St Paul's Bulletin Term 2 Week 3 2025
Principal's Message
God, who chose your servant Leo XIV
in succession to the Apostle Peter
as shepherd of the whole flock,
look favourably on the supplications of your people
and grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth,
he may confirm his brothers and sisters
and that the whole Church may be in
communion with him
in the bond of unity, love, and peace,
that in you, the shepherd of souls,
all may know the truth and attain life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Carers,
The election of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, marks a historic moment for our Catholic school community and the broader Church. As the first American and Augustinian to ascend to the papacy, his unique background, rooted in missionary work in Peru and leadership within the Augustinian order, brings a fresh perspective to the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV's commitment to peace, social justice, and inclusivity resonates deeply with our school's values, inspiring us to continue to foster a compassionate and equitable environment. His emphasis on bridging divides and engaging with contemporary issues, such as the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, encourages our students and staff to integrate faith with modern challenges. This new papacy invigorates our mission, reminding us of the universal nature of the Church and the importance of nurturing a faith that is both reflective and responsive to the world's needs. Please keep Pope Leo in your prayers as he begins this most important new ministry.
Congratulations to the children who made their Sacrament of Confirmation last Friday evening. This sacrament of initiation, conferred by Bishop Michael, is when the Holy Spirit comes down on the children in a special way. At Confirmation, the children confirm the baptismal promises their parents and godparents made for them when they were babies. If you would like more information about our sacramental programs, please contact Mrs Mary Davison, our Religious Education Coordinator.
Last Friday we celebrated Mother's Day with a lovely breakfast and liturgy. Many thanks to the many helpers and staff who organised the wonderful Mother's Day breakfast. Special thanks to the teachers who organised the liturgy. It was so lovely to see so many mums, grandmothers and special mother figures at school for the celebration.
We have nearly completed all enrolment interviews for families enrolling at St Paul’s for 2026. On June 2 we will be holding an OPEN MORNING, so all parents, including prospective families, can see the school in action. Everyone is welcome! Parents should note that the enrolment period for 2025 closes on May 23. If you know of any families interested in enrolling next year, please let them know about this Open Day! Please also note that enrolments at St Mary’s Catholic College close on the same day. Children enrolling after this date will be put on a wait list.
Following the dissolution of our P&F, we are pleased to announce that our first FACE Forum will be held on May 28 at 6pm in the school library. As requested at our last P&F meeting, the input at this meeting will be on cyber-bullying and keeping your children safe on the internet. The facilitator will be Senior Constable Elke Watts, Youth Officer for Lake Macquarie Area Command. Everyone is welcome! Please come with any questions for Elke. Elke spoke to our Years 5 & 6 children earlier on in the year. The FACE Forum will also include a principal's report. We will also discuss upcoming events and taking ideas for future FACE forums.
We officially changed to winter uniform at the beginning of this term. But while the weather stays warm, children may stay in their summer uniform for a short while. Please choose one uniform or the other; do not mix and match summer and winter uniforms. Children K-6 should continue to wear their sports uniform on Thursday and Friday in Term 2. The children look so smart in their correct uniforms, especially in their ties, showing pride in themselves, their families and their school. Thank you for your support in this regard. I will let you know when ALL children must be in winter uniform.
Please be reminded that we have a number of students who have life threatening allergies (anaphylaxis) to peanuts, peanut butter and peanut products like Nutella. Please do not send these products to school, save them for afternoon tea. If your child accidentally brings them, they will be asked to eat them in the office area away from the children.
Please note that our next pupil free day is Friday, June 6. This is the Friday of the June long weekend. Please put this in your diary now.
Congratulations to Lauren Ross and her husband, Jarrad, on the birth of their first child, Julian Michael! Mother and baby are doing well!
With every blessing,
Greg Cumming
Principal
Important Dates
May 20: Diocesan Cross Country
May 20: AFL Paul Kelly Cup
May 23: Enrolment Period Closes
May 23: U10s Newcastle Knights 9s Football Gala Day
May 26: Matter of Seconds Water Safety Program
May 26: National Sorry Day.
