Dear Families,

Our school year has kicked off with a wonderful sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm. It's truly heartening to observe how seamlessly our students have settled into their classes, creating an atmosphere of comfort and familiarity. The positive vibes resonating from each classroom not only reflect the resilience of our students but also set an inspiring tone for the entire academic year. Teachers and students have established a warm and inclusive environment, laying the groundwork for a year of collaborative learning and meaningful connections. This early sense of belonging and adaptability bodes well for a successful and fulfilling year ahead, filled with shared accomplishments and a strong sense of community.

This is a reminder that Parent Teacher Interviews will take place this Wednesday 12th February. These interviews are a valuable opportunity for you to meet with your child's teacher and share important information about their strengths, challenges and any other vital details that may support their learning and wellbeing.

Last week, you received a hard copy of the ‘Parent Teacher Interview’ sheet, which you can use to assist in sharing this information with your classroom teacher. Each interview will last 10 minutes and can be conducted either online or in person, based on your preference. Students do not attend this interview - it is for parents and teachers only.

Please remember that all students need to be picked up at 1:30 PM. Aftercare will be available, so contact Macseye if you require after-school care. Please note that the canteen will not be open on this day.

For students in 6W, interviews will take place on Tuesday 11th February in the leadership room near the office. They will finish at the usual time of 3:30pm on that day, but please ensure they are picked up at 1:30pm on Wednesday 12th when the rest of the school finishes.

Interviews for 4M will be scheduled in the coming weeks with Ms Morgan and as above, students in this class also need to be collected at 1.30 on Wednesday 12th.

Booking Link

Use this link in electronic media, such as your website, school app, or an emailed newsletter:

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/q7e5d

Hello, all School Communities in the Glen Eira Municipality,

As we start a new school year, we thought it might be a good time to remind all parents and students about the parking and school crossings surrounding your busy school.

Glen Eira Council has created a short, animated video which was shared with you all last year.  This video was created to be passed on to your school parents and community.  It is a fabulous two and half minute video that explains parking signs, how the school crossing operates and aims to promote safety surrounding your schools.  It encourages students to walk or ride to school too, even if only from a few blocks away, to help ease traffic congestion, improve healthy activity and to help the environment.

We would appreciate your support in distributing the video to your school community, whether it be at assembly, on your website, in your newsletter, wherever you see fit.

https://vimeo.com/795049475/01d1dc8db4

We welcome any questions or feedback.

On Friday 7th February the children in Grades 3 – 6 participated in the St. Paul’s House Swimming Carnival at the Haileybury Pool in Keysborough. The children competed in a total of 91 events including Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Novelty. 

The results were:    1st – Eucalyptus (Green House) – 398 points  

2nd – Wattle (Gold House) - 338 points

3rd – Jacaranda (Blue House) - 297 points

4th – Waratah (Red House) - 266 points

I would like to congratulate all the children on their outstanding efforts and I commend them for their sportsmanship. I would also like to thank all the wonderful parents and staff who assisted with making it such a successful day.  A special thanks to Kellie Schembri, Kat Gray, Lisa Madanis and Melissa Prosser who were our finish line officials.

The timed results of the carnival will be used in the selection process for our St. Paul’s Swim Team which is made up of approximately 50 children across the three age groups (12/13y,11y and 9/10y). These children will be informed soon and will then go on to compete at the Bentleigh District Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 25th February. This event will be held at the Oakleigh Pool (Mel 69 H6). 

Information regarding events etc. will be sent home with the Swimming Team.

Danny Maher

Phys. Ed / Sport Coordinator

Dear Parents,

My name is Catherine Wensley, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Literacy Leader at St. Paul’s. I look forward to supporting both staff and students on their literacy journey, working together to create a strong foundation in reading and writing for all of our learners. It’s a privilege to be part of this wonderful school community, and I am eager to help our students grow and develop a lifelong love for literacy.

I believe that fostering a love for reading at home plays an essential role in your child’s literacy development. Here are some simple ways you can support your child’s learning:

1. Nightly Reading:

For Prep to Year 2, reading for 10-15 minutes each evening is a great way to build a strong foundation. For middle and senior school students, aim for at least 15-20 minutes of reading each night. This not only strengthens reading skills but also helps your child build stamina and enjoyment of books over time. Encourage your child to read aloud, or take turns reading pages to practice fluency.

