Newsletter 91 - April 6th 2023

Dear Lord God, we thank you that you are a forgiving God, who wipes out all the wrongs from the past, and starts anew with us today.

Bring healing and comfort to those who are anxious, upset, lonely, or ill today; encourage those who help and care for them. May all who suffer be led from pain to peace.

We give you thanks for your loving mercy shown to us in Jesus Christ, who endured the suffering of the cross to overcome all that separates us from you, and was raised up to new life.

Strengthen our faith in the victory of the cross and the hope of eternal life. Help us to grow in the life which does not end, in love and friendship with you, which lasts forever; through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen

Senior 5/6 M:

Well who can believe we are already at the end of Term 1. Our class has had an amazing term together both socially and academically setting the foundations for a great year ahead.

In Reading time, students continue to explore a set reading strategy through the Cars & Stars Reading program, using the knowledge that they gain to improve both their literal and inferential comprehension skills. Recently, we have been looking at recalling facts and details that support the main idea in different texts. A highlight of our week is our Wednesday reading block, where we read our class novel titled “Boy Overboard” and respond to each chapter in different ways. The novel explores the life of Jamal, Bibi and their parents fleeing the control of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the obstacles they face on the way. 

In the Writing block, each student has just completed a narrative piece of writing of their choice. A focus for students has been to use a mix of simple, compound and complex sentences and to include literary devices such as metaphors, similes and hyperboles to take their writing to the next level.

In Math, both Grade 5 and Grade 6 students have recently completed their first Stepping Stones quarterly assessment where they have the chance to demonstrate their knowledge of what they have learnt in Modules 1 to 3 for the year. 

In Religion, students have been looking at the role Caritas plays in supporting people less fortunate than us with a focus on the people of Nepal. In addition to this, Grade 6 students have been busy preparing their presentation of The Stations of the Cross which will be presented to the whole school at today’s assembly. 

In Inquiry this term, students have been involved in the DASH program, an eight week externally run program for Years 5 and 6, in which students develop and practise critical competencies through a range of modalities and experiences. The program encourages awareness of local community and builds relationships with community experts.

In Science, we have been looking at migration and hibernation and exploring the reasons why animals move or stay put to cope with extreme changes in temperature.

School Assemblies:

 Our assembly this week is this afternoon starting at 1:50pm in the school hall.  Students are dismissed from the hall at 2:15pm.  We invite all our community to come along.  

Week 10: Senior 6 Stations of the cross

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 1 Term 3:

Monday 24/4/2023     Whole school staff PD and CPR update No Students onsite

Save the date - Mothers day/ special persons day celebrations:

When:  Thursday 11th May 2023.

Where:  Junior hub and hall.

  Students will know the area they will be in. 

Please enter via hall.    Time: 12:30pm 

Guests gather with students for liturgy.  Students each have lunch with their guest/s.

At approximately 1:00pm guests go to the hall to share a cuppa, light luncheon and chat.

Graduation

Congratulations to Josh Cunningham (Middle C) who attended his Graduation ceremony last week receiving his Bachelor of Teaching Degree. 

We are thrilled to have you join us Josh.

Thankyou to all those who have returned Project Compassion boxes.  If you still have a box at home could you please return it first week back next term.

In case you missed it, here is our March edition of the CSPV Connect News.

In this issue we included the following:
Advocacy - CSPV survey for parents to share what's important to them in education
Advocacy - CSPV opportunities for parent members
Wellbeing - CSPA survey for parents to share views for a national review on classroom disruption
Curriculum - MACS invitation for parents to participate in a forum to share views on technology in education
Parent Engagement - Webinar with Anne T Henderson
Child Safety - Vaping Webinar for parents
Curriculum - Premier's Reading Challenge resources

We hope you enjoy the information we share and that you are able to publish in your school newsletters or on your school website. Please share with parents and follow us on social media so you can access other information that is relevant to you.

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading and sharing our content and look forward to supporting you and the families in your school in 2023.

Click to download the email update - CSPV Connect
Regards,

Rachel Saliba
Executive Officer - Catholic School Parents Victoria
PO Box 3, East Melbourne Victoria 8002

Around 70% of the chocolate we consume comes from West Africa, where it's estimated that more than two million children and young people under the age of 18 work as labourers in cocoa harvesting. Some of these children are trafficked; many are working under harmful labour conditions. The cocoa they produce that ends up in the chocolate we eat.

Some suggestions for ethical chocolate brands following:

• Aldi's UTZ Certified Dairy Fine, Choceur, Moser Roth and Specially Selected Easter chocolate ranges.
• Chocolatier Australia's Fairtrade milk and dark chocolate 100g eggs, available through Coles, Woolworths, David Jones and other chocolate suppliers.
• Coles also has a range of branded UTZ, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified Easter chocolates.
• The Haigh's Chocolate-made Easter egg range is UTZ Certified.
• Devine chocolate eggs and bunnies are Fair Trade certified, and are available through IGA, other selected stores and online. 

You can find the Be Slavery Free Chocolate Scorecard here. The scorecard features most of your favourite brands and explains how they rate in several key areas including child labour, payment of a living income and the impact on climate. 

Turkey/Syria Earthquakes: 

• On February 6, 2023 a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeast Turkey near the Syrian border.
• On February 20, 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Hatay province in southern Turkey, causing more damage 
• More than 850,000 children remain displaced in Turkey and Syria.
• Over 1.9 million people are seeking shelter in tents and temporary shelters in Turkey and 500,000 people in Syria are homeless.
• Even before this disaster, more than 6.5 million children in Syria needed humanitarian aid due to the ongoing conflict.
• The combined death toll has surpassed 46,000 in both countries, with many more injured.

Peru: 

Heavy rainfall has been affecting most of Peru since January 2023, causing floods, rivers to overflow and triggering landslides that have resulted in casualties and damage.  The Government has declared the state of emergency for 1,030 districts (54% of the total of districts across the country). 

Some of our students have been learning about Catholic Social Teaching and the reasons why Catholic Christians choose to support those in our communities who are not as fortunate as we are. Just like Jesus, we want to look after the poor, respect human dignity and work towards the common good. 

This is a social justice/Mini Vinnies St Patrick’s School initiative.

Today will be our last Social Justice/Mini Vinnies lunch for selling Zooper Doopers.  

Thankyou for your support        Maryanne Comitti          Religious Education Leader

Congratulations to these students who celebrated their birthday  this week and over the upcoming school  holidays: 

Ruby Driscoll, Jack Sullivan, Charlie Sullivan, Fletcher Thomas, Imogen Nelson,  Archer Cooper, Beverly Parkin Alamo, Mason Scott, Tanner Freeland,  Avaya Hollis, Elektra McGaffin,  and             Madilyn Carlsen.