Week 4 Term 1 Newsletter

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

Thank you to the many parents who were able to attend our parent information sessions that we hosted on Wednesday evening. It was wonderful to see so many parents coming along for the evening. We know that all children receive the best education when parents and teachers work as a team. Parents' enthusiasm, support and involvement are crucial to the success of our school as are the skills, dedication and professionalism of our teachers. Working together we can all provide the best educational experience and support every student in our school to achieve their personal best.

We look forward to Friday of this week 23/2 as our opening school mass will take place in the hall/ COLA area of St Patrick’s, commencing at 9:30am. The mass is an opportunity to welcome our new Kindergarten students along with new families and new members of our staff to St Patrick’s. School and House leaders will be presented with their badges during the mass. The mass will be presided by our parish priest, Fr George Anthicad. We welcome parent attendance as we celebrate the beginning of our 2024 school year.

Our official opening and blessing of the stage 3 building project will take place on Tuesday 27/2/24. Staff, student and parent representatives will join with the official guests linked to the building project, to witness the official opening and blessing of our new spaces. We are unable to open this event to the entire school population due to the restricted space within confines of the hall.

Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal

CALENDAR EVENTS 

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2024

WEEK 4:

23/2- Opening School Mass

WEEK 5:

27/2- Official opening and blessing of Stage 3 development (Invited guests only)
27/2- Dio Swimming Carnival

WEEK 6:

8/3- School assembly- 9am
8/3- Great book swap

WEEK 7:

11/3- School photos
13/3- 22/3- NAPLAN window
15/3- St Patrick’s Day celebrations- more information to follow
15/3- St Patrick’s Family night- more information to follow

WEEK 8:

21/3- Harmony Day
21/3- Marty Ogle- Cybersafety parent talk @ 7pm- more information to follow- save the date
22/3- School assembly- 9am
22/3- Marty Ogle 3-6 student Cybersafety workshops

WEEK 9:

27/3- P & F Meeting @ 6pm
28/3- Holy week liturgy/ Hat parade/ Easter raffle
29/3- Good Friday
30/3- Holy Saturday

WEEK 10/11:

31/3- Easter Sunday
1/4- Easter Monday holiday
5/4- School assembly- 9am
2/4- 12/4- Parent Teacher Conferences- more information to follow
9/4 – Combined ANZAC Service – Civic Theatre
12/4- Term 1 concludes

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

FEES NOTICE

Please note that we are currently working behind the scenes on the school fees for 2024. You will notice that your school fees balance is now showing in your compass app. Statements for school fees will be issued in early March and updated statements will then be emailed to you monthly to show the current balance at the beginning of each month.

The statement that is issued early March will be your annual statement and will have the Bpay details in the top right hand corner of your statement. It is requested that you then set up your payment as per your nominated payment plan. If you are paying your fees as an annual lump sum the balance must be cleared by the end of June and if you are paying weekly/fortnightly or monthly that you calculate your payments to ensure that the balance is cleared by the end of November.

BPAY is the preferred method of payment.

If you have any questions once these statements are issued or require help with calculating payments please contact the school office. If you would like to commence payments prior to the statements being issued please contact the school office for your Bpay details.

If you hold a current pension or health care card please complete the attached forms to process this discount. Please return the completed forms along with a copy of your card to the school office before 1st March 2024.

Year 5 and 6 students will have the camp fee included in the fee statement.

Please ensure if you are having financial difficulties that you make contact with Mrs Grant or Mr Nolan to discuss. It is important that you make contact with us should you require any assistance.

SCHOOL CONTACT

Please ensure that any correspondence to the school office staff is sent to admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au. This ensures that your correspondence won’t be missed should a staff member be off on a given day.

MEDICATION

Any medication your child needs will need to be dropped to the office by an adult. Under no circumstances should a child have medication in their bags.

Short term medication can be dropped off and a form filled in if it is required. Please ensure this is labelled.

DROP OFF

School drop off is from 8:30am until 8:50am. Gates will open and close at these times.

Drop off is to the back gate, on Gregory Road. If it is after 8:50am, drop off is via the office and your child/ren will need to be accompanied to the office and signed in on the device on the office.

The front car park is not a drop off zone in the morning prior to 8:50am.

CHANGES TO HOME ARRANGEMENTS

An email should be sent to admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au advising of changes prior to 2:30pm; the email must include your child/ren’s full name, class, and the changes or contact the school office on 49307270 prior to 2:30pm. If your child is aware of the changes and you are just advising the office as a backup please notify of this.

If the change is a bus, please ensure that you know the bus number. If your child is new to catching the bus or is likely not to remember where to get off, please advise the office where they are getting off so we can remind them.

EARLY COLLECTION

Your child/ren will only be called to the office once you or the nominated person has arrived. Children will note be called in advance to the office.

You may be requested by the school office to provide identification if you are not known to the staff member. Please ensure you have your licence (digital or hard copy)to allow the staff member to quickly complete the verification. Some notice is always helpful, particularly if you are collecting during lunch or recess so we can advise teachers and they can ensure your child/ren are ready but the students will not be sent to the office until you arrive in the office. If you are sending notification of an early departure, please email  admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au advising of changes; please ensure you include your child/ren’s full name, class and pick up time.

