Term 2 Week 4 - 23 May 2025

Dear parents, carers, students, and staff,

The recent severe weather and flooding in the Kempsey area has again affected our community, and my heart goes out to all those who have been impacted. As a Catholic college, our foundation is built upon compassion, resilience, and unwavering support for one another, especially during challenging times like these.

We have been closely monitoring the situation and are aware that many families within our College community have experienced disruption, isolation, damage to property, and the emotional toll that such events inevitably take. Please know that you are not alone, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

In the spirit of our Catholic ethos, we are committed to providing support to our affected families. We may be able to offer assistance which may include:

• Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Support: Our dedicated pastoral care team, including our counsellors and pastoral care coordinators, are available to provide emotional and spiritual support to students and families. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or your child needs someone to talk to.
  
• Academic Considerations: We understand that the current situation may impact students' ability to focus on their studies. If there are any issues regarding assignments or assessments, please communicate with your child's teachers or subject coordinator to discuss any necessary adjustments.

Let us hold in our prayers all those affected by the floods and work together to support our community's recovery. May we be guided by our faith and the spirit of unity.

Throughout these challenging times there are still many things to celebrate, here are a few:

Science and Engineering Challenge
This year we were thrilled to host Rotary's 25th annual Science and Engineering Challenge. This involved three days of events at the College involving students from all around the Macleay and Nambucca Valleys. A team of our very own students took out the win on Day 1. Thank you to Mr Doug Gately and Mrs Rayleigh Keith for supporting Rotary to host this year.

Regional Shakespeare Carnival
After negotiating closed roads and alternative routes to get to the Regional Shakespeare Carnival in Armidale; Kaitlyn Chadwick, Gracie Campbell and Sam Farrell will be heading to state finals in Sydney in two weeks for their incredible Group Devised performance. A fantastic effort to these three students who have worked incredibly hard to bring Macbeth to life!

Please also congratulate Eva Lemanski, Eli Baywood, Jessica Preston, Olivia Rafton and Ruby Sproule for their compassionate and impressive performances. While they aren’t heading on to the next stage, they should be very proud of their skills and dedication to each other and the craft. Thank you to their incredible teacher, Mrs Amanda Jordan.

Bill Turner Cup
The boys and girls U15 soccer teams won through to the next round in the Bill Turner Cup. Thank you to Mr Conrad Tamblyn and Ms Emma Tamblyn for taking the students away to represent the College.

Crime Story
HSIE students had the opportunity to be involved in a Crime Story incursion again this year. The reenactment of real life crime events provided the students with valuable insight as to how the police and judicial systems work. Thank you to Mrs Melissa Preston for facilitating this event.

Mr Melville will return to school in Week 5. I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenging experience of being your Acting Principal over the past seven weeks. I thank all the parents, staff and students for the support you have shown me. It has been wonderful to experience leading such a brilliant school even when we throw in a flood event and school closure to finish off my tenure!

Thanks for your ongoing support,

Mrs Kate Fullbrook

Acting Principal

kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au

SURVEY WINDOW OPEN NOW

Parents/carers are invited to provide feedback on their experience of St Paul's College using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We would be delighted if all parents/carers could complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our College community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Paul’s College.

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by following this link. 

Students and staff will complete their own versions of the survey at school.

Enrolment applications for Year 7 2026 will close on Saturday 31 May. Please note that applications will not be accepted after this date, regardless of whether your child currently attends a Catholic primary school or has a sibling enrolled at the College.

We are currently scheduling enrolment interviews for applicants who have submitted their application along with all required documentation.

If you have submitted a complete application and have not been contacted by the College’s Enrolments Officer, please contact the College as soon as possible, kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au

To submit an enrolment application, please visit the College website. 

Year 11 and 12 Assessments
The senior students have been sent the assessment schedules for their upcoming tasks. The assessment schedules can be accessed below: 

• Year 11 Assessment Schedule
• Year 12 Assessment Schedule
  
  

Year 10 Subject Selection Information Night 
The Subject Selection information night will be held on Wednesday 25 June at 4:30pm in the Edmund Rice Centre at the College. All prospective Year 11 2026 students and parents must attend this important event.

If you have any queries please email the College, kmps@lism.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Amy Tovey - Acting Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

amy.tovey@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.

