Week 10 Term 3 - 22 September 2023

Kind regards

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

Principal

kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au

As summer is approaching the College has commenced preparations for the upcoming bushfire season. We are developing a plan should a fire emergency occur in our area during school hours. Our bushfire plan takes into consideration the safety of students and staff while at school as well as families needing to collect their children from school and make their way home safely.

In general terms, should the Rural Fire Service or relevant Authority escalate a Fire Alert Level to ‘Watch and Act’, our College leadership team, in consultation with the Catholic Schools Office, will determine if it remains safe and viable for the College to remain open. Please be assured that our Bushfire Management Plan will always err on the side of caution.

Should we need to change the opening status of the College, you will be advised via Compass and/or text message. We ask that all parents or adults in a household download Compass and have their phone on and available throughout the summer bushfire season. This message will clearly state that if the College will be open or remain closed for the next day, or if the College is closing and the request and instructions to collect your child/ren.

Should the opening status of the College change, this will also be posted on the College's website and Facebook page. I take this opportunity to remind you during this time to avoid calling the College to ask if it is open or closed as we must remain easily contactable to fire authorities. Please rely on the information distributed via Compass/text message, College website and College Facebook page.

It is strongly recommended that you and your family consider developing your own plan of what you will do in a bushfire event. Please talk to your children about what to expect if there is a bushfire near your home or the school. The Rural Fire Service has resources available to help you with your family bushfire plan.

We are confident in our planning and also hopeful we will not need to action it this coming season.

David Johns
Principal

What a fantastic celebration of achievement for learning we have seen this week! The Year 12 major awards ceremony that occurred on Wednesday at the College saw the students recognised for their academic endeavours over their HSC year. We thank the parents and special guests for attending this event and most importantly we thank the parents for their continued support of Year 12 over their time at St Paul’s College.

Year 12 - HSC Exam preparation
The time is certainly approaching. I encourage all Year 12 students to remember the words of our 2022 Dux, Eric Northey: “Pace yourself when studying. Work consistently instead of cramming.” Over the next few weeks students should be working consistently each day on studying and practice papers. If they are feeling a little flat, turn to Atomi for some easy study.

All of your hard work so far will pay off. We wish you all the best.

Year 11 into Year 12
Year 11 have had a busy two weeks of exams and I thank them for their excellent behaviour and commitment during this period. Many teachers have commented on the way in which the students conducted themselves during the exams. This is an excellent start to their HSC year.

Year 11 will officially roll into Year 12 after the holidays which means their HSC year starts from Monday 9 October. As always, please see Mrs Tovey or Mrs Fullbrook if you have any queries.

Equipment
Please ensure all students have the correct equipment for Term 4. The holidays are a good chance to audit the pencil cases and re-stock to ensure all students are prepared for their learning from Day one in Term 4.

ATOMI
Our trial of the online platform Atomi has come to a close this Term and the College has decided to go ahead with this program for 2024. The feedback from staff and students was overwhelmingly positive. Student usage was very high which is the most important indicator of the success of the platform.

All Year 11 and 12 students will have access to the platform to support them for their studies. I encourage Year 11 students to be looking at the modules over the holidays to ensure they are starting Year 12 prepared for their learning. The Study Skills unit is an excellent one to do in preparation for Year 12.

Please reach out if you have any questions about the learning for your students.


Ms Kate Fullbrook - Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

kate.fullbrook@lism.catholic.edu.au

Reflecting on the traditions of Year 12 at the end of this Term
An important beauty of the culture and traditions of a school is to consider their celebrations that are passed on for a series of years/generations. St Paul’s College Kempsey certainly falls into this category, with Term 3 Week 10 being foundational as a time to acknowledge the achievements of our Year 12 cohort; recognising so many students who walked through the gates of the College as Year 7 students in February 2018 and those who have subsequently joined the cohort, building a Year 12 much loved by our community. There have been a range of important St Paul’s College traditions that have been central to our week at the College that have been very successful, including:

Final Year 12 BBQ with staff - a great gathering of students and staff occurred on Tuesday where time was spent together enjoying a review of the year prior to the final HSC examinations.
 
