St Paul's Catholic Primary School Newsletter Term 2, Week 10 2021
Principal's Message
Good afternoon St Paul’s Families,
As the term draws to a close, I wanted to focus on celebrating the culture of our school. When we think about the word ‘culture’, we often think of ethnicity and the celebration of international cultures. When I think of the culture of St Paul’s, I view us as a welcoming school community that values the academic, spiritual and emotional growth of all who are part of our community.
Our recent Athletics Carnival was a wonderful celebration for our school community. It was an opportunity for everyone to shine – not just those who are athletic but also those who challenged themselves and persisted with difficult trials. At the end of the day (evening), it was wonderful to see a spirit of encouragement and an attitude of determination shine through. We congratulate those students who went onto regional competition this week. We acknowledge Jemma Anderson for her efforts in bringing the event together and all the helpers who assisted in making this a great community event – our teachers, our P&F, our ADF Support 1CSSB, The NET Team and the US Marine Rotation Force.
This week parents will receive academic reports for children from Transition – Year 6. The report is a summary of your child’s academic achievements for Semester 1. Whilst we value academic progress, we also acknowledge that all children have various talents and gifts that are not always celebrated in your child’s academic report. Please make time to acknowledge your child’s progress, talk to them about some future learning goals and most importantly have a conversation with them about the things they achieve at school that bring them joy and they are most proud of - making strong choices, developing relationships, taking responsibility for classroom duties or seeing the goodness in themselves and others.
In acknowledging our spirit of hospitality and welcome, I ask if anyone might be able to assist a teacher and her family who is joining us in Term 3 for a short-term stay. Mrs Jane Cummings will be replacing Mr. C while he takes 5 weeks of Long Service Leave. Jane and her husband, Jason and their two children are currently travelling around Australia and whilst quite self-sufficient in their caravan, they would like to have a place to connect to power and water. If you are in a position to host them in their van for the 5-6 weeks they are in Darwin, please let me know. Further information follows in the newsletter.
For those families who are taking a break over the next three weeks, we hope you relax and recharge. If you are travelling, please stay safe and up-to-date with current travel advice. Please note that our office will be closed for the first week of the term break (June 28 – July 2). Families using our Vacation Care Service and ELC during this time should contact the services directly.
May you be blessed with a spirit of gratitude and generosity over the coming weeks.
Ms. Megan Evans
2021 SCHOOL TERM DATES
TERM 2 (10 Weeks)
19/04/2021 Monday Students return
25/06/2021 Friday Last day of Term 2
28/06/2021 Monday to 16/07/2021 Friday Semester Break
SEMESTER 2
TERM 3 (10 Weeks)
19/07/2021 Monday Pupil Free Day
20/07/2021 Tuesday Students return
24/09/2021 Friday Last day of Term 3
27/09/2021 Monday to 08/10/2021 Friday Term Break
TERM 4 (10 Weeks)
11/10/2021 Monday Students return
16/12/2021 Thursday Last day for students
17/12/2021 Friday Last day for teaching staff
The School Office will be closed during Week 1 of the school holidays and will reopen Monday 5th July Week 2
Opening Hours will be 9am-2pm
You can contact OSHC on (08) 8948 5362 or email Ihrene at Ihrenejen.Kiranou@nt.catholic.edu.au
Please contact the Early Learning Centre on (08) 8985 4678 or email Anna-Lea at Anna-Lea.Higgins@nt.catholic.edu.au
Vacation Care operating hours are 7.30am to 5:30pm during this holiday break (enrolments now closed for Week 1, please advise admin.stpauls@nt.catholic.edu.au for week 2 or 3 by week 1 of holidays)
This includes the Pupil Free Day on Monday the 19th of July (please complete the Operoo form by Friday 9th July)
It is essential for your child’s safety that you notify us if your child is to be absent. Please ring 8948 5362
UNIFORM ORDERS: There has been another delay in our uniform orders due to an order error. We are currently working to rectify this issue with a new uniform company and hope to receive our remaining orders early Term 3.
