Term 3 Week 4

Dear Parents/Carers

The Transfiguration of the Lord

‘Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves.  There in their presence, he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them.’    Mark 9:2-10 

I hope the first few weeks of the term have been positive for our students.  It would appear that the school community is settling in well for what will be a very exciting term for the College. 

Leadership Roles

We continue to interview for a variety of Leadership positions to commence in 2022. I would at this time like to acknowledge the following appointments:

LEADER OF PASTORAL CARE - Mr Leon Robinson

Belinda Mainey has elected not to apply for this role for 2022.  Belinda has contributed much to the Student Wellbeing space.  Her work with students and staff during this time is greatly appreciated. 

LEADER OF CATECHESIS - Ms Fiona Stuart

Ron Walker has worked thoroughly and professionally in this area for sixteen years.  Ron has decided to take some extended leave from his teaching and leadership position at the College for 2022.  A well-deserved break for Ron! 

LEADER OF CURRICULUM - Ms Amy Tovey

Leon Robinson has worked in the Curriculum space for many years and has recently been appointed as Leader of Pastoral Care, 2022.  Leon, who is a highly valued Curriculum leader, will give additional insight into Pastoral Care.  

LEADER OF PEDAGOGY - Ms Maria Littlejohn

Lesa Morrison has worked in Pedagogy for several years and has elected to take some extended leave for the 2022 academic year.  Lesa is an excellant educator and highly valued within the school community.  We wish her an enjoyable leave. 

We continue to interview for LEADER OF EVANGELISATION and STUDENT WELLBEING Co-ordinators across this week, and then we move to finalise our LEADER OF LEARNING (SUBJECT) positions.  We look to have a mix of leaders with experience, who are great educators and an understanding of working in a College that services a large region and a community that values the combination of Academic and Vocational programs. 

Student News

Our Year 10 students have been involved in interviews this week to develop a learning package for Year 11, 2022.  This is a very exciting time for our Year 10 students, and I wish them well as they consider subject/s and potential career paths. 

Please NOTE that St Paul’s has strength in offering diverse study patterns.  We offer Vocational as well as University pathways with many combinations available.  I strongly encourage families to talk with relevant staff about learning opportunities.  The College is committed to packaging programs of study for ANY STUDENT who wishes to continue into Senior College. 

We have now completed our interview processes for Year 7, 2022 and will be sending out letters of offer shortly.  We will be welcoming over one hundred and forty Year 7 students in 2022, and their strengths are many and varied.  The College is fortunate to have them as part of our College, and I look forward to their contributions across the next few years. 

I wish our Year 12, 2021 students every success as they commence their HSC TRIAL examinations.  Year 12 have been well prepared, and I know there have been consistent efforts leading up to these examinations.  Please be aware that there are support structures for any student who may be unwell or ‘not at their best’ as they engage with these examinations.  Would you please communicate ANY CONCERNS to Mr Tom Salter, Mr Leon Robinson, Mr Geoff Melville or their Pastoral Care teacher.

Kind regards

Mr David JOHNS   B.Ed., Cert. Gifted Ed., Grad. Cert. Adol. Health and Welfare, M.Ed. (Ed Lead), M.Ed. (Theol) 

College Principal

david.johns@lism.catholic.edu.au

The Power of Listening

You have probably heard the statement, 'we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.'  But, how often do we listen?  When we are genuinely listened to, it comforts, bonds and can even heal.  We know the power of hearing, and yet, we still move through conversations without truly being present to the people in our lives.  When was the last time you were having a conversation with someone and did not have a list of phrases, advice, stories and other thoughts floating through your mind, ready to jump in as soon as there is a pause in the conversation?  Listening requires us to follow every word and gesture with a genuine desire to understand. 

As we strive to hear what the Spirit is saying, the same principle applies.  Prayer is communication with God.  We place emphasis on the petition part of prayer (asking God for things and direction).  But, prayer is a conversation that requires us to take the gesture of the listener as often as we take the gesture of the speaker.

The more we genuinely listen to others and God, the easier it is to listen to ourselves, and the greater our capacity for wisdom, virtue and love. 

