Newsletter 11/12/2023 Term 4 Week 11

Second Sunday of Advent

From the Principal

Dear parents and carers,

As the school year comes to an end this week, I would like to express my thanks to the school community for making 2023 a fabulous year of learning and reconnection with one another. We hope to continue this next year with many opportunities for involvement in the life of the school. I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas with many opportunities for family fun and celebration. I hope all our students enjoy a restful Summer holiday and look forward to seeing them all next year, ready to do it all again. 

LEARNING AND TEACHING

Move Up Day

This Tuesday the 12th December is our Move Up Day.

Children will spend the day in their new class with their 2024 teacher and class mates on this day.

Class lists for 2024 have been sent home today.

Grade 6 Excursion

Today the Grade 6 students enjoyed their excursion to Port Campbell. They participated in an open water swim led by the surf lifesaving club of Port Campbell, had a BBQ lunch and on the way home they went to the Timboon Ice Creamery. 

My New Gallery

Christmas Dress Up Day

This Friday the 15th December, the last day of school, we will have a Christmas dress up day. Children can wear Christmas themed clothes/dress ups on this day.

Just a reminder that school will finish at 3.15pm as usual.

2024 - Back to School

29th January - Staff Return

30th January - School Closure Day - Staff PD

31st January - Students Return, including Foundation for this week.

The Week Ahead

WELLBEING

F-2 Swimming Program

Don't forget the Foundation to Grade 2 swimming program will continue this week. The last 2 sessions are on Wednesday 13th December and
Friday 15th December.
On these days each grade will participate in a 30 minute lesson.

Children will swim between 9:30am - 12:30pm. 
We request that parents consider the following points in order to make their child’s time at the pool as enjoyable and productive as possible. 
*Appropriate swimming attire e.g. bathers, rash vest, board shorts (avoid thick shorts & t-shirts). 
*Goggles that fit comfortably & do not allow water in (strongly recommended for all students). 
* A dry towel. 
* Spare underwear. 
*All clothing & towels clearly labeled with the student's name. 
* Students are encouraged to bring a pair of thongs to school in their bag to wear to and from the pool.

Please find following a parent note and schedule from Matt Harkin.

Canteen Last Day Tomorrow

The last day for the Canteen for 2023 is Tuesday the 12th December.

Please make sure your child has lunch and snacks for the remainder of the week.

Grade 5 Leadership Day

Today the Grade 5's participated in their Leadership Day. The students listened to guest speakers and the 2024 leaders were announced.

Leadership Positions for 2024

                                            Captains                                                          Vice Captains   

School Captains         Steph Fleming & Rhys Darcy                  Grace Barber & Vince Titmus

Nazareth Captains    Edie Molan & Darby Sinnott                  Maisie Cunningham & Bailey Fox

Lourdes Captains        Charlotte Dean & Harry Sinnott        Aliviah Shadforth & Herbie Fitzgerald

Mercy Captains            Marli Maskell & Bryce Miller              Sophie McConachy & Lincoln Rowe

Fatima Captains          Abigail Sinnott & Judd Doolan             Etti Glennen & Tom Atkins

Bus Roles                    F-Grade 1                Nathaniel Bourchier & Aiden Lenehan

                                        Grade 2 -4              Caitlin Rundle

                                        Grade 5-6               Lawson Rendell

                                        Cobden St Pats      Evie Wagner 

                                        Cobden Bus & Lismore Terang Bus     Florence Pope

SRC                               Jenevieve Crabbe, Emma Bonner, Lily Melano, Basil Hunt & Ruby Hinkley

Sport Coordinators    Stella Hinds & Wally Rees

Sport Assistants          Beau Ponting, Brady Rippon Hanson & Tristan O'Connor

Art Room Coordinator          Sienna Anderson

Foundation Helpers                Nathaniel Bourchier, Aiden Lenehan & Evie McKenna

Enviro Team                              Jackson Jewell, Sam Snibson, Cooper Mahony, Jed Gaut & Taj Woodmason

Library                                          Joe Ryan & Bonnie Mayers

St Patrick's Colouring Comp

The students have started the St Patrick's colouring competition during their art lessons.

Please note that your child may bring their's home to complete. If this is the case they are due back to school by Tuesday the 12th December.

Light Up Camperdown

Many St Patrick's students turned up Friday evening to "Light Up Camperdown" celebration with the lanterns they had made at school.  It was a wonderful event hosted by Corangamite Shire.

5/6 Netball Clinic

Last Friday our grade 5/6 students were lucky enough to have Madie Okeley from Netball Victoria come and take them for a netball based skills and drills session. Despite hot conditions, our students were great! Elsie Sinnott and Piper Stephens helped out and were also terrific. They were lucky enough to be in the MRC stadium which got them out of the wind, this was very much appreciated. 

CATHOLIC SCHOOL CULTURE

Final School Mass

Our final school Mass will be at 11.30 on Thursday 14th December.

All are welcome.

