Week 4 Term 3 Newsletter

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

How fabulous to watch the incredible support for the Matilda’s and get caught up in green and gold mania. I have been struck by the demonstration of valuable life lessons as the players have valiantly competed on the world stage. I believe these lessons have particular value for our students today.

Perseverance and Dedication: The Matildas have faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but they have persevered and continued to work hard to achieve their goals. Kids can learn that success often requires dedication, practice, and a strong work ethic.

Teamwork: Soccer is a team sport, and the Matildas' success is a result of effective teamwork and collaboration. Kids can learn the importance of working together, supporting each other, and recognising that everyone plays a crucial role in achieving success.

Diversity and Inclusion: The Matildas are a diverse team with players from various backgrounds and experiences. Kids can learn the value of inclusivity, respecting differences, and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed and appreciated for their own skills and strengths. This is a lesson regularly reinforced at St Patrick’s.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity: The Matildas have faced tough opponents and challenging circumstances, but they have shown resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and stay positive, even when injured or on the bench. Kids can learn that setbacks are a part of life, and it is essential to bounce back and keep moving forward.

Setting and Pursuing Goals: The Matildas' journey to the World Cup involved setting ambitious goals and striving to achieve them. Kids can learn the significance of setting clear objectives, creating a plan, and working step by step towards their dreams.

Sportsmanship: Watching the Matildas play, kids can see examples of sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for opponents. They can learn that winning isn't everything and that showing respect and humility, regardless of the outcome, is essential.

Leadership: The Matildas' team is led by strong and inspiring leaders who motivate and guide their teammates. Kids learn about the qualities of effective leadership, such as communication, empathy, and leading by example.

Balance and Well-being: Being a high-level athlete requires balance and taking care of one's physical and mental well-being. Kids can learn that success isn't just about performance but also about maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Overall, the Matildas' World Cup journey provides valuable life lessons that extend beyond soccer, teaching kids about resilience, teamwork, diversity, and the power of determination. We wish the team continued success in their quarter final match against France. GO AUSSIES!

CALENDAR EVENTS

IMPORTANT DATES

• DIOCESAN LEADERS ANNUAL SCHOOL VISIT- Mon 14^th Aug (Week 5)

• BOOK WEEK EVENTS including the Book Fair- Monday 21^st August- Fri 25^th August (Week 6)

• REGIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMP @ Abermain 22^nd Aug

• GRANDPARENTS’ DAY & BOOK WEEK PARADE- Thursday 24^th August

Theme: The CBCA Book Week theme for 2023 is "Read, Grow, Inspire." As in previous years, children are invited to plan a costume to celebrate the theme, linked to a chosen book. This is a favourite community event that is usually very well supported by students, staff and parents. Get creative!

• AUTHOR VISIT, - Friday 25^th August
• STAGE 2 SOCCER GALA DAY - Monday 28^th August
• STAGE 3 SOCCER GALA DAY - Tuesday 29^th August
• GREAT AUSSIE BUSH CAMP EXCURSION for Year 5- Wed 30^th Aug- Fri 1^st September
• YEAR 1 HISTORY DAY (SCHOOL) – Tuesday 5^th September
• PUPIL FREE DAY- System Formation for Teachers. Friday 8th September (Week 8), Please make other arrangements for supervision of your child/children as students DO NOT attend school on this day.

• STAGE 2 & 3 NETBALL GALA DAY – Friday 13^th October

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

GRANDPARENTS DAY/ BOOK WEEK

Grandparents Day at school is a special event dedicated to honoring and celebrating grandparents and other older family members. It is typically held on a designated day, often in September or October, in many schools around the world. The purpose of Grandparents Day is to recognise the invaluable contributions grandparents make to their grandchildren's lives and to foster stronger intergenerational connections.

Grandparents Day coincides with Bookweek at St Patrick’s and is a fantastic way to bridge the generation gap, promote respect for elders, and create cherished memories for both the students and their grandparents. It also reinforces the importance of family and the role grandparents play in shaping their grandchildren's lives. We do hope to see many visitors to share this special occasion. Please see the flyers below for details

ORGANISATION & MANAGEMENT

UNIFORM UPDATE FROM KEN LANE MENSWEAR

Just a bit of an update about school uniforms. 

