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Dear Parents
While I had a lovely time on long service leave during the first two weeks of the term, it is very exciting to be back and I look forward to celebrating all that we have achieved this year with you all. I would like to thank Mr Hoctor, for not only continuing his role as Assistant Principal, but for also stepping up as Acting Principal during this time. My time away was far more restful knowing that the school was in such capable hands.
Thank you
Last week we held our final P&F meeting for the year. At this meeting the P&F acknowledged the many, many hours that have been given to the school through the time and talents of these three mums. At the end of the year their youngest child finishes Year 6, and despite our pleas to stay, they will no longer be members of the P&F committee. While I have only known them for less than a year, the impact of their generosity has been profound. I have lost count of the number of times they have said, “We do it for the kids,” - and they aren’t just talking about their own. The whole school community has benefitted from their generosity and they will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you Danielle, Emma and Marianne, you will be missed!
We will hold a thank you afternoon tea on Monday 12 December at 2pm in the library for all volunteers. All families are welcome.
Welcome BBQ
On Sunday 13 November the school will be hosting a sausage sizzle after 9am Mass to welcome all new families to the school. This is an informal gathering that we would like to invite the whole school to. A sausage sizzle and poppers will be provided by the school and the Catholic Women’s League will provide tea and coffee. The gathering will be held on the playground and the children are welcome to play on the grass and playground equipment. To assist with catering please complete the following Google Form.
Parents on Playground - Friday Afternoons
Following a conversation at our last P&F meeting, there was a request for parents to be allowed into the school grounds on a Friday afternoon prior to the bell, to allow time for community bonding. We are happy to accommodate this request, therefore from next Friday, 11 November, we will open the gates from 2.45pm. This will continue on Friday afternoons only. Families are welcome to gather on the playground and mingle until the dismissal bell goes at 2.55pm. We kindly ask however, that you do not approach or peer into the classroom during the final 10 minutes of the school day while the teachers are preparing for dismissal. The students being picked up by their parents or another family member will then be dismissed from the basketball court. Students will not be walked to the gate on O’Donnell Street on a Friday afternoon. We look forward to seeing some of you next week!
Mobile Phones and Smart Watches
While we strongly discourage students having a mobile phone at school, we also understand that you may feel safer if in some circumstances your child carries a mobile phone (e.g. catching a bus or due to shared custody arrangements). If your child does need to bring a mobile phone to school, this must be handed into the school office at the beginning of the day and collected in the afternoon. Students are not to have phones on them personally or in their school bag during the school day.
There are a small number of students who are wearing smart watches. These are banned in many primary schools, however, we will allow your child to wear these watches provided they are not used inappropriately or as a communication device while at school.
Kindergarten Orientation
Our Kindergarten orientation will be held next week on Thursday 10 November at 9am in our school library. 2023 Kinder students do not need to attend, however we do want at least one parent to be present at the orientation.
Ms Gabi Tobin - Principal
UPDATE WEEK 4 TERM 4
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L)
Our PB4L/SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) focus for the Week 5 of Term 4 will be based on Relationship Skill with the Focus being: Giving Compliments In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Look at the person.
2. Speak with a clear and friendly voice.
3. Praise the other person’s quality, activity, or project specifically by telling him or her exactly what you like about it.
4. Use words such as, “That was great,” “Wonderful,” or “That was awesome.”
5. Give the other person time to respond to your compliment.
Our PB4L/SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) focus for the Week 6 of Term 4 will
be based on Social Awareness with the Focus being: When Someone Gets in Trouble
In the explicit teaching lessons, the expected behaviours taught will be:
1. Don’ t laugh
2. Check if the person is alright: “Are you okay?
3. Check with the person later and talk with them about how to avoid getting into trouble.
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 61 students were given Citizenship, Merit, Library or Uniform Awards or Playground Affirmation Awards whilst there were but Incidents of inappropriate behavior recorded. Thank your girls and boys. Please continue to act respectfully, responsibly, and safely.
KEMBLA ST AFTERNOON PICK-UP
This week alone our school has received two complaints from residents about the afternoon school pick-up on Kembla St. The complaints are because of the congestion caused by parents waiting to collect their child/ren blocking the traffic flow for many residents. It is imperative that you are conscious of the road rules governing school pick-up and therefore attached to this correspondence are the flyers previously distributed reminding you of your obligations.
