Newsletter 101 - July 20th 2023
Prayer of the Week:
Dear Lord, We ask that you be present in this space. Lord, as we prepare for the coming of a new term make us ready, attentive and available to hear you. Thank You for the gift of being able to rise each day with the assurance that You walk through it with us. Thank You for the gifts of creativity and uniqueness, and the energy to put them to good use.
May all that we are today, all that we try to do today, may all our encounters, reflections, even the frustrations and failings all be place in your hands. May the work we do and the way we do it, bring new hope, new life, and courage to all we come in contact with this semester. We thank you, Lord. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen
Acting Principals Report:
Dear St Patrick’s community
Good bye Mr Mac
Last Thursday we joined together as a school to pray for Mr McAloon as he embarked on his new journey as Principal of St Francis of Assisi Humpty Doo, Darwin. It was a lovely time to reflect on Chris’ time with us and thank God for his leadership of St Patrick’s. Thank you to those who were able to attend.
Our team at St Patrick’s will continue to work together to ensure our wonderful school community continues to thrive whilst we await the appointment of our new Principal. We pray for God’s guidance for the interview panel as they begin the process. We will keep you informed throughout the process.
Please see below a presentation of a tree canvas with our fingerprints as leaves. Thankyou to Ms Cox Haywood for this thoughtful creation.
Foundation Interviews for 2024
This week I have begun interviewing our prospective Foundation students for 2024. What an absolute pleasure it has been to meet these young people and their families. It is great to see our existing families enrolling siblings. It really is a pleasure to watch families walk into our school with their new babies and then watch them grow to be ready to begin school. At St Patrick’s we pride ourselves on not only enrolling the child, but the family as well. We strive to ensure that whilst our families are with us over the seven years of their child's education they feel supported and are valued members of our community.
Structured Literacy
On Monday, Fiona Harney and I will be in Mildura visiting Sacred Heart Primary School to watch Structured Literacy lessons in action. This will be a great opportunity to see how our knowledge transfers into teaching. We look forward to bringing our learning back to staff. Next Friday all staff will hop on a bus and head to Ballarat for further Professional Development on Structured Literacy. It is a credit to our staff how we are continuing to learn and adapt our teaching to ensure that we are always moving with current research and teaching in an evidence-informed way.
DOBCEL visit
Next Tuesday we welcome three of the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL) board members as they are visiting St Patrick’s on their way to a board meeting. It is wonderful to see our governing body making time to come and visit, meet and connect with our school community. We look forward to showing them all St Patrick’s has to offer.
With faith in our future
Maryanne Comitti
Wellbeing:
Benefits of word searches:
Word searches offer a multitude of benefits, including cognitive skill enhancement, language proficiency improvement, anxiety reduction, and promoting physical well-being. By incorporating these engaging puzzles into your daily routine, you can foster overall brain health and enjoy a fun, educational activity that enriches your life.
WHAT DO WORD SEARCHES DO FOR YOUR BRAIN? BOOST COGNITIVE SKILLS
Word searches are great games for stimulating cognitive skills such as pattern recognition, problem-solving, and verbal reasoning. By actively engaging your brain to find hidden words, you’re exercising your mind, keeping it sharp and active.
ENHANCE SHORT-TERM MEMORY
Recalling a list of words and scanning the grid for those words can help strengthen short-term memory. As you search for words in the puzzle, you’re continually reminding yourself of the target words, reinforcing your memory of them.
IMPROVE LANGUAGE SKILLS
One of the main benefits of word searches is their impact on language skills. Word finds encourage the discovery of new vocabulary, while also reinforcing the spelling and recognition of familiar words. By regularly completing word searches, you’re consistently improving your language proficiency.
SUPPORT EXECUTIVE FUNCTION
Word search games promote executive function – the mental processes responsible for planning, organizing, and managing information. You’re honing these vital cognitive abilities by systematically searching for words and employing strategies to tackle the puzzle.
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF WORD SEARCHES:
LEARN NEW WORDS
Word searches are a great way to introduce new vocabulary words, especially for children. By incorporating new words into word search grids, children are exposed to new language concepts, supporting their language development.
ENHANCE SPELLING SKILLS
Spelling skills are essential in everyday life, and word searches provide an engaging way to practice them. By locating words in the puzzle, players become more familiar with the correct spelling of words, reinforcing their learning.
ACQUIRE FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS
Word searches can be an excellent tool for learning new languages. By incorporating vocabulary words from a foreign language into the puzzle, players can reinforce their understanding of the language and develop their language skills.
ENGAGE ACTIVE LEARNING
Active learning is crucial for student success. Word searches promote active learning by requiring students to engage with the material directly, increasing student interest and motivation.
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF WORD SEARCHES:
ALLEVIATE ANXIETY
For many people, word searches are a fun way to reduce anxiety. Focusing on the task at hand, searching for words in the grid, can help distract the mind from anxious thoughts, providing a sense of calm and relaxation.