Please note our breaks are as follows:

Lunch (Break 1): 10:50 am to 11:30am
Recess (Break 2): 1:30 pm to 2:10pm 

If someone else is collecting your child/ren, please provide verbal or written permission notifying of this to admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au, even if they are noted as an emergency contact, permission from the child/ren’s parent would be required prior to this occurring. Please ensure that the nominated person collecting your child has identification with them should this be required when collecting.

PICK UP

Parents have the following options for afternoon pick up:

Hall Gate 1 – 2:55pm
Hall Gate 2 – 3:10pm
Cemetery Gate – 2:55pm

St Nicks Gate – 2:55pm (This option is available for parents who have other children who attend  St Nicks childcare centre).

Buses – bus lines have designated areas within the school that students wait at until the bus arrives.

ATTENDANCE

Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier, and your child will build and maintain friendships with their peers. It is important that parents schedule appointments outside of school hours where possible (we acknowledge specialist appointments need to taken when offered) and that family holidays are scheduled within the school holiday breaks. Attendance letters are sent regularly to ensure parents are aware of the impact of non-attendance on their learning and wellbeing.

Please ensure if your child is away from school that you update compass that morning to ensure that the class roll is updated and the teacher is aware of your child’s absence.

SAFER INTERNET DAY

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING- VOUNTEERING IN DIOCESAN SCHOOLS

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children. As such, all volunteers must undergo the appropriate form of screening, based on the role they are volunteering for. The screening requirements are determined by the Diocese and apply to all agencies including Schools, Catholic Care, Catholic Development Fund, and St Nicholas Services.

Please follow the attached procedures if you would like to register as a volunteer to help within our school.

MOBILE PHONES AND SMART WATCHES

As we continue to grow in this IT and tech world there are many things we continue to address and one of these is Smart Watches or other wearable devices. Smart watches can be worn to school; however, MUST be handed in to the front office via the note bag, as is the case with mobile phones.

If your child is required to bring a mobile phone to school (for instance they walk home, go to after school activities or catch the bus) these are to be placed in note bags and sent to the office for safe keeping. It is the responsibility of the child to collect the phone or wearable device at the end of the day. The phone must be labelled clearly with the student’s name. Students are not permitted to have a mobile phone in their possession during the school day.

RE NEWS

Tuesday Pancake Breakfast! Thank you to our school community for all of your donations of pancake mix and syrup. Thank you also to our staff for their efforts in cooking and serving over 1300 pancakes!! The money raise will go towards our Project Compassion Appeal.

Our Engaging Communities and Social Justice school leaders had the opportunity to represent our school at the Diocesan lunch of Project Compassion for 2024. Nevaya, Harrison, Bella and Leura participated in a liturgy at Sacred Heart Cathedral where they were able to learn more about the efforts of Caritas and some of the people all over the world that have been helped by the money raised for Project Compassion. As this event was held on Shrove Tuesday, they even got to enjoy some pancakes with other students from our diocese!! Thank you to our leaders for representing St Patrick’s so well.

Our fundraising efforts continue with each family receiving a Project Compassion box last week to collect loose change or other donations at home. We are asking that these boxes be returned to school by the Easter Break (Thursday 28^th March).

OPENING SCHOOL MASS

This week we will be gathering as a school community for our Opening School Mass. During this Mass we will officially welcome our new Kindergarten students and our Student Leaders will be presented with their badges.

The Opening School Mass is on Friday 23^rd February beginning at 9:30am. All are welcome. Students are required to wear their full school uniform for this event.

CURRICULUM NEWS

KINDERGARTEN NEWS

The first few weeks of Kindergarten are a learning curve for everyone, including children, parents and teachers. But what a wonderful start we have had here at St Patrick’s. We are so proud of our students (and their parents, teachers and buddies), as they are quickly becoming familiar with all of the new faces and routines.

Below are some tips to help your children make a happy start to kindergarten and will help them set a solid foundation for their school life.

• Encourage their independence. Give them responsibility for simple daily tasks.
• Read, read and read. Reading and fostering a love of books is probably the most important activity you can do with your child to support their learning. It will help set them up for a lifelong love of learning. Visit your local library and start conversations with your child about their book choices.
• Encourage their curiosity and genuinely listen to what they’re saying.
• Practise problem-solving skills.
• Develop their numeracy skills by playing counting games and maths concepts in your day-to-day household activities. Simple classification games (size, shape, colour and quantity) are also good.
• Establish clear expectations at home and help them to follow instructions.
• There's no substitute for good manners and constantly reinforcing the need to say please and thank you will set them up for the kindergarten environment and for later life.
• Never miss an opportunity to help them with the concept of sharing and taking turns.

Once again, we are so proud of our Kindergarten students and congratulate them and all of our students for the wonderful start they have made to 2024.

NAPLAN FLYER

CANTEEN NEWS

MENU

This year's menu has been updated to include lunch foods for first break and snack items for second break. The changes were made in attempt to reduce the workload for the volunteers, particularly on Friday’s.  The number of volunteers required to implement the previous menu is not sustainable. 

