In the spirit of the season, we see some of our finest standing with a small selection of the contributions and generous gifts for those members in our local community who may not have been expecting the brightest Christmas. Thanks to Alex, Lachlan, Kye, Ben, James and Zane for helping Mrs Kalayzich here with the hampers. But I don't think we can mention the hampers without mentioning Harry (not pictured) and his contribution. Awesome boys!

You will have to ask the Science teachers (or the boys) what is going on in the photo on the left, but the other photo follows a unit looking into dynamics and movement - in particular aerodynamics. The annual paperplane competition was held - ask the boys who won!

St Paul’s year 7 fired up and got the WIN against the Bally Tornados to become Basketball Premiers!!

It was described as a “thrilling game” where St Paul's came back from a 13 point deficit mid way through the second half to win by 1 point, 32-31.

Congratulations to Lachie, Kobi, Alex, Jamie, James, Kye and Bohden.

On a Friday at St Paul’s, students joined over 70 schools across Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom in celebrating the inaugural Positive Education Day. Positive education is an evidence based approach combining the science of positive psychology with the achievement of wellbeing and happiness. The aim of the colourful clothing was to make Positive Education visible in the school, encouraging students and staff to invest in their own wellbeing and that of those around them. In the busyness of school many forget to take care of their own mental health and wellbeing.

Pictured below is the colourful Hawaiian themed PC class enjoying their rewards for their generosity during the month of Catholic Mission. Their PC raised more than any other PC across the College. Also pictured is a colourful, wider community shot of the boys whose parents are great at bringing out the best in the colours after a wash!

Thank you goes to Ash, Nathan, Micheal and Luca for representing St Paul's at the Catholic Mission Mass held at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Cathedral in Waitara. The Mass hosts representatives from every Catholic school in Diocese of Broken Bay, and celebrates each school's commitment to fundraising and helping those in need. They are pictured here with the Very Rev Dr David Ranson.

Throughout the month of October, St Paul's raised money for the education of the poor in Myanmar. Don't know anything about it? Click HERE for more information. One of the fundraising initiatives was one of the classics, guess the lollies in the lollie jar. And it couldn't have gone to a better (or hungrier) young man. Well done Ash. Your guess of 1,018 was only 7 off the actual total of 1,011.

Pictured on the right of the picture are three Year 7 GOLD award recipients. Kye, Joseph and Luca. Gold awards are handed out at College assemblies and honour students who have received 30 merits throughout the year. Well done boys. Now to work toward your Platinum and even Diamond awards! More to come here.

The work that Mr Newton has been doing with his Sport Coaching class (a VET subject for Stage 6 students) is working out nicely for willing year 7 participants. The coaches have been putting year 7 through their paces. See below for a selection of photos taken of the boys working hard on improving their skills and fitness.

St Paul's won the team event for most overall points!

Finley (top left) made it to the second round (Semi-finals) for junior surfing.

Both Nathan (left) and Remy (above) made it to the final for junior bodyboarding, with Remy coming 2nd place and Nathan coming in 3rd.

Well done boys!

There's been some application of learning in this week's Science practical lessons. Pictured below is an example of an edible cell, and the boys dissecting fish. They probably weren't too hungry after learning about the inner workings of fish.

To celebrate our College's patron saint, St Paul, our College held "St Paul's Week". It was a week devoted to celebrating everything about the identity of St Paul's Catholic College. The culminated in our College's House battles - a series of games and events that pit brother against brother: Moran vs. Taylor vs. Gilroy vs. Bourke.

Our students were encouraged to sign up for the Manly Fun Run (2km, 5km or 10km) to support Rotary and the work they do for the community. Kye represented year 7 in the 10km event - with all his family too. He finished the event in a little over an hour and was placed in the upper middle of the field of 360+. Well done Kye.

Some staff members also took part - Mr Chaney and Mr Rowse were arguably the best finishers (or best lookers :P)

The Prima Primum Class Award acknowledges students who are committed to their academic study. To be nominated as a potential recipient for this award a student must work with due diligence to achieve his best possible result in all classes. This award is for students who do not necessarily achieve a top rank in their class but demonstrate a sustained commitment to their learning by always putting their learning first. These students show genuine engagement in whole-class, small group and individual activities, complete class tasks and home-study with interest and care, contribute positively to the learning environment and are consistently organised and prepared for class.

Teachers nominate one student from each class who is fitting the criteria. The Leader of Student Wellbeing and the Director of Wellbeing select 6 from those with multiple nominations. There are Prima Primum term awards each term.. All nominations are accumulated for a Prima Primum year award.

