St Patrick's Primary School Gundagai eNewsletter

Dear St Patrick’s families,

Happy Father’s Day to all our wonderful dads, granddads, uncles and father figures for last Sunday. It was wonderful to have so many fathers attend our special BBQ lunch last Friday. Many thanks to all the staff and canteen workers that assisted in preparing the lunch for everyone to enjoy. My apologies for not being present on the day, however I was attending the WR Principal’s Meeting in Temora. The photos certainly show a very enjoyable gathering of father figures and excited children! Thank you for coming along.

OPENING AND BLESSING: We are so excited to be hosting our Opening and Blessing ceremony this Friday. The ceremony will officially acknowledge the funding received from Catholic Education to build our new administration office area and the NSW State Government ‘Building Stronger Communities’ grant to upgrade and enhance our playground facilities. We are also delighted to include the blessing of our new stained-glass window in the front foyer. We will be joined by Fr Richard Thompson (Vicar General), representatives from Catholic Education office in Canberra, Council representatives, past and present community council members, parish and school community members, community members, as well as Mr Bernie Harrington and his family. Mr Harrington donated the money to design the new stained-glass window on behalf of the Harrington family and his best friend Raymond Young and family. We look forward to sharing this special event with many special guests and friends. Please see the schedule for Friday below.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL WORKING BEE: We are extremely grateful to the hard-working families that participated in the Working Bee last Saturday morning. Special thanks to Mr John Morgan for co-ordinating the working bee and to the families who volunteered their time and assistance. We would like to acknowledge the following families:

John, Amanda Lachlan and Zoe Morgan

Elle, Andy, Molly and Josie Lott

Alicia and Lachlan Hargreaves

Anthony Nicholls

Aaron Nicholls

Tim and Darby Jones

Carl Barton and Gerry O’Hehir (foyer area re-design)

Special Mention to Lachlan Morgan and Darby Jones who lugged wheelbarrow loads of sand and bark up the hill to fill the sandpits and gardens at the working bee. Well Done Boys we are very grateful for your help

Our foyer area and grounds look fantastic and are now in perfect condition for our Opening and Blessing celebration on Friday.

2024 CLASS ENROLMENTS:

We are calling for all enrolments for 2024 to come in as soon as possible please. The number of teachers we are allocated, is based on overall student enrolments (not on individual enrolments). Catholic Education staffing decisions for 2024 are being made now! If you have a child to enrol or know anyone wishing to join our fabulous school community, please encourage them to enrol as soon as possible. Another 2024 Kindergarten Information session will be held on Friday 15 September from 9.00-10.30am in the school library for anyone wanting to know more about St Patrick’s.

Looking forward to celebrating the Opening and Blessing on Friday.

Christine Baron

Principal

St Patrick, pray for us

Opening and Blessing

We look forward to celebrating our Opening and Blessing of our new Administration Area and School Playground Enhancement on Friday. There are so many people who have worked extremely hard to achieve the successful completion of these areas.

In the spirit of all those people who have made this place a site of learning and a space for growth, we come together to ask your blessing, gracious God. May our efforts continue to enrich the lives of all our community. Keep our hearts and minds open to your spirit working within us. We ask this prayer through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Confirmation Wrap Up

As we finalise our Confirmation celebrations, Sue, our Parish Secretary, has advised that there are several families that have not yet paid their $30. If you are unsure, if you have paid or not, Sue has provided me with a list. Please finalise as soon as possible, so we can complete our invoices. Many thanks.

Thank you

I wish to express my sincere gratitude for all the beautiful messages of congratulations on my recent award at the CECG Faith in Learning Excellence Awards. I am humbled, grateful, honoured and truly amazed. I am just one member of a wonderful team. I am fortunate to do a job I love, and I love the children I teach.

Thank you to the incredible St Patrick’s School community for your support and to my wonderful family for being there to celebrate this memorable occasion.

Kate Howe

REC

10.30-11.00am: Early recess break

11.00-11.15am: Smoking Ceremony

11.15am: Opening and Blessing commences with the Welcome to Country (Aunty Sue Bulger) followed by the National Anthem

11.20am: Procession of Symbols

11.25am: Opening Prayer/Blessing Ritual

11.30am: Blessing of Cultural Space, new turf area and soft-fall area

11.35am: Blessing of New administration area including stained-glass window

11.45am: Unveiling of CECG plaque and State Government plague

11.50am: Prayers of Intercession

11.55am: Walk to St Patrick’s Church

12.00pm MASS

(Official welcome of guests and speeches will be held during Mass)

1.00pm Light Luncheon for guests and visitors

Students will return to school to enjoy their FREE lunch (please see below)

We would like to send Mrs Justine Hughes (Year 1 Teacher) a "Get Well" message as Mrs Hughes recovers from surgery. Mrs Hughes will be away until the start of Week 10 (18th September) and we would like to thank Mrs Drabble for taking Mrs Hughes class during her absence. The staff and students miss you Mrs Hughes.

