The heart is regarded as the centre of a person where sentiments and intuitions dwell. John Venard’s book “In the Arms of a Battler’s God” provokes us to be more heartfelt in our thinking when he writes: “A young Indian student on crutches was easily the brightest and friendliest boy in the class. He was admired and respected by both the teachers and his fellow students. One day a friend asked him about the cause of his deformity; when the young student answered, ‘Infantile Paralysis’, the friend questioned further. With such a misfortune how could he face life with such a happy and positive attitude? ‘Oh,’ replied the young boy, ‘the disease never touched my heart’.

We would do well to learn from the student’s wisdom, because we often neglect our heart, our inner life, the essence of our ‘being’. We are so busy with life out there, with acquiring knowledge and skills, chasing wealth, enjoying ourselves, trying to live up to the expectations of others, that the heart never gets a look in.”

The Feast of the Sacred Heart reflects the Church’s emphasis on the importance of love and, of course, the love that Jesus personified, “There is no greater love that a man give up his life for his friends.”

 

Dear Parents

This week we will celebrating the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

We are very blessed here at St Patrick’s that we have our lovely sisters on our Parish site. They belong to the order of St Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This year we have been privileged to have Sister Grace talk to the children about what it means to be a Sister. Sister Miriam is the Parish Pastoral Associate.

The school will be acknowledging this significant feast day on Thursday with Mass at 9.00am and morning tea for the sisters.

 

Update on School Playground

Hopefully our playground will be installed in the second half of the year. We are waiting to hear if we are successful in our application for grant from the Community Building Partnership Program Fund. The cost of the equipment and installation is around $48000.  

The P&F will contribute $10 000

The School - $13 800

The Fund -  $23 000

The Parish - $1 200

Reports

Staff are in the process of finalising Semester 1 Reports for Years 1 - 6. The School Report will be released via the COMPASS Portal on Friday 18 June where you will be able to view the report. 

Kindergarten do not have a report at the end of Semester 1

 

Mrs Bowater

A big thank you and welcome back to Mrs Bowater. Mrs Bowater is reading each week to each class a short – listed book in  preparation for Book Week. The effect she has was evident to me last week when a Year 1 student said, “Mrs Duggan I just love hearing Mrs Bowater read books, I am going to the library to borrow the book she read today!”

 

Good health and blessings for the next fortnight!

Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)

Our PB4L focus for next week (Week 9) is Asking for Help v Dobbing

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

1.  Asking for help is when someone feels a situation is out of their control.
2.  They are unable to deal with the situation on their own and need help.
3.  You can ask for help for yourself or someone else.
4.  Asking for help for yourself or others is always okay.

Dobbing’ is when a person tries to get attention or to get someone else into trouble.

Our PB4L focus for Week 10 is Respecting Play Equipment

 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. Tie skipping ropes when returning them
4. Report unsafe use of equipment to the teacher on duty

Examples of behaviours that negatively impact Respectful, responsible and safe use of Playground Equipment to be taught include:

 

Throwing/kicking balls at people

1. Hitting people with equipment
2. Hiding Equipment
3. Leaving equipment out on the playground
4. Not tying skipping ropes
5. Not speaking up when equipment is being misused

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 in Weeks 6 and 7 -  81 Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards were given to students. There have only been 3 incidents of Inappropriate behavior recorded during that time.

Congratulations boys and girls. This is wonderful news to share.

Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly, and safely.

On Monday the students enjoyed 15 minutes of extra play to thank them for playing respectfully, responsibly and safely last week as there weren’t any incidences of inappropriate behaviour recorded in the Playground Incident Folder last week.

Mr Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal

A Day in the Living Classroom – Permaculture Central!

What an absolute cracker of a day Year 4 had in the Garden on Tuesday of Week 8. We had a very special guest join us, Mrs Manevski (Mila’s bubba) who made a beautiful Macedonian dish called kifli for the girls and boys. The children got to make them with her help and also head chef Mila. It was a great experience for the girls and boys!

Aaron also joined us, and we learned all about how to trim and shape fruit trees. Our mulberry tree got a huge hair cut in order to make the fruit more accessible come spring.

Thanks Aaron and Mrs Manevski!

 Confirmation – Parent Information Night - Year 6 Families            

A friendly reminder for parents of Year 6 students that the Confirmation Parent Information Night is on next Wednesday, June 16^th at 7pm in the Parish office. Children are not required to be present at the evening.

 

All the best,

 

Mr Sam Mattas

Religious Education Coordinator 

Ashton Batur - Year 5

Dear Parents

Your children have been very busy reading for the Premier's Reading Challenge. Could you please encourage your child to start adding them onto the PRC website if your child is completing it at home. Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 are completing it mostly at school and I will assist them in adding their reading here at school. Year 3 have been reading very well in class and have had the opportunity to come to the library at recess to add their reading, but they are also allowed to add their books on the website at home. They all know how to add books now! Well done year 3.

The Premier's Reading Challenge  ends on the 20th of August, so it is a good idea to keep the Reading Logs up to date on the Website.

Thank you,

Mrs Carey - Library