Newsletter 80-December 9th 2022

This week marks the  third Sunday of Advent and gives us the opportunity to prepare our hearts in faithful waiting, celebrate the birth of Jesus, and prepare ourselves for his second coming. As we get closer to Christmas this Sunday we light the third candle which is the Sunday of  Joy. 

The third candle on our Advent wreath is pink to celebrate the joy of waiting!

God of the Dream, Encourage and empower us to live and be God’s Dream of hope, peace, joy and love for all people. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

2023 School Fees
Please see attached information regarding 2023 School Fees.
For families on direct debit or standing EFT arrangements and those with students starting or finishing at St Patrick's next year, please consider whether your current payment arrangements will need to be amended.  
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the office should you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Anna Wadge Business Manager

School Term Dates 2023:

Term 1: January 30th - 6th April

Term 2: 24th April - 23rd June

Term 3: 10th July - 15th September

Term 4: 2nd October - 19th December

MATES Mentor Program 🤝

Last week the children who were a part of the MATES Program enjoyed a day celebrating the end of the year and their last session with their mate. Thank you to the team at Central Grampians LLEN for allowing us to join the end of year celebration. We had a sensational time learning about all different kinds of animals with Jamie and Kim’s mobile zoo.

St Patrick’s Primary school are extremely grateful to have become a part of the MATES mentor program this year. We have seen many positive outcomes from the fortnightly session. 

The aims of the MATES Mentoring program are clearly outlined in its acronym:

Mentor – to provide an additional positive role model in the lives of young people

Assist – to assist and extend the positive life experience of young people

Target – to specifically target life and educational goals of young people

Engage – to engage young people more fully into their schools and local communities

Skills – to identify and enhance the skills of young people

If you wish to become a MATES volunteer please follow the link below or contact me (Lillie Comitti) 

MATES Mentor form

Maddox and Jessie 

Jett and Jane 

Noah and Kate 

Assembly:   It is fantastic to once again have our Friday school assemblies happening. Assembly starts at 2:50pm every Friday afternoon in the hall. All family and community members are welcome. 

Assembly roster for term 4:

 Week 10 - Middle H                   Week 11 - Buddy & Foundation

End of year celebrations:

We need to take time to celebrate our amazing achievements this year and reconnect with our community.  

* Please join us at our End of Year Celebrations - School Picnic and Carols to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our school and community working together to ensure the best outcomes for our students. 

What are some of the moments of the school year that stand out? What are some of the challenges that yielded success? Celebrating the successes of the year helps end the year on a positive note. 

End of Year celebrations - Carols on the green

When: Wednesday 14th December, 2022.Where:  St Patrick's Primary School Oval   

Time:  6:30pm   Catering:  BYO picnic or OZI Kebabs food van will be here (same as Harmony Day) 

BYO: chairs/picnic blanket 

Foundation to Grade 5 students can wear casual clothes. 

Carols:  Each year level will present a Christmas Carol throughout the evening.  Our Foundation students and their buddies are starting next week to work on performing and recording an interpretation of the Nativity Story.  This should be fun.  The short performance will be filmed and shown prior to our carol performances. 

End of year Grade 6 Graduation mass:     Unfortunately due to the Church being renovated our end of year Graduation mass will be held in the school hall.  Due to the large number of students and guests we are unable to invite our whole school community to celebrate this.  Our Grade 6 Graduation mass will start at 5:30pm (school uniform to be worn please) following which we will go into our school carols presentations and picnic for our whole community. 

We have been busy finishing our tasks for the end of the year.

Currently we are working on…..

Reading 

We read The Little Red Sleigh and we had to write about what we wanted to be when we grew up

Writing

Creating and producing a mystery narrative called ‘Who pushed Humpty Dumpty’. We are writing from the perspective of the detective and have created some very interesting scenarios involving Humpty falling from the wall.

Religion

Creating Christmas cards and decorations for our community. The students have put a lot of time and effort into the design of their cards and also their decorations. We have made origami stars, woollen reindeer and stars.

Inquiry

Creating and presenting our Christmas song using body percussion and percussion instruments.

This week we also did a STEM Christmas Tree Challenge. We had to design and build the tallest tree possible using only 20 paper cups and some paper ornaments. It was great fun.

STUDENT QUOTES

Jett

I’ve liked doing my passion project on dinosaurs 

Serena

I’ve liked doing all the Christmas activities and creating the decorations for others in our community 

Thomas

I’ve liked doing my Art lessons

Fundraising: Every Friday our Social Justice group will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1.00 each at lunch time.

October is World Mission Month, a month dedicated to the life-giving work of missionaries around the world.  This year Catholic Mission is raising money for local communities in Ethiopia to help provide life-changing opportunities to those most in need.  If you would like more information or wish to make a donation please visit:

https://www.catholicmission.org.au/worldmissionmonth

Below is an extract from Catholic Mission and their current work in Ethiopia. 

We are currently supporting a range of mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society. In the rural region of Emdibir, where 70 percent of families struggle to put food on their tables, we are working towards providing them with a sustainable source of nutrition by building a goat rearing centre. The resources produced through the Centre will help fight malnutrition, a phenomenon that contributes to 50 percent of child deaths.  In the capital, Addis Ababa, the life-giving work carried out by our local partners is helping children access education. We are also supporting women in the town of Meki to learn skills and gain financial independence by providing access to vocational training, which can help them secure employment or start their own businesses. 

As always we thank our St Patrick’s community for your support. 

Maryanne Comitti    Religious Education Leader 

Sustainable Christmas

With  only a few weeks till Christmas most have begun our preparations.  In Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ published in 2015, Pope Francis invites us to choose a different lifestyle in a world where “the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products” (No. 203). 

Pope Francis calls us to move towards “more sustainable lifestyles”.  There are ways to live a sustainable Christmas in harmony with our common home. 

Below are a few ideas to consider for a more sustainable Christmas: 

Cards

• Have you heard about “plantable” cards? They can double as a card and a gift!

• Reuse old Christmas cards to create your own unique ones.

Gifts

• Consider the packaging when purchasing gifts and food. Look for items with as little packaging and plastic as possible.

• Shop in local stores. 

• Give a potted Christmas tree as a gift. The receiver can grow it and even plant it later on. 

• Opt for fabric products that are certified to be eco-friendly and toxin-free. 

• Buy toys or gifts that have the least amount of plastic, and do not use batteries. 

• Use your creative talents to make a gift or vouchers for services you will provide. 

• Offer an experience like concert tickets, a hot air balloon trip or a spa day.

Gift wrapping

• Instead of paper, wrap gifts in reusable materials like fabric or recyclable ones like recycled wrapping paper or brown paper (especially for large packages), children’s artwork or newspaper.

• Make gift bags and tags made from old newspapers, cloth or other strong recycled material.

• Raffia, string or twine are eco-friendly replacements for colorful plastic ribbons. 
  

• Reuse shipping materials when sending packages and avoid purchasing bubble wrap.

After Christmas

• Recycle as much as you can! Collectively, we can make a huge difference in the world we live in—let’s make it a joyous time for Mother Nature as well.

• Decide how to save your potted Christmas tree.
• Think about any unwanted presents. Return them, regift them, or give them to charity rather than letting them collect dust or tossing them into the trash. Remember that one person’s trash is another’s treasure!

5c Challenge is back

Once again St Patrick’s Primary School annual 5 cent challenge will start from Monday 28th November 20222 to our final day of the Term. 

Last year our school community raised enough money to fund four children through the St Vincent de Paul Assist a Student program. These three childrens school education was fully paid for by the generosity of our school community. 

Each classroom is participating in our annual 5cent challenge.  We are seeking donations of 5c coins to go into our money boxes in the classrooms. 

For more information please see:  https://www.vinnies.org.au/page/Our_Impact/International_Impact/Assist_a_student_today/

Why do we at St Patrick’s raise money for the poor?  

Catholic schools participate in the Church’s mission “to bring the Good News to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In partnership with parents, parishes and other agencies within the Church and the broader community, Catholic schools are called to give witness to a faith which does justice with love. All have a responsibility to read the signs of the times and to respond with love and compassion, ever seeking to protect human dignity and serve the common good. The Catholic Church teaches that the poor represent those who are marginalised in society. Jesus himself taught the importance of helping those who are poor and need help.

Second hand uniforms

At this time of year please consider if your child’s uniform is too small and donate it to the second hand uniform bank.  Likewise if you need a new uniform for next year please call into the office as we have a large amount available. 

If you are able, uniform purchase is a gold coin donation. 

Maryanne Comitti - Religious Education Leader

Last day of school events - Friday 16th December, 2022

Whole school prayer - whole school community invited. 

We will gather at 8:45am in the school hall for a whole school prayer.  This prayer will be our way as a whole school community to reflect upon and celebrate all we have achieved this year.  As a whole school community we will also pray for our departing Grade 6 students and departing staff and students. It is a special occasion for our school community which you are welcome to attend. 

Free Sausage Sizzle lunch for students. 

We will be providing a free sausage sizzle lunch for our students.  An order form will go home next week. 

Assembly - Whole school community invited to attend

At 2:50pm we will gather for our final school assembly of 2022 in the school hall. Our Grade 6 students will be hosting.  We will show their Year 6 Graduation imovie.  

We will also present our 2023 School Captains and Vice-Captains to our community.

Khoor Kur - For being very brave and resilient throughout school swimming. We’re very proud of you Khoor.

Alfie Freeland - For the dedication and persistence you continue to put into all learning areas this year. You’re kicking goals Alfie, well done!

Keesha O'Kwor - Thank you for being a wonderful member of our school.  You are an amazing and great learner.  All the best for your move to Perth, we will miss you! 

Jayson Daniel - For being brave and giving everything a go at swimming. I am so proud of you!

Aaliyah Carlsen - For being such a kind, patient and hard working Grade Two student. Well done Aaliyah!

Bailey Matthews - For your amazing attitude towards learning and for the way you interact with the rest of the Grade Two class! Well done!

Daniel Abraham - For the great work you did with your passion project on the Chicago Bulls

Archie Coxon - For your imaginative 'Who pushed Humpty Dumpty?' narrative. It was full of mystery and humour. Well done

Eshaan Komerelly - For your excellent results in Reading and Mathematics this semester.  You have shown such excellent growth.  Good luck at your new school in Ballarat. We will miss you!

Charlie Sullivan - For the effort and enthusiasm you have shown writing your narrative.  It was unique, imaginative and funny.  Keep it up Charlie!

Arlee Seehusen - For always completing tasks with your best efforts and a positive outlook. Thank you for always making our classroom happier.

Bonnie Kuchel - For always being the best learner you can be and the amazing end of year results you achieved.

Xavier Larkin - For the amazing bravery you displayed on the Grade 6 getaway attempting the 'Leap of Faith'.

Marli Scott - For taking yourself out of your comfort zone at the Grade 6 getaway to attempt both the 'Leap of Faith' and the 'Kookaburra Swing'.

On Sunday 11^th Dec after 10:30am Mass, the CWL will be hosting a Christmas themed cuppa in the St Pat’s church hall.  Everyone is welcome.

Congratulations to these students celebrating their birthday this month:

Laila Gready

Jack Cameron

Georgia Aird

Khoor Kur

William Evans

Milla Mitchell

Arlee Seehusen

Daniella Parkin Alamo

Lolah Freeland

Lenny Field