We welcome the news that the Catholic Church has Pope Leo XIV as its new leader. Formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost, he is the 267th pope and the first American-born pontiff, as well as the first from the Augustinian order.

Pope Leo XIV’s journey of faith began in Chicago, Illinois, where he was born on 14 September 1955. After joining the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, he was ordained in 1982. His work as a missionary in Peru and his leadership as head of the Augustinian order from 2001 to 2013, reflect his deep dedication to service and global outreach.

During his inaugural Mass on 18 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV emphasised themes of unity, compassion, and addressing modern challenges. He committed to upholding the Church’s traditions while actively engaging with contemporary issues like social justice, environmental protection, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

Pope Leo XIV has also expressed a strong commitment to fostering interfaith dialogue, reaching out to Jewish leaders and highlighting the importance of mutual respect among diverse faith communities.

As a College community, we find inspiration in Pope Leo XIV’s message of hope and inclusion. His leadership challenges us to strengthen our faith, embrace diversity, and work together to create a more compassionate world. Let us keep Pope Leo XIV in our thoughts and prayers as he begins his important mission.

Sometimes, we underestimate the power of simple acts of kindness. Whether it’s a smile, a listening ear, or a word of encouragement, these small gestures can impact someone's day. Let’s challenge ourselves to be more intentional with kindness, not just towards friends and family, but even with strangers and those we find difficult to love.

Practical Ways to Show Kindness
⦁ Encourage Someone: Send a positive message or compliment someone sincerely.
⦁ Serve Your Community: Volunteer your time to help those in need.
⦁ Forgive Freely: Let go of past hurts and choose peace.
⦁ Pray for Others: Lift someone up in prayer, even if they’ve wronged you.


Mrs Lesa Morrison - Assistant Principal - Mission 

lesa.morrison@lism.catholic.edu.au

Building a Partnership Between School and Family for Your Teen’s Success

The impact of school absences, even seemingly small ones, can accumulate and affect a teen's learning significantly. If your child is expressing reluctance going to school regularly, it's essential to address the issue promptly.

Secondary school students who refuse to go to school may show some of the following behaviours:

• frequent unexplained/unjustified absences
• avoiding school events
• frequent lateness and/or partial attendance
• absences on significant days e.g. PDHPE, exams
• frequent requests to go to the sick bay

What is your teen’s pattern of absenteeism?

Vaping
Vaping is on the rise in Australia and has become popular amongst teenagers and young adults. Alarmingly, studies have also shown that there is an increase in the number of primary school-aged children who are experimenting with vapes. There are many misconceptions about vapes being fairly harmless and that vapes in Australia do not contain nicotine.

St Paul's College is committed to the health and wellbeing of our students and will be including a series of informative resources for our parent/carer community over the next four editions of our newsletter. We hope parents and carers use these helpful resources to:

• learn the facts about e-cigarettes and vaping
• recognise what a vape looks like
• understand why vaping is attractive to young people and
• engage in positive conversations at home.

By working in partnership we hope to support our young people to make healthy choices.

Please watch this informative 2 minute video which provides some key information about vaping and e-cigarettes.

Key Information
Vaping is the act of smoking e-cigarettes or ‘vapes’ that can look like metallic pens, USBs and other hand-held systems. Vapes use cartridges filled with liquids, which typically contain nicotine, artificial flavouring, and various chemicals. These can be harmful to the developing body. Research shows that 1 in 5 young people have vaped and nearly 80% of young people say it is easy to get a vape illegally at a shop or online.

Nicotine is especially addictive for young brains. It can cause long-lasting negative effects on brain development and can include impaired attention, learning, memory and changes in mood.

More can be found out about vaping from NSW Health.

Conversation Starters at Home
Start conversations about vaping with your child early. You could consider the following questions or conversation starters:

• Are a lot of kids vaping at your school? Are your friends vaping? Be sure you don’t react, just listen.
• What do you think about vaping? You may hear your child say that vaping is harmless. It’s important to share some good information with your child about the impacts of vaping.
• Do you know what is in vapes? Share with them that they’ve tested vapes and they do not contain only water vapor and flavouring. Vapes can contain very high levels of nicotine and other toxic chemicals that damage lungs.

