Newsletter 03/02/2025: Term 1, Week 2

From the Principal

Dear St Patrick’s Community,

Welcome to the first full week of the 2025 school year! We’re excited to see what this year brings and are looking forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead. Our school year began on a positive note last week, with students arriving full of enthusiasm, looking smart in their uniforms and ready to embrace the new year. I’d like to take a moment to thank our dedicated staff for their hard work in preparing for the year. Their commitment ensures that our students have the best possible start and an engaging workspace.

A warm welcome to the students and families joining us for the first time this year! We hope that St. Patrick’s offers you a positive, rewarding, and enriching educational experience. 

Please know that I am always here to assist with any questions, concerns, ideas, or simply to listen. My door is always open, so feel free to reach out to me by phone or stop by for a chat anytime.

For our new families, you will notice that our newsletter is organized into five key areas: Catholic School Culture, Learning and Teaching, Wellbeing, Community Engagement, and Leadership and Stewardship. These areas reflect the heart of our school’s mission, guiding all the work we do to create a nurturing and effective Catholic school environment.

Our newsletter is sent out every Monday, filled with useful information about upcoming events and important updates. You can access it via the Schoolzine app or through the homepage of our website.

Be sure to check the key dates section to stay informed about important happenings at the school. And as always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

Mr Lloyd.

Week 2 Prayer

CATHOLIC SCHOOL CULTURE

Parish Bulletin

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Welcome to our new 3/4 teacher

We welcome to our staff Rebecca Sahyoune.

Rebecca is teaching in a 3/4 classroom for 2025.

We hope she has settled in well and enjoys her time at St Patrick's.

Foundation Rest Days

Our foundation students will not come to school this Wednesday 5th of February for our first rest day of 2025. We encourage families to take the opportunity to ensure this is a restful day for their children to avoid the physical demands of beginning school life. 

The foundation students will have the following days off in term 1 as part of their transition to school:

Week 2 - Wednesday, 5th February 2025. 

Week 3 - Tuesday, 11th February 2025 (This is a whole school closure day and TheirCare will be available to be booked.)

Week 4 - Wednesday, 19th February 2025.

Week 5 - Wednesday, 26th February 2025

Week 6 - Wednesday, 5th March 2025

From Week 7 onwards foundation students will attend the whole week. 

PE Timetable

This Friday, Feb 7th, the following classes will have PE -  3/4C, 5/6A, 2B & FB.

Parent teacher chats

We are holding an opportunity for parents to meet their child's teacher today and Monday February 10th.

Please log on to PAM to book your time on these dates.

Why do we have Parent Teacher Chats so early?

Parent Teacher Interviews in February are incredibly valuable for teachers and families for so many reasons. 

1. Better Understanding of the Child's Background: Parents, you have deep insights into your child’s personality, interests, strengths, and challenges. You can provide context that helps teachers understand how a child learns best, what motivates them, or what may be impacting their behavior or academic performance.
2. Building a Collaborative Relationship: We invite you to share your knowledge, because we value parent input and see parents as partners in the child’s education. This can lead to stronger, more positive relationships between the home and the school, benefiting the child.
3. Greater Support: Parents might be aware of challenges or concerns that the teacher hasn't noticed yet, like learning difficulties, social challenges, or family circumstances that could affect a child’s performance or emotional state. Early awareness can lead to timely support for all members of the family.
4. Creating a Personalised Learning Plan: Understanding your child’s likes, dislikes, hobbies, or struggles allows teachers to tailor lessons or strategies to better engage with your student. For example, if a child loves a particular subject or activity, incorporating that into lessons can foster greater enthusiasm and help your child to engage in learning.
5. Promoting Emotional Well-being: Children might act differently at school compared to at home. Parents, you can help teachers understand the emotional state or social dynamics your child might be navigating, which can help the teacher offer more emotional support or create a more welcoming classroom environment.
6. Strengthening Communication: Knowing that your child’s teacher is genuinely interested in understanding your child, it is important to keep communication open, whether it’s about successes or challenges. This ongoing dialogue can help create a support system that benefits your child.

Parents, we want you and your family to feel heard and understood. We invite you to engage in your child’s learning and education, fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for all.

Mr Lloyd.

PAM Accounts

Can all parents/guardians please log onto PAM and complete all the connect fields required for 2025 for your child/ren.

Grade 3-6 Swimming

The Grade 3-6 swimming program starts this week.

Swimming will be on Tuesday and Friday this week.

Next week (Week 3) swimming will be on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday.

Week 4 swimming will be on Monday & Tuesday with the Swimming Carnival to be held on Wednesday the 19th of February.

Please find the timetables below.

WELLBEING

Birthdays

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

Annie W, Deegan S, Maisy H, Belle-Rose E, Savanna W, Fergus L & Edward M

LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP

Family Assistance Scheme

Family Assistance Scheme ~ are you eligible?

The Family Assistance Scheme introduced by the Catholic Diocese which reduces your Tuition fee to $520 will continue this year. To be eligible you must produce a Commonwealth Health Care Card to the office (which we are required to photocopy) and complete an application form. This needs to be done by Thursday 29th of February at the latest as no late applications are accepted.

If you received this last year, we do not require to see your HCC again, your details will roll over.

Conveyance Allowance

There is funding available for families if you have to travel more than 4.8km to pick-up or drop off students at Contract or College Bus pick-up points. Parents should apply for the reimbursement applicable through the Private Car Conveyance Allowance Application.

Please contact the office if you think you may be eligible.

School Fees

Our preferred options for payment of school fees are an upfront payment or for families to set up a direct debit through the school.  Direct debits can be done weekly, fortnightly or monthly.  Please contact the office to arrange this.

School fees are payable by the end of October each year.

School hats reminder

This is a friendly reminder to send your child with their named school hat to school during Term 1 as the weather is warm and the children are not allowed outside without one.

Zooper Dooper Sales

Throughout Term 1 the Student Representative Council will be selling Zooper Doopers to raise money for the school.

These will only be sold at second lunch.

The cost will be 50 cents each.

Theircare

Our providers have made us aware that our numbers are at a low level and the level of service that was initially indicated as being required has not lived up to initial survey results.

The reality is that the service is in jeopardy.   

If you need childcare for your child in 2025 there are spots available.

Cobden Tech School Bus Changes

Bus pass rules have changed for CTS coordinated busses. A bus pass can be given for students to travel on another bus within their own bus network. If your child travels on a different bus network, they are no longer able to travel on the CTS network buses.

Bus passes will not be given.  

Known Dates

Below is a list of known dates for Term 1 2025.

Noone's Uniform

Noone's have stock of our new uniform available for purchase.

The shop is located in the Mercy Regional College building.

In Term 1 the uniform shop is open on the following days -

Monday 12.00pm - 4.00pm, Tuesday 8.00am - 12.00pm & Thursday 8.00am - 12.00pm

Canteen

The canteen will continue to be closed on a Monday this year.

Please download the Spriggy App and make your orders through there. 

The menu for 2025 is below.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser

The P&F have locked in a date to host a BBQ fundraiser at Bunnings in Warrnambool. The date set aside for this is Saturday, 15th of February 2025.  

The sausage sizzle will run from 9am - 4pm.

If you could spare an hour or two on this day and volunteer some time, please contact the office.

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

Thank you to the sponsors of our raffle!

Simpson Netball