Week 8 Term 4 2019

Advent
Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the second coming of Christ. In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 and is the beginning of the liturgical year. We will celebrate Advent with special liturgies lead by our children in the coming weeks.

A Special Message from Michelle Barclay
I would like to take this opportunity to send our St Patrick's community a heartfelt thanks for your kindness and support over the last 6 months. My family and I are grateful for the assistance with meals and lunchbox treats. It has made the daily routines so much easier, particularly whilst I have been undergoing treatment. I have particularly enjoyed the hand-made cards and notes from our gorgeous children. I'm nearing the end of this phase of treatment and am looking forward to a more relaxed time over the holidays. I'd like to wish you all a safe and wonderful Christmas with your family and friends and hope you enjoy the summer holiday break.
Michelle Barclay

Staff News and Class teachers for 2020
The children had a chance today to begin their transition programme for 2020 today.
At St Pat's, we believe that to support all of our children and fully prepare them for the new school year, we provide a gradual transition for them. This is a chance to build relationships with their teachers and peers so that when the new school year begins, the children are ready to engage with learning, feeling informed and well prepared.

The end of a school year is also the time when some of our staff make new plans for the future. This year, three of our valued teachers are retiring from teaching and leaving us to spend more time with their family and friends.

Between them, these three teachers have gifted 72 years of service to our children, families and our school - Anne Mullan (17 years), Helen Curry (25 years) and Karin Dornbierer (30 years). We have been blessed by their generosity, their passion, their love for education and their willingness to make a positive difference to the lives of the children, their colleagues and our community as a whole. We thank them for their contributions as teachers, leaders and friends and wish them well with their future plans. They have each prepared a special message for the community and you can read their messages at this link.

We also thank and farewell Noreen McCoy, one of our wonderful Learning support Officers who is also leaving education to spend more time with her family.

Classroom Teachers for 2020
6G- Joanne Guscott
6L- Natalie La Fontaine
5J- Paul Jones
5S- Jacinta Stokes
4RM- Alexandra Reid, Rebecca Maddocks
4 O- Nicole O'Halloran
3D- Luke Daidone
3L- Maria Lucas, Marg O'Dwyer
2W- Wendy Verstoep, Bern Gallagher
2MP- Jacinta Minter, Sam Pratt
1K- Maddy Kappler
1H- Lisa Harris

Prep Y- Angela Yates, Dani Trott

Prep HB - Katherine Hadaway, Maria Blair Smith

Prep A- Laura Adcock

Hot off the Press - Fair Plans 2020 and Back Story
Plans are already underway for our next fair !!
Based on feedback, a date has been set for 21st March 2020.  Here is a link to the back story of the fair and the recommendations made by the Fete review team in 2018.

Term 4 Dates

Tues 3 Dec      Link Booklist collection from 3pm
Mon 9 Dec      Musical Showcase 12:15pm
Wed 4 Dec      Year 5/6 Sailing Program
Wed 11 Dec    Year 6 Luna Park trip, Carols Evening 6pm
Mon 16 Dec    Year 5/6 Graduation 6pm
Tues 17 Dec    Whole school celebration activity day
Wed 18 Dec    Last day of term 4. School dismissed at 1pm

Week 7 Term 4 2019

Prayer for this week

Thanks again for supporting our Cancer Council fundraiser. The final total we raised was $1743.20 thanks to the initiative of the Parr girls with everyone's generous support. We continue to keep Michelle Barclay, Ricky and everyone who has been touched by cancer in our thoughts and prayers.

Heavenly Father, we humbly pray for all those who are fighting cancer. 

Give them the hope and courage they need each day. 

Comfort them in their pain and bless them with healing. 

Strengthen their family, friends, and caregivers.

Congratulations to the Year 5's who excelled in this year's Public Speaking Programme

Congratulations Mackenzie and Angus

Congratulations to two of our Year 6 leaders who were awarded the Higgins Medal at a special presentation with their parents last night.
The Higgins Medal is an annual award recognising local students who excel in their studies and extracurricular activities, show strong leadership amongst their peers and provide exemplary service to the school community.
Higgins are passionate about education and community service and  acknowledge the students who go above and beyond for their school and the community.

Transition 2020

This Friday, the children from Prep-Year 5 will have an opportunity to meet their teachers for next year. This will be the first transition session for our children to prepare them for classes in 2020.
Next week's Shamrock will have a list of class teachers for 2020.

Term 4 Dates

Mon 25 Nov    Prep - Yr 4 Swimming commences and continues to 6th Dec, Assembly 3pm
Fri 29 Nov      Year 5/6 Life Saving Day, Advent Liturgy 2:45 pm in the church
Tues 3 Dec      Link Booklist collection from 3pm
Mon 9 Dec      Musical Showcase 12:15pm
Wed 4 Dec      Year 5/6 Sailing Program
Wed 11 Dec    Year 6 Luna Park trip, Carols Evening 6pm
Mon 16 Dec    Year 5/6 Graduation 6pm
Tues 17 Dec    Whole school celebration activity day
Wed 18 Dec    Last day of term 4. School dismissed at 1pm

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Week 6 Term 4 2019

Bushfire Reflection

Our prayers and thoughts are with the families affected by the horrific bushfires in NSW and QLD. 

