The Hope of Spring

God, thank you for Spring and the hope of warmer, longer, brighter days.
Thank you for the coming of growth and life and birth.
Thank you that things are coming awake in the world.
This is what our calendar says, and we do see some signs that it is real.
But we also still struggle with the residual layover of winter.
Now we ask that you bring into reality all that belongs in this season. Your word says that we will have provision, and hope, and joy, and health and loving relationships here and now in this life.
We ask that what belongs in this season would become actual in our practical lives.
We hope in you and in your promises. We hope in your gift of Spring.

Dear Parents

Today brings to an end to a very busy and once again, due to the virus, a very unusual term.

We live in hope for a return to a better Term 4.  There is very much to be thankful for:

• To our wonderful teachers who have once again created engaging lessons and activities while still adhering to the curriculum.
• In order that social media and “Fun Fridays” could run smoothly, thanks goes to Miss Figueira, Miss Cappetta and Mr Mindzas.
• To Mr Hoctor, and the leadership team…thanks for their support throughout the term
• To Miss Casey and Mrs Carroll for keeping the office running during these  difficult times.
• To our amazing SSOs who turned up each day to support the teachers, allowing them to respond to online learning. Further to this support, Mrs Plataniotis continued to produce the fortnightly newsletter and Mrs Carey continually kept the library up and running, ready for a return to school.
• To our wonderful parents who responded to the many changes and directives that were imposed as a result of the pandemic. You have been amazing and all the staff can’t thank you enough for your support!!!
• To our students who have responded very well to online learning and produced some wonderful work, videos and photos supporting their learning.
• To our school leaders, who just last week I asked if they could be part of delivering a Friday assembly and additions to the Friday slides. The creative and imaginative way they responded to this has been amazing.

Return to School

The NSW Premier has revealed the state’s return to school roadmap, which outlines when students will be able to safely return to school for face-to-face learning in a COVID-safe way.

The most important details of the roadmap are:

• All schools in NSW will follow the same roadmap. 
• The return to face-to-face learning will be staggered, with different years returning at different times from 25 October 2021 (see timeline below). The start of the staggered return to face-to-face learning depends upon at least 70% of the state’s eligible adult population being fully vaccinated.
• If stay-at-home orders are lifted in an LGA or region before 25 October 2021, all students living or learning in that area will return to face-to-face learning at that time with a level of COVID-safe restrictions in place.

Timeline for the COVID-safe return to face-to-face learning

Uniform

Summer uniform officially starts on Tuesday 5^th October, Term 4

Take care, stay safe

I look forward to seeing you hopefully sometime in Term 4

Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal

World Mission Month - Get Involved in ‘Socktober’!

Dear Parents and Carers,

Every year we celebrate and raise funds for ‘Socktober’, a social justice initiative for Catholic Mission Australia. We will be continuing the tradition this year, only in a COVID-safe way!

This year, Catholic Mission Australia is raising money for under privileged schools in Thailand and are asking for schools and families to participate in this wonderful initiative.

How can your family get involved?

Getting your family involved is easy. All you need to do is register your child/ren for Socktober through the website below and obtain sponsorship or make a one-off donation to the Socktober initiative.

How will the children be learning about this initiative?

All of the children at St Patrick’s will be learning about the initiative throughout the month of October. Each Friday beginning in Week 1 of Term 4, they will watch videos relating to the program, and will complete learning activities as part of the ‘Fun Friday’ package each week. They will learn about the needs of our neighbours in Thailand, understand the importance of raising money for those in need and model the values of social justice.

Whether $5 or $500 is raised is of course not important – as long as the children understand the importance of mission, whilst contributing to a worthy cause is what we see as being most important.

Many thanks for your ongoing support!

1:1 iPad Information Zoom Meeting

On Monday of Week 9 Mrs Duggan, Mr Mindzas, David Emery from the Catholic Education Office and myself held a zoom meeting with the Year 4 parents explaining how the 1:1 iPad Program has been implemented for Stage 3 students for the past two years, and how it will continue to do so for their children in 2022. It was a positive and hugely successful meeting, and I would like to thank all involved for their great support of the program!

All the best,

Mr Sam Mattas

Religious Education Coordinator 

Nicholas Mineeff - Kinder

Joseph Harb - Year 3

Liana Meta - Year 5

Issaiah Marras Scerri - Year 6

Madeleine Mineeff - Year 6

Ella  Sammut -  Year 6

Sophia Dimovski - Year 5

Siale Pohahau - Year 5

Ari Austin - Year 4

Harrison Sharpe - Year 3

Amelie Mineeff - Year 2

Meila Kusa - Year 1

George Michaloudakis - Year 2

Lucy Yates - Year 5

Emily Woods - Year 6