Newsletter 6/3/2023 Term 1 Week 7

The Season of Lent

From the Principal

Dear parents, carers and community members,

Last week the Grade 5 students had a wonderful learning opportunity on school camp in Portsea. We have Parent/Teacher interviews this week and we are looking forward to seeing every family face-to-face over the week.

Regional Swimming

Congratulations to Charlie Bourke, Essi Myers and Olive Wills who represented St Patrick's school at the Regional swimming in Warrnambool last Thursday. They all performed well to achieve the following results:

Essi Myers                2nd backstroke    3rd freestyle    6th backstroke
Charlie Bourke       6th backstroke    23rd freestyle
Olive Wills                9th breastroke     24th freestyle

We wish them luck in the next level of interschool swimming on the 14th of March.

Principal Leave

I will be taking leave from school from Tuesday 14th to Friday 24th of March. In this time our 4 assistants to the principal will assume the leadership duties of the school. I will return on Monday 27th of March.

Portsea Camp Gr 5

Last week the Grade 5 students had a wonderful learning opportunity on school camp in Portsea. A special thanks to Tom Sinnott and the senior team for their care, enthusiasm and diligence over the three days. The children loved the opportunity to challenge themselves, make friends and spend time away from home.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 33

Next

Parent/Teacher Interviews

We are conducting Parent/Teacher interviews on the 7th, 8th or 9th of March. Parents are asked to log into PAM as soon as possible to book a time when their teacher is available to have a brief, 10 minute discussion about each student. We look forward to this opportunity to support your child's learning. We require every family to meet face-to-face with their teacher so if you are unable to make the available times, please contact your teacher for an alternative date.  

Reconciliation

Some of our Grade 2 students will be making their Reconciliation on Wednesday the 22nd March at 6pm at St Patrick's church in Camperdown.

Keep these children in your prayers and thoughts.

Clean Up Australia Day

To support the annual Clean Up Australia Day initiative that was to be conducted on Sunday 5th of March, St Patrick’s Grade 3/4 students took to the streets surrounding our school and our church grounds to pick up rubbish to improve the state of our local environment. Early understanding of the need to care for our world is an important lesson for our students.

Easter Raffle

Our Easter Raffle will be held on Thursday 6^th April, the last day of term 1 for children. 

We ask parents to supply one egg/Easter item per child.

Tonight your eldest child will bring home your raffle tickets which are due back to school by Friday 31^st of March. Please write on both sides of the tickets & return them to school along with the money ($1 per ticket = $20 per book)

The Easter Raffle is one of our major fundraisers for the year and is a highlight for the children.

Your donation of eggs can be brought to the office any time. 

We are also looking for cane or Easter baskets to make up Easter prizes, so if you have any spare at home, your donation would be appreciated.

The Week Ahead

NAPLAN

NAPLAN assessments will be conducted from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. The following article contains information for parents for 2023

Parish Bulletin

Furry Friends

We are just sharing a concern raised that when parents come to school with pets to pick up their children, other students can be either intimidated by the animals or over enthuastic to get to them and give them a pat. Please help us to avoid either of these by keeping pets close and supporting staff by encouraging children to wait and seek permission before any contact. Thank you.

Term 1 Known Dates

6/3           Nazareth feast day held on 8/3
10/3         Friday Mass - 1WS & 5/6Cook
22/3         Reconciliation @ Church 6pm
13/3         Labour Day Public Holiday
14/3         Regional swimming Horsham
17/3         St Pat’s Day mass & Green Faces

 24/3         Friday Mass - 2DS, 2B & 3/4HP
26/3         Grade 5/6 Parish Mass
27/3          Young Leaders Day
29/3         School Athletic Sports
31/3          Friday Mass - 3/4D & 5/6MJ
4/4           District Aths - Camperdown
2/4           Palm Sunday
6/4           Holy Thursday Liturgy / Easter Raffle
6/4           Last day for students
7/4           Good Friday
9/4           Easter Sunday

Catholic School Culture

Nazareth Feast Day

Today was Nazareth Feast Day which we celebrated at school 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.

Project Compassion – Caritas

Second Week of Lent

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Tereesa, a Gamilaroi woman from Western Sydney who struggled with homelessness while raising her four children. At just 16 years old, she had to leave school after falling pregnant with her first child. A single mother struggling with homelessness, Tereesa’s only concern was finding stability for her children.  

Seeking a better future for her family, Tereesa joined Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia. Baabayn helped Tereesa access housing and psychological support. Through Baabayn, Tereesa was also able to hear stories from Indigenous Elders and reconnect with her culture. 

Today, Tereesa is studying a certificate in Community Services so that she can strengthen her skills and give back to her community. Tereesa now works at Baabayn, providing support to young mothers and mentoring the next generation of young people. 

Watch a short film about Tereesa’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Mercy Regional College Open Day

Canteen

The Canteen is open every day for lunch orders.

Below is an updated menu and price list for 2023.

Please note that all Fridays during Lent the canteen is meat free.

Please ensure you do not order any meat products on these Fridays.

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.

Birthdays

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

Tessa N, Stella H & Wally R

Fundraising Coordinators

URGENT! We are still looking for volunteers to coordinate and run the BBQ for the Athletics carnival later this term. If you are able to be a coordinator for this, please contact the office as soon as possible.

Athletics carnival - Grade 1 - March 29th

Easter raffle  Foundation - April 6th- we have a coordinator, just need some helpers please!

Students of the Week

COMMUNITY EVENTS