St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday, 3 August 2023
2023 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 3, Week 4
From the Principal
Dear Families,
In the mid-late 19th century, a young woman was very concerned with the plight of the poor and the marginalised in the colonies which later became the Commonwealth of Australia. Amongst the most obvious priorities was ensuring the schooling of the young, as education is a proven path out of poverty.
So, this woman, whose most famous saying was ‘never see a need without trying to do something about it’, set about fixing that situation. Mary MacKillop established the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart mainly to educate the poor.
Mary MacKillop lived the gospel values most effectively. Rather than worrying about herself, she cared for others. First caring for her immediate family, then for wider relations, soon enough Mary was focused on meeting the many needs of the communities in which she and her fellow Sisters of St Joseph lived. Through aid, education, and example Mary is an example of faith through works.
From quietly and unobtrusively teaching in a stable in 1866, to founding a religious order that spread throughout and beyond a continent, Mary’s spiritual journey was truly focused on “God’s saving justice”. Tending to Australia’s first nations peoples, prisoners, children requiring education, the homeless, the orphaned, the sick, indeed anybody she saw in need, Mary shows us how God seeks to answer the day’s troubles: through us.
Credit: Dr Nick Brodie - Nick Brodie is an Australian historian and writer. Rev Prof Michael Tate - Graduated in Law from the University of Tasmania in 1968, and in Theology from Oxford University in 1971.
Saint Mary of the Cross
Mary MacKillop is not only the first Australian to be recognised by the Church as a Saint, she is truly a very Australian saint. She characterises the Australian spirit. She was an incredibly hard worker who put the needs of others before herself. She had the larrikin spirit: constantly in dispute with authority but pressing on, regardless. Mark MacKillop was tenacious. She used the strengths of others but also didn’t tolerate those who were not genuine. Her commitment to the schooling of children from poor and rural communities established a model of Catholic education that continues today. A Saint for and of Australia! This Tuesday, 8 April, marks the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop and on that day we remember Australia's first saint.
We will celebrate and acknowledge Mary MacKillop at 10:15am Mass this Wednesday 9 August, all welcome.
Book Week: 19-25 August
Children’s Book Week will be celebrated from 19-25 August. Book Week is run by the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA). The theme for 2023 is “Read, Grow, Inspire”.
We will have a Book Week Dress Up Day on Monday 21 August. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite book character for the day. We will hold a parade on the day.
Coinciding with Book Week, we have the St Paul’s Primary School Book Fair which will be set up in the school/Church for space. Many thanks to Alayne, our Library Technician, for enthusiastically organising the Book Fair for the children.
Inter-School Sport: HOOPTIME
This Wednesday 9 August our years 4-6 students will participate in the Hooptime Inter-School Basketball Competition. We look forward to a great day and wish every player all the very best.
Students going into Year 7, 2025
The Catholic Education enrolment date for Year 7 2025(current Yr 5s) is 18 August 2023. If you wish to enrol your child a Catholic Secondary School, please ensure your enrolment form is sent directly to the Secondary Schools Registrar by 18 August.
Students going into Year 7, 2026
Enrolment dates for families looking to enrol in a Catholic secondary college for Year 7, 2026:
- Monday 29 January 2024 – Applications will open for students commencing Year 7 in 2026.
- Friday 16 August 2024 – Applications will close.
- Friday 18 October 2024 – Offers will be posted to prospective Year 7 applicants.
- Friday 8 November 2024 – Final date for parents/carers to accept an offer made by a school
NED's Mindset Mission
As you know we recently hosted an all school event called NED’s Mindset Mission. We hope our students were encouraged by the show, which taught them about having a positive Mindset for learning and life.
Mindset Mission yo-yos are still available for purchase via CDFPay to support the free show and message. If your family has already purchased yoyo's, here is an important link to help them get off to a good start with proper string length adjustment, click here.
Please note: There is NO OBLIGATION to order.
Here are a couple of follow-up home resources from the Mindset Mission website to help build upon the positive message in the show. You may want to use these with your family:
*NED Coloring Face Masks
*Parent Encouragement Notes
If you'd like additional resources, they are available here.
And don’t forget to ask your child what they learned in the show about having a growth mindset from YET the Yeti, Captain Kindly and during NED’s visit on the spaceship!
Yours sincerely,
Michael Watt
School Closure Day - Friday 1 September
A reminder that the school will be closed on Friday 1 September for staff professional learning. The office will be closed as the entire staff will be working offsite for the day. We will be at the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in the city for Staff Faith formation and Professional Learning centred on the Religious Dimension Sphere. This will be the only school closure day for the term. Thanks again to all parents for making arrangements for the care of your child(ren) on this day.
From the School Office
Operoo - Student Medical and Contact Details
Please ensure that you have reviewed and updated your child's Operoo profile, carefully checking that all information held about your child and emergency contact details are accurate and up to date.
- Have any of your family or contact details changed?
- Have there been any changes to your child's medical profile?
- Have you uploaded your child's updated Allergy, Asthma or Anaphylaxis plan?
