Term 2 Week 2 - 9 May 2025

Remembering a Humble Servant - Pope Francis (1936-2025)
For over a decade, Pope Francis has been a beacon of hope and a powerful voice for justice and peace in our world. His papacy has been marked by a genuine humility, a profound love for the poor, disabled and vulnerable. He possessed a tireless determination to take the light of the Gospel to all corners of the globe. His emphasis on mercy, his call for dialogue and understanding between different faiths and cultures and his passionate advocacy for environmental stewardship have resonated deeply with people of all backgrounds.

Here at St Paul’s, we have been inspired by Pope Francis's example. His teachings on love, service, and the importance of community have been integral to our own Catholic ethos. We have strived to embody his message of reaching out to those in need and fostering a spirit of inclusivity and compassion within our College community.

As a Catholic school, we have taken time during assemblies, PC time and CAS lessons to remember Pope Francis in our prayers and reflections. The staff prayer last week was run by Mr Conrad Tamblyn in the College chapel and was a time of reflection and prayer to remember the life of Pope Francis.

We pray now for the newly elected Pope. Overnight the conclave of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV. Robert Prevost, 69, will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. He has chosen the name Leo. We will pray for him, that he be a leader who walks with us as Pope Francis did.

May the soul of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, rest in peace.

ANZAC Services
On ANZAC Day the College was proudly represented at the marches around the Macleay and Nambucca Valleys to commemorate all soldiers. We are particularly proud of Sophie Brandolini, our college Captain, who was the MC for the Kempsey service this year. Thank you to all staff and students who attended the marches on behalf of the College.

On Wednesday last week we gathered as a College community to commemorate ANZAC Day. The HSIE department, led by Mrs Melissa Preston led a beautiful service supported by our student members of the local cadets. I thank all the staff and students involved for allowing the school community to pay our respects in a solemn way.

Show season is well and truly underway and I know many of you will have seen the amazing results of our College Agriculture Team at the Wauchope, Macksville and Kempsey shows. We are incredibly lucky to have dedicated staff who attend the shows on weekends, in the holidays and far too early in the morning! Special thanks goes to Mr Graham Bramley, Ms Lisa Frewen and Mr Ash Gardiner for all the work they put into the teams.

The College cross country was held at the Francis Farm last week. Over 70 students participated in the event. Thanks to Mr Leon Robinson and the staff who supported this great school activity. We wish all students who have qualified the best for the Diocesan Carnival to be held in Grafton next week.

Year 7 CAS classes have started their narrated Mass experiences with Fr James. This is an opportunity for the students to have the parts of the Mass explained to them so they can understand the importance more fully. We are grateful for the time Fr James puts into these very worthwhile learning experiences.

This week we have trialled a new way of conducting parent teacher interviews. We have had suggestions in past years that parents are not always able to see the teachers because there are not enough time slots, so we have divided the evening into two to see if this helps to address the issue. Hopefully you were all able to see the teachers of your children to hear about their wonderful learning opportunities at St Paul’s.

Thanks for your ongoing support,

Mrs Kate Fullbrook

Acting Principal

kmps@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.

Welcome to Term 2
Welcome back, everyone! We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable break and are returning refreshed and ready for a fantastic Term 2. This Term brings new opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Whether you're setting fresh goals or continuing progress from Term 1, we're excited to see what you achieve.
Let’s continue to support each other, work hard, and make the most of the weeks ahead!

A Moment of Reflection: Remembering Pope Francis
It is with deep sorrow that the global Catholic community mourns the passing of Pope Francis, who died peacefully at the age of 88 in Vatican City. As the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to serve as the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis made history when he was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Over his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis became known for his compassion, humility, and emphasis on social justice. He championed care for the environment, interfaith dialogue, and a more inclusive approach to Church teachings. His leadership inspired millions, and his legacy will live on through the many reforms and messages of mercy he brought to the Church and the world.

As a College community, we remember him in prayer and honour his lifelong dedication to faith, service, and peace.

Looking Ahead: The Papal Conclave
With the seat of St. Peter vacant, the College of Cardinals gathered on Wednesday 7 May in the Sistine Chapel to begin the papal conclave, the sacred process of electing the next Pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in this secretive and solemn ceremony. The conclave involved prayer, reflection, and a series of ballots until a two-thirds majority was reached. Once a new Pope is elected, white smoke will rise from the chapel chimney—an ancient sign that the Church has a new leader. The white smoke has appeared, and the new leader of the Catholic Church, Robert Francis Prevost, will be the first American Pope and be known as Pope Leo XIV.

