In this issue

STUDENT REFLECTIONS ON SUFFERING

There has been much talk of the challenges and hardships that we have faced in the year 2020.  But have you ever wondered what our young people think about suffering?  Every year our Year 10 students spend time exploring various responses to suffering, culminating in the creation of a 3D display.  This year’s reflections have been particularly poignant and give an encouraging insight into how our young people think about the challenges they face.  I trust that you are as encouraged as you read these small excerpts from various student reflections.

Reverend Daniel Lowe
Senior Chaplain

“I like to view suffering as an obstacle or a challenge that we must grapple with and grow from – I believe there is always a reason something happens, whether it is a higher being that is setting us challenges to help us grow or that we must learn from our mistakes.”

“Don’t run away from your most vulnerable times because these are what teach you to love yourself and show how much you are loved by others by asking for help.  If your suffering is out of your control, devote your life to others and attempt to find happiness and love in that around you.”

“Suffering encourages us to reach for the impossible and protect future generations.  It spurs us on and fills us each with a special purpose, whether that be helping others, looking after the environment or anything else.”

“My personal response to suffering is that we all must suffer to grow… I have become a more open-minded person and have learnt from my suffering experience over these past years and have found ways to cope a lot more with the challenges of life and whatever it may throw at me.  However, I know that there will be days where a new challenge will come along and I’ll feel a new sense of pain but after a while, I’ll learn to find comfort and mature from that experience, like I’ve done before.”

“I believe that experiencing suffering can give us a wider understanding of ourselves, our humanity, our community and our world.  By suffering, we are able to understand and relate to others in a deeper way and more meaningfully.  By going through such pain, we want to not only relieve ourselves from it but others who are going through it also.”

“Personally, I believe there is no real way to understand suffering.  Trying to comprehend the ways of God and His plan for the world only leads to confusion.  Instead, as the story of Job demonstrated, we should lean on God in our time of troubles and trust in His love for us.”

From the Head of Traralgon Secondary School,
Mr Brad McCabe.

Exams and Study tips
Years 9 and 10 exams are approximately one week away with the first exam commencing on Wednesday 18 November.  We understand this will be the first time this year that students will be partaking in exams.  Exam success and execution is a skill that is developed over time with practice and effective preparation.  Traralgon Secondary School staff have been speaking to their students about the most effective study tips which were published in last week’s Grammarian.

Students can also refer to their 2020 Diary for “Thinking Boosters” and more exam tips!  Refer to Page 138 and 139.

Remembrance Day
On Wednesday 11 November, the annual Remembrance Day Service was held at the Traralgon Cenotaph.  Due to COVID-19 the service was delivered slightly differently this year but I would like to thank Lachlan Wilson for laying a wreath on behalf of both Secondary and Junior Schools.  Lachlan also performed the Last Post and Rouse representing both St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School and the City of Traralgon Band.

Students, Austin McConville and Marcus Withell holding the wreath that was later laid at the Traralgon Cenotaph.

Family Photos 2020
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures in place at present, we are unable to take school family photos for 2020.  We are hopeful that restrictions will be eased for 2021, and our normal school photo program will be able to recommence.

Student Free Day and Early Commencement
Monday 23 November is a student free day as our teaching staff will finalise the 2020 results and plan for Early Commencement that will start on the following day, Tuesday 24 November.  In Early Commencement, all students will transition to the next year level.

Presentation Assembly 2020
Under the current restrictions, we are unable to have parents and visitors on campus.  This means that our Presentation Assembly, which was scheduled for Tuesday 8 December, will not go ahead as planned and in the format that we usually conduct this assembly each year.  We have been planning for an alternative format for 2020 that will include recording the assembly at each campus, editing it and releasing it on MyStPauls for our families to watch at a time that is suitable for them. Once the Presentation Assembly at each campus is ready for viewing, we will notify families.  We appreciate the support of our families as we continue to adapt to the different conditions presented in 2020.

