Newsletter 47 - March 11 th 2022
Prayer of the Week:
Prayer for Lent:
Fast from judging others: feast on Christ dwelling in them
Fast from fear of illness: feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute: feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent: feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger: feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism: feast on hope
Fast from negatives: feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness: feast on forgiveness.
Fast form self- concern: feast on compassion
Fast from suspicion: feast on truth.
Principal's Report:
Welcome
As we reach the mid-way point of the term it is so exciting the number of wonderful things that are happening across the school. After two very interrupted years, it is great for events and activities up and running.
It was so special to have so many parents and carers join us in person or virtually last week for Junior R's assembly. For many students, this was the first term they have presented an assembly and they did a wonderful job. Our assemblies will continue over the term on Friday afternoons.
On Tuesday morning we invite all families to join us for a coffee and a chat on the school oval. We will have a coffee van onsite and would love to see as many families as possible. Our annual book fair will also be open for browsing in the library (as well as at other times during the week).
On Thursday we celebrate our patron saint, St Patrick. We encourage all students to wear green for the day and will hold a special liturgy on the day.
On Friday March 25th the school will hold our annual Harmony Day celebrations. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many cultures that come together to make up our wonderful school community. All students will be working with the instructors from Footsteps to learn a cultural dance during the day. Then from 5 pm, we invite families to join us for a shared picnic. This will include student performances, lawn games, and a food truck. More details to be shared shortly.
COVID Update
This week the School Operations Guide was updated. The most significant change is that if a student or staff member tests positive through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), but don’t have symptoms or have not been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 it is recommended that they get a PCR test within 48 hours and stay isolated until they receive their result. If the PCR test is negative, the student or staff member can return to school.
With Faith in our Future
Chris McAloon
A Word from the Office:
Per Term School Fee Payment
For families planning to pay their school fees in four ‘per term’ instalments, please ensure your first payment is received by the school prior to the end of March (first calendar quarter).
Details for payment by Electronic Transfer are:
National Australia Bank
Account Name: St Patrick’s Primary School Stawell
BSB 083-408
Account: 873223326
For alternative payment options, please don't hesitate to contact me via the School Office.
Anna Wadge
Business Manager
St Patrick's Primary School
55 Patrick Street
(P O BOX 856)
STAWELL . VIC . 3380
Phone 5358 2493
Wellbeing:
Welcome back to week 6. Well done checking in with your wellbeing.
What is Mental Health?
We all have mental health. Mental health is about our feelings, our thinking, our emotions and our moods. Looking after our mental health is important. We all have small feelings every day; these can sometimes feel strong and overwhelming, whether happy or sad, but they go away before too long. Sometimes we experience big feelings; these feel strong and overwhelming for a long time. They stop us doing what we want to in our lives.
Tips for talking to your child about their Mental Health
- Make conversations about mental health a normal part of life: Anywhere is a good place to talk; in the car, walking the dog or cooking together. Model everyday talk about feelings such as by talking about a TV character’s feelings.
- Give Full Attention:We Know It's horrible to be half listened to. Keep eye contact, focus on the child and ignore distractions.
- Check your body language: Try to keep it open and relaxed and make sure you come down to the child’s level.
- Take it seriously: Don’t downplay what the child is saying or tell them they’re “just being silly”. Resist the urge to reassure them that everything is fine.
- Ask open questions: Such as “How did your day go today?” This will help to extend the conversation.
- Calmly stay with the feelings that arise: It can be our automatic reaction to steer away from difficult emotions.
- Offer empathy rather than solutions: Show that you accept what they are telling you but don’t try to solve the problem.
- Remember we are all different: Respect and value the child’s feelings, even though they may be different to yours.
- Look for clues about feelings: Listen to the child’s words, tone of voice and body language.
- Some ways to start a conversation about feelings might be: “How are you feeling at the moment?” “You don’t seem your usual self. Do you want to talk about it?” “Do you fancy a chat?” “I’m happy to listen if you need a chat.
Carrying a positive sense of calm in the palm of your hand
- First ask your child to trace their hand on a sheet of paper.
- The child then thinks of a positive memory that would help them feel safe and
calm to remember even in the midst of stressful and triggering situations. - Write Each Of The Five Senses(seeing,hearing,tasting,touching,smelling)on
each of the five fingers.
- The child (or adult can write it down for the child) will draw and / or write about the memory in the palm of the hand.
