Newsletter 43 - February 11 th 2022
Prayer of the Week:
God of New Beginnings, guide us with your spirit as we
begin our new school year. May we be excited about
experiencing and learning all that is new to us. May we
realise how important each of us are and
commit to and act on the small difference we can make.
May we bring peace through small acts of gentleness and reconciliation.
May we bring wealth through small contributions and collaborations.
And, in these small ways O god, may our small differences make a big contribution to our world.
Amen.
Principal's Report:
Welcome
Although we are only two weeks into the school year there is already so much happening. It has been wonderful to see our new Foundation students quickly adapting to school life. We have also welcomed a number of new students in other year levels into our school community. A new year and new faces always bring renewed hope and energy.
Unfortunately, we have had a number of members of our school community affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are unwell and we wish them a speedy recovery.
I will continue to keep the school community updated as to any cases where a person has been onsite during their infectious period. As a school, we will continue to follow all health protocols to ensure that everyone is safe. These protocols include hand hygiene, ventilating classrooms, the use of air purifiers, mask-wearing, limiting visitors, ongoing cleaning and disinfection.
Rapid antigen testing also plays an important role in limiting the spread of COVID-19. The school has just received our next allocation of rapid antigen tests. Each student is able to collect one packet of 5 tests to be used over the next two weeks.
Tests can be collected from the front office between 8:30am and 4pm each day. If you are unable to collect the tests during these times please contact the school to make alternative arrangements.
Rapid antigen testing is voluntary and it is recommended that students test at home twice a week on school days.
All students who return a positive result from a rapid antigen test should also follow the latest advice at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rapid-antigen-tests
With Faith in our Future
Chris McAloon
A Word from the Office:
Do you have a concession card?
If you hold a current, eligible Health Care or Pension Concession Card, you may be eligible for;
- Family Fee Assistance Scheme – a discount available to eligible families on the Capital Levy and Family Tuition component of your school account.
- Camp, Sport & Excursion Fund (CSEF) – funding of $125.00 (per enrolled child) applied to the Camp and/or Excursion component of your account.
Information regarding eligibility and application forms are available from the School Office. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be required to complete an application and present your current, eligible concession card at the School Office. Please note a new application must be completed each year - the school is unable to accept copies of concession cards on file from previous applications and incomplete applications are unable to be processed.
Applications must be received by the School Office by Thursday 10th March 2022.
Should you have any questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Anna Wadge
Business Manager
Ph: 5358 2493
UNIFORMS: For those that wish to make a donation and take home some near new uniforms please come to the front office this week. These items are available all year however at the moment are set up in the foyer for you to peruse. Thankyou P and F.
Wellbeing:
St Patrick’s primary school introduced new school values this year:
We are safe We are respectful We are learners
These values help remind our students of the correct way to behave while at school. We hope these values also resonate with you at home.
Take a look at the wonderful display our students created in Art to represent the school values.
Mental health and well-being coordinator - Lillie Comitti.
Teaching and Learning:
Intervention programs:
Currently we are in the process of testing, analyzing data and allocating students to our various intervention programs. At St Patrick’s we are fortunate to be able to offer these programs. The programs we offer are: Minilit Junior Reading Intervention, Macqlit - Middle/Senior Reading Intervention, Toe by Toe - literacy intervention, Spelling Mastery - spelling intervention and JEMM - Middle/Senior maths intervention.
Cars n Stars Reading Program:
We are very excited to be in the process of introducing a new reading program to our Middle learning areas. The program is researched and evidence based online reading program.
Currently students in Grade 3/4 are working through an online assessment. This will help us assess our students' reading ability and will provide teachers with a detailed analysis of each individual student's point of need. Next week Miss Bonney, Miss Hughes and myself will meet with our Cars n Stars consultant to work through the next steps of the program. We look forward to providing you with further details as we embark on the program.
Staff fire training
Staff were very keeen to update their fire skills on Tuesday night. With several staff showing their skills with fire blanket use and Co2 fire extinguishers in place of the schools powder extinguishers. We thank Chris Tasic for his skills and very informative presentation.
Living in Faith:
Due to COVID regulations our opening school celebrations have looked a bit different this year. Grade 5/6 celebrated mass with Fr Andrew at church, Junior celebrated in the junior hub and Middle classes were in the hall. We thank Fr Andrew for celebrating mass with the Senior class.
The theme of the prayer today was “kindness” and is based on the gospel reading of “The Mustard Seed.” The mustard seed is one of the smallest, yet the tree which grows from this seed is one of the largest.
We imagined that this seed is an impact we can have on somebody in our school community. To us, it may seem small - a comment, a greeting, some attention. But to the receiver, it may be huge, just like a mustard tree. Just as tall trees from tiny seeds can grow, so can we contribute to the lives of those around us - through small acts of kindness and love - making a difference so large we may not even recognise. We know how important it is to live in faith and follow Jesus’ examples and teachings. Each of us can make a difference through small acts of kindness by how we treat each other.