Remembrance Day Scholarship program East Malvern RSL

Congratulations to Fred who is this year's recipient of the $350 Remembrance Day High School scholarship. Fred prepared an excellent Australian History project about Fred Hollows and shared his knowledge and learning with other students in an engaging manner. Congratulations to the other Year 6 leaders who were also finalists and displayed their projects at the East Malvern RSL Sub-Branch Inc.

Year 5 & 6 Mini Market

Well done to the Year 5 & 6 students who organised some excellent market activities for the rest of the school today. Activities included goal shooting, biscuit decorating, lucky dips, smoothies, raffles, min golf. The market stalls were very creative and sponsorship from local businesses are greatly appreciated.

Thanks to our school families for supporting the Mini Market. All of the funds raised will go towards the St Vincent de Paul association.

School Closure Day Reminder 

Staff have a 2020 Planning Day on Friday 22nd November, Team Kids will be operating on this day.

Term 4 Dates

Fri 22 Nov       School Closure Day - Staff Planning day
Mon 25 Nov    Prep - Yr 4 Swimming commences and continues to 6th Dec
Fri 29 Nov      Year 5/6 Life Saving Day
Tues 3 Dec      Link Booklist collection from 3pm
Wed 4 Dec      Year 5/6 Sailing Program
Wed 11 Dec    Carols Evening 6pm
Mon 16 Dec    Year 5/6 Graduation 6pm
Wed 18 Dec    Last day of term 4. School dismissed at 1pm

Community Notices

Week 5 Term 4 2019

Remembrance Day
On Monday 11 November there will be a Remembrance Day ceremony at 3pm in the hall. The Grade 6 Faith & Social Justice leaders will run the ceremony. All children will be attending and parents are welcome to join us.

Letter of Fee Adjustment 2020
Thank you to those parents who have paid their children's school fees for 2019.
Here is a link to a letter around the fee adjustment for 2020.

P & F Principal’s Report November 2019 (AGM)

A HUGE thank you to every member of the P & F for coordinating and supporting all fundraising and social events for 2019.

Thank you to co-presidents Annie Carrie and Bree Langham for their continued passion and enthusiasm as P & F leaders. They continued to inject a strong sense of community through all of the events, especially the Colour Run, now a favourite for the children.

Again, Bree and Annie shared their love and passion for our school at the Prep Information Evening. New families expressed their delight in feeling welcomed into such a vibrant and positive St Pat’s parent community.

An extra thank you must go to Nadine Power for being brave enough to take on the challenging role of the new look fair and proudly resurrecting such a special community event.

A heartfelt thank you to all of you, our parent community for your hard work, love and support for our children, staff and parents, through Pat Care and all activities and events at our school throughout 2019.

Fundraising Wishlist
Depending on the fundraising amount donated to the school for 2019, this is the fundraising wishlist:
1x Year 6 Classroom Flexible Furniture (purchased Jan 2019)
New high resolution laser projector, large screen & microphone upgrade for school hall (purchased May 2019)
Portable PA system with 2 speakers
2x water bottle refillable drink stations
Funds towards a St Pat’s marquee
Scooter Storage racks

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

School Swimming
Please ensure all blue swimming notes are returned to school by Wednesday 13th December

Term 4 Dates

Mon 11 Nov    Remembrance Day
Mon 25 Nov    Prep - Yr 4 Swimming commences and continues to 6th Dec
Fri 29 Nov      Year 5/6 Life Saving Day
Tues 3 Dec      Link Booklist collection from 3pm
Wed 4 Dec      Year 5/6 Sailing Program
Wed 11 Dec    Carols Evening 6pm
Mon 16 Dec    Year 5/6 Graduation 6pm
Wed 18 Dec    Last day of term 4. School dismissed at 1pm

Week 4 Term 4 2019

Sports day
Thank you to Danni Trot, Paul Jones, our staff and all parent volunteers for helping to make our Sports Day a success. Congratulations to all of our students who participated and to our Year 6 Leaders.

Fair
A huge thank you to Nadine and all of the hardworking parents, volunteers, staff and sponsors who helped to make our fair a great success.

Reminder - School Closure Day Monday and Cup Day Tuesday

Hayden's Helping Hands Christmas Toy Drive
It is time for our annual Christmas drives. We will start with the toy drive. To ensure we have enough time to sort and then get the items to those in need in December, we will be holding our toy drive from now until the end of Nov.We are looking for new toys for all age groups please
Items donated will be going directly to folks who need them, and we are already receiving requests and, depending on how many we receive, to our partner organisations who pass them straight on.

Term 4 Dates

Tues 5 Nov     Melbourne Cup Holiday
Fri 22 Nov      School Closure Day
Mon 25 Nov    Prep - Yr 4 Swimming commences and continues to 6th Dec
Fri 29 Nov      Year 5/6 Life Saving Day
Tues 3 Dec      Link Booklist collection from 3pm
Wed 4 Dec      Year 5/6 Sailing Program
Wed 11 Dec    Carols Evening 6pm
Mon 16 Dec    Year 5/6 Graduation 6pm
Wed 18 Dec    Last day of term 4. School dismissed at 1pm

COMMUNITY NOTICES