Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Looking Ahead

I want to thank the teachers of St Patrick's for the dedication and committement to the boys and girls you entrust to them each day. St Patrick's is a wonderful school community and this is in large part because of the way the staff care for each and every student. I want to wish them a well deserved break.

Bon Voyage Miss Figueria

Miss Figueria is departing for a pilgrimage around Ireland and Italy over the holiday period and the first week of Term 4. We wish her all the best on her travels and look forward to her safe return. Miss Figueria will share some snippets of this important Catholic tradition upon her return.

Term 4 Calendar Dates

We have much to look forward to next term, with swimming lessons, primary swimming carnival, Year 6 Farewell Dinner & Fun Day and Carols on the Green to name a few. More information will be shared at the beginning of Term 4.

Book Fair Success

Last week our school library was filled with excitement and colour as we celebrated our annual Book Fair. Students and families enjoyed browsing the wide range of books on offer, with something to capture every interest and imagination.

I would like to sincerely thank our families for their enthusiastic support. Your generosity not only encourages a love of reading in our children but also benefits our school directly. A portion of the proceeds from the Book Fair is returned to us, allowing the purchase of new books and resources for our library and classrooms.

We are truly grateful for this partnership between home and school that helps foster a culture of reading and learning. Thanks also to Mrs Carey and Mrs Plataniotis for their behind the scenes work in organising, setting up and selling, without their dedication the Book Fair wouldn't be possible.

Happy Holidays!

As we come to the close of another busy and rewarding term, it is hard to believe that spring break nearly upon us. The days are getting longer, the air is warmer, and the sunshine has been welcome and allowed the children to play outside on the grass.

As I reflect on the term that has been, I am deeply grateful for the effort and enthusiasm of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the ongoing support of our families. Together, we continue to nurture a community where faith, learning and wellbeing are prioritised and celebrated.

I wish all our families a safe, restful and joy-filled spring break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for the exciting learning opportunities that Term Four will bring.

Prayer for Holidays

Kindest regards,

Mr Mitchell Elks
Principal

Kind regards

Mr Gavan Hoctor
Assistant Principal

Term 4 Prefects
Congratulations to the following children who have been chosen by their teachers to be prefects for their class in Term 4. We will be holding a prefect induction ceremony in the Parish Church on Tuesday of Week 1 next term, October 14 at 2:20pm. All family and community members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Spiritual Reflection – ‘Peace Be With You’

These are the words that the risen Jesus used in greeting and we repeat each time we gather as the Eucharistic community—the body of Christ. A desire for how we wish to be with each other and in the world.

In a world that often feels fractured, loud, and relentlessly chaotic, the concept of peace can seem like a distant and fragile dream. We are bombarded daily with headlines of conflict, images of division, and the constant hum of global unrest. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, to believe that peace is a monumental task, a political ideal achievable only by nations and leaders. Yet, from a spiritual perspective, true and lasting peace begins in the quietest, most sacred place: within the human heart.

Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of an inner stillness that can hold the world's turmoil without being consumed by it. This is the peace that transcends understanding, the one that we cultivate through intentional practice. It is found not by silencing the world's noise, but by finding a deeper, more resonant desire within ourselves—a desire of calm, compassion, and unwavering hope. This is being and living in relationship with God, the source from which all other forms of peace flow.

When we are centered in God, our actions, words, and even our mere presence become instruments of love and peace. We are able to see the shared humanity in those we might otherwise consider "other." We can listen without judgment, respond with empathy, and seek common ground instead of drawing lines. The path to a peaceful world is not paved with grand gestures alone, but with the millions of small, daily acts of kindness, forgiveness, and understanding that spring from a peaceful soul.

To a world in turmoil, the spiritual perspective offers a radical truth: the most powerful revolution begins not in the streets, but in the sanctuary of the heart. By cultivating our own inner peace, we contribute to a collective field of peace that can transform the world, one breath, one thought, one act of love at a time.

Take some time in stillness and silence to be in relationship with God and to cultivate your own inner peace.
Where and how are you called to be instruments of peace in your life?
Reflect on the words of St Francis of Assisi. What does each one look like for you?

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not  so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Kind regards

Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator

The Premier's Reading Challenge has come to an end with 149 students participating. Well done to all these students and thank you for assisting your child where needed.

The certificates will be presented in Term 4 as they usually arrive in November.

Thank you once again for supporting our Book Week, Book Fair and Premier's Reading Challenge. It is very much appreciated.

Kind regards
Mrs Tracy Carey
Library

The Give Me Space! A FREE School Holiday Workshop for Families Living with Asthma is coming up in the October school holidays.

Thursday 9 October 2025, 10am - 2pm

Port Kembla Community Centre, Wentworth St, Port Kembla

Register here:

Participants will receive:

• A delicious lunch and snacks (let us know your dietary requirements)
• A $50 shopping voucher for each adult for your contribution to the focus group session
• A FREE spacer device for each child with asthma
• Transport within the Wollongong area if required (let us know when registering)

Give Me Space! is a free workshop for children living with asthma and their families. Join us for a day of fun and learning with Community Asthma Educators from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Milk Crate Circus! While the kids enjoy learning circus skills, adults will join Community Asthma Educators to discuss strategies for managing your child's asthma and participate in a consultation session facilitated by Healthy Cities Australia (HCA).HCA is working with Asthma Australia to improve outcomes for children with asthma in the Illawarra. We want to hear from families about your experience with asthma and the care you have received. Your experiences will help inform future programs for children with asthma in the Illawarra.

Please note:

• Only families currently supporting a child with asthma are eligible to attend (whole family welcome)
• Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults must participate in the education and consultation sessions to be eligible for the shopping voucher.