We are still working on QKR to implement menu changes.  Most problems have been noted and fixed. If there are further issues, please email or contact the school to notify. 

QKR

Tips for using QKR.

• Check you have selected the correct week/ day for the order.
• The order needs to be submitted prior to 8:30 am. QKR will stop taking orders at 8:30 am even if you are in the middle of ordering.
• Remember to push submit on completion of your order.

The canteen does not accept any phone orders.  If you miss cutoff and you are unable to supply lunch your child will be offered a cheese toastie, an apple and a drink.

CHILD ABSENCE

In the event you need to postpone your child’s order due to sickness or leaving early please inform the office prior to 8:30am.  After 8:30am we have already begun preparation of your child’s order so we will be unable to move the order.

If the order is for the Thursday or Friday special, it will be moved to the following week. 

GLUTEN FREE

While every effort is made to isolate gluten free items there is a risk they may encounter non gluten free foods.  Therefore, these are suited to those with an intolerance only.

GLUTEN FREE MENU

There have been instances when a regular item is out of stock, the gluten free alternative is being ordered instead.  This impacts the people who can only order gluten free.

Moving forward if an order is placed for a gluten free and a regular item the gluten free item will not be provided, and the cost will be refunded into your child’s lunch bag. 

For example, if a chicken burger or pie etc are ordered with a GF garlic bread, the cost of garlic bread will be refunded.

VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who have contributed over the last couple of weeks.  It has been great to see everyone after the holidays.

Thank you to those who have completed the food safety course and sent me through your certificates.  The extra effort is appreciated.

The training can be accessed using the following link 

When volunteering, if your circumstances change and you can’t make it, please notify myself or the office to allow other arrangements can be made.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

SPORTS NEWS

REGIONAL SWIMMING CARNIVAL

35 St Patrick's students competed at the Regional Swimming Carnival at East Maitland Pool on 13^th February. The three fastest students in each event have been selected to represent our region at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival on 27^th February.

Congratulations to Bronte Allen, Rose Conditsis, Isabella Crouch, Scarlett Crouch, Charlotte Echentille, Lenny Flannery, Armanii-Lee Mason and Madden Mason.

DIOCESAN BASKETBALL TEAM

After successfully making the Diocesan Basketball Team, Nevaya Liva travelled to Coffs Harbour to trial for the Polding Basketball Team. Congratulations to Nevaya who has successfully made the team! She will now trial at Newcastle for the NSWPSSA side. Well done Nevaya and good luck!

SPORTS UNIFORM DAYS

Students wear sports uniforms on the sports day for the year that they are in.

WHS

ROAD SAFETY

At the beginning of every school year, we find that the traffic and parking around the school is busier than usual. We would expect that parents are being respectful to all members of our community and the wider community and following our parent code of conduct. Please be patient as new families get used to the routines. Recent observations indicate that most families are choosing the 2:55pm pick up time at the hall gate. If you can move to the 3:10pm pick up, it is far less congested.

It is important that we are vigilant about road safety around our school. A reminder to take extra care when using the hall car park.

• It is always best to reverse into parking spots so that you are not trying to reverse out in the path of children and parents who are crossing.
  
• Please hold your children’s hands and avoid congregating in areas that can block driver’s vision.

Please remember that Gregory Rd is NOT one way. Parents and carers must follow all road rules.

If you all eligible to use the St Nicholas Gate pick-up, you are asked to assist our staff to ensure the safety of all children, by getting out of your car and meeting at the pick-up point. 

Parents are asked to reinforce the key safety messages for children about the road and traffic environment. The road safety messages below support the skills being taught as part of the PDHPE K-10 Syllabus at each Stage of learning.

Pedestrian safety

• Hold a grown-up’s hand when you cross the road
• Hold a grown-up’s hand when you are on the footpath
• Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road

Passenger safety

• Click, clack, front and back
• Always buckle up safely
• Get in and out of the car Safety Door on the footpath side

Safety on wheels

• Wait until the bus has gone and then use a safe place to cross
• Always wear a helmet when you ride or skate
• Ride your bike away from the road/busy roads

COMMUNITY NEWS

SAM’S ENTRY TO THE MAITLAND SHOW

Sam Bonser from 3 Blue entered the scarecrow competition at Maitland Show again this year. This is Sam’s third year entering the show as a representative of St Patrick’s and Sam is very excited about his entry.

He won his division in 2022 and was an overall entry winner in 2023. This year Sam received second place ribbon for his division. Congratulations Sam.

Each scarecrow has to be in the theme of "Celebrating our Youth"

Sam had to answer the 3 following questions:

• What do you aspire to be when you grow up?

• What do you hope to accomplish?

• What do you wish to contribute to the community?

Sam’s entry is particularly special to his family, as his Nanny passed away in 2020 from brain cancer, after a very short but very fierce battle.

With little known about the causes of brain cancer and well under funded research, Sam often says his one wish if he could change anything, would be to have his Nanny back.

PARENTING PAGE

Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements.