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MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL / PB4L UPDATE
PB4L Update - Week 10 Term 2 2020
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)
Our PB4L focus for the first week of Term 3 will be Lining Up Under the Covered Area
In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:
- Prompt response to music
- Please walk but please don’t talk on the way to the covered area
- Line-up in height order when standing
- Eyes looking, ears listening, lips zipped and bodies still when standing
- Do ‘the 5’ when seated
- Wait silently to be dismissed
- Please walk but please don’t talk when moving to class
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe behavior when Lining Up Under the Covered Area to be taught include:
- Continuing to play after the music begins
- Talking on the way to the covered area
- Going to the toilet/bubbler after the music begins
- Running, pushing and/or shoving
- 5. Looking around, talking or moving about
- Ignoring teacher direction
Our PB4L focus for the next week (Week 2) is a student pledge to prevent bullying.
During the course of Term 1 it was anticipated that each student would sign the pledge as part of our recognition of the National Day Against Bullying and Violence
The pledge and the signatures will be publicly displayed for all to read
The pledge reads:
We, the students of St Patrick’s School pledge to work together to prevent bullying.
In signing this pledge we agree to:
- treat people kindly, the way we would like to be treated
- include people whenever and wherever possible
- keep our hands, feet and all our body part to ourselves and keep objects to ourselves
- Look after the property of other people and the school
- keep mean and nasty words to ourselves
- Be respectful, responsible and safe online
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.
PB4L Data
It is with pride that I inform you that over the last two weeks (Weeks 8 and 9) 39 students were given Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were 5 incidents of inappropriate behavior recorded.
Congratulations and thank you boys and girls. Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly and safely.
Kembla St Parent Pick-up
If you pick-up your child/ren from Kembla St in the afternoon you will know that the numbers of families doing so is at an all-time high. As such this already busy time is even busier. We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the majority of parents and carers who respect the road rules governing the ‘pick-up/drop-off No Parking’ zone
To help make this time more manageable for the staff and students could I ask please that you do not park in the pick-up/drop off zone before 2:55pm
Secondly, please do not sit double parked along Kembla St for any length of time.
If there is not a car space available, please keep driving around the block until such time as a space becomes available.
Could I ask please also that you reiterate this message with any and all family members who may collect your child/ren.
Please refer to the picture above which shows the banner on the school fence. The banner states that there are penalties if rules are not adhered to. Council Rangers patrol the areas around schools at drop-off and pick-up times.
Please note that the students are well supervised during the afternoon dismissal. Teachers are on duty at the Kembla St entry/exit until 3:15 and I advise parents to delay their pick-up for five or ten minutes so that the congestion is lessened.
ICAS Assessments
A letter to parents from Years 2-6 was sent home on COMPASS on June 16 advertising the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). This is a reminder that payment for these tests via the online Parent Payment System closes on Friday July 17.
The weblink is:
Our schools Unique access code is: MDY771
Parent/Teacher Conferences
During Week 2 of Term 3 (July 27-31) Parent/Teacher Conferences for Kinder, Year 1 and Years 3-6 will be held. Parent/Teacher Conferences for Year 2 will be held in the middle of Term 3. These will be conducted using the telephone as parents will not be permitted on the school grounds to visit with teachers.
You will receive a COMPASS notification on Monday July 20 advising you of how to reserve a time for a conversation with your child’s teacher.
Mr Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal
REC Update – W10 – T2
Updated Sacramental Programs
For obvious reasons the sacramental programs have been updated in light of recent COVID-19 restrictions easing. There have been only some minor changes to the First Holy Communion program, however the First Reconciliation and Confirmation programs have changed significantly. Please see the updated timetables attached, and if you need any clarification or assistance please contact Sr Miriam in the parish office.
Kind Regards,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
Mission Star - June
Mrs Munro


Veronika Carolan - Year 1
Jacob Markovski - Year 1
Stephanie Saliba - Year 4
Alani Tanevski - Year 4
Liana Meta - Year 4

ST PATRICK’S CROSS COUNTRY IS ON
Missing your usual Cross Country carnival?
St Patrick’s has signed up to the Great Australian Cross Country Challenge (GACCC)!
It’s a virtual run meaning that you run OR walk when and where you want, adhering to social distancing rules and then log your stats in the results hub. Update your stats as many times as you like and when it finishes at the end of August only your best/last time will count.
St Patrick’s School medals, ribbons and house points will be given out based on results on August 31
You can also run for our school against 100’s of other schools. There’s also some great prizes to be won via the GACCC website.
The code to enter The Great Australian Cross Country Challenge - St Patrick’s version is: SPCPS.
Use it to enter at no cost. This code can be used to enter parents and teachers in the Challenge as well.
Also in this newsletter is the The Student Welcome Pack It contains most of what you need to know to get involved. Included in it is:
- All you need to know
- What is The GACCC?
- The specifics - cost/ when/ where;
- How does it work - register/ run or walk/ record
- Frequently asked questions
- How to register
- How to participate - App / process/ important details
- Result Hub
Click on this link GACCC_StudentWelomePack_07.05.2020..pdf to view full pack
There are a few differences between The Australian Championship and our school cross country
They are:
- for our school event the tracking app does not have to be RunKeeper. It can be one you already have e.g. Strava. To be eligible for a national place/prize RunKeeper must be used
- You can use our school cross country track if you would like - even though there may be a more than 50m downhill (the equivalent uphill compensates for that)
- Our school medals will be given out according to age 8,9,10,11 & 12 years, for the 2km run, not grade. Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 for running the short run, will be awarded ribbons by grade.
Honesty system. It is important to note that both at school and national level the organisers will use their discretion to decide placings. It is assumed that all participants will partake fairly and honesty.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge ends for students at the end of August, so there is plenty of time to complete the challenge. If you are needing any assistance with entering books online please see Mrs Carey in the Library.
A big congratulations to Year One who have completed the Premier's Reading Challenge as a class. A wonderful acheivement in completing 30 books. Thank you to Miss Figueira for her support of Year One in taking up the challenge.
Overdue Library Books
When children receive an overdue notice it serves as a reminder to return the book as soon as possible. There is no monetary penalty. The cost shown on the notice is the cost of a replacement book if it is lost or damaged. Please encourage your child to return books on their due date.
Dear Parent's & Families,
As of next week all Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong will return to full time face to face teaching as we continue living in these novel times. I know that both staff and students have missed the regular school contact as they juggled various cocktails of remote and face to face learning. As the pastor of St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School I wish to reach out to you in the name of Christ. We are all at different levels on our faith journey but all heading towards the same God along individual paths. The parish community is here for you and your family.
Wishing you God’s grace and peace,
Fr Mark