St Patrick’s School Community Council 2024 Wrap up

As another vibrant year has drawn to a close at St Patrick’s, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the many achievements and milestones we have celebrated together. There is never a dull moment at our school, and 2024 has been no exception!

Projects: We have a number of projects in various stages of completion:

New Rep Uniforms: We introduced new Representative Uniforms, including Rugby League and Union jerseys, League Tag shirts, Soccer and Touch Football gear, Basketball singlets, and Netball uniforms. A heartfelt thank you to Kim Paton for her invaluable assistance with the Squadron Energy Grant, and to Craig Hargreaves and Kate Graham for their dedication in organizing and designing these fantastic uniforms. Special thanks also to Riley Smith and Chase Robinson for their generous donations, which kick-started the uniform purchases.  Adding to our sporting pride, the Year 6 Sports Specialists successfully submitted a proposal to the Community Council for representative swimming caps, which have now been purchased, rounding out our representative kit.

School Play Recording: We were delighted to provide every family with a complimentary copy of our school play, The Wizard of Oz, thanks to Kim Paton for organising the filming and distribution.

School Message Board: We are progressing through the DA process to replace the school message board facing Sheridan Street, with $13,000 held in reserve for its completion.

Uniform Sub-Committee: A dedicated group of volunteer parents is working to refresh and rationalise our school uniforms. Their goal is to enhance the look, comfort, and multi-seasonal wearability while reducing costs for families. Stay tuned for updates!

School Facility Upgrades: Continuing to increase our co-contribution fund for potential school facility upgrades, including working with Catholic Education on the feasibility of the identified upgrades.

Fundraising Highlights Thanks to our vibrant community spirit, we raised an impressive $18,000 through our annual activities, including the Tuckshop, Cupcake & Ice Cream sales, Street Stall, Meat Raffle, Crazy Camel fundraiser, and School Tea Towels. These funds were allocated as follows:

• $5,000 to subsidize buses for class excursions and student events
• $5,000 for Chromebook lifecycle management
• $2,500 to support student events like Healthy Harold, author Pip Harris visits, and the Year 5/6 Sydney excursion
• $3,000 towards representative uniforms

Our larger fundraiser, the Flocking for Facilities Lamb Drive, raised an outstanding $10,640, contributing to a $50,000 fund set aside for future facility improvement projects in partnership with Catholic Education.

Looking Ahead to 2025 Next year, we have planned and budgeted for:

• Purchasing two new smaller branded marquees for sporting events.
• Upgrading canteen equipment.
• Subsidising buses for school excursions.
• Subsidising replacement Chromebooks.
• Subsidising ad hoc student events.
• Continuing to work towards further facility upgrades for the school in partnership with Catholic Education.

Acknowledgments None of our achievements would be possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated volunteers:

• Tash Smith & Lisa Peterson for their outstanding work coordinating the Street Stall.
• Tash Smith again, for her dedication as Uniform Coordinator.
• Alicia Hargreaves, our Canteen Coordinator is stepping down after five years in the role. Thank you for all your hard work.
• Kate Hufton (new Canteen Coordinator) and Louise Crowe (new Rostering Coordinator) — welcome aboard!
• Craig Hargreaves, stepping down as Meat Raffle Coordinator after three years, with Anthony Nicholls stepping into the role for 2025.
• Lauren Gailey for her ongoing work with Crazy Camel Drive, and Liz Ferguson for the new School Tea Towel fundraiser.
• Aaron & Marg Nicholls, Phil & Fiona Worldon, and Craig & Alicia Hargreaves for their outstanding efforts with Flocking for Facilities.
• Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all the parents and grandparents who volunteer their time to work in the canteen, baking cupcakes and cookies and those who also sit on the street stall and donate their time, energy and skills to making sure the St Pat’s Street Stall is a highlight each year. Your dedication and support are deeply appreciated by the entire school community.

Community Council Updates The 2025 Community Council will be comprised of continuing members Sam Johnson, Liz Ferguson, and Bonita Taylor and they will be joined by new members Bec Nicholls, Marg Nicholls, and Carla Barton, ensuring strong leadership moving forward.

Our next meeting is 18 February 2025 which will also be our AGM when the new Executive is elected, being Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

Get Involved There are many ways to contribute to our school, and there is no better way to ensure that our school keeps that amazing sense of community than by volunteering a little time here and there.

If you do want to get involved, or are unsure how, then speak with Chris, or any Community Council member, or the coordinators for the annual fundraising activities.  Many hands make light work.

Lisa Ryan
2024 Community Council Chair