RevelationsThe fortnightly newsletter for PreK to Year 12 families of St Paul’s

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 1

Issue No. 07 20 June, 2017

It is with great excitement that I wish to inform you that we have decided to commence a new Pre K class at the start of next term.

All our current classes are full and we have new enrolments wishing to commence at St Paul’s. This is a very positive sign for the future of our school as we continue to grow and develop and is a testament to the fantastic job that out Pre K staff do.

By now each family should have received a letter from me asking you to consider donating to the school’s tax deductable building fund. The focus of any funds raised in this appeal will be funding the fit out of our new canteen and café. I would like to thank those families who have already responded to this appeal for their generosity. I believe this new facility will be a wonderful asset to the school and will provide a great service to the whole community.

We have also reengaged the services of the school architect to renew and further develop the master plan that will give direction to future developments. It is important as a school that we refresh and reinvigorate some of the older areas of the school and develop some new, dynamic and flexible learning spaces. As the master plan takes shape I will keep you informed where we are heading. It certainly is exciting to be part of a forward looking community.

At the end of this term Gary Murison our Director of Business and Finance will head into retirement after faithfully serving the St Paul’s for the past six years. Gary has lead the school through some complex times with great wisdom. He brought with him a wealth of experience having served independent schools for over 30 years. Gary and his wife Shirley go with our thoughts and prayers as they start a new phase of life.

I would like to welcome to the school Julie Tonowizc to St Paul’s as our new Director of Business and Finance. Julie brings with her a wealth of experience in independent schools, and is looking forward to beginning her new journey with us. I am

very confident that Julie will use her considerable skills and abilities to continue to develop our school into the future. Hopefully you will get to meet Julie at future school functions.

During the school holidays, we will also be saying farewell to Glenda Clapin as she retires. Glenda has served the school faithfully for over 20 years. Many of you would have experienced first-hand Glenda’s compassion for your children. Glenda has been committed to ensuring that St Paul’s is a safe and supportive environment and working with the school community to enable us to always act in the best interests of our students. Glenda’s contribution to the school should not be underestimated and she leaves with our prayers and gratitude as her husband, Tony and her commence this new stage of their lives together on the South Coast.

As always, I am grateful for your continued support and encouragement as we work together in the education of our young people.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what

he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him: tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

Psalm 105: 1-4

Ian WakePrincipal

From the Principal

CRICOS 02267A

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 2

Dear Parents, Friends and Colleagues, Term 2 is concluding and what a busy term it has been! I would like to congratulate the students for the commitment they have shown to their learning this term, as is always the case at St Paul’s, there has been much activity both inside and outside of classrooms. Let us celebrate with our students on their many achievements they have made this term and over the term break reflect how much they have grown.

Ricochet Congratulations to Mrs Lauren Cullimore, Ms Peffer and all the students who were involved in last Friday nights “Ricochet” at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre. I am always in awe of the amazing talent and poise of our dancers. The work that the students have put into choreographing and perfecting their pieces was evident in the quality of the performances on the night. Well done to everyone involved, I enjoyed the night very much.

Have you checked out the 'Student Well-being' homepage on my.stpaulsAn initiative of our Senior Prefects is a new 'Student Well-being' page on my.stpauls for Secondary Students. I have duplicated some of these documents which will be helpful to parents. This is part of a new project to centralise access to resources related to mental health, general well-being, healthy living, and even study skills, making them easier to find when they are needed. The elements and information on this page and that of the student pages will continue to be updated over the next few weeks, and therefore they may continue to change location before the page is finalised. Please take some time to have a look at these pages that have been prepared for you and let me know if there are other resources that may be helpful to you or your child that we can provide. http://my.stpauls.nsw.edu.au/homepage/11378/

Secondary School LibraryThe Secondary School Library will not be open to students during the upcoming term break.

Holiday ClassesThere are a number of classes running for senior classes in the upcoming holiday break. Students are requested to sign in and out at the Front desk during term breaks so that we know exactly who is on site in the event of an emergency. Please ensure students are aware of this requirement, many thanks.

"As the term draws to an end, I would like to congratulate the students

for the commitment they have shown to their learning this term... Let us celebrate with

our students on their many achievements they have made this term and over the

term break reflect how much they have grown."

School Office Hours during the upcoming term breakThe main (High School) office will open during the hours of 9am to 4pm during the upcoming term break. The main (High School) office will resume its usual hours of operation of 8am to 5pm from Wednesday the 19th of July.

The Junior School office will be closed during the term break and will resume the usual hours of operation of 8am to 4pm from Wednesday the 19th of July.

