Term 4 Week 6 - 22 November 2024

Dear Parent/Carer

‘Pilate said, 'So, then you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.'

John 18: 33-37

It has been a tremendous few weeks for our College community with many things to celebrate.

I would like to again congratulate Mr Geoffrey Melville our current Assistant Principal - Mission, who has secured the position of Principal at St Paul’s. Geoff is an exceptional educator with significant experience. He is an active member of our Parish and local community and is highly regarded. Geoff commenced at St Paul’s in 2021 and across this time has led significant academic and pastoral initiatives. I am excited for what the College will achieve under his leadership. Well done Geoff!

We honoured Remembrance Day last week and I thank Mrs Kerri Dakin, Mrs Melissa Preston and select Year 9 HSIE students that put this ceremony together. It was impactful and very much appreciated. I thank Isaac Dunbar and Harrison Bailey, two of our student leaders, who joined me at the Kempsey Cenotaph for the local ceremony and laying of a wreath - they were outstanding College representatives.

I had the pleasure of joining Year 10 for their RETREAT - 'Above the Line'. This took place across two days at Bonny Hills and was well enjoyed by students and staff. I thank Mr Matthew Mitchell and his team who set up and provided workshops that were most engaging and thought provoking. I also acknowledge John Coultis who was an incredible motivational speaker. He led a couple of sessions that our students valued enormously.

The Year 12 Graduation Dinner was again an outstanding event that was well enjoyed by our students, their families and College staff. I note the enormous work of Ms Megan Dunbar and Ms Emma Tamblyn together with their graduation helpers who put everything together. Our P & F catered well across the evening and I especially thank the College Grounds Team who worked tirelessly cleaning, mowing, hanging and moving in preparation for this celebration. It was a great way to farewell such a fine group of young people.

I thank Assistant Principal Mrs Kate Fullbrook for representing me at the Education Leaders’ Gathering in Lismore this week. She was provided with significant information regarding the strategic directions of the Diocese, initiatives and resources that will further assist strong learning outcomes for our College into 2025 and beyond.

I also thank Mr Geoff Melville and the 2025 Pastoral Care team who travelled to Melbourne this week to attend the Positive School Conference. It was sensational that the whole team was able to attend and experience a collection of impressive speakers. This conference will inform our Pastoral Care team of ‘best practice’ regarding the care of young people within a learning environment. I have every confidence that our College will greatly benefit from the work of such a committed team.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

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

On behalf of Father James Foster and the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Geoffrey Melville to the position of Principal of St Paul’s College, Kempsey, commencing 27 January 2025.

Mr Melville has 26 years’ experience in the education sector. His leadership experience includes:
● Assistant Principal - Mission, St Paul’s College, Kempsey
● Leader of Creative and Performing Arts, St Paul’s College, Kempsey
● Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching, St Paul’s College, Kempsey
● Acting Head of College, St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst
● Deputy Head of College, St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst
● Acting Deputy Headmaster, St Stanislaus’ College, Bathurst.

Mr Melville’s qualifications include: Master of Education (Educational Administration), CSU; Graduate Diploma of Catholic Education, CSU; and a Bachelor of Rural Science, Education, UNE.

Mr Melville is a collaborative and strategic leader who is committed to continuing the growth in spiritual, learning and pedagogical outcomes for the College.

As Chair, representing the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) on the selection panel, I would like to thank the other panel members for their commitment to the process. The panel consisted of Father James Foster, Parish Priest; Mr Stephen Pares, Regional Service Leader (Hastings) from DLCS; Mrs Hayley Youngberry, Assistant Director - People & Safety from DLCS; Mrs Cath Eichmann, Principal of MacKillop College Port Macquarie; and Mr Peter Scott, community representative.

Please join me in congratulating Mr Geoffrey Melville on his appointment and his continued contribution to Catholic education in the Diocese of Lismore.


Mr Adam Spencer - Director of Catholic Schools

The vibrant Macleay Valley Catholic Parish is seeking an experienced secretary to manage our Parish Office. The successful applicant will join a great team, committed to serving our community and work up to 43 hours a fortnight (negotiable).

