The great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer. - F B Meyer 

Dear Parents

Welcome back to Term 3.  We have had a great start to our term. Please keep in your prayers family and friends of St Patrick’s who at this time are in need of our prayers.

Thank you to Mr Mauriello, (Zachary, Yr 5 and Zarra, Kinder) who was able to cut a branch that had broken on the Kembla St footpath and left the area safe for pedestrians and vehicles. The Council came the next day to clear the branch.

PE – Thursday 1 August

PE this week will be on Thursday, 1 August as Mrs Pulbrook will be involved in the Soccer Gala Day (2 August). The children can wear their sports uniform on that day but it is not a problem if they are in the incorrect one.

Class Assemblies

This term each class will be presenting at a Thursday afternoon assembly. Please check the calendar for when your children’s performance will be on.

Assembly will start at 2pm in the hall till the end of the day.

Week 4 - 15 August - Kindergarten
Week 5 - 22 August - Yr 3
Week 6 - 29 August - Yr 5
Week 7 - 5 September - Yr 2
Week 8 - 12 September - Yr 1 
Week 9 - 19 September - Yr 4
Week 10 - 26 September - Yr 6

Fresh Start Canteen

The canteen will resume operations on Thursday 1 August and Friday 2 August. I will notify you of any changes to the days. A new lady will start by the name of Cindy.

Compass

During this term there will be a switch over from skoolbag to Compass. You should all have your login details from the Report downloading from Compass. Below is a helpful sheet to help you make the transition.

What is Compass?       

Compass is a Student Information System that allows you as parents access to your child(ren)’s records. 

The Parent Portal allows parents/carers to:

• Monitor your child(ren)’s attendance, and enter explanations for late arrivals or absences
• Update your family details - mobile and email address
• Download and view your child(ren)’s semester reports
• View ‘My News’- a news feed of school announcements, alerts and updates
• View your school calendar
• Book parent/teacher meetings
• Provide consent for events and excursions.

How can I get access?

• Every parent will have a separate account to log into the Compass Parent Portal.

What can I get access to?

• The student's profile page 
• Attendance pages where notes/approvals can be entered
• Full record history of the student’s attendance
• Academic reports for the student
• School Calendar
• Parent/Student/Teacher Conference bookings

What is ‘My News’?

The ‘My News’ section displays any applicable reminders or notifications which may include:

• Outstanding absences or late arrivals that require a note or approval
• Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences that are available for booking
• Semester Reports that are available to download
• Excursions or Events that require consent and/or payment
• News Feed items that have been targeted to you as a parent will display.

Scone Making

Mr Mattas was baking delicious scones last Friday for the winning points score class for the term.

Mission Star

Congratulations to our Mission Star for the month – Mrs Pulbrook.

The staff and students thank Anna for everything she does with regards to sport – organising and planning Gala days, Carnivals, as well as PE every Friday.

Thank you for your commitment to St Patrick’s, Anna.

Good health and best wishes for a great fortnight

Mrs Anne Duggan
Principal

Our SPB4L focus for this week (Week 2) is Respecting Playtimes

In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Use equipment for its right purpose
2. Return all equipment to the correct container
3. Return other people’s equipment directly to them
4. Tie skipping ropes when returning them
5. Report unsafe use of equipment to the teacher on duty
6. Playing safely on the concrete

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respecting Playtimes to be taught include:

1. Throwing/kicking balls away from the people playing with them
2. Hitting people with equipment
3. Leaving equipment out on the playground
4. Not tying skipping ropes
5. Not speaking up when equipment is being misused
6. Playing chasing games on the concrete     

Our SPB4L focus for next week (Week 3) is the canteen.

In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:

1. Line up one in two lines - Years K-2 in one line and Years 3-6 in the other
2. Wait until you are called to be served
3. Use good manners eg: please, thank you, may I
4. Standing quietly
5. Waiting patiently

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact respectful, responsible and safe behaviours in our the canteen to be taught include:

1. Moving out of line
2. Shouting
3. Bad manners
4. Pushing-in 

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.

SPB4L Data

It is with great pride that I inform you last term 257 Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards were given whilst there were only 26 incidences of inappropriate behaviour recorded. This is a most significant achievement. Congratulations and thank you boys and girls

WE’RE GOING GREENER - NUDE FOOD EVERYDAY

CONGRATULATIONS YEAR 5 - WINNERS OF THE MOST SUSTAINABLE CLASS FOR TERM 2

With an extraordinary average of 86% of the class bringing nude food to school each week last Term, Year 5 enjoyed scones baked in the wood fire oven in the garden last Friday with thanks to Mr Mattas.

The average for each class during Weeks 3 -10 last Term was:

Kinder - 79%
Year 1 – 74%
Year 2 – 78%
Year 3 – 71%
Year 4 -  71%
Year 5 – 86%
Year 6 – 63%

Pretty amazing don’t you think?

I wonder if we can improve on these averages this Term? 

Data will be collected one day each week again this Term with the class that has most students bringing ‘Nude Food’ to school during Term 3 enjoying scones baked in the wood fire oven in the garden in Week 10 with thanks to Mr Mattas.

Term 2 Week 9 Data

Of the 169 students included in the count, 131 brought Nude Food to school. This equates to 78% of the student population.