Pictured below: George, Nathan, Jedd, Myall, Finley and Sam.

The boys are voting with their feet - C.O.R.E (during the warmer months anyway) is a real winner. Mr McDonnell and Mr Rowse are running killer sessions to improve the boys' fitness, team work and mental strength. They are working hard and the boys can all recognise the benefits the sessions are having in their sports of choice.

You will have to ask the music teachers, or perhaps the boys, exactly what is going on here. But best anyone can gather, the boys are employing the skills of rhythm, timing and collaboration to the art of percussion in a performance for the College's annual Open Evening. Ms Evers and Mrs Grimes are the ones to thank for this.

Some of these photos from C.O.R.E are just too unreal not to share. Here we see our boys working together through a partnered workout, with our picturesque Waterford Hall lining the background.

So there was a bit going on for the students toward the end of term one. A number of assessments were approaching their due date and we thought, well, let's work together on them! We opened the doors to our beautiful Harbourview rooms, we paired the students into groups that wanted to work on the same task, and anyone who was free (including Principal Mr Browne) stopped by to help the students where they could. All reports from the students was that it was a rewarding few hours that helped them finish out the term on a high.

Another great initiative for year 7. Mr McDonnell and Mr Rowse have arranged for Year 7 only fitness sessions. We have appropriately titled them "C.O.R.E" which stands for "Commitment Over Regular Expectations". This means the boys are doing a little bit extra by making the commitment to get up early every Tuesday morning, smash a workout (but work together to get through it) and they are then rewarded with a decent breakfast afterwards. What a way to start the day!

Mr McDonnell's PC4 came up with a great way to raise some money for Caritas during our Lent appeal. Mr McDonnell spent some quality time baking some quality muffins for each PC group, and the boys spent PC making smoothies. The cost? A donation to Caritas, and you get to have a healthy breakfast to start the day. Great initiative!

The boys are showing signs of being the team to beat. They are joint top of the table and are looking like they will be semi finals bound. Keep firing boys! The team:

Jamie, Kye, Alex, James, Kobi, Callum, Bohden, Max, Kayden and Lachlan.

The annual Year 7 camp to Somerset. The boys spent two nights camped by the Colo River (near the Hawkesbury area) and took part in all the fun you would expect one to have on their first camp as a year group together. They cooked and cleaned for themselves. They floated on donuts down the Hawkesbury River. They took to the skies and mastered the High Ropes course. They paddled the River again in the kayaking challenge - and somehow had enough energy to devote to playing a game of Water Rugby after! They even built rafts (rather unsuccessfully) to try out a little teamwork. It was a great few days that left the boys wishing they could have stayed a little longer.

Here we see the first Thursday Sport (that doesn't involve Surf Life Saving skills) - the boys headed off to compete in their Cross Country event to help us select the team to compete against other College's in the Diocese of Broken Bay. As you can see, everyone looks super thrilled about running. Well done to Kai, Ash and Blake (bottom left) for finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Under 13 age group. Well done to Zane, Dylan and Lachlan for finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Under 12 age group.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent – we are starting a Lenten journey. It is a season of temptation for 40 days resembling Jesus’ temptation to give in to the devil and sin. The boys each received their ashes and heard said to them “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Bible” - the day and the season of Lent began with a liturgy led by Mr Emmerson, and began the College's Lenten commitment.

'Shrove' is the past tense verb of the word shrive, which means to obtain absolution (forgiveness) for sin (not necessarily wrongdoing, but things that separate us from God and each other).This day is also known as Pancake Tuesday – a day of feasting on foods that many restrict during Lent. Here you can see Ryan and Mr Rowse tucking into the day's offering from our Youth Minister Jo Kalayzich.

St Mary's Immaculate Church in Manly hosts St Paul's Catholic College's Welcome Mass every year! It is the official spiritual welcoming to the College, and the official introduction of year 7 to the College community. The students receive their portfolios (to store all their awards and certificates they are going to earn), are introduced by name to the College, and we have two boys speak to College on behalf of their cohort (thank you Jamie and Lachlan).

The first day! All kitted up and ready to rock. It's a day devoted only to year 7 students (the rest of school returns the next day). The boys have a chance to meet each of their class teachers, get to know their PC teachers, and spend time preparing their equipment, diaries, lockers and everything else for the year ahead. Welcome to SPCC boys.

This was a day devoted to preparing our young men to make that big leap from their Primary school colours to the red and black associated with being a St Paul's boy. The day involved some fun activities run by teachers from different departments, some listening about what to expect and how to prepare, as well as a few little 'tests' to help us figure out how to best cater for the students of Year 7, 2018.