Mrs Krystal Brady - Leader of Pastoral Care

krystal.brady@lism.catholic.edu.au

Bill Turner Cup Soccer - Boys
The Bill Turner Cup is a statewide soccer knockout for boys 15 years and under. The St Paul's boys team won their first game 2-0 against Hastings High and then defeated Westport High 2-0 in their second game. St Paul's was the dominant side in both games and it was very pleasing to see the players work well as a team. It was difficult scoring goals, as the game was played on the artificial surface in Port Macquarie and only hockey goals were available. Oliver Gill and Oliver Tamblyn were the goal scorers in the first game, and Hamish Davies and Oliver Tamblyn scored goals in the second game. The next game for the team is against MacKillop Catholic College, who traditionally have a very strong side. The St Paul's boys are up for the test whenever there is a break in the weather.

Bill Turner Trophy Soccer - Girls
On Monday 12 May, the Bill Turner Trophy team travelled to Port Macquarie. The Bill Turner Trophy is a football (soccer) competition for U15’s girls that involves schools across five states. Teams continue to play until they experience a loss and are then eliminated. Due to the ongoing wet weather, the day was held as a gala day. To start, the girls took on Westport High who they defeated 1-0 in a close but well-played game. They progressed to the next game against Port Macquarie High School, which they comfortably won 3-0. The girls displayed fantastic skill, teamwork, determination and sportsmanship in their games. They now progress to the next round of the competition where they will play St Columba when we get some sunshine.

Netball Schools Cup 
The Netball Schools Cup was held on Wednesday 14 May at the Kempsey Netball Courts. Congratulations to the six St Paul's teams who competed and were successful on the day and are progressing to the next level which will be held in Port Macquarie during Term 3, as well as the Year 9 and Year 10 boys teams who progress automatically.

Our junior girls teams consisted of a mix of Year 7 and Year 8 girls who played with energy and enthusiasm on the court. One of the teams were undefeated all day and the other team, which was made up of Year 7 girls, were able to stay strong against Bowraville High and come out with a draw and a win, finishing second for the day. Many of our junior girls also helped out with umpiring, not only for St Paul’s but also volunteered to umpire many games throughout the day for St Joseph’s, which was wonderful to see.

The Year 9 and Year 10 teams were also very strong on the day considering they played with no reserves, as many of the Year 10 girls were attending the PASS Camp. Both teams managed strong wins against Melville High and took out first and second on the day.

This carnival also saw Oliver Haydon and Cooper Rowsell help coach a successful Year 8 boys team, and Lakyah Bell and Sophie Smailes help with a very keen Year 7 and 8 team. These students are to be commended on their enthusiasm and dedication to their teams.

Well done to the St Paul's boys teams who competed at the Netball Schools Cup. The Year 8 boys team managed to return a perfect record. Rapid movement of the ball from one end of the court to the other kept their opponents on their toes. The older boys only conceded a lead once throughout the day, going into halftime against their younger colleagues 1-0 down before snatching victory. The two games against Melville High were spirited affairs, with the St Paul’s teams taking victory both times. The Year 7 team showed mercurial skill throughout their games and finished the day winning two of their four games.

Basketball NSW Schools Tournament
It was a busy week for sport at St Paul’s and the Senior Boys Basketball team concluded the action on Thursday 15 May with a trip to Sportz Central in Coffs Harbour for the Basketball NSW Mid North Coast Schools Tournament.

Having been prepared by Meghan Kemp (President - Kempsey Basketball Association), the boys were looking forward to a challenging day of senior basketball. Our first match against eventual champions, Bishop Druitt College, started well and we were competitive and down by 16-8 after 10 minutes. The Champions then clicked into gear defeating St Paul’s by 51-10.

The second match was played against Coffs Harbour Christian Community College (CHCCC) who were very competitive going down 54-33. 

St Paul's then played in the Division 1 Semi-final against CHCCC again and this time were outclassed going down by 53-24. The physicality of the day had taken its toll and the boys had learnt about the standard required for Division 1 Schools Basketball.

A big thank you to Meghan Kemp for preparing the team and with the majority of the squad in Years 9 and 10 the future looks very bright for basketball at St Paul’s College. Let us hope that our shiny new multi-sport stadium can be utilised to its full potential with the inclusion of more opportunities for internal and external indoor sport competitions.