ENHANCE EMOTIONAL CONTROL
By focusing on a word search, you’re practicing emotional control as you divert your attention from negative emotions and redirect it towards a productive task. This skill can be valuable in everyday life, helping you manage emotional situations more effectively.
STRENGTHEN SOCIAL BONDS
Although often considered a solitary activity, word searches can be a social experience. Completing puzzles with friends or family members can foster social connections, providing an opportunity for bonding and shared enjoyment.
PROMOTE A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
There’s something satisfying about finding that last tricky word in a word search. That sense of accomplishment can boost your self-esteem and provide a sense of achievement that carries over into other aspects of your life.
Teaching and Learning:
School Assemblies: Our assemblies are led by a different class each week and will happen this Friday 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.
Week2: Middle B
Week 3: No Assembly school closure Day
Week 4: Junior F
Week 5: Foundation
Week 6: Senior M
Week 7: Book Week
Week 8: Junior R
Week 9: Middle C
Week 10: Whole School Assembly 1:50pm
Middle B:
We have jumped straight back into our learning this term and I’m very proud of how the students have come back to school settled and ready to learn.
Reading
In Reading, we are continuing to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and completing activities related to the chapters we read. This week we read Chapter 14 ‘Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback’ and were challenged to illustrate what we thought Baby Norbert would look like. There were so many wonderful pictures.
We have also been focusing on our latest Cars and Stars comprehension strategy which is ‘Finding Word Meaning in Context’.
Spelling
We have been learning about contractions and how to spell and use them correctly in our writing.
Handwriting
Students have been focussed on correct letter formation and placement in order to be able to start learning their joins. Students have a booklet which they will be working through each week to learn their joins for handwriting.
Writing
For the past fortnight we have been exploring Explanation writing and studying the structure and features of this type of text. Some students have been researching and writing about ‘How do bees make honey?’ and others have looked at ‘How are rainbows formed?’.
Religion
We have been exploring the concept of ‘Hospitality’ and developing a deeper understanding of this and how it can connect to Passover and the scripture reading of ‘The Last Supper’.
Maths
Grade 4s have been revising their multiplication and division fact families and strategies and learning how to calculate the area of shapes.
Grade 3s have been learning about number patterns, odd and even numbers and investigating 4 digit numbers.
Inquiry/Science
We have been exploring the history of radio during our Inquiry lessons and are currently investigating how heat energy is created and transferred in our science lessons.
Wellbeing
We have been discussing ‘Growth Mindset’. We watched two TED talks given by children about growth and fixed mindsets and talked about our own mindsets and how we can change them. The key word we focused on was ‘YET’ and we have encouraged the students to apply this word to their thinking when they have a fixed mindset.
What learning activities have you enjoyed since returning to school this term?
Lenny - Reading the Harry Potter book and completing activities
Boston - Bee explanation writing
Tahlia - Bee explanation writing and turning dot points into sentences
Tamieka - My number work with Mrs Stevens
Aaliyah - Bee explanation writing and Sentence a Day
Thomas - Learning my times tables in Maths
Peter - Symmetry lessons in Maths
Harper - Uplevelling my vocabulary/words in Writing
Eleanor - Participating in different types of mindfulness
Beverly - Earning two stickers for my times tables chart
Kora - Learning about asymmetrical, symmetrical and radial symmetry in Art
Tanner - Identifying number patterns in Maths
Jack - I’m proud of my check up score in Maths
Maya - Learning about Area in Maths
Nate - Learning about heat and doing science experiments
Akech - Learning about heat and doing the science experiments with our hands
Ethan - Learning about Marconi and the radio in Inquiry
Lily - Doing counting in Maths
Rural Youth Ambassadors program
Today Lolah, Jack, Akuol and Molly (school captains and vice captains) were a part of the year 6 Primary School Local Rural Youth Ambassadors program. They will take part in four forums over two days. The focus for the program is on leadership, creating and celebrating aspirations, community projects and encouraging youth voice and agency.
Thank you to Stawell 502 PS for hosting the day.
Structured Literacy - School closure day - Friday 28th July, 2023
On Friday 28th July our whole school staff will travel to St Francis Xavier Primary School in Ballarat to take part in Professional Development on Structured Literacy.
In recent years, the fields of neurology, psychology, speech pathology, linguistics and education have taken great strides towards understanding exactly how literacy acquisition occurs. The Science of Reading & Learning tells us that a systematic, cumulative, explicit, and diagnostic approach to teaching phonology, phonics, syllables, morphology, syntax, and semantics is the most effective way of ensuring all children learn to read and write.
Moving forward our whole school approach to Structured Literacy joins with our Science of Learning, Visible Learner model to ensure optimal teaching and learning.
Maryanne Comitti Teaching and Learning Leader
Book week this year runs from August 19th 2023, to August 25th, 2023. During this time all classes spend time each day celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. The theme is read.grow, inspire.
The highlight of book week is on Friday 25th August where students are invited to dress as their favourite book character with a whole school parade where our community/grandparents day are able to attend.
Each year since 1945 the CBCA has brought children and books together across Australia through Children's Book Week. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians create colourful displays, develop activities, run competitions and tell stories relating to a theme to highlight the importance of reading.
