Newsletter 30/1/2023 Term 1 Week 2

Our Prayer

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers and community members,

Welcome to the 2023 school year at St Patrick's Primary School. We are very excited about the year ahead and the learning opportunities that await all of our students. Today sees 30 new foundation students begin their school journey and we pray that they will love the joys and challenges that lie ahead them. We also have 7 new families joining our community, the Edwards family, the Hutt family, the Jordan family, the Fitzgerald family, the Gardner family, the Winzar family, the Kerr family and the Haigh family. If you meet any of these new faces around the school or in the community, please take a moment to make them feel like they belong.

Foundation 2023

Staff Leadership Structure

One of our accomplishments last year was the restructure of the leadership positions at St Patrick's and the implementation of a thorough process to find the best applicants for these positions. The final makeup of our school leadership is as follows.

Principal - Tim Bourke
Executive Leadership Team
Assistant to the Principal – Learning Diversity Leader (Annie Judd)
Assistant to the Principal – Learning & Teaching (Mel Fox)
Assistant to the Principal – Catholic Identity & RE (Tarryn Delaney)
Wellbeing Coordinator (Jess Courtney)

Leadership Team
Specialist Team Coordinator (Tracy Hickey)
Junior School Coordinator (Pru Darcy)
Middle School Coordinator (Kellie Lee)
Senior School Coordinator (Tom Sinnott)

We will be working this year to form this new group of leaders into a collaborative, productive team.

Student Leadership Structure

After an extensive process last year, we arrived at a student leadership group for 2023.
These positions are as follows:-

Staff Changes

Welcome
This year we welcome three new staff to St Patricks. Our new 5/6 teacher, Jeannie Cook, Matthew Harkin as PE teacher and Eliza Fleming as our new Trainee. We hope each of them experience the welcome and sense of community that we, at St Patrick's, pride ourselves on.

Farewell
We bid farewell to Kristy Middleton and Heath Gronbeck  who are leaving us for other employment opportunities. 

Sport Days

Your child will need to wear their PE clothes on the following days.

Tuesday -  2B, 5/6C, 5/6MJ & Foundation SB

Wednesday -  3/4DC, 3/4HP, Foundation DF & 1WF

Thursday - 5/6CH, 5/6S, 3/4L, 2DS & 1M

Welcome BBQ

Each year (other than during a pandemic!) we have conducted a "Welcome BBQ" to welcome new families to the school and to reconnect our existing families. We are holding a BBQ this Friday the 3rd of  February at the Cobden Trains for families who are able to join us from 6.00-8.30. Please BYO all food, drink and chairs needed for your family. The cost of the train rides will be covered by the school.

Homework

After considerable staff discussion, research and consultation with parents, we have decided to greatly reduce the homework sent home with our students this year. We will be asking for an opportunity to hear your child read at some stage in the evening and some research or information gathering opportunities when they arise. We hope this reduces stress on families without taking away the opportunity to be involved in your child's learning
Issues Considered
- The relevence of the material sent home
- Energy levels of students after a full day of learning
- The business of households
- The creation of conflict in the family situations
- Allowing children time for after school activities

Swimming Program

The swimming program will start this Wednesday 1st February.

If you have not completed the PAM permission please do so as soon as possible.

The timetable for Week 1 is below.

Our swimmming carnival will be held on Monday the 27th February.

Swimming Timetable Week 1

Conveyance Allowance

There is funding available for families if you have to travel more than 4.8km to pick-up or drop off students at Contract or College Bus pick-up points, parents should apply for the reimbursement applicable through the Private Car Conveyance Allowance Application. Please contact the office if you think you may be eligible.

Family Assistance Scheme

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 Tuesday 28th of February at the latest as no late applications are accepted.

If you received this last year, we do not require to see your HCC again, your details will roll over.

Term 1 Known Dates

Canteen

The Canteen will open for lunch orders this Thursday the 2nd February.

Zooper Doopers sold at 2nd Lunch

Throughout Term 1 the Student Representative Council will be selling Zooper Doopers to raise money towards the Grade 6 camp to Melbourne.

These will only be sold at second lunch when the canteen is closed.

The cost will be 50 cents each and this will start tomorrow.

Friendly Reminder

This is a friendly reminder to send your child with their named school hat to school during Term 1 as the weather is warm and the children are not allowed outside without one.

Catholic School Culture

Opening School Mass

The Opening School Mass for St Patrick’s will be held on Friday 10th of February at St Patrick’s Church in Camperdown. The whole school will attend this mass which will be presided over by Fr. Neville and the readings and jobs will be carried out by the grade 6 children. 

Parish Bulletin

Birthdays

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

 Aliviah S, Harvey T, Millie B, Ben W, Daisy B, Quinn P, Emerson C, Darcy G, Tommy F, Elaine R, Tristian O'C, Tyla S, Kiara S, Eden M, Joshua M'C, Ruby G, Paddy H, Sophie W, Annie W, Daisy McK, Oscar McK & Deegan S

Community phone book coordinator

The local phone book is one of the major fundraisers for our school.  This is a Term 1 fundraiser. Grade 5 parents are allocated this job on behalf of the parents association.  If your child is in grade 5 this year please consider getting together with a couple of friends and putting your hand up to coordinate this event.  Please contact the office if you may be interested, thank you. 

COMMUNITY EVENTS