Final Year 12 Assembly - Year 12 have led the majority of assemblies in 2023 with usually only the senior executive in attendance. The Year 12 leadership team has created engaging gatherings of our students usually in the Hangar with a chair brought from the classroom per person which have been respectful and collaborative. The final Year 12 Assembly on Tuesday allowed the cohort to reflect on their time at the College and some notable moments within their cohort.

Year 12 Final Mass - the All Saints Catholic Church, Kempsey was packed to the rafters as the whole school community (including 80 staff and great numbers of Year 12 families) celebrated the final Year 12 Mass together. Our wonderful priest of the Macleay Valley Parish, Father James, led our gathering in the beautiful space of All Saints Catholic Church, Kempsey, in its 101st year as many of the important traditions of this traditional Mass was shared by all attendees. The girls and boys choirs were in full voice as were the College staff singing the Irish Blessing to the Graduands of 2023, while the 2024 student leadership team were announced and acknowledged with the passing of light to their candles illuminating the school motto of ‘Let your light shine’.

Year 12 Prize Giving - the Edmund Rice Centre housed approximately 800 chairs and again was very full to recognise the important prizes awarded to the Year 12 cohort. This gathering celebrates the efforts of so many students within the Year 12 cohort, with many long standing perpetual trophies established for many years awarded to students who have been voted upon by staff to have met the important criteria that have been foundational to these storied awards. Special mention to Ms Emma Tamblyn who provided outstanding direction to the Year 12 cohort. Emma prepared everything expertly, however the birth of her daughter Lainey two days before the awards, changed her ability to celebrate in person. There was great love and admiration of Emma on Wednesday in both ceremonies in her absence recognising her immense contribution to the growth of all of our Year 12 cohort 2023.

Mr Geoffrey Melville - Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

geoffrey.melville@lism.catholic.edu.au

Celebrating Three Students Receiving Sacraments of Initiation
We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that three of our dedicated students have recently received their Sacraments of Initiation. On Saturday night, amidst a gathering of faith and joy, Shayla Fox (Year 8), Olivia Rafton (Year 8), and Jasmine Callaway (Year 12) took a significant step in their spiritual journey during the Vigil Mass at All Saints Catholic Church in Kempsey.

The Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist—are sacred rites that mark a profound commitment to one's faith and a deeper connection to the Catholic community. It is an occasion to celebrate, as our students publicly affirm their beliefs and embrace their roles as active members of the Church.

The journey to this momentous occasion has been one filled with dedication, learning, and spiritual growth. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Father James for his unwavering support of our students and the Sacramental Program at St Paul's College. His guidance and spiritual leadership have played an instrumental role in shaping our students' faith and preparing them for this important step in their lives.

Shayla Fox, Olivia Rafton, and Jasmine Callaway have not only demonstrated their commitment to their faith but have also shown us the power of perseverance and dedication. They have worked tirelessly to deepen their understanding of Catholic teachings and to nurture their spiritual connection. Their willingness to embark on this journey is a testament to their character and an inspiration to us all.

Mr Matthew Mitchell - Leader of Evangelisation

matthew.mitchell@lism.catholic.edu.au

Congratulations to St Paul's Year 12 students who celebrated their Graduation Mass this week and their Major Awards Ceremony which recognised the many achievements of the year group across 2023.

Photos from the Year 12 Graduation Mass can be found here and from the Major Awards Ceremony can be found here.

As part of an English assessment task, St Paul’s Year 7 students have created picture books for students from Kindergarten to Year 2.

The students' picture books will be on display at the Kempsey Library until Saturday 7 October. Parents/carers, families and friends are invited to view the incredible books that the Year 7 students have produced.

St Paul's students and staff showed their support for R U Ok? Day by wearing yellow on Thursday 14 September.

R U OK? Day is our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to ask, 'are you OK?' and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.

St Paul's College is thrilled to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the Year 10 Food Technology students. Their dedication and skill in designing and preparing both canapés and a Special Occasions Cake have been outstanding.

The canapes not only demonstrate their growing expertise in the kitchen, but also highlight their commitment to food handling and presentation skills. These efforts continued with the preparation of their Special Occasion cakes. Students were well organised, baking their cake at home and icing and decorating the cake at school within the allocated time frame. Their outstanding efforts have showcased their culinary talents and their ability to manage time and resources effectively. Well done Year 10 Food Technology!

