Week 11, Term 2, 2018

Principal's News from Jenny Hawkins

Have a joy filled holiday

Dear Heavenly Father, 

We thank you for the joy that our children at St Patrick's School bring to us all. We ask you to bless them and their families and keep them safe during the holidays. We thank all of our parents for the help and support they have given us at school. We look forward to welcoming our children back to school, rested and ready to be engaged and motivated in their learning, always faithful to our loving God in Term 3.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen

Year 1 and 2 Science Expo
There were many excited and enthusiastic engaged and motivated Year 1/2 learners sharing their Science Projects with us on Wednesday in the hall. Well done to our Year 1/2 and their families for the huge effort made in preparing the projects.

Parent Helper Training
Mrs Hills continued the Parent helper training sessions this week. Thirty-one Prep parents have now participated in the training sessions. The children love learning with our parents. Thank you to all of our parents who are able to support learning at school.

P& F Fundraising Update

On Monday, Annie and Bree presented the school with a fundraising cheque from the 2017 P&F fundraising efforts. The cheque included $4000 from the Chocolate fundraiser. In fact, the total funds raised by the P&F in 2017 were $27,000. We wanted to share with you, what the funds were used for to ensure that our whole community is aware of the benefits to our children that come from the extra funds raised each year.

The funds were used to purchase the following:

Flexible Classroom Furniture                                                                                    $10000

Adventure Playground Upgrade                                                                                $12000

Class set of ICT devices & portable trolleys Prep-Yr 4(Contribution towards)       $ 5000

TOTAL                                                                                                                      $27000

Annie and Bree also presented the school with a Certificate of Achievement for the $10,705.25 raised through the 2018 Colour Run. Congratulations to 5J for being the class that raised the most funds and and an extra special congratulations to Maddy Prep C who raised $600.

Funds from the Colour Run will contribute to the replacement of a number of classroom Epsom Short Throw Projectors for the Interactive Whiteboards and the Teamboard and Projector clean and check of all projectors throughout the school.

Hall Kitchen Update

There will be another meeting early in Term 3 to ascertain progress on the hall kitchen refurbish.

Team Kids

Please find the Team Kids booking information below. Team Kids will commence at St Patrick's as our new OSH provider on Monday 16th July at the start of Term 3.

 

Robert our Handyman

Robert Norman took over as our school handyman this year. Robert has a Working With Children Check and currently works between two schools. Robert has been keeping our grounds tidy and following up with necessary repairs and maintenance around the school. Robert will be doing more work around the grounds and inside the school during the holidays.

School Closure days for the remainder of the year

Term 3 Closure Day   Friday 24th August
Term 4 Closure Day   Monday 5th November

Term 4 Closure Day  Wednesday 21st November

Congratulations

The St Patrick's Emeralds Netball team(represented by 10 of our Grade 5 girls) won the Under 13 Section 7 Grand Final on Saturday  Congratulations to the team; Lara S, Alice M, Mae O, Mia S, Mina T, Catia B, Mimi L, Brigid T, Ella C and Kate R  along with their coach Kate Magnanini for a fantastic win and showing great  team spirit and determination to win a very close game -  9 goals to 8.   

Up coming event

Important school dates:

Monday 16th July         Term 3 commences

Tuesday 31st July          Reconciliation - 3N

Wednesday 1st August  Reconcilation  - 3O

Community Notices

Please come and sign the petition in the school office foyer.

Week 10, Term 1, 2018

Principal News from Jenny Hawkins

Prayer Reflection

New Reports/Surveys and Parent Teacher Meetings
Next week your child will bring home their mid year school report. This is a new look report based on parent feedback. There will be a brief survey available at the Parent Teacher Meetings on Wednesday in order for you to provide further feedback.
If your family circumstances have changed and your child requires an extra report, please email  jhawkins@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au so that this can be arranged prior to the meetings. 
School finishes at 1pm on Wednesday to allow the meetings to commence at 1:30pm in the school hall.
Camp Australia will operate an after school service on Wednesday from the Art Room and Prep Classrooms.

