2025, Term 1, Week 9 Newsletter

The Child Safety Officer at St Patrick's is Shona Louden. slouden@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au

Acknowledgement of Country

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to week 9! It’s hard to believe that we are 2 weeks away from the end of Term 1 already.

I’ll keep the newsletter short and sweet this week with a special announcement and thank you to our P&F team.

Our amazing Parents & Friends (P&F) have been working hard, bringing our community to life with fantastic fundraising events like the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Easter Raffle, Koroit Irish Festival, Picnic in the Paddock, and year-round catering. Beyond raising funds, they’ve also created unforgettable social moments for our students and families, including the Welcome BBQ, Parents’ Night Out, Disco, Colour Run, and Footy Colours Day.

These events unite us, strengthen our community, and directly benefit our children. Thanks to the P&F’s generosity and dedication, we’re thrilled to share that we’ll be investing in decodable readers for our home reading program. This exciting purchase completes our shift from predictable texts (non evidence based) to decodable texts (evidence based), boosting our students’ literacy journey both at school and now at home.

We couldn’t have done this without the P&F’s hard work and the generous time donated by our families—events like these simply wouldn’t happen without you! A massive thank you for making our school community so special. 

Want to join the fun and get involved? Please reach out—we’d love to have you on board!

Kind regards,

Tegan McDonald 

Principal

This week we are sharing what SWPBS looks like at St Pat's when we are in the Learning Spaces.

A Prayer for Harmony in Our School Community

Loving God,

We thank You for the wonderful diversity within our school and the many backgrounds that enrich our learning environment. Help us to open our hearts to each other, to listen with kindness, and to celebrate the unique gifts that every student, parent, and teacher brings.

May we always walk in the spirit of respect and understanding, treating one another with love and compassion. Guide us to create a school community where peace, unity, and inclusion flourish, and where everyone feels valued and supported.

We ask this in Your name,

Amen.

Closure Days - April 22nd and 24th

ear Families,

St Patrick's Koroit will be closed for the following collaborative professional development days at the start of Term 2 (as advised).

The first week of Term 2 includes two public holidays: Easter Monday and ANZAC Day (Friday). With the support of our governing body, DOBCEL Tuesday, April 22nd and Thursday, April 24th will be student-free days. 

On these days, St Patrick’s staff will participate in collaborative professional learning with colleagues from Southern Zone Catholic primary schools.

The focus for these professional learning days will include:

• Tuesday, April 22nd: St Patrick’s Port Fairy Collaboration Learning Day

• Thursday, April 24th: Presentation of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035, titled "Pursuing Fullness of Life for All."

This comprehensive plan aims to enhance the performance of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat over the next decade. The strategy will be presented to all staff members of DOBCEL schools by Executive Director, Tom Sexton, throughout Term 2. All schools in the Southern Zone will gather at St Joseph's Primary School, Warrnambool, on April 24th to ensure everyone in the Zone has a clear understanding of this strategy and its vision. This day will be a School Closure Day for all schools in the Southern Zone. The full Executive Summary of the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy is available on the DOBCEL website or hard copies can be obtained from the school office.

Please note Wednesday, April 23rd will remain open for ALL students. However, you are welcome to take the day off if needed which will make it a 3 week break including Easter holidays. 

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Kind Regards,

Tegan McDonald

Principal
St Patrick's Primary School, Koroit.

Koroit Irish Festival

This year we will again be having our famous Baked Potatoes (along with toasted sandwich van) at this years Irish Festival on Saturday 26th April.

These events do not happen without the support of our St Patrick's community and we are looking for the support of families to help wash the potatoes (at school on Wednesday after morning drop off - stay for an hour or stay until they are finished!).

If you could let me know via e-mail (kdobson@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au) or text 0408 399 144 if you are able to help with the potato washing, that would be fabulous.

For our Saturday stall, please sign up using this link for a shift on the production line, in the toastie van or as part of the pack up crew - Koroit Irish Festival stall. 

Either volunteering to help on the Wednesday or at the event will go towards your volunteer levy & for the stall on Saturday, you will also be eligible for a wristband for the Saturday of the festival.

***More information next week on our St Patrick's float in the parade.

Concussion – Important information to be aware of

If your child has experienced concussion outside of the school setting it is important that they rest for a period of 24 to 48 hours and then gradually return to activities after this time. Returning to school can be a graduated approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sporting activities. It is always important to check with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.

It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of school; this is to ensure the school can monitor your child’s wellbeing and adapt activities as required.

This factsheet link below from the Royal Children’s Hospital is valuable to read and understand.

