over a decade, Pope Francis has been a beacon of hope and a powerful voice for justice and peace in our world. His papacy has been marked by a genuine humility, a profound love for the poor, disabled and vulnerable. He possessed a tireless determination to take the light of the Gospel to all corners of the globe. His emphasis on mercy, his call for dialogue and understanding between different faiths and cultures and his passionate advocacy for environmental stewardship have resonated deeply with people of all backgrounds.
Here at St Paul’s, we have been inspired by Pope Francis's example. His teachings on love, service, and the importance of community have been integral to our own Catholic ethos. We have strived to embody his message of reaching out to those in need and fostering a spirit of inclusivity and compassion within our College community.
As a Catholic school, we have taken time during assemblies, PC time and CAS lessons to remember Pope Francis in our prayers and reflections. The staff prayer last week was run by Mr Conrad Tamblyn in the College chapel and was a time of reflection and prayer to remember the life of Pope Francis.
We pray now for the newly elected Pope. Overnight the conclave of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV. Robert Prevost, 69, will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. He has chosen the name Leo. We will pray for him, that he be a leader who walks with us as Pope Francis did.
May the soul of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, rest in peace.
ANZAC Services
On ANZAC Day the College was proudly represented at the marches around the Macleay and Nambucca Valleys to commemorate all soldiers. We are particularly proud of Sophie Brandolini, our college Captain, who was the MC for the Kempsey service this year. Thank you to all staff and students who attended the marches on behalf of the College.
On Wednesday last week we gathered as a College community to commemorate ANZAC Day. The HSIE department, led by Mrs Melissa Preston led a beautiful service supported by our student members of the local cadets. I thank all the staff and students involved for allowing the school community to pay our respects in a solemn way.
Show season is well and truly underway and I know many of you will have seen the amazing results of our College Agriculture Team at the Wauchope, Macksville and Kempsey shows. We are incredibly lucky to have dedicated staff who attend the shows on weekends, in the holidays and far too early in the morning! Special thanks goes to Mr Graham Bramley, Ms Lisa Frewen and Mr Ash Gardiner for all the work they put into the teams.
The College cross country was held at the Francis Farm last week. Over 70 students participated in the event. Thanks to Mr Leon Robinson and the staff who supported this great school activity. We wish all students who have qualified the best for the Diocesan Carnival to be held in Grafton next week.
Year 7 CAS classes have started their narrated Mass experiences with Fr James. This is an opportunity for the students to have the parts of the Mass explained to them so they can understand the importance more fully. We are grateful for the time Fr James puts into these very worthwhile learning experiences.
This week we have trialled a new way of conducting parent teacher interviews. We have had suggestions in past years that parents are not always able to see the teachers because there are not enough time slots, so we have divided the evening into two to see if this helps to address the issue. Hopefully you were all able to see the teachers of your children to hear about their wonderful learning opportunities at St Paul’s.
Thanks for your ongoing support,
Mrs Kate Fullbrook
Acting Principal