Brad McCabe
Head of Traralgon Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
18 and 19 November  Years 9 and 10 Exams
19 November  Year 10 Celebration Afternoon Tea, 1:30 pm to 3:10 pm
20 November  Years 9 and 10 Exam Catch Up Day
Year 9 Exploring Walhalla Excursion

FLOWERS FOR TIMOR

Our fundraising efforts have been hindered this year by COVID-19 but that has not stopped Team Timor from undertaking some COVID safe fundraising.  Our team has been busy making lovely bunches of flowers to sell in recycled jars and bottles.  These are available every Friday and the cost is between $3 and $5.  If you would like to place an order, please email Ms Enders at kenders@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au.  All money raised goes to our latest project to build an English Language classroom in the small village of Malimea.

Thanks to all those who have supported East Timor by buying flowers so far.

ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Students have been making up for time spent online by enjoying some great outdoor excursions lately.

Year 9 students in Thinking and Learning worked hard in our wetlands to remove any blackberries and invasive weeds from the area while enjoying the sunshine.  Cade Hughes proved himself the hardest worker and will be rewarded with a canteen voucher in appreciation for his blackberry battling!

Year 10 Geography students relished the chance to leave school and venture to the brilliant beaches around the Inverloch region, to study coastal landforms and the effects of human impacts on this area.  With near empty beaches, warm sunshine and fish and chips cooked to perfection, the day could not have been more perfect.

Kirsten Enders
Head of Years 9 and 10
Traralgon Campus

MATHS NEWS

2020 Australian Maths Competition
Each year hundreds of thousands of students from forty countries participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition.  It is one of the largest school-based mathematics competitions in the world and it is run by the Australian Mathematics Trust.  In August all Years 7 and 8 students and a number of primary students sat the seventy-five minute test.  The test contained a variety of problems with relevance to everyday life situations.  Unfortunately, due to the sudden move to online learning, Years 9 and 10 students were unable to sit the official competition.  Years 9 and 10 students were given the opportunity to compete in the non-competition round.  Certificates were presented to these students.

This year we are very proud and excited at the number of students receiving awards from the competition.
Students who received distinction awards, which placed them in the top ten per cent of students were:
Asmi Pathania, Year 6
Adam Guo, Year 6
Joshua Neave, Year 7
Ameli Krafft-Murat, Year 7
Elyse O’Brien, Year 7
India Van Berkel, Year 8
Krsna Prajapati, Year 8
Campbell Booth, Year 8
Austin McConville, Year 8.

Success at MAV Online Maths Camp
Mathematical Association of Victoria hosted a successful Virtual Mathematics camp in the second week of the Term 3 school holidays.   The camp was aimed at Year 10 students who live in regional Victoria and who have been deemed to be of high potential and ability in the area of Mathematics.  The aim of the program is to provide an opportunity for students to gather, in a virtual environment, with like-minded peers and explore hands-on, industry-related problems.

MAV will be partnering with four mathematical industries that will provide mentoring for students to solve a contemporary real-life problem.  In addition, secondary teachers will also provide on-going support. It will be an engaging, practical and hands-on look at how mathematics is used to solve problems in a variety of industry fields.

Traralgon Secondary student, Mitchell Bellingham, was selected to attend this prestigious camp.  He spent a week of challenging presentations from mathematicians working in the industry, along with practical problem-solving opportunities.  Mitchell was placed in a team of like-minded students and was successful in winning the Team Problem Solving Quiz.  We congratulate Mitchell on his involvement.

Victoria Wilson
Mathematics Teacher

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A group of parents and carers gathered on Zoom on Monday night to hear from a digital wellbeing expert.

Ryan Fede from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation encouraged his audience to work in partnership with young people to ensure their use of digital devices is healthy and positive for all involved.

For example, by playing and using games and apps alongside your child, parents and carers are able to have open and honest discussions and are more likely to identify changes in the way young people are engaging with technology.

Ryan also suggested that useful boundaries for children in the online space include using pseudonyms for online accounts and only chatting with people who they also know in offline life.

He began with some initialisms that are common today including WYRN (what’s your real name?) and PAW (parents are watching) as well as getting attendees to identify their digital parenting style.

Cyber bullying and modelling healthy technology use were also covered.

You can find the useful eSafety and wellbeing links that Ryan referred to during the presentation in a MyStPauls news item that was published on Tuesday 10 November.

Chris Brown
eLearning Coordinator

THE 2020 PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE

We are pleased to share the results of the 2020 Premiers’ Reading Challenge (PRC) in which seventy-three students from across both campuses were challenged to read a minimum of fifteen books by the end of Term 3.  The challenge was doubled with online learning but the motivation was high and we are proud of the results.  Enjoy Sophie and Keisha’s reflections.

“Having achieved the PRC in 2019, we decided to set ourselves the goal to do it again in 2020.  Usually as we finished one book we would go straight onto another with little reflection.  During the PRC it was fun to enter them onto the PRC dashboard and write a reflection on the story, knowing that others could read our reviews.  Our dashboards reflected the types of books we enjoyed, the genres we would not usually explore while taking pride in the number of books we read.  Finding books during online learning extended us as ‘book searchers’.  During our library classes we learnt how to search for books on the library catalogue, reserving books to take advantage of the library’s ‘click and collect’ service, even during online learning.  It was so exciting picking up our ‘gift wrapped’ books and mystery packs – books chosen by library staff with titles chosen to extend us as readers.  The MyStPauls library page gave us directions to the school’s ePlatform where we found exciting e and audio books too.  Adapting to listening to books was a great achievement for us this year and it helped with reading for the PRC.

Earning house points for completing the PRC increased our motivation to keep reading.  We earnt a house point for completing the challenge and extra points were awarded for reading beyond the minimum of fifteen books.  It feels good being able to contribute to the house point tally for the year.  The PRC is something we will definitely consider for 2021.

Keisha Fernando and Sophie Reid

FOSP News

This year there will be no ‘Walking Shopping Tour’ (the first time in thirteen years).  Even though there is no shopping tour please remember our local shops who have supported our school each year not only with the Walking Shopping Tour but other fundraisers we have had.
These include:  Aussie Disposals, Feminine Touch, Endota Spa, Grow Master Nursery, Inland Sport, Jilly M, Kitchen Cupboard, Miss Frou Frou, Panther’s Mensland, Sportsland, Sugarbabies, The Shoe Room, Toyworld, Traralgon Newsagency, Traralgon West Nursery, Dal Mondo, Ishka, Changing Seasons and Sarah Jane Jewellery.

So do not forget to buy local, support the businesses in town so that they will be there next year in 2021 for us to keep on shopping and having a great night.

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d – The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Tuesday 10 November was the first day of the 2020 written examination period for our Year 12 students.  A few months ago, despite assurances, we could not have been certain of the exams occurring as planned.  While there are fewer desks in the main examination room than in years past, with students required to be seated further apart, masks aside there is a feeling of relative normality.  For this we must be truly grateful.

As is our custom, we ask our departing cohort to provide us with feedback about their experience at St Paul’s by participating in a Year 12 Exit Survey.  The primary purpose of the surveys is for us to gain a better understanding of our school and how we are perceived to be performing by our most senior students.  Armed with these insights, we are able to build on our strengths and address areas that need development.

The Year 12 Exit Survey Results for the Class of 2020 were as pleasing as the cohort themselves.  The majority of standard questions received a ninety-four to ninety-nine per cent approval rating from the cohort.  This year we included questions about the online learning experience.  Interestingly, the questions specific to online learning were also answered positively, with students feeling supported by the school and their teachers.  Understandably, it was not most students’ preferred way to learn this year, but the feedback was considerably more positive than expected.

Like all schools, St Paul’s has areas in which we require development and we are always seeking to improve.  It is, however, very pleasing to know that our Year 12s rate St Paul’s so highly.

Cameron Herbert
Principal

From the Head of Warragul Junior School,
Mr Rowan van Raay.

It has been lovely to have the opportunity to run some of our regular activities (with modifications) over the past few weeks.

Transition Sessions:  The transition programs for our 2021 ELC and Prep cohorts have commenced.  The ELC has been restricted to meeting in very small groups while I had the pleasure of presenting the 2021 Preps with their unique ‘Almost a St Paul’s Preppie’ yellow hat today and they have enjoyed their time in ‘big school’ so far.

Years 3 to 6 Cross Country:  We held our Years 3 to 6 Cross Country on Wednesday with the students completing a slightly different course due to our new building site taking over part of the usual course.  Well done to all students who competed and whilst Mr B acknowledged that cross country running is not everyone’s favourite, he did congratulate every student who competed to gain points for their house.  All students enjoyed a refreshing and well-deserved icy pole after their race.

Remembrance Day:  Whilst we could not meet as a whole campus like we usually would, our Year 6 students worked extremely hard to put together a Remembrance Day service for each of our Junior School classes.  Small groups ran a service with all of the traditional elements and students were given a poppy to wear.  Our Junior School Captains also laid a wreath at our flag poles. My thanks to all of our Year 6 students and Mr Barkla for preparing the service and sharing the importance of this day with our Junior School.

Student Leadership Program:  Our current Year 5 students are in the process of applying for leadership positions for 2021.  Shortlisted students prepared a short speech on leadership and presented these to the Year 5 cohort in the gym on Wednesday during their Rock and Water session while our Year 4 students watched in their classrooms via Teams.  All Year 5 students will be made aware of their leadership position for 2021 on Monday 30 November.

NAIDOC Week – Always Was, Always Will Be:  Students were involved in a range of activities throughout this week as part of NAIDOC week.  During assembly, students listened to a picture story book chosen for the 2016 National Simultaneous Story Time, ‘I got this Hat’ read by an indigenous person who read it in her own language.  Mrs Davies also shared information on one of Australia’s best-known Australian Aboriginal artists and authors, Sally Morgan.  She belongs to the Palyku people from the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia.  Her first book, ‘My Place’ has sold over half a million copies and is one of Australia’s most celebrated works.  Students were encouraged to borrow some of Sally’s books that can be found in our library at school.

Personal Development Lessons:  Families with children in Years 1 to 6 should have received information regarding our upcoming personal development program that will be run by Mrs Leighton.  As stated in this information, sessions will be focusing on relationships and sexuality education at an age-appropriate level (all topics are outlined in the information sent home).  Great resources were also recommended to families and a reminder to return any book order forms to the office as soon as possible.  Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Leighton lcleighton@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au or the Junior School office should you require any further information.

School Photos:  All families should have received information this week about school photos.  We are using Arthur Reed Photos for the first time and photos will be taken on Friday 20 November.  A reminder that ALL Years 3 to 6 students will require their summer uniform (with blazer).  Year 4M and Years 5 and 6 will need to change for PE and Sport after their photos.   There is no need to return any forms or money to school before then.

Unique codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so you can register online to view your child’s images.  To register, follow the simple instructions on your child’s individualised flyer once you receive it.  When images are completed and in the webshop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email so you can then view and order photos. Please wait for notifications that 2020 images are online before placing orders.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures in place at present, we are unable to take school family photos for 2020.  We are hopeful that restrictions will be eased for 2021 and our normal school photo program will be able to recommence.