- Encourage Your child to identify How The memory is experienced using each of the five senses on each finger and write or draw a picture for each.
- Last but not least, talk about how thinking of this memory can help your child feel a sense of safety and inner calmness despite outer life circumstances.
Teaching and Learning:
Assembly:
How exciting - Assemblies are back for grade level only. At this stage, we are only able to have parents & friends of students in the grade who are hosting the assembly. Visitors to school buildings and assemblies will also need to provide evidence of vaccination. Classrooms that are not presenting assembly will be able to watch the assembly online.
Assemblies will start at 2:50pm in the school hall.
Assembly roster for term 1:
Week 7 18th March Grade 2
Week 8 25th March No assembly Harmony day
Week 9 1st April Grade 3/4
Week 10 8th April Foundation
We are thrilled to be able to welcome back our classroom helpers. We value and appreciate everyone who supports our classroom learning.
If you would like to help in our classrooms please contact me via dojo or leave a message with Anna at the office and I will get back to you.
You will need a current Working with Children’s Check, be triple vaxxed and adhere to current COVID regulations to participate as a Classroom Helper.
ANNUAL SWIMMING CARNIVAL:
A few weeks ago, our school held its annual swimming carnival at the Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre. Barrett House triumphed on the day scoring 609 points, second was Mackillop House on 581 points and third was Joseph House on 518 points.
Our individual champions for each age group are listed below
12 and Over Girls: Age Champion - Eedie Hanns, Runner Up - Isabelle Thomas
12 and Over Boys: Age Champion - Ryder Sullivan, Runner Up - William St Clair
11 Year Old Girls: Age Champion - Bonnie Kuchel, Runner Up - Milla Mitchell
11 Year Old Boys: Age Champion - Ethan Jones & Callum Reading
Runner Up - Edward Redford
10 Year Old Girls: Age Champion - Eleana O'Kwor, Runner Up - Milla Woolley
10 Year Old Boys: Age Champion - Archie Macpherson, Runner Up - Jackson Notting
9 Year Old Girls: Age Champion - Mia Bailey, Runner Up - Charli Pickering
9 Year Old Boys: Age Champion - Ethan Prydderch, Runner Up - William Lasslett
Last Friday, 14 of our students namely Eedie Hanns, Bonnie Kuchel, Laura Martin, Archie Macpherson, Jackson Notting, Eleana O'Kwor, Maddison Prydderch, Archie Ross, Tom Ross, Will St Clair, Jack Sullivan, Ryder Sullivan, Greta Thomas and Isabelle Thomas represented our school at the Little Desert & Black Ranges Swimming Carnival at the Horsham Aquatic Centre. Each student did a wonderful job, giving their all and displaying great sportspersonship on the day.
Fantastic results from Bonnie, Maddison, Archie, Jack, Ryder, Greta and the boys relay team comprising Ryder, Will, Archie and Tom will see them travel back to Horsham to represent our school at the next level, the Greater Western Region Swimming Championships on the 18th of March.
Divisional Swimming
Foundation News:
It has been very busy in Foundation this week. We had our first Wednesday at school. We enjoyed having our first lessons of Sport, Art and Chinese.
In Writing we have been reading the story 'Bogtrotter'. We have talked about what it would be like to live in a muddy, mushy bog. We have drawn pictures about what we think the Bogtrotter might do when he left the bog for the first time, and what he might see out in the world. We have been practising tracing letters and have had a go at copying words from the board.
In Reading we have been learning about the letters 's', 't' and 'm' and the sounds that they make. We have met Tommy Tiger for the letter T, Maggie Mouse for the letter M and Sammy Seal for the letter S. We have been working on breaking words into syllables, and into the individual sounds. We have had lots of fun listening to words broken down into their sounds, and acting the word out.
In Maths we have been learning about counting in different ways, and that we can count objects in different directions and we will still get the same number at the end. We have also been looking at groups of objects and making our best estimate of how many we think we can see without counting.
We are thrilled to be able to welcome Footsteps dance company back to celebrate Harmony Day with us. Every year at St Patrick’s we have a wonderful celebration recognising the diversity and inclusivity of our school, parish and wider community. We would love everyone to participate in this community event which also celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
We invite our school community to celebrate Harmony Day on Friday 25th March, 2022.
Students will work with the footsteps dance instructor from Melbourne at an allocated time during the school day to learn a cultural dance.