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Head_injury_return_to_school_and_sport/

There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch children’s research institute that walks you through what to do in the result of a concussion.

https://www.headcheck.com.au/

NCCD Parent Information

Over the coming weeks at St Patrick's classroom teachers are holding Program Support (PSG) Meetings for students who are a part of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) count in August of each year. If your child is a part of these meetings I will have contacted you via email or phone. 

I have attached a parent information sheet below for you to read about this process. 

Bridget Van Den Broek,
Learning Diversity Leader

Wellbeing - Online Parent Sessions

The Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Services have upcoming online parent groups that are open to the public over the April school holiday period.

Wellbeing - Youth Mental Health Roadshow with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Dr. Carr-Gregg will cover a range of critical issues facing young people today, empowering parents, carers and other loved ones with the knowledge and tools to help navigate the challenges of parenting. Dr. Carr-Gregg will offer a range of practical and actionable advice that can be implemented immediately to support children and adolescent mental health.
Scan the QR code on the parent carer flyer attached or visit the below link to save your seat! 

Tickets for Parents & Carer Session - Warrnambool: https://www.lighthousetheatre.com.au/index.php/2025-youth-mental-heath-road-show-parents-carers

Easter Egg-stravaganza

You may have heard the exciting news! We are hosting an Easter Egg-stravaganza on Thursday March 27th from 2-4pm. This is an opportunity for us to showcase our wonderful school community to the local kinder families and to encourage families to consider us in their search for a school.

Parents & Friends

We’d love to see more families join in and help make our school events successful and fun! If you would like any further information or have ideas of opportunities we can take advantage of, please contact either myself or Todd Noble on todd.james.noble@gmail.com.

Tegan

Easter Raffle

Drawn at the Easter Egg-stravaganza!  Tickets have been sent home.  You can utilise both sides of the tickets.

Thanks for your support.

Dads Night

Attention Dads of St. Patrick's Primary!

We are excited to announce that we’ll be hosting several social catch-ups throughout the year. Last year's events were enjoyed by all who attended, and we look forward to making more great memories together!

Join us for our first gathering on 27th March at 6:30 PM at Dukes Commercial Hotel! If you're interested please text Sam at 0438 791 427.

We will create a group message to keep everyone up to date on events. We hope to see you there!

Canteen & Cake Raffle

The Canteen & Cake Raffle are coordinated by our P&F.

Canteen operates at lunchtime on Wednesday and Friday.  Wednesday is sales of  icy-poles and snacks and Friday includes distribution of lunch orders. 

Click here to sign up for the Term 1 Canteen Roster

Cake Raffle is just something for fun! Students can purchase tickets in the classroom on Friday mornings for 20cents and the raffle is drawn by a student from the family who has supplied the cake.  "Cake" is a general term - the prize does not have to be home made and you can choose to bring whatever you like biscuits, slice or chocolates.

Click here to sign up for the Cake Raffle Roster

You will receive a reminder email from the Volunteer Sign Up platform a couple of days prior to your duty and once we have some people signed up, the roster will be published in the newsletter.

Assembly Roster

Assembly is held in the hall at 2.45pm Fridays. Parents, siblings, grandparents and friends are welcome to attend.  Any changes to assembly times will be notified by ClassDojo.

Student awards are presented at assembly and published in the newsletter the following week. If your child is receiving an award, we do try to notify you beforehand.

Hats

In line with SunSmart requirements, students are required to wear hats outside during recess and lunch.  Please ensure your child brings their hat to school each day.  

If you do require a new hat, they can be purchased through CDF Pay.  

Lost Property & Second Hand Uniform

We've cleared out some long term items from the Lost Property but we don't want to refill it - please remember to label your uniform items so your uniforms don't end up here!

Second Hand Uniform

Please speak to Becc Sanderson 0423 956 556 if you wish to purchase or donate some preloved items of uniform.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Georgie Atwell, Savannah Wood and Charlotte Wright who have celebrated birthdays this week.  We hope you had a fantastic time celebrating with family and friends!

Star of the Sea - Parish Bulletin

Sports Shirts and School Bags - pricing Update

The School Sports Polo shirts and School Bags are purchased through the school via CDF Pay.

There has been an increase in the price of sports shirts to $55 and School Bags to $57 - these are cost price from our suppliers.

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.

Contact details for Direct wear are:

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

GREY TROUSERS WITH LOGO - We are over stocked and need to reduce what we have.

RRP $59.50

From now until 30th June 2025 unless sold out prior -  $29.75, that's half price!

First in best dressed.

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

Community News

Information on Koroit Saints Netta program will be shared the coming weeks.