Newsletter 7/3/2022 Term 1 Week 7
Our Prayer
From the Principal
Dear parents, carers and community members,
Today we return to school from Grade 5 camp with a renewed appreciation of the planning , preparation and thought that goes into making a school camp an exceptional learning opportunity. Even the discovery of covid cases amongst the children in the final hours of the camp could not detract from the experience. The planning and preparation for just such an occurrence enabled the staff to make decisions that protected the health and emotional wellbeing of the children. I would like to thank my staff for their care, courage and professionalism in a challenging situation.
Thank you to the parents for your support with collecting the children from camp to ensure that we limited the spread of the disease as much as possible. In a meeting with the Grade 5 children this morning, we heard how appreciative they are of being able to continue with these activities amid an increased risk in the community.
Division Swimming Carnival
The St Patrick's children representing our school last Friday at the Division Swimming had a great day competing and socialising with friends. Thank you to Pru and Stacey for your work on the day and to the parents who came to the event with their children.
The overall results on the day were:
Breaststroke: Harry Sinnott 2nd, Darby Sinnott 4th, Pippa Paterson 3rd.
Butterfly: Harry Jenkins 5th, Etti Glennen 4th.
Backstroke: Harry Sinnott 2nd, Darby Sinnott 4th, Etti Glennen 6th.
Freestyle: Harry Sinnott 2nd, Darby Sinnott 4th, Will Paterson 2nd, Etti Glennen 3rd.
Girls Medley Relay were 2nd on the day.
Grade 5 Camp to Portsea
Our Grade 5 camp to Portsea last week was full of fun, excitement and learning for the children. Here are some photos of the adventure.
Easter Raffle
Our much anticipated Easter Raffle will be held Thursday April 7th, the last day of term 1 for children. We ask parents to supply one egg/easter item per child and we will send home raffle tickets soon. The Easter Raffle is one of our major fundraisers for the year and is a highlight for the children.
Catholic School Culture
Reconciliation
Please continue to pray for the following children as they prepare to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday night (10th) at 6pm; Poppy Gaut, Gabriel Capizzi, Thomas Dixon, Leroy Fisher, Roy Molan, Amber Narik, Baxter Huggins, Charlotte Pascoe, Anderson Pekin, Olivia Simmonds, Will Sinnott, George Titmus, Lewie West, Savanna Wright, Pippa Woodmason, Evie Wagner, Flynn Wagner, Clancy Wagner and Sidney Wagner. These families will need to bring their child’s stole and arrive at the church in Camperdown by 5:50pm on Thursday evening.
Confirmation
Soon the children who are making the Sacrament of Confirmation will begin their preparations. These children will need to choose a sponsor and a saint’s name as their Confirmation name. Now is a good time to begin these conversations at home and a note will be coming home with these children over the coming weeks.
Nazareth Feast Day
Yesterday was Nazareth Feast Day which will be celebrated at school tomorrow (Tuesday) with icy poles and a bag of chips for the children in Nazareth (red) house. The Shrine of Our Lady of Nazareth (Nossa Senhora da Nazare) is found in the village of Nazare in Portugal where the village is named after this miraculous statue of the Blessed Mother and the Christ Child that was brought to the area many centuries ago. According to tradition, this miraculous image was carved by the hands of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of Christ, while in the very presence of the Infant Jesus and the Mother of God. Later, the faces and hands of the images were painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist. This remarkable image is still preserved in a church.
Prayer to Our Lady of Nazareth
Mary, Queen of Peace, we entrust our lives to you.
Shelter us from war, hatred and oppression.
Teach us to live in peace, to educate ourselves for peace.
Inspire us to act justly, to reverence all God has made.
Root peace firmly in our hearts and in our world.
Amen.
Lent
During the Lenten season we continue to emphasise self-reflection, simplicity and sincerity (honesty) as we take up the practices of Lent;
- Prayer (justice towards God)
- Fasting (justice towards ourselves)
- Almsgiving (justice towards neighbours).
Junior children celebrated Shrove Tuesday at school last week by cooking pancakes. Middle and senior children were able to buy yummy pancakes at the swimming sports which were made by our parent volunteers – many thanks to these parents. All children celebrated Ash Wednesday with a liturgy in their bubbles at school where the children received a cross of ashes on their foreheads. Please also consider sending in coin donations for the Project Compassion boxes.
Project Compassion – Caritas
During our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey we learn about Anatercia, a 12-year-old girl living in a small village in southern Mozambique. She began to take on more and more adult responsibilities as her mother has chronic health issues. She did most of the household chores and had to travel up to five hours every day to collect clean water. Water scarcity also meant that harvests were poor and there was never enough to eat.
With your support, Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Regional Chokwe, was able to help Anatercia’s family to irrigate their farm to improve their food security. They also improved water access for households in the village, delivered sustainable farming training, and provided Anatercia with essential school supplies.
Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her whole community for all future generations.
Watch a short film about Anatercia’s story here.
Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au
Arts News
We are well into another amazing school year at St Pat’s. In our Arts Curriculum this year, we are focusing on Performing Art, which includes Music, Drama and Dance. We will be having a whole school performance in Term 3, which will be collaboratively planned with Kristy McKenzie. The performance is called AbracaDABra and is a play about friendship, resilience and finding your power, and is set to a soundtrack of popular songs.
Everyone has a special magic talent at AbracaDABra School of Magic… everyone except George/Georgie. When he/she suddenly appears at the school, with no idea what he/she is doing there, there’s no other option than to go on a magical quest. Can a group of colourful characters, all with special skills of their own, help George/Georgie discover his/her magic before it’s too late?
Kristy will meet with all staff at the end of Term 1 and will leave a copy of the script in the library for students who are keen to look over it. She will then return at the beginning of Term 2 to do the audition process with Grade 5/ 6 students who would like to audition.
This is an exciting time for all students and all students are encouraged to do their best. The performance in Term 3 will be in line with the Covid Safe practices at the time. Our students have had a mixed up two years of learning at school and at home and we hope to boost self confidence and self esteem in the Art House as well as creating a safe place where kids can be kids.
Diocese of Ballarat e-news
St Patrick's has featured in an article in the latest edition of the Diocese of Ballarat e-news. Please click the link below to enjoy the story of our opening year Mass.
Parish Bulletin
Simon Connect
Simon Connect
We have a new field called simon connect, documents and or questions will be added to this field that require parents to confirm and give permissions. The document and questions will show in PAM as incomplete Connect Fields, this will not go away until you have reviewed the document and or answered any outstanding questions.
If you haven't already done so please click on the incomplete symbol if one appears and review your childs/rens Computer Users Agreement.
Student of the week
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthdays this week .
Stella & Sarah
Mercy Open Day
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Please consider nominating St Patrick's as your preferred organisation when shopping at IGA.
Some exciting News to share with your members
Any Loyalty customers who spend $100 or more in a single transaction, in either the supermarket or liquor store (excl. tobacco, gift cards etc), will be entitled to receive a Ritchies Friendliest Team Hessian bag valued at $4.99 during this promotion period.
This exciting promotion commences on Wednesday 23rd February and will run for 2 weeks in both Supermarket and Liquor.