Team Kids Information Evening 

About thirty parents attended the Team Kids evening on Wednesday. The loud round of applause at the end of the presentation showed the positive response to our new Before/After school providers. Team Kids will commence Day, Term 3, 2017.
All families will need to register with TeamKids, as your enrolment and bookings with Camp Australia cannot be transferred across.
If you have not used TeamKids before then you will need to register your child and add your bookings for Term 3. Please go to the website www.teamkids.com.au and select your program and follow the enrolment instructions.
If you have used TeamKids before, please contact the Customer Service Team and they will link your account. You will then just need to add your bookings for Term 3.
Please contact their Customer Service team via email info@teamkids.com.au or phone 95320366 #1 if you have any questions.

James and Aaran from Team Kids present to the parent community

Please see the Closure Letter from Camp Australia below as their time at St Patrick's draws to a close on the last day of the holidays.

Child Safety Mid Year Report to the St Patrick's Community
In an article I wrote about Child Safety on the 3rd September 2017  and shared with you in our school newsletter, The Shamrock, 6th September 2017, I shared seven dot points of next steps for our community. Since then, we have in fact achieved these goals and made several further changes to continue to ensure we keep filling in the holes of the Swiss Cheese. I wish to share these changes with you. Firstly, here is a copy of the original message.

Child Safety Message Reminder from The Shamrock 6th September 2017

Last Wednesday, I attended a workshop at the Catholic Leadership Centre around the Child Safe Standards. I have written a summary of my learning to share with you. You can learn more at this link. I hope this helps to explain the significance of the many changes we have had to make to the way we run things at St Pat's. Ultimately we have the safety and well being of every child at the heart of our decision making. I would like to set up a Child Safety Committee. If you are a parent who is particularly interested in joining the group, please let me know either in person or by email principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

Read this link to find out what Child Safety has to do with Swiss cheese!

These were the next steps I focused on for our St Patrick's community in the article:

• Draw attention to Child Safe procedures with children, staff and parents during National Child Protection Week 3-9 September - Achieved
• Ensure the Child Safe Policy and other documents are visible on our website, newsblog and learning site -Achieved
• Initiate a Child Safe Team including teachers, parents and children - Achieved
• Work with the Student Representative Council to develop a child friendly Child Safe Code of Conduct and give our children a voice around Child Safety - Work in Progress
• Include Child Safety on the agenda of all meetings - staff, board and parents - Achieved
• Review camp and excursion Safety Action Plans - Achieved
• Use the CEM Embedding a Culture of Child Safety Reflection Tool with the community - Work in Progress

As well as the above, our school has proactively implemented many more steps in working towards being a Child Safe school. These include:

• Introduction of a detailed risk assessment plan for all school trips including interschools in Feb 2017. No school buses are booked until the principal sights this plan.
• Non Alcohol Policy
• The removal of displays from glass windows and doors into classrooms to provide transparency of learning spaces
• Reading Recovery office relocated to an office adjacent to a classroom space for visibility
• Child Safe school signs displayed on fences, gates at school boundaries
• Parents / visitors requested to sign in at the office and wear a visitor lanyard
• Child Safe Code of Conduct sent home for parents to sign
• Parents/visitors no longer able to go into children's bathrooms, instead use the disabled bathroom
• Children able to enter the school directly at 8:50am instead of waiting in the playground until 9am.
• Every staff member completed the Victorian Government Protecting Children- Mandatory Reporting online module. A copy of the certificates of completion are held at school.

With the support of our staff and the Child Safe Team, our school will continue to proactively ensure we maintain a Child Safe environment for every child at St Patrick's.