College ANZAC Service
Last Wednesday, as a College Community, we took time to hold our ANZAC Day service. We would especially like to acknowledge the students who showed maturity and respect throughout the ceremony. Your quiet reflection, attentive listening, and thoughtful participation truly honoured the spirit of the day. These moments remind us of the strength of our College community and the importance of coming together to remember our shared history. Thank you for helping make the service such a meaningful occasion.

Thanks goes to our student speakers, our Catafalque party, and those involved in the wreath-laying ceremony. Your contributions made the service especially meaningful and helped us all to reflect on the importance of remembrance, courage, and community. It is difficult to get up in front of your peers – well done. A special acknowledgment and thanks goes to Mrs Melissa Preston, Mr Will Pollock and the HSIE department for organising this commemoration service for us all.


Mrs Lesa Morrison - Assistant Principal - Mission 

lesa.morrison@lism.catholic.edu.au

Is your teen struggling to attend school?
If your teen is avoiding school, it’s essential to take proactive steps by reaching out to the College. Subject teachers can provide valuable insights into your child’s behavior and collaborate with you to address any challenges they may be experiencing.

Share your observations and concerns about your child’s attendance openly. Together with the College and your child, explore possible reasons for their avoidance.

• You can seek advice free from NSW Parent Line or call 1300 1300 52.
• Book an appointment by phoning or emailing your nearest Headspace centre.
• Book a session with the free ReachOut Coaching Service for parents and carers.
  
  

Mrs Krystal Brady - Leader of Pastoral Care

krystal.brady@lism.catholic.edu.au

Welcome back to another action packed Term of sport at St Paul’s College. Last week Thursday the College Cross Country was run at Francis Farm and we were fortunate to have a rare day of sunshine. The results across all age groups are listed below:

Up to six students from each age group now qualify for the Diocesan Cross Country which will be held at Barnier Park, Junction Hill on Friday 16 May. Invitation emails will be sent to all students who have qualified and details will also appear on Compass.

Bill Turner Cup and Trophy Soccer
The boys and girls in the Bill Turner Cup and Trophy soccer teams are anxiously awaiting the rescheduling of last Friday’s fixtures which were unfortunately washed out. I am hoping that these games will be played on Monday 12 May.

Basketball NSW Schools Tournament
St Paul’s have entered a senior boys team in the Basketball NSW Schools Tournament scheduled for Sport Central at Coffs Harbour on Thursday 15 May. Mrs Meghan Kemp from the Kempsey Basketball Association is sharing her expertise whilst coaching these students and her efforts are really appreciated by staff and students at St Paul’s College.

Netball Schools Cup 2025
St Paul’s has entered eight teams in the Netball Schools Cup 2025 scheduled for Wednesday 14 May at the Verge Street Netball Courts. Parents will need to consent and pay on Compass. The students and coaches are all excited to be participating in this competition again this year.


Mr Leon Robinson - Teacher and Sports Coordinator

leon.robinson@lism.catholic.edu.au

From next week, we will be inviting students, teachers, and parents to share their experiences of our school through an online survey. These surveys are an important part of our whole-school evaluation and planning process.

We invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. Further information, including the survey link, will be shared with you next week. We value the vital role that parents and carers play in our College community and greatly appreciate your input. The feedback you provide will help strengthen our ongoing commitment to working in partnership to improve student learning and wellbeing.

Based on feedback collected from previous surveys, we are currently working on a range of initiatives, including the following:

• Addressing gaps in the curriculum by offering improved elective options for Year 9, beginning in 2026.
• Enhancing the careers curriculum with dedicated Year 10 classes that provide more real-world learning experiences, connecting classroom content with students’ future goals.
• Implementing evidence-based wellbeing programs and staff professional learning to ensure our team is equipped to support student wellbeing and advocate for their needs during challenging times.

As we move into another Term and the cooler months, it is a good time ensure that the College unform is being worn correctly. Wearing full school uniform is compulsory.

⦁ There should be no other pieces of clothing that can be seen, such as long sleeve undershirts, worn with the uniform.
⦁ It is important that all students wear our uniform correctly. If, for any reason, a student is unable to be in the correct school uniform they must have a note written and signed by their parent/carer explaining the problem and the expected day when the student will be back in full uniform.  It is expected that this will be for only a short period of time.
⦁ All students should be in academic uniform on a Wednesday and on any other day they do not have a practical lesson (eg sport or practical science or tech lesson).
⦁ Year 11 and 12 must wear a tie with their academic uniform in Terms 2 and 3. Ties are optional in Terms 1 and 4.

