Dear Parents,

The end of term is here, and we are grateful to have been able to conclude the year with restrictions easing across a multitude of facets, enabling families and communities to once again be together.

This was so evident at our Awards Day last Friday when we were able to open our school grounds to welcome parents, grandparents and family members back, to celebrate the achievements of students across a very different school year.

The school grounds looked immaculate, the weather was perfect, and everyone enjoyed a wonderful morning of celebrations. Congratulations to ALL our students on their own personal achievements across the year. We know that every child has grown and achieved in some way and they should be extremely proud of their wonderful effort and application to learning.

This was followed by the Year 6 Graduation Mass that was so beautifully prepared by Mrs Howe. A few tears were shed following the very poignant powerpoint presentation that recogised the special qualities of our Year 6 students. Last night we farewelled our Year 6 students with a Graduation dinner at the Family Hotel. This was another great opportunity to celebrate with Year 6 and their parents and was enjoyed by all.

The 2020 school year will conclude tomorrow at 3.15pm. The Year 6 students will complete the afternoon with the traditional ringing of the school bell. Each Year 6 student will ring the bell equaling the number of years they have been at St Patrick’s and in recognition of their official conclusion to their primary education years. Year 6 parents are welcome into the school grounds from 3pm onwards to witness this exclusive event!

Thank you to everyone who has made this year a special one in some little way.

Thank you to parents for all your wonderful support, patience and perseverance especially during Remote Learning times. You were awesome! Thank you to all our beautiful, amazing St Patrick’s students for the joy they bring to every-day life and thank you to the amazing St Patrick’s teaching and support team.

Special thanks to the St Patrick’s Community Council members, Renee Lindley, Craig Hargreaves, Kim Paton, John Morgan, Mick Leane, Michelle McDonnell, Emma Peterson and Jacki Carberry for their hard work and efforts to continue to support the school across a very challenging year.

A very special thank you to Renee and Emma who will be resigning their positions in 2021. I would personally like to thank Renee and Emma for their incredible support over the past two years and their dedication, commitment, support and advice. We are all very grateful to have had them share their passion and ideas for the benefit of the school community.

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful community here at St Patrick’s School.

We pray that each of you will have a blessed and joyous Christmas and that the New Year will be filled with hope, faith, and knowledge and most importantly we walk into 2021 with grateful hearts.

Christine Baron

Principal