Parish Education Board News
At our last board meeting, we discussed the success of our parent working groups. When I commenced at St Patrick's, many parents suggested they were keen to share their professional expertise with our school. How best to do this than to join a proactive working group that contributes to our St Patrick's school community ? Our Child Safe Team, Masterplan Team and Before/After School Review Team are made up of staff and parents willing to share their skills. At the board meeting we discussed suggestions for other groups and we are keen to invite parent volunteers to the following groups :

• grants committee/group to help with grant applications 
• health and safety: checking the physical environment 
• website: needs a refresh
• Alumni- Possibility of securing sponsorship?  Visits from past students

We will also send a Flexi Buzz invitation. If you are keen to share your expertise then contact principal@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au

NCCD Letter to Parents

Lightning Premierships

In arctic conditions our Yr6s participated in the Dendy Netball and Football Lightning Premiership Days last week. Our three netball teams played consistently well throughout the day, resulting in them all making the grand final in their respective sections. Congratulations to the boys who played in the Mixed B section- they will now compete in the Beachside Division Netball Tournament next term. The following day, our footballers played against some strong opposition, putting in a solid performance in the semi finals. We are very proud of the manner in which all teams participated in these days; the resilience in tough conditions and the teamwork/ support you showed each other was fantastic.

A special mention must go to the Parent Helpers who braved the conditions on these days- we are grateful for your assistance.

Important Term 2 dates

Wednesday 27th June         Parent Helper Course @9am
Wednesday 27th June         Mid Year Parent Meetings in the School Hall children dismissed @1 pm 
Friday 29th June                  End of term 2 ... students dismissed @ 2 pm

Community Notices

Week 9, Term 2, 2018

Prayer Reflection

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Now that our Year 6's have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, we are preparing for our Year 3's to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This will take place during Week 3 next term.

Bishop Peter Elliott is our Parish Administrator and welcomes you to contact him at anytime on 

03 95769145

Staff News

Mrs. Rebecca Maddocks is going on maternity leave today. We extend a very big thank you to Mrs Maddocks for her invaluable contribution to the 4V class on Fridays and as E-Learning leader for digitech on Tuesdays. Our special wishes with the upcoming birth of her baby.

We are delighted to inform you that Mrs Emma Buckingham will be taking over the Friday teaching position in 4V. Mrs Buckingham is an experienced, passionate, Year 4 teacher and mother of two young boys.

We will also be welcoming Ms. Catherine Newington to our staff to take on the E-Learning teaching role. Ms. Newington taught at our school several years ago and is now an ICT Educator Specialist. 

We look forward to welcoming both Mrs Buckingham and Ms. Newington to our school community.

Mid Year Reports and Parent Meetings

Our teachers have been working hard to prepare the mid year reports for your children. You will be able to meet with the teachers in the school hall on Wednesday 27th June. The online booking for appointment times will open in Week 10.

Parent Helpers Course

Just a reminder that the second Parent Helpers course commences at 9am on Wednesday 20th June.

Please contact Liz Hills on lizh@spmurrumbeena.catholic.edu.au for further information.

Team Kids Parent Information Evening

Please join us in the hall on Tuesday 19th June at 6:30 pm to learn about our new Before and After School Care Provider. Team Kids will commence at St Patrick's on Day 1 of Term 3.

First Aid Incursion

St John Ambulance will visit our school on Monday 18th June to deliver free First Aid in Schools training 

to our students.  Through the First Aid in Schools program, trained St John presenters lead students from​Grade 3 and 4 through tailored sessions on the importance of First Aid and what to do in the event of an emergency.  Our junior students learn about how to identify when there is an emergency, keeping themselves safe, and how to call for an ambulance.  Senior students learn about delivering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the things they can do to assist in an emergency.

Important Term 2 dates

Monday 18th June               Whole school photo, School Assembly 
Tuesday 19th June              Parent Information Night Team Kids @6:30pm
Wednesday 27th June         Parent Helper Course @9am
Wednesday 27th June         Mid Year Parent Meetings in the School Hall
Friday 29th June                  End of term 2 ... students dismissed @ 2pm

Community Notices

Week 8, Term 2, 2018

Feast of the Sacred Heart

The whole school celebrated mass to recognise the Feast of the Sacred Heart today.