St Paul's Year 7 students showcased their work on threatened species this week. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work that Year 7 students have put into researching their chosen threatened species and to enjoy the physical and digital work samples presented.

A highlight of the evening was the address from Dr Montague-Drake on her work as a Wildlife Ecologist - very inspirational! Thanks to Mrs Amy Tovey and the Year 7 Science teachers for making this evening possible.

Congratulations to St Paul's Year 12 students who were honoured at the Macleay Valley All Schools 'Koori/Goori Graduates Dinner' last week. We are very proud of your achievements!

A team of seven Year 7 and 8 students recently participated in "Write a Book in a Day", an Australia-wide competition supporting The Kids' Cancer Project. The concept is that the students collaborate to conceptualise, compose and publish a complete book within a 12 hour period.

The team was given parameters to work within and needed to include random words, specific characters (human and non human), a setting, and a central complication. With great enthusiasm, the group brainstormed ideas and eventually built a storyboard that outlined the plot to write from. As discussion progressed, the artists within the group started sketching the images of the characters that would be needed for the illustrations. Individual students then wrote chapters that focused on character and scene development while moving the plot in the desired direction. They then met for a macro edit where there was discussion about flow and plot continuity. After some adjustments, the students then exchanged sections and edited for sentence structure, spelling and grammar. The individual chapters were then brought together and the illustrations added and formatted. By the time the Front and back covers were added with the summary or 'blurb', the crew were running out of time and energy, but the submission was made within the allotted time frame. The summary read "John, an elderly man with a troubled past. A retirement home, where he meets a songwriter and confronts his personal trauma. A heatwave causes havoc and the stars in his past align. He must try to make things right."

Congratulations to all the team members who put in an enormous effort to complete the challenge - Emily Brack, Skye Criado, Sharni Crossley, Chelsea Kerfoot, Eliza Piggin, Jessica Preston and Emily Woods.

St Paul's Year 12 Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Earth and Environmental Science students celebrating the successful conclusion of their Year 12 Studies with a gathering around some hot chips and a cake.

The Science staff are very proud of all of these students and we wish them all the best for their HSC and beyond!

Congratulations to St Paul's students, Ciara Peters, Mia Quinn and Isla Von Mengersen who have been selected to compete in the NSW Rugby Union State 7s Championships in October. We wish you the best of luck!

On behalf of St Paul's College, Mr David Johns accepted a gift of thanks from Anditale High School, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea. Over the past two years, a team of teachers including Mrs Beth McMillan, Mr Matthew Wilson, Ms Jade Tildsley and Ms Rayleigh Keith have been involved in a secondary schools partnership between our two countries. The aim of this project was to provide practical support to PNG educators as they work to improve their capacity to develop 21st century learners in the field of STEM and to foster intercultural understanding.

In PNG students and teachers face many difficulties including limited access to the internet, computers, funding and the challenges of educating students from many remote communities in a boarding school environment. We were impressed with the dedication, kindness and pride that the people of PNG have in their culture and spoke to many students who valued education as a way to give back to their communities in fields such as healthcare and engineering.

St Paul's has two partner schools in PNG, St Gabriel's in Kiunga, Western Province and also Anditale Secondary School. Anditale was originally partnered with a Queensland Government School, however the Queensland government chose not to provide permission for teaching staff to travel due to security concerns raised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We were fortunate that despite these concerns we were able to travel to Port Moresby in March to work with teachers and students who had travelled there from all 22 provinces. The Australian High Commission to PNG was closely involved in all aspects of our time in Port Moresby and we are grateful for the support of the project leaders from the Asia Education Foundation at the University of Melbourne.

The gifts include a Bilum which has a pattern unique to Enga Province and a Shield which features the Bird of Paradise. Bilums are beautiful, traditional, intricately-woven bags, made by women throughout Papua New Guinea .The bilum technique of twisting and looping string in a rhythmical movement has been passed down through the generations.

