Newsletter 115 - November 9th 2023
Prayer of the Week:
Reflection - Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War.
Each year on the 11th of November, Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts and in appreciation of their sacrifice.
As we remember the lives that have been lost, let us promise each other to work for the freedom of all who are oppressed in the world today.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus who taught us how to live.
Amen
The Ode
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them. Lest we forget.
Principals Report:
Dear St Patrick’s community
We bid a fond farewell to Georgia last Friday as she embarks on her maternity leave. Her invaluable contributions to our school over the last two years have left a lasting impact, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for her dedication and commitment. We eagerly anticipate her return and wish her all the best on this new journey into motherhood. We welcome and thank Celine Bush for working with Georgia’s class for the rest of the term.
In other staffing news, the application window for positions for the upcoming year have officially closed. The response has been excellent and we are thrilled to have received numerous applications. Interviews for two full-time and one part-time positions will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks.
The outlook is promising, and we are optimistic that we will soon have a fully staffed team for the year 2024. We are excited about the prospect of welcoming new members to our community and are confident that these new additions will further enrich our school's environment.
The professional development session completed as part of our student-free day on Monday allowed us to come together and analyze the School Review report and craft a strategic plan for the next four years, culminating in a focused annual action plan for 2024. I'm immensely grateful for the engaged participation of our staff and school community throughout this process. With our strategies in place, it's now time for action. Together, let's bring our vision to life, fostering an environment of growth and success. Your ongoing support and commitment are integral as we move forward, dedicated to nurturing positive change within our community.
Foundation students eagerly returned to our school for a transition visit on Wednesday, exploring their new environment with enthusiasm and curiosity. Guided by teachers and older students, they delved into activities and classrooms, sparking excitement for their upcoming educational journey.
Teachers have started to gather assessment information for this semester’s student reports. Classes are currently completing Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) tests and the staff are analysing the data and discussing in our Teaching and Learning Meetings.
The end of semester reports will be sent home on December 8th.
With Kind Blessings,
Bettina
A word from the office:
2024 Planning
As we approach the end of the school year, not only are we busy preparing for all the fun and festivities that happen during Term 4 but we are also right in the thick of planning for next year!
Our 2024 Foundation Transition program has kicked off, and we are also preparing to welcome new students across other year levels in Term 1 next year.
*With this in mind, we ask that any current families whose children will not be returning to us in 2024 notify the office as soon as possible. Much of the School’s resources for 2024 are ordered this term and we are grateful for your early notice which allows us to plan our classrooms accordingly.
Please review your School Fee Account
A friendly reminder to families as we approach the end of the school year to please review your current school fee account balance.
For those paying via Direct Debit or recurring Electronic Funds Transfer, please ensure your current contribution is adequate.
School managed fortnightly Direct Debits will continue to run throughout the holiday period and any credit accumulated will be applied against next year’s school fees. *If you have paid off your account and would like to stop or reduce your direct debits over the holidays, please notify the office before Wednesday 13th December 2023.
If you require a copy of your Statement or have any account queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Anna Wadge Business Manager
Wellbeing:
The Big Life Kids podcast helps children develop a GROWTH MINDSET! Join Leo and Zara as they explore the world, discover growth mindset strategies, and hear inspiring stories of real-life role models who’ve overcome real challenges.
Teaching and Learning:
School Assemblies: Our assemblies are led by a different class each week and tomorrow's assembly begins at 2:50pm. Students will be dismissed from the hall at 3:15pm. We invite all our community to come along.
Week 6: Senior M
Week 7: Senior H
Week 8: Foundation
Week 9: Middle B & C
Week 10: Junior R & F
Week 11: Grade 6
Week 12: No assembly
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 or online which may result in classroom teachers being out of the classroom.
Week 7 14/11 Mr Cuningham, 15/11 Mr Moloney Cricket 8's Ballarat, 17/11 Mrs Bush
Senior M:
Well who can believe we are already halfway through term 4. Our class has had an amazing year so far socially and academically.
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 word meaning in context which means figuring out unfamiliar words. In reading we have also been reading our class novel ‘Detention’. We are loving this novel about a girl called Sima who escaped a Detention Centre and crossed paths with a boy called Dan. They have been running from the cops and Dan is trying to get Sima to Leeton to go to her uncle's house to live.
