Newsletter 23 - July 30th 2021
Prayer of the Week
Thankyou Lord
For all your blessings to my family and I
For the strength you give me each day
For my friends
And for all the people around me,
Who make life more meaningful.
Thank you God.
Amen
Principal's Report
It was a great joy to welcome students back to school this week! Well done to everyone for surviving Lockdown 5.0!
Although we are out of lockdown and students are back at school there are still a number of restrictions in place. The school is guided by Catholic Education Ballarat in terms of our operations during this pandemic period. At the moment the school is restricting visitors to the school and not holding any community gatherings. This means that there will be no open assemblies at this stage. The school has also had to postpone school photos for the second time.
Parents are allowed onsite to drop off and pick up children. We ask that everyone follows all health guidelines including wearing a mask and socially distancing. If parents need to come into school buildings or classrooms we ask that you also use sanitiser and check-in. The school QR code is displayed on all main entry points and a manual sign-in sheet is available at the front office.
Although things in Victoria are looking better, we send our thoughts and prayers to those in New South Wales and other parts of the world who are currently facing the deadly consequences of this pandemic.
Thank you
As we return to onsite learning, I would like to again thank all the parents and carers who did their best to ensure that learning continued during lockdown. As a father of three young children including a Grade One student, I am fully aware of the difficulties in juggling home learning with work and other responsibilities.
I also understand the parental guilt that many are experiencing. The pressure to all of a sudden become a replacement classroom teacher has weighed heavily on many. I know from personal experience it is much easier to teach a class of 24 students than your own child at home. The relationship between parent and child is so much different to that of teacher and student. Please be assured that you have done everything possible to assist your child and their learning.
Education is always a joint effort between home and school, especially during this pandemic. As a school we have and will continue to put in place strategies and supports to ensure that students continue their educational progress.
This year the school has increased our teaching and support staff. We have also introduced new intervention programs and an evidence-based literacy framework in the junior area. All of this is done to ultimately improve student learning outcomes.
With Faith in our Future
Chris McAloon
Living in Faith
NATIONAL TREE DAY:
National Tree Day started in 1996 and has grown into Australia's largest community tree-planting and nature care event. It’s a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the community.
Did you know?
More than half of the world’s timber and 72% of paper is consumed by 22% of the world’s population. 1.6 billion People rely on forests for their livelihoods. *Source
For more information please click on link: https://treeday.planetark.org/
Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species, which we will never know, which our children will never see, because they have been lost forever. The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity. Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right." (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, n.33)
As part of Catholic Education 200 years Celebrations from 8th August to 14th August 2021 Catholic school communities are invited to celebrate the important role of families in Catholic Education in Australia. This week also coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary Mackillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Unfortunately due to COVID regulations we will be unable to have a community celebration however we hope to gather together as a whole school for prayer during the week.
What is the Great Book Swap? August 24th & 25th , 2021.
Social Justice are working on our School and Parish community taking part in The Great Book Swap in support for Indigenous Literacy The Great Book Swap is a fantastic way to celebrate reading locally, learn more about Indigenous languages and culture, while raising funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
The idea is that our school/parish community would donate any quality-unwanted children’s books, Social justice will then conduct a Book swap where students are able to purchase any of these donated books for a gold coin donation. All money raised will be donated to the Indigenous Literacy foundation.
We would be grateful for any donations of quality used books. Please drop them off at the office or with your classroom teacher. Many thanks to those who have already donated.
Teaching and Learning
Our St Patrick’s school parents/carers have been phenomenal throughout this COVID journey. It is important to recognise that it is no easy task to redefine your relationship with your children in order to become classroom teachers.
Parents and carers form an integral part of school communities. Substantial evidence exists showing that parent involvement benefits students, including: raising their academic achievement, increased motivation for learning, improved behaviour, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about school in general.
Thankyou for all your support.
“I believe during a pandemic, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing should be our priority, and indeed if we don’t attend to these basic human requirements very little learning can take place. So let us remember that for our precious students to flourish, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing are foundational to any academic growth. “
Tom Sexton Executive Director.
Catholic Education Ballarat.
Pasi Sahlsberg writes in his recent article Five things not to do when schools re-open:
“.... children will not be ready to learn and thrive unless they feel physically and emotionally safe and protected at school. I agree with colleagues who have called for giving top priority to child and teacher wellbeing in schools before expecting that they will be able to return to business-as-usual in school learning.”
Reflection: Imagine if Dr Seuss were alive today, he might write something like this:
The buildings were big and people would smile
And travel they would mile by mile
But sick they became, in numbers it grew
Businesses worried, and communities too.
Things stopped for a bit, the world slowed its roll
The virus had certainly taken its toll.
But what they then saw from slowing things down.
Is in fact they now had less reasons to frown.
Families now gathered, what game shall we play?
Pass me the blue crayon, give mummy the grey.
Dad’s home guys! He’ll read us a book.
Then all of us together will cook.
The lungs of the planet caught a small break.
Less travel meant less pollution to make.
People did realise they’d all be ok.
They don’t need so much to get through the day.
Maybe this virus that caused so much stress
Showed the whole world that more can mean less.
Written by Anonymous, Inspired by Dr Seuss
Wellbeing
Hi all,
Welcome back to school!! What a crazy, busy Term it has already been. I am so glad everyone is back onsite and to see all of the beautiful smiles around the school yard. I have attached the wheel of choice to have a look at this week because it is important to remember that we always have a choice.
In effect we can always turn that choice around if we accidentally make the wrong choice. If you find yourself in a tricky situation this week, have a go at using the wheel of choice.Have a lovely week/weekend everyone see you all next week.
Regards, Lillie Comitti - Wellbeing Officer.
Return to School
Around the Town:
School Sport Victoria and Golf Australia are proud to inform schools that the SSV Golf Tournament is to be held at the Stawell Golf Course on Friday 22nd October 2021.
This is a perfect opportunity for students to participate in a shortened 9-hole course to represent their school. No experience or equipment is necessary. Equipment can be borrowed on the day. Place holders will then qualify to compete in the regional finals and then the state finals if they qualify at the regional finals. In the qualifying rounds students will play 9 holes on a short course, players will
be notified of their progression to the state finals by Golf Australia. Students who qualify
for the SSV State final will play 18 holes on a shortened course at Kooringal Golf Club.
The entries are open to students in year levels 3 through to 6 enrolled at a School Sport Victoria member school.
If any student wishes to compete, entries can be done online at Events Calendar | Golf Australia
or via the link below.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions about the event.
Jayne Young
Paticipation and Development Officer
D:03 8545 6230
M:0459 660 003
E:Jayne.Young@golf.org.au
Upcoming Events
August 21 - 27 - Book Week - Friday August 27th will be a dress up day, more details to follow.
- Book swap - bring along money to purchase new and pre loved books
September 3rd - School Closure Day
Please save the date and get costumes ready, our book week dress up day is happening; however, due to covid restrictions we are unsure what this will look like at this stage.
Established in 1919, Children's Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, young people across the country participate by attending events at schools, libraries, bookstores, celebrating at home, and engaging with book creators.
Acknowledgement of County
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.