Dear Parent and Caregivers,

It has been wonderful to enjoy the sunshine here at St Patrick's after a prolonged wet period. The students have certainly enjoyed playing outside on the grass! A big well done to Year 4 and Year 5 for their marevellour assembly items. It has been a joy to learn all about what they have been learning about across Term One and Term Two. It was also wonderful to have a great number of parents and grandparents join us to celebrate learning.

You will have seen a previous letter I sent via COMPASS a couple of weeks ago encouraging as many parents as possible to complete the 'Tell Them From Me' survey. I am pleased to inform you the closing date for this survey has been extended by one week until Friday 31 May 2024. 

I understand the busyness of family life, however I am asking if at all possible you have some time to complete the survey, I would be most appreciative. This information you provide really does help us as a school ensure that we continue what is working well and look further into areas of concern for our community.

Last year, from the TTFM survey we identified that parents wanted to be included more closely in the learning agenda of their children. As a result of that data, a leadership position was created and appointed to Miss Casey Figueira to help engage parents in student learning. Additionally some steps we took this year included:

• Grade Newsletters each term which outlines learning focuses
• Grade Assembly items each semester which showcases student learning
• Surveyed parents about what they would like to know more about and in what ways (e.g helping my child to read, mathematics etc)

I also hear from many parents about how happy they are with their children at St Patrick's, and with good reason St Patrick's is a wonderful school community. If you fall into this basket, your feedback is still valuable and helps us to reinforce the good things that are happening here.

You can access the link for the survey here.

Kind regards

Mr Mitchell Elks
Principal

At St Patrick’s School we are prioritising Building a Culture of Respect. Respect is the building block, the foundation stone of every aspect of our school experience hence the continuation of this ideal in our PB4L Focus for each Week.

Our PB4L focus for next week (Week 5) is Respect for Learning and Teaching
In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:
i.    Following directions
ii.   Sitting still during learning and teaching
iii.  Looking and listening during learning and teaching
iv.  Speaking courteously to all
v.   Raising hands to ask or answer a question.
vi.  Staying on task

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe Respect for Learning and Teaching to be taught include:
i.      Calling Out
ii.    Talking over the top of someone else
iii.    Distracting self or others 
iv.    Fidgeting
v.     Speaking rudely to others

Our PB4L focus for Week 6 will be Respecting Play Equipment 
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
i. use equipment for its right purpose
ii. return all equipment to the correct place
iii. tie skipping ropes when returning them
iv. report unsafe use of equipment to the teacher on duty

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviour when Respecting Play Equipment to be taught include:
i.   throwing/kicking balls at people
ii.  hitting people with equipment
iii. hiding equipment
iv. leaving equipment out on the playground
v.  not tying skipping ropes
vi. not speaking up when equipment is being misused

We would very much appreciate you discussing this weekly focus 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.

PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that since Term Two has begun 46 students
were given Citizenship, Merit or Library Awards whilst there were 13 incidents of Inappropriate behaviour recorded.
Please strive to act respectfully, responsibly, and safely girls and boys.

Parking In School Zones

Parents and Caregivers are asked take extra care when driving and parking in school zones. Make sure that you and your child understand the road rules. If you break the traffic rules in a school zone you are putting not only your child but other children at risk. The parking and traffic rules around our schools are there to protect your children. Parking sheriffs and Police are often patrolling around schools so to avoid fines and demerits please take extra care. Thank you.

School Parking Zones operate from:  8.00am - 9.30am   and  2.30pm - 4.00pm

Kind regards

Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal

National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2024

This year National Sorry Day falls on Sunday 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June.

We will celebrate National Reconciliation Week with a liturgy in the school hall in Week 5 on Wednesday, May 29th at 9am. All family and community members are welcome to attend this special liturgy led by our Year 6 leaders.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2024 is, Now More Than Ever.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

In Week 6, we will be celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart, a particularly special day for our Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart who continue to be such a special part of our community. We are celebrating Mass on Friday 7th June with the Sisters. All families and parishioners are invited and encouraged to join us at 9am. Please mark it in your calendar!

Spiritual Reflection

Please find attached a spiritual reflection that was shared with staff within the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong:

Seeds of Hope

This week from 19 May to 26 May, the global church celebrates Laudato Si' Week 2024, spanning Pentecost Sunday to the Feast of the Holy Trinity.

Since the release of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical back in 2015, Catholics worldwide purposely hold an annual celebration of prayer and action that reminds us we all have a role to play in caring for our planet. It is quite fitting that this call to action for the planet is bookended by the remembering of the birthday of the church at Pentecost and the relational connectedness of the Trinity. 

Significantly, and not unintentionally, Pope Francis promoted Laudato Si’ on 24 May 2015 — the Feast of Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost calls the Church to renewal and the Holy Spirit calls us all to ecological conversion. We are called to heal our world and to elevate our vision to truly see all of creation with the eyes of love and compassion. From a Trinitarian perspective, we need to understand that we are called to live and be in relationship with all aspects of God’s creation.

This year’s theme for Laudato Si’ Week is "Seeds of Hope", inspired by last year’s apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, from Pope Francis released at the end of last year’s Season of Creation. In this document Pope Francis urges that: "There are no lasting changes without cultural changes [...] and there are no cultural changes without personal changes" (LD 70). Pope Francis is once again highlighting the environmental issues and challenges that we continue to face - one of senseless war on nature and our failure to address the human roots of the social and ecological crisis. It is another wake up call that we need to be attentive to.

Here at St Patrick’s, one of our 4 school values is Environmental Stewardship. Therefore, we believe in our shared responsibility for environmental quality. During Laudato Si’ Week may we be ever more aware and awake. May we plant and be seeds of hope for our world and continue to respond in positive ways to the challenge of Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. May this be our prayer…

Kind regards
Miss Casey Figueira
Acting Religious Education Co ordinator

Families are encouraged to make travel plans during the school holidays, however, if you do plan to take your child out of school during the school term for the purpose of travel, you will need to fill out an application form. Travel is considered to be domestic or international travel for the purpose of a family holiday, family business, bereavement or other reasons. The application needs to be completed at least four weeks prior to your departure and travel documentation, such as travel itinerary or e-ticket must be attached. If approved, you will then receive a certificate that you need to carry with you while travelling. Please contact the office to obtain a copy of the application if you have any upcoming travel plans or require any further clarification.

Kind regards
Miss Debbie Casey
Senior School Support Officer