2. Talk About Books:

Discuss what your child is reading. Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "How did the character feel?" This encourages comprehension and critical thinking.

3. Homework Routine:

Establish a quiet, consistent time and space for homework. Encourage your child to do their best, and provide support when needed, but allow them to work independently.

4. Spelling Practice:

As part of our ongoing spelling program, students will focus on a new spelling rule each week. Rather than memorising a list of 10 words, they will create a bank of many words that share the same sound and spelling patterns. Teachers will share the sound of the week on Seesaw with a few examples. Any extra practice at home is greatly encouraged. Some classes will set specific spelling homework.

Take-Home Readers Prep-Two

At St. Paul’s, our Junior School students participate in the Little Learners Love Literacy phonics program, which is designed to explicitly teach the 44 sounds that make up the English language. This systematic approach ensures that students understand the relationship between letters and sounds, giving them the tools they need to decode and read words with confidence. The program uses decodable books, which are carefully designed to match the sounds students are learning. These books contain words that follow the phonics rules being taught, allowing children to apply their new knowledge and practice reading with success. By using decodable books, students can focus on sound-letter relationships, boosting their fluency and confidence as they progress in their reading.

While decodable books are an essential part of our phonics program, it's important to recognise that they can come with some challenges. For example, these books often have a limited vocabulary because they are designed to align strictly with the phonics rules being taught. This can sometimes make the stories feel repetitive or less engaging for students. Additionally, because decodable books focus on a narrow set of sounds, they might not expose students to the wide range of vocabulary and rich, complex themes that help foster a deeper love of reading. That’s why, alongside decodable books, it’s important for students to explore other types of reading materials. Books that introduce new vocabulary, offer a variety of genres, and present interesting topics encourage curiosity and broaden students’ language skills. While phonics-based reading is foundational, students should also be encouraged to engage with books that spark their imagination and help develop their comprehension, critical thinking, and overall love for reading.

The take-home readers provided to students in Prep-Two will contain a mixture of both decodable and non-decodable books. This ensures a balanced approach to learning, offering opportunities to practise the phonics skills students are acquiring, as well as exposure to more varied vocabulary and storytelling.

If your child encounters a tricky word, particularly one that isn't easily decodable, the best way to support them is to read the word if needed. It’s important not to let your child struggle too much over words they haven’t yet been taught how to read. By saying the word, you help maintain the flow of reading so your child can continue to enjoy the story without becoming frustrated. This approach allows them to focus on what they can read and comprehend, reinforcing their confidence and love for reading without causing unnecessary anxiety over unfamiliar words.

Please keep in mind that take-home readers should be at a level that is comfortable for your child to read independently. These books are meant for practice, not for new learning, and provide an opportunity for your child to reinforce skills they’ve already mastered. Please talk to your classroom teacher if the books coming home are too difficult. 

Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Catherine Wensley

Welcome back to Term 1! 

A huge thank you to those families who collected egg cartons, towels and jars last year to donate to the Art Room. We now have an abundance of these items and no longer need to collect any more. 

In order to be more sustainable, for future lessons I am looking to collect: 

• paper towel cardboard rolls
• beads or beaded necklaces that can be reused
• fabric tote bags made from calico or similar material
• old/unwanted sunglasses 
• old/unwanted caps or bucket hats

These items can be delivered to the office or to the Art Room. 

Many thanks

Amanda Moore 

Sport

We are thrilled to announce that our Year 6 students have proudly received their long-awaited Year 6 jumpers! This moment has been eagerly anticipated since their very first day of school. The buzz in the Year 6 area was palpable as students donned their jumpers, showcasing their school spirit and camaraderie. Even with the warm weather, their enthusiasm shines through as they wear their jumpers with pride. Congratulations to our Year 6 students on this special milestone!

Some families may have recently experienced changes in financial circumstances and now be eligible for CSEF.  This fund is available if you hold a valid means-tested concession card validated with Centrelink on first day of Term 1 (28 January 2025) or the first day of Term 2 (22 April 2025).

If you have previously received this funding and are still holding a current concession card, there is no need to reapply.

Applications close at the end of Term Two 2025, so please ensure your submissions are made to the school at least 3 weeks prior to allow time for processing (Thursday, 12 June 2025).

The Application Form and Flyer are included in this Newsletter. 

Please contact Petina Thomas if you have any queries. 

pthomas@spbentleigh.catholic.edu.au