Community Update #1.11

A heartfelt story emerges on Harmony Day

Just as many children represented their diverse backgrounds and cultures, Tess Hartnett Year 3A, proudly walked into school wearing the colours of the Ukraine on Harmony Day. I asked Tess to tell me more more about her family connection to the Ukraine. 

Tess shared a beautiful story of love and strength and some special photos of her great grandmother and her grandmother.

.... Bubi was incredibly strong, brave and resilient much like the Ukrainian of today. She was also loving, gentle and kind.

Slave Ukrani (Glory to Ukraine)

 I was very touched to hear the story, especially considering the current Ukraine crisis. You can read the full account and see some photos of the family at this link.

Thanks to Year 5V and Ms Valcanas for composing this beautiful prayer together. The prayer is on display outside their classroom.

Did you see our stories published in the Parish Magazine ?

During the week your children would have brought home a copy of the Parish magazine. The magazine is a wonderful initiative from the Parish to help keep us informed about life connected to the Parish. Don't forget to take some time over the Easter break to sit back, relax with a cuppa and read the magazine and spot our children's work at the same time. We are proud to be part of the St Patrick's parish.

Easter Blessings

After a very special Palm Sunday liturgy in the church, the choir sang Everyone Belongs.

We all belong together to the St Pat's family community.

A huge thanks to all of you for your support during the term. 

Thank you to our hard working teachers and leaders, Fr Siby and the SAC parents, the P& F parents and to all of our parents and carers.

We wish all of you a restful term break and Easter blessings of peace, love and joy.

We look forward to welcoming your children back to school on Tuesday 26 April in their winter uniform.

Jenny Hawkins

Principal

Arrangements for drop off Term 2

During the last couple of years, we have made several changes to drop off and pick up times to remain Covid safe.

In Term 2, we will continue to use both front yard and back yard entrances. 

We recommend that children cycling or scooting from Year 3-6 enter the bike sheds through the back gates and Prep - 2 cyclists use the front gates to avoid congestion.

In the morning, gates will be opened at the original opening time of 8:40am with the children able to directly enter their classrooms between 8:45am until 8:55am. The grounds will be supervised from 8:40am until 8:55am.

Children may only enter the grounds prior to 8:40am to attend Team Kids.

Children will exit at 3:25pm at the end of the day.

Covid Update 

Thanks to all of the families who tested their children during term 1. The government will supply RAT tests for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 and we will be required to continue with twice weekly testing.

The numbers of cases at St Pat's averaged 3 cases a week across the whole school throughout the term. Families notified us about positive cases or family isolation periods. Teachers worked hard to ensure that children isolating received some home learning support.

This is a reminder for Term 2 to please notify the office and copy in the class teacher & principal so that we can make the relevant notifications.

MACS COVID-19 Vaccinations - Parents and Carers on School Sites Guidelines. You can read the full guidelines at this link. Any parents or other adults attending a gathering at school, whether indoors or outdoors, need to show evidence of vaccination on arrival.

All of our school policies can be accessed on our Learning Community Site at this link.

Winter Uniform for Term 2

Just a reminder that the children will change to their winter uniform for Term 2 and Term 3.

You can access details of the winter uniform from our school website at this link.

Parent Access Module Manual (PAM) & Simon Everywhere (SE)

Here is a link to a PAM manual to help you understand how PAM works. There is also information about the Simon Everywhere App which you use for quick access to PAM.

From Term 2 we will no longer communicate via Flexischools. PAM is our main source of communciation.

Have you downloaded the SIMON everywhere app ?

Project Updates

As the ground floor refurbishment and kindergarten projects for 2022 continue to move ahead, I have updated the Learning Community Site with the following plans & timelines:

• ground floor refurbishment
• kindergarten
• Michelle Barclay running track 

You can read the latest development on all of these projects at this link.

You can read the full story about the GEKA partnership at this link

Parents & Friends (P&F) News

Easter Raffle - thank you for your generous support

A huge thankyou to all of the wonderful families who donated goods to make up the Easter Raffle prizes and to those who bought raffle tickets. We were thrilled that over 2100 tickets were purchased, and hope that the lucky winners share the prizes with their families. The Grade 2 parent group coordinated this year's Easter Raffle - thankyou to Kathryn Manning-Clark and her helpers: Alanna Bailey, Nathan Albon and Sharelle Braithwaite. We would also like to thank the Truscott family for their generous support again this year.

Pre-Loved Uniforms - transition to winter uniform

As we transition to Winter Uniform in Term 2, please keep an eye out for any uniform items that may be suitable for donation to the Pre-Loved Uniform store. Any uniform items still in good condition can be dropped by your child to the school office. We are particularly keen to receive any smaller sized tunics. If you would like to purchase items, this can be facilitated via email by making an enquiry to: stpatssecondhanduniforms@gmail.com - all items are $5 and can be paid for using CDFPay.

Thank you to all our P&F Class Reps

Term 1 is a busy period for our P&F Class Reps - as we all try and keep up with the flurry of school activities. Many of the Class Reps have also organised Pizza Nights and / or parent social events this term. The P&F appreciate having such a great team behind us, so a big shout out to them for their time and efforts.

Mothers Day/Special Friend's Day is coming 

The P&F are working with the school to provide beautiful handmade gifts for the children to present to their Mums & Special Friends. As with previous years, there will be a small cost associated with this ($5) that families can pay via CDFPay. There will be further communication next term about this.

Next P&F Meeting - Tuesday 3rd May at 7.30pm

All parents are welcome to join our next P&F meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 3rd May at 7.30pm. Please pencil it into your diaries, as we'd love your input into our future events and fundraisers.

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 P&F Minutes from the last meeting are on the Learning Community Site at this link

Please note that the Sacrament dates are now confirmed with Fr Siby and highlighted on the calendar below in orange.

                                                                Term 2 2022

Tuesday 26               Beginning Term 2

Tuesday 17 May.      Year 5 Reconciliation 6pm

Wednesday 27         Year 5 Eucharist Parent Workshop 6pm

May

Tuesday 3                Parent & Friends Meeting 7:30pm

Thursday 5              School Advisory Council Meeting 7pm

Monday 16              Closure Day Staff PL

Saturday 28            Year 5 First Eucharist 9:15am

June

Monday 13              Queen's Birthday

Thursday 16            Parent Teacher Meetings

Friday 24                 End Term 2

July 11                    Beginning Term 3

Wednesday 20        Confirmation Year 6 5:30pm

September

Tuesday 13            Year 4 First Reconciliation 6pm

Friday 16                 End Term 3

October

Monday 3               Beginning Term 4

November

Saturday 19            Year 4 First Eucharist 9:15am

December    

Tuesday 6              Year 3 First Reconciliation 6pm

Tuesday 13             Year 6 Graduation Mass 6pm