Week 2 Term 2 Newsletter

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

Over the coming weeks, we have 2 special events being held at St Patrick’s Lochinvar. Parents are encouraged and welcome to attend both events. Please read the outline below.

MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS- FRIDAY 12/5/23

9:15am- Mother’s Day liturgy led by Year 2
Venue- School Hall/ COLA
Following the liturgy, parents are invited to stay for a special morning tea.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK- WEEK 4

SCHOOL EVENT TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY 16/5/23:

Catholic Schools Week Liturgy- 12:15pm

Venue- School Hall/ COLA

Invitation for Parents to visit classrooms following the liturgy

1:30pm- Bring Your Own picnic lunch- lunch can be enjoyed with your children in our beautiful school grounds.

On a cold wintry day a man saw a small girl standing at a street corner. She was shivering with the cold and starving for want of a decent meal. The man got angry and said to God: “Why do you allow this to happen? Why don’t you do something about it?” And God replied: “I have already done something about it. I made you.”

Regards
Dennis Nolan

CALENDAR EVENTS

Tuesday 9^th May – Mothers Day Stall
Wednesday 10^th May – Diocesan Cross Country
Thursday 11^th May – P & F Meeting
Friday 12^th May – Mothers Day Liturgy (year 2 will host the liturgy)
Friday 12^th May – Kinder Enrolment Process Closes for 2024
Tuesday 16^th May – Catholic Schools Week – Liturgy in hall/cola at 12.15pm, followed by open classrooms and a byo picnic at 1.30pm on school grounds
Friday 19^th May - National Walk Safely to School Day
Monday 29^th May – Winter Uniform
Thursday 1^st June - NSW Police workshops
Monday 12^th June – Kings Birthday – Public Holiday
Friday 16^th June – Year 3 excursion to Civic Theatre

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

KINDER ENROLMENTS 2024

Kinder Enrolments for 2024 will close on Friday 12^th May 2023. Please ensure if you would like to enrol your child that you have completed and return your enrolment forms along with supporting documents by this time.

FEES – IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Thank you to those parents who have been making regular payments towards fees as per the commitment made on enrolment of your child. 

Fee payers who have not made regular payments or opted to make annual payments, will receive a letter this week in regard to payments which need to commence immediately in order to acquit the debt by 30th November - obviously if setting up direct debit or BPay you will need to calculate the payments to reflect the total amount owed. 

Follow up of fees with parents is essential so that you understand your debt position and we are able to have the funds required to meet our debts and provide resources for each child.

As always if you are experiencing significant financial hardship, please make contact with Mrs Grant School Finance Officer or Mrs Wilkinson School Principal regarding a fee interview or application for concession.

WINTER UNIFORM

All children must wear full Winter uniform from Monday 29th May 2023 (Week 6), you are welcome to use your discretion and children can wear Winter uniform in the event of cooler weather for the two weeks prior to this date commencing Monday 15th May 2023 (Week 4).

WINTER UNIFORM – KEN LANES MENSWEAR

Winter Uniforms

Winter uniforms are now available at Ken Lane Menswear in High Street Maitland and online at:

NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY

Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 19 May 2023. National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children. Now in its 24th year, the annual event encourages parents and teachers to teach road safety skills and support the importance of regular walking, not just on 19 May, but every day.

You may wish to consider changing the way the get to school on Friday, 19^th May to celebrate this special day!

WE ARE COLLECTING AGAIN

Help St Patrick’s save plastic bread bags from heading to landfill. We will be collecting bread bags until July 7th. Empty out those crumbs, send in those empty bags, and help St Patrick’s receive some sporting equipment, as well as saving over 30kg of bread bags making their way into landfill.

Green Team and Stewards of Creation.

ORGANISATION & MANAGEMENT

NSW POLICE WORKSHOPS:

On Thursday 1st June, NSW police will visit our school to conduct the following workshops:

11:30am- 12:00pm- Years K-2- ‘Keeping me safe’ 

This talk aims to help children identify the safe people in their community, as well as safe places to go when they are lost, feeling unsafe or frightened or are in danger as well as to develop their own personal safety strategies.

12:05pm- 12:45pm- Years 3-4 ‘Personal Safety’ 

A combined package of personal safety with a focus on cyber awareness and social media.

12:50- 1:30pm- Years 5-6 –‘Think u know’ 

A package about cyber safety and social media.

