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There can be a beautiful simplicity about Christmas that is calming to our senses amidst the furious activity of daily life at this time of the year. When we listen to carols and view the sanitised stable scenes that are in our cribs at school, church and home, we are comforted as we are when we read verse such as this:
“Long ago, one winter’s night
The air without was cold,
Mary and Joseph shelter sought
The inns are full they’re told.
They found a cave – a stable
And with oxen resting there,
The Babe was born, the King of Kings, Yes, in a manger bare.
The shepherds came, adoring Him
Great joy their hearts did fill,
Angels sang, Glory to God on High,
Peace on earth to men of good will.” Extract. Christmas. Patrick McCormack.
However, for Mary and Joseph the birth of Jesus was far from being calming and comforting. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, four days journey north of Bethlehem. Mary is a teenage mother to be and a journey late in her pregnancy is difficult for her. For Mary and Joseph this was a time of hardship and anxiety.
Long after the angels disappear into the heavens, the shepherds return to their flocks, the wise men journey home, Jesus remains. The infant babe, in whom we rediscover God’s great love for humanity, becomes the adult who challenges us to imitate His selflessness and compassion, to recreate our lives, to make the peace, justice and hope of Christians a reality throughout the seasons of the year.
Christmas is not only the commemoration of an historical event that occurred 2000 years ago, it is a spiritual event to be lived within each of us. Our mission is to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas and we do this by being holy people – kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people no matter how maddening the Christmas rush around us.
The meaning of Christmas, perhaps might look something like this:
“It’s sharing your gifts, not purchasing gifts.
It’s not wrapping presents, it’s being present and wrapping your arms around the ones you love.
It’s not getting Christmas cards out on time, it’s sending any card, anytime, at the right time.
It’s not having the best Christmas light display, it’s displaying the Christ light that comes from your heart. It’s not Santa coming down the chimney, it’s Jesus coming down from heaven and giving us the gift of Himself.” Author unknown.
Dear Parents
It is with great emotion that I am writing this newsletter to the wonderful community of St Patrick’s. In saying farewell to you all I cannot thank you enough for your kind words, gifts and good wishes on my retirement. Many thanks for your support over the last nine years. I am at peace in the fact that I am handing over to Miss Tobin a wonderful school, staff and parent community of St Patrick’s Port Kembla.
A big thank you to Mrs Crofts for teaching year 1 in Miss Figueira’s absence. We wish you every best wish for Christmas and St Therese next year.
Thank you to Miss Phillips who also worked with Mrs Crofts during Term 4 on Year 1.
Staff List for 2022
( This may change over the course of the term due to staff leave)
|
Kindergarten |
Mrs Beuman |
|
Year 1 |
Mrs Crotty |
|
Year 2 |
Mrs Papadopoulos / Mrs Barnes |
|
Year 3 |
Miss Cappetta |
|
Year 4 |
Mr Mattas/ Mrs Popovski |
|
Year 5 |
Mr Mindzas / Mr Hoctor |
|
Year 6 |
Miss Greenwood/ Mrs Popovski |
|
Principal |
Miss Tobin |
|
Assistant Principal |
Mr Hoctor |
|
REC |
Mr Mattas |
|
Instructional Coach |
Mrs Papadopoulos |
|
Diverse Learning Support Teacher |
Mrs Barnes |
|
Creative Arts |
Miss Phillips |
|
Reading Recovery |
Mrs Madaschi |
|
PE |
Mr Mindzas |
SSSO and SSO
|
SSSO |
Ms Casey |
|
SSO |
Mrs Carroll |
|
SSO |
Mrs Plataniotis |
|
SSO |
Mrs Carey |
|
SSO |
Mrs Kapsimallis |
|
SSO |
Mrs Kodaxis |
|
SSO |
Mrs Marmar |
I wish you and your families a holy and happy Christmas and a healthy and wonderful New Year.
Mrs Anne Duggan - Principal
REC Update – W8 – T4
Vinnnies Christmas Appeal – Thank you!
A sincere thankyou to all the families and staff who generously donated to the St Vincent de Paul
2021 Christmas Appeal. The Mini Vinnies students spent a great deal of time sorting the items out
in order to be shipped off to St Vincent de Paul, where they will be shared with those in the
community who need them most.
Thanks again!
All the best,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
Living Classroom Report - Tuesday Week 10 – Maya D
Hello Parents and teachers!
On Tuesday of Week 10, Year 4 spent the day in the Living Classroom. Year 4 did lots of fun things in the Living Classroom such as chopping down banana trees, weeding along the fence, painting the trees with a biodynamic clay paste, making nests around the trees, preparing vegetable beds and planting sunflowers and blue maize. The people that were chopping the banana trees were Simona, Eleni and Tiarna. Jack, Nikhil, Dean, Rose and I were making nests around the trees while Delilah, Sofia, Israel and Ari were painting a biodynamic clay paste on the trees. Then the rest of Year 4 were preparing the Vegetable Beds while I was taking lots of fun photos for this amazing day! But most importantly everyone had lots of joy and fun!
Many thanks to Aaron and Mr Mattas for an amazing day!
From Maya D
George Carolan K
Lara D’Angola K
Lucia Sharpe K
Isla Timpano K
Emelia O’Connor 1
Chloe Habak 1
Ashton Kotevski 1
Meila Kusa 1
Rory Meizer 2
Citrine Nguyen 2
Eva Zafiropoulos 2
Bella rose Burns 3
Israel Friesen 4
Eleni Michaloudakis 4
Sofia Mineeff 4
Jake Stojanovski 4
Bede Woods 4
Benson Fonoti 5
Alani Tanevski 5
Evie Combes 6
Lucas Pucillo 6
Alana Sirijovski 6
Alexia Trajcevska 6
Kaitlyn Mirovska 5
Delilah Calleja 4
Audrey Woods 1
Congratulations to Year 6 who have taken out the title of Library Class of the Year. They were rewarded with a Christmas Movie afternoon in the library with popcorn and drink on Monday. The movie they chose was 'Jingle all the Way'.
Wishing all the children celebrating birthdays all the very best wishes.
Lucy Yates - Year 5
Charlotte Blacker - Year 3
Issaiah Marras Scerri - Year 6
Zack Mallia - Year 6
Jake Stojanovski - Year 4
Meila Kusa - Year 1
Eva Zafiropoulos - Year 2
Mikki Jovanovski - Year 5
Siale Pohahau - Year 5
George Carolan - Kinder
Pastoral Support Worker Update – Mrs Catriona Neilsen
I can't believe that it is the end of another year. I have achieved so much in my role as Pastoral Support Worker at St Patrick’s. (Games groups, cardmaking, student support, liturgy support, spending time with students in class, and working with the school counsellor in checking in with students.) Whilst the activities that I have been involved in have changed from Term 1 to Term 4, I hope that I have continued to make a difference in the lives of the students at school.
Over the past four weeks, a highlight of mine has been working with Year 5. Together we created some Christmas cards, Christmas tags and Christmas Coasters. It was a great opportunity to work with each student in Year 5, to chat whilst we worked and to hear what their hopes and dreams for Christmas were going to be. I am looking forward to continuing to work with this cohort of students when they are in Year 6.
I am looking forward to having a rest over the Christmas break so I can return once more to St Patrick’s in 2022 as the school’s Pastoral Support Worker. May you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
Mrs Catriona Neilsen
