Dear Parents

On 25 May we celebrate in our church the feast of Mary Help of Christians.

The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive.

Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness.

St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral.

When Australia became the first country to have Mary Help of Christians as Patroness, it became the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title.

The Church prays that through Our Lady’s intercession God will “Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens”, so that “under her protection Australia may be granted harmony, justice and peace”.

Kindergarten 2020

This time of the year is always an exciting time for me. It is an opportunity to connect with existing families and meeting new ones. I urge you to connect with any family or friends who wish their children to be enrolled for 2020 to collect an enrolment form from the office or download them from the website. There are still vacancies for Kindergarten.

Mothers Day 

Thank you to all the mothers who assisted in the Mother’s Day Breakfast and Stall.
A very special thank you from all of the children to the P&F and the many parents who helped with the Mothers' day Stall last week. It was a wonderful school event for the children and an opportunity for parents to again be involved at St Patrick’s.

Congratulations to our Term 2 Prefects

SCHOOL-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (SPB4L)

Our SPB4L focus for this week (Week 4) is Respecting Playtime. In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Use equipment for its right purpose
2. Return all equipment to the correct container
3. Return other people’s equipment directly to them
4. Tie skipping ropes when returning them
5. Put food containers in the class tub
6. Walk on the concrete

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on respecting playtime to be taught include:

1. Throwing/kicking balls away from the people playing with them
2. Hitting people with equipment
3. Leaving equipment out on the playground
4. Not tying skipping ropes
5. Leaving containers on the concrete
6. Playing chasing games on the concrete

Our SPB4L focus for next week (Week 5) is Self Respect. In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Completing my work to the best of my ability
2. Following the school rules
3. Accepting responsibility for my own actions
4. Being honest
5. Learning from my mistakes

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact self respect to be taught include:

1. Not trying my best
2. Not following the school rules
3. Being dishonest
4. Blaming others for my behaviour

We would very much appreciate your discussing these weekly focuses with your children and reviewing the expected and non-acceptable behaviours in our endeavour to see that St Patrick’s is a more respectful, responsible and safe learning community for all.

SPB4L Data

Throughout weeks 2 and 3, 46 Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards were awarded whilst there were 6 incidences of inappropriate behaviour recorded.

WE’RE GOING GREENER - NUDE FOOD EVERYDAY

Week 3 Data

Of the 172 students at school last Friday 117 brought Nude Food to school. This equates to 68% of the student population.

Data will be collected one day each week with the class that has most students bringing ‘Nude Food’ to school during Term 2 enjoying scones baked in the wood fire oven in the garden in week 10. Last weeks most sustainable class was Year 5 with 87.5% of the students bringing Nude Food. Hip-hip hooray Year 5.

Please find below information about How to Pack a Nude Food Lunch that might be of help.

Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the following students receiving awards:

MEDALLION WINNER

Principals Awards:

Leena Carolan - Yr 1
Jake Stojanovski - Yr 2
Stephanie Saliba - Yr 3
Alexander Rostankovski - Yr 5
Alana Crapis - Yr 6
Chloe Malby - Yr 6

Library Awards:

Jacob Markovski - Kinder
Milla Lokys - Yr 1
Jacob  Dimitrijevic - Yr 1
Alicia Morgan - Yr 1
Emily Woods - Yr 4
Zoe Bower  - Yr 5

Congratulations and a very Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating over the next two weeks:

Matilda Hill Yr 1, 25/05, Zarra Mauriello K, 24/05, Dominic Romancewicz K, 27/05, Zachary Mauriello Yr 5, 01/06, Jacob Svarc Yr 2, 02/06.

First Reconciliation

Several students from Year 3 are participating in Reconciliation Sacramental Workshops at the Parish Church in preparation for their First Reconciliation. This significant event will take place on Thursday the 6 June. We pray for God's blessing on these children and their families during the preparation and reception of the sacrement of Reconciliation. 

Mission

Have you witnessed any students, parents, staff or school community members doing acts of mission lately? If yes, then please nominate them for the ‘Mission Star’ award for the month of May! Any act of love, compassion, humility, care or ecological stewardship is an ideal example of when to nominate someone. Please fill out a ‘Mission Star Nomination’ slip, which are located in the breakout area on the prayer table, or outside of the school office.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

In the coming weeks the Mini Vinnies members will be collecting jars of jam, noodles and canned soup for the annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Specific details will be shared in the next week or so, but if you could consider purchasing these items whilst you are out shopping to donate to the Winter Appeal that would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards

Mr Sam Mattas
Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Year 4 Garden Update

The first thing we did in the garden was to check in. To check in we had to say our name, how we feel, what we like to do in the garden and our favourite vegetable. Next we set up the tools for the day. Then we had to walk around the garden like it was a tour and while we were on the tour we had to look for weeds then pull them out and put them in the compost pile.

After lunch we got in to groups and then Mr Mattas assigned us our trees, which we had to ‘feed’. Firstly, Mr Mattas demonstrated what we had to do.

Then after recess we went off in our groups to do it.

1. we had to aerate our tree
2. we sprinkled on 2 pots of chicken manure.
3. we had to get 2 or 3 handfuls of comfrey and spread it around the tree.
4. we got a book of straw and dipped into a wheelbarrow with water mixed with fertilisers in it then we had to put it around the tree and to open it up like a book. We then spread it around the tree but we needed to keep it like a donut with a hole in the middle.
5. we got 3 pots of cow manure and sprinkled them around the tree
6. then we dipped the straw again in the special water mix
7. we had to get 5 watering cans and water the tree

After that all we had to do now was to put the tools away, pack everything up, tidy the garden and get our stuff and our day was done.

We had an enjoyable day and I can’t wait for next time!

By Tahlia Spinelli
Year 4 Student

Pastoral Support Worker Update

This term I am continuing with some initiatives that I began in Term 1. On a Tuesday at Lunchtime I have been inviting a small group of students to create some cards with me which are used by the School Community to let others know that we are thinking of them. At recess on a Tuesday I have been running games and activities in the library and on Wednesday at Recess I have been running Mindful Colouring In. During class time I have been supporting mainly Kinder, Year 1 and 2, helping students with their social skills and emotional wellbeing.

Below is also information about Seasons for Growth. We last ran the program in 2017. I would like to see if there is anyone who would like their child to participate in this program this year. If there are enough numbers to form groups the program will go ahead.

I look forward to our first Parent Cuppa Tuesday, 28 May.

Mrs Catriona Neilsen
Pastoral Support Worker

MacKillop Girls Touch Trials

On 31 May Mikaela Markovski will be representing Wollongong Diocese Girls Touch Team at the MacKillop Trials at St Mary’s in Sydney. We wish Mikaela the best of luck at these trials.

Mrs Anna Pulbrook
Sport Coordinator

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

With thanks to Danielle Lukarovksi & Maz Gebauer