From the Head of Warragul Secondary School,
Mrs Debbie Cameron.

Grateful

ANZAC Day
On Wednesday 24 April, the Warragul Secondary School was joined by the Warragul Junior School students for our annual school-based ANZAC Service. Led by student leaders from across both sub-schools, it was a reflective and reverent service to mark this occasion. The Service paid respect to those who went before us and sacrificed everything for their country. It was so lovely to have our Junior School students and staff in attendance and I especially loved the way the Prep students beautifully responded Amen in the relevant sections of the Service, it was very special. I wanted to also mention the bagpipes that were so well played by James Craig and Byron Scott together with the school’s Pipe Major, Mr Richard Harris.
On the day of the Service during Mentor, all students watched a video made by Chris King, St Paul’s School Captain in 2000. Chris spent over 12 years in the military with six years leading Special Forces soldiers in Afghanistan and Timor. Chris spoke about the importance of ANZAC Day and what it means to him. Chris made the video for St Paul’s students in 2021. We would like to thank Chris again for helping to educate our students about the significance of ANZAC Day and for his service to our country.
On Thursday 25 April our School Captains, Max O’Connor and Ruby Langham, marched with Mr Herbert at the Warragul ANZAC Day Service. They placed a wreath at the base of the Cenotaph. Both School Captains were outstanding in their representation of our school at such an important occasion.

Presentation Ball
The annual Presentation Ball was held at Lardner Park on Saturday 27 April and what a wonderful evening it was. I would like to congratulate all of our students who participated for their commitment to the event and the way in which they conducted themselves on the night, they were outstanding. I would also like to thank all of those involved for creating such a special evening for our students including event organiser, Mrs Michelle Ireland, Mrs Christine Gardner, our dance instructor Michelle Theunissen-Scott and the parent committee who decorated the venue beautifully on the night. There were so many others who contributed in many ways and we extend our warmest thank you to all of those people.

OPEN DAY 2024 – A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
We invite all current families to share with their friends and families the details of our upcoming Open Day at the Warragul Campus on Saturday 4 May from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. It is a wonderful opportunity for families and community members to speak with our staff and tour the campus.
Although it feels like next year is a long way off, the course selection process begins in Term 2 as Course Guides are produced and sessions in our Pastoral Programs focus on future planning and careers. Open Day is the perfect time to start learning about the different subjects on offer and the time to start asking questions to staff about the content of each course, the assessment involved and general questions about whether or not it will be the right choice for your student.
Another reason to attend is to experience our school. Many parents and carers have not been through the buildings in many years, may not know or remember the co-curricular activities on offer and may just want to speak to staff in general. Open Day is a great opportunity to visit St Paul’s and we look forward to seeing many of our current families on the day.
To register please click here.

Student Absentees
The parent/guardian of any absent student should contact the School to notify of the student’s absence, preferably by 9:30 am. Absences can be notified via three methods:

• Call the direct Student Services phone number on 5622 6103.
• Send an SMS to 0429 723 147 stating child’s full name, year level and reason for the absence.
• Email Student Services on attendance@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au stating child’s full name, year level and reason for the absence.

If a student is leaving school for any reason, it is preferable that a note be sent to school for the Mentor teacher to sign. The note is then presented to Student Services as the student signs out.

Student Illness
If a student is feeling unwell whilst at school, they should present to Student Services where staff will monitor them and contact parents when required. Students should not contact parents themselves, instead present to Student Services in the first instance.

General Achievement Test (GAT) and Practice GAT
The 2024 General Achievement Test (GAT) will be held on Tuesday 18 June. All Victorian senior secondary students undertaking a Unit 3 and 4 study are required to sit the GAT.
The GAT assessment will run over the whole day, and is split into two sessions:

• Section A will assess literacy and numeracy skills.
• Section B will assess skills in mathematics, science, technology, the arts and humanities, with an increased focus on critical and creative thinking skills.

It is important to complete the GAT to the best of your ability for a number of reasons:

• GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed.
• GAT results may play a part in determining the final score for a VCE external assessment, if a student has a derived examination score approved for that assessment.
• The GAT has an additional purpose of measuring student literacy and numeracy skills.

While it is important that students attempt the GAT (for the reasons stated above), the test does not count directly towards your ATAR. No special or extra study will be required. Past study of subjects like English, Mathematics, Science and History prepares students for the GAT by building their general knowledge and skills in writing, numeracy and reasoning.
St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School will be conducting a compulsory practice GAT on the afternoon of Thursday 23 May. The practice GAT will be conducted in the same environment and under the same conditions as the end of year exams, including the use of VCAA staff to supervise.
In addition to the planned practice GAT, during the pastoral sessions in Weeks 5 and 6, students will be informed of the GAT structure and will hear from Ms Natalie Bellis, Head of Languages, who has lots of tips and advice for completing the written sections of the GAT. The presentations will be filed on the Year 12 and Year 11 pastoral pages for further reference.
If a student is absent from school on Thursday 23 May, they should contact their Head of Year as soon as is practicable.

