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Dear Parents
Thank you so much for all your effort in assisting with Book Week costumes this year. It is another wonderful community event that we have not been able to participate in for the last couple of years. I need to particularly acknowledge Mrs Janet Bowater, Mrs Tracy Carey and Mrs Katina Plataniotis for their organisation over the weeks leading up to the Book Parade. Can I please urge you to continue to read to and with your children at home. In the busyness of life we often struggle to find time to read, but reading to and with your child increases their vocabulary, enhances their imagination and international studies show a strong link between academic achievement and the number of books at home.
The full album from our Book Week Parade can be found here:
Students with Injuries
When a student sustains an injury (at home or school) that will have an impact on their ability to engage in learning and play at school, we need to create a safety plan. The injury could include fractures, sprains etc. In order to create a plan we need a medical clearance from a doctor stating any restrictions your child may have. We require this prior to them attending school following an injury. Some of the adjustments we may need to consider are:
- Ability to participate in sport
- Ability to write/use their iPad
- Ability to use the toilet independently
- Ability to carry school bag or other items
- Ability to move around the playground or classroom
- Entry and exit into the classroom
- Location of desk in the classroom
- Risk or further injury while at school
If your child requires any pain relief following an injury this must be taken to the office (it can’t remain in your child’s bag) and you will need to fill out and sign A Consent to Dispense Medication Form. Alternatively, if you prefer you can come in into the school office and administer the medication yourself as needed throughout the day.
Please note that due to the increased risk of further injury, students with fractures, on crutches or in a brace, will only be able to participate in passive play during lunch and recess. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call if you require any further clarification with this.
Just a reminder that our Father’s Day Stall will occur on Friday 2 September. A big thank you to our P&F for organising these gifts.
R U OK? Day
On Thursday 8 September our school will create awareness of R U OK Day by inviting all students to wear yellow mufti. There is no need for your child to bring in a gold coin on this day, we are simply creating awareness and teaching the students how to check in with one another.
Sanitary Bins
The school has purchased additional sanitary bins so that all of our girls’ toilets now have a sanitary bin in each cubicle. If your daughter needs to use these bins, we kindly ask that you teach her how to dispose of her personal hygiene items correctly.
Ms Gabi Tobin - Principal
Our PB4L focus for the Week 7 of Term 3 will be Respect for Adults.
In the explicit teaching lessons the expected behaviours taught will be:
- Greeting adults by their name
- Looking at adults when they speak to you
- Holding the door open for an adult
- Offering to assist adults
- Speaking courteously to adults e.g. saying thank you when you are given something
- Cooperating with adults
Examples of behaviours that negatively impact on Respectful, Responsible and Safe
behaviour when showing Respect for Adults to be taught include:
1. Ignoring adults
2. Pushing past adults
3. Interrupting adults that are talking
4. Playing ball games when adults are walking through the game
Our PB4L/SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) focus for the Week 8 of Term 3 will be based on Self-management with the Focus being: Staying on Task.
Acceptable Behaviours
1. Look at your task or assignment.
2. Think about the steps and equipment needed to complete the task.
3. Focus all your attention on the task.
4. Stop working only when instructed.
5. Ignore distractions and interruptions from others.
6. Put your hand up if you need help
Unacceptable Behaviours
1. Not having equipment organised
2. Distracting/Interrupting Others
3. Calling Out
4. Not completing the task to the best of your ability
We would very much appreciate your discussing these weekly PB4L/SEL 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 45 students were given
Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were 3 incidents of Inappropriate behavior recorded. Thank you girls and boys. Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly and safely.
UNIFORM
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 Code. This week staff will be looking at appropriate dress for cold weather.
Please find below excerpts of the Uniform Code for your reference:
Cold Weather
● Gloves, scarves and beanies may be worn to school, provided they are in addition to wearing school jumpers and are keeping with the school colours, e.g. green. They must be removed once in the classroom. No fingerless gloves.
● In very cold weather, children may wear plain long sleeve t-shirts under their uniform
providing they are not visible, and are worn in addition to jumpers and jackets, rather than in place of.
PARENT TEACHER STUDENT CONFERENCES
You will soon be alerted via COMPASS of our upcoming Parent/Teacher/Student
Conferences. The Term 3 conferences are optional. Should you wish to have a conference with a teacher these will be conducted by telephone call. In the COMPASS notification will be information of how to book a meeting time with your child(s) teacher(s).
Mr Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal
REC Update – W6 – T3
World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation
September marks the beginning of the creation season, and on the 8 September we will be celebrating 'World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation'. We will have a whole school liturgy in the church to pray to our Creator God and to raise awareness for the need for ecological conversion. The liturgy will be led by Year 4, and all community members are welcome and encouraged to attend. The liturgy will commence at 8:50am and will be followed by our weekly awards ceremony.
STEWARDS OF CREATION – Garden Report by: Fiona - Year 4
Speaking of ecological conversion, please see below a report from The Living Classroom: On the 11/8/2022 Year 4 had a day in the garden tackling some tricky tasks. We did tasks together like weeding, harvesting and ‘chop and drop’. We weeded all around the garden in small groups to get every single little weed out. Once all the weeds were out we started to harvest mandarins, sweet potatoes and fennel. We harvested 75 mandarins, 38 sweet potatoes and 6 fennels.
Altogether we harvested 119 fruits and vegetables. When we finished harvesting we all started to clean up the garden which involved ‘chop and drop’. When we chop and drop we find a tree or plant in the garden that needs to be chopped and start cutting it back. Once chopping was finished we piled up the tree or plant prunings and put it around another tree to make it look nice. After all those jobs were done we needed to pack up all the tools and put them safely back into the shed. We got to take 3 mandarins, 1 or 2 sweet potatoes home and if the children were lucky they got to take home a fennel as well. It was an absolutely amazing day. Thanks to the children and Mr Mattas for organising such a great day.
Christmas Story Art Competition
We are excited to let you know that the Year 5 & 6 students are participating in the 'Christmas Story Art' competition this year, and have begun their artistic endeavours in style! This is an initiative of the Catholic Education Offices in Wollongong and Sydney and aims to celebrate andexplore children’s creative and artistic ability in illustrating the Christmas story.
The competition provides the opportunity for teachers to select artworks from Years 5 & 6 to share with the wider community and create a greater awareness of the role of the arts in Religious Education. Children can develop deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.
The children will be finished their artworks by the end of next week (Week 7) so you will have to be patient to see the finished products. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!
All the best,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
Years 5 and 6 Camp
Dear Year 5 & 6 Parents/Carers
Please note your child will be attending a camp from Wednesday 30 November to Friday 2 December 2022. We ask that you please ensure that the fees in relation to this camp totalling $319 are paid before 1 November 2022 in order to cover this cost.
Regards
Miss Casey
Senior School Support Officer
On Wednesday, August 24 Year 3 and Year 4, along with Mr Mattas, Miss Cappetta, Ms Phillips and Mrs Carey went to Killalea State Park. Uncle Mark and Talarah shared their Aboriginal culture and history with the children. The children got their face painted with ochre, learnt how to throw a boomerang and spear, went on a bush tucker walk, participated in Aboriginal dancing and learnt about Aboriginal weapons and tools. Stage 2 boys and girls were immersed in Aboriginal culture, learnt many new things and had a great day. A big thank you to Ms Phillips and Miss Casey for organising the excursion!
