Term 4 Week 2 - 21 October 2022

Dear Parent/Carer

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Luke 18: 9-14

Welcome back to Term 4 and it is hoped that the first two weeks of the Term have been successful for our students and staff.

As always there is a lot going on at the College and I thank our staff for their continued hard work and our students for their significant enthusiasm around their learning and completion of tasks that will inform end of semester reports.

This week we commissioned our Student College Leadership team with a special ceremony. I thank Fr James for his attendance and the input from the Hon. Pat Conaghan, MP, Federal Member for Cowper and past student of St Paul’s and Kempsey Shire Councillor Alexandra Wyatt who both spoke about leadership, providing advice to our Student Leaders as well as the College community. This important event commenced with a Smoking Ceremony and I thank Uncle Fred Kelly who facilitated this important process. The significance of the smoke touching all in our community demonstrates that we are all a part of something special and are connected. Together we journey with strength, understanding and an authentic care for those around us.

I acknowledge our Student Leadership Team for 2023 - a strong team for our College.

Captains - Olivia Dunbar, Isaac Gorline-Singleman
Portfolio Leaders - Harry Askew, Brooke Daniels, Tayla Hiscock, Lawson Moffitt
House Leaders - Nick Kenny, Coen Rogers, Breanca Martin, Max Farrell
Student Voice Leaders - Shelby Mitchell, Hunta Crilley, Justin Groundwater, Jade McLean, Jasmine Callaway

The building works continue and your patience around all of this is appreciated. The Edmund Rice Hall, where Year 12 are currently sitting their HSC Examinations, will be a tremendous facility once completed. The builders will re-engage with the refurbishment of the hall from 17 November, which will hopefully be completed in early January. Our new hall continues to be drawn out due to weather and demolition work, but we are hopeful for completion around the end of February 2023. Please continue to pray for a smooth end to this exciting building project. Please note that hazardous material has been identified, which is of no danger to our community, but will require additional work around its removal.

We commenced Tuesday masses at the College this week and I thank Fr James for his interest in providing this wonderful opportunity for our community. Our mass this week involved all our student College leaders for 2023 as well as staff and Mr Stephen Pares, the Lead Regional Head of the Catholic Schools Office. It was well received by all involved and will continue throughout the Term.

I take the opportunity to note the movement of members of the College Executive team into 2023.

Mr Leon Robinson, our Leader of Pastoral Care, and long term staff member has been appointed as Principal at St Joseph’s Flexi school, Alice Springs. A significant appointment and one that Mr Robinson will excel in. The College community applauds this appointment and acknowledges the contribution that Leon has made to many students, their families and colleagues over many years.

Mrs Kristy Carney, our Leader of Inclusion and Diversity, who has taken leave to work in the Port Macquarie area for 2023. A long term staff member who contributed significantly to supporting students within the inclusion space. She has already commenced this work and has been replaced by Ms Kate Anderson who will be in the Acting (Inclusion and Diversity) role for the 2023 academic year.

Mr Will Pollock, our Leader of Evangelisation, has decided to re-join the St Joseph’s Primary school community as a teacher, after his experience as Acting Assistant Principal - Mission in 2021. He will occupy this role across 2023 with a view to return to St Paul’s the following year.

Please also note that there have been some changes to the Pastoral Care team at the College:

Mr Mitchell Robbins has replaced Ms Kate Anderson as Head of McAuley House (Acting) for the remainder of the 2022 academic year. The College will then advertise for a replacement for 2023.

I am excited about the opportunities provided to staff at the College as they move into different positions within the school or elsewhere. We have exceptional staff who would make an impression regardless of school or region. This community continues to be supported with outstanding educators who seek to extract the very best from the students we serve.

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

A commissioning ceremony was held this week where the student body of St Paul’s welcomed their 2023 College leaders.

