2024, Term 1, Week 5 Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

St. Patrick's School acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Koroitch-gundidj people of the Maar Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. 

Principal's Message

Dear parents and carers,

It was truly wonderful to see everyone at the parent teacher interviews this week! The support and engagement from our parents/guardians is invaluable, and it's heartening to witness our shared commitment to our students' growth and success. Thank you to everyone who attended for your involvement and dedication to our school community.

Don’t forget, the welcome BBQ is for all families of St Pat’s and is a great way to meet new families, have a BBQ and let the children play! Please register via the link below ASAP.

Learning walk - I encourage you to register to attend the learning walk which is to be held on 12th March at 9.30. It is a wonderful opportunity to see learning in action, particularly that of structured literacy learning. If we get some families of middle and senior students interested, I will ensure we tour those classrooms during the walk. It is also a great chance to ask questions around learning at St Pats!

Junior school morning routine (as posted on Class Dojo for junior classrooms)

In the junior area, we are focusing on nurturing independence in our students. As part of this effort, starting Monday 4/3/2024, the Foundation and Year 1 children will walk from the Queen Street gate to their classrooms independently, where their teachers await their arrival with a warm greeting.

If your child needs additional assistance, our staff members on morning supervision duty will be stationed at the gate to provide any support necessary. 

If you arrive late to school, please head to the front office when you arrive. Once signed in, a quick goodbye at the office will support your child to build independence and resilience. A staff member can be made available to assist your child/ren with the transition.

At pick-up time, families are warmly encouraged to gather around the playground area, where you can engage with the school community, chat with teachers, and explore the classroom environment. 

“As long as you are still with them, their amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for anxiety) will have hope that the separation won’t happen, and it will keep the fight or flight response going. Once you leave, the amygdala registers futility. Only then can your young one’s brain and body rest. The neurochemical surge that is driving the physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms of anxiety will start to neutralise and their anxiety will start to ease. The sooner this happens, the sooner your child can settle and get on with the day. There might be big tears when you leave, and that’s okay. These tears are a sign that the brain has registered futility, and is moving to adaption, which lies at the heart of resilience. It’s never easy watching someone you love so much is distress, but remind yourself that they are safe, that the tears will pass quickly, and that you are providing the experience that will build resilience and courage, and show them they can do hard things”. 

Written by Karen Young - Hey Sigmund

Have a great weekend,

Kind regards,

Tegan McDonald 

Principal

Second Week of Lent

(Week beginning Monday 26 February)

Ronita is 22. She lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines.  

Ronita left school when she became pregnant as a teenager. This could have had a life-long impact on her ability to find work and provide for her family but, thankfully, she heard about the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Caritas Australia’s local partner in the Philippines. 

Through the FCJ, Ronita was able to re-enrol in her studies and continue learning in a safe and flexible environment – even with the arrival of her second child.

After completing her ALS classes, Ronita went on to earn her Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma. With her new diploma, Ronita has now secured a job at a call centre and is looking to a brighter future for her whole family.  

“I have now graduated senior school and I am so proud of myself,” she said. “I feel hopeful for the future… Now it’s not impossible for me to achieve my dream… Thank you.”   

Watch Ronita’s Story

Please donate to Project Compassion.

Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations. 

You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.

Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

School Photos

School photos this year are on Wednesday 6th March.

There is a follow up day on Friday 15th March where students absent on the first date can be photographed.

****Although it is sports day, students should wear summer uniform for photo day - 

Boys: grey shorts and green polo

Girls: green and white gingham dresses

All: black socks and shoes.

End of Season Sale

We currently have boys grey woven shorts on sale - $8/pair.  Jump on to CDFPay and buy a pair for school photo day!

St Patrick's Day Celbrations

Canteen Menu

Our school canteen will be offering a variety of tasty treats for students to enjoy on Wednesdays and Fridays. Below is the price list for the items available:

We kindly ask that students bring limited amounts of money to school on these days to avoid overindulging in sweets. As part of our commitment to promoting healthy eating habits, we have set a limit of ONE lolly treat per child.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us create a balanced and enjoyable canteen experience for all students.

Start of Year Administrative Items

There are still a number of families yet to complete the administrative items mentioned in our bulletin from 8th February (https://spkoroit.schoolzineplus.com/_admin/cms/newsletter/128).