Presentation Assembly 2020:  Under the current restrictions we are unable to have parents and visitors on campus.  This means that our Presentation Assembly, which was scheduled for Tuesday 8 December, will not go ahead as planned and in the format that we usually conduct this assembly each year.  We have been planning for an alternative format for 2020 that will include recording the assembly at each campus, editing it and releasing it on MyStPauls for our families to watch at a time that is suitable for them.  Once the Presentation Assembly at each campus is ready for viewing, we will notify families.  We appreciate the support of our families as we continue to adapt to the different conditions presented in 2020.

Student Free Day:  Just a reminder that our Student Free Day listed in the student diary for Friday 20 November has been moved to Monday 23 November to be in line with our Secondary School.  Our Early Learning Centre will operate as normal on this day.  Camp Australia will be running a full-day program on this day for families who would like to utilise this service. Visit the Camp Australia website www.campaustralia.com.au or contact their Customer Service Team on 1300 105 343 to register your child/ren.

Rowan van Raay
Head of Warragul Junior School

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
13 November  2021 Prep Transition 2
18 November  Prep to Year 2 Athletics Carnival
20 November  Junior School Photos
2021 Prep Transition 3
23 November  Student Free Day
25 November to 27 November  Year 3 and Year 6 Camp, Waratah Bay
27 November  2021 Prep Transition 4
2021 ELC Transition Session

TERM 4 BUS INFORMATION

Monday 23 November – Student free day, no buses running.
Tuesday 8 December – Last day of Term 4, buses running to the normal schedule.

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A group of parents and carers gathered on Zoom on Monday night to hear from a digital wellbeing expert.

Ryan Fede from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation encouraged his audience to work in partnership with young people to ensure their use of digital devices is healthy and positive for all involved.

For example, by playing and using games and apps alongside your child, parents and carers are able to have open and honest discussions and are more likely to identify changes in the way young people are engaging with technology.

Ryan also suggested that useful boundaries for children in the online space include using pseudonyms for online accounts and only chatting with people who they also know in offline life.

He began with some initialisms that are common today including WYRN (what’s your real name?) and PAW (parents are watching) as well as getting attendees to identify their digital parenting style.

Cyber bullying and modelling healthy technology use were also covered.

You can find the useful eSafety and wellbeing links that Ryan referred to during the presentation in a MyStPauls news item that was published on Tuesday 10 November.

Chris Brown
eLearning Coordinator

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d – The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you would like to join with other parents of the school to pray, the regular monthly prayer meeting will be taking place on Monday 7 December.
Please get in touch with Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com for more information.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that He has done.”  Philippians 4:6

From the Head of Warragul Secondary School,
Ms Laura Butterworth.

Examinations and Early Commencement
As the 2020 academic year draws to a close we are looking forward to transitioning our cohorts into their 2021 year levels when Early Commencement begins on Tuesday 24 November 2020.  As parents, you may be aware that Early Commencement is taken very seriously at St Paul’s and the two weeks of learning is part of the Semester 1 curriculum.  Students generally really enjoy the step up to the higher year level and this gives them a small taste of the things to come prior to the summer break.

Family Photos 2020
Unfortunately due to COVID-19 risk mitigation procedures in place at present, we are unable to take school family photos for 2020.  We are hopeful that restrictions will be eased for 2021 and our normal school photo program will be able to recommence.

Valedictory
We are thrilled to be able to inform our Year 12 families that the State Government has eased restrictions to a level that will allow us to hold a Valedictory Dinner in 2020.  Plans are well underway and although it will look different from previous years, we are determined to celebrate the achievements of the entire Class of 2020 in style on the evening of Friday 4 December. An invitation and further details will be communicated to parents as soon as we can confirm them.

Presentation Assembly 2020
Under the current restrictions we are unable to have parents and visitors on campus.  This means that our Presentation Assembly, which was scheduled for Tuesday 8 December, will not go ahead as planned and in the format that we would usually conduct this assembly each year.  We have been planning for an alternative format for 2020 that will include recording the assembly at each campus, editing it and releasing it on MyStPauls for our families to watch at a time that is suitable for them.  Once the Presentation Assembly at each campus is ready for viewing, we will notify families.  We appreciate the support of our families as we continue to adapt to the different conditions presented in 2020.

A reminder of our examination arrangements
This information was also printed in our last edition of the Grammarian.  There has been no change to this but we have included it again for your reference.

Our Semester 2 Examination Period will begin in November.  The details for individual year levels are listed below:

Year 11
Examination Period:  Thursday 12 November through to Wednesday 18 November 2020.
The examination timetable has been published on the Year Level Page in MyStPauls.
Examination catch-up day, Thursday 19 November 2020
Year 11 not required, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Year 10
Examination Period:  Wednesday 18 November through to Thursday 19 November 2020.
Examination catch-up day, students not required unless they need to sit an examination, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Year 9
Examination Period:  Wednesday 18 November through to Thursday 19 November 2020.
A normal school day for Year 9 all students required in class, Friday 20 November 2020
Curriculum and Assessment Day, Student Free Day, Monday 23 November 2020

Final Days
We have a staggered finish time for our students to end the year.  Can parents and guardians please note that our 2021 Years 11 and 12 students finish their year on Friday 4 December and our 2021 Years 8, 9 and 10 cohorts finish on Tuesday 8 December 2020.

Ms Laura Butterworth
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

NOVEMBER
10 November to 1 December  Units 3 and 4 Exams
12 November to 18 November  Year 11 Exams
18 November to 19 November  Years 9 and 10 Exams
19 November  SRC Meeting, lunchtime
Year 11 Exam Catch Up Day
20 November  Years 9 and 10 Exam Catch Up Day
Years 10 and 11 Student Free Day
23 November  Curriculum and Assessment Day (Student Free Day)
24 November to 4 December  Early Commencement, 2021 Years 11 and 12
24 November to 8 December  Early Commencement, 2021 Years 8 to 10
25 November  VET First Aid Course, VET Sport and Recreation Units 1 and 2 students, Gym Classroom, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
26 November  Elevate Study Sessions, 2021 Year 12 students, 8:55 am to 10:25 am
ESP – Athlete Wellbeing Seminar (AIS), 1:30 pm

DECEMBER
3 December   Christmas Service
SRC Meeting, lunchtime
4 December  Leadership Day
2021 Years 11 and 12 Final Day of Classes
Valedictory Dinner
8 December  End of Term 4, 3:30 pm finish

Art Club – runs throughout the week.
To access the Art Club page, https://my.stpaulsags.vic.edu.au/homepage/10926
Students can comment in the social stream to join or email cpowell@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

Maths Help
•  Tuesday lunchtimes
Years 7 and 8, YS1
Year 9, RM 6
Year 10, RM 5
Year 11, RM 4

•  Year 12, Tuesday after school, Year 12 Common Room
Thursday Periods 5 and 6, VC3

TERM 4 BUS INFORMATION

Monday 23 November – Student free day, no buses running.
Tuesday 8 December – Last day of Term 4, buses running to the normal schedule.

PARENTING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A group of parents and carers gathered on Zoom on Monday night to hear from a digital wellbeing expert.

Ryan Fede from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation encouraged his audience to work in partnership with young people to ensure their use of digital devices is healthy and positive for all involved.

For example, by playing and using games and apps alongside your child, parents and carers are able to have open and honest discussions and are more likely to identify changes in the way young people are engaging with technology.

Ryan also suggested that useful boundaries for children in the online space include using pseudonyms for online accounts and only chatting with people who they also know in offline life.

He began with some initialisms that are common today including WYRN (what’s your real name?) and PAW (parents are watching) as well as getting attendees to identify their digital parenting style.

Cyber bullying and modelling healthy technology use were also covered.

You can find the useful eSafety and wellbeing links that Ryan referred to during the presentation in a MyStPauls news item that was published on Tuesday 10 November.