Player of the day - Pierson Kemp
Most Improved - Dane Fisher
Coaches Encouragement Award - Mannix Baillie
Apple i-Phone Management Award - Thomas James

Diocesan Cross Country
The Diocesan Cross Country has once again been postponed until Monday 26 May. Let’s hope that the weather will allow our 30 Diocesan Cross Country finalists to participate in this event at the new venue of Wiigulga Sporting Complex, Solitary Islands Way, Woolgoolga.

NSWCCC Rugby 7’s Selection
Isla Grafin Von Mengersen has been chosen in the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Girls 16 Years Rugby 7's squad. This is a fantastic achievement for Isla who is a very dedicated rugby player and will now be attending the NSW All Schools Rugby 7’s Championships on 25 - 26 June.

Lismore Diocese Netball Representative
Good luck to Lakyah Bell who will be attending the NSWCCC 15 Years Netball trials next Thursday 29 May in Penrith.

Mr Leon Robinson - Teacher and Sports Coordinator

leon.robinson@lism.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Patrice Martin, Mrs Cathy Whalen & Mrs Jennifer Anttilla - Library Assistants

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.

A group of St Paul's Year 9 and 10 girls participated in the PCYC boxing program during Term 1. This is a dynamic and empowering initiative designed to build confidence, fitness, and resilience in a supportive environment. Open to girls of all skill levels, the program combines boxing techniques with strength and cardio training, promoting physical health and mental well-being. This program fosters discipline, self-defense skills, and teamwork, while also encouraging personal growth and community connection. Thanks to Constable Bruce Browning and Keith Robinson from the PCYC for their support and leadership in this program.

"Boxing is a fun and creative sport that promotes physical activity in a safe environment to improve young people’s confidence and performance. It improves leadership skills and gives young people an opportunity to express themselves." - Leah Quinn, Year 10

St Paul's Year 7, Year 11 Legal Studies and a selection of Year 9 students, had the opportunity to attend the Crime Story incursion. The Crime Story workshop is run by former detective and current HSC English teacher, Luke Taylor. Students had to examine evidence from two crime scenes and use their problem-solving skills to work out what had occurred in each scene. Year 9 and Year 11 students also learnt about the power of fingerprints and DNA at a crime scene and as evidence in a court case. All the students had a great time being a detective for the day and many interesting stories about the crime were formed. Thanks to the HSIE department for such a great opportunity for the students.

The Science and Engineering Challenge (SEC) is a nationwide STEM outreach program presented by the University of Newcastle in partnership with communities, Rotary clubs, universities and sponsors. Students experience aspects of science and engineering which they would not usually see in their school environment.

It is with great pleasure to announce the team from St Paul's College as the winner of the Science and Engineering Day 1 Challenge. This year the College hosted this prestigious three day event. The first two days involved teams from a variety of regional secondary schools and the third day was a primary school experience day.

Eight groups of four students each were assigned an activity or two, and each activity was scored by a separate adjudicator from the University of Newcastle. The activities ranged from bridge building, to designing and testing a balsa plane, constructing fish traps, designing a rail network, the most efficient wind turbines, along with a new challenge this year called Eco-Habitech where students had to design and test a self sufficient habitat designed for polar conditions.

Well done to our team of students for this fantastic achievement!

Congratulations to St Paul's Year 10 and 11 Drama students for their impressive performances at the Regional Shakespeare Carnival held in Armidale.

We wish the best of luck to Kaitlyn Chadwick, Gracie Campbell and Sam Farrell who progress to the Shakespeare Carnival State Finals in Sydney for their Group Devised performance. Well done, we are very proud of you all!

St Paul's Year 12 Student Leaders attended the School Leaders Forum at Kempsey Shire Council, where they reflected on the beauty of our region and opportunities to improve their local community. They worked together with a mentor Councillor to form a proposal to present at the next Council Meeting.

The Year 12 group photo and photos of the student leaders will be taken on Tuesday 10 June. All Year 12 students are required to wear full academic uniform including ties and meet the presentation expectations of the College.

Please refer to the College Uniform and Presentation Policy for information regarding uniform expectations.

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.

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.

Raising a child with ADHD?
Parents/carers are invited to register for the FREE International ADHD Parenting Summit on Monday 26 May, featuring leading global experts, practical strategies, and real-life advice to help children with ADHD thrive. Accessible online from anywhere. Register here.

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 Tuesday 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.