CANTEEN NEWS

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday.

Monday meal deals are now available to order through QKR.  The special changes each week. The coming weeks special will be advertised on Compass and Facebook the Friday prior. Next week will be Pizza week. Option One: Ham and Pineapple pizza, Option Two BBQ chicken pizza.  Both will be served with garlic bread and a choice of Popper or Water.  Children will need to come to canteen to pick up the drink of their choice.

A couple of tips when using QKR.

• Check you have selected the correct week for the order.
• The order needs to be submitted prior to 0830 am. QKR will stop taking orders at 0830 am even if you are in the middle of ordering.
• Remember to push submit on completion of your order.

Any ice blocks ordered need to be picked up from the canteen.  The lunch bag is proof of purchase.

Mother’s Day celebrations are coming up Friday 12^th May.  I’m looking for some Dad’s who are willing to put up their hand to help run the canteen so the Mums can enjoy the celebrations.  Please contact me at chris.jones@mn.catholic.edu.au if you are an approved volunteer.

The upcoming roster is as follows.

Have a great week!
Chris Jones

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING?

Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to be mean to a child or young person so they feel bad or upset. It can happen on a social media site, game, app, or any other online or electronic service or platform. It can include: posts, comments, texts, messages, chats, livestreams, memes, images, videos and emails.

These are some examples of ways the internet can be used to make someone feel bad or upset:

• Sending hurtful messages about them.
• Sharing embarrassing photos or videos of them.
• Spreading nasty online gossip about them.
• Leaving them out online. 
• Creating fake accounts in their name.
• Tricking them into believing you are someone else. 

Sadly, cyberbullying happens a lot in Australia and around the world.

CURRICULUM NEWS

YEAR ONE EXCURSION

Oakvale Farm

LIBRARY NEWS

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

SPORT NEWS

CROSS COUNTRY

On Friday 31^st March we were gifted with a beautiful day of sunshine and were able to hold our annual Cross Country event in perfect conditions.

The following students will represent St Patrick's at the Diocesan Carnival on Wednesday 10^th May. All information for the event is on Compass.

Congratulations to Sienna Proctor, Jayla Parker, Talon Chalker, Jake Hedges, Fred Richardson, Phoenix Russell, Leura Russell, Isabella Crouch, Kye Hedges, Eli Unicomb, Miles Cavanagh, Harper Jackson, Sophia Unicomb, Quinn Redgrove, Van Burgess, Jacob Lovell, Aston Longbottom, Scarlett Crouch, Parker Christian, Mila Cooper, Max Crowther, Sam Horan and Thomas Power.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

MINECRAFT EDUCATION

Minecraft Club takes place twice a week and gives students in Years 4-6 the opportunity to come together and complete a range of challenges in Minecraft Education, to participate in free play with other kids in the club.

Our current build challenge has been inspired by the SpaceX Starship launch last week. Minecrafters have been tasked to build a spacecraft to that could take them into orbit or beyond.

It is a great opportunity for St Patrick’s students to come together to work and play in a digital environment, and to enhance thinking and problem solving skills.

Mr Henman

ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL CHOIR

The School Choir have been meeting each week to rehearse alongside the talented school band. They have refined their versions of the School Song, the Australian Anthem, and the Happy Birthday song to sing with the students during school Assemblies.

The Choir are also in the process of learning 2 new songs for the Abermain Eisteddfod in August. Here, they will be performing with other schools in the area. They will be performing one song written by an Australian composer and the other song will be known as a ‘round’ song.

The student commitment to rehearsal has been encouraging and we thank these students for giving up their time to be a part of this wonderful group! We have seen so much growth in their singing ability and we enjoy their enthusiasm for music.

We look forward to communicating their efforts throughout the remainder of the year 😊

Mrs Sadaj on behalf of the Choir

ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL BAND

Our school band gathers each Tuesday and every second Thursday to practice our songs. We often practice with the school choir in preparation for our whole school Assemblies.

At present we have been practicing for the Abermain Eisteddfod and playing electric guitars for added complexity.

Our band members are so very committed to rehearsals and have demonstrated an amazing improvement. Their love of music is most definitely shown in their enthusiasm for playing together.

It is such a pleasure to watch these young musicians play and I am excited to see them further develop throughout the year.

Jane Kleinman

PARENTING PAGE