For further information and the selection criteria please contact Fr James Foster, Parish Priest, admin@mvcp.org.au or the Parish Office on 02 6562 5182. Applications close Monday 2 December 2024.

Year 12 Assessments - Week 8/9
Please keep in mind the upcoming assessment block for our Year 12 students. It is essential that the students are present for the entire period and follow the guidelines if they are ill. We thank parents for your support with this.

• Year 12 Term 4 Assessment Schedule

Year 7-10 Assessments
We have now finished the Year 7-10 assessment block for Term 4. Some students will still be doing catch ups which are organised by Mrs Amy Tovey. This data is very important for our reporting process this Term so please ensure your children attend their catch ups.

Atomi
Congratulations to Ciara Peters and Celise Hoang who were the highest Atomi users over the last 7 days! The students will receive a canteen voucher for their reward. The Year 11 students have transitioned to Year 12 on Atomi so all classes should be updated.

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

Families are asked to ensure that their child/ren are equipped throughout the school year with the listed equipment. 

Required equipment lists for students in 2025 can be found here:

• Year 7 and 8 Compulsory Equipment
• Year 9 and 10 Compulsory Equipment
• Year 11 and 12 Compulsory Equipment

The required equipment lists are also available via Parent Resources in Compass School Documentation.

Cyber Crime Sexting
I wrote to you in the last College newsletter about the tremendous work of our College counsellors, Ms Megan James and Mrs Carmel Muddle, as they provide our staff, students and families with expert advice regarding wellbeing strategies that support the family unit.

One aspect which I presented was the impact of technology on the growth of secondary students in 2024. There are ongoing pressures placed upon adolescents presently when confronted by the pressure social media technology invites, and St Paul’s wishes to work with the families of our students providing as much relevant information as we work in partnership supporting the growth of all our students.

St Paul’s College is very fortunate to be able to engage with the NSW Police Force Youth Command who will speak to our students next week. The representatives from the Youth Command will be focusing on Cyber Crime Sexting which is a significant issue in our society today. There are significant repercussions for students breaching cyber crime sexting laws, so we are very fortunate that the Youth Command can provide a direct outline of the implications of breaching these laws. The College wishes to work closely with all families in a partnership that supports the academic, spiritual, social and sporting growth of all students allowing them to grow as wonderful representatives of our Macleay Valley community.


Mr Geoffrey Melville - Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

geoffrey.melville@lism.catholic.edu.au

1. The easiest way to consent (and pay, if required) is via Compass, either the app or desktop version. If you are having any difficulties with Compass please contact the College office for assistance.
2. If you are unable to access Compass you may request a paper consent form be emailed to you or sent home with your child. This will need to be completed, signed and returned to the College.

We are unable to accept verbal consent (e.g. phone call) or other written consent (e.g. email or note) for your child to attend an Event. However, please be aware that if you pay for an Event via the College office (phone or face to face) this will be considered consent for your child to attend the Event.

If a student does not have consent given in the required manner they will be unable to attend the Event.

St Paul's Year 10 students attended the 'Above the Line' retreat last week, held at The Francis Retreat in Bonny Hills. This transformative experience invited students to step outside their comfort zones, explore life stories from new perspectives, and develop a growth mindset as they prepare for the challenges and opportunities of senior school.

The retreat featured a rich and diverse program designed to inspire personal growth and connection:

• John Coutis delivered powerful sessions, sharing his remarkable life story and guiding students through meaningful goal-setting activities.
• Students engaged in a variety of workshops, including labyrinth building, candle making, Escape Room challenges, and sessions that explored faith, culture, and service. Highlights included an Indigenous cultural session with Strong Spiritual Aboriginal Services, as well as discussions on teamwork, science and religion, and what it means to live as men and women of faith.
• Spiritual Night offered a heartfelt space for peer affirmation and story sharing, fostering a sense of unity and mutual understanding.
• The retreat concluded with a liturgy led by Fr James, where students reflected quietly on the messages they had encountered and considered the values they wish to carry forward into their senior years.

Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the retreat as exceeding their expectations. The moments of reflection, connection, and growth were deeply appreciated, and it was heartening to see the students return home happy and enriched.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff who made this retreat possible: Mr Heath Needs, Mr Brendan Goswell, Mrs Dianne Mascord, Mr Conrad Tamblyn, Mrs Barica Rafton, Miss Olivia Eberhaut and Mrs Beth Rennes. Your guidance and support were integral to the retreat’s success.

The 'Above the Line' retreat stands as a testament to the power of shared stories, open hearts, and a commitment to growth, preparing our students to move forward with purpose and resilience.

Mr Matthew Mitchell - Leader of Evangelisation

matthew.mitchell@lism.catholic.edu.au

Faith Q&A for St Paul’s Staff, Students and Parents
St Paul’s College has an email address and Google Form for members of our College community to send in questions regarding faith, church, religion or spirituality.

Please note: this form is not a crisis or mental health service. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please reach out to your parents or carers, a staff member at the College, or any of the mental health outlines.

For example:

• Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4236
• Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
• Parent Line NSW on 1300 1300 52

Anonymous author option - complete this Google Form (leave name and email address fields blank). Where appropriate, answers to anonymous questions will be posted in the College newsletter.

Known author option - send an email to the below address, or complete this Google Form (complete the name and email address fields). If you include your name and email address, we will send you an answer directly.

Thank you and God bless.

Mr Brendan Goswell - Leader of Catechesis

kmps-faithquestions@lism.catholic.edu.au

The St Paul's College community will be contributing to the 2024 Vinnies Christmas Appeal. All students are invited to donate an item/s of non-perishable food to their Pastoral Care class over the next three weeks to be included in the PC group's hamper. 

Each PC will be helping make Christmas special for one local family in need. Further instructions and donation suggestions can be found in the flyer below.

On behalf of St Vincent De Paul, we thank you for your support.

Mrs Patrice Martin, Mrs Cathy Whalen & Ms Karen Irvine - Library Assistants

The Year 12 Graduation Dinner was a huge success and a wonderful event enjoyed by all involved. A special thanks to Ms Megan Dunbar, Ms Emma Tamblyn, the College Grounds Team, St Paul's P&F Association and all who were involved in the planning, organising and running of the Graduation Dinner.

Congratulations to St Paul's Cricket team who won Round 3 of the NSWCCC Berg Shield Cricket knock out competition in East Maitland yesterday. We are incredibly proud of your success and wish you all the best for the next round of competition!

Thank you to coach, Mr Peter Hill, and Ms Shannon Thomas for their support of the team and accompanying the students.

Congratulations to St Paul's Year 12 2024 student, Lynete Bridgwater, whose graphic design artwork 'Elysian Escape' has been nominated for ARTEXPRESS, which is an annual showcase of HSC Visual Art works exhibited at various galleries in NSW throughout 2025. This nomination is an impressive achievement and testament to the hard work and skill showcased in the artwork.

Thank you to St Paul's Visual Arts teachers, Mrs Ingrid Yssel and Ms Heidi Tamblyn, for their guidance and support of the students.

Congratulations to St Paul's Year 11 Hospitality students, Courtney Minns and Briella Petterson, who represented the College in the WorldSkills Australia Regional Competition for VETiS (VET in schools) Commercial Cookery at Newman Senior Technical College last week.

The students were required to prepare, plate and serve three portions of warm chicken salad and a choux pastry using the supplied ingredient list within a three hour time frame. We are very proud of their achievements!

St Paul's students from Year 7-9, senior Physics and Investigating Science had the opportunity to experience a planetarium science incursion held at the College. The portable planetarium provided an immersive 3D experience of the night sky and purpose developed movies took students on a tour of the universe and the history of astronomy.