Some key accessory items and other uniform expectations to be aware of (further items and explanation can be found in the Uniform policy on Compass)

Jewellery
⦁ Up to two small plain studs in each ear (only).  A total of 2 studs/sleepers combined per ear. No pearls or similar. 
⦁ One small plain ring may be worn per student (not per hand).
⦁ No bangles, bands or bracelets. (Medical alert bracelets are the exception to this).
⦁ One thin plain metal chain necklace with or without a small pendant. (Medical alert necklaces are the exception to this).
⦁ Make-up of any description is not permitted for any students in years 7-10 (this includes tinted moisturiser, and coloured lip gloss). Year 11 and 12 students may minimally use make-up such as foundation and mascara which are of natural shades only. Minimal and Natural are the keywords here. 
⦁ Nail polish must be clear.
⦁ Eyelash extensions are not permitted.

Hair
⦁ Hair accessories should be a plain design in black, blue or white.
⦁ Boys must be clean-shaven at all times. Facial hair is permitted only with permission from the Principal in respect to religious and cultural aspects only.

Shoes
School shoes - worn with regular College uniform - polishable, black leather, solid leather upper, lace-up, solid sole. Note: boots, black joggers, shoes with exposed uppers, skate shoes with logos and white or coloured markings are not acceptable.
Sport/PE shoes - worn with the College sports uniform - joggers with flat sole, good grip and rolled toe or Van style sport shoes in order to avoid injury. Note: high top, basketball boots, canvas shoes or Dunlop Volleys etc are not acceptable.

St Paul's students and staff have GONE BLUE today and have raised over $650 in support of Do It For Dolly Day to show that together we can take a stand against bullying to create a kinder, safer world for everyone.

Thank you to the College student leaders for organising the Do It For Dolly kindness wall at the College, where all students and staff were invited to write or draw positive messages on sticky notes to display in the school.

Congratulations to all the St Paul's students and Agriculture Team who participated in the Wauchope, Kempsey and Macksville shows. Students have shown outstanding commitment in their preparation and dedication and have been rewarded with some impressive results.

Thank you to St Paul's Agriculture and Primary Industry teachers, Mr Graham Bramley and Ms Lisa Frewen, to Mr Ash Gardiner and to the support and involvement of the parents and carers.

The start of Term 2 has been a busy time for the Agriculture Team as they have been preparing their cattle for the local round of shows. Preparation began in the school holidays where the students and staff spent two successive Thursdays preparing their cattle for the Wauchope, Kempsey and Macksville shows.

For many of our students this was their first foray into showing cattle, so with the stakes so high (no pun intended), the students set about to ensure that their animals were thoroughly cleaned and clipped to perfection.

This year we made the decision to transfer our cattle to the showgrounds the evening prior to showing, this made it easier for the students to have the animal ready by 8am each morning. 

We experienced some great success over the three shows with many of our students placing in the various Paraders heats. Considering that many of them had never participated in these activities before, it was encouraging to see that they were fairly close to the mark.

I would like to take the time to thank Ms Lisa Frewen and Mr Ash Gardiner for helping train our students each Thursday as well as helping to organise various aspects for the team, to ensure that we look the part and have not only the correct equipment and techniques but also the quality of cattle required to keep up with our competitors.

We are also grateful to have the support of a great number of parents and who help out in various ways. From cooking BBQ’s, carting equipment, tending to the cattle. All of this ensures that we have the resources required to achieve.

Showing cattle is a competitive pursuit and some schools spend large sums of money to secure high quality animals for the major shows such as the Sydney Show, Wingham and Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza. Six of our steers have been purchased either through our local saleyards or privately from producers in our region. This has been done largely by our farm assistant, Ash Gardiner, who regularly cases out the local Thursday cattle shows and uses his contacts to source private sale cattle.

We have also shown six steers this year that we have bred on our College farm. These animals are extremely quiet and used to being handled by the students. We are hoping to conduct a paddock to plate program this year as well, where some of our cattle will be processed and sold to our own customers.

We have been doing this for some time now with our own beef, pork, chicken, eggs, honey and vegetables. To date this year we have sold twenty fully processed pigs and twenty pasture raised chickens direct from our butcher to our own staff and parent network.