Special guests included St Paul’s College ex-student the Hon. Pat Conaghan MP, Fr James Foster and local Council member Alexandra Wyatt. Uncle Fred Kelly conducted the Smoking Ceremony and Year 10 student Mahlia Hoskins welcomed families, students and guests to Country.

The Year 12 Pastoral Coordinator, Ms Emma Tamblyn, announced St Paul's 2023 College Captains - Olivia Dunbar and Isaac Gorline-Singleman, who are outstanding role models for the College.

Emma also announced other College student leadership positions.

School Leaders

Four School Leaders were elected to be positive influences and to effect change in the College.

Brooke Daniels will focus on the College Mission. Harry Askew will focus on improving sport and well-being opportunities for students while Lawson Moffitt will look at opportunities to improve the physical environment. Tayla Hiscock’s portfolio of 'Community' will see her promoting better mental health and to build community among staff and students.

Student Voice Leaders

Student Voice Leaders will be responsible for enhancing the experience of the new Year 7 group as they begin their journey with St Paul's in 2023. The Student Voice Leaders are Jasmine Callaway, Hunta Crilley, Jade Maclean, Shelby Mitchell and Justin Groundwater.

House Spirit Leaders

The House Spirit Leaders are responsible for working with the House Coordinators in promoting engagement in all school activities including swimming, the Athletics Carnival, Cross Country and charity work. The elected House Spirit Leaders are Breanca Martin (Farrelly), Max Farrell (Edmund) Coen Rogers (MacKillop) and Nicholas Kenny (McAuley).

Year 12 2023 Parents/Carers are invited to attend the Year 12 2023 and HSC Information Evening on Monday 31 October in the College Library at 6pm.

This year can be one of excitement, confusion and growth. We want to support you and your child throughout this time.

This evening will provide information on:

⦁ How to support your child during Year 12
⦁ The HSC assessment program and understanding grading
⦁ The VET work placement program
⦁ Pastoral Care mentoring program

You can also come with any questions, no matter how big or small to ask the staff after the presentations. Your child's Pastoral Care teacher will be present as well as Ms Emma Tamblyn, Year 12 2023 Pastoral Care Coordinator, and members of the College Executive.

This evening is a crucial part of your child's academic and pastoral journey.

We ask that you RSVP via this GOOGLE FORM by Wednesday 26 October, with the number of people attending from your child's family.

Year 12 2023, the HSC has begun!

One of the great strengths of St Paul’s College, as a Catholic regional high school, are the opportunities offered in the classroom for students in Year 11 and 12.

The school offers a wide array of subjects across a diverse range - Extension 1 and 2 unit courses in Maths, English, History; students accelerating in the HSC in subjects such as Maths, Studies of Religion and Investigating Science; VET courses offered in five different frameworks in the senior school in 2023 - Aged Care, Child Care, Construction, Hospitality, Primary Industries; a wide range of School based Traineeships and Apprenticeships as students complete the HSC.

A new addition for our HSC cohort this Term is the dedicated assessment period within Week 8 Term 4, to begin a transition towards the HSC exam experience in October/November 2023. This is the only HSC assessment due this Term, mirroring a scheduled program then replicated in the Trial and HSC in 2023.

All Year 11 students have moved to HSC PC groups where senior staff are mentoring and coaching students in their preparation for these tasks. Each student across the next six weeks will be expected to provide evidence to their PC teacher on their preparation for required tasks in Week 8 including their study timetable and drafting process with their teachers. A key aspect of this process is the correspondence between the HSC PC teachers and parents so we can develop a strategy of full support for our HSC students.

The Year 12 HSC Assessment Schedule for Week 8 Term 4 can be found HERE

If you have any questions with these matters, please contact me at geoffrey.melville@lism.catholic.edu.au or 0438314199.

Mr Geoffrey Melville - Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

geoffrey.melville@lism.catholic.edu.au

SOCKTOBER- Bring out your crazy socks!