If required, orders can be exchanged for larger sizes. Students in Year 6 awaiting orders are welcome to request a refund, please email Tahlia at: admin.stpauls@nt.catholic.edu.au
Families will be advised when their orders are ready for collection. We send sincerest apologies to all families that are still waiting and thank you for your patience yet again!
Dear St Paul's families,
Mrs Jane Cummings will be replacing Mr. C while he takes 5 weeks of Long Service Leave. Jane and her husband, Jason and their two children are currently travelling around Australia and whilst quite self-sufficient in their caravan, they would like to have a place to connect to power and water. If you are in a position to host them in their van for the 5-6 weeks they are in Darwin, please let Megan Evans know. Please see details below:
Hi St Paul's families, We are a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children) looking for a house to stay in around the Nightcliff area for approximately 6 weeks from mid July. We have 2 girls aged 8 and 10 who will be attending school during our stay in Darwin, while we work. Alternatively, do you have a spot for us to camp in our caravan on your property? We have a 19.6ft fully self-contained caravan and would require a water hookup for the duration of our stay. Power would be an advantage but not a necessity. We’re happy to pay a reasonable fee or work in exchange for your bit of land and water.
Jane and Jamie Cummings (Photo below)
WARNING FROM CITY OF DARWIN COUNCIL
You may have already noticed that there have been Parking Rangers attending the school at pick-up times. They will continue to attend at random so please be vigilant and mindful of safety around the school. Infringements will be issues for unattended cars.
Please contact Rachel at CoD on 08 8930 0638
Upcoming Events
Weekly Awards: Week 9 & Week 10
Week 10 MJR 'See the goodness in others' Awards- will be shown after Friday's assembly
Children's University
While you are on Holidays this is great time to get some hours for your Passport at Home or out. Camping, Libraries, the Portal, Casuarina Square, walking the dog, but remember to write a report.
Have a great break
From Ms Clare
General Information/News
OFFICE HOURS: The school office is open 7:50am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday during term time.
UNIFORM ORDERS: There has been another delay in our uniform orders due to an order error. We are currently working to rectify this issue with a new uniform company and hope to receive our remaining orders early Term 3. Families will be advised when their orders are ready for collection and sizes can be exchanged as needed. We send sincerest apologies to all families that are still waiting and thank you for your patience yet again!
LOST PROPERTY: Please check the names on your children's hats and other property as we have discovered that children are accidentally taking other children's belongings home.
SCHOOL FEES: School fee invoices have now been sent out to all families via email, please contact us if you have not received your email. When paying fees please ensure you include a reference for what the payment is for, either 'School Fees', 'OSHC Fees' or 'ELC fees' in the name.
SIBLING DISCOUNT: If you have more than 1 child studying at a Catholic School in the NT, you will be eligible for a sibling discount. Please contact finance.stpauls@nt.catholic.edu.au to inform our finance team of which schools your other children attend.
Rm 4 Transition - Miss Jo & Sr Hilde - SPORT DAY: Tuesday LIBRARY DAY: Friday
Rm 1 Yr 1-2 - Miss Mona - SPORT DAY: Tuesday LIBRARY DAY: Thursday
Rm 2 Yr 1-2 - Mr C - SPORT DAY: Wednesday LIBRARY DAY: Friday
Rm 8 Yr 3-4 - Miss Mandy & Sr Hilde - SPORT DAY: Wednesday LIBRARY DAY: Monday
Rm 9 Yr 3-4 - Miss Alex - SPORT DAY: Tuesday LIBRARY DAY: Thursday
Rm 12 Yr 5-6 - Mrs Del & Miss Margy - SPORT DAY: Tuesday LIBRARY DAY: Tuesday
Rm 13 Yr 5-6 - Miss Lauren & Miss Jess - SPORT DAY: Wednesday LIBRARY DAY: Wednesday
Rm 14 Yr 5-6 - Mrs Pond - SPORT DAY: Wednesday LIBRARY DAY: TBA
BOOK CLUB ORDERS: Book Club orders are sent out from Scholastic through the school twice per term. We use the “LOOP” system which means online ordering only. For more information on how to do this please see the link below www.scholastic.com.au/LOOP
Please remember to use your child’s classroom number when ordering.
