2023 Term 2, Week 1

In both situations, I fear that the original concept of ‘charity’ has been lost. As Mother Theresa once said, “Charity isn’t about pity, it’s about love”. Or, as Encyclopaedia Brittanica defines it –

“Charity, in Christian thought, is the highest form of love, signifying the reciprocal love between God and man that is made manifest in unselfish love of one’s fellow men”.

Charity is the notion that is at the heart of the Golden Rule, that you should “do to others what you would have them do to you”. Or, as Jesus said in another place, we should “Love our neighbour as we love ourselves”.

Charity need not be limited to the giving of money. Rather, it is an attitude of seeing a need and wanting to help. Charles Dickens put it this way – “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another”.

Charity, as I am describing it, is also represented in the St Paul’s Character Framework, where the first two virtues listed are Kindness & Compassion, and Generosity. Charity, when properly understood, is not limited to those who are rich. Rather, charity is an obligation that we all have towards one another; it is an obligation of mutual love.

In Week 4 of this term, we will celebrate our annual Pink Week. Our thinking and our giving will be directed towards those who have been impacted by breast cancer, included both those who have (or have had) the disease, as well as those who have lost loved ones. Specifically, all funds raised during Pink Week will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation funding world-class breast cancer research towards the vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer.

Across the whole school (PP-12), students and staff are encouraged to come in pink-themed free dress, on Friday 12 May. Everyone in pink will be required to donate to the NBCF – at least a gold coin, more if you are able.

Then, on Saturday 13 May, we celebrate Pink Day. It is a home game for TAS sports (against Cannon Hill Anglican College) and doubles as our annual “Back to St Paul’s Day”, when all past students are encouraged to come back and catch up with old friends. It is a day of great celebration, as well as a significant fund-raiser. Can I urge all students and families to get behind this, the first of our significant charitable events of the year.

Kind Regards,
Nigel Grant

This might sound simple.  Yet, our education system in Australia often separates education from parents.  We live in a society and culture that essentially hands schools and teachers the responsibility to educate. 

For all the amazing benefits this affords our society and families, it is fraught with danger. 

The disconnect of parents and carers from their child’s education has become a recognised weakness by education specialists throughout the world. 

It has been demonstrably demonstrated that parent engagement in their child’s education is linked with their outcomes.  These outcomes are educational, societal, and psychological.  Basically, parents who are positively involved in the educational process effect their children in many positive ways. 

At St Paul’s School we have just developed three essential Family Engagement values, they are; 

1. We value parents (carers) as the child’s first teacher 

1. We value partnering with parents at our school 

1. We value parent engagement in the St Paul’s approach to education 

We want to be very intentional to engage parents and caregivers because we know that the outcomes for children and students are profound. 

With this in mind, we are offering a seminar for all parents called ‘An Education Worth Having’.  This seminar will introduce the St Paul’s School educational framework.  Parents are invited so they can engage with their child’s education and feel equipped to spur them on. 

An Education Worth Having (2 sessions available) 

7:30am or 5:00pm Tuesday 2nd May 2023 

Showcase Theatre, Innovation Precinct – St Paul’s School 

Please use the QR code to register. 

Rev. Stephen Brown 

Head of Family Engagement 

*Please note that parent is an inclusive term for all carers or extended family members who sow into a child’s development.  It takes a village to raise a child. 

For your comfort, we recommend you bring a comfortable chair, hat or umbrella.

If you are interested, please contact Louise Carter in the Tuckshop for further information.

[email protected]

It is vital that all contact details remain up to date so that we can contact you as necessary and continue providing your family with relevant information via email, phone and post.

Visit Parent Lounge

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.

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, Mark Barratt ([email protected]).

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

Click here for ideas to get the morning working for you.

Did you know that we have a SPS Careers Website?  You can find it on the School Portal or at https://www.stpaulscareers.com.au/.  Check out the Important Info section that has a Calendar of Events from Universities, Defence, TAFE, Expo’s etc!

To see the latest Career Tools Newsletter click here. You can also click here to view SPS Career Tools Weekly on the SPS Careers Website.

Wondered about the St Paul’s School way of education?

This seminar introduces the framework of your child’s learning at St Paul’s, namely Realms of Thinking and Ways of Being.

At St Paul’s School we value parent engagement in our approach to education.  Why?  Because it produces better outcomes for your child’s education.

Register via the QR to start the journey of parent engagement at St Paul’s School.

Tuesday 2^nd May 2023 – Innovation Precinct

Morning Session (7:30-9:00am) or Afternoon Session (5:00-6.30pm) available

On Pink Day, Saturday 13 May 2023, a special reunion lunch will include:

• A special past students morning tea while watching the current Firsts Teams play
• A special past students reunion function in the School’s newly-constructed Innovation Precinct

Please RSVP via the Facebook event.