It is the intention to have a number of productive enterprises overlaid on the one area of land that compliment each other. Our pig and poultry enterprises compliment our grazing by renovating areas of land and dispersing their nutrient rich waste. This aids in the production of high quality pasture. Our cattle yards are under a shed, that is regularly filled with wood chips donated by Langhams Tree Service. This is cleaned out twice per year and composted with other organic waste such as coffee grounds from the Heights General Store and brewery waste from our local micro brewer - Bucket Brewery. We also use chicken litter and pig manure in the compost. The compost is spread on the paddocks and gardens after around 12 months of being rotated and aerated with our front end loader.

Lots of our products are consumed close to the farm, with hundreds of eggs and many kilograms of various types of meat being purchased by our staff, canteen and hospitality/food tech kitchens. By doing this we are aiming to get a better price for our products which is more sustainable and also reducing the distance that our products travel to the end user. This concept is referred to as food miles.

The end result is also to reduce the amount of chemical inputs we are using across the farm. The less we use, the cheaper the production costs become. The most important benefit is that our Agriculture and Primary Industries students are able to learn about a multitude of different management practices as well as practice a number of key skills, hopefully enough to help them secure a job in the industry.

If you would like to go on a list to buy some of our products in the future, please get in touch with me via email.

Mr Graham Bramley - Leader of Vocational Education & Training
                                 - Agriculture and Primary Industries teacher

graham.bramley@lism.catholic.edu.au

Project Granny Square continues! Crochet Clubbers have been working hard crocheting Granny Squares for a snuggly rug which will be donated for our Winter Appeal. Feel free to come along to the library on a Monday at lunch time, or if you already know how to crochet, how about you crochet a square for our project?
Please see Mrs Browning or Mrs Van Kal for details and yarn.

LESS THAN A MONTH TO GO! Enrolments for Year 7 2026 close on Saturday 31 May – this deadline applies to ALL students interested in a Catholic secondary education at St Paul’s College.

For more information and enrolment applications, please visit the College website.

Wednesday 12 November 2025
Please save the date if you have applied for a position at the College for Year 7 2026. This is a compulsory day for students who accept an offer of a position at St Paul's for Year 7 2026.

All current and previous students, staff and family are invited to save the date to join St Paul's 60th anniversary celebrations on Sunday 5 October 2025.
Mass will be held at 9:30am in the Mercy Centre at St Paul's College, followed by a BBQ picnic. More details to follow closer to the date.

A catch up clinic will be held on Tuesday 21 October for the following routine school vaccinations:

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

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

To provide consent for vaccination online, parents/carers will need to:

• Visit the online consent portal here.
• Parents/carers will need their Service NSW log in details and Medicare details.
• Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online. Translated guides are available online.

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card or you cannot provide consent online, please email the College Office kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au to request a paper consent form to be sent home.

Please ensure your child has eaten breakfast on the morning of the clinic, this helps prevent fainting.

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination. If you have any questions regarding your child's school vaccinations, please contact the NSW Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The College will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information.

To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the College - kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au

The Council of Catholic School Parents is hosting a number of helpful webinars for parents/carers on a variety of topics. Please download the PDF below to access the registration links:

For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like concerning content, online exploitation and the growing influence of harmful ideologies.

This free webinar on 27 May, 12:30pm-1:15pm, will help parents understand:

• Social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men.
• How boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation.
• The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
• Practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.

Register for this webinar here.

Registrations are now open for parents and carers to attend the annual Parent Assembly Conference featuring keynote speakers Maggie Dent, the Queen of Common Sense Parenting and Brad Marshall, the Unplugged Psychologist.

For more information please refer to the flyer below. Register here - places are limited.

Lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing fire risk in New South Wales. Fire and Rescue NSW wants members of the NSW community to understand the risks and be prepared if things go wrong.

• Ensure functioning smoke alarms where batteries are charged or stored.
• Charge batteries on non-flammable surfaces like concrete floors, avoiding beds or sofas.
• Large batteries should only be charged in well-ventilated areas like garages or sheds.

Charging Caution

• Never charge batteries unattended or when sleeping.
• Disconnect devices once fully charged.
• Avoid using and charging devices on flammable surfaces or if damaged.

Charging Essentials

• Use only approved chargers with the Australian Regulatory Compliance Mark.
• Beware of compatibility issues with chargers.

Safe Disposal

• Never dispose of damaged batteries in regular waste bins.
• Use designated battery recycling drop-off points.
• Dispose of damaged batteries promptly to mitigate fire risks.

For further information please visit the NSW Fire & Rescue website.