May 28: FACE Forum 6pm School Library
June 2: Catholic Schools Week Liturgy and Open Morning 9 am
June 6: Staff Development Day (Student Free- OOSH Available)
June 9: King's Birthday Public Holiday
June 11-13: Year 6 Canberra Excursion
June 13: Lakes Region Maths and Spelling Bee
June 13: Letters of Offer for 2026 Enrolments
June 16: Sacrament of First Holy Communion Formation and Rehearsal 6:30pm
June 20: Winter Woolies Vinnies Winter Appeal
June 21: Sacrament of First Holy Communion 6pm Charlestown
June 22: Sacrament of First Holy Communion 9:30am Gateshead
June 24: Lakes Regional Athletics Carnival
June 27: St Paul's Feast Day Mass 9am
June 30 - July 4: St Paul's NAIDOC Week Celebrations
July 4: Last Day of Term
July 21: Staff Development Day (Student Free)
July 22: First Day Term 3 for students
For more details and dates, check the Compass Calendar.
2025 School Dates
Term | Start Date | End Date |
Term 1 | 31/01/2025 | 11/04/2025 |
Term 2 | 28/04/2025 | 4/07/2025 |
Term 3 | 21/07/2025 | 26/09/2025 |
Term 4 | 13/10/2025 | 19/12/2025 |
Assistant Principal's Message
Mother's Day Volunteers
A huge thank you to all the parents who helped volunteer for our Mother's Day Stall and Breakfast. Your support is very much appreciated.
Supporting Your Child with the Zones of Regulation
At St Paul’s, we are committed to supporting the social and emotional well-being of our students. One way we do this is through the Zones of Regulation program, which helps children identify their feelings and develop strategies to manage them effectively.
The Zones of Regulation uses four coloured zones to help children recognise their emotions:
Blue Zone – Sad, tired, sick, or bored
Green Zone – Calm, happy, focused, and ready to learn
Yellow Zone – Worried, excited, frustrated, or silly
Red Zone – Angry, scared, out of control
All zones are part of the human experience, and none are “bad.” The goal is for children to learn how to recognise what zone they are in and develop the tools they need to return to the Green Zone when needed, ready to learn and interact positively with others.
How can you help at home?
Talk about emotions using the Zones language.
Model identifying your own zone: “I’m feeling a bit Yellow because I’m rushing.”
Praise your child for recognising and managing their emotions: “I noticed you were in the Red Zone and took some deep breaths. That was great self-control!”
Together, we can help our children build emotional awareness and resilience—important skills for learning and life.
If you’d like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or visit https://www.zonesofregulation.com.
Jessica Moulder
Assistant Principal
Catholic Culture at St Paul's
Spotlight on Year 5 Religion – Exploring the Meaning of Prayer
This term in Religion, Year 5 students have been deepening their understanding of prayer and its significance in the Catholic faith. Through engaging discussions and thoughtful reflection, students are exploring key questions such as: What is prayer? Why do people pray? How did Jesus pray? and What does the Bible teach us about prayer? They are also examining the different types of prayer used by Catholics and the important role prayer plays during significant moments in life.
As part of their learning, students are developing key skills in communicating religious ideas, enhancing their Catholic religious literacy, and practicing reflection and contemplation. They are also conducting research, working collaboratively, and learning to organise and evaluate information from various sources.
This unit is helping students build a deeper spiritual awareness while also equipping them with the tools to understand and express the rich tradition of Catholic prayer.
To put their understanding into practice, students thoughtfully wrote their own prayers for their mothers in celebration of Mother’s Day. These heartfelt prayers were a meaningful way for students to express gratitude, love, and faith, demonstrating both their learning and their ability to apply it in a personal and spiritual way.
Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation
We joyfully celebrate with our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday night, with Bishop Kennedy presiding over this special occasion. It was a beautiful and reverent ceremony, marking an important step in their faith journey as they were sealed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We are incredibly proud of these young people for their commitment, preparation, and reflection throughout the lead-up to this sacrament. Surrounded by family, friends, and our parish community, they embraced this sacred milestone with reverence and joy.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and strengthen them as they grow in faith, courage, and love. Congratulations to all our newly confirmed students!
Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy
Despite the rain, our Mother’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy was a wonderful and heartwarming celebration! It was truly special to see so many members of our school community come together to honour and celebrate the incredible mothers and mother figures in our lives.
The morning began with a delicious breakfast, shared joyfully among families, followed by a beautiful liturgy that gave us the opportunity to reflect, pray, and give thanks for the love, care, and guidance of those who nurture us.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. It was a lovely reminder of the strength and warmth of our community spirit
Vinnies Winter Appeal – Milo Mornings at St Paul's!
Warm up your heart and your hands this winter with our Milo Mornings, running every Friday during Term 2 and 3 at St Paul’s. For just $2 per cup, you can enjoy a delicious hot milo served in your own travel mug, while supporting the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
All funds raised will go directly to helping those in need stay warm and cared for this winter. Let’s come together as a community to make a difference—one cup at a time!