At the beginning of Term 3, Mr Maxwell Winn, Mission Assistant at St Paul’s College, joined 35 other pilgrims from the Lismore Diocese, 3500 other pilgrims from Australia, and 1.5 Million people from across the globe to gather in Portugal for the quadrennial gathering of young people for World Youth Day - a celebration of God and his immaculate works and to recognise the youth of today’s modern society in a way which celebrates their contributions to the world.

In the first fortnight of the pilgrimage, the Diocese of Lismore group travelled through capital cities and regional towns of Spain, gathering in monumental spaces such as the cathedrals dedicated to Mother Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians; St John of God; St Teresa of Avila; St John Paul II and St John Bosco, just to name a few. This was a surreal experience to be presently in front of relics and personal items of people who we honour. There were beds, houses, books, clothes, even limbs and organs such as St Teresa’s incorrupt heart and arm.

This experience was heightened with daily mass provided by the groups chaplain, Fr Felix and Fr Bing, who travelled with the group to offer guidance from their World Youth Day experiences. It was an incredible experience to also have one of the Dioceses resident religious, Sr Di Moralde, who also helped in the leadership group to allow complete enjoyment for the pilgrims without worries.

‘I will never forget the opportunities I had to be so close to God, offering myself up to Him everyday. It was just surreal to gather with so many others, who were all there in that moment for God, for Jesus, for Mary, and for themselves. I in particular will also never forget the emotions of seeing the Pope, and listening to his faith filled stories of hope and prosperity. The World Youth Day Pilgrimage will be something I will cherish forever, and I implore others to join us, the youth of the world, at the next gathering for the Jubilee of Grace in Rome 2025, and the next World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea in 2025.’ - Maxwell.

Caritas Australia has launched two emergency appeals in response to the devastating earthquake in Morocco and the floods in Libya. To donate towards these appeals, please follow the link here. Thank you for your support.

Staff, students and their families are cordially invited to attend the weekly Mass celebrated by Fr James Foster, Parish Priest in the College Chapel. Mass is held every Tuesday at 8.30 am and will resume in Term 4.

Parking is available for parishioners and families in the staff car park on Sea Street (please do not use the North Street car park at this time due to use by school buses).

For emergency evacuation purposes all attendees are requested to record their details using the sign in sheet provided outside the Chapel. This information will not be kept after visitors have left the College site.

Please be aware that Friday 22 September is a pupil free day. The College office will also be closed. The College staff will be attending the annual Bishop Greg Retreat for spiritual formation on this day. We thank our families for supporting this important staff experience.

Wednesday 15 November 2023
Orientation Day for all enrolled Year 7 2024 students - this is a compulsory day for all Year 7 2024 students. Students will spend the day at the College. More information will be sent to enrolled students nearer the date, however we encourage you to inform your child's primary school of their absence on this date.

Each year, St Paul's College provides the venue for NSW Health to conduct the NSW Schools Vaccination Program. PLEASE NOTE: NSW Health has a new process for collecting consent for your child to receive their vaccination at school. Please read the information below provided by NSW Health.

Vaccination Program Date remaining in 2023:

Term 4 – 17 October 2023

· Year 7 catch up (HPV & Boostrix)

· Year 10 & 11 Nimenrix (meningococcal ACWY) catch up

Online consent for school vaccinations
If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, or is in Year 11 and missed their Year 10 vaccinations in 2022, you can now provide online consent for their routine school vaccinations.

• Year 7 students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Year 10 students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccinations will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
2. Click the login with ‘Service NSW Account’ button and log in using your Service NSW details. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a Service NSW account, refer to Service NSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in Service NSW as required.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
   ⦁ Enter your child’s personal details
   ⦁ Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
   ⦁ Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
   ⦁ Provide consent

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form (please contact the College office on 6562 7200 to ask for a hard copy form).

Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online. Translated guides are available in Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese.

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination or contact the Port Macquarie Public Health Unit on 02 6589 2120.

The Kempsey Swimming Club will be holding two 'Come and Try Swimming Club' nights at the McElhone Memorial Pool Complex in Belgrave Street Kempsey, on Tuesday 10 and 17 October from 6pm.

This fun event is open to EVERYONE of ALL STANDARDS and AGE GROUPS that can swim at least 25 metres. Swim with Friends, Learn to Race and Have Fun.

A FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE will be available each night.