Newsletter 29/03/2021 Term 1 Week 10

From the Principal

Prayer

Cleaning position

We are looking to hire a new cleaner for every Monday night, 2.00-6.00pm to work as part of our cleaning team. Please contact the office if you might be interested for more details, or send in an application letter/email, including resume and 2 referees to Michael McKenzie by Friday April 9th.   mmckenzie@spcamperdown.catholic.edu.au

At this stage we are just advertising in our school community.

COVID Update

With the announcements last Friday we have nearly returned to our pre-COVID normal, especially in regards to getting out and about again.

Some of the preventative measures that we have been working under here at school are good common sense measures, especially keeping children home if sick. Over the past term there has been a real spike in the number of children away from school due to sore throats, headaches and gastro.

Despite the extra precautions taken, schools by their very nature of a close working proximity, have always been places where germs are spread more easily. If you are sending your child to school sick then it certainly isn't helping stop the spread of these germs, despite the precautions taken. We will therefore still be asking parents to keep their child/ren home if sick to try and minimise the spread to others. 

Athletic Sports Carnival

The school athletics carnival was a great success last Friday with the weather, the children, the events and the families all playing a part in creating a wonderful day. Thanks you to all the families who came along and supported the day- it was certainly worth waiting for!

Well done to all the children on their efforts and their participation and sportspersonship. It was certainly one of the calmer, better days we have had and for that we are very grateful.

Congratulations to our eventual winners on the day: Nazareth. They have ceretainly done well this year.

Congratulations also to our age champions across the school. 

MRC Transition Day & Open Day

Last Thursday the grade 5/6 children  headed to Noorat for a taster day as we begin transition days for 2021. This day was a normal school day for all grade 5/6's and an opportunity to get a taste for what secondary school life will be like.

Many children and their families took the option to meet over at the O'Keeffe campus to have a tour of facilities . If you would still like a tour of either the Noorat or Camperdown campuses please don't hesitate to call MRC and set one up. 

School Review: Parent Forum

Our school review is on Thursday 29th & Friday 30th April and is the completion of the school review process we have been working on for the last 18 months.

I am looking for some parent volunteers to be a part of the school community forum to be held on Thursday 29th of April from 2.30-3.15. This would involve coming into school and being on a parent panel to talk through your perceptions and thoughts of the school with the school review panel team. 

If you are interested please let me know directly by giving me a call here at school. I need around 10 parents for this panel. Please consider putting your name forward. 

Easter Raffle: Last Day of Term

Our Easter raffle is on this week  and is one of the highlights of first term.

Easter eggs have been rolling in, but if haven't donated yet please send into the office.

Parents are expected to donate an Easter egg/rabbit/chocolate item per child they have at the school (Eg 2 children, 2 items) to put towards making the Easter raffle prizes.

The winners will be drawn out this Thursday at the whole school assembly. Parents are welcome to come in for this if they wish to. 

20 Raffle tickets have gone home for you to sell. Please sell both sides of the tickets & return them to school along with the money ($1 per ticket = $20). There are lots more tickets at school when you run out if you need any more! 

PS: We are also looking for cane or Easter baskets to make up Easter prizes, so if you have any, your donation would be appreciated.

Eye Testing-Lions Club

This eye testing is a free service provided by the Lions Club of Camperdown, for the Grade 6 and Foundation children and will be completed in the week commencing February 28th.   Permission forms will be sent out tomorrow.

Many thanks to the Lions Club members who will give up their time for this to happen. 

District Athletics

This Wednesday, 31st of March is the District Athletic Sports for those children in grades 3-6 who have made the team. The team is chosen from our athletic sports performances and the top students in each year level attend to represent the school on the day. Best of luck to our team for 2021.  

Parents as Helpers

We hope to allow parent helpers back into the school early in term 2 to help in classrooms once again.  To be part of the parent helpers program, parents need to complete a session here at school. There would be some parents that have already completed this program in other years.

If you would like to help in the classroom, then touch base with your child's teacher as to your availability and if you haven't completed the course please do so when it is offered in early term 2. 

Catholic School Culture

• Our Easter ceremonies are some of the more special ones of the church liturgical year. It would be great if you could get along to some of these over Easter. 

Holy Week

During Holy Week we recall the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. This started yesterday with Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday) where Jesus rode the donkey slowly and humbly into Jerusalem and made his triumphant entry. The crowds welcomed him waving palm branches in the air. The following morning on Maundy Monday Jesus cleared the temple of money changers and corrupt courts to change it back into a house of prayer. On Tuesday Jesus and his disciples went to Mount Olives where he encouraged them to have faith. Back at the temple he evaded arrest for being a spiritual authority. On Holy Wednesday Jesus and his disciples spent the day resting in Bethany in anticipation of the Passover. Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the day when the Passover or the Last Supper occurred. Jesus sent Peter and John to make preparations for the Passover feast. At this feast, he demonstrated by example how believers should love one another by washing his disciples feet. Jesus gave his body to be broken and his blood to be shed for our sins and death. It was at the Last Supper that Jesus established communion so that we can remember his sacrifice when we share the bread and wine. He then went out into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and this is where Judas betrayed him by telling the guards where he was which led to his arrest. On Good Friday Jesus endured the painful journey carrying the crucifix to which he was then nailed. Before he died he displayed the ultimate cry of forgiveness when he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do know not what they are doing”. His body was then taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb. On Saturday his body was ceremonially washed and laid to rest. On Easter Sunday when the women went to the tomb they found the large stoned had been rolled away. An angel told them that he had risen from the dead. He appeared to other people that day and they found out that Jesus had rose again. We now celebrate Easter with Easter eggs as symbol of new life and a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.  

