Newsletter 13/09/2021 Term 3 Week 30
From the Principal
Hello to everyone, welcome to the last week of term.
It has certainly been another term where we have all had to dig deep to deal with the restrictions, lockdown & differences to what we are usually used to.
As a school we are so grateful to everyone for all you have done to ensure that the children's education could continue, so thank you very much.
Holidays are at the end of the week and an opportunity to spend some down time with your family. I know many are tired and so the holidays are an opportunity to re-charge.
Please note that this Wednesday is the specialists day for everyone. The F/1/2 children can please wear the PE uniform on Wednesday, as this will be their specialists day for the week.
I look forward to seeing everyone back at the start of the term.
Stay safe
Mick
Prayer Reflection
Assembly
Assembly this week will once again be out on Facebook by early afternoon on Friday.
Lockdown Update
With school holidays at the end of the week, hopefully this will be our last week of lockdown and all children will be back on site from term 4.
This week we have a hybrid situation where the F/1/2 children are all onsite and the grade 3-6's are remote learning.
A few reminders of where we are at:
- If School supervison is required for a student/s in grade 3-6 please fill in the request form (link below) by 4.00pm the day before supervision is requested. All requests need to come by this link please so we have documentation.
- If nothing changes over the holidays and restrictions & lockdowns continue then I will let you know that this is the case and bookings for school supervision for next term will open during the last week of the holidays. Please wait for confirmation via email that this will be occurring.
- Can I ask that those students in F/1/2 who borrowed a computer while they were remote learning please return these to school asap.
- The schoolzine app, WEB page & emails are our main form of communication. If you haven't been receiving any emails, please contact the school to double check your email address.
- We are still restricting non essential staff coming into the school.
- Please keep children home if they are not well.
- There has been a recommendation that primary school children wear masks when they are not at home. This is a recommendation only and is therefore not mandated, however children are encouraged to wear a mask. I understand the difficulties associated with this, so please talk with your family as to the decision you are comfortabe with.
- Ensuring we are moving away quickly after school pickups. Church pickup is back as an option for pick up now the F/1/2's are back on site.
- Maintaining COVID rules & cleaning regimes.
- If a computer is required by any grade 3-6 students, can you fill in a form request please. These are ready to be picked up from the school.
As usual if anything changes I will let you know.
On Site Supervised Learning Request Form term 4
Remote Learning Update this week.
This week we are working through the grid as sent out via the Google classroom. It is an activity based grid for the week for the whole school with a different focus each day. The activities will hopefully provide some fun, as well some educational aspects and give everyone a break from the regular routines. We would still like students to be engaging in reading, spelling and counting daily practice as per their classroom expectations and staff will be still holding short Google Meets to check in so please check your Google Classroom for this info. All children will be working through this either at home or at school. The F/1/2 children will also be doing other school based learning as well.
If you have any concerns please let your teacher, Mick, Annie or Mel know
The remote learning week for grades 3-6 looks a bit like this:
- Monday: Learning Grid
- Tuesday: Learning Grid
- Wednesday: (A specialists day timetable for the whole school. Grade 3-6 will do this remotely while the F/1/2 children will do this onsite with their specialists teachers for this week.
- Thursday: Learning Grid
- Friday: Learning Grid
Tarryn Delaney on Maternity Leave
This week is Mrs Tarryn Delaney’s last week before leaving on maternity leave for term 4. Mrs Carley Hickey will do an extra day & Mrs Vickie Mahony will do 2 days in the classroom. Carley will be working on Monday, Tuesday & Friday and Vickie on Wednesday & Thursday. We thank Tarryn for all she has done over the course of the year and wish her & Damon all the best for the birth of their next child.
Last Day of term & Footy Colours
Our last day of term is this Friday. It is an early finish on the last day with 2.15pm being the end of school. For most people that will not effect them much, however for those onsite it will be an early finish & early buses.
It is also Footy colours day with everyone able to dress up in the colours of their favourite football team. If you are at home we'd love to see photos. For those at school we will see your colours on the day. No cost to do this - just lots of fun!
Term 4
We are due back from holidays on Monday 4th of October and we will look forward to seeing everyone on site at that time.
It will be a busy term as we usually have swimming for F/1/2, bike ed for 3-6, Foundation 2022 interviews, Grade 3 camp, Grade 6 camp, excursion etc. Next term we also have some things that have moved into this space due to lockdowns: Arts nights, excursions, grade 6 discovery day, sports events, Trivia night to name a few. Once we have dates for these I will get them out.
Farewell to the Bullen family
We farewelled the Bullen family; Will, Isobelle, Harrison and Elloise last Friday. We wish them all the very best for the future and hope they have enjoyed their time here at St Patrick's.
Diary Dates for Postponed activities
A few diary dates to be added for events that have been postponed.
Fun Day: Monday 1st November
Grade 1 & 2 excursions: Friday 10th December (TBC)
Staff RE PD: Friday 12th November (No school for students)
Grade 5/6 excursion: Friday 19th November (TBC)
Grade 6 discovery day: Wednesday 27th October
Parent Teacher Interviews
We will be implementing these parent teacher chats in the second week of term 4 to give staff a little longer with children when they return from the current lockdown. The interviews will be based around what the goals or areas for improvement are for each child, so that 4th term can be more focused for everyone. I will let you know when & how these will go over the coming weeks.
The end of the year chats will then be an optional opportunity for a catch up.
School Wide Positive Behaviours Systems (SWPBS)
We will continue to work though manners for the the last week of the term. I am sure that parents are still also reinforcing good manners at home as well.
Some of the things we will be targeting: Say excuse me for interruptions, in class, at the office, people on the phone, adults talking etc. I will attach a copy of the latest video that staff will be sharing with children.
Catholic School Culture
Socktober
October is Mission Month where we contribute to Catholic Missions and help those in need.
We will be raising awareness and completing activities next month at school. If you have any
socks that you are throwing out or are old, holey or odd, please donate to school for these
activities. We will also be collecting coins to contribute to this cause and donate to our
mission boxes and Catholic Missions Australia. Thank-you
Social Justice: Mini Vinnies
This term the Mini Vinnies children will be conducting a toy drive. They will be collecting clean toys in good condition which will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul at the end of this term in readiness for Christmas.
- If you have any toys that are no longer used or the children have grown out of, please wash them and send them into school to donate to the Mini Vinnies volunteers.
They will be collecting from the classrooms every week or alternately, toys can be left at the office. This will greatly assist in bringing joy to children at Christmas time. Thank-you in advance.
Our Diocesan Community
Our Mini Vinnis team are featured in the latest edition of the Our Diocesan Community for their Winter Appeal work. Well done to everyone. A hard copy will come home to the junior school.
Students of the Week
Birthdays
From St Patrick's
To the following students that celebrate their birthdays this week
13/09/2021 Monday -
14/09/2021 Tuesday -
15/09/2021 Wednesday - Evie Mitchell
16/09/2021 Thursday - Grace Fleming
17/09/2021 Friday -
Over the School Holidays
Elle Mahony, Samual Snibson, Daisy Courtney, Hannah Cridland, Hugo Chivell, Sam Wallace, Scout Colman and Amelia Mitchell.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Please consider nominating St Patrick's as your preferred organisation when shopping at IGA.