St Paul's is participating in Socktober for Mission Month. We are partnering with Catholic Mission to invite our students to connect with young people experiencing challenges in the developing world through education and the world game of soccer. This year, our collective fundraising efforts will support vulnerable children in Ethiopia who are experiencing food insecurity and malnutrition. I’d like to invite you to take a moment to sign your child/ren up for Socktober so they can join their friends and make a difference for children in need in Ethiopia.

We as a College have signed up to support this wonderful cause as we are asking each student to come to school on Wednesday 26 October in crazy socks. Students will be asked to bring a gold coin to raise funds for the Catholic Mission.

House /Year Coordinator change for 2022 Term 4 and 2023

Congratulations to Ms Emma Tamblyn who has been appointed to Year 12 Coordinator for 2023. Due to this change, Ms Di Mascord will take over as Year 7 Coordinator for the remainder of 2022.

I know that both will do a wonderful job. If you have any concerns regarding Year 11/12 or Year 7 please make contact with these staff members or the relevant PC teachers.

Mrs Bronwyn Shipton - Assistant Principal - Mission and Wellbeing

bronwyn.shipton@lism.catholic.edu.au

Welcome back to Term 4!

Term 3 finished on a busy note on the Evangelisation front. At the end of Term 3 a group of students and staff attended IGNITE in Brisbane. This was a wonderful Discipleship event where our staff and students were able to interact with students and staff from across our diocese, as well as from all across Australia in a range of workshops and sessions, including Adoration and celebration of the Eucharist. A big thank you to Mr MacAndrews, Miss O’Loughlin and our Youth Ministry Officer, Lou for accompanying the students on this journey. Arriving home after 8pm on Sunday night was a big ask, thank you.

As Term 4 rolls into gear, we begin our preparations for Christmas. Each year at St Paul’s we conduct a Christmas appeal, and this year will be no different. Starting in week 5, all PC classes will be asked to contribute to our Christmas appeal, with the goodies and money donated being passed on to the St Vincent de Paul chapter here in Kempsey to help make Christmas a little more enjoyable for those at the margins in the district. More information will be provided on Compass and in our next newsletter.

Each year before the Pandemic put a handbrake on it, St Paul’s would host a small number of students and staff from St Aloysius College in Sydney. We are happy to report that this experience is resuming in 2022. As a result, we require families to host 6 students from St Aloysius College across week 6 and 7 of this Term. Ideally, families will be able to host 2 students each. Families interested and able to billet these students are invited to contact Mr Pollock at the College (will.pollock@lism.catholic.edu.au, or 6562 7200).

A reminder for the students at the College that Adoration takes place in the Chapel each Thursday at Lunch time. All students, no matter their faith, are welcome to attend for as long as they like. I would like to thank Mr MacAndrews for his ongoing commitment to providing this opportunity for the College community.

Finally, we are excited to be hosting Fr James on Tuesdays at the College. Fr James will be at the College to visit and say Mass for us in the Chapel. Each year 7 CAS class will have an opportunity to attend Mass this Term. We are excited to be able to provide a chance for the students and staff to engage in the Sacramental life of the Church here at the College.

Thank you and God Bless,

Mr Will Pollock - Leader of Evangelisation

will.pollock@lism.catholic.edu.au

Year 12 2023 Assessment Schedule

Mrs Amy Tovey - Leader of Curriculum

amy.tovey@lism.catholic.edu.au

Lismore Diocesan Volleyball Competition

Senior Girls 

The senior girls trained with great enthusiasm in the weeks leading up to the Diocesan Tournament. They grew in confidence as the competition went on, becoming more confident in their attack and not just hitting the ball back over the net. This allowed them to play with much more structure and start to construct points with greater frequency. They came away with one win from their pool games and will look forward to competing again next year.

- Mr Shipton, Coach.

Senior Boys 

Hardly a lunchtime has passed without a request for a volleyball and the net to be put up - such has been the enthusiasm by the senior boys. With many of the teams sporting competitors from their year 11 and HSC cohort, our year 10 boys were always going to find the going tough.