Study Success

As we approach exams for our senior students, these tips to success could help your child experience success whilst maintaining positive relationships and overall wellbeing.  We wish our Year 12 students all the best for the coming Trial exams. 

Steps to Study Success:

These are scientifically proven steps to study success from ReachOut: 

1. Break your study up into manageable twenty-minute chunks. Get some more information about setting small goals here.
2. Talk about it or say it out loud. When you say something out loud, you will find it much easier to remember it. Chatting with someone about what you are studying is even better.
3. Remove the distractions. Put your phone on silent and out of reach, and turn off the pop-up notifications on your computer. Research shows that it can take up to twenty minutes to refocus on what you are doing once you have been distracted.
4. Take breaks. If you plan your study chunks with breaks in between, having the time away can help you come back refreshed.
5. Get some sleep! Getting a good night's rest helps your brain and body to rest and recharge. You will do better at your exams and remember more of what you studied if you get a good night's sleep, rather than if you stayed up late.

Other things you can do includes eating the right foods, perfecting your time management skills, knowing when to take a break from studying and getting some physical activity or social time in. 

Find out more at: https://au.reachout.com/articles/5-steps-to-study-success

Mrs Bronwyn Shipton - Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop

This Sunday, 8 August, we celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, the first Australian to be canonised by the Catholic Church and officially named a saint. Much is known about Mary's life and work for the poor and her efforts to provide a Catholic education to children across Australia. Mary's legacy continues today through the many schools set up thanks to her and her order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. 

Some of the sayings of St Mary are:

• 'Remember, we are but travellers here.' (1866)
• 'We must teach more by example than by word.' (1867)
• 'Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.' (1891)
• 'We feel our crosses hard at times, but our courage should rise with them.' (1882)
• 'Let God's Spirit guide you in your choice.' (1898)
• 'Find happiness in making others happy.' (1899)
• 'Be kind to the poor foreigners. Remember I was a foreigner once, and as such, was never laughed at nor treated unkindly.' (1875)
• 'Let us show this love in our acts, bearing one another, forgiving and forgetting.' (1890)
• 'Let us love and praise God in all.' (1872)
• 'When I could not see my way, God kept my heart full of trust' (1874) 

Check out this short video about Mary's extraordinary life. 

Year 12 Reflection Day

We are planning to hold this annual event after the Trial Examinations in Week 8.  We know that there is much planning, disruption and reshuffling currently taking place due to COVID-19.  We hope that the day will be an enjoyable, beneficial time for our soon-to-be graduates as they prepare to ‘say goodbye’ to St Paul’s College.

Further details of the Reflection day will be provided to Year 12 and their families in due course.

Year 12 Graduation Process

Thank you to the Year 12 students who have brought photos for the Graduation Mass; however, there are still many outstanding photos!  Please bear in mind that it takes time for these photos to be produced into a beautiful PowerPoint presentation to honour our graduating Seniors, and photos will not be able to be included at the last minute.  A reminder that we require from each student a photo of them: 

• As a baby photo
• At Kindergarten
• In Year 6 

These can be scanned and emailed to our YMO Ebaney Cook (preferred) or brought into the office where the ladies will scan it for you.  Please write your names on the back of the photos, so that you get yours back. 

Further details will be provided later in the term as to what our Graduation ceremonies will look like this year.  Hopefully, we do not have to do it over Livestream again! 

Our Parishes

We are blessed to be supported by two wonderful parish communities here at St Paul’s College.  I would invite and encourage you to have a look at their respective websites (by clicking on the links below) to find out about ways to connect with parish life, including to find out Mass times:

• Macleay Valley Catholic Parish
• Nambucca Valley Catholic Parish 

Please contact me at the College if you have any ideas or suggestions about Ministry and Evangelisation at St Paul’s.