Chris Brown
eLearning Coordinator

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

HOUSE TUG OF WAR – PATERSON HOUSE 2020 CHAMPIONS

Throughout Term 2 and Term 3, students across all year levels competed in the House Tug of War competition.

Years 7, 8 and 12 students participated in the House Tug of War events during Term 3 prior to returning to online learning, whilst Years 9, 10 and 11 students participated in a modified program over the last couple of weeks.

With some close battles, it was again the final Year 9 event that determined the overall results.  It was great to see the house spirit at its best!

Congratulations to Paterson House for winning the 2020 event!

Mia Treble working hard to help Paterson House in their event.

Noah Smith and Remy Ferguson representing Chisholm House in the Tug of War competition.

THE 2020 PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE

We are pleased to share the results of the 2020 Premiers’ Reading Challenge (PRC) in which seventy-three students from across both campuses were challenged to read a minimum of fifteen books by the end of Term 3.  The challenge was doubled with online learning but the motivation was high and we are proud of the results.  Enjoy Sophie and Keisha’s reflections.

“Having achieved the PRC in 2019, we decided to set ourselves the goal to do it again in 2020.  Usually as we finished one book we would go straight onto another with little reflection.  During the PRC it was fun to enter them onto the PRC dashboard and write a reflection on the story, knowing that others could read our reviews.  Our dashboards reflected the types of books we enjoyed, the genres we would not usually explore while taking pride in the number of books we read.  Finding books during online learning extended us as ‘book searchers’.  During our library classes we learnt how to search for books on the library catalogue, reserving books to take advantage of the library’s ‘click and collect’ service, even during online learning.  It was so exciting picking up our ‘gift wrapped’ books and mystery packs – books chosen by library staff with titles chosen to extend us as readers.  The MyStPauls library page gave us directions to the school’s ePlatform where we found exciting e and audio books too.  Adapting to listening to books was a great achievement for us this year and it helped with reading for the PRC.

Earning house points for completing the PRC increased our motivation to keep reading.  We earnt a house point for completing the challenge and extra points were awarded for reading beyond the minimum of fifteen books.  It feels good being able to contribute to the house point tally for the year.  The PRC is something we will definitely consider for 2021.

Keisha Fernando and Sophie Reid

FINANCE NEWS

Department of Education and Training (Vic DET) The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) – Extension of due date to 27 November
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments directly to the school for the benefit of the eligible student to attend camps, sports and excursions.   Applications received during this extension will receive fifty per cent of the normal payment.  $62.50 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $112.50 per year paid for eligible secondary school students.  Payments will go directly to the school and be tied to the student.  For more information and to download the application form please go to https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

To qualify for CSEF, a student’s family must meet the following eligibility criteria:
∗1  The student is of school age and attends a registered Victorian school

∗2  The family meets one of the eligibility categories below:
a – The parent/carer of the student is, on an eligible date:
i.  an eligible beneficiary of a Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card; or
ii.  an eligible beneficiary of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card; or
iii.  a temporary foster carer; or
iv.  the parent/carer of a student who is 16 years or older and who holds a valid concession card (such as a Youth Allowance Health Care Card or Disability Support Pension Card).
b –  The family is, on an eligible date, on a bridging visa, temporary protection visa, is in community detention or is an asylum seeker family.
c – The student is, on an eligible date, in out-of-home care.
d – The student is, on an eligible date, in statutory kinship care.

∗3  The student has not been deemed eligible to receive CSEF at another Victorian school for 2020.

Any student who meets one of the above eligibility categories on any day up to and including Monday 5 October 2020 will be eligible to apply for CSEF.  Funding applications for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers will still be accepted until the end of Term 4, as normal.

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately.  The CSEF program for 2020 now closes on 27 November 2020.

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

If you would like to join with other parents of the school to pray, the regular monthly prayer meeting will be taking place on Monday 7 December.
Please get in touch with Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com for more information.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all that He has done.”  Philippians 4:6