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- PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
- POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING
- RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
- AWARDS
- LIBRARY
- BACK TO SCHOOL TERM 4
- YEAR 2 ASSEMBLY - CHANGE OF DATE
- KINDER ORIENTATION
- YEAR 5 and 6 EXCURSION
- Year 3 & 4 Excursion
- THANKS TO OUR P&F
- BIRTHDAYS
- ST PATRICK'S ART GALLERY
- KINDER ASSEMBLY
- PARISH INFORMATION
- COMMUNITY NEWS
Dear Parents
Thank you for another wonderful term together. We have been truly blessed this term with lots of exciting things happening at St Patrick’s. I hope you all have a wonderful break and I hope that you are able to enjoy some quality family time.
Next term I will be taking 3 weeks long service leave during weeks 2-4 of the term. During this time Mr Hoctor will be Acting Principal. Mr Mattas will be Acting Assistant Principal and Mrs Cudina and Mr Mindzas will be Acting Middle Leaders. We also welcome Mrs Popovski who will assist with the teaching in Year 4. I know the school will be in very good hands in my absence and I look forward to returning in Week 5 of the term.
Term 4 Calendar
Please see the overview for Term 4.
Congratulations to the following awards winners for this term.
Principal Awards: Bridgette Blacker, Hudson Tanevski, Mila Treneska, Rixon Vanderburg, Leah Dragarski, Gabriel Hill, Caitlin Lock, Rory Meizer, Amelie Mineeff, Bella-Rose Burns, Ellirah Gavin, Imogen Aquilina, Delilah Calleja, Kora Gebauer, Lucas Peoples, Simona Stojcevski, Vivianne Theodosiadis.
Shamrock Awards: Evie Agius, Lara D’Angola, Jackson Harb, Marko Milenkovic, Annika Cieplucha, Dean Dragarski.
St Patrick’s Awards: Leena Carolan, Kimora Markovski, Tiarna Di Ciaccio, Christian Naumovski.
Mackillop: Gloria De Andrade, Chardonnay Poeira, Isabelle Ruprecht, Andrew Pates-Slade, Satori White, Harrison Sharpe, Ari Austin.
English: Rohan Carolan, Saxon Parkes, Lucy Williamson, Jackson Harb, Oscar Ernst, Joseph Harb, Delilah Calleja.
Mathematics: Benji Clayton, Iziaha Ma’u, Rixon Vanderburg, Emelia Connor , Jake Jovanovski, Charlotte Blacker, Nikhil Carolan.
Positive Behaviour for Learning: Marlitta Mangos, Nichola Nebu, Lucia Sharpe, Chloe Dimitrijevic, Mikayla Dimovski, Alexis Krstevski, Sienna Fargnoli.
Uniform Reminders - Jewellery
Can I please draw your attention to the following points in our uniform policy, in particular the points about nail polish and bracelets. When returning to school next term we ask that all students are complying with these points. If you have any questions please feel free to ring the office for clarification.
- Small watches may be worn, providing they do not distract from the overall appearance of the uniform.
- Students may wear one pair of plain silver or gold sleepers or plain silver or gold studs.
- No make up is to be worn, including lip gloss. Lip balm may be worn for dry lips.
- No nail polish, acrylic nails, SNS or Shellac.
- No rings or bracelets are to be worn.
- Religious medals, on a thin chain, may be worn under the school shirt.
Canteen Food Requests
If any parents are able to donate Zooper Doopers and/or jelly packets to the canteen we would be most grateful! Please send these to the office with your child next term.
2024 School Captains and Leaders
We have begun discussions with our Year 5 students about student leadership positions for 2024. We are evaluating our current structure and assessing the need to modify it. As part of this process we have spoken to the current leaders and all of Year 5. We would also welcome parent feedback as part of this discussion. If you would like to share your thoughts with us please complete this short survey.
R U OK? Day
We had a great day for R U Ok? Day with lots of yummy yellow treats! Thank you to Mrs Plataniotis and her family for the preparation of the food in the canteen on the day.