AUTHORISED MATERIAL:

• Students are permitted to bring into the examination room: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners, rulers and an English and/or bilingual dictionary.
• Students are NOT permitted to bring into the examination room: blank sheets of paper and/or corrections fluid/tape.
• No calculator is allowed in this test.

Examination Preparation
The Semester 1 examination period begins during Week 8A for our Year 11 students and is scheduled to run from Wednesday 5 June to Wednesday 12 June, with a catch-up day on Thursday 13 June. The examinations for students in Years 9 and 10 will run on Wednesday 12 June and Thursday 13 June. Their catch-up day, if needed, will be on Friday 14 June. During the Pastoral Block this week, students in Years 9, 10 and 11 were given their examination timetable. This details the times of each examination and includes instructions about what can be brought into the examination room. The timetable will also be available on the year level pages in due course.
In the meantime, it is never too early to start preparing for these examinations and it is important to note that the content covered in class throughout the semester will be tested through the examination. Students are advised to create a study plan to coordinate their time in the afternoon/evenings to revise content taught during the day, complete tasks for assessment, undertake pre-reading for upcoming content and revisit previously learned content by testing themselves at frequent and spaced intervals.
I have included below the suggested Homework/Revision times. These have been published in the front of the student diaries from Year 7 onwards. Should your child need additional support with a particular topic or content, they are advised to seek advice from their subject teachers sooner rather than later. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s Mentor or individual subject teacher/s should your child need additional strategies to support their study and revision at home.

Debbie Cameron
Head of Warragul Secondary School

WHAT’S ON

MAY
3 May  Year 9 Urban Experience Day 2, Group 2, Melbourne CBD, 7:06 am to 4:48 pm
Theatre Studies Performance Assessment, DT Parker Centre, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
4 May  Open Day, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Alumni Reunions, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
5 May  Sport Aerobics Victorian State Qualifiers Region 4
6 May  Combined SEISA Victorian Sports Association Swimming Championships
7 May  Japan Tour: Parent and Student Information Night, Warragul Secondary School Year 9 Centre, 7:00 pm
8 May  Wicked Excursion – Years 10 to 12 Theatre Studies students/Year 9 Drama students, Regent Theatre, Melbourne, 10:45 am to 6:00 pm
9 May  House Cross Country Day
SEISA Music Festival
10 May  Year 10 Melbourne Holocaust Museum Excursion, 10:15 am to 4:00 pm
Kammer Konzert Rehearsal, Traralgon Secondary School Futures Centre Auditorium, 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Kammer Konzert, Traralgon Secondary School Futures Centre Auditorium, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
13 May  Year 11 Bunyip State Park Fieldwork, Environmental Science students, 9:00 am to 3:10 pm
14 May  SEISA Visual Arts
15 May  Scot Gardner Author Talk – Year 7, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 9:05 am to 10:45 am
Scot Gardner Author Talk – Year 9, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 11:05 am to 12:45 pm
Year 12 Tertiary Information Session (Year 12 students), Chairo Christian College, 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm
Studio Concert, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Studio Concert, Science Centre Lecture Theatre, 7:00 pm
16 May  SEISA Junior Round 1
DAV Debating, St Margaret’s Berwick, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
17 May  Mountain Bike Training, Warragul Secondary School, 7:15 am to 8:15 am
Year 12 Dress Up Day
Family Photos, Warragul Junior School
Years 7 and 8 Disco, Year 9 Centre, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
23 May  SEISA Junior Round 2
Practice GAT, Year 11 and Year 12 Common Rooms, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
24 May  Year 9 Urban Experience Day 3, Group 1, Melbourne CBD, 9MGT1 and 9MGT3, 7:06 am to 4:48 pm
28 May  Centrepiece, West Gippsland Arts Centre, 7:00 pm
30 May  House Tug of War (Year 10)
SEISA Junior Round 3
DAV Debating, St Margaret’s Berwick, 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm
31 May  Year 9 Urban Experience Day 3, Group 2, Melbourne CBD, 9MGT2, 9MGT4 and 9MGT5, 7:06 am to 4:48 pm
Mountain Bike Training, Warragul Secondary School, 7:15 am to 8:15 am

ST PAUL’S PARENT PRAYER GROUP

“Where two or three people gather in my name, I am there with them.” Matthew 18:20

The St Paul’s parent prayer group meets on the first Monday of each month during school terms. We try to keep the meeting brief (we are usually done by 9:45 am) and casual (younger children are most welcome). The group encompasses people both very comfortable with praying, as well as those newer to praying with others. Feel free to get in touch with any questions beforehand or just attend when you are able during the year.
Our next gathering is on Monday 6 May, at 9:00 am in the Prideaux Centre, Warragul Junior School
Contact: Sheryn Cutler 0417 158 937 or sheryn.cutler@gmail.com

DOBSONS UNIFORM SHOP

Order online or click and collect: Please ensure that you only attend the store to collect your items once you have received notification that your order is ready, order here.