Blue + Green Threads Hours Blue + Green Threads will be closed over the upcoming winter term break. Additional hours of trade will be;• Tuesday 18th July 1pm - 4pm• Wednesday 19th July 8am - 4pm (School resumes)

I wish all our families a safe and enjoyable term break and we look forward to another term of learning when students return in Term 3 on Wednesday the 19th of July.

Karen KeoghHead of Secondary School

From the Head of the Secondary School

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 3

News from the Junior SchoolNew Pre Kindergarten ClassIt is with much excitement that I announce the opening of a new Pre Kindergarten class on Thursdays and Fridays. This will be a unique two day class under the tutelage of Mrs Storrie who will be well known to our community through her teaching across the Junior School, as well as having her boys at the School. The class will commence at the beginning of Term 3. Please let families outside the school know about this exciting initiative.

SoundscapeCongratulations to our primary band and infants choir who performed at the Soundscape concert last Friday. They certainly performed beautifully with excellent arrangements from Miss Cremona, Mr Ongley and Mr Abela. It was lovely to see our Junior School so aptly represented.

Stage 2 Strings ConcertOur Stage two students presented a beautiful strings concert last Monday to families of the School. They demonstrated excellent concentration as Mrs Mansley and Mrs Trappel led them through their repertoire. A visit from the senior ensemble, The Pizzicatos, was a lovely way to complete the concert.

Junior School Athletics CarnivalCongratulations to all the students who participated in the Junior School Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, 6th June. Your enthusiasm and participation was admirable! Congratulations to Melville House who won the Carnival overall and to Castlereagh House who won the House Spirit Award.

Thanks also to the parent helpers and Year 9 and 10 students who assisted on the day.

I enjoyed my first Athletics Carnival as Junior School Sports Coordinator and look forward to the next one.

Katherine BateJnr School Sports Coordinator

I wish you a safe and restful holiday and look forward to welcoming students back to School on Wednesday, 19th July 2017.

Ian BrookerHead of the Junior School

"Congratulations to our primary band and infants choir who performed at the

Soundscape concert last Friday. They certainly performed beautifully with excellent arrangements from Miss Cremona, Mr Ongley and Mr Adela.

It was lovely to see our Junior School so aptly represented."

From the Head of the Junior School

Junior School Gala DayThis Friday sees our Year 6 students facilitate our annual Junior School Gala Day. It is certainly a day of great fun for students but also an opportunity for our Year 6 students to learn about their unit of inquiry, "Money Systems" as they operate a 'small business'. Parents are welcome to come and observe the fun. Information about the day has already been sent home. Please contact the Junior School office with questions or inquiries about the day.

Congratulations to the Age Champions

Age Student

Junior Girl Famke Cullan

Junior Boy Ewan Willett

Intermediate Girl Isabella Robson

Intermediate Boy Nicholas Stevanovic

Senior Girl Monique Corbett

Senior Boy Mackenzie Hall

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 4

News from the Junior School Inquiry Centre

What a joy it is to find young inquirers in the library at lunchtime following their own interests and researching hieroglyphics! The students are really driving much that goes on in the Inquiry Centre. Clubs led by keen ‘teachers’ are filling up the week and allowing for leadership skills to flourish.

Weekly Library Lessons Plenty of great learning is also happening in classes during their weekly library lessons. If you are interested to follow the Units of Inquiry for each grade, log on to mystpauls and locate the grade pages on the right hand side. There you will find Central ideas, lines of inquiry, and concepts that are being taught for each unit.

Inquiry Centre Homepage Please visit the Inquiry Centre Homepage at http://my.stpauls.nsw.edu.au/homepage/1750 where you will find many resources and updates. On the main page there are useful links on the right hand side such as Smart library (the Library Catalogue), sites to help with homework, and Maths and Literacy links if your child requires extension, support or consolidation. If there are any other resources you think might benefit other students, let me know and the links can be added.

We love visitorsPlease make arrangements at the Junior School Office if you would like to come by. Our students at St Paul’s are wonderful, and make our library an inspiring place to be!

Kerry McCafferyTeacher Librarian

From the Head of the Junior School

Students immersed in their weekly library lesson

The Inquiry Centre Homepage

Some of the visitors that come to see us

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 5

From the Director of Learning Services

Academic and Pastoral Support for StudentsIn the last Revelations, I wrote regarding the support provided to Year 10 students as they begin the process of entering senior school. Mrs Keogh, Mr Heath and I have now interviewed these students talking through senior course and subject selection and providing advice to these students. It has been encouraging to have parents involved in this process and enlightening to speak with Year 10 students who have clear ideas about their future and engaging in the decision making process. Others need more guidance. The careers advisor, Mrs Moon, has also been active in supporting Year 10 and 12 students.