Parents are welcome to contact teachers anytime across Weeks 8 and 9 for a catch-up discussion. Please email your child’s teacher to make a suitable time for a suitable meeting date and time.

Teacher email addresses are: first name.surname@cg.catholic.edu.au

Alternatively ring the front office and Jacki will assist with contacting class teachers.

Just a reminder to please ensure children are coming to school with their hat and drink bottles. We don't have a huge supply of second hand hats or drink bottles on hand and everyday we have requests to borrow a hat or cup.

Thank you

The Footsteps Dance Program will be held across this week. Thank you to Georgie from Footsteps Dance for the fabulous dance program. Our classes are all enjoying the new moves and steps to music as they learn new dance routines.

Parents are most welcome to come and watch the dance lessons that are being held on the turf area, each day (weather permitting). On Thursday we will have two sessions due to the Opening and Blessing on Friday:

Session times Monday to Thursday are:

9.00-9.40am-Year 5/6

9.40-10.20-Years 3/4

10.20-11.00am-Years K/1/2

Thursday afternoon:

11.30-12.10pm-Year 3/4

12.10-1.00pm-Year K/1/2

2.00-2.40pm-Year 5/6

FOOTSTEPS DISCO:

The Footsteps Disco will now be held THIS Wednesday 6 September. (Please note the time changes!)

Years K/1/2: 4.00-5.00pm

Years 3/4/5/6: 5.00-6.00pm

The children are welcome to dress in their disco or party clothes. Please ensure they bring a water bottle for the disco. Each child will receive a zooper-dooper at the conclusion of their class disco.

We ask that parents are on time to collect their child/ren from the disco please.

Students will be treated to a FREE sausage sizzle and drink lunch OR toasted cheese sandwich on Friday as part of the Opening and Blessing ceremony. Thank you to Alicia Hargreaves for organising this lunch for our students.

Please order via the Schools 24 lunch app. Please note these are the only two options available for lunch. Morning tea orders will be as per normal. As indicated above recess will be held from 10.30-11.00am on Friday.

Thank you to the families who have returned their street stall volunteer slip to the office. Miss Smith is in the process of finalising the roster and will be sent home shortly with allocated time slots. We are very grateful for your time and assistance. Thank you also to the families who have sent in a hamper item for our raffle prize.

Just a reminder that cooking and donations can be dropped off to the office next week or to the stall which will be set up near FoodWorks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Don't forget to send in your raffle tickets and money before next week.

Our best wishes are extended to Abigail (Year 6) and Taite (Year 5) as they head off to represent St Patrick’s and the WR schools in the finals of the Archdiocesan Public Speaking competition to be held at St Peter and Paul’s School in Goulburn on Friday. Abigail and Taite were named winners of the WR Public Speaking competition that was held in Temora recently, after successfully making it through school and interschool divisions. We will be cheering them on from St Patrick’s on Friday and look forward to hearing the results!

REMINDER ABOUT OUR CRAZY CAMEL ORDERS:

We hope all our little artists have been busy drawing up their designs for our "Crazy Camel Fundraiser" The children can create and design their own special artwork which can be made into calendars, diaries, pillowcases or tea towels. Orders and designs are due back to the front office on Friday 15th September.

Please note that our Little Learners Program will be postponed this Friday due to our Opening and Blessing ceremony. Our final Little Learner’s Program will be held next week:

Friday 15 September: Teddy Bear’s picnic

2024 KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION SESSION:

To be held on Friday 15 September from 9.00-10.30am in the School Library.

Please RSVP to Jacki in the front office by calling 69441085

Summer uniform will be worn at the start of Term 4.

If you require any new items please order online via the website and the uniforms can be sent home at the end of the term or early next term (depending on stock on hand).

If you have any good quality second hand items that you would like to donate back to school could you please drop them into the office before the end of the Term. Thank you.

We have a large number of children from Infants to Primary with lost woollen jumpers, hats and sports jumpers. We would ask that parents please check their children's clothing for jumpers or hats that may not belong to them and return to school. Some items may not have names on them or are second hand jumpers that need to be returned to school. A friendly reminder about the importance of writing names on all clothing.

Week 7 (Friday 1st September)

Peer support last Friday we focused on family week. In order to encourage young people to be resilient, we need to help them find the people who can support them. The children are asked to remember the things they have learned to do with the help of various family members. This leads to an activity that shows the children how the support of members of their family can help them to be more resilient. Thank your child for something they have done for you and discuss all the people within and outside your family that your child can turn to for support.