In the Writing block we have been completing a ‘sentence a day’ to keep our knowledge of complex sentences. Each day we have five to ten minutes to write a complex sentence or a paragraph about a picture on the TV. We are currently writing a narrative using a sentence starter. We can use the sentence starter at the start in the middle or we can change it up but still make it connect to the narrative we are writing.
In both Grade 5 and Grade 6 Maths, we have both completed our PAT M test. This is an online test that goes on our report and shows how much growth we have made in 12 months. In class, Grade 5’s have been learning about shapes and decimal fractions, while the Grade 6’s have been learning about discounts and discounted prices.
In Religion we have been doing activities around Socktober. We have also been role playing characters from a story in the Bible.The story that people role played in was ‘The Conversion of Saul’.
In Science, we have been learning about the cycle of hunger. If there is no food for infants they will have delayed growth and are prone to sickness. If toddlers don't get enough food then they will have stunted physical and mental development. If children don't get enough food they will have learning difficulties and inability to go to school. If adults don't get enough food they might get chronic illnesses and lack of education, work and income. If families don't get enough food then they will be unable to get food, medicine and other necessities for healthy pregnancies and children.
Lolah and Ethan J
End of school celebrations:
End of school whole school mass:
When: Wednesday 13th December
Time: 9:15am
Where: St Patrick’s Catholic Church - Community cuppa to follow in the school hall. All Welcome
End of Year celebrations - Grade 6 graduation liturgy
When:Thursday 14th December, 2023
Where: St Patricks School Hall for Grade 6 families only. Details to follow.
Time: 5:30pm Followed by -
Whole school - Family Carols on the Green:
When: Thursday 14th December, 2023.
Where: St Patrick's Primary School Oval
Time: 6:30pm Gates open
Catering: To be advised
BYO: chairs/picnic blanket
Carols: Each grade will present a Christmas Carol throughout the evening
Our end of year celebration is where we can come together to celebrate our school year and the Grade 6 Graduation. It will be an evening to celebrate our learning, our achievements and our personal growth. It is also a chance to say goodbye to our Grade 6 students and families that will be leaving at the end of 2023. We hope you can join us in celebrating a terrific year of learning, teaching and growing together as a community of learners.
Living in Faith:
Fundraising activities this term:
From now until the end of the year we are engaging in various fundraising activities, each with a purpose of enhancing and sustaining the values that make our school a special place. Through your support and generous donations and participation in these initiatives it makes a significant difference to those in need. We generally try and only do one fundraising activity per term as we acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions you make and continue to make for our school community.
Non Perishable food drive:
The Stawell Inter Church Council welfare Cottage is struggling to keep up with the demand for help and they are seeking grocery donations to help them help those in need. They are particularly looking for donations of canned items like stew, soup, tuna, vegetables, spaghetti sauce, soaps, toothbrushes, shampoo, clothes washing powder and dishwashing liquid. We realise there is significant extra pressure on our families with cost of living prices, however if you feel able to, could you please buy an extra item or two when you go grocery shopping. Donation tubs are in each classroom and we will present our donations to Mary-Rita Thomas (St Vincent de Paul rep) at assembly in a few weeks. There are many in our town and region who are having a hard time making ends meet.
Fundraising: Each Friday till the end of Term our MiniVinnies group will be selling Zooper Doopers for $1.00each at lunch time under the shade sails. The money raised will go towards Stawell Inter church Council Welfare Centre and St Vincent de Paul Sponsor a student program. As always we thank our St Patrick’s community for your support.
Please follow us on instagram; stpatsstawell
Birthdays:
Congratulations to these students who are celebrating their birthday this week:
Willow and Andy.
Diocesan/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
Parents and Friends news:
The P & F are running a Christmas raffle this year with the multiple prizes totalling a value over $1500. Each family will receive a book of tickets to sell at a cost of $2 each. We ask that all sold or unsold tickets to be returned by the 5th December. We thank all the local businesses/families that have donated to this raffle and ask you support these and other local businesses this coming holiday season. Raffle drawn 8th of December.
A special thank you to all those who have kindly donated to our school raffle. If you can please support the business that supports us.
Thanks also to those who have sold raffle books. If you would like any more raffle books please call into the school office. As always we appreciate your support.
Around Our Community:
A rare opportunity to get up close and personal with NBL South East Phoenix star player Mitch Creek. See flyer above and also try booking link. https://www.trybooking.com/
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.