Sustainability:
Ms Cox Hayward and our students have been busy improving our schools sustainability. The winter/ spring veggies are thriving with our broad bean plants providing protection for our frost tender potato plants and we have introduced a worm farm to cope with all the wonderful fruit scraps our childen create.
Great Book Swap -happening at St Patrick’s Primary School 21st & 22nd August, 2023. Literacy is a major issue facing remote Indigenous communities. Being unable to read and write is a significant barrier to education, employment, health and wellbeing. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works to address this through providing books and literacy resources (some in first languages) to families, schools and service organisations in remote communities; and publishing stories by Indigenous people that are reflective of community life and culture. Low literacy levels is a major issue affecting Indigenous communities today. Remote Indigenous communities are the most disadvantaged. 2017 NAPLAN results show only 35% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote NT communities met the minimum standard for reading, compared to 95% for non-Indigenous students in major cities.
This term Social Justice will begin working on The Great Book Swap in support for Indigenous Literacy. The idea is that our school would donate any quality unwanted children’s books, and 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. *Please send any donated books (in great condition) into school, thanks to those who have already donated.
Naplan results are in the process of being released. Students in Grades 3 and 5 will receive their results shortly.
Display in front office: Our grades 3-6 students have created some fantastic Mandalas in Art and these are now on display near the front office. What a wonderful bright and welcoming display they create. Thankyou
Students of the week:
Ruby Driscoll - For the sensational work you’ve been putting into your writing. I’m very proud of how you’re working Ruby, keep up the great work.
Chizaram Ezeobi - For the phenomenal collaboration you’ve been displaying within the classroom and out on the yard. It’s wonderful to see your cheerful smile each and every day.
Ace Rowe - For the awesome start you have made on your narrative writing. You have used your risk taker super power to share your ideas. Keep up the great work!
David Duxson - For showing resilience in maths when solving place value problems. Keep up the fabulous work!
Henry Carter - For being a resilient learner and taking on feedback to improve your learning. Keep up the super work Henry.
Edie Macpherson - For being such a self-motivated learner and always striving for your best. You should be very proud of yourself.
Tahlia Darker - For being a curious and self-motivated learner during our recent Inquiry and Science lessons. Well done.
Beverly Parkin Alamo - For your thoughtful and insightful contributions to our class discussions, especially during our Religion and Inquiry lessons. Keep it up!
Lilly Hine - For the great work and improvements you have been putting into your reading and spelling. Keep up the hard work!
Zarli Nicholson - For being a self-motivated learner and always being ready to learn and try your best in all areas of your learning. Great work!
Akuol Kur - For always being a kind and thoughtful friend to others in our class. Thanks for being such a nice person to be around!
Jack Cameron - For producing a wonderful iMovie for Mr Mac. Thanks for including the whole school community. Well done Jack!
Liam Cameron - For your ability to work collaboratively with your peers to construct complex sentences.
Mahli Willis - For the extra work you have been completing to take your Maths to the next level. Your perfect check-up result was fitting reward.
Living in faith:
Good afternoon,
My name is Reuben and I am writing to you from the Brotherhood of St Laurence with a list of financial resources for families. The Brotherhood of St. Laurence’s mission is to work for an Australia free of Poverty. Given the cost-of-living challenges at the moment, many families are doing it very tough and could use some help. Please scan the relevant QR code for the item you want to know more about.
Mary McKillop Award:
Mary MacKillop lived a life dedicated to her faith and serving the needs of others. Wherever and however she could, Mary MacKillop did everything possible to improve the lives of others. This award acknowledges the thoughtful actions of the students at St Patrick’s to help others.
"Be a gift of love and compassion for one another".
Saint Mary McKillop
This weeks award recipient is Ace .
For showing kindeness and compassion to his classmates who were in the Blue Zone.
Thank you
Birthdays:
Congratulations to these students who are celebrating their birthday this week:
Chloe, Jackson, Saviero and Chizaram.
Parish news:
Mass Times:
Ararat Sunday 8.30am
Stawell Sunday 10.30am
Lake Bolac 1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays 6.30pm Vigil Sat
Landsborough 2nd, 4th Sundays 12.30pm
Glenthompson (Hamilton Parish) 2nd, 4th Sundays 8.30am
Please follow us on instagram; stpatsstawell
Around Our Community:
Upcoming Events:
Our Vision and Mission:
Vision Statement: St Patrick's School is a community which reflects and celebrates Christ as its centre point: By honoring our story we value our whole community. By coming together our vision is for a loving, just, compassionate and tolerant world. Mission Statement: In the tradition of St Patrick, we are committed to: Promoting and celebrating a love of God, self and community. Recognizing and enhancing the talents and uniqueness of each person through our vision of Prayer, Care and Learning. PRAYER We nurture and grow our relationship with God as members of a faith community. CARE We foster recognition of difference, compassion for others and the strength to act on our beliefs. LEARNING We develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills essential to reaching our full potential as life- long learners.