PARENT CONTACT DETAILS: Please advise the office of any changes to your contact details. This includes phone numbers, address details and emails. It is vitally important that we have the correct contact number in view of any emergency. Thank you for your assistance in this area.
INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS: Instrumental lessons will take place again this year with Andrew Arthur, Violin lessons with Kirsty McCullum and Woodwind lessons with Eliza Tobin. Instrumental lessons will take place each Friday and Violin lessons each Wednesday during school hours. Contact details for Andrew are – dapa@live.com.au 0428153355 and Kirsty McCullum- kirstymac@bigpond.com and Eliza Tobin for Woodwind lessons - elizatobin@hotmail.com.
SCHOOL START TIMES: We request that families drop their children off at school as close to 8am as possible. Should you arrive prior to this time please wait on the steps outside the staffroom before going to the classroom. At 8:10am the first bell will sound which means the children and parents can then proceed to the classroom. The classrooms and office will be closed during that time however, recess/lunch trays will be accessible outside the classrooms.
SCHOOL DENTIST: St Paul’s does not have on onsite dental clinic, however you can use the Dental Clinic at Nightcliff Primary school. Parents are asked to contact the clinic on 89226466 to arrange an appointment. Parents are to accompany their child to the appointment. There is no charge for this service and it is highly recommended that children’s teeth should be regularly checked. This also includes pre-school children.
PICKING UP CHILDREN at the end of the school day. We ask that all parents/carers who will be picking up their child from school please wait in the area outside the office and staffroom.
CARPARK PICK-UP: In an effort to move the traffic along more quickly and freely we ask that parents safely follow the appropriate procedures. Should you need to get out and buckle your child in—we ask that you use the car spaces available to do so and not the pick up area.
CANTEEN NEWS:
New products available to order at the canteen: Please note the flavoured milks have 30% less sugar then alternatives
The Canteen is now open 5 days a week as of the 15th of March
Tuesdays and Thursdays will have a limited menu, please refer to Quickcliq for available items.
The Canteen will provide recess and lunch through quickcliq.com.au (account set up required). It seems that some children are choosing not to eat food brought from home and are instead requesting snacks and food from the canteen. Please note that families will be invoiced for this so please ensure your child is aware of what food is packed for them each day and that all food is labelled clearly (including packets of snack foods as it is confusing when children have the same snacks.
LUNCHES: Lunch boxes are taken to the coolroom each morning between 8.15 and 8.30am. It is important to be at school on time for the smooth running of this program and it is important that all recess and lunch boxes are labelled with your child’s name and Room No.
OSHC NEWS: If you have changed your child’s days from last year or would like more could you please let Anna-Lea or Ihrene know. If you wish to enrol in the program—Enrolment Forms can be collected from the office or OSHC. Thank you.
FULL TIME, PART TIME AND CASUAL BOOKED CARE: Please understand that fees will be charged for booked days regardless whether the child attends or not. As we need to consider rosters and menu food that are prepared and organised. There is a subsidy for your fees for this available from Centrelink. Please ring them for more information.
CANCELLATION OF CARE: Two weeks written notice will be required for cancellation of care for both full time and part time children. Change of care days should be supported by email and change to enrolment form. As above, there is a subsidy for your fees for this available from Centrelink. Please ring them for more information.
St Paul's Parents and Friends
Community Flyers
To be eligible for first round offers, and to ensure that an interview has been conducted, completed applications must be received by O’Loughlin Catholic College by Thursday 26th of August.
Our proposed interview dates for Term 3 are; 28 July, 11 August and 1st September.
First round offers will be announced via post Term 3 Week 8.
