St Patrick's Catholic Parish Primary School Port Kembla eNewsletter

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have had a wonderful start to the beginning of Term 4. The students have returned settled and ready to learn. I hope that you found some time over the student vacation period to rest and relax as a family.

It was my pleasure to accompany Lesina-Rose and her parents to the Christmas Story Art competition Awards evening last week. Lesina's stunning artwork was one of about 40 artworks selected from around 150 submissions from our 29 diocesan schools which is a huge achievement. Her artwork is proudly displayed in the Wollongong Art gallery. Those 150 submissions were sent in from thousands of artworks of students across all Year 5 and 6 students in the diocese. What an achievement!

Last Monday afternoon, teachers engaged in a professional learning day focused on deep syllabus exploration in mathematics, embedding content on the working mathematically outcome and formative assessment which informs teaching and learning. This work is a continuation of the work we have been undertaking all year with the support of Mark Boss an Education Officer from CEDoW. We look forward to putting this work into practice in the classrooms.

Yesterday Miss Elchaar and Miss Dowsett accompanied me to 'Spotlight on Technology.' This event focussed on AI, what it is, how it is being used by students and teachers, the possibilities for using AI, risk and ethical use and many other topics. Adam Spencer was the keynote speaker and schools and teacher presented some ideas for how they are currently using AI. The event was hugely inspirational as we here at St Patrick's consider what technology looks like in our school for 2025 and beyond.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the teachers off St Patrick's for the care they show to our students each and everyday. Teaching is much more than planning and presenting lessons it is a vocation of service to the students and to the community. We are blessed to work with such beautiful families and look forward to sharing all the end of year celebrations with you in the coming weeks.

Kind regards
Mitchell Elks
Principal

POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L), SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)
Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 3 will be: Having a Conversation
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Look at the person.
2. Use a pleasant voice.
3. Listen to what the other person says.
4. When there is a break in the conversation, ask a question or share your thoughts.

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful,
Responsible and Safe behaviour when Having a Conversation to be
taught include:
1.Looking away from the person speaking.
2. Shouting
3. Ignoring what they are saying.
4. Interrupting

Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 4 will be: Sharing with other Others
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Let the person use the item first.
2. Ask if you can use it later.
3. Offer it back to the other person after you have used it.

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviour when Sharing with other Others to be taught include:
1. Using the item without asking
2. Snatching the item from the other person

PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that in the last two weeks 27 students were given Citizenship, Merit or Library Awards whilst there were 4 incidents of Inappropriate behaviour recorded. Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly, and safely girls and boys. Thank you

We would very much appreciate you 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.

Kind regards

Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assisitant Principal

World Mission Month/Crazy Sock Day
Throughout October we are raising money for World Mission Month. On Wednesday of next week, October 30 th we are having a Crazy Sock Day and will also be selling yummy ice cream creations. We are asking for gold coin donations from the children to wear crazy socks. The ice cream creations will be sold for $2.
The day will commence with a liturgy in the hall commencing at 8:55am. All community members are welcome and encouraged to join us at this liturgy.
All money raised will go towards to ‘The House of Mercy’ in Mongolia, where missionaries are seeking to provide life-fulfilling opportunities for children in need.
Have a look at the attached video for further information about where our fundraising efforts will go.

Many thanks for your support!

Pilgrims of Hope - Light for the Journey! Year 5 & 6 Formation Afternoon

Are you a parent or carer of a Year 5 or 6 student?

Do you like the idea of your children being fed afternoon tea and an early pizza dinner, and not having to pick them up from school until after 5pm?

Would you like your child to participate in a fun, engaging, and spiritually formative afternoon, where the students can learn how to use their gifts to better our world, be faith-filled young people, and learn about Catholic Social Teachings?

If you answered yes to these questions, then the following information is for you!
Year 5 and 6 students are invited to an engaging, hands-on spiritual formation event, Pilgrims of Hope - Light for the Journey” on Thursday November 21 st from 3 to 5:30pm on the school grounds.
It’s going to be a cracking afternoon! More information to follow in the coming days and weeks!

All Saints Day Mass
Please join us for Mass on Friday November 1 to celebrate All Saints Day.

Kind regards

Mr Sam Mattas Religious
Education Coordinator

Today we celebrate World Teachers' Day by honoring the incredible educators who inspire, guide, and empower us every day. This special occasion recognises their unwavering dedication and impact on shaping the future. Join us in expressing our thanks and appreciation for the teachers who ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and cultivate a love of learning in every student. Let’s celebrate their passion and commitment to education!

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT – NEW FAMILIES TO OUR SCHOOL
School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families elect to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If you wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the
school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request, either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2025 school fees. Your school fee statements are emailed to you and they will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.

EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly

EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2025 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2025 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.

Screenshot_2024_10_25_at_10.12.57_AM.png

We welcome you all back to the library for Term 4. We have many new books for the children to borrow especially in the non-fiction collection. We ask you to remind your child/ren to return their book each week on their allocated class borrowing day.

Screenshot_2024_10_25_at_12.21.16_PM.png

As we gear up to the end of the year and Christmas, there are many little surprises coming up in our library. Watch this space.

This week we welcomed our Christmas library friends Christmas Ted and Cookie to the library for storytime. Prickles and Spike have gone on a well earned vacation by the sea. We look forward to welcoming them back in 2025.