In training, we have worked on structuring our attack and despite losing our first few matches, the boys stuck with the game plan. As the tournament went on, the ball control improved and we won the last of our pool matches.

- Mr Shipton, Coach

Junior Girls

The junior girls had an absolute blast at the Diocesan Volleyball Championships. They started the day with some nerves in the first game and took some time to put together a few plays. After going down in the first, they rallied together, got some extra practice in and came into their next few games with confidence. They ended up winning their next three games, resulting in an equal first place in their pool.

Unfortunately, when it came down to point difference, they were excluded from the Semi’s. The girls should all be extremely proud of their efforts, they displayed fantastic skills across the entire day. Well done girls!

– Mr Needs, Coach.

Junior Boys 

With just a short time to prepare, the junior boys managed to develop a competent set of skills, teamwork and understanding of the game. They put these to the test as soon as they stepped off the bus as they were playing in the very first game.

Although all of their games were competitive and they were winning some excellent rallies, they were clearly up against more experienced opponents. The boys were still very keen to win each point and the games were very entertaining with excellent blocking, diving saves, spikes and consistent teamwork. The steady improvement shown throughout the 4 games was very noticeable and a good indicator for success next year.

– Glen Northey, Coach.

Interschool’s Lawn Bowls Competition

St Paul’s students took part in the first Inter Schools Lawn Bowls Competition on Wednesday this week. Our students played against Melville High School and showed a high level of skill across the day. St Paul’s ended up winning the Lawn Bowls Inter Schools Shield on the day and will be looking forward to partaking in this next year.

Our best team of the day consisted of Ella Mainey, Jorja Barnett and Chelsea Hackenberg. These girls bowled well and were undefeated all day.

Jonte Ross, Cooper Petterson and Dylan Scott were also undefeated all day, but unfortunately were beaten on point difference.
Jonte Ross was awarded most outstanding bowler on the day out of the schools present.

It was a fantastic day and no doubt the kids will be back for more bowls.

Rugby 7’s News

Great effort by the boys U17s MNC team at the state 7’s competition last weekend. Many of these boys are from St Paul’s, including Coen Rogers, Lawson Moffitt, Darcy Swaine, Drew Lancaster and Harry Gill. The boys placed 3rd overall. A great effort from the St Paul’s boys and MNC team.

Mr Heath Needs - Teacher and Sports Coordinator

heath.needs@lism.catholic.edu.au

St Paul’s College has now transitioned into our new Student Level System for Pastoral Care. The system is outlined below and there will be parent contact if students move into the Amber or Red Levels.

Your child's Level will be visible on the Compass dashboard for students and parents.

Student Behaviour Level System

This new Level System is strongly supporting the teaching and assistant teaching staff at St Paul’s to reward positive student behaviour and works hand in hand with the Positive Behaviour Reward (PBRS) points system.

The following students have been awarded the PBRS Points Winners for Term 3 and will be rewarded with a $100 gift card.

• Year 7 - Hudson Gidzala - Edmund
• Year 8 - Clarence Northey - Farrelly
• Year 9 - Evelyn Schipp - Edmund
• Year 10 - Jayden Allen - Edmund
• Year 11 - Mikayla Cameron - Edmund
• Year 12 - Louis Gambrill - MacKillop

These students are all excellent examples of the positive and highly motivated students we like to have here at St Paul’s and are fully deserving of these prizes.

Mr Leon Robinson - Leader of Pastoral Care

leon.robinson@lism.catholic.edu.au  

0401 166 415

02 6562 7200

Earlier this week our new College Captains met with the Hon. David Littleproud MP (pictured below with the Captains), Senator Perin Davey and Pat Conaghan MP, Federal Member for Cowper, at the Regional Youth Leaders 'Round Table' Forum at Charles Sturt University as part of a 'Regional Listening Tour'.

