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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
This week the P&F met with Mr Hoctor and myself to discuss all things St Patrick’s. Some of the items we discussed were future fundraising and community events and ways the P&F can support the student’s resources and facilities, working alongside the school. A big thank you to those parents in attendance for their continued support of the school ensuring we make this school the best place for our students to learn and grow. All parents and caregivers are most welcome at our termly gatherings.
Mary MacKillop Feast Day - Mass with the Bishop
Last week our school captains Joey and Leena joined Mr Mattas and myself in representing St Patrick’s at the diocesan Mass for Mary MacKillop’s feast day. This was held at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Wollongong. We joined many other diocesan schools, nuns, members of the Catholic Women’s league and members from other Catholic organisations. Our school captains represented the school with pride and were treated to some morning tea after the event.
Choosing Kind: A Social and Emotional Learning Experience
In the coming weeks, students will participate in an incursion called 'Choosing Kind,’ facilitated by Cameron Brown from Explore Discover Act.
This incursion provides an opportunity for all students across the school to engage in social and emotional learning focussed on noticing, building and celebrating connection through the vehicle of choosing kind. This will offer a shared language that can be built on across the school after the experiences. The sessions are experiential, with the students working collaboratively through activities and games that highlight the challenges and opportunities in front of them always, and how when we're mindful we can more consistently act in ways that make a positive difference in our own and others' lives.
CatholicCare - Parent Workshops
CatholicCare has offered to run parents workshops later this term to support and bring awareness to Child Protection Week (First week of September).
I spoke at the recent P&F meeting in relation to these meetings and was met with a positive response.
The two workshops are titled ‘Managing Big Emotions’ and ‘Social Media and My Child.’ These workshops will be facilitated by our new school counsellor Emerald Hayashi. We will run these workshops in the evening for parents and caregivers to attend in person and we are attempting to either stream the workshop or record it and share at a later date.
The school will communicate the exact dates and times of these workshops once we receive confirmation from CatholicCare.
Warmest regards
Mitchell Elks
Principal
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
2. Use a serious sincere voice
3. Say “I am sorry for” or “I am sorry that ……………….”
“I can see what I have done has …………………….”
“I would like to try to make this better by ……………………”
4. Say Thank you for you apology
5. Say “Thanks for listening.”
2. You are unable to deal with the situation on your own and need help.
3. You can ask for help for yourself or someone else.
4. Asking for help for yourself or others is always okay.
Please:
1. Look at the person.
2. Ask the person to help you by saying,
“Can you please help me”.
Then clearly explain the kind of help that you need.
3. In an emergency ask an adult for help.
Say, “Can you please help me. It’s an emergency”.
Then clearly explain the kind of help that you need.
4. Thank the person for helping.
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.
PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that in the last two weeks 58 students were given
Citizenship, Merit or Library Awards whilst there were only 2 incidents of Inappropriate behaviour recorded.
SCHOOL ZONE PARKING AND SPEED LIMITS
In order to keep the school community safe, it is most important that parents and caregivers adhere to the regulations set out by the NSW Government. To assist you in this matter please click on the link below for more information. There is also signage on the school fence for a quick reminder. Thank you.
Kind regards
Mr Gavan Hoctor
Principal
We celebrated the Feast of the Assumption on Thursday August 15.
Questions often arise among non-Catholic acquaintances about why Catholics venerate Mary. Observers might perceive Catholics as elevating Mary to an almost divine status, placing her on par with Christ himself. Thomas Merton articulates this viewpoint, noting how some regard Mary's Assumption into heaven as a form of apotheosis akin to her Son's redemption.
Contrary to these perceptions, the teachings of the Church emphasise Mary's humility as her true greatness and majesty. Known as the "Handmaid of the Lord," Mary obediently fulfilled God's will in loving submission. Her profound acceptance allowed her to be an instrument of God's grace.
Her blessedness stems not from any mythical divine appointment but from her unwavering faith and simple & Yes to God's will, as illustrated in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).
As followers of Jesus, believers are intricately linked to Mary's narrative. Even after two millennia, they continue to reflect on how they respond to God's call, echoing Mary's humble obedience and faith.
Prayer
During this feast of the Assumption, may we draw closer to Jesus and to his glory by allowingourselves too to be humble instruments in our daily work, in our conversations, in our victories and in our struggles. All for the greatness of his Kingdom which we have a part in bringing to our world.
Amen
Feast of the St Mary of the Cross MacKillop – Spiritual Reflection
On August 8, we celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop, and we paused again to consider her great legacy.
Mary is part of a trio who are very important to the Australian Catholic story: Mary MacKillop, St Joseph and Julian Tennison Woods. These three people experienced the disturbing presence of God. All three heard God’s call - a disturbing voice in the night, an invitation to act with courage, a relentless voice for the poor, a choice to make a difference.
How did they hear it and how did they create the space in their life to be aware of God’s disturbing presence? What was it that enabled them to stop, to notice, to ponder? And once experienced, how did they become a godly presence that disturbed others?
Working in Catholic education we are called to be people of hope and to realise the gift of our mission. But how do we do that? How do we take the time to stop, to notice, to ponder and to respond to the disturbing presence of God in our lives? How do we hear the invitation to make a difference, the same invitation that inspired St Joseph, Julian Tennison Woods and Mary MacKillop?
Our Catholic Social Teachings can provide a clue to this - they urge us to always see God in others, to value the importance of connection, to cut the chains of privilege and to stand up for the dignity of others. As Mary MacKillop said herself - “Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.” It is helpful to realise that sometimes ‘God the disruptor’ doesn’t tap us gently on the shoulder or whisper in our ear... sometimes the disruption is like having the rug pulled right out from under
us! However, such disruptions can lead us to joys we never anticipated and to fight important battles and achieve victories which we might have otherwise sidestepped.
So on this Feast of St Mary MacKillop, and in the days that follow, let us listen and respond to the disruptions with courage as Mary did. Let us realise that being a godly presence for others is notabout following certain rules, engaging in certain rituals, or believing certain creeds…it’s about accepting God’s invitation to make a difference and to encourage those around us to do the same.
The official theme for St Mary MacKillop’s feast day this year is “Be Fierce for Fair” - encouraging us to walk in Mary’s disruptive footsteps by being:
* Fierce in the face of adversity
*Fair and proactive when we see injustice
* Loving to those we encounter each day
Prayer
God of the prophets you gifted Mary MacKillop with vision and courage.
In her, we see one who was not afraid to speak fearlessly your gospel of love.
We pray for the sensitivity and imagination to read the signs of our times
and to articulate new possibilities for our own day.
Like Mary, may we learn to confront all that is oppressive and unjust,
and empower others towards true freedom and integrity.
Spirit of wisdom, be with us as we face new horizons.
Amen
A number of friends in Year 3 have begun preparations for the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, at both The Immaculate Conception Parish in Unanderra and St Therese in West Wollongong. We wish these children all the best and we will certainly keep them in our prayers in the coming weeks.
Religious Education Co ordinator
Mrs Tracy Carey
On Tuesday the 6th of August, Year 6 attended a Mass with Bishop Brian at St John’s Catholic Primary School Dapto. There were nine other Catholic Schools that went to this special Mass. The hymns and liturgical movement made this Mass even more enjoyable. The Bishop’s Homily made everyone connect, admire and think about their relationship with God.
Once the Mass was over, the Year 6 students got to make new friends, and have some fun outside. All staff members present at this Mass appreciated Year 6’s reverence and respect. We got many compliments from staff from other schools.
