Newsletter 09/09/2024 Term 3 Week 9

Prayer

From the Principal

Dear parents and carers,

As we near the end of a long Winter term, we take a moment to enjoy all the opportunities for learning and fun we have had over the last 8 weeks. We give thanks for these and look forward to a well deserved break over the school holidays.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Spelling Championships

Week 3 of the Spelling Championships was held last Monday.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved 35/35.

Grace B, Emma B, Maisie C, Charlotte D, Steph F, Stella H, Edie M,

 Lucy K, Liam P, Scout C, Abigail S, Basil H, Taleah D & Essi M.

Week 4 of the Spelling Championships was held today, those results will be on next week's newsletter.

Grade 1 Excursion

The Grade 1 students went on their excursion to Warrnambool Wildlife Encounters in Cudgee last Thursday and had an incredible time with the many animals there. 

My New Gallery

The Week Ahead

5/6 Fun Day

The date for the 5/6 Fun Day is Thursday 19th of September.  It will take place between 11:30am-1:00pm. 

The group activities range from sports games and stalls to obstacle courses. 

St Patrick’s students, staff and MRC students will have an opportunity to pay a small fee to play these games or purchase goods. 

Students are asked to bring no more than $10 for the day.

There will be a cake stall on the day where children can purchase baked goods. 

Violin Success

Lilah A won the Warrnambool Eisteddfod for solo performance under 2 years playing category on June 20th. She won $30 and a ribbon she is very proud of! 
On August 7th Lilah completed her first Violin exam at Geelong College. She received an A for her performance and a certificate of honours from the Australian Music Examination Board. 

Wellbeing

End of Term Arrangements

FUN DAY
The Senior students will be conducting their fun day on Thursday 19th of September. This will be an exciting way to finish up a long term.

Friday 20th of September will be the last day of term and school will finish at 2:15pm.  The bus schedule will be moved one hour earlier. This day will also be a footy colours day. Please note there will be no canteen available on the last day of term.

School Closure Days

We have two school closure days for professional development left for this year. We have moved the first of these from earlier this term to Monday 7th of October which is the first day of Term 4. Term 4 will begin on Tuesday the 8th of October.

Our final day is still on Monday the 4th of November, which is the day before the Melbourne Cup public holiday. Please ensure that these days are in your calendar.

TheirCare will be offering all day care on these days for families experiencing difficulty finding carers for their children.

Emergency Evacuation Drill

This Friday the 13th September at 2.20pm staff and students will be participating in an Emergency Evacuation Drill. We will be explaining this to the children prior to the day so they are aware of what is going to happen.

You may like to discuss this with your child too.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL CULTURE

My New Gallery

Parish Bulletin

LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP

Classroom Teacher Vacancy

Uniform

After a long consultation period and planning, the prototypes of our new uniform are on display in the school foyer for parents to view. We are negotiating with a supplier so hopefully it won't be too longbefore new items can be purchased.

Penny Smith Visit

This Friday the 13th of September we are very lucky to have Penny Smith visiting our school from 11:30am-1:30pm.

Penny is a bronze medalist in shooting from the Paris Olympics.

We invite our parents and carers to come along and share in the excitement at assembly from 12.30pm

Known Dates

Below is a list of known dates at this stage for the rest of this year.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

TheirCare

Theircare has now commenced at St Patrick's School and it's not too late to enrol.

We are excited to announce that we have now partnered with an independent Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) provider called TheirCare.

TheirCare provides a stimulating and safe environment for all children. During sessions, children develop life-skills, friendships, confidence, and creativity through play-based programs.

For further information, visit www.theircare.com.au or call our support office on 1300 072 410

Community Events

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week.

Harry S, Baxter H, Evie M, Archer R-W & Oliver S

Protecting Children

Feeling overwhelmed by the online world your child is growing up in? You’re not alone. Whether your child is starting to explore the internet or is already a tech-savvy teen, it’s natural to worry about who they’re connecting with online and whether they’re safe. Just like you wouldn’t let your child dive into a pool without first teaching them how to swim, it’s important to teach them about online safety before they’re in too deep.  

Today, we’re highlighting our new resources specifically designed to help address the growing concern of child sexual abuse online. Here’s some steps you can take to protect your child: 

• Understand the risks – Start by getting informed. Learn about the potential dangers and how to talk to your child about them in a way that’s age-appropriate. 

• Use our new resources – We know this topic can be difficult to navigate, so we’ve developed new resources to help. Our tools guide you through key actions, like discussing who your child connects with online and staying aware of how they use their devices. You’ll find practical tips, videos and conversation starters to make these conversations easier.
  

 Go to the new resources 

Camperdown Cricket Club

Cobden Night Netball

Camperdown Kindergarten

The Camperdown Kindergarten will be operating Three-year-old Kinder over four days in 2025. They have added a Tuesday to the traditional Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Times will be the same on all days 8.45am to 1.45pm. Please contact the Kinder for further details or to state a request for days. 

Positive Partnerships

Mary Poppins

Nippers - Port Campbell

MRC Car Raffle

Nirranda Twilight Netball

Children's Market

Little Athletics Coaching Course

Benallack's 60th Birthday

Come & Try Cricket