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Dear Parents
This Saturday (August 15th ) is the feast of the Assumption- a day when we honour Mary being taken to heaven
The Christians of the early Church would have been well aware of the role Mary fulfilled as a
constant connection with Christ. It was she who had nurtured Him during the years leading up to His public life. She had a leading role at the marriage celebration in Cana, when Jesus began His public life. At the end of His life, Mary witnessed the sorrowful events of the Passion, Crucifixion and Death of her Son. Mary was with the Apostles when they gave witness to the facts of the Resurrection and Ascension. It was Mary, the constant Mother, who prayed with the Apostles and sustained them in their belief until the First Pentecost.
There is little written about Mary, especially what happened after Pentecost, but there is strong evidence, through tradition, that at the end of her life she was united with her Son in a manner similar to how her Son was united with His Father.
Mary had been so closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, so it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to believe and declare, that she must be with Him body and soul in heaven. Mary is now in a position to be mother to all people for all time.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us, your people,
now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.”
Uniform
Reminder that girls need to tie their hair back and if using a ribbon it must be green. I have in the lost property the following items of clothing with no names
If your child has lost one of these items can you please let me know and I can leave it in the office for collection or give it to your child.
Size 8 winter jacket x2
Size 14 winter jacket
Jumper size 12
Cardigan size 6
Cardigan no size - medium
School hat 59cm
Please remember to label all your child's belongings. Also check that names haven't faded in the wash.
Social Media Use
It has come to our attention that the use of social media by some students at St Patrick’s has been done so not in accord with the school and Diocesan Social Media Policy. In light of this, we wish to remind you of some of the key elements in the Social Media Policy and hope that parents/guardians will spend some time discussing these with their children.
Students must:
- only post material that respects the privacy of students, staff and the wider community including not taking or sharing photos without permission
- only post material that uses appropriate language that is not hurtful, abusive or offensive
- not create, access, store or share offensive images, video or audio files
While we strongly encourage you to not allow your children to use social media apps such as Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram etc considering their age, can we please ask that if you do allow your children to use such apps, that they don't post images anytime with the children wearing their school uniform.
Tik Tok
Furthermore, from what we have learnt in recent weeks is that Tik Tok appears to be popular with a small number of students at St Patrick’s. We have also learnt that some students have hundreds, and in some cases in excess of a thousand ‘followers’. We have also been made aware that some students have posted content on this platform while wearing their school uniform. Again, we wish to reiterate our school’s stance on the use of this app and share with you our belief that this is inappropriate use and should be considered unsafe, as it ultimately may put your child at risk.
If you would like to discuss this in further detail please contact Mrs Duggan or Mr Hoctor.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Parent/Teacher interviews continue this week. I am so appreciative of the way the teachers and parents have adapted to having these interviews a phone call due to the COVID-19 restrictions. I hope you were able to celebrate some of the great work your children are doing at St Patrick’s.
Best wishes
Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal
Please remember to complete Principal Appraisal Survey.
WEEK 4
Principal's Awards
PB4L - Week 4 Term 3 2020
Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)
Our PB4L focus for next week (Week 5) is the Library
In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:
- Entering quietly
- Using good manners
- Using a whispering voice
- Treating books with care
- Bringing your library bag
- Returning my book on my correct day
- Doing ‘the 5’ when listening
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviour in the Library to be taught include:
- Making noise when entering the library
- Forgetting my manners
- Talking in a loud voice
- Treating books carelessly
- Forgetting my library bag or my book on my library day
- Not listening respectfully
Our PB4L focus for Week 6 is Respectful, Responsible and Safe behaviour in the Administration Building
In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:
Please:
*Use good manners – Excuse me, please, thank you, may I.
*Wait quietly and patiently until attended to.
*Remain in the student foyer
*Return ice-packs when you have finished with them
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact Respectful, responsible and safe behaviours when In the Administration Building to be taught include:
* Using bad manners
* Interrupting/being impatient
* Leaving the Student Foyer
* Not returning your ice-pack
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 2 and 3) 36 students were given Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there was just one incident 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 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.
Mr Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal
July Mission Star!
A big congratulations to the July Mission Star Award recipient, Dezi Kalimnios from Year 6! Dezi is a more than deserving recipient of the award, receiving 5 nominations from the St Patrick’s community.
The Mission Star Award is especially unique and special as nominations come from all members of the school community, not just teachers.
Remember, if you would like to nominate a student, staff member, parent or carer you can do so by accessing the home learning website here:
Mary MacKillop Feast Day Liturgy
On Monday the 10th of August we celebrated the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop with a liturgy at the morning assembly, led by Year 6. Mary Mackillop’s Feast Day falls on the 8th of August each year and is hugely significant given that she is Australia’s first Saint. Below is the prayer that was read by our Liturgy Leader, Elleanor, as part of the liturgy;
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen…
O God, source of all goodness, who have shown us in Saint Mary a woman of faith living by the power of the Cross, teach us, we pray, by her example to live the gospel in changing times and to respect and defend the human dignity of all in our land.
Amen
Kind Regards,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
St Patrick’s Athletics Carnival 2020
Term 3 Week 2
Friday of week 2 our school Athletics Carnival continued with the 200m. The perfect conditions for racing produced determined competition.
The points for the 200m were: St Joseph 176, Mother Margaret 144, St Francis 126, St Patrick’s 116.
The continuing house point score is: St Patrick’s 950, St Joseph 936, Mother Margaret 928, St Francis 882
Pie Drive Collection
Pie Drive Collection is Wednesday 19 August. Your children will bring home your orders that afternoon. If you have a large order you can pick up from the Parish Hall. Access to the hall will be from the O'Donnell St entrance and not from the school grounds.
Please remember if you are picking up orders, to do this quickly and remembering to adhere to the COVID Safety Rules of 1.5m distance. We are aware that it is nice to stop and have a chat but please be mindful that the rules are there for your safety and the safety of our school community.
Thank you
The Vegetable Patch:
Harvest now:
Asparagus may still be producing new spears now, but don’t harvest past the first week or so of the month. After that, allow spears to grow on to become fronds, which will help build up the crowns for next year’s crop. Rhubarb should be growing well enough now for a first harvest. Pull and twist stems to pick – don’t cut them. Trim off the bases and leaves, which can be composted but not fed to animals or poultry because they are toxic.
What to plant now:
It’s full-steam ahead in the vegetable patch now, no matter where you live! Prepare the soil by hoeing to remove lumps and weeds, then rake level. Moisten well a few days before sowing or planting.
Sow seeds or plant seedlings of the following:
- Asian greens
- Beetroot
- Broad bean
- Carrot
- Celery
- French bean
- Lettuce
- Leek
- Onion
- Dwarf pea
- Climbing pea
- Potato tubers
- Pumpkin
- Silver beet
- Spring/Green onion
- Sweet corn
- Tomato*
- Zucchini
*In cool to cold areas, sow tomato seeds in trays and keep them under cover or indoors until seedlings are strong enough to go into the garden, in about a month’s time.