When we are kind to each other, using kind actions and words, the light of Jesus within us shines for others to see. No matter who we are, we can all work together to make a difference to those around us.
As we participated in our prayer today, we reflected on what we do as a school community and how the small things that we do can have a large impact on people.
Opening school mass grade 5 and 6
Students of the week
Congratulations to all our Students of the week:
Jai Hine: For settling into school routines and always being ready to help out around the classroom.
Harry Sutherland: For having a fantastic transition to school and always being ready to learn.
Oscar Erwin - for being a fabulous new member of our class and school. Welcome to St. Patrick's!
Henry Carter - for having an amazing start to Grade 1. You are an amazing learner and you always try your best and don't give up. Keep up the hard work!
Lilly Hine – For coming back to school with a positive and focused mindset.
Kayde Weary - For settling into the new school year by working hard and showing confidence in all that he attempts.
Jackson Notting - for your outstanding work with our School Values activities.
Beverly Parkin Alamo - for your fabulous Crazy Cones Alliteration activity.
Chloe Pearce - For displaying a positive approach to her learning and making every effort to challenge herself each day. She embodies our values of being respectful and being a learner and is a role model within our class.
Vibeesh Ranjay - For working diligently and showing an excellent attitude towards learning activities. He displays our values of being a learner and being respectful each and every day.
Zarah Job: For a fantastic start to the school year and the positive choices you have been making towards your learning. Keep up the super work!
Zachary Ford: For taking on all learning tasks your best efforts and for having such a positive and happy start to the year.
Kaleb Carleson - for your willingness to answer questions in front of your peers during class time.
Milla Mitchell - for always being willing to share your thoughts and opinions during class discussions.
Birthdays:
Congratulations to all these students who have a birthday this week:
Grace Oram
Lexie Bailey
Isaac O'Callaghan
Jayson Daniel
Junior 1 R what super learners you are...
Around Our Community:
Dear Stawell and region school leaders,
The following are details of help available in Stawell and region for those in need. Back to school can be a very financially difficult time for families so I thought that it would be a good time to renew these details with your school office and with parents via your school newsletter. Families having trouble with back to school expenses should contact Stawell St Vincent de Paul while families might seek food help from the Stawell Inter Church Council welfare Cottage to free up some money for those school expenses. I’m also attaching details of how to access the Red Cross Home Isolation Food Hampers.
“You, or someone you know, might need help in Stawell and surrounding regions –
For food aid go to Stawell Inter Church Council welfare Cottage at 20 Sloane St. Stawell Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays between 10.30am and 12.30pm. For out of hours emergencies ring
– 0408 038 949. For help other than food contact Stawell St Vincent de Paul by ringing
-0437 344 323 and leaving a message. You will be called back within 24 hours.
If you have to isolate at home because of covid and are in need of food aid help is accessable through Red Cross home isolation food hampers ring Norther Grampians Shire – 53588700 or Grampians Community Health home isolation unit – 53587400.”
Thanks and best wishes for what I’m sure will be another challenging school year.
Regards, Mary Rita Thomas
Secretary, Stawell Inter Church Council, Member of Stawell St Vincent de Paul
Parish Bulletin:
Upcoming Events:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday February 14th,15th,17th - Grades 5-6, 3-4 Swimming Lessons
Monday, Tuesday February 21st and 22nd - Grades 5-6, 3-4 Swimming Lessons 10:30-11:30am
Thursday February 24th - School swimming Carnival at Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre. Middle and Senior children will be taken by bus from school first race at 10am. All parents and Grandparents are welcome to attend as per SSAC guidelines attached below. Foundation and Junior R and H/C will join us for a BBQ lunch (gratefully put on by the Middle and Senior school Parents) and cheering of relays and Captains vs Teachers race.
Wednesday 2nd March - Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Friday 4th March - Black Ranges Swimming Carnival Horsham
Monday 7th March -Foundation at school Full time
Friday 11th March - Visable School Learning PD - Student Free Day
Monday 14th March - Labour Day Public Holiday - No School
Thursday 17th March - St Patricks Day - Children & Staff encouraged to wear Green casual clothes
Wednesday 23rd March - Maths Olympics at SSC
Friday 25th March - Harmony Day Celebrations - Footsteps Dance Company onsite, please wear orange, red or yellow clothes. Activities TBC
Monday 4th - 6th April - Senior F and M School Camp to Melbourne
April 8th 2022 - End Term 1
Tuesday 26th April - Start Term 2
*SSAC to enter these premises all Patrons must QR check in, show their vaccination certificate and wear a mask. This is for any sports day supporters. Thankyou.
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land on which our school stands.
We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
We thank them for sharing their cultures, spiritualities and ways of
living with the land in this place we all now call home.