2025, Term 3, Week 7 Newsletter

Child Safe Statement and Commitment

The Child Safety Officers at St Patrick's are Tegan McDonald and Shona Louden principal@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au or slouden@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au

Acknowledgement of Country

Principal's Message

Dear parents and carers,

Last week our Grade 3/4 students had a fantastic time at Sovereign Hill Camp! It was wonderful to see them learning, exploring and enjoying the experience together. Both our 5/6s and 3/4s have represented our school beautifully this term while on camp, showing respect, responsibility and pride in everything they do. I couldn’t be prouder of the way our students uphold our school values wherever they go.

This week we are holding our Three-Way Conferences, with the first sessions taking place today and continuing again tomorrow. These conferences are a wonderful opportunity for teachers and families to connect and share in conversations about each child’s progress and goals. Most importantly, they give our students the chance to shine by showcasing their wonderful learning and achievements so far in 2025.

This Thursday we will acknowledge R U OK? Day, a reminder of the importance of checking in with one another and starting conversations that make a difference. Our students will be learning simple but powerful ways to ask the question and support each other with kindness.

It’s also an exciting week for our Grade 5/6 students as they run their Crazy Ideas College (CIC) projects, putting their creativity and problem-solving into action. We can’t wait to see the innovative ideas they’ve been working on.

Finally, this Friday marks the final Little Learners session for children beginning Foundation in 2026. It has been wonderful welcoming these children and their families into our community and we look forward to seeing them continue their learning journey with us next year.

Footy Colours & Hot Dog Day – New Date
Due to changes with Hooptime (beyond our control), our Footy Colours and Hot Dog Day will now take place on Friday 19th September, the last day of term, with a 2.30pm school finish. On this day, our Grade 5/6 students will also be running a Footy Clinic as part of their CIC (Crazy Ideas College) project – a great way to finish the term!

Please note there will be no lunch orders on this day.

Kind regards,

Tegan McDonald

Principal

Prayer

The Season of Creation is marked through the Christian world from September 1st (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) through to October 4th (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy, awe and wonder of creation as well as encouraging awareness-rising initiatives to protect the natural environment.

This year’s Season of Creation has as its theme
“Peace with Creation” inspired by the passage from Isaiah 32:14-18:

“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
in secure dwelling, in quiet resting places.
For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever,
the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks;
until a spirit from on high is poured out on us,
and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abides in the fruitful field.
The effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

R U Ok?

R U Ok? Day is this Thursday 11th. Students will engage in activities to support their wellbeing and learn how to ask the question 'R U Ok?' Here are the 4 key steps that will guide the activities. 

Students are welcome to wear a yellow ribbon pinned to their uniform or in their hair on the day. 

SPECIAL REPORT: R U OK?Day

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations, are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK?Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to help recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK?Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK?Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

Click here to access the RU OK? Special Report.

Footy Colours & Hot Dog Day

*****UPDATED DATE*****

Please note, change in date - this will now be held on the last day of term, Friday 19th September  - existing orders will be swapped to the new date.

Picnic in the Paddock

Picnic in the Paddock is a major event on the St Pat's calendar and hosts families and friends from all over the south west to come and see our wonderful school and enjoy a really fun day out for everyone. We have a committee who meet twice per term to organise the event. PIP is on Sunday October 26. 

We have 2 meetings remaining before the event:

• Wednesday September 10th @ 7pm (Term 3)
• Wednesday October 8th @ 7pm (Term 4)

If you have been interested to know more about PIP or wondering if you'd like to get involved, please feel free to come along to any or all of these meetings, without any commitment. We will be organising sponsorship packs, sampling some new merchandise, and chatting about tasks to be completed before the event. We'd love to see you there!

Lollies

The Picnic in the Paddock Committee are again asking for donations of lollies to make up Lolly Bags to be sold on the day.  Thank you.

Term 4 School Closure Day

The first Monday of Term 4 (6th October) is a school closure day where staff will be have Professional Development on Structured Literacy.

Policy Updates

DOBCEL have recently released updates to the Grievance Policy.  School policies are available on the school website.

Parent contact information

If you have changed your phone or email, address or wish you update your non-guardian emergency contact details, please send an email to Bronie or Kate so we can update your detail in our database. 

bmoloney@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au or kdobson@spkoroit.catholic.edu.au 

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

NEW ST PATRICK'S SOFTSHELL JACKETS!
Now available to order through Directwear.

We’re excited to introduce our brand new school softshell, waterproof jacket!

These jackets are warm, durable and feature the school logo – perfect for chilly mornings and outdoor play.

✔ Comfortable and weather-resistant
✔ Smart, uniform compliant design
✔ Available in a wide range of sizes

Current families are welcome to purchase and begin wearing these immediately!

📌 PLEASE NOTE:
From 2026, these jackets will become a compulsory uniform item (if wearing a jacket) for all new Foundation students as we begin to phase them in across the school. Current families are not expected to purchase but are welcome to.

New Sports House Coloured Hats

We now have available a new style of sports hat with house colours on the reverse side.  Hats are compulsory for outside play in Term 4 and 1 so if you are needing a replacement, you might like to show your house colours with your purchase

School Hat purchases can be made through CDF Pay.

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 3 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

Assembly Roster

Happy Birthday

A very happy birthday to our "triplets" - Mrs Houlihan, Maya Lane & Isla Lilley who all celebrated their birthday last Friday as well as Jonty O'Keefe over the weekend!  We hope you had a fantastic time celebrating with family and friends!

Star of the Sea - Parish Bulletin

Sports Shirts

If you have any Sports Shirts at home from Basketball or other representative events, please return them to Mrs Swarbrick.

Library Returns

There are lots of students with overdue books - it would be great if you could take a look around home for any St Pat's library books & send them in.

Thanks.

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