To help alleviate the problem please do not sit parked in the pick-up/drop off zone before 2:55 when students are dismissed from school. Secondly, please do not sit double parked along Kembla St for any length of time. If there is not a car space available, please keep driving around the block until such time as a space becomes available. Could I ask please that you reiterate this message with any and all family members who may collect your child/ren. Please note that the students are well supervised during the afternoon dismissal. Teachers are on duty at the Kembla St entry/exit until 3:15 and I advise parents to delay their pick-up for five or ten minutes so that the congestion is lessened.
Mr Gavan Hoctor - Assistant Principal
REC Update – W4 – T4
World Mission Month/Crazy Sock Day
We had an incredible day on Wednesday of Week 3 where we celebrated World Mission Month. The day began with a liturgy lead by our Community Leader, Riley, and with the help of a number of students in Mini Vinnies. The children lead prayer for the welfare of those more needy than us, and also taught us about the plight of people living in Emdibir, Ethiopia. Following this at lunchtime the girls and boys ran a yummy ice cream stall, where they sold ice creams for $2 each. Of course, it was also Crazy Sock Day, so with the donations from the students wearing crazy socks and the money raised from the ice cream sale we raised over $500! All of the money will go towards supporting a goat breeding program in Emdibir. Once again, many thanks for your generosity and compassion.
First Holy Communion
A number of children are continuing their preparations for First Holy Communion both at St Patrick’s and also at Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Unanderra. Please remember to keep these girls and boys in your prayers during this most special and sacred time in their journey as Catholics.
First Holy Communion will be held at St Patrick’s Parish Port Kembla on Sunday November 20 at 11am, and at Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish Unanderra on Monday November 21 at 6pm. All community members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
All Saints and All Souls Day
We commemorated the significant days of All Saints (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2) at school this week. These days are important days in the liturgical calendar and Fr Mark gave the children a comprehensive Homily during mass for All Souls Day explaining the meaning behind both days.
Please find a spiritual reflection as shared with all staff in the Diocese of Wollongong.
All Saints and All Souls, 1 and 2 November
A Time to Remember, Heal and Grow
At the beginning of November, we acknowledge two significant days in our Church calendar, both All Saints Day and All Souls Day. These are days when we are able to remember those who have gone before us.
There is a wonderful saying, “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” This succinctly reminds us of our common humanity. We would be misguided to think that the Saints all lived idyllic lives infused with constant prayer and commitment. Saints are those who have fallen down but continue to get up. They came to deeply trust in God often through a lifetime of challenges and turmoil.
A few years ago Fr Richard Leonard SJ spoke to our Diocese about the importance and value of reclaiming the stories of our Saints. As we come to know some of their stories of struggle, anxiety, doubt, fears and fumbling we begin to see that their stories are not far from our own. Their example however can provide us with much needed guidance, inspiration, courage or hope and we call on this as we pray to them. All Saints Day is also about taking some time to acknowledge the many “anonymous saints” in our lives. These are the people who touched our lives but their story did not receive the same profile as other Saints. They are the people of hope, in spite of what happened. They seemed to be able to connect into the love of God and the joy of God, even in the messiness of life. Whilst they were here on earth, their story and authenticity gave us strength and comfort and as we pray to them, we can continue to draw on this.
On All Souls Day, we reconnect with our loved ones who have died. We keep the “faithful departed” in our memory and ask them to keep us in their sight, as they come to see God. Ronald Rolheiser commented, “We and they can still feel each other, know each other, love each other, console each other, and influence each other. Our lives are still joined. Hence we pray for the dead in order to remain in contact with them.”
Whilst we would love things to be different when someone dies, there can be feelings of regret or deep sadness due to things that have not been said or resolved. Rolheiser compassionately expresses that, “To believe in the communion of saints is to believe that we can still tend to unfinished business in our relationships, even after death. We can still talk to those who have died and we can, even now, say the words of love, forgiveness, gratitude, and regret.” So as we reflect on All Saints Day we are invited to join the Communion of Saints and to reconnect with those well known and unknown saints who inspire or guide us. And on All Souls Day we have an opportunity to reach out yet again to those who have gone before us and to experience the healing and growth we so long for.
Consider: Are there some words that you missed expressing and would like to share with someone who died? Take some time, when you’re ready to journal these words or bring these to your prayer.
All the best,
Mr Sam Mattas
Religious Education Coordinator
School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families elect to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request, either email it to
instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weekly to Fortnightly
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2023 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