Peace and blessings

Mr Dominic MacAndrews - Leader of School Evangelisation

dominic.macandrews@lism.catholic.edu.au

The Great Feedback from the Year 10 Subject Selection Process for 2022

St Paul’s currently works closely with our Year 10 students and their families regarding Year 11 and 12 subjects for 2022-2023.  This has been a comprehensive process rolled out by Mr Robinson, and the College received a large number of students and parents this week to discuss the many options on offer.  Currently, the College offers forty-four different subjects in Year 11 and forty-eight different subjects in Year 12, with the average class size in Year 11 being thirteen and in Year 12, nine.  These are tremendous opportunities for students in the HSC years, considering a variety of pathways.  St Paul’s will increase student numbers in 2022, which means further teacher numbers and subject offerings. 

Feedback from Parents

During the recent interviews, a significant discussion point with parents was study routines and organisation to cope with the rigours of the HSC program.  St Paul’s offers formal tutoring after school on Wednesdays throughout the year and possesses very approachable staff who are very generous with their time outside of their regular classroom requirements.  The school is trialling the online Atomi package this term to further tutoring our Year 11 and 12 students.

A critical approach from all senior students must be their organisational skills.  Are their classroom notes managed in an orderly manner allowing teacher handouts to be included?  Are all notes/handouts dated to allow for systematic review before the assessment?  Is the assessment requirements for individual students clearly outlined in the family home where everyone can help with smooth progression towards assessment deadlines; do students take advantage of the drafting process with their teachers allowing for more detailed and accurate submissions? These are the basic organisational requirements expected from our senior students to maximise their opportunities leading into the HSC exams. 

Finalising Year 11 Subject Selections 2022

Year 10 into 11 subject selections should be finalised by the end of Week 6. Students have now made their digital subject selections, and Mr Robinson is currently generating the Year 11 Subject lines.  If students miss out on courses because of a lack of numbers, they can make alternate selections.

A big thanks must go to all parents who gave up their valuable time to engage with the subject selection process, which was made more difficult because of COVID 19 restrictions and our inability to have an in-person Subject Selection Night.

Mr Geoffrey Melville - Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

HSC Trial Examinations

Trial HSC Examinations will commence on Monday, 9 August (next Monday) and finish on Friday, 20 August, making Monday, 23 August a regular school day for Year 12 students (except those completing the Music Performance Examination). Students need to assemble twenty (20) minutes before exams start and thirty (30) minutes before English, Mathematics and Studies of Religion exams start.  The exam centre shuts sixty (60) minutes after the commencement of each examination, and no acceptances after this time, for any reason, are allowed.  St Paul’s Catholic Secondary College policy is that no student is to leave any HSC Trial Examination room for the complete duration of any HSC Trial Examination.  If students miss any Trial Examination(s), they must contact the Leader of Curriculum (Mr Robinson) immediately and complete an Illness/Misadventure form, a copy of which can be found in the ‘HSC Assessment Guide for 2021’ available on the St Paul’s College Resources website under Students. 

The Trial Examinations will be held in the Edmund Rice Centre (hall).  Students do not have to attend school during Trial HSC Examinations when not completing an exam; however, they can use the school facilities to work, study or complete major projects with permission and supervision from their respective course teachers.  All students remaining on the College grounds outside of an examination period are to be actively learning.  All students, without exception, must be in full school winter uniform (not sports uniform) for all examinations, and if attending school during this period. 

As the Trial Examinations are a part of the College’s internal HSC Assessment, unsupported reasons for absence often result in a zero mark being awarded. Students need to consult with their respective course teachers to determine the equipment required for each exam.

NOTE: Students cannot borrow any equipment under exam conditions even if their equipment fails.  As with all HSC exams, mobile phones, Smartwatches and electronic communication devices are not permitted in an examination room under any circumstances. 

All members of the College community wish our Year 12 students every success in these Trial HSC Examinations. 

We ask that you do your personal best, and we will support you in any way we can. Do not be afraid to ask for help from your teachers, and remember to look after your physical and mental health throughout this stressful time.

Mrs Leon Robinson - Leader of Curriculum

Poetry Month

The month of August is Poetry Month, and to celebrate, we are running a poetry challenge each week which students can enter via Stile.  There will be a weekly winner and three highly commended from Years 7 - 9, Years 10 - 12 and staff. 