Full photo album from the day can be found here:
Matilda's Farmyard
We had a wonderful day in K-2 at Matilda’s Farmyard. We were especially delighted to have so many of our Kinder 2024 students and their families join us. Thank you to Miss Figueria for organising this for us!
Full photo album from the day can be found here:
Kind regards
Ms Gabi Tobin - Principal
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
That’s not the way we talk here at our school.
You are being disrespectful in what you are doing.
That’s not the way we behave here at our school.
You are excluding him/her from your game.
That’s not the way we treat people here at our school.
You are being unsafe in the way you’re playing.
We keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves here at our school.
You are not respecting other people’s property/boundaries.
We ask for permission here at our school.
You are treating him/her differently.
We treat each other equally here at our school
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Walk quietly to the hall
2. Do ‘The Five’ during assembly
3. Respond in a courteous manner to all (clap)
4. Follow teacher directions
5. Walk quietly from the hall back to the classroom
2. Interrupt during assembly
3. Shout/whistle or stamp your feet
4. Ignore teacher directions
5. Talk on the way to or from the hall
It is with pride that I inform you that over the last two weeks 57 students were given
Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were 6 incidents of Inappropriate behaviour recorded.
Congratulations to the following children who have been chosen by their teachers to be prefects for their class in Term 4. We will be holding a prefect induction ceremony in the Parish Church on Friday of Week 1 next term, October 13 at 2:15pm. All family and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Please find a spiritual reflection on R U OK? Day 2023, as shared with staff of the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong: “I’m here, I’m listening.”
On Thursday of last week we acknowledged R U OK? Day and were reminded to check in with our friends and family who may be feeling the impact of life’s challenges.
The question R U OK? opens the doorway to a meaningful conversation and may allow someone to share authentically how they are travelling.
The focus for this year’s R U OK? Day is on genuine listening and letting people you care about know you’re here to really hear them. This sounds like a simple task and yet our many distractions and devices can make this very challenging.
This reminder to check in with each other is needed this year more than ever. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression prevalence has increased by 25% globally (11 April 2023).
As we read through the scriptures it is clearly evident that Jesus knew the value of checking in with all those he loved and of enquiring further. When Jesus approached the blind man he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Mark 10:51. Jesus didn’t presume anything. He asked and listened attentively. And from this listening Jesus was able to respond in a compassionate and healing way to the blind man.
At times, in our efforts to support others, we presume or anticipate what people may be feeling or needing and we are tentative about enquiring further. We do many actions to express our love, however, more often than not, people are hungering for face-to-face interactions and for a listening ear.
Dr Susan David, a psychologist and author suggests that there are three words that have the power to transform our relationships and conversations with others, and these words are, “Tell me more.” Susan David goes on to say that when we slow down and respond with intention, inviting someone to tell us more about a concern, we invoke curiosity, exploration, and compassion.
After asking the question R U OK?, there is an opportunity for us all to listen more deeply by opening the door.
All of these words provide a framework which allows a person to name more authentically and deeply the pain or struggle they are enduring.
Whilst we may all aspire to be supportive and attentive to others in their pain, it is not always an easy path. Our faith and prayer life can offer us important sustenance. In our times of prayer, we can hear that voice that says, “I’m here, I’m listening.” And in that experience of being heard and held in love, we are more able to sit with one another.
Reflection questions:
Who are the people in your life struggling with life’s challenges?
Is there someone you could check in with this week and express, “I’m here, I’m listening”?
R U OK? is calling on all of us to let the people you care about know you're here, to really hear them.
R U OK? conducted research to understand what a meaningful R U OK? conversation looks like for Australians in 2023.
People commonly mentioned three things:
Kind regards,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
Due to unforseen circumstances our Year 2 Class Assembly has had a change of date. It will now be held on Thursday 16 November at 2pm. We apologise for any inconvenience. We look forward to having you join us, as Year 2 share their wonderful presentation.