2024 Presentation Ball

A perfect autumn day set the tone for a beautiful event. A few nerves but a lot of happy smiles as 114 Year 11 students paraded around the dance floor on Saturday 27 April to mark the beginning of the 2024 Presentation Ball!
Every year we are proud of how our St Paul’s Presentation Ball is run, every Year 11 student is welcome to participate, they are presented in friendship groups and partner dances are progressive, eliminating the need to pick or find one partner. This year, participants had the opportunity to express their individualism even further by choosing attire in black, white or a combination of both, for both suits and gown options.
After ten school training sessions and a full rehearsal at Lardner Park, the dance and program logistics finally came together as a synchronised production of epic proportions.
We thank Michelle Theunissen-Scott for choreographing the contemporary girls, boys and group dances, along with progressive dances, the Pride of Erin and the Cha Cha, giving every participant the opportunity to dance with a partner.
Following the formal presentation of participants in groups, a lovely meal was shared concluding with a celebratory dance for the whole cohort, as DJ Nige packed the dance floor with joyous students, their families and staff alike.

Mrs Christine Gardener and Mrs Michelle Ireland
Presentation Ball Coordinators

Team Timor Mother’s Day Stall

Team Timor will be holding a Mother’s Day stall next Thursday 9 May and Friday 10 May during lunchtime outside Dobsons. Timorese handicrafts as well as some items made during Team Timor sessions that run each Wednesday lunchtime will be on sale. Items will range from $1 – $50 with cash as the preferred payment method, however card payments are available.
Bags of Timor coffee will also be for sale. 250g / $14 bag ground or whole bean.

Andrea Heard and Jan Park
Heads of Team Timor

Year 9 Faiths Excursion

On 24 April, the Year 9 cohort embarked on an enlightening excursion as a key component of their Thinking and Learning curriculum. The Faiths excursion unfolded as a full-day immersion into various places of worship, encompassing visits to a mosque, a Buddhist temple and a Russian Orthodox church.
Throughout the day, students demonstrated remarkable respect for the diverse faiths and rituals observed by others. Witnessing this mutual understanding and appreciation was genuinely heartening. Experiences like these play a pivotal role in nurturing our students’ global citizenship, fostering an awareness and acceptance of the rich tapestry of differences that exist in our world.

Students at the Buddhist Temple.

The Buddhist Temple.

Mr Jack Deen
Head of Year 9

Physical Education METS Performance Incursion

On Tuesday 30 April, all Year 12 Physical Education students attended a METS Performance incursion held in the Science Centre Lecture Theatre.
The incursion was organised to supplement the Unit 3 coursework that students have been studying – energy systems, acute responses, fatigue and recovery. Students participated in gold standard laboratory tests to assess their fitness in various fitness components, giving them the opportunity to witness acute responses in real-time rather than just reading about them.
Sienna participated in a cycle VO2 max test which lasted for just over 20 minutes. Sienna cycled to exhaustion whilst having her O2, CO2, heart rate, ventilation and lactate levels measured. Her VO2 max reading of 45 millilitres per kilogram per minute (ml/kg/min) is well above average and it was an impressive effort. Well done Sienna!
Fletcher participated in a Wingate Test and also on the cycle ergometer, which involved pedalling at maximum intensity for 30 seconds. This is a test for anaerobic capacity and although only short in duration, it can be quite exhausting given the metabolic by-products that accumulate throughout the 30 seconds.
Congratulations to all the students for their excellent participation and engagement in this session.

Fletcher completing the Wingate test.

Sienna completing the VO2 max test.