A fantastic range of poems from both students and staff have been submitted so far.  The winning poems from the first two weeks poems appear below: 

Eva Gately (Year 8)

Soft white clouds graze,

the colourful mist lost in a haze,

will it ever escape this terrible maze?

Warmth of your Touch - Lily Rafton (Year 10)

When you hold my hand in yours

brushing fingers over scars and freckles, running soft constellations into my palm

for a moment, I see us as stark and colourful, no longer afraid of the dark.

The Prehistorical Palette – Ms Kate Anderson

How colourful were you really, colossal giants of the past?

Was it just brown and green and olive scales arranged for your brute might?

Or was it alluring gold and regal crimson, implying your future plight?

Untitled – Mr Angus Crowley

Colourful wild fields,

Colour fills and colour fools

The eye with rapture.

New Land by Jennifer Swan (Year 7)

The vast landscapes rise before us,

as we smell the pitiful dust,

have we discovered something new possibly just for us?

Zoe Ahern (Year 11)

I left the academic skirt and tie behind, ready to climb

To find a world with no gold stars although I try

No set course but at least I try.

The Farmer’s Joy – Mr Graham Bramley

A dark shape lies silently snug amidst long grass on a misty winter morn.

Anxious matriarch paces to and fro, pawing soil, nostrils flared and steaming.

The farmer scouts the tussocks low, smiling as she spies the prize - A healthy newborn

Ms Catriona Martin - Leader of Learning - English

Seniors Study Area

As Year 11/12 exams are fast approaching, senior students have been making use of the Library’s Senior Study area during lunchtime.  Students are more than welcome to use the library before school as well and till 4pm after school.

WANTED: Magazines for our Library and Book Exchange Corner

If you have any good quality interest/hobby magazines the College library would love to receive them; to either add to our Exchange bookshelf or share within the library.

The library does provide a range of magazines but by sourcing additional, concise and more diverse magazines we hope to encourage reluctant readers and also discover what ones are the most popular amongst the students.

We are happy to receive donations of a wide variety of magazines to cater for more specialized areas of interest such as motorbikes, cars, rural/outdoors, agriculture, environmental, wellbeing, fishing, woodwork, photography, construction, etc. etc.  etc….

Looking forward to receiving some great reading material, and don't forget those pre-loved books you need a new home for.

New Titles to Inspire, Motivate, Reflect on Educate and Enjoy

Below are some new resources that the library has recently purchased and may be of interest to parents as well as students.

• Ant Middleton First Man In: Leading from the Front - solider, sniper, spy
• Bram Connolly the Commando Way – a special forces commander’s lessons for life, leadership and success
• Talking with Champions – inspirational insights from elite champions
• Ellyse Perry: Perspectives – a career dominated by firsts and milestones…
• Let Us Dream: Pope Francis – the path to a better future
• Think like a Monk: Jay Shetty – train your mind for peace and purpose every day
• Psychology for Dummies – discover the brain and its parts, make sense of human behaviour and mental processes, explore identity and relationships
• Magician – the original masterwork of magic and adventure by Raymond E Feist
• The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson – a gripping account of how Nobel prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses and have healthier babies
• The Great Grand Final Heist – a mysterious tale of Tigers, Rabbitohs and an unlikely coaching hero by Adam Heads
• Raising Readers – how to nurture a child’s love of books by Megan Daley

To borrow just visit our Chisholm Library website.  Then log in with your child’s login details, and search for the title.  Once found, select and ‘Reserve’ on left.  If you have any queries please contact the library.

Mrs Patrice Martin & Mrs Cathy Whalen - Library Technicians

Workers Urgently Needed

We need volunteers to help in our canteen once a week, fortnight or month.  No special skills required.  If you can make a salad wrap, toastie or put some drinks in the fridge, your help will be greatly appreciated.  All welcome - mums, dads, nannas, pops, aunts and uncles.  Should you be able to spare just a few hours, please contact me.

Ricki Saunders

Canteen Manager

St Paul's Secondary Catholic College

E: ricki.saunders@lism.catholic.edu.au

P: (02) 6562 7200