Koori News
Sports News
Polding Sports Trials
Congratulations to Maeva Clifford and Archie Cummings who did an amazing job representing our school and Diocese at the Polding Soccer and Rugby League Trials last week in Goulburn. We are very proud of your achievements!
Athletics Ribbon Presentation
A reminder that our ribbon presentation will occur at the end of our Friday assembly tomorrow (16/5). Parents are welcome to attend.
Upcoming Sport Dates
- Diocesan Cross-Country Wednesday 20th May (Week 4)- NEW DATE
- Stage 3 AFL- Paul Kelly Cup Tuesday 20th May (Week 4)
- Under 10s Rugby League- postponed day has been rescheduled for Friday 23rd May (Week 4)
- Diocesan Rugby Union Trials (for already selected students) 28th May (Week 5)
- Regional Athletics Carnival 24th June (Week 9)
NB: We are yet to confirm a date for our Infants Athletics Carnival which will be held at school. Once we have more reliable weather, we will confirm a date and give sufficient notice so parents can attend if they wish.
Library News
🎙️ St. Paul's School Podcast – Live on Podbean! 🎧
We’re thrilled to share the exciting work of our young broadcasters here at St. Paul's Gateshead! A dedicated group of students have been meeting during their lunchtimes to create and produce our very own school podcast, now live on Podbean.
Each episode is planned, recorded, and edited by the children themselves, using our specialised podcasting equipment. From writing scripts and interviewing staff and classmates to discussing school news and local topics, our pupils are gaining valuable communication and technical skills—while having a lot of fun along the way!
The podcast is a fantastic platform for student voice, creativity, and collaboration, and it gives listeners a real insight into the life of our school community. Whether they’re sharing book reviews, celebrating achievements, or even delivering weather reports, our young podcasters are confident, curious, and full of ideas.
New episodes are released regularly, so don’t forget to follow us and stay up to date. You can listen now by visiting: admintsu.podbean.com
We’re incredibly proud of our budding broadcasters—tune in and hear the future voices of St. Paul’s!
Introducing Boomerang Library Bags
We’re excited to introduce Boomerang Library Bags at St. Paul’s! These reusable bags have been donated to St Paul's by a friend of our Year 2 teacher Mrs Sawyer and are available for any children who forget their library bag on borrowing days, ensuring they can still take books home to enjoy.
The bags are kept inside the library near the front door, making them easy for students to find and use when needed. They are intended for one-time use and should be returned the next day, ready for the next borrower.
Children will be informed of these boomerang bags in their next library lesson.
Thank you for supporting this helpful system and encouraging a love of reading across our school community!
Belinda Mayall
Teacher Librarian
Parent News
Year 6 Graduation and End of Year Events
St Paul's School based Year 6 Graduation will take place on Tuesday, 16th December, 6 pm-7:30 pm.
Year 6 Beach Day is Thursday, 11th December.
Year 6 Clap Out Tuesday 16th December, 2:15 pm.
More details to come closer to the date.
Year 6 Shirts
Year 6 students at St Paul’s were thrilled to don their custom-designed Year 6 shirts, wearing them with immense pride. These shirts serve as a lasting memento of their journey through the school. The design process took place last year, allowing the students to contribute their creativity, resulting in shirts that truly reflect their collective experience. The final designs are nothing short of impressive! Congratulations, Year 6!
Volunteering at St Paul's
Please see the below link if you would like to register to volunteer at St Paul’s. Our school is always in need of volunteers for many school activities. We will let you know once we receive your clearance from your registration; this must be received before you volunteer.
Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers
Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. As well as partnering directly with our school to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, there are a range of webinars and information sessions provided each month by reputable providers specifically for parents and carers- free of charge. To view a list of upcoming webinars and information sessions that may be of interest to you, click the link below at any time. The list will be updated weekly throughout the school term, so be sure to check the page regularly.
Another useful resource for parents and carers to access timely information on a range of topics including cyber safety, mental health, positive parenting, school survival, diversity and inclusion and healthy bodies is via School TV. Our school invested in this online platform so that our parents and carers can conveniently access reliable information from credible sources all in one place - when you need it most - not just at a specified webinar time. It includes videos, fact sheets and podcasts all delivered by leading psychologists and experts.