Mrs Age Percy
VCE Physical Education Teacher

2024 Student Trip to East Timor – Malimea

St Paul’s students and staff have been visiting Malimea Village, on the south-eastern corner of the Ermera District, for 13 years. Manuel Oliveira, the English teacher and visionary of Malimea, has always advocated for his village and the broader community. In 2019 he submitted a proposal for an English Language Study Centre (ELSC). After much collaboration, both in person and online, the ELSC now stands proudly, fully equipped and staffed ready for English lessons.
Malimea ELSC Inauguration Saturday 6 April 2024
Malimea was alive with excitement as the much-anticipated formal opening of its ELSC unfolded in a spectacular event filled with esteemed dignitaries and speeches of thanks and gratitude for Team Timor’s support, delicious food and joyful dancing. The atmosphere buzzed with a sense of appreciation and celebration, marking a significant milestone for the community.
Distinguished guests from various sectors, including education and government highlighted the broad support and interest in enhancing English language in Malimea and the surrounding villages, will hopefully open doors to broader opportunities for these Timorese students. Unbeknown to us, we were the honoured guests and our students carried this title with poise and maturity.
The feast that followed numerous speeches showcased a variety of dishes including a sacrificial buffalo accompanied by the staples of rice, vegetables and fruits; the best of Malimea’s cuisine. The local dignitaries, along with key Malimea staff and our tour group, shared this meal together, symbolising the connection of cultures and the combined support of the ELSC.
However, the true heart of the celebration lay in the joyful dancing that took centre stage. Age had no boundary as students, staff and locals alike shared the fun and further cemented the friendship between our school and the community.
The opening of the ELSC not only signifies a new chapter in Malimea’s educational history but also embodies a shared vision of embracing language diversity and global connectivity. The whole day set the tone for a future filled with learning, collaboration and cultural exchange.

The official welcome.

Rheid Hayley, Alice den Houting and Ella May sitting in front of the official sign.

Alice den Houting and Ella May enjoying the party.

Official photo taken inside the ELSC.

Andrea Heard and Chloe Davidson cutting the cake.

Kirsten Enders, Andrea Heard, Jan Park

St Paul’s Equestrian Team Success

Many St Paul’s Equestrian team members have been busy competing recently.
Over the school holidays, the Equestrian Victoria Interschool State Championships were held at Werribee.
Out of 164 schools, St Paul’s finished in 11th place, a commendable effort!
• Phoebe Cavill won the overall state champion award in the Senior Preliminary Dressage. She came fifth in the first test and first in the second test which culminated in the overall championship win.
• Kate Joyce placed overall third in the 1* Combined Training.
• Georgia Joyce was reserve state champion for the 80 Combined Training and placed second in the primary preliminary dressage test.
• Hadley Purcell placed in two of her showjumping classes with fourth and sixth place.
• Lily Wilson competed across a range of classes producing some lovely moments in dressage for the combined training and some great show jumping rounds.
As a result, it is very exciting to announce that Phoebe Cavill, Kate Joyce and Georgia Joyce have all qualified for the 2024 Australian Interschool Championship to be held later this year in Tamworth, NSW. We wish them all the best with their preparations!
Tommy Mordue, Jessi Armour and Bessie Brereton have also been out competing at various events. Well done!
Earlier in Term 1 the St Paul’s team of Layla Young, Stella Cardillo and Phoebe Cavill won the team section of the Stratford Interschool Event.

St Paul’s Team – Stratford Competition (Layla Young, Stella Cardillo and Phoebe Cavill).

Kate Joyce.

Phoebe Cavill.

Tommy Mordue.

Melissa Hoskings
Equestrian MIC

WARRAGUL CAMPUS ENSEMBLE SCHEDULE

New members, including students receiving tuition outside of school, are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Heather Mason, and/or the listed ensemble director for further information hjmason@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au .

Heather Mason
Head of Performing Arts – Co-curricular

ALUMNI REUNIONS

Saturday 4 May 2024
Year 9 Centre, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, 150 Bowen Street Warragul
• Class of 2019 – 5 Year Reunion
• Class of 2014 – 10 Year Reunion
• Class of 2004 – 20 Year Reunion

This year we have brought forward the timing of our Alumni Reunions to coincide with the school’s annual Open Day. Moving the reunions earlier provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and tour the school in action, see how it has changed and meet some of the current St Paul’s students and staff. Please join us at any stage between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, chat with our Alumni representatives and reminisce over the range of memorabilia on display. You might also like to join the Alumni school tour which will take place at 12:30 pm, before continuing your celebrations with some drinks, nibbles and catch-ups at Bandolier Brewing, 28 Mason Street Warragul, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Please RSVP by completing the registration here.

Michelle Ireland
Community Coordinator
alumni@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au

FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE

Private Car Conveyance Allowance
Families driving students more than 4.8 kilometres to attend St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School may be eligible to receive a conveyance allowance. For further information on the eligibility criteria and application process, please refer to https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/policy

Eligible families applying for the car conveyance allowance will have funds credited to their fee account during the year. If the fee account has been paid in full, or is on a direct debit arrangement, any allocation will show as a credit on the following year’s invoice.

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
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. Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. $125 per year will be paid for eligible primary school students and $225 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://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund/resources

Parents are encouraged to lodge the application form immediately. The CSEF program for 2024 closes at the end of Term 2. All forms must be received by 24 June 2024 to be processed.

For parents who received CSEF at the school in 2023 (and the student/s are still enrolled in 2024), the schools will ‘copy’ the application across from 2023 to 2024 on the CSEF system. The CSEF system will automatically validate the parent’s eligibility with Centrelink.