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Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Happy St Patrick’s Week!
It has been a delightful week celebrating the feast of St Patrick. The students have enjoyed a games and activities afternoon, an ice-cream creation afternoon in which we raised money for Project Compassion. We celebrated Mass, participated in a delicious morning tea and welcomed families into our classrooms for open classrooms, but the fun didn’t stop there!
We also celebrated with a dress up day, photos with Paddy, a St Patrick’s themed canteen day (thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers and for all those who donated delicious treats) and some Irish dancing led by the very talented Mrs Cudina. We finished the week with an assembly celebrating the amazing diversity of cultures that make up the St Patrick’s school community with a Harmony Day Liturgy.
What a week! I would like to thank all the teachers and parents who have contributed to making this week a fantastic celebration for our students.
Open Morning @ St Patrick’s
Next Thursday morning between 9:30 and 10:30 St Patrick’s will host an ‘Open Morning’ in which prospective students and their families will have the opportunity to see all that St Patrick’s have to offer. There will be brief school tours, activities for students to engage in and a simple morning tea for parents. It will be a wonderful way to show off our beautiful school with members of the community.
Evacuation Practise
On Monday next week we will practise our school evacuation procedures in the unlikely event that we should need to use them.
As a result, the school telephone and front counter will be unattended from approximately 12:00pm to 12:15am. We will ensure we reinforce with students that this is only a practise to avoid any students becoming upset or overwhelmed. You may choose to talk to your child about this over the weekend if you feel that would be beneficial.
Teacher Professional Learning
Last Wednesday evening, St Patrick’s teaching staff along with staff from St Brigid’s, Holy Cross and St Michael’s engaged in professional learning in regards to ‘Modern Assessment Theory’ in which Professor Jim Tognolini from Sydney University presented to staff in Thirroul. Teachers were also given to collaborate cross schools, as we work towards a joint staff development at the end of the term. The focus of the staff development day will focus on assessment and moderation and we look forward to sharing in the learning with colleagues from other single stream schools.
Kind regards
Mr Mitchell Elks
Principal
Our PB4L/SEL focus for Week 7 will be: Calling Out and Calling In Disrespect
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
You are being disrespectful with the words you are using.
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.
Our PB4L focus for Week 11 of this Term is THINK before you speak.
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
Before I speak, I need to ask myself if what I am going to say is true, kind,
necessary, helpful, or inspiring. If the answer is no, then what I am about to say
should be left unsaid.
THINK…
Is it True
Is it Helpful
Is it Inspiring
Is it Necessary
Is it Kind
We would very much appreciate you discussing this weekly focus with your children andreviewing the expected and non-acceptable behaviours in our endeavour to see that StPatrick’s is a more respectful, responsible, and safe learning community for all.
PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that since school has begun 55 students were given
Citizenship, Merit or Library Awards whilst there were 9 incidents of Inappropriate
behaviour recorded.
Thank you for acting respectfully, responsibly, and safely girls and boys.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
Tuesday 25 March is School Photo Day. Children are required to wear their full school uniform. We are aware that Tuesday is sports uniform for some classes but this will not be the case on this day. Long hair is to be tied back using green or white hair ties only.
Please adhere to the School Uniform Policy below.
School Photo Envelopes need to be brought in to school on Tuesday so the children can hand them to the photographer.
Kind regards
Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal
Who was St. Patrick?
St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was a Christian missionary who helped spread the message of Jesus in Ireland a very long time ago! Even though he was not born in Ireland, he became one of the most important saints in Irish history.
Where was St. Patrick from?
St. Patrick was born in Britain. When he was about 16 years old, he was captured by pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave. He had to work as a shepherd, looking after sheep.
How did St. Patrick find God?
While he was alone in the fields, Patrick prayed to God every day. After many years, he had a dream where God told him to escape and go back home. He listened to God’s call and found a way back to Britain.
Why did St. Patrick return to Ireland?
After becoming a priest and later a bishop, Patrick had another dream where God told him to go back to Ireland to teach the people about Jesus. He bravely returned to the land where he had once been a slave, bringing the message of God’s love. St. Patrick traveled across Ireland, preaching about Jesus and converting people to Christianity. He also built churches and schools to help people learn more about God.
The Story of the Shamrock
St. Patrick used a small, three-leafed plant called a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. That’s why the shamrock is a special symbol in Ireland today!
When do we celebrate St. Patrick?
We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, the day he is believed to have died. People wear green, attend church, and take part in parades to remember his great work.
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is a time for all Australians to remember and respect our diverse cultural backgrounds and to share what we have in common. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. This is important to our school because we value inclusivity.
We encourage parents to take part in the celebrations by discussing the importance of cultural inclusivity at home. Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Share your heritage: Talk to your child about your family's cultural background and traditions.
- Read diverse books: Explore stories from different cultures together.
- Try new foods: Cook or taste dishes from various cultural backgrounds as a fun family activity.
- Celebrate differences: Encourage open conversations about the value of diversity and respect.
By celebrating Harmony Day, we can help our children develop an appreciation for different perspectives and foster a sense of unity within our school and beyond. Thank you for your continued support in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
May we go out today with open hearts,ready to welcome, include, and celebrate each other. Let us be builders of harmony, one smile, one word, one action at a time.
Sacraments
We are overjoyed to celebrate a special milestone in the faith journey of Nicholas Mineeff, who recently received their First Holy Communion. This sacred sacrament marks an important step in the relationship with Jesus Christ and the commitment to living a life of faith, love, and devotion.
Let us all join together in prayer for Nicholas, that he may be blessed with wisdom, peace, and a lifelong love for the Eucharist.
God bless you, Nicholas.
Kind regards
Miss Casey Figueira and Mrs Olivia Cudina
Acting Religious Edcation Coordinators
Kind regards
Mrs Tracy Carey
Library