To access our school’s SchoolTV site visit https://gatesheadsp.catholic.schooltv.me/
Gifted and High Potential Education News
Unleash your Creativity! Design the “Energy of the Future”
Hunter iF is inviting students to design the Hunter Innovation Festival t-shirt. There are loads of cash prizes and art supplies to win!🌞🌏💡
The design theme is 'Energy of the Future'. Students might consider including sustainable energy sources, innovative technologies and a greener future for our planet. This might include solar power, wind energy, hydrogen, energy efficiency and what role they might play for our region. 🏆
Entries close Monday, 30th June 2025. Please email art@hunterIF.com.au to register your intent and to get more information.
2025 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Key dates
• Entries opened on Saturday 1 March 2025.
• Submissions close Monday 30 June 2025.
• Winners announced at 10 am on Friday 5 September 2025.
For more information on the competition and how to enter CLICK HERE.
The optional theme for 2025 is “All the Beautiful Things”.
WriteOn Competition
The annual WriteOn Competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors.
The competition is for students in Years 1 to 6 who are accessing NSW syllabuses, including students registered for home schooling. Students create an imaginative text of up to 500 words, using a provided stimulus.
Each year, winners are celebrated at an award ceremony and their entries are published in ‘The Best of WriteOn' anthology.
WriteOn 2025 opens Monday 24 March 2025. This year the competition is held in association with the State Library of NSW. For WriteOn 2025, students use a stimulus quote to explore their voices as authors when creating an imaginative text.
The new stimulus for WriteOn 2025 is the quote:
“Could they be changing?”
Entries close on Friday 20 June 2025.
For further information about the WriteOn Competiiton please see the following
website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/awards-and-events/writeon-competition
Any interested students are encouraged to have a conversation with Mr Yarnold (Gifted Education Mentor).
Gifted Education Mentor
Creative Arts News
Calling all Rock n’ Rollers!! Learn Guitar at school with Ricky’s Music Tuition
Open to Years K to 6, students will learn everything from Billy Eilish to Post Malone, to Imagine Dragons, to AC/DC. Students will learn in small groups at school, and have the opportunity to perform as part of an ensemble, enjoying the excitement and experience of being a real musician with skills that will last a lifetime. If you are interested in your child being involved, please email enrol@rickysmusictuition.com.au
Office Messages
IMPORTANT - School Fees
We would like to kindly remind all families that fee payments should have started now, as per the school’s payment schedule. For families who have already started making payments, we sincerely thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Your continued support is deeply appreciated.
For those who have not yet started payments, we kindly ask that you start making regular payments moving forward. The Catholic Schools Office requires a steady payment schedule, and timely payments are essential for maintaining the smooth running of the school.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the payment process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Thank you once again for your support.
Complaints, Resolution and Feedback
St Paul’s Primary School, The Catholic Schools Office (CSO) and Schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are committed to providing a positive, safe environment for all staff and students. There are occasions, however, when members of our schools and wider community are concerned about something happening at a school that appears to be unsatisfactory or unreasonable.
If you have a complaint, please follow this procedure.
Volunteering
Throughout the year, we invite parents/carers to volunteer at the school. To volunteer, you must complete the volunteer's induction.
Car Park Rules
All parents are required to follow the car park rules:
- No Parking in the Kiss’n’drop zone
- “Kiss‘n’drop” only operates in the morning, NOT in the afternoon
- Children should get out on the left side of the car. Parents should stay in the car.
- In the afternoon parents must park and walk to the gate to collect their children
- No parking in the OOSH Staff parking area
- No parking adjacent to the church, which is a walkway
- Avoid reversing when possible
- Drive at a walking pace only
- Do not enter the staff parking section unless you have a ‘disabled’ sticker
- School zones remain in place for the safety of our children and families. School zones operate on all gazetted school days, Which are all days the school is open, even pupil-free days.
- Give way to all traffic as you exit the car park.
Please keep our car park safe for the sake of all our children.
Parish News
Children’s Liturgy is held every Sunday at 9:30am during Holy Mass. WE ARE NOW BACK IN ST PAUL'S CHURCH! We have a beautiful, dedicated room at St Paul’s Gateshead where we hear and discuss the Gospel each week, working our way through the Liturgical Calendar.
There’s always lots of friendship and fun activities.
Safeguarding is our highest priority. Children’s Liturgy will only go ahead if there are two volunteers with current Working With Children Checks.
All are welcome! We look forward to meeting some new friends!
Jacqui Wilson (school mum at St Paul’s Primary) and the Children’s Liturgy Team.