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Newsletter Week 4 - 2024
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We are nearly at the halfway point of the term and there are many things to celebrate here at St Patrick’s. The sun is shining and the weather is warming up. Term Four is one of great excitement as we move into the season of Advent in the lead up to Christmas.
There are many wonderful events that occur at the end of the year for all students but particularly for our Year 6 students who are ready for that next step in their educational journey towards high school.
A few important upcoming events:
*Please refer to Grade newsletter shared earlier this term for a more comprehensive lists of important dates specific to your child's grade.
Year 5 Leadership Team Day
In preparation for our Year 5 students becoming our new school leaders in 2025, we have engaged Cameron Brown from Explore Discover Act to work with our Year 5 students for a whole day of immersive leadership exploration and activities.
Leadership development days are experiential, engaging and fun, with participants completing games, activities and challenges, with reflection, to explore the purposeful skills, attitudes and behaviours of being a leader.
Students will have the opportunity to EXPLORE leadership (get curious about and challenge leadership paradigms), OWN leadership (develop a leader's lens and capacity to be a difference maker) and PRACTICE Being the Change (deepen connection, understand influence and know there's work to do).
When: Tuesday 12 November
Cost: The school will cover this cost
Grade Wellbeing Days
Students of all grades will also participate in half day wellbeing programs facilitated by Cameron on various topics. These days aim at targeting social/emotional learning and regulation.
Year 3 - 6
Tuesday 26 November - I'm Choosing Kind: Stage 2 Mindful Connection Program (half day experience)
Year 1 & 2
Tuesday 19 November - Pieces of the Puzzle: Stage 1 Social and Emotional Growth and Development Program (2 hour experiences)
Kindergarten
Tuesday 19 November - I'll Give It A Go: Early Stage 1 Social and Emotional Growth and Development Program (2 hour experiences)
There is no cost to families for these incursions.
About Cameron Brown:
Cameron is the founder and lead facilitator of Explore Discover Act. He is a qualified teacher and outdoor education facilitator with over 20 years experience in the field. Cameron has travelled extensively and worked in teaching and outdoor education roles in the United Kingdom, America and East Africa, in addition to schools and outdoor education settings within Australia. These diverse experiences complement and enrich the programs offered by Explore Discover Act.
Remembrance Day
The students and staff will commemorate Remembrance Day on Monday 11 November with an outdoor liturgy.
Carols on the Green:
Friday 13 December - more information will be sent via compass in relation to this event. However we are grateful for the P&F who will be organising hot food for the evening and some tasty treats.
Principal
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L), SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)
Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 5 will be: Before School Playtime
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Walk straight to the basketball court after putting your bag down
2. Stay on the basketball court until there are two teachers on duty
3. Move to the handball court when the teacher gives you permission
4.Play with hoops, handballs and skipping ropes, or
5.Walk and talk with friends or sit in the Passive Play Space
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and
Safe Before School Playtime to be taught include:
1.Staying outside your classroom
2.Playing running and chasing games
3.Using basketballs, soccer balls, footballs or cricket equipment
4.Playing on the handball court before being given permission
Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 6 will be: Working with Others (Being part of a
Team). In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Identify the task to be completed.
2. Assign tasks to each person.
3. Discuss ideas in a calm, quiet voice and let everyone share his or her ideas.
4. Take responsibility for your part of the task.
5. Work on tasks until completed or when instructed to stop.
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and
Safe behaviour when Working with Others (Being part of a Team) to be taught include:
1. Being bossy
2. Not allowing others to be heard
3. Disrespecting another person’s point of view
4. Not completing my part of the task
PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that in the last two weeks 42 students were
given Citizenship, Merit or Library Awards whilst there were 15 incidents of
Inappropriate behaviour recorded.
Please strive 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 iour endeavour to see that St Patrick’s is a more respectful, responsible, and safe learning community for all.
Kind regards
Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal
First Holy Communion
Please keep in your prayers the following students who are preparing for First Holy Communion at St Therese, West Wollongong, and The Immaculate Conception, Unanderra on either November 23 or 30.
Pilgrims of Hope - Light for the Journey! Year 5 & 6 Formation Afternoon
Year 5 and 6 students are invited to an engaging, hands-on, and fun spiritual formation afternoon, called ‘Pilgrims of Hope - Light for the Journey’. This event will take place on Thursday November 21 st from 3-5:30pm on the school grounds. The students will stay behind after school and picked up at 5:30pm.
Throughout the afternoon the students will participate in different workshops lead by several friends from the Catholic Education Office. The students will learn about Catholic Social Teaching and preparing food packs for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol food van, participate in a reflective art making activity, and have fun with a music session lead by Tim Hart.
Good news for parents! We will feed the students afternoon tea and pizza for an early dinner, and you won’t have to pick them up until 5:30pm.
In the meantime, we are asking for donations of poppers, 2-minute noodles, muesli bars and lollipops, which will all be used for packing the Night Patrol donations hampers.
More information will be shared in the coming days, but we would love to have all the childrenparticipate in this great afternoon experience!
Mission Month is a special time dedicated to raising awareness and support for global and local mission work. During this month, churches, organisations, and individuals come together to celebrate the power of service, outreach, and sharing the message of hope and love across the world. It's a time to reflect on the importance of mission efforts, whether they involve building communities, providing resources, or spreading faith, and fundraising.
On Wednesday the 31 October we celebrated Mission Month with a beautiful liturgy in the hall to bring awareness to the plight of the people of Mongolia.
Donations for wearing crazy socks and money raised for selling ice cream on this day was sent to Catholic Mission to help meet the needs of the people of Mongolia.
We thank you for your generosity and support.
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Library
World Diabetes Day, observed every year on November 14th, raises awareness about diabetes and its impact on global health. It aims to educate people about prevention, management, and the importance of early detection. The day also highlights the need for better access to care and support for those affected by the disease, with a focus on empowering individuals and communities to take action against diabetes.
To bring awareness to this cause we shall be having blue mufti day on Thursday 14 November. Please see flyer below.
Dear Parents,
Having recently returned to Australia from Hong Kong Shelley D's Academy of Ballet & Dance is pleased to announce the opening of her new studios in St Patricks Parish Port Kembla.
We offer classes in:
* Royal Academy of Dance Method Pre-Primary to Advanced.
* Twinkle Toes 2\3yrs (30mins)
* Pre-Primary 5yrs (30mins)
* Primary 6\7yrs (45mins)
* Grade 1 7yrs (45mins)
* grade 2 8yrs (60mins)
* Grade 3 9\10yrs (60mins)
* Contemporary 9yrs+ (60mins)
* K-pop, Street Funk, Jazz. 5yrs+ (45mins)
*Adult beginners’ ballet (60mins)
* End of year performance
* Eisteddfods, Exams and performance
Term Fees (8 Weeks)
* 30min $80.00
* 45mins $100.00
* 60mins $100.00
* Adult class $60.00 month
2 classes per week - 5% disc.
Siblings - 5% disc
Fees due and payable last class of each term.
No Refunds however, classes can be made up
For all enquiries, please call Miss Shelley 0484543630 or email shelleydshk@gmail.com
Thank you and look forward to meeting you and your child very soon.
Rachelle Dykstra A.R.A.D Principal
