2019 Term 4, Week 5

This strategy leads to an unhealthy focus and obsession with a narrow aspect of education that ultimately serves little benefit for anyone. Literacy and numeracy skills are vital, but they should not be the sole focus of an education worth having.

That view placed on the table, this week I received the detailed analysis of this year’s NAPLAN results and I am pleased to say that, as usual, St Paul’s students performed better on all measures than the State and National average and, in some cases, significantly better.

When analysing the results, it was clear that we don’t “play the NAPLAN game” in order to bolster our School’s perceived performance. All students participated, regardless of their ability, because it is, after all, about the students and not the School. Some of our results, particularly literacy, could have been much stronger if our ESL and verified students had been withdrawn from the test. But they did participate, and so they should. St Paul’s is focused on lifting the academic performance of every student, not just those who are going to make the School look good.

This year, every student at St Paul’s did the NAPLAN tests online. This move has had some controversy, but the shift meant that the test was “intuitive” (driven by AI): the questions were adjusted according to the student’s ability.

Interrogation of the data revealed some interesting things, areas that we as a School need to work on, and areas that you as parents can help with. This is the real benefit of the NAPLAN tool.

One of these areas is vocabulary. While our students were not below the State and National average, vocabulary was one of the areas we will target. And you can help.

The very best way a young person can improve their vocabulary is in the home. The easiest way to do this is around the dinner table. I know that our lives are hectic, but I would encourage those who are able to switch off the TV, put down the devices and eat together at a set time each night. This simple family ritual has significant benefits for your child/ren. Rich conversations are the surest way to develop literacy skills.

The other great thing you can do is not give away the ritual of reading to your child. Reading together helps not only with the development of vocabulary, but also the development of imagination, the foundation of creativity. Keep on reading to your child, for as long as you are able.

Every child needs to be able to read, write and add up. Together, we can give these valuable skills to our children.

Dr Paul Browning 
Headmaster

Mr Howes has also designed this camp as a Rite of Passage for the students, requiring them to deliberately reflect on their experiences of childhood and their hopes and dreams as they become young adults.

As you would be aware, many societies have some kind of rite of passage – a ritual, ceremony or celebration to make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Sadly, in Australia, I don’t know that we do this very well, with Schoolies sometimes being referred to as a ‘rite of passage’. I’m sure we can do better than that, and Year 10 seems like an appropriate time to do it. Within the next few years, your Year 10 children will achieve the right to drive, to vote and to drink alcohol – all signs that society recognises that they are becoming young adults.

Religions often have some kind of rite of passage. In Christian denominations, including our own Anglicanism, young people may be baptised or confirmed, as a sign that they agree with the faith of their parents. No longer are they just tagging along with mum and dad but, rather, assuming responsibility for their own values and beliefs.

When I spoke with the Year 10s on their last night at camp, I offered them two things to think about. Both come from the bible (which I think of as the users’ manual for human beings) –

Firstly, I told them about Joshua (Moses’ successor, who had led the people of Israel into the Promised Land). When he was about to die, he reminded the people of their history over the past 350 years, and he gave them this challenge – “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

My challenge to the Year 10s, as they become young adults, was to think seriously (choose) about who they will serve, about what they will prioritise, about what their values will, and about what kind of young man or young woman they will choose to become?

Secondly, I told the Year 10s what St Paul had told the Corinthian Christians – “¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me….”

The childish ways that Paul was talking about were the kind of ego-centric thinking that is often seen in children, who may assume that they are the most important person in the world, and treat others accordingly. They may be impatient, unkind, proud and selfish. After all, no-one is as important as they are! As mature people, Paul urges the Corinthian Christians to love one another (and he explains that love is patient, love is kind, it is not self-seeking, it always protects and never gives up).

That is a challenge for older adults, as well as young ones.

Mr Nigel Grant
Executive Director of Faith & Community

As some may you have noticed the previous governing body, the St Paul’s Alumni has been quite inactive over the past 10 years. In February 2019, a new (unincorporated) group – the Past Students Supporters Group, has been formed under the umbrella of the St Pauls School Supporters Association Inc.  Since then we have been working hard behind the scenes to set up all that is required to allow us to support the past students of St Pauls School.

We welcome all to come the monthly PSSG meetings, which occur on every third Wednesday of the month at the Eatons Hill Hotel.

All past students are encouraged to stay connected with other Past Students and the School.

Register or update your details to keep up to date with upcoming social and business functions, special events, reunions and developments at St Paul’s.

To register your details, please click the link below to complete our online application form.

https://paststudents.com.au/stpaulsbaldhills/registration

If you would like more information please visit us at: https://paststudents.com.au/stpaulsbaldhills/about/ OR https://www.facebook.com/alumnistpauls/

You can also contact us directly via email at: [email protected]

Junior School

Celebration of Achievement 2019

at the

Walker Centre

St Paul’s School

on

Tuesday 26 November at 7.00pm

School Music groups will perform from 6.15pm.

Please be seated by 6.50pm.

RSVP:   Mrs Dee King

[email protected]

15 November 2019

This is another busy term (aren’t they all?!) in Music. The two biggest events are Con Brio and the Junior Ensembles Concert. For more detailed information on these events, including arrival times and attire, please visit the ‘Music Performance Schedule’ via ‘Quick Links’ on the main School website.

