Dear Parents

While it would be hard to find a grandparent anywhere in the world that doesn’t love and spoil their grandchildren, I am well aware that the grandparents connected to St Patrick’s Port Kembla, play an extra special role in the lives of your families.  I am also aware that a number of them are in fact ex-students of St Patricks!  It was therefore very fitting that the largest community gathering we have had in the past few years was to honour and celebrate them.

There were many staff involved in the preparation of the day from Mr Mattas leading our liturgy, the classroom teachers preparing artworks and activities and our school support officers for setting up and serving morning tea in the parish hall.  Our staff certainly go above and beyond everyday, but somehow find even a little more to give on special occasions such as Grandparents Day and I am most grateful for them all.

I would also like to extend my thanks to the P&F, in particular Kelly Pucillo, Briony Start and all the other volunteers for preparing and serving hotdogs and all the other yummy treats that were sold on the day.

The grandparents iMovie that was shown in the church can be viewed here:

Grandparents Day Photos that were taken on Grandparents Day can be viewed here:

Bunning BBQ

We would love to see as many families as possible pop into Bunnings at Kembla Grange this Sunday to support our school running the BBQ.  A huge thank you to the wonderful parents and staff who have volunteered their time in the organisation and running of this event.

New Playground Equipment

The new playground equipment is installed and nearly ready for play!  I’d like to express my thanks to all the people who were able to give so generously of their time last Saturday laying the soft fall: Sam Harb, Martin Agius, Steven Hopper, Kelly Pucillo, Polito Fonoti, Pokileti Pohahau, Flippo Lamendola, Jessica Blacker, Bryan Blacker, Charlotte Blacker (Yr 4), Bridgette Blacker (K), Alice Ryan (Yr 1) Owen Pucillo (Yr 2), Lucas Pucillo (Yr 7), Mr Mindzas and Mr Hoctor.  Thank you all!

CatholicCare Counsellor

At St Patrick’s we are fortunate to have our CatholicCare Counsellor (Teearn) available one day per week.  There are a limited number of students Teearn can see in a day, limiting her caseload numbers.  If you would like your child to see the school counsellor, and in order to assist us in prioritising the most urgent needs, can I ask that you make contact through the office requesting to speak to me prior to asking for a referral form.

School Operating Hours

Just a gentle reminder that our school operating hours are 8.15am-3.15am.  Supervision will only be provided during this time.  We kindly remind parents that your children must remain under your supervision until 8.15am.

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PB4L)

Our PB4L focus for the Week 3 of Term 3 will be Administration Building. 

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

Expected Behaviours:

• Use good manners - eg: Good morning/afternoon, 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.

Unacceptable Behaviours:

• Not greeting staff.
• Forgetting our manners.
• Interrupting/being impatient
• Not returning your ice-pack.

Our PB4L/SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) focus for the Week 2 of Term 3 will be based on Social Awareness.

Having a conversation:

Acceptable Behaviours:

• Look at the person.
• Use a pleasant voice.
• Listen to what the other person says. 
• When there is a break in the conversation, ask a question or share your thoughts.

Unacceptable Behaviours:

• Looking away from the person speaking.
• Shouting
• Ignoring what they are saying.
• Interrupting 

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 21 students were given Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were 4 incidents of Inappropriate behavior recorded.

Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly and safely.

Please note that over the coming weeks in addition to the PB4L/SEL weekly focus staff will be paying attention to aspects of student uniform Policy to ensure that all students are presented proudly in compliance with the Uniform Policy. This week staff will be looking at student hairstylyes and in Week 4 jewellery. Please find below excerpts of the Uniform Policy for your reference.

HAIR

• Hair should be styled in a manner that attracts positive comments only, with an emphasis on a neat and tidy appearance. No extreme haircuts or styles.
• Girls may use school coloured hair accessories. Hair accessories can include: ribbons, scrunchies, thin headbands or plain clips to hold hair back.
• Minimal products (e.g. hairspray, gel) may be used to tame or control hair, but not to style (e.g. spike) hair.
• Hair must not be bleached or dyed in any way, this includes the addition of hair extensions, hair pieces or coloured braids.
• Hair, including fringes, must not fall on a child’s face, covering their eyes. Students’ hair cannot be unevenly shaved, including having any lines shaved into their head.
• Hair should be cut in an evenly cut manner. Hair should not have an extreme difference in length, but rather be of a blended appearance.
• Hair that is collar length or longer must be tied back.

JEWELLERY

• Small watches may be worn, providing they do not distract from the overall appearance of the uniform.
• Students may wear one pair of plain silver or gold sleepers or plain silver or gold studs.
• No make-up is to be worn, including lip gloss. Lip balm may be worn for dry lips.
• No nail polish, acrylic nails, SNS or Shellac.
• No rings or bracelets are to be worn.
• Religious medals, on a thin chain, may be worn under the school shirt.

Have a look at our new playground equipment. The smiles say it all!!

Mr Gavan Hoctor  - Assistant Principal 

REC Update – W2 – T3

June/July MISSION STAR!

A huge congratulations to our June/July Mission Star Award recipient, Ivy Dimovski! We are very grateful that Ivy has joined our St Patrick’s community late last year – she has made our school an even better place.

Ivy is an example of someone who lives and acts like Jesus.  Just like Mary MacKillop, she is caring and considerate and never sees a need without doing something about it.

Thanks for being a Mission Star everyday Ivy!

Term 3 Prefects

Congratulations to the Term 3 class prefects who were carefully chosen by their classroom teachers to lead their class in Term 3. We will be holding a Prefect Induction Ceremony in the church on Tuesday of next week, August 2^nd at 8:50am, and all family members are invited and welcome to attend.

Religious Literacy Assessment – Year 4

On Monday August 1^st Year 4 will be participating in the Religious Literacy Assessment, which is an assessment that all students in the Diocese of Wollongong undertake in Year 4. The purpose of this assessment is very similar to that of NAPLAN, however this assessment tests the knowledge and understanding that the children have in the key learning area of Religious Education. It covers content areas from Kinder up until Year 3, and it gives the school an understanding of both areas of strength and potential areas for improvement in Religious Education at St Patrick’s.

We wish the children the best of luck in this assessment and look forward to analysing the data and planning for improvement in the Religious literacy of our students.

Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian

On Wednesday of next week, August 3^rd, Year 6 will be participating in a special mass with Bishop Brian at St Joseph’s Catholic Parish Bulli. The girls and boys will be joined by Miss Greenwood and Ms Tobin, as well as Year 6 students from a number of other Diocesan schools. We have been unable to attend this event for the past two years due to the pandemic, so it’s wonderful that Year 6 can attend this year. It is a very special day, and it even ends with a concert lead by Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong. Good luck Year 6! 

GRANDPARENTS DAY – Thank you!

What a wonderful day we all had together celebrating Grandparents Day. It was fantastic being able to come together as a community and celebrate on such a large scale, which we have not been able to do much at all in recent years. Special thanks to families who brought in morning tea, and to the P&F for running the canteen.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

All the best,

Mr Sam Mattas

Religious Education Coordinator