Special thanks to all families who brought in a tin of food. You were very generous. Together we gathered several large boxes. These were taken to the Sacred Heart mission in St Kilda who were extremely grateful. The food will be distributed to the homeless and families in need.

Thank you to Noah Eamons in Year 7 packed up the food as part of his community service. Noah and his mother Susan kindly took the boxes to the Sacred Heart Mission for us.

Forever undeserving, may I always be attentive

and never take for granted the gifts of mercy and love

that flow so freely and generously from your Sacred Heart.

Heart of Jesus, I adore you.

Heart of Jesus, I praise you.

Heart of Jesus, I thank you.

Heart of Jesus, I love you forever and always.

Amen.

Mid Year Reports and Parent Meetings

Our teachers have been working hard to prepare the mid year reports for your children. You will be able to meet with the teachers in the school hall on Wednesday 27th June. The online booking for appointment times will open in Week 10.

Team Kids

As per the  information previously shared with you, we are delighted to welcome a new Before, After and Vacation Care provider to St Patrick's commencing on Day 1 of Term 3. Camp Australia will finish with us at the end of the school holidays.

Please find some information below about Team Kids (click on the information to enlarge it). There will be opportunities to find out how to enrol at the Team Kids information night on Tuesday 19th June. For further questions please contact Jenny.

Important Term 2 dates

Monday 11th June               Queen's Birthday Holiday
Wednesday 13th June         Free Coffee Morning Team Kids
Monday 18th June               Whole school photo
Tuesday 19th June              Parent Information Night Team Kids @6:30pm
Wednesday 27th June         Parent Helper Course @9am
Wednesday 27th June         Mid Year Parent Meetings in the School Hall. 
                                             School finishes @1pm
Friday 29th June                  End of term 2 ... students dismissed @2pm

Community Notices

Week 7, Term 2, 2018

Principal's News from Jenny Hawkins

Confirmation

Congratulations to our Year 6's who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this week. Special thanks to the most reverend Bishop Peter Elliott and Fr Paul for ensuring that this was indeed a memorable occasion for our students who received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thanks to our Religious Education Leader Mrs Mullan, the Year 6 teachers and Mrs O'Dwyer who conducted the Year 5 choir on both evenings. Thank you to all of the sponsors and families who attended the workshops and the masses. Let's continue to keep these young adults in our prayers as we pray:

Heavenly Father, you sent your Holy Spirit upon the apostles and through them to their successors. May your work, which began at Pentecost, continue to grow in our hears today.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

Amen

Congratulations to Miss Kim Whitfield

This weekend, Miss Whitfield, our 1W teacher is getting married in Byron Bay. There were many fun activities at school to celebrate Kim and Matt's wedding including wedding music instead of our normal school bells and a pre wedding ceremony in the hall. We wish Kim and Matt all the best for a wonderful future together and look forward to welcoming Kim back to school next week.

Reconciliation Workshops for Year 3

Workshops take place this Tuesday 5th June from 6 -7pm for 3N and from 7:15 -8:15 3O

School Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart 9:30 Friday 8th June. 

All parents welcome.Traditionally the focus is on the underprivileged. As part of our focus on social justice, we asked each family to bring one can of food to school and leave it in the box in the front office. These will be taken to mass and distributed to those in need in the community.

Important Term 2 dates

Tuesday 5th June                Reconcilliation  Family Workshop  

Monday 11th June               Queen's Birthday Holiday
Monday 18th June               Whole school photo
Friday 29th June                  End of term 2 ... students dismissed @1pm

Community Notices

 Piano Lessons

I am a past parent of St Patrick’s – my children Amy and Rohan Amarasinghe left in 2012.
While at St Patrick’s I put in my details in The Shamrock for anyone interested in learning Piano and/or completing their AMEB exams and I currently teach some St Pat’s kids. You can access more information from the front office. I live locally and have a ‘Working with Children Check’. Ahila

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