Important Dates
TERM 3
- Friday 28 July - Division Netball
- Tuesday 8 August - Feast of Mary MacKillop
- Wednesday 9 August - Mary MacKillop Mass
- Wednesday 9 August - Hooptime Basketball (Grades 4-6)
- Saturday 12 August - Emerald BBQ
- Tuesday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption of Mary
- Wednesday 16 August - Assumption of Mary Mass
- Friday 18 August - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day (orders close 10pm Monday 14 August)
- Saturday 19 - Friday 25 August - Book Week
- Friday 25 August - District Athletics
- Thursday 31 August - Working Bee
- Thursday 31 August - School Advisory Council
- Friday 1 September - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 September - Friday 8 September - Year 5/6 Camp to Sovereign Hill
- Friday 8 September - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day (orders close 10pm Monday 4 Sept)
- Friday 15 September - Hot Lunch (Hot Dogs) & FOOTY COLOURS DAY! (orders close 1opm Monday 11 September)
- Friday 15 September - Term 3 concludes
TERM 4
- Monday 2 October - Term 4 commences
- Wednesday 11 October - Prep Mass
- Wednesday 18 October - School Advisory Council
- Friday 20 October - Hot Lunch (Pizza & Gelato) and Italian Day
- Saturday 21 October - Emerald BBQ
- Thursday 26 October - Working Bee
- Monday 6 November - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Tuesday 7 November - Melbourne Cup PUBLIC HOLIDAY
- Wednesday 8 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Thursday 9 November - 50% Years P-3 Students Swimming Program
- Friday 10 November - Years 4-6 Students Swimming Program
- Friday 17 November - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day
- Thursday 30 November - School Advisory Council (AGM)
- Monday 4 December - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY
- Wednesday 6 December - Gratitude Day Mass
- Thursday 7 December - Christmas Carols Night
- Friday 8 December - Hot Lunch and Sushi Day
- Wednesday 13 December - Passing On Ceremony
- Wednesday 13 December - Year 6 Graduation (6pm Mass)
- Friday 15 December - Final school day for students
Uniform Shop
Ross Haywood Sports - Update:
St Paul's Online Uniform Shop
https://www.rhsports.com.au/product/school_wear/st_pauls_monbulk_ps
For in-store purchases RH Sports are located at 12/100 New St, Ringwood (subject to any COVID restrictions in force at the time).
The store is now a CASHLESS STORE, EFTPOS transactions will be the only acceptable method of purchase. Recent changes to improve the health and safety of staff and customers include perspex screens at the registers and the supply of hand sanitiser. We ask that customers please apply this on entry to the store.
Online ordering continues as normal with all delivery options available including contactless pick up. Please phone the store on 9870 1377 if you have any further queries.
Secondhand Uniform Shop
Our secondhand uniform shop is managed by Kelly Garrett with items being purchased by gold coin donation. If you are looking for items of secondhand uniform please feel free to text Kelly on 0435 810 954 with your wish list. Items will usually be sent home via class tubs or collected from the school office by arrangement.
The secondhand uniform shop welcomes donations of St Paul's current school uniform items which are still in good condition. We do not accept the old St Paul's round neck jumpers, yellow shirts or non-St Paul's items. If you have any current uniform items you no longer need please feel free to leave your donations at the school office.
Child Safe Standards: Ministerial Order 1359
St Paul's Primary School is a child safe organisation which welcomes all children, young people, and their families. We are committed to providing environments where our students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives.
Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all children and students. We have no tolerance for child abuse and take proactive steps to identify and manage any risks of harm to students in our school environments. We also take proactive steps to identify and manage any risk of harm to students in our school. When child safety concerns are raised or identified, we treat these seriously and respond promptly and thoroughly.
The original Child Safe Standards were implemented in Victoria during 2016. They were developed in response to The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse (2013 - 2017). In 2019 Victoria agreed to adopt the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Schools are one example of a Child Safe Organisation.
There are eleven Child Safe Standards:
Child Safe Standard 1 – Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued.
Child Safe Standard 2 – Child safety and wellbeing is embedded in organisational leadership, governance and culture.
Child Safe Standard 3 – Children and young people are empowered about their rights, participate in decisions affecting them and are taken seriously.
Child Safe Standard 4 – Families and communities are informed and involved in promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Child Safe Standard 5 – Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice.
Child Safe Standard 6 – People working with children and young people are suitable and
supported to reflect child safety and wellbeing values in practice.
Child Safe Standard 7 – Processes for complaints and concerns are child focused.
Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and volunteers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and awareness to keep children and young people safe through ongoing education and training.
Child Safe Standard 9 – Physical and online environments promote safety and wellbeing while minimising the opportunity for children and young people to be harmed.
Child Safe Standard 10 – Implementation of the Child Safe Standards is regularly reviewed and improved.
Child Safe Standard 11 – Policies and procedures document how the organisation is safe for children and young people.
MACS provides Catholic schools with templates for the required documentation which we are required to adapt to reflect our school community whilst ensuring all legal requirements are met. Below are 3 key documents that we continue to review in light of the new standards:
Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
Child Safe Standards: Identifying and Responding - Reporting Obligations
St Paul's Policies
OSHClub
Out of School Hours Care: OSH Club
Enrolments, Bookings and Enquiries
Parents will need to enrol with OSHClub. Please visit https://www.oshclub.com.au/ and click on "REGISTER". You will need to enrol with the Monbulk Primary School service.
OSH Club News
Community Notices
Financial Resource Support for Families
