Newsletter 15/3/2022 Term 1 Week 8

Our Prayer

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers and community members,

This week we celebrate the feast of our patron St Patrick. We take pride in bearing his name and try to live by his example as a person who was empathic, persuasive, and had a strong vision of what he wanted to achieve. We are continuing to work through the challenges of students and staff contracting covid or being required to isolate as close contacts and still provide a safe and supportive learning environment for those able to attend school. Thank you to Mel, Annie, Tracy and the rest of the leadership team for their work in my absence and I look forward to being able to return to school this week. 

Regional Swimming - Horsham

On Friday 10 students, Etti Glennen, Harry Sinnott, Darby Sinnott, Pippa Paterson, Will Paterson, Harry Jenkins, Charlotte Hinds, Kiara Love, Tatum Courtney and Isabella Wain will represent the school at the Greater Western Regional Swimming Carnival in Horsham.

We wish these students well for the day and hope they enjoy the experience.

Sports Carnival - March 25th

Friday, March 25th is our school athletics carnival for all children, to be held at the Frederick Street athletics field.  Children are to wear their house colours and bring along their lunch box and drink bottles. There will be a BBQ and food available, provided by the Parents Association.  

We may need parent help on the day to run events, more information to come on next week's newsletter.

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

St Patrick’s Day

On Thursday 17th, we will celebrate the Feast Day of our patron saint - St. Patrick, whom our school is named after. Children are encouraged to come dressed in green and they will spend the day learning about St. Patrick and engaging in St Patrick’s Day activities including a liturgy within their bubbles. Unfortunately, our traditional Green Faces acts have been postponed until restrictions ease (possibly later this term). Children will also receive an icy pole and a small packet of chips to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. 

Saint Patrick is the Saint of our Catholic Church, and his holy day is the day of his death. He is the Patron Saint of Ireland although he was born in Scotland or Wales. At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped by Irish raiders who took him away and sold him as a slave. At the age of 22, he managed to escape and made his way to a monastery in England where he spent 12 years growing closer to God and became a priest. He returned to Ireland to teach people about God and Jesus. St. Patrick used the shamrock to preach about the trinity and how The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit could be separate entities, yet one in the same. St. Patrick is known for driving all the snakes from Ireland which some refer to as pagan religious beliefs and practices. 

Prayer of St Patrick

As I arise today, May the strength of God pilot me, 
The power of God uphold me. The wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me, The ear of God hear me,
The word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me,
The way of God lie before me, The shield of God defend me,
The host of God save me. May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, 
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Amen

Grade 3/4 Parish Mass
This Sunday (20th) is the Grade 3/4 Parish Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Camperdown at 11am. The children will lead this mass with the readings and jobs. Invites have gone home and replies were due on Friday. We are looking forward to seeing families and grade 3/4 children at mass on Sunday.

 Project Compassion
Second Week of Lent (Week beginning Monday 14th March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.

Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family.

Watch a short film about Biru’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion by sending in coins to our donation boxes or donate online at  lent.caritas.org.au 

Mini Vinnies

On Friday at lunchtime the grade 4 Mini Vinnies children met with Tracy for a picnic meeting to discuss next term’s project of the Winter Appeal where they will collect blankets, coats, sleeping bags etc. to donate to those in need. The children also received their Mini Vinnies badges. There are 32 children who will be participating in Mini Vinnies this year which is a lot of kind-hearted young volunteers that we are very proud of. 

Reconciliation

On Thursday night, 19 children made the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St Patrick’s Church in Camperdown with Fr. Neville and Fr. Garry. The children had prepared well, thought about the true meaning of Reconciliation and had a lovely celebration with their families. Congratulations to Poppy Gaut, Gabriel Capizzi, Thomas Dixon, Leroy Fisher, Roy Molan, Amber Narik, Baxter Huggins, Charlotte Pascoe, Anderson Pekin, Olivia Simmonds, William Sinnott, George Titmus, Lewie West, Savanna Wright, Pippa Paterson, Evie Wagner, Flynn Wagner, Clancey Wagner & Sydney Wagner.

Parish Bulletin

Teaching and Learning

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, over the past twelve to eighteen months staff have been engaging in professional development around the Science of Reading.  Science of Reading (SOR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf7WTjKj884) refers to an enormous body of research and an emerging consensus that converges into how the brain learns to read and how educators should teach reading to ensure the best outcomes for all students.

There are 6 components which are integrated into daily literacy —oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension—need to be integrated into daily reading opportunities.

1. Oral Language

2. Phonological Awareness

3. Phonics

4. Vocabulary

5. Fluency

6. Comprehension
   

PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS

Phonological awareness involves the identification and manipulation of parts of spoken language, including words, syllables, onsets and rimes, and the individual speech sounds in words (phonemes). Phonemic awarenessis a subset of phonological awareness that involves the specific skill of identifying and manipulating individual speech sounds within words (phonemes). 

NAPLAN

The annual NAPLAN Testing for Grade 3 and 5 will take place this year in May. Students will once again complete Writing, Reading Comprehension, Literacy Conventions and Numeracy assessments. 

Thursday 24th March is a nation wide Coordinated Practice Test Day.

Below is information for parents. If your child is in Grades 3 or 5 please read and if you have questions which need clarifying contact your child's teacher or Mel Fox .

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.

Resilience Project

Through our work with Resilience Project they are providing more with Project+. This year Project+ will focus on supporting the wellbeing of parents and carers. 

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 .

Spencer M and Caitlin R

Mercy Open Day

COMMUNITY EVENTS