A Christmas Prayer
Loving Father,
help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherd,
and worship of the wise men
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts
May Christmas morning
make us happy to be Your children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake.
Amen
Robert Louis Stevenson
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Where will we meet Jesus this Christmas?
There is a story that is told of three businessmen who were on conference in the city. The conference went overtime. It was Friday afternoon. They wanted to be home with their families. They needed to run to make the train.
On the railway platform a young boy was selling apples from a make-shift cart. As the three men rushed on to the platform they accidently ran into the cart sending its contents flying. The men couldn’t stop as their train was due to depart.
Waiting for the train to leave one man’s conscience got the better of him. He left the carriage and watched the train move away from the platform. He noticed that no one else had offered to help the young boy with the upturned cart. The business man bent down and to pick up the apples that had been strewn across the platform. He gathered many of the bruised fruits and stock his cart once more. When all the apples that could be retrieved were returned to the cart, the businessman apologised and offered to pay for the damage he caused. The young boy refused. Instead, he asked the question of the businessman, “Are you Jesus?”
During this time of Advent we are called to wait and prepare the way for the Lord. Who is the Jesus we are waiting for this Christmas? In last Sunday’s gospel, Matthew wrote about the big question John the Baptist had of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for another?” In a way, this gospel is an invitation for us to stop fashioning Jesus to a likeness with which we are happy. Let Jesus be Jesus.
Where will we meet Jesus this Christmas; the Jesus for whom we have prepared? Perhaps we will meet Jesus around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Perhaps we will meet Jesus over the Christmas lunch. Perhaps we will meet Jesus as we rush to catch our train, bus or aeroplane.
Family time is important and we often find Jesus in those we love and who love us. This year we need to look carefully for our Jesus of love beyond those with whom we feel the most comfortable. We will need to find Jesus through the blind, the lame, the poor, the refugee, the Jew, the Muslim, the Hindu and the Buddhist. This year, more than ever in recent history, will we share the love that the Christ child gives us or will we continue to share that love with only those with whom we feel the most comfortable? By your actions this Christmas, will a stranger ask of you, “Are you Jesus?”
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Presentation Night
Congratulations to all those young men who were rewarded for their dedication and hard work at Presentation Night on Wednesday. A list of special award winners appears in this newsletter.
Thank you
On behalf of the Staff of St Pauls Catholic College, I would like to thank you for all your support throughout the year. We remember this Christmas, especially, the family of Brandan Layton who went to his final reward in October. We pray for all families who have lost loved ones this year and remember that we are “people of hope”.
To those families who leave our community this year we offer a special prayer of thanks for allowing us to share your journey. With this in mind, we also thank those staff members who are moving on: Mrs Jensen; Mrs Qummou; Mr Singh; Mr Peart; Miss L Stephenson and Mrs Bowman. We wish these staff members all the very best.
May you have a very happy, safe and Holy Christmas.
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Mr David Bourne
Principal
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Presentation Evening 2016 - Special Award Recipients
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Year 7
Shivank Goel First Aggregate
Jarrod Dickson Cumberland Council Pursuit of Excellence
Lachlan Gardner P & F Award
Year 8
Christopher Rutherford First Aggregate
Jack Hansen All Rounder
Jayden Nguyen P & F Award
Michael Broschofsky P & F Award
Elliot Wilson Junior Sportsman of the Year
Year 9
Jayden Rothwell First Aggregate
Jinil Patel Rueben F. Scarfe Award
Matthew Newcombe P & F Award
Year 10
Jack Cuskelly First Aggregate
Blake White First Aggregate
Jayden Galea ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership
Musawar Gafori P & F Award
Year 11
Ziggy Kowalski First Aggregate
Hayden Gerrie Paul McFarland Community Service Award
Raymond Matar The Merrylands RSL School Bursary Award
Aditya Tangirala Western Sydney University Scholarship
Nitin Moopnar P & F Award
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Important Dates for 2017 College Year
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College Office will be open between 8.30 am and 3.00 pm Monday 23rd January to Wednesday 25th January and Friday 27th January between 8.30 am and 3.00 pm for any necessary inquiries.
Uniform Shop will be open between 8.00 am and 2 pm Monday 23rd January to Wednesday 25th January, Friday 27th January and Monday 30th January.
The Uniform Shop is open every Wednesday of college term between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm.
Year 7 commence at 8.35 am on Monday 30th January, 2017 for whole school day in full summer uniform.
Year 11 Peer Support also return with Year 7 on Monday 30th January, 2017.
Year 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 return at 8.35 am on Tuesday 31st January, 2017 in full summer uniform.
Year 7 students will have their Swimming Assessment on Thursday 2nd February, and are to bring all necessary swim wear and towel with full Sports Uniform.
Mass to Bless the College's Academic Year will be held on Friday 3rd February at 11.00 am In Our Lady Queen of Parish Church. All families are warmly invited to join us and pray with us as we consecrate our year ahead to the greater glory of God.
The Mass will be followed by our annual High Achievers Assembly, where we will congratulate the HSC Results of last year's Year 12 Students.
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This past year Ms Malcom and I have continually been sourcing current, relevant and factual information to help support and assist all members of St Paul’s community. Overall we have accessioned over 1,960 new items which cover curriculum based texts, topic nonfiction & recreational reading.
In Term 4 Ms Malcolm organised a maker space program during 1st half of lunch. Students were able to use snap on electronics to create and design their own machines and devices.