This is outlined on the 2020 enrolment form, which you will be sent in the next few weeks to re-enrol for instrumental lessons next year.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/stpaulsmusic

Instagram – @spsmusic

PARENT WORKSHOP – Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

St Paul’s School Counselling Department is hosting a Parenting Workshop for School parents – Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child. The presentation will be over two sessions. Parents are welcome to attend either session however it is most beneficial if they are able to attend both.

Details

Tuesday, 12 and Thursday, 14 November
2.00-3.00pm
Sutton Theatre

Please click HERE to see a flyer with more information.

HELPFUL CONTACTS

St PAUL’S SCHOOL CAREERS

Career information is available on the St Paul’s School Careers website at https://www.stpaulscareers.com.au/

Click HERE to see the latest newsletter from the website host, Career Tools.

USEFUL CAREERS WEBSITES

Borrowing will cease on the 15^th November.

Warm regards,

Judy Bolton
Head of Information Services

Booklists are available

As of last term, parents/guardians can report their child’s absence from school via parent lounge.  An email detailing the process will be sent to you in the coming days.

If you have forgotten your Parent Lounge password, you can reset this yourself via the Parent Lounge login screen. If you have forgotten your Parent Lounge username, please contact the School’s reception.

The email address: [email protected] will still be operational for a short transition phase but will not work from 31 October 2019. After this time the only way to electronically advise your child’s absence will be via parent lounge.

This change is another improvement in the School’s approach towards child protection as it adds a level of security and authentication to child absences from school.  If you have any questions please contact the Risk and Compliance Officer, Renaye Ansell ([email protected])

Please note, if your child will be absent for three days or longer email your child’s House Leader.

The uniform requirements at St Paul’s School vary depending on what year level students are in.

For a full breakdown of uniform requirements per year click HERE.

Please submit your notice in writing to the Headmaster – [email protected]

Debbie Cameron
Registrar (Domestic)

Term 4: Tuesday 8 October – Friday 29 November

For a more detailed look 2020 dates, see HERE.

The Camp will run from Saturday afternoon to Sunday midday. The aim of the Camp is to have an ‘unplugged’ family overnighter learning survival skills in a fun and interactive way.  At the Camp Out we’ll run a myriad of activities for families to participate in together.  More information to come in the new year. To register your interest please email Sarah Gover  [email protected]

Venue: Eatons Hill Hotel

Business: A motion will be put to formally wind up the Association with all assets to be transferred to the St Paul’s School Supporters Association Inc.

Background: the Alumni Association has been inactive for several years, as a result of practical  governance requirements not having been met. No Annual General Meetings have been held, accounts have not been audited and no annual returns have been made to the Queensland Government, as required of incorporated associations. A new (unincorporated) group – the Past Students Supporters Group – has been formed under the umbrella of the St Pauls School Supporters Association Inc. Governance and financial accountability issues relating to the Past Students group will now be overseen by the SPSSA, representing significant cost savings and greater efficiency. The PSSG is developing a new website, is actively updating the past student contact details database and are working on plans to achieve the agreed goals of the SPS alumni.

Please note that only members of the Alumni Association will be entitled to vote, although all past students are welcome to attend. Proxy forms are available on application for members who wish to have a say but are unable to attend the meeting.

An ordinary meeting of the PSSG will immediately follow the Extraordinary general meeting of the SPS Alumni Association and all past students are invited to stay and take part in this meeting.

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Notice of the Junior School Supporters Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on at 7pm Thursday 14th November.

All Junior School parents are invited to attend.

For more information, please contact Dann Page [email protected]

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please click HERE.

NOTICE OF AGM

Notice of the Netball Supporters Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on at 7pm Monday 18th November in the School Library.

All parents, coaches and interested parties are invited to attend.

NOTICE OF AGM

Notice of the Football Supporters Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on at 6.30pm Monday 18th November in the school library. Please find an official notice HERE.

To ensure the FSG caters for the Football needs across the entire school, all supporters are welcome to play a part moving forward. To achieve this we need voices from Junior, Middle & Senior schools so whether you have one or ten years remaining at the school, please get involved. So rally up a few football faces and come along to the meeting.  The AGM will be followed by a General Meeting.

In the interim, please don’t hesitate to make contact if you have any questions .

Peter Deane
Football Supporters Group
[email protected]

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Volleyball Supporters Group AGM will be held on Monday 11 November 2019 at 6pm in the School Library.

We invite all parents, coaches, interested parties to attend.

We will be looking for nominations for executive positions for next year, as we have a few members who are Year 12 parents, so will be leaving us at the end of this year.

Also general members are required. If you’re interested in getting involved with volleyball, and supporting your student’s sport please come along. It’s not a massive commitment in terms of time. We’re planning five or six meetings next year, and we normally have around eight home games per year inclusive of both boys and girls seasons.

It’s a great way to meet other parents, get involved with the school, and also to learn a bit more about the school functions.

Please find an official notice and nomination form HERE.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Touch Football Supporters Group AGM will be held on Wednesday 20 November 2019 at 6.30pm in the School Library.

All parents, coaches and interested parties are invited to attend.

An official notice and nomination form can be found HERE.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Tennis Supporters’ Group of St Paul’s School (Bald Hills) Supporters’ Association Inc. will hold its Annual General Meeting on Monday 11 November 2019 at 7.30pm in the Tennis Clubhouse under the Walker Centre.  All supporters are welcome to attend this meeting and are eligible to nominate for committee positions (NB. Only SPSSA members are eligible to vote on the election of these officers.)

Nominations should be made in writing on the form HERE and lodged with the President by Sunday 10 November 2019.