Year 7 students experienced indigenous stories in the sky and a tour through the solar system. Year 8 are currently learning about the colonisation of Mars so their session was tailored accordingly. The Year 9 students were taken on a virtual trip through time and space to observe the formation of chemical elements by the Big Bang and stars, along with a tour of galaxies to learn about light speed and the super structure of the universe. 

The tour for the senior students included how modern telescopes are conducting whole sky surveys including the sky mapper in the Warrumbungles and the remote array of radio telescopes in Western Australia. Topics such as dark matter and the expansion of the universe were explored through the incredible audio visuals and the expert guidance of the presenter.

For anyone who hasn’t experienced a visit to a planetarium, it is the next best thing to exploring space because the parabolic shape of the dome mimics the night sky and reflects sound in a unique way.

A lot of positive feedback has been received from the students and staff who attended, so we will definitely be booking this again for our students at a suitable time in the future.

Ms Rayleigh Keith - Leader of Science

All parents/carers, family and friends are warmly invited to St Paul's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) night on Thursday 28 November at 5:30pm in the Edmund Rice Centre. The evening will feature Year 7-11 Visual Art works, Music and Drama performances. No RSVP required.

Parents/carers are invited to join us as we acknowledge the academic, community and sporting achievements of our Year 7-11 students at the End of Year Presentation being held on Wednesday 18 December from 12:30pm at the College.

Families will be notified if their child is receiving an award by Wednesday 11 December. No RSVP required.

Year 6 2025/Year 7 2026 students from ALL Macleay and Nambucca Valley schools are invited to save the date for a Day in the Life of a St Paul’s College student on Thursday 27 February 2025. Open to all Year 6 primary school students interested in a Catholic high school education at St Paul's commencing in 2026.

Parents/carers are required to register their child for a Day in the Life event via a registration link that will open on Monday 10 February 2025. The link will be placed on the College website and advertised on the College Facebook page and via Compass.

For more information about enrolments at St Paul's College, please visit the College website.

Students who need a travel pass for 2025 can apply HERE.

A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of a new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody). Students who change address, school (including starting at high school), have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that the College can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2025 school year.

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid travel pass from the start of the school year. For all enquiries please contact your nominated transport operator (Busways or Cavanaghs).

The start of the year is a busy period for local transport operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations difficult.

Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid Travel Pass, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.

Students should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may be given to the student by the bus driver or be sent directly to them at home. Students/parents should contact their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Information about leaving school
The Services Australia website has some great information to support students finishing secondary school, whether they are interested in working, doing an apprenticeship or traineeship, or doing further study. Youth Allowance for students and apprentices and ABSTUDY are the main payments students may get. There are also other payments for students who need to move away from a regional or remote area to study.

Students can find out more at servicesaustralia.gov.au/leavingschool. In particular, the interactive school leavers video that can be found on this web page is a fun way to find out about student payments, Medicare and more.

Medicare Benefits
Year 12's need to add a bank account to their Medicare account to get Medicare benefits, regardless of having their own Medicare card or staying on their parents' card. Find out more at getting Medicare benefits.

Resources for Year 12 School Leavers 
The School Leavers Resource eKit on the Services Australia website has been updated for this year. It contains many different resources that explain Centrelink payments and how to get started with myGov. Download the eKit at servicesaustralia.gov.au/schoolleaversekit.

The eSafety live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills, and tools to support their children in having safe online experiences.

Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school 
This webinar explores the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school. It also offers practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children in upper primary school (ages 11 to 12) and Year 7.

• Thursday 28 November - 12.30 pm
• Registration link

eSafety 101: how eSafety can help you
An overview of The eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children, and young people.

It is suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.

• Wednesday 4 December - 12.30pm
• Registration link

St Paul's uniform supplier, Team Spirit, has announced a new uniform fitting service for back to school uniform purchases. The booking platform will provide a dedicated time slot for students who require more time or assistance with new uniform purchases, such as students starting Year 7 in 2025.

Please refer to the flyer below for booking instructions and opening times. For more information regarding uniform and presentation please click HERE