Week 8 (8th September)

This week we plan to further develop the idea of belonging. Having looked at the role of family last week now we look at our networks of friends. The children identify all the groups to which they belong and the friends they have in each group. The activities are designed to encourage children to appreciate the wide network of friends they have and the importance of humour between friends. Discuss the ways your child uses to show their friends that they care about them and encourage them to do these things regularly.

Little Learners Program: Final-Friday 15 September

2024 Kindergarten Information session: Friday 15 September 9.00-10.30am

Opening and Blessing of Administration area and upgrade of playground facilities: Friday 8 September

Community Council Meeting: Tuesday 12 September

CC Street Stall: Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 September

GHS Performance for Stage 3 students-Thursday 14 September

Term 2/3 Principal’s Award Morning Tea: Monday 18 September at 10.30am

Preschool and Gumnut Year 5 visit: Tuesday 19 September

Term 3 Awards Assembly: Friday 22September at 2.30pm in the Learning Hub

Term 3 Concludes: Friday 22 September 3.15pm

Term 4 begins for students: Tuesday 10 October

Thank you to our families who have volunteered their Friday evenings to sell raffle tickets during Term 3 for our school fundraising. Volunteers who are rostered on each week are to meet at Lotts Family Hotel from 6.30pm. If you are unable to do your rostered date we would ask that you please organise to swap.

22nd September - Jason Miller & Aaron Nicholls

29th September - Andy Lott & John Morgan

Thank you to our families and children for your continued support every week for our Altar Serving duties. Please arrive 15mins prior to Mass to allow time to change and greet the parishioners.

23rd Sept - Nick Quine & Nate Tozer

30th Sept - Tessa Crowe & Oliver Crowe

7th Oct - Christyne Calub & Riley Smith

14th Oct - Emmy Gaskin, Charlotte McDonnell & Chase Robinson

Tune into "Sounds of the Mountains" radio station (FM94.1) every Wednesday at 2.15pm to hear about what our classes and school has been up to over the week. Catch up with our Yr 6 leaders as they share our weekly news report:

Week 10 - 20th September : Emmy Gaskin & Tessa Crowe

Thank you to all of our Term 3 Volunteer parents for your time again this term.

Friday 8th September: "Opening & Blessing BBQ"

Cookies: Liz Ferguson & Lindsey Rose

Canteen Volunteers : Bec Nicholls & Alicia Hargreaves (Craig)

Monday Cupcakes - 11th September : Krystal Miller & Amanda Morgan

Friday 15th September

Cookies: Simone Jones & Bec Nicholls

Canteen Volunteers: Rebecca Tobin & Alicia Hargreaves

Monday Cupcakes - 18th September : Bonita Taylor & Fiona Worldon

Friday 22nd September - NO CANTEEN (LAST DAY OF TERM)

Congratulations to our Week 6 and Week 7 class awards

Week 6 - Friday 25th August

Kindergarten: Sophia Knight-Gregson for great listening to sounds within words

Year 1 : Claudia Worldon for improvement in her spelling and neat handwriting

Year 2 : Parker Melksham for showing enthusiasm and knowledge whilst working with technology

Year 3 : Mackenzie Little for having a go in sport and improving her kicking

Year 4 : Dale Paton for word attacking and having a go at spelling words independently

Year 5 : Christyne Calub for excellent achievement in all areas

Year 6 : Jacki Paton for confidence and enthusiasm when solving mathematical problems

Week 7 - Friday 1st September

Kindergarten : Hamish Tobin for diligence in all class tasks

Year 1 : Imogen Graham for neat presentation of work and consistent application to her learning

Year 2 : Lane Johnson for producing quality work and being a role model to his peers

Year 3 : Charlie Ryder for improved spelling knowledge, skills and understandings

Year 4 : Eliza Graham for her fluent reading during class novel study

Year 5 : Denver Blundell for showing progress in his learning

Year 6 : Faith Miller for creative initiative and increased involement in Tournament of the Minds

Congratulations to our WildCat Awards for Week 6 and Week 7

RESPONSIBLE: Archie McDonnell, Ryan Huang, Zoe Morgan, Harley Rose, Claudia Worldon, Skye Somerville, Andrew Cole, Remi Taylor, Harry Ryder, Charlie Ryder, Noah Zhu, Sophia Knight-Gregson, Fred Miller

RESPECTFUL : Harry Barton, Ryan Huang, Andrew Cole, Denver Blundell, Lilly Ferguson, Corby Rose, Sarah Gailey, Emily Ryan and Lachlan Bartn

SAFE: Andrew Cole, Ryan Huang, Winnie Huang, Fred Miller, Eliza Graham, Zoe Morgan, Fletcher Smith, Harry Ryder