Our Excursion at Port Kembla Steelworks - 18/9/23
We had a fun time at the steelworks, experiencing the process, procedures, and manufacturing of steel. We had to wear safety equipment that included hard-hats, safety glasses, gloves, and a safety suit to ensure that we were safe. It was amazing to feel the extreme heat that came from the scorching steel when it was being cut into slabs. We enjoyed climbing up many steps to see the enormous and dangerous machines that were needed in the making of steel, at Port Kembla Steelworks. It was interesting to see all these large machines and mechanisms within the huge 760 hectares of the steelworks. We learnt a lot of interesting information and had a great
experience. The only thing that really devastated us was the fact that half of Wollongong would blow up if the hydrogen plant exploded at the steelworks!
By Nikhil Carolan - Year 6
On Monday’s excursion to the steel works, Year 5, Year 6 and even the teachers learnt many things like how steel is made and how it serves the world. An interesting fact I learnt, whilst there, was that steel is the most recycled resource in the world! A highlight of the day was watching the scorching fire roast the steel in the pit. I didn’t know that the Port Kembla Steel Works started in 1928, and has expanded its range until today. I was surprised when I was told that they spend $10 000 000 each month on electricity. Imagine if your electricity bills cost that much! Did you know, the hydrogen plant is the most dangerous area throughout the whole of the steel works? I surely didn’t! In fact, if the hydrogen plant were to explode, it would devour half of Wollongong! Lastly, Australia was one of the first ever countries to have hydrogen powered vehicles. Year 5, Year 6 and the teachers had lots of fun and made many memories we will look back on!
We learnt many things, and now know lots more about our industry!
By Jack Aguis - Year 6
Our Stage 2 students had a fantastic time on the "Working Port Tour!". Take a look at these snapshots from their adventure as they explored the Port of Port Kembla, learned about key infrastructures, and enjoyed breathtaking views from Hill 60.
Thank you to Inside Industry who run the tour that gave our students an insight into the Port of Port Kembla.
Dear P and F Committee,
Thank you to Mrs Harb and St Patrick’s P and F for funding our trip to the steelworks. It was very exciting! Over the course of 3 hours, we climbed stairs to see the blast furnace, visited the hot strip mill, and even went past the harbour. The most fascinating part was when a huge metal container dumped a gigantic load of scrap steel, along with red-hot liquid iron into a massive blast furnace. It glowed bright orange as sparks spilled out like fireworks! Watching it all from a distance was more than close enough to feel the heat radiating. It was breathtaking!
We also learnt some very interesting facts about the amazing process of making steel. Incredibly, a bar of steel that is 12 metres long and 0.23 m thick can be reheated and fed through a series of rollers to stretch it as far as 1000m long and 1-3 mm in thickness! They make 20 coils each, worth around $50 000 on average every hour. This trip taught us so much about how iron oxide, oxygen and carbon are all part of the steel making process. Thank you so much P and F.
Kind regards
Leena Carolan - Year 5
Dear P & F Committee,
I am writing to thank Mrs Harb and the St Patrick's P & F committee for your generous contribution to fund our excursion to the Steelworks Industry Tour on Monday 18th September 2023. The excursion was a wonderful learning opportunity for Year 5 and 6. It was great to see a local industry producing local materials that are used around the world for things such as cars. It was quite interesting to see how steel is made, to see how scrap metal and molten iron come together to make steel. The excursion enhanced our knowledge. The tour guide was very informative about the industry, and how it works. I also enjoyed interacting with fellow peers and teachers in a different setting. I believe that future classes to come will also benefit from an immersive excursion like the Steelworks Industry Tour.
Thank you again for the committee’s hard work in fundraising for our school community, and its involvement.
Kind regards
Sean Timbs - Year 5
Wishing all the children celebrating birthdays over the next few weeks all the very best wishes.
Aria Blottin - Year 1
Emelia Connor - Year 3
James Dos Santos - Year 2
Saxon Parkes - Year 1
Bella-Rose Burns - Year 5
Chavez Ntallaris - Year 4
Nikkita Nebu - Year 4
Joseph Habak - Year 5
Jacob Dimitrijevic - Year 5
Jett Kinnas - Year 4
