Dear Parents,

What a wonderful few weeks it has been at St Paul’s! In my short time here, it has already become clear just how strong and vibrant our school community is.

Over the past fortnight, we’ve shared some special moments together. Our school leaders led an ANZAC Day reflection during assembly and our Year 5 students enjoyed an exciting and memorable time at camp. The Parents & Friends Committee (P&F) have been busy too, coordinating a successful Election Day BBQ and Mother’s Day lunch, and preparing for our upcoming Mother’s Day Stall and Breakfast.

I was fortunate to attend the Mother’s Day Lunch on Friday and to meet many of our lovely St Paul’s mums in person. Thank you to everyone who introduced themselves and extended such a warm welcome, it’s truly appreciated. A special thank you to the P&F for their efforts in organising both the Election Day BBQ and the upcoming Mother’s Day events, and to all the volunteers who supported these initiatives. As the saying goes, many hands make light work!

Our community spirit was also on display during the recent Year 4 Eucharist Family Workshop. It was a beautiful evening of reflection and meaningful discussion, reminding us of the importance of living like Jesus in our everyday lives. Thank you to our Year 4 families for their participation and dedication to this special sacrament.

I’d also like to officially welcome Franca Aldworth to our staff. Franca has joined us as the Year 4 classroom teacher and has already had a wonderful impact on the class. Thank you to our Year 4 families for your patience and support during the transition as we worked to find the best person for this role.

Finally, with Mother’s Day just around the corner, I’d like to wish all our incredible St Paul’s mums a joyful and relaxing Mother’s Day on Sunday. May you feel celebrated and loved, not just on the day, but always.

Kind regards,

Jussahra Treagus

Year 5 Camp - Sovereign Hill

Last week, the Year 5’s were on camp at Sovereign Hill. It’s always a fascinating experience learning about what life was like in 19th-century Ballarat. 

They went panning for gold (alas, no nuggets), went down the old mines, and were immersed in 19th-century gold rush life. From the hardships of trying to make a living as a miner, to a day in the life of a school child, the Year 5 students certainly gained a deeper insight into life in the 1850’s. 

The students were intrigued by many of the traditions and expectations placed upon people of this bygone era, in terms of what was deemed appropriate clothing for men, women and children as well as roles and responsibilities of family members. Candle making was of great interest to the students as well, and discovering that it was not just a fun and interesting pastime activity as we enjoy it nowadays, but an unpaid job that was only rewarded by free rent and food, definitely raised a few eyebrows among the students. The gold pour demonstration was another highlight of the visit and the students were fascinated by the process of smelting and purifying the gold.      

It was fabulous to see this wonderful group of students explore this environment with open minds, keen to take on new learning. It was also fabulous to see them challenge themselves in various ways to also learn a little more about themselves as well. They represented the school, their families and themselves with pride and respect.  Congratulations on a wonderful camp experience, Year 5’s and a huge thank you to those teachers who organised and attended this special learning event (Hollie Barrow, Flora Fisher, Danny Maher, Andrew Bath and Daragh Drummond)!  

Update to Term 2 Calendar – Parent Teacher Interviews

Please note a change to our Term 2 calendar. We will be adding an additional afternoon for Parent Teacher Interviews.

Parent Teacher Interviews will now take place on:

• Tuesday 1st July from 4:00pm
• Wednesday 2nd July from 2:00pm

As previously planned, students will finish early on Wednesday 2nd July at 1:30pm to accommodate the interviews. A normal finish time applies on Tuesday 1 July.

 We appreciate your understanding and look forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress.

Upcoming Dates to note

Thursday 8 May - Mother's Day Stall

Friday 9 May - Mother's Day breakfast

Monday 12 May - Whole School Assembly 3.00 pm

Monday 26 May - Whole School Assembly 3.00 pm

Friday 6 June - School Closure Day

Monday 9 June - King's Birthday Holiday

Friday 13 June - First Eucharist Reflection Day

Friday 27 June - Confirmation Reflection Day

Tuesday 1 July - Parent Teachers Interviews from 4pm

Wednesday 2 July - Parent Teachers Interviews from 2pm. Finish 1.30pm

Friday 4 July - last day of term - Finish 2.30pm

Term 3 Dates: Monday 21 July - Friday 19 September

Term 4 Dates: Monday 6 October - Tuesday 16 December

At St Paul’s, we are committed to high-quality, evidence-based teaching that helps every student learn and thrive. A key approach we use is explicit instruction, which aligns with the MACS Vision for Instruction, grounded in proven strategies like clear teaching, formative assessment and regular review to build strong knowledge foundations. See attached parent guide for more information.

Explicit instruction means teachers break learning into small, manageable steps and model each one clearly. Rather than expecting students to discover concepts on their own, we guide them with clear explanations, examples, and practice. 

You may have heard your child mention using mini whiteboards in class. These allow teachers to check everyone’s understanding quickly and give instant feedback, helping all students stay on track and supported.

This approach also draws on Cognitive Load Theory, which helps ensure students aren’t overwhelmed. By breaking content into chunks and checking often for understanding, learning becomes more effective and less confusing.

At St Paul’s, we believe every child can succeed. Through explicit teaching, clear feedback and regular practice, we are helping all students build the confidence and skills they need to flourish.

Kassy Wira

Teaching and Learning Leader

On Friday 2nd May, our Year 5 and 6 students took part in a special incursion run by Superintendent Martin Bourke and Senior Constable Caroll Runnalls. The session focused on helping students understand how to stay safe online, particularly when gaming or using social media.

Students were surprised to learn that the average age of a gamer is now 35 years old. This sparked important discussions around who we interact with online and why it's so important to keep personal information private.

The police officers introduced the students to a helpful strategy called A.W.A.R.E to guide safe online sharing:

A – APPROPRIATE: Is what you're about to post suitable and legal?

W – WHO: Who might see what you share? Is it just close friends or could strangers view it?

A – ACCURATE: Is the information you're posting true or could it be a rumour?

R – RESPECTFUL: Is your post kind and respectful, or could it hurt someone?

E – ENVIRONMENT: Does the background of your photo reveal private information like your location or school?

Students also learned key tips for safe gaming, such as playing in single-player mode or only with trusted friends, keeping chat focused on the game and using the report and block functions if someone acts inappropriately. A strong message was shared about being cautious—online friends are not the same as real-life friends and we can never be fully sure who is behind the screen.

The incursion reinforced the importance of using devices in open, shared areas at home, with nothing online considered ‘private’ for children at this age.

We thank Superintendent Bourke and Senior Constable Runnalls for delivering such an engaging and important session. Our students walked away with practical tools and a deeper understanding of how to stay safe and respectful online.