Some parents may have noticed that boy's long sleeve winter shirts ran out just before the mid-year school holidays. We apologise for this shortage. We did increase our forward orders for winter but the demand was unprecedented. For example sales for sizes 10 and 12 in particular almost doubled from last year, a situation we could not foresee.  We will do our best to avoid a shortage next winter.

All other uniform items are in stock and are still available for purchase, including most summer items. We will be receiving summer uniform supplies in mid September in strong numbers. 

We have been made aware of a handful of girls' summer dress hems coming down not long after being purchased. These issues are usually rare and infrequent. However, if you buy a new dress or skirt and the hem comes down early in its life please call into the store so we can repair the fault and advise the supplier of the problem. The repair is free of charge for genuine faults. 

We are also aware that the current zip-up fleece jacket is not to the usual standard of thickness and quality. During Covid our local high-quality manufacturer closed abruptly leaving us in a difficult position and needing to find a new supplier quickly.  At the same time an inflation spike caused the wholesale price of all our clothing to increase significantly. Supply chain issues and minimum order requirements further complicated our path to finding a new supplier. Rest assured we have not been satisfied with the current fleece jacket quality and are actively taking steps to find a new supplier who can improve the quality and fit. 

A reminder that all uniform items are available for purchase ONLINE at www.kenlane.com.au 

Select "Schoolwear Shop" on the homepage and select St Patrick's Lochinvar from the drop-down menu. You can click and collect or pay for postage and have the clothing delivered to your address

Thank you all for your ongoing support, particularly during the difficult Covid 19 period. Your support of our locally owned and run business means everything to us and we will continue to do our utmost to help with all your uniform needs.

Patrick Lane
Ken Lane Menswear

397 High Street
Maitland NSW 2320
P:02 49332211  F:02 49341741
E: kenlanemenswear@gmail.com
W: www.kenlane.com.au

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

The safety and well-being of our students is our utmost priority. In today’s newsletter, we provide an update on our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all our students.

Safeguarding Measures and Policies

Our school maintains robust safeguarding measures and policies that are regularly reviewed and updated to align with expectations of the Office of Safeguarding.

These include:

Child Protection Policy: Our school aligns with the Diocesan Child Protection Policy which outlines the procedures and responsibilities for all staff members in cases of suspected child abuse or neglect.

Safe Recruitment: We follow stringent procedures to ensure that all staff members, volunteers and external contractors, undergo thorough background checks and comply with safeguarding standards, including current WWCCs.

Staff Training: Our staff undertakes mandatory training on safeguarding practices to recognise signs of potential harm or abuse. This empowers them to create a safe learning environment for our students.

Online Safety: We take online safety seriously and provide age-appropriate lessons to educate our students about safe internet use and digital citizenship. Resources are shared with parents in the school newsletter.

Reporting Concerns If you have any concerns or suspicions about the safety or well-being of a child in our school, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Wilkinson.

Alternatively, you can report your concerns directly to the Office of Safeguarding on 49791390.

Please remember that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and by working together, we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of our students.

SAFEGUARDING at St Patrick’s means...

The Catholic Schools Office promotes an absolute commitment to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children, particularly those attending the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Our school is committed to fostering a community of safety and care. We acknowledge the legal, moral and spiritual responsibilities to care for and uphold the dignity and rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

“Protecting children is one of our most sacred trusts.”
(Bishop Bill Wright, 2012)

RE NEWS

PJS FOR THE DAY!

St Patrick’s supported the ST VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL last Friday, raising a total of $597.75.

FEAST OF MARY MACKILLOP

Dear God,
We thank you for the life of St. Mary MacKillop and her inspiring example of faith and service. Help us to follow her selflessness and love for others.
St. Mary of the Cross, pray for us.
Amen.

On Tuesday 8^th August, we celebrated the feast day of Mary MacKillop, the co-founder of the Sisters of St Joseph and Australia’s first Saint. Thank you to Year 3 led who led us in a beautiful liturgy in honour of Mary Mackillop. Thank you also to the many parents and grandparents who were able to join us. This feast day is especially important to us as Lochinvar is the mother hose for the Sisters of St Joseph. Next month, the Sisters celebrate 140 years in Lochinvar. This is a remarkable milestone.

CURRICULUM NEWS

LITERACY TEAM

St Patrick’s has established a team of keen staff members to lead professional learning in Literacy. Within the Literacy Team, there is a wide range of teaching experience and a diversity in areas of expertise that we can draw from and build on. The team, led by our pedagogical mentors, Mrs Robinson and Mrs Deegan, will work alongside our teachers to build understanding of ways to effectively implement the Teaching & Learning Cycle and the 3-6 English syllabus, and then in turn, help to build the capacity of colleagues in these areas. 

Over the next semester, there will be opportunities for the team to attend professional learning on the T&LC and the 3-6 English Syllabus. Thank you to team members Jack Crich, Erin Saxby, Tracee Cinello, Jane Kleinman, Cassie Dennis, Fiona Stretton and Helena Powell for their interest and involvement in this initiative. 

Congratulations and thank you to Mrs Deegan, who has been acknowledged for her leadership of teachers in the diocese, presenting her work at the L!FT days earlier in the week.

WELLBEING TEAM

St Patrick’s has established our Wellbeing Team, expertly lead by Mrs Hacker and Mr Nolan and our Pastoral Care Worker, Mrs Sneesby Tooth. We welcome the following staff members to the team who will work in this space for the remainder of the year and into 2024. Thank you to Helen Hartcher, Michelle Harvey, Lucie Fuller, Cate Lawler, Elissa Pryke, Tegan Cunningham, Kate Virgona and Ethan Callinan for their interest and involvement.

CANTEEN ROSTER

SPORT NEWS

DIOCESAN ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

On Wednesday August 2nd, 17 St Patrick's children travelled to Glendale Sporting Complex and represented our region at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. By all reports, it was a fantastic day and our students displayed great sportsmanship.

We have 9 children who were successful at this event and will compete at the Polding Carnival. Congratulations to Scarlett Crouch, Sophie Cant, Isabella Crouch, Katie Uren, Eli Unicomb, Kye Hedges, Nash McGregor, Talon Chalker and Jake Hedges.

We wish them the best of our luck!

GYMNASTICS- TERM 3

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

WHS

HYGIENE STEPS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY HEALTHY

You will likely be aware of the highly infectious gastroenteritis outbreak in Newcastle at the moment.  Whilst we do not have any known cases at our school currently, I thought it worth sharing as a general reminder, some of the good hygiene practices that can help to limit the spread and assist in controlling the spread of this virus:

• Handwashing with soap and water is the most important preventative measure, particularly before consuming food and after going to the toilet.  Encourage children to participate in handwashing at home and at school.
• Ensure all children are screened at home daily for early symptoms of gastroenteritis (fever, muscle aches, lethargy) and kept home from school if any symptoms are present.
• Discourage children from sharing food with friends whilst at school.
• Hunter New England Health advised that people are most infectious when they have symptoms but can remain infectious until 48 hours aftertheir last symptom.  Children who develop gastroenteritis cannot return to the school until they are symptom free for a minimum of 48 hours.  The common symptoms of gastroenteritis area vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, fatigue and abdominal pain.

The health and safety of our school community is always a priority and we are taking the appropriate hygiene precautions at this time and will follow any advice from the relevant health authorities as needed.

We appreciate your support in monitoring the health of your child at this time.

STATION LANE ROADWORKS UPDATE

Please see below an update from Maitland City Council in relation to roadworks on Station Lane:

Generally, work has stayed on track for September completion. There has been some wet weather which has pushed it back slightly.
Over the next fortnight, the majority of the excavation work, road base construction and new kerb and gutter will be complete.
There will be some work out the front of the childcare and around the Freeman Drive intersection that will remain.
This should be finished ready for final asphalt in mid September.
That will leave minor works in the last few weeks of September- turfing, driveways etc.

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.