Dear Parents and Carer’s,

Welcome to Week 6 of Term 3. Unfortunately illness has been common among many students over the past week with a few nasty viruses spreading across the school. We are grateful to parents for remaining vigilant with illness and ask for your support in continuing to monitor symptoms and keeping unwell students at home if necessary. Thank you.

CANONICAL VISIT: We were very blessed to enjoyed a visit from His Grace, Archbishop Christopher Prowse to St Patrick’s School on Friday 16 August. Archbishop Christopher’s visit will be long remembered by the students for his wonderful sermon at Mass that highlighted our beautiful stained glass windows in the church and the colours representing Mary and the other saints. The Archbishop was extremely impressed by the students knowledge and eagerness to answer questions from Kindergarten through to Year 6. One of the parishioners present at Mass, was also so impressed by the students answers that he bought each student and staff member a ‘Mars Bar’ as a gratitude gift to accompany a beautiful note from the Archbishop to the school community thanking the students and staff for our hospitality and congratulating students on their impressive answers. The Archbishop also joined the staff for lunch and attended the whole school assembly in the afternoon. Archbishop Christopher, Fr Joe and Fr Rofin sat among the students in the ampitheatre enjoying the assembly items and chatting with students. It was a very special day! (see photos in REC News)

BOOKWEEK: What a busy time it has been at St Patrick’s! The Bookweek Parade last Thursday was magical and very much enjoyed by all students and staff. Thank you to everyone for dressing up and celebrating ‘The Magic of Books!’ It was wonderful to share this day with Gundagai Preschool as well. Thank you to Mrs Hughes for organising such a special day of activities!

TELL THEM FROM ME PARENT (TTFM) SURVEYS: Thank you to those parents who were able to fill in our school survey.  The survey window has now closed. Parents, staff and students from Years 4-6 responses are collated and the information received from the school community, helps form our Annual School Improvement Plan and school direction in 2025.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL STREET STALL: Thank you to all our wonderful cooks and those who donated so generously to our annual street stall. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful and supportive families as well as some ex-families and ex-grandparents support with cooking and rostering onto help sell. It is wonderful to still have those lovely connections! A special thank you to Ms Tash Smith and Mrs Lisa Peterson for co-ordinating the street stall.

FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL DAY: We are delighted to welcome Mr Lachie Eveston (CECG Teaching & Learning Support Officer-Aboriginal Education) to our school tomorrow as we celebrate deferred NAIDOC Week and Aboriginal Cultural Day activities. Aunty Sue Bulger and Winnie Bulger will accompany Mr Eveston, by providing some exciting indigineous activities to support students understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their culture.

FATHER’S DAY: This Friday we are celebrating our dads, grandads and the special men in our lives. A delicous BBQ lunch is being prepared for our special guests to enjoy. We look forward to celebrating on Friday with our guests.

Wishing all our dads, grandads or male role models in our lives a fantastic day on Sunday. We hope you get to put your feet up and enjoy being spoiled.

Best wishes,

Christine Baron

Principal