We would also like to thank our Mentors for their continual assistance throughout the year. Regrettably our number has dwindled. During recess and lunch the Newman Centre is extremely busy and student support is greatly appreciated. We would like to extend an invitation to any student who would like to assist us in our duties.
As Term 4 draws to an end our current mentors have been enthusiastically decorating the Library with our Christmas tree placed near the OLA. Ms Malcolm and I wish St Paul’s community a holy and joyful Christmas. Have a safe, fun filled holiday and look forward to seeing you again in 2017.
Mrs Kathy Clark
Library Technician
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Christmas Concert
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
A large number of St Pauls vocal group and band entertained the residents of our local Nursing homes, grandparents and parent with toddlers, on Thursday 1st December in the Camilleri hall. Our students were very professional and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the concert in combination with Mrs Vera Grella and OLQP infant and primary choirs, the recorder ensemble and OLQP Pre-school.
Performaers included: Sean Daly and Denis Dodig – Alto saxophone, Adrian McCann – clarinet, Abhidi Pradhan and Isaac Zammit – drumkit, Joshua Zammit – lead guitar and Carl Sorensen – bass guitar, Brad Carr – semi-acoustic guitar, Lachlan Gardner - flute and the vocal group included: Michael Sarkis, JJ Taufa, Emilio Gonzalez, Chris Aoun, Ruben Sugalan, Jonathan Maroun, Giovanni Bruneau, Saxon Bortoluzzi, Rahul Hosakere, and Kumaran Periparasa. Special thanks must go to Miss Rappolt and the Yr 9 Hospitality students for preparing a beautiful morning tea to the residents. It was truly delicious!
Youth Mass
Congratulations to the following dedicated students who participated in our final Youth Mass last Sunday evening, especially to three Year 7 students, Emilio Gonzalez, Ruben Sugalan and Giovanni Bruneau who made a confident singing debut with our enthusiastic regulars. The blend and balance of sound was inspirational and truly angelic.
Year 10: Joshua Zammit, JJ Taufa and Michael Sarkis
Year 8: Carl Sorensen, Brad Carr and Adrian McCann
Year 7: Lachlan Gardner, Isaac Zammit and Abhidi Pradhan
Special thanks must go to Mr Curtin and Mr Robens who continues to share their skills and considerable talents with the band this year. The all-round sound of our ensemble has improved so much and will continue to improve with regular practise. Well done boys.
Carols by Candle light
The same dedicated and talented bunch of Band and vocalists backed up immediately after our final Youth Mass to perform that same evening for the annual Parish Carols by Candle light. This was a massive effort for the following musicians:
Year 10: Joshua Zammit, JJ Taufa and Michael Sarkis
Year 8: Carl Sorensen, Brad Carr and Adrian McCann
Year 7: Emilio Gonzalez, Ruben Sugalan, Giovanni Bruneau, Lachlan Gardner, Isaac Zammit and Abhidi Pradhan
We performed: “The Christmas Song” and “Angels we have heard on High”. A highlight of this year’s carols was the participation of several ex-students; Eric Grella, Joshua Clancy and Paolo Grella, who’s mature men’s voices blended beautifully with the St Pauls vocalists to give a truly well rounded sound.
Special thanks and appreciation from our students must go to the parents who provide transport and accompany our band and vocal group throughout the year. Your continued dedication and encouragement to your sons’ musical involvement and development is very much appreciated at this busy time. We look forward to hearing many more performances in 2017.
Finally, Mr Cincotta, Mr Curtin and I wish all our students and their families a happy and safe Christmas holiday break.
Viva la Musica!
Mrs Anne Benn
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…. SEEKING MENTORS
Would you like to give something back to your community?
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta’s Post School Options Team is looking for suitable employers who can offer one-on-one mentoring in the workplace for secondary students. We are seeking people employed in small businesses who would like to give something back to their community and join this valuable and worthwhile program, on a voluntary basis.
The volunteer mentor, hosts the student in the workplace for one day per week for 2 school terms (May to September, excluding school holidays). The mentor is both a personal and professional role model for the student. All mentors are provided with complimentary mentor training and receive a TAFE Certificate of Attainment ‘Mentoring in the Community’ for their participation.
Employers can be from any industry, as an individual in a trade area – clerical, administration, hairdressing and beauty or connected to a major employer for example, Bunnings. Or Woolworths etc.
Please consider this call for assistance so that this program can continue to supply a valuable service to students in our Catholic communities. If you would be interested in becoming a mentor or finding out more information, please contact:
Leoni Jeavons-Fellows
Leading Teacher Post School Options
0424 750 583
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| Canteen Roster Term 1 2017 |
| Day |
Week ending
3rd February |
Week ending
10th February |
Week ending
17th February |
| Monday |
Brigette Mansour |
Brigette Mansour |
Brigette Mansour |
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Leanne Gale |
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| Tuesday |
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| Wednesday |
Annette Boulous |
Annette Boulous |
Annette Boulous |
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| Thursday |
Suzi Sarafoglou |
Nancy Fakhoury |
Suzi Sarafoglou |
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| Friday |
Debra McDonnell |
Debra McDonnell |
Debra McDonnell |
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Margaret Zullo |
Margaret Zullo |
Margaret Zullo |
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Leanne Gale |
Norma Nehne |
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DESPERATE NEED OF HELPERS!
We are in desperate need of helpers in the canteen with many days passing without any help at all. If you can even spare one day a month to help out, it would be greatly appreciated!
UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
Please remember to contact me at the College on 8868 3728 if you are unable to come on your rostered day.
Mrs Debra Hartland
Canteen Manager
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