Making Connections

Community is important at St Paul's.

One of the highlights of each year is our annual Grandparents' Day where over 700 grandparents visit the school and spend time enjoying the opportunities their grandchildren have at St Paul's. Many grandparents travel from interstate or even overseas to attend this special day. In recent years some of our visitors have had up to nine of their grandchildren enrolled at the school at the one time.

Parents and families are actively encouraged to participate in their children's learning by being involved with school activities. Parents and grandparents volunteer in the library, The Inquiry Centre, canteens, learning support, classroom reading groups and in sporting and co-curricular activities. The Friends of St Paul's organisation, consisting mainly of parents, works actively to raise funds for the school and to organise school-wide social events. Year-based and class-based parent networks also organise social activities for parents and for whole families from time to time, with some of these networks continuing long after their children have graduated from school.

Many of our Year 11 students choose to be involved in our Annual Ball with Debutantes. A high point on the social calendar at St Paul's, the ball attracts people from our wider school community and allows them to enjoy an evening of fine food, music and dancing.

The connection with St Paul's does not cease when a student graduates from school. St Paul's Ex-Students Association (SPEXS) enables students to maintain their link to the school through a range of activities including reunions and both print and electronic communication. In 2007 a new venture was started by SPEXS in conjunction with the school's Development Office that concentrates on our graduates of the last decade (GOLD), with particular emphasis on maintaining links between our current and ex-students in the areas of Christian growth, community service, sport, the performing arts and career development.