The CyberSafety Agreement, Code of Conduct and information regarding the use of the Church will all pop up as a reminder to attend to when you login to PAM.  It would be appreciated if you could please attend to these as soon as possible.

Assembly Schedule - Term 1

***Please note that Student Awards will only be published in the newsletter and presented on weeks where there is assembly.

Learning Walk

Parents & Friends

P & F Aprons 

If anyone has at home a P&F Apron, could they please return it to the Office ASAP as these are required for the Folk Festival and upcoming catering.  Thanks.

Folk Festival Volunteers

Folkie volunteer packs will be available for collection from the school office from Tuesday - this includes t-shirts, aprons & information.

For those who have volunteered previously, ticketing for volunteers has changed this year with tickets need ing to be collected from the Ticket Office in Port Fairy prior to your shift rather than being included in the pack.

Easter Raffle 

Tickets for the annual Easter Raffle will be coming out soon! This will be drawn at the Easter Liturgy on the last day of Term.

Opportunities to be involved

Please see details below for opportunities to connect with families and to get involved in P&F activities.

Welcome BBQ

Please remember to add your name to the RSVP list for our Welcome BBQ next Thursday!

BBQ Picnic RSVP: https://forms.gle/J4fZxYzWqCHzrLbb6

Casserole Bank

The St Pat's community has a wonderful tradition of the "Casserole Bank" where families come together to provide a meal or snacks/lunchbox items for families within our school who are in need of support (for example, a new arrival, family illness or bereavement).

This year, the Casserole Bank will be coordinated through the school office.  If you are aware of a family requiring support, please contact the office.

If you are willing to help out during the year, please register your name details on the google form below & we will reach out when the need arises.  The more volunteers we have, the fewer times people will be called upon to help out.

Canteen & Cake Raffle Rosters

Thanks to those who have already signed up for the Canteen & Cake Raffle Rosters.

As you can see, there are still some spaces on the Canteen Roster for this term.  Please use the links below if you wish to sign up for a shift.

Canteen Sign Up Sheet - volunteersignup.org/WHHAM

Cake Raffle Sign Up Sheet - volunteersignup.org/PTFPM

CANTEEN ROSTER

Virginia Martin co-ordinates the canteen, arranging for the stocking of snack items and is happy to take questions from prospective volunteers  - 0419 883 657.

CAKE RAFFLE ROSTER (Term 1)

If you have any questions about the Cake Raffle, please contact Kate Dobson 0408 399 144.

Headlice

There has been recent cases of headlice within the school.  The attached information in relation to detecting and controlling headlice comes from the Department of Health.   We ask ethat all parents check for headlice and treat if required.  A co-ordinated approach will help break the cycle and  help prevent reinfection.

It is important to recognise that a single treatment is unlikely to to get rid of all lice and eggs and that retreatment is required.

Star of the Sea Parish Bulletin

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Igwe Kalu who celebrates his birthday this week.  We hope you have a great time celebrating with family and friends.

Mothers who Pray for their Children

'Mothers Who Pray for Their Children’ will hold their first Australian conference, in Melbourne, at the Catholic Leadership Centre.

Immerse yourself in a day, beginning with adoration and Holy Mass. Join for enlightening talks from local, interstate, and international speakers. Listen to the uplifting melodies of acclaimed Catholic musicians, and explore stalls showcasing the richness of our Catholic community, all while embracing the conference’s central theme—‘Walking the Path of Holiness.’

Mothers, grandmother‘s, Godmothers and spiritual mother's, come and secure your place for an enriching day of spiritual growth and community connection!

https://www.motherswhoprayfortheirchildren.com/

Parent Education Opportunity

Directwear Uniform

School Uniform is available from Directwear www.directwear.com.au  

Uniforms can be collected from the Directwear home address in Warrnambool or posted to you.

Tunics (Size 6-12) will available from the middle of Term 1.

Contact details for Direct wear are:

email info@directwear.com.au or phone Dion Jansz: 0412 654 406

Dates to Remember

Please refer to the public calendar on the school website for the most up to date calendar items.

https://www.spkoroit.catholic.edu.au/news-events

Save the Date!

Community News