Newsletter 14/2/2022 Term 1 Week 4

Our Prayer

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers and community members,

With many of the "beginning of the year" things completed, we can now settle into the routine of the term in the hope of a more normal eight weeks ahead. It has been very impressive how families and staff are coping with the regular occurences of isolation periods for individuals and families. We ask you to continue to monitor the health and wellbeing of your children and please inform us of close contacts, symptoms and confirmed positive cases when they occur. As a community we can overcome these challenges together and continue to offer the children the best learning opportunities we can.

Parent's Association Fundraising Coordinators

We are now looking for 2022 Fundraising coordinators to coordinate the activities that we hold each year. Each year level is responsible for an event, therefore we need a coordinator to manage each project from this year level.

First Term

• Foundation: Easter Raffle
• Grade 4: Swimming Sports BBQ 
• Grade 1: Athletic Sports BBQ 
• Grade 5: Phone Books

Second Term

• Grade 2: Mother’s Day Stall

Third Term

• Grade 3: Father’s Day Stall 
• Grade 6: Trivia Night

Catholic School Culture

Newsletter: Term 1, Week 4

Grade 5/6 Opening Mass

On Friday the Grade 5/6 children gathered together at the church for their Opening Mass. The children lead the readings and performed duties along with carrying out a special blessing for the Foundation children which was recorded for them to view virtually in their bubble. It is a tradition at St. Pat’s that the Grade 6 children perform a blessing on the Foundation children as they enter their first year at school and at the end of the year, the Foundation children perform the blessing on the Grade 6 children as they depart the school. After mass, children were presented with their grade 6 badges and arm bands, the house captains received the banners to their houses and the school captains received the school banner and made inspiring speeches. Here is the blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you
May the face of the Lord shine on you
And be gracious to you
May the Lord look upon you
May the Lord look with 
kindness upon you 
And give you peace. 

Opening Liturgies

This Friday Grades F-2 and Grades 3/4 will hold their Opening School Liturgies at school at separate times in their bubbles. These services will involve prayers and singing with the theme of Beacons of Hope. F-2 children are also looking forward to Mr. S playing his guitar.

Opening School Mass

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Grade 6 Leadership Positions

Sacraments

Sacramental Forms Due

Sacramental Forms were due on Friday for any children enrolling in the Sacramental Program this year. If you have missed this deadline, please get your forms in today. Sacramental dates are:

Term 1 Reconciliation Thursday 10th of March 6pm in Camperdown at St. Patrick’s Church.

Term 2 Confirmation Friday 29th of April at 6pm in Camperdown at St. Patrick’s Church. 

Term 3 First Communion (Eucharist) Saturday 16th of July in Cobden at 6:30pm, or in Camperdown at 7.30pm on Sunday 17th of July at 11am 

Random Acts of Kindness Day

Thursday is Random Acts of Kindness Day where being kind and doing nice things for others is encouraged. Kindness is a powerful characteristic that makes us happy, helps us to develop healthy relationships and has positive effects on our mental and physical well-being. Take a moment to brighten someone’s day and make a special effort to be kind -Thursday and always. 

World Day of Social Justice

Sunday is World Day of Social Justice where we focus on the plight of social injustice and press for improvements and solutions to remove barriers and reduce poverty and inequality. We can all work towards a more just society based on respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Let us pray that we can all make a difference.

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mini Vinnies

Children in grade 4 have the opportunity this year to become Mini Vinnies volunteers. Mini Vinnies is about doing good works in the community that benefit people facing social injustice. It is also about young people meeting to talk, share ideas and concerns, to have fun and support each other. We will meet regularly at lunchtimes to learn about social justice issues, develop leadership skills and engage with the wider St. Vincent de Paul Society. Interested grade 4 children, will need to fill in the application form and return it to their classroom teacher or Tracy by Friday. 

Mass of the Oils 2022

The Mass of the Oils will be held on Monday, April 11, 2022 at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Ballarat at 6.30pm. Supper will follow in the Hall. Any COVID restrictions applicable at this time will apply to the Mass of the Oils.

Saint Valentine - Patron Saint of Love

This famous saint, an Italian doctor who later became a priest, inspired the creation of the holiday of Valentine's Day. He was sent to jail for performing weddings for couples during a time when new marriages were outlawed in ancient Rome. Before he was killed for refusing to renounce his faith, he sent a loving note to a child he had been helping to teach, the daughter of his jailer, and that note eventually led to the tradition of sending Valentine's cards. Before he was killed, Valentine wrote a last note to encourage Julia to stay close to Jesus and to thank her for being his friend. He signed the note: “From your Valentine.” That note inspired people to begin writing their own loving messages to people on Valentine’s Feast Day, February 14th, which is celebrated on the same day on which Valentine was martyred. Valentine was beaten, stoned, and beheaded on February 14, 270. People who remembered his loving service to many young couples began celebrating his life, and he came to be regarded as a saint through whom God had worked to help people in a miraculous way to teach people how to recognize and experience true love. By 496, Pope Gelasius designated February 14th as Valentine’s official feast day.