The 'Round Table’ is aimed at creating a dialogue between our community and our Federal Government Representatives from the National Party. The particular focus of this forum was to help the politicians answer the question ‘What is important to young people in the regions and how do we make it a reality?’

Following speeches by the Federal leaders the Captains and other student leaders from the Hastings and Macleay Valleys had the opportunity to raise questions around a range of topics including the housing crisis, employment, mental health in regional areas, youth recreational activities, biodiversity and health.

Have you seen St Paul's new bus wrap on the Macksville/Kempsey school bus? Here it is! 

With thanks to Cavanagh Bus & Coach, Kempsey Signs for the production of the wrap, our wonderful students in the photos and Mr Lee Hancock, Leader of Innovation and Engagement in the World of Work, for the photography.

St Paul’s students had a fantastic time at the Interschools Horse Extravaganza which was held last weekend at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth, where students competed in almost every discipline offered on the program.

St Paul's team competed in the following events:

• Combined Training - Ella Browne, Evannah Osborne, Maddi Ball and Andi Kennedy
  
• ODE - Emily Brown
  
• Dressage - Esther Buckley, Evannah Osborne and Maddi Ball
  
• Show riding - Maddi Ball, Evannah Osborne, Esther Buckley and Ella Browne
  
• Show Jumping - Andi Kennedy, Ella Browne, Emily Brown, Maddi Ball and Evannah Osborne
  
• Working Horse - Andi Kennedy and Clancy Prior
  
• Campdraft - Reagan O’Donnell, Brianna O’Donnell, Andi Kennedy, Clancy Prior, Elisa Farrawell and Harriett Shields.
  
• Sporting - Andi Kennedy and Evannah Osborne
  
• Sausage dog Race - Ella Browne and Winston
  
  

Results:

Brianna O’Donnell - 4th in the Campdraft
Emily Brown - 3rd in Show Jumping and 7th in ODE
Andi Kennedy - 5th Combined Training 60cm
Esther Buckley - 5th Dressage Prelim 1C
Maddi Ball - Supreme Rider, Reserve Champion Heavyweight horse, Reserve Champion Hunter horse, 2nd combined Training 45cm, 1st Prelim 1C, 2nd Prelim 1B, 1st open Novice 2B, 3rd & 7th Showjumping 60cms

Macksville's Summer Futsal registration is now open.

Competition starts on the 8 November, every Tuesday and Thursday for 6 weeks, and continues in February and March in the following divisions: 8-10yrs, 11-14yrs, 15-17yrs, Senior Men's, Senior Women's and Senior Mixed.

Cost:

8 to 14 yrs - $125 per player

15 yrs & older - $145 per player

Active Kids Vouchers will be accepted.

For players who want to start a team and invite friends, please click HERE and follow the instructions.

For individual players please follow this LINK

For more information email: macksvillesoccer@gmail.com or phone: 0402 377 733
to register.

Regional Youth Called Upon to be in the Room Where it Happens

Applications close soon for the 2023 Regional Youth Taskforce, an advisory group that shares feedback and ideas to the Minister for Regional Youth and the Office for Regional Youth about issues that affect young people living in regional NSW.

The Taskforce offers youth throughout rural and regional NSW an opportunity to meet with government and inform decision making that will have flow-on benefits for their peers and communities.

The Taskforce is comprised of 18 members aged 12-24, each with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and with two people representing each of the state’s nine regions. The group meets four times throughout the year either online or in person. Travel costs, meals and accommodation are covered when travel for meetings is required.

Being part of the 2023 Regional Youth Taskforce will allow young people to connect with like-minded people and talk about issues such as entering the workforce, mental health, public transport and connectivity in the regions.

Applications close 23 October 2022 and young people aged 12-24 living in regional areas are eligible. The fourth Taskforce will be appointed from January 2023 until 31 December 2023.

If you want to make a difference to your community, we encourage you to apply.

To find out more or to apply, please follow the link HERE.