On Thursday, children will watch a re-enactment of the Last Supper at our Holy Week liturgy. Children participating in the re-enactment are Ava Bonner, Ollie West, Grace Hinkley, Marc Knowles, Tess Moore, Tatum Courtney, Annabelle Lenehan, Archie McDonald, Jensen King, Kara Bell, Chance Tate, Cooper Doolan, Kobie Mather, Evie Mahony, Josh Foster and Joel Hinkley. This liturgy will be held prior to the Easter Egg raffle. 

Confirmation

This week children who are making the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin their preparation program at school and at home with their families. Children will need to choose a Confirmation name and a sponsor. A note will be coming home this week along with a candle and transfer for their stole. Please return the note as soon as you can or email the information to Tracy. This sacrament will be celebrated on Thursday 6th of May at 6pm at St. Patrick’s Church in Camperdown.

Please keep the following children in your prayers as they prepare to make the Sacrament of Confirmation: Tom Atkins, Halle Barake, Emma Bonner, Orson Capizzi, Maisie Cunningham, Rhys Darcy, Bailey Fox, Jed Gaut, Etti Glennen, Madison Lucas, Luca Macchiesi-May, Cooper Mahony, Mali Maskell, Bryce Miller, Edie Molan, Tristan O’Connor, Beau Ponting, Wally Rees, Brady Rippon-Hanson, Caitlin Rundle, Elaine Ryan, Abi Sinnott, Harry Sinnott, Darby Sinnott, Riley Spence, Vince Titmus, Taj Woodmason and Clem Walsh. 

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

NEXT TERM, THE GRADE 4 MINI VINNIE'S CHILDREN WILL BE COLLECTING DONATIONS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR THE WINTER APPEAL. 

ITEMS SUCH AS CLEAN (WASHED) BLANKETS, SLEEPING BAGS, COATS, JUMPERS, BEANIES ETC.

PLEASE SEND CLEAN DONATIONS TO SCHOOL FROM NEXT TERM FOR THE MINI VINNIE'S CHILDREN TO COLLECT. 

THANK-YOU

Students of the Week

Birthdays

From St Patrick's 

To the following students that celebrate their birthdays this week

27th March

Ava Cunningham

28th March

Lawson Rendell

30th March

Hudson Whitewood

31st March

Matilda Cridland, Cess Evans

2nd April -12th April over the school holidays

Essi Myers, Pippa Paterson, Liam Pascoe, Willa Pope, Pippa Woodmason,Max Hinkley, Taylah Bernoth, Madison Lucas, Wyatt Shadforth and Landon Roberts

COVID

Last Friday many of the rstrictions we have be living under for the past 12 months were relaxed and we are getting back to a more normal environment.

For us a school we will still be adhearing to some of the more common sense approaches as we move forward. This especially applies to not sending children who are sick tyo school and adults not coming into the school when they are not well either. Our approach to sanitising will continue as will  In order to ensure the health and safety of all community members, we ask that all families adhere to the following guidelines;

Testing- Symptomatic (Feeling unwell) or Asymptomatic

If a member of a family is recommended by their doctor to have COVID 19 testing, this person is asked to self isolate until the results are known. Any children/siblings of this family are requested not to attend school unless the results of the testing are known. At best we will restrict the spread of possible contact with the virus if the test is positive. At worst we will have cost some children a few days at home if the test proves to be negative. This is a duty of care for all at school. If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice. Any unwell children WILL be sent home. We will temperature check any child we feel is unwell.

Sick Children at School

Every student that presents to the sick bay with cold or flu like symptoms will have their temperature taken and as we are operating on a zero tolerance, they will be sent home.

Visitors to St. Patricks

At this stage parents, volunteers, or community groups can come onto the school premises or grounds.  Parents and guardians are asked to continue to maximise the use of phone (5593 1962) and email communication with the school or directly to their child’s teacher.

As per our pre-COVID regulations, anyone coming in for longer than 15 minutes will need to sign in at the office. 

Cleaning & Hygiene

To support the health and wellbeing of students and staff, the school will continue an enhanced cleaning routine and will encourage frequent handwashing by staff and students. Hand sanitizer will be located in high traffic/high touch areas and the classrooms.

Drop Off & Pick Up Arrangements

Drop Off- Parents are welcome to drop off at the normal time from 8.30am onwards. All children will need to enter the school via Dimora Ave. Pick Up- Children being picked up by parents or walking home will continue to do so at 3.15. Children being collected from the church will leave school at 3.05 for F-2 children and 3.15 for grades 3-6. 

Bus Travel

Please also remind your children who travel on school buses of the importance of:

•       practicing good hygiene, including using hand sanitiser
  
•       obeying all instructions from bus drivers

St Patrick's School Vision Statement & Child Safe Statement

Community Events

Cobden Winter Tennis Group