Specialist Time table 2022

Specialist days for week 3/4 term 1 2022

• Foundation Darcy Bone - F DB
• Foundation Saunders Copeland - F SC
• Grade McKenzie -1 M
• Grade Wynd Copeland - 1 WC
• Grade Bateman - 2 B
• Grade Smith Darcy - 2 SD
• Grade Coop - 34 C
• Grade Hickey Powling  - 34 HP
• Grade Lee - 34L
• Grade Pemberton - 34 P
• Grade Courtney - 56 C
• Grade Mahony Judd - 56 MJ
• Grade Sinnott - 56 S
• Grade West - 56W

Family Assistance Scheme ~ are you eligible?

The Family Assistance Scheme introduced by the Catholic Diocese which reduces your Tuition fee to $520 will continue this year. To be eligible you must produce a Commonwealth Health Care Card to the office (which we are required to photocopy) and complete an application form. This needs to be done by Friday 28th of February at the latest as no late applications are accepted. If you received the assistance scheme last year, you do not need to apply again, your details will be rolled over for validation by Centrelink

School Advisory Council Meeting

Our first SAC meeting for the year will be this Tuesday evening beginning at 6:30pm. I look forward to meeting the parents involved.

Swimming Program

Dear Parents,

Just a last minute reminder of some details about the St Patrick’s Primary School Grade 3-6 Swimming Program which commences on Wednesday 16th February, 2022 

The program will run for eight sessions and include the school swimming carnival. Days and dates of each of these sessions are as follows:

Wednesday      16th February (Grade 3-4 only)
Thursday         17th February (Grade 3-6)
Monday            21st February (Grade 3-6)
Wednesday      23rd February (Grade 3-6) 
Thursday         24th February (Grade 3-6)
Friday.             25th February (Grade 3-6)
Monday           28th February (Grade 3-6)
Tuesday            1st March (St Patrick’s Swimming Carnival) 

On these days each grade will participate in a 30 minute lesson. 

Students are not required to bring along money during the program as all costs have been accounted for in the swimming levy included in this years school fees.

This is the eighth year that Tarrangaua Swim School has been called upon to coordinate and run the program and they have requested 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 & tee-shirts).
• Googles that fit comfortably & do not allow water in (strongly recommended for all students).
• Wetsuits particularly for those students who feel the cold.
• A dry towel.
• All clothing & towels clearly labeled with student’s name.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions many students have not had the opportunity to participate in the school program or private lessons for over twelve months. Although Tarrangaua Swim School have a record of your child’s progress from previous years, they would appreciate if you could take a brief moment to complete the Swimming Experience Sheet & add any other information that you may consider relevant for your child.

Finally we look forward to the swimming program with great anticipation & trust that it will be an enjoyable time for all involved. If you have any concerns or queries please do not hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself.

Regards,

Paul

Winter Uniforms

Dear Parents,
We are now taking orders for the St Patricks winter maroon pinafore,
the new full elastic girls maroon pant, long sleeved polos and coat.
PINAFORES: $110
We place only one order each year, as they are specially made for us and the minimum order is 30 units. A $10 non-refundable deposit is required with each order. Sizes from 8-14 are available in store for pre-purchase fitting from Friday 11 th February until Saturday 27th February 2021. We will be placing our order Monday 28th th February to give us the best chance to have them available for purchase before the cold weather sets in. This year our supplier has advised us that production and delivery times are particularly challenged, so, all we can do is be as thorough as we can, and ask that you all pop your orders in promptly xx Also, if you have a 2 nd hand pinafore you would like us to sell, this is the ideal time to get it into us, we take a 20% commission xx PANTS $32 and $35(adults).
We have sample sizes of the new style in the girls maroon full elastic pant in store to try on and order. The pants are available in sizes 4.6.8.10.12.14.16 @$32 size 12 missing And adult sizes small and medium @$35. If you are interested in these pants, please bring your little girl down so
we can fit her and ensure we have a pair in store for her before.

Parish Bulletin

Congratulations

Congratulations to Evie Mahony on the arrival of her baby brother Jimi.  The family are very excited to welcome their new  member!

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthdays this week .

Stella & Sarah

COMMUNITY EVENTS