Year 12 students have been involved in an academic support program run by an external company, Elevate education, which uses University students to lead study skill sessions focussing specifically on preparation for Year 12 examinations. Their presenters and St Paul’s understand that academic success comes from a balanced approach to life that includes study, recreation and rest. A snapshot of their website illustrates some resources available to St Paul’s students and families. Year 12 students were given a password to access more detailed resources regarding preparing mind and body for examinations and assessment tasks. In the upcoming holidays, many teachers are dedicating days to support students through in-school study skill or activity classes. Students will receive a permission note for these and should ‘sign in’ to classes they attend at school during the break.

Many students find ‘study camps’ helpful in focussing on the challenge of study. In the upcoming break there are study

camps provided for both HSC and IB students by Crusader Union and for IB Diploma students specifically by Oxford Study Courses. Hawkesbury Library is also running holiday classes for HSC students Penrith library is also running evening classes next week.

Year 12 student leaders have also created a my.stpauls student wellbeing page that covers study skills, wellbeing, healthy living and mental health.

A reminder that a my.stpauls page has been created to support Year 10 2017 into Year 11 2018

If you have any feedback on these items please contact me.

Mr Antony MayrhoferDirector of Learning ServicesE: antony.mayrhofer@stpauls.nsw.edu.auP: +61 2 4776 4705

A snapshot of the Elevate Education website illustrates some resources available to St Paul’s students and families.

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 6

From the Teacher Librarians

Library LookoutThe High School Library continues to be a pivotal cog in “the wheel of learning” experiences here at St Paul’s Grammar. It has been resourcing students in the areas of Science, Ancient History, The Extended Essay and English Literacy since our revelations issue.

Book ClubThe Book Club members decided to form three groups for our next meeting. One group is reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (it’s soon to be shown as a television series!), another group is reading The Sky so Heavy by Clare Zorn and the third group is reading Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I’m really interested to find out what insights and discussion points they bring to our “share with flair” session early next term. I’m sure that your interest has been piqued as well!

Mr Alex Balbi and Mrs Linda WeeksTeacher Librarians

Holiday Reading:As Cassandra Clare, the prolific New York Times best seller of books for young adults, writes in her novel Clockwork Princess…

“You know that feeling... when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel

the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight

around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a

carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.”

So, with that in mind, here are just a few suggestions for reads over the holidays:

• Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland… you invest in the characters of Henry and Grace as they navigate the twists and turns of their friendship.

• Sidekicks by Will Kostakis… Australian writer Will Kostakis seems to really be able to capture the sense of guilt and loss three teenagers feel over the loss of their friend.

• The Riders of the Thunder Realm by Stephen Lochran… cowboys and dinosaurs – need I say more!

• This is my song by Richard Yaxley… a moving read about the holocaust and how difficult it is to deal with the horrors and memories that plague you.

• And a classic – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper lee… timeless story about racial prejudice and the innocence of youth.

Recommended ReadLauren Wolk has been able to capture many of the elements of To Kill a Mocking bird (and even some from Jasper Jones) as Annabelle has to deal with the prejudices against the town outcast Toby (a World War I veteran). Toby is the first to be accused when things go wrong and when he is accused of kidnapping Betty (the girl who terrorises Annabelle and her brother) it’s up to Annabelle to protect Toby from an unjust town.

More importantly, the ending is one that you just don’t expect. This really is a moving story that will have you enthralled and captivated throughout.

Mr A. Balbi

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 7

SPGS Community of KnittersLearning how to knit, and creating squares for a knitted blanket is an option some students take part in for their service activities in different areas of the school – i.e. as part of MYP, or DP, or Duke of Edinburgh fulfilments. Thus, we are lucky to have students meeting regularly at lunchtimes in the High School Library with Mrs Kay, Mrs Featherby or myself to learn and hone their knitting skills.

These students are often inspired by knitted teddies and squares which are donated by some of our long-standing

community supporters. We recently received a happy bundle of Trauma Teddies, knitted squares and blankets – many of which just happened to turn up on Grandparents Day! The collection of items featured top right has been passed on to the Australian Red Cross through their Springwood branch. From here, items will make their way to provide comfort and warmth to individuals in hospitals, pathology labs, ambulances and other traumatic locations where they may be in need of comfort and calming.

Anonymous arrivalsOften knitted donations arrive at school without contact details. (Please leave a name with your donations.) Many arrive from a committed band of knitters. The most recent donations of well-co-ordinated squares for a blanket, and a

collection of teddies, and a completed blanket are shown here. There are many others who need honouring for their selfless, ongoing donations - to everyone, may we say a humble ‘Thank you’.

Please feel free to join in as a student, or if you – a parent or grandparent - have picked up details, patterns or inspiration from the library recently, send in your knitted creations to show students what can be done. Advice, patterns, wool and fill for teddies are also available at any time.

Mrs Lynette Kay Mrs Tracey Featherby and, Mrs Linda WeeksHigh School Library Staff

A collection of knitted items that have been passed on to the Australian Red Cross

Knitted sqaures to create blankets as part of some student's service activities

From the SecondarySchool Library

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 8

The end of Term 2 always marks the change over from one group of Senior Prefects to another.

As this edition of Revelations makes its way to in boxes our outgoing prefects are working tirelessly in conjunction with our Heads of House to bring together our second ever Combined House Day.

Our inaugural Combined House Day in 2016 was a significant change. Rather than each House supporting their own separate House day in support of their individual charity all 6 Houses combined together to create a mega day of celebration and fundraising in support of Congo Aid. Congo Aid has been supported for many many years at the school predominantly through Cornwallis House. Because of St Paul’s long association with Congo Aid, and the fact that we are one of their more significant supporters, the 6 Heads of House chose to utilise the Combined day to support continue our support of Congo Aid.

Our first Combined House day exceeded all expectations. The Heads of House and I were absolutely thrilled with the response of the students to the day. They engaged unbelievably enthusiastically in all the activities that were held on the day. This translated into a generous response to the needs of those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For this year’s event a similar

format has been maintained with three distinct sessions of activities to be held during the day. The difference is that some new activities have been added to the day and the increased involvement of our prefect body in the planning and preparation of these activities.

In closing I must acknowledge our outgoing Senior Prefects by name, not just for their great work on the House day, but also for their tireless service to the school over the last 12 months. Quite simply our prefects have been outstanding ambassadors for St Paul’s. Amongst many other things they serve at many major school events such as Grandparents day, our Sunset Social and Anzac day, they graciously help conduct tours of the school for prospective parents, they enthusiastically support House activities, run their own fund raising events, and generally support the Christian values and culture of the school. All this is done by our prefects, whilst they are doing their utmost to keep up with all the challenges of senior school study. I thoroughly enjoy working with these outstanding young men and women.

Every best wish to all our students and families for a relaxing mid year break.

Mr Philip HeathDirector Of Students and Family Services

From the Office of Students and Family Services

Thank you to our 2016/17 Prefects

Position Student

Captain Meredith Colagiuri

Captain Matthew Thomas

Vice Captain Jessie Heath

Vice Captain Alhassen Alseneid

House Captain Brenton Jeffery

House Captain Eliza Rose Gordon

House Captain Matilda Seppelt

House Captain Sarah Roberts

House Captain Charlotte Fuller

House Captain Molly Reid

House Captain Jordan Wagenfeller

House Captain Jenny Haldey

House Captain Tom Holloway

House Captain Damon Love

House Captain Anastasia Plummer

House Captain Tobias Elliot

Portfolio Captain Naomi Cowley

Portfolio Captain Susan Graham

Portfolio Captain Lachlan Gracie

Portfolio Captain Madeleine Bishop

Portfolio Captain Clay Inman

Portfolio Captain Emma Thomas

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 9

From Ian Wake to Senior School Students

It is with great excitement that I look forward to our secondary school’s musical production.

This is the beginning of a journey starting from auditions to the final curtain call. Musicals are a wonderful way to get involved in the life of the school, to develop your talents and to build strong relationships. Musicals are also an incredible amount of fun but involve hard work and commitment. If you are looking for a challenge, if you are wanting to be adventurous or if you just want to shine, then this is the activity for you.

I hope each of you will consider being involved in this production, because I can guarantee it will be worth it!

Ian WakePrincipal

AuditionsApplications closed on Friday for a variety of roles for the SPGS Senior School Musical Production.

• Auditions will be held on Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd June for Lead Roles and Principal Dancers.

• Auditions will be held on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th July for Chorus/Ensemble roles - these dates may also be used for call backs.

Please go to the my.stpauls Musical Production page for more information: http://my.stpauls.nsw.edu.au/homepage/11488/

Revelations - St Paul’s Fortnightly Newsletter. Issue No. 07 10

From the Music Academy

Congratulations to all students who performed at the Conservatorium Concert which was held on Wednesday 7th June.

It was a very enjoyable night with students performing a range of musical styles to an enthusiastic and encouraging audience.

Congratulations to the Music Academy Ensembles who performed on Friday night 16th June in the annual “Soundscape” concert.

Thanks to everyone who attended to make this evening so enjoyable. The students worked really hard during the semester through their regular rehearsals, and individual practice sessions to be able to perform at their best on the night. Thank you to all of the staff and parents who worked either behind the scenes, or on stage for the “Soundscape” concert.

Cathy JarmanMusic TeacherMusic Academy Coordinator

Conservatorium Concert Conservatorium Concert