A Reflection on Christmas

The story of the first Christmas sets before us an array of unique individuals. First, we meet Mary, a teenage mother and her conscientious husband, Joseph a carpenter. Next, we have a powerful Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, who orders all the people in his vast empire to be counted. Why? Probably because he senses he is not receiving all the tax money that legally belongs to him. 

Because of his edict, Mary and Joseph are forced to make the arduous journey of 150 kilometres to Bethlehem. What makes this journey such a hardship is the fact that Mary is nine months pregnant. At this critical time in her pregnancy, she was deprived of her family and women friends who would have helped her to deliver her baby. Mary and Joseph’s lives, like so many of our own lives, are subject to political forces and historical movements beyond their control.

Other individuals are part of the story of the first Christmas. There’s the innkeeper whose inn was filled, perhaps he was the one who directed them to the stable. Then there’s a bevy of angels who announce Jesus’ birth to the hard-working shepherds whose lives meant they were effectively outcasts. Soon a trio of star-gazers (astrologers, wisemen, kings, Magi) enter the story bearing precious gifts for this newborn king. A little later, Mary and Joseph will encounter two other holy people when they present their newborn in the Temple: Simeon and Anna. These elderly individuals, who realize the significance of the child before them, have important speaking roles in the Christmas story.

Another person plays a pivotal role in Jesus’ early life: Herod, the ruthless King of Judea. He’s already had potential rivals murdered (including members of his own family) and once he hears the Magi talk about the birth of a new king, he mercilessly orders the slaughter of all the little boys under  the age of two in Bethlehem and the surrounding area in order to secure his power.

And last, but certainly not least, is the central character in the Christmas story: the baby…Jesus!

One important lesson we can learn from the array of characters in the Christmas story is this: God can—and does—work through all kinds of people to bring about good. The young and the old, the simple and sophisticated, the rich and the poor, the powerful and the helpless, the humble and the arrogant, the saint and the sinner. Incredibly, each person in this story plays a role in the history of salvation. Some did it through their love, goodness, ​generosity, and holiness; others did it through their hatred, evil, selfishness, and sinfulness.

The amazing fact is that God can use everyone to bring about God’s plan, to bring about God’s goodness. A question to reflect on this Christmas is this: Where am I in the Christmas story of 2023? What role am I playing in bringing about God’s plan in today’s world? How am I partnering with God to bring about goodness in 2023 and into 2024? 

(Amended from the writing of  Sr Melannie Svoboda SND.)

This will be my last contribution as interim Religious Education Leader. We welcome Tarryn back into the role in 2024.

Blessings on you and yours at Christmas and always  Mr. S. 😃

Parish Bulletin

LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP

Help Needed

To prepare for the commencement of the building program, we are asking for parents to help move the contents of the Art House to room 4 inside the school tomorrow, beginning at 10am. If you are able to help pack and carry our resources, please contact the school office.

SAC Membership for 2024

After seeking nominations for our new SAC positions we were inundated with people who wished to generously contribute their time and energy to the school in this way. We thank them and we are excited to announce the three new council members are Katie Mahony (Sambell), Andre Martin and Ashley Couch. We hope their time on the School Advisory Council is a rewarding one.

Bunnings BBQ

The P&F have locked in a date to host the BBQ fundraiser at Bunnings in Warrnambool. The date set aside for this is Saturday, 17th of February 2024.

The sausage sizzle will run from 9am - 4pm.

If you could spare an hour or two  on this day and volunteer some time please contact the office.

Schoolzine App

We have noticed on our records that quite a few parents have not subscribed to the SZApp.

The Schoolzine App is a vital way that we communicate with our parents.

If you do not have the app on your phone could you please ensure you download it as soon as convenient.

It will ask you for a passcode which is 2561.

Attached below are the instructions on how to download the app.

Known Dates for Term 4

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Container Deposit Scheme

We have registered our school for the container deposit scheme that has now commenced in Victoria. The nearest deposit machines are located at Cobden, Timboon, Terang & Warrnambool.

How to claim your refund at a CDS VIC Return Point;

Charity Donation
You can donate some of your 10c refund directly to St Patrick’s School.
You can donate via:
 -the CDS Vic West app
– select your preferred “Charity” as your active payout
– scan your app barcode at the machine
– insert your 10c drink containers and select “Transfer” directly on the screen of the machine when finished. 100% of the donated refund will be transferred to the donation partner you selected within the next 5 to 12 days.

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthday this week and during the holidays.

Makayla M, Logan Mc, Maxwell H, Zephyr O'S, Alexa R,

Brady R-H, Sylvia P, Ike V, Mia G, Kate G, Emma B, Bronte F, Emerson C, Daisy B, Darcy G, Ruby G, Joshua Mc, Quinn P, Harvey T, Ben W, Millie B, Tommy F, Tayla S, Eden M, Aliviah S, Jenevieve C, Elaine R & Tristan O'C

Community Events

Shoe Repairs - Camperdown

For all your shoe repairs call Mick on 0434 936 886!

Cobden New Years Eve

Free Golf Coaching Clinics - Cobden

Camperdown Community House