Students and our St Patrick’s Community are then invited to come together for an evening celebration which will commence at approximately 5:00pm. A food van will be onsite for you to purchase dinner.
Please note COVID regulations will apply
Living in Faith:
Annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal - Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion.
Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations or you can donate online via our website at lent.caritas.org.au Let’s Go Further, Together!
For more information: https://lent.caritas.org.au/#blank
The theme of Project Compassion 2022 is For all Future Generations and it reminds us that the good that we do today will impact the lives of generations to come.
Your generous support today can help to change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Prayer for peace and justice in Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
who change the hardened heart
and break the power of violence
we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.
Protect them in this time of peril;
let them know not death but life,
not slavery but freedom.
You are Father of all;
we are brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength
to live that truth in love,
choosing peace not war.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Andrew Chinn Peace prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOU3Se975kI
St Patrick's Day Liturgy
Students will be gathering in our school hall for a St Patrick’s day liturgy next Thursday 17th March, 2022.
Due to COVID19 restrictions we are unable to have our community celebrate with us.
Children are encouraged to wear green for the day.
Who was St Patrick?
Although many think of Ireland when we talk about St. Patrick, he was actually born in Britain in the 5th century.
He was snatched by Pirates, thrown in a ship, bound in chains, and taken over the sea to Ireland. He was sixteen years old. For six years, Patrick was a slave in Ireland. He was put to work watching sheep and cattle.
During those years, Patrick started to pray. He thought about God all the time, and it gave him peace of mind. He knew that no matter how much he was suffering, God loved him.
Eventually, Patrick escaped from slavery and traveled to France. He then returned to Ireland and spent his life as a Christian missionary credited with converting Ireland to Christianity in the AD 400s.
His real name is believed to be Maewyn Succat and he took on the name Patrick upon becoming a priest.
Birthdays:
Congratulations to our students having their birthday this week :
Abigail O'Donnell
Mia Bailey
Torah pickering
Akech kur
Great Thomas
Around Our Community:
Please follow us on instagram; stpatsstawell
During the week of Tuesday March 15th through to Friday March 18th our school will be hosting our yearly book fair. The school will receive a commission in the form of free books the percentage calculated according to the number of books sold. This means the more books sold the more free books for the school.
Each class will be given the opportunity to preview the books during this week. Children can write down any book/books they are interested in for a parents/carers to consider. Parents/carers are welcome to come and browse at the book fair in the preview and buying times. Times were sent home yesterday for each class to view and buy.
Money can be sent to school in an envelope with the child/Childrens name, class and the book they wish to purchase, correct money will be much appreciated. We understand that sometimes families are unable to purchase books from the fair, there is no expectation from the school for families to do so. We are hoping that we can have many of the books in our school library for everyone to enjoy.
If you would like to know more about the book fair please feel free to see Mrs Smith at school.
Parish Bulletin:
Good afternoon everyone
Please find attached the bulletin for this coming Sunday
Also attached is an advertisement for the Victoria-wide mosque open day this Sunday
The Ararat Mosque is to the left of the train station as you enter the carpark. It will be open from 10am-4pm
Can I give every encouragement for people to attend
The locals will be very affirmed if you do.
It’s not necessary to book in your visit, but it will be helpful for catering??
Fr Andrew
Upcoming Events:
Friday 11th March - Visable School Learning PD - Student Free Day
Monday 14th March - Labour Day Public Holiday - No School
Tuesday 15th March - Book Fair Week in the Library - Parents and Children can Purchase Books
Thursday 17th March - St Patricks Day - Children & Staff encouraged to wear Green casual clothes
Friday 18th March - Greater Western Region Swimming Championships Horsham
Friday 25th March - Harmony Day Celebrations - Footsteps Dance Company onsite, please wear orange, red or yellow clothes. Activities from 5:30 pm Dance demonstration and food vans available for you to purchase tea. Please bring a chair or picnic rug we cant wait to see you all. Double vaccination required per CEOB guidelines.
Wednesday 30th March - School Cross country North Park
Monday 4th - 6th April - Senior F and M School Camp to Melbourne
Friday April 8th 2022 - End Term 1
Tuesday 26th April - Teachers First aid all day. Student Free day
Wednesday 27th April - Start Term 2 for Students
Acknowledgement of Country:
We acknowledge the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land. 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.