The most sustainable class was Year 4 with 88% of the students bringing Nude Food. Hip-hip hooray Year 4.

Term 2 Week 10 Data

Of the 166 students at school 122 brought Nude Food to school. This equates to 73% of the student population.

The most sustainable class was Years 5 with 92% of the students bringing Nude Food. Hip-hip hooray Year 5.

2020 SCHOOL FETE

Are you wiling and able to assist with the organisation of a school fete anticipated for March next year?

If so I hope you will attend a planning meeting to be held in the library next Wednesday, 7 August at 6:30pm.

In order for the fete to proceed we need lots and lots of helpers to continue the work already begun. Please give this some thought as a fete would be a brilliant fun and fundraiser for our school community.

All ideas are welcome.

Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the following students receiving awards:

Principals Awards:

Abbie Lokys - Yr 4

Uniform Awards:

Shaelyn Petkovski - Yr 6
Tate Louden - Yr 5
Maya Rizovska - Yr 4
Siale Pohahau - Yr 3

Library Awards:

Ella Murzevski - Yr 4
Abbie Lokys - Yr 4
Annika Janevski - Yr 5
Lily Ritchie  - Yr 5

Congratulations and a very Happy Birthday to the following students celebrating over the next two weeks:

Rory Meizer - 30/07 - Kinder
Citrine Nguyen - 11/08 - Kinder
Ellirah Gavin - 02/08 - Yr 1
Makayla Gladden - 09/08 - Yr 1
Mila Manevski - 02/08 - Yr 2
Abbie Lokys - 02/08 - Yr 4
Joshua Purdevski - 12/08 - Yr 4

Term 3 Prefects

Congratulations to the class prefects for Term 3:

Kinder: Milani Kuzmanovska and Leonardo Medina

Year 1: Jerome Fonoti and Clara Dray

Year 2: Christian Naumovski and Vivianne Theodosiadis  

Year 3: Lucy Yates and Isaac Spinelli

Year 4: Irene Michaloudakis and Jamie Harrison

Year 5: Samuel Curcio and Annika Janevski

Good luck to these children and may they be positive role-models for all students at St Patrick’s.

Please join us on Thursday 8 August at 9am for the Prefect Induction Liturgy in the hall.

June Mission Star

Congratulations to Mrs Pulbrook who was the Mission Star for the month of June. I’m sure you would agree that she is certainly a well-deserving recipient of the award, as she is truly dedicated to supporting the children in everything related to sport and well-being.

Thanks Mrs Pulbrook!

Mr Sam Mattas
Acting Religious Coordinator

Kindergarten

On Thursday 25 July, Kinder and Year 1 visited the Wollongong Botanical Gardens to learn about mini beasts, composting and worm farms.

Worms have to drink and worms have to eat food. By Cleo.

The little creatures live under the logs in the rainforest. By Aurora.

We dug in the worm farm and found some worms. By Rory.

Year 1

Recounts written by students in Year 1

Our Excursion

On Thursday 25 July, we went to the Botanical Gardens. Year 1 and Kindergarten went there.

First Professor Jones took us to the rainforest and we were put into groups. Professor Jones picked a branch up and there were insects underneath. Ellirah and I got lots of worms. We used a brush and plastic cups to pick them up. Then Professor Jones let the insects go and we walked back. On the way back we looked at the little Insect Hotel. We took a class picture and then walked back to eat our lunch.

After lunch we picked up worms. Alicia and some other children got to dress up as animals found in compost. Then we met up with Kindergarten and watched a show and ate Recess. Then we drew on the dinosaur and went to the park. I played with Gabriella. We had so much fun at the park.

By Fiona Meta

Our Excursion

On Thursday 25 July we went to the Botanic Gardens with Kindergarten. The people that taught us were Captain Compost and Professor Millipede Bumble Bee Jones.

Professor Jones took us on a safari. Then he took us to the rainforest and gave us a brush and a cup. We had to lift up a log to find insects. We scooped them up and put the insects into a yellow tray.

Then we went back to our bags and ate lunch. Captain Compost took us and we had a wooden spoon and a plastic cup. We had to scoop up worms and see if they were healthy or unhealthy by their colour. Then our teachers let us play at the park and it was really fun.

By Milla Lokys

Year 1 and 2 reflected on their learning about Children’s Day (ko-do-mo no hi) and played with some traditional Japanese toys. Below are some reflections written by students.

I know that on Children’s Day they put koinobori (carp streamer kites) up because their parents want children to grow up like koi. Koi are very, very strong. By Hannah, Year 1

We celebrate Children’s Day on 5 May because we want our children to grow up strong and brave like koi (carp). In Japan, only the boys used to celebrate but now girls do too. The koi flags show the family members. They are very expensive. By Leena, Year 1

I remember that on Children’s Day nobody had to go to school. Children made koi so they can be strong and successful. Children’s day is on the 5 of May  and that’s my birthday. By Ari, Year 2

I learned that they make samurai hats. They will have koi . The black koi represents the dad, the red one the mum and the other ones are for the children. They have children’s Day because parents want them to be strong and good. By Christian, Year 2

Mrs Skye Aoki
Kindergarten Teacher

IMPORTANT NOTICE: