Newsletter 88 - March 16th 2023

A prayer for St Patrick’s Day:

May your days be many and your troubles be few.

May all God’s blessings descend upon you.  May peace be within you, may your heart be strong.

May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.  May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us.

May the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us.  May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore.

Amen.

PURPLE DAY – 26 MARCH

Purple Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising epilepsy awareness, dispelling myths, and increasing support for people living with epilepsy. Founded in 2008 by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Purple Day concept was born out of Cassidy’s own struggles with epilepsy, her motivation to get people talking about the condition, and her desire to let those impacted by seizures know that they are not alone. Cassidy named the day ‘Purple Day’ after the internationally recognised colour for epilepsy, lavender.

Since that time, Purple Day has grown into a much loved and supported national awareness day with thousands of people across Australia rallying their private, academic, and corporate communities to raise much needed awareness and funds to provide services for more than 250,000 Australians currently living with epilepsy.

Find more information at the link below: Epilepsy Action Australia

Thank you, Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator - Lillie Comitti 

Junior F:

Writing

We have been learning about persuasive writing and persuasive writing features. We have been persuading our parents about getting a pet shark, how to get pets, and taking us places. 

Mac, Curtis, and Isaac. 

Reading

We have been reading about doing pet day which is trying to persuade the school to get a pet day. Some of us want to get a kelpie and some want a cat. 

Emila, Lexie, and Jack. 

Science

We have been looking at birdhouses and been looking at how to keep them safe and how to help them, we also drew a picture of the house and how it would look. 

Edie and Oscar. 

Maths

We have been learning about three-digit numbers and using blocks to help us. We also have been learning about time seasons and months. We have been learning about halves and quarters when looking at the time. 

Daniella, Henry, and Lucas. 

Religion

 We have been drawing and writing prayers and we have also been learning about the starts of prayers. We also learnt about symbols like the bible, the cross, and the candle. 

Mason, Alivia, and Ewdina.

Inquiry

 We have been learning about the life cycle of plants and flowers and nature. We have also been learning about how nature is formed. A sunflower can grow after dying. We have been learning about how plants grow, they grow with water, sun, and soil

Marianne, Arli, and Johanna. 

School Assemblies:

It is fantastic to have our  Friday school assemblies happening.  Our assemblies are led by a different class each week (see roster below) and happen each Friday afternoon starting at 2:50pm in the school hall.  Students are dismissed from the hall on this day.  We invite all our community to come along.  

Week 7: Junior F

Week 8: Middle C

Week 9: Junior R

Week 10: Senior M

Professional Development:

At St Patrick’s Primary School we are committed to Professional Development of our team.  At various times staff members will be working off site which may result in classroom teachers being out of the classroom.  We will endeavor to make note of this in the newsletter whenever possible.  

Week 8:

Friday 24th March,  Miss Georgia Flemming & Miss Lillie Comitti                           

REAP - Religious Education Accreditation course

St Patrick’s Primary School Learning Super powers St Patrick's Learner Superpowers  please click for further details. 

These are qualities  that successful learners use in their everyday life, self - motivated, curious, resilient, collaborative, risk-taker. We have been focussing on these qualities throughout the term and will continue to reinforce and apply these skills in the classroom and in everyday life. 

We are committed to ensuring that our whole school community has an understanding of what each super power means.  This week we will unpack our Risk-taker learning superpower.     

Risk Taker:   At St Patrick’s we strive to create a culture where mistakes are seen as a valuable part of learning and life for both staff and students.  We aim for all to recognise mistakes and help us learn.   Carol Dweck a Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and one of the world's leading researchers on motivation and mindsets highlights in her TED talk, reminding students that they have mastered things they once got ‘wrong’, allows them to understand their place on the learning curve and stresses that through ongoing effort and persistence they will eventually achieve. Giving valuable feedback that shows students how they can grow or fuels the idea that risks are opportunity!  If you have ten minutes I would highly recommend a listen to Professor Dweck’s  TED talk.  

Give generously to Project Compassion

In every classroom, in the office area and each family will have been sent home a Project Compassion money box from Caritas that we have made available for monetary donations. We encourage students to think of those in need and donate when and if they can. 

Spanning across the four weeks of Lent, Project Compassion brings thousands of schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for the most marginalised communities around the world.

This year's theme of Project Compassion is ‘For All Future Generations’, and reminds us that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It is also a call for all of us to play our part in making the world a better place by working together as sisters and brothers in finding long-term solutions to global issues.

To learn how to make a real difference visit Caritas Australia website.

A quote from Pope Francis:

"Love and charity, are service, helping others, serving others. There are many people who spend their lives in this way, in the service of others. … When you forget yourself and think of others, this is love! 

We are thrilled to be able to invite our school community to celebrate Harmony Day next Monday 20th March, 2023. We’re on the countdown till our Harmony day celebrations.  Footsteps dance company will work with each class throughout the day culminating in our evening concert celebration.

Foundation will be learning a Bollywood dance and learning about India. 

Junior F/R will be learning about Vietnam and be inspired by a Vietnamese dance. 

Middle B/C  are focusing on the Caribbean and will learn a Caribbean dance. 

Senior M/F routine will be learning about Greece and focusing on a traditional Greek dance.

Harmony day is one of our  biggest community events of the year and we are super excited to welcome our community to celebrate with us.  

Where:  St Patrick’s School Oval

BYO:  picnic rug or seats.  Drinks (non-alcoholic)

Time:  Celebrations commence at 5pm. 

Dinner:  If you have kindly offered to supply a casserole please bring this heated in a disposable container when you arrive.  If you would like to share in our casserole dinner the cost is $5.oo per person.  If you would like to BYO your dinner you are more than welcome to do that also. 

As this is our biggest community event of the year and we are back to catering for this event, could you please help us with RSVP to the office tomorrow Friday 17th March, 2023. 

Children are encouraged to wear orange the colour of Harmony Day. 

Any questions to MacKillop parent coordinators

Kate Field 0439 479 994 or Melissa Sutherland 0417 448 569.

Every Friday for Term 1 the Social Justice Team will be selling Zooper Doopers during lunchtime.  Zooper Doopers will be for sale for $1.00 each with all money raised going towards the St Vincent de Paul Sponsor a Student Program. 

Elektra McGaffin - For being a self-motivated and curious learner throughout all learning areas. Keep challenging yourself Elektra.

Kaison Portelli - For being a risk-taker in all learning areas. Keep asking questions and taking learning risks Kaison.

Hunter Weavell-For showing resilience when he had a mishap on the playground. He listened to his friend and accepted the outcome. Well done!

Max Lasslett -For showing great resilience and collaboration after a problem outside. He listened to his friend and they worked everything out. Well done!

Henry Carter - For being a self-motivated learner and using base 10 blocks to help your learning. You’re a superstar.

Curtis Calantog- For being a risk-taker, and sharing your ideas, and learning with your classmates. Keep being a super learner Curtis.

Ethan Prydderch - For clearly demonstrating a great understanding of 'right relationship' in our recent Religion lesson through words and art.

Peter Aird - For your wonderful results on your recent Module 2 Check Up in Maths. Keep up the amazing work!

Charli Pickering -For being a risk-taker and putting your hand up and having a go during class discussions during maths.

Sophie O'Callaghan-For being a self-motivated learner in all areas of your learning. Keep up the fantastic work!

Edward Redford-For being such a self-motivated learner, particularly during our narrative writing. Well done Ed!

Maddison Prydderch-For representing our school in such a positive nature at the regional swimming sports. Well done Maddy!

Ethan Parker-For demonstrating the skills of a self-motivated learner in class. The choices you are making are benefitting your learning greatly.

Lolah Freeland-For always seeking out feedback when you are finding a task challenging, you are setting a wonderful example for your peers.

Congratulations to these students who celebrated their birthday  this week:  Greta Thomas, Kayde Werry, Maddison Prydderch and Maya Goodes