Dear Parents,

It has been a welcome change to have such lovely warm days as we head into Spring. As usual our weeks are busy and we have many exciting events coming up over the last 4 weeks of term. Last week we received some great news in regard to additional staffing for 2019. The Office Administration hours have been increased to 65 hours per fortnight. This means Mrs Jacki Fairall will now be employed from 8.30-3.30pm each day until the end of the year. We have also received an additional 0.2 in staffing of which some, will be used to provide additional support in the classrooms. We are grateful to CE for this additional increase in hours to support our school community.

This week we look forward to the following events:

Wednesday 28^th August- The Trent Barrett Shield Competition for Years 3/4, will be held here in Gundagai. We wish Mr Ferguson and our Year 3/4 students a great day of competition and fun.

We will also welcome Gumnut and Gundagai Preschool children for a school visit to St Patrick’s this Wednesday. Mrs Carberry is organising a ‘Garden Party’ theme for the visit.

Thursday 29^th August-A visit by our very own local author Helen Castles to talk about her recently published book ‘Scoop McLaren Detective Editor'

Friday 30^th August-Dad’s, grandparents and special friends are invited to join us for a Father’s Day special BBQ breakfast from 7.30am. Please return notes by tomorrow (Wednesday 28th August) for catering purposes. Mrs Howe and I, along with Fr George and Fr Namora, will be attending a Key personnel Day in Canberra on Friday so unfortunately will not be here to help cook breakfast.

Everyone is invited to join Year 1/2 and Mrs Eccleston for a Father’s Day Mass at 12pm in St Patrick’s Church.

Following the last Community Council Open Meeting, where parents raised some important discussion points, I have added some responses in the newsletter to address each point. We hope this provide some clarity and direction into 2020. Thank you also to parents who provided valuable feedback through the parent surveys. Responses and ideas will also help provide some discussions for future planning into next year.

I will be attending the APPA (Australian Primary Principal’s Association) Conference next week as well as taking some Long Service Leave the following week. Mrs Wilson will be the Acting Principal during my absence.

Wishing all fathers, a very special day this Sunday.

Christine Baron

Principal

St Vincent de Paul Society Certificate of Appreciation

A letter and certificate has been received from the St Vincent de Paul Society thanking the St Patrick’s community for their generous support of the Vinnies Winter Appeal. “Our appreciation and thanks cannot be expressed in words, of how valuable your donations are to those in need.“

Well done everyone!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Last Friday ten very special children received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The children and their families celebrated a Liturgy and then the children spent individual time with Father George and Father Namora.

We thank the children and their families for their commitment to their faith journey and for the reverent way in which they prepared for their Sacrament. Special thanks to Father George and Father Namora for their guidance and support.

Family / Parish Mass

On Saturday 14^th September we will be celebrating a special family and thanksgiving mass. This will be an opportunity for all families to gather and celebrate, and also for the children who received the Sacraments of Confirmation and Reconciliation to come together.

We are hoping to involve as many families as we can.

Coming Events

• Year One / Two will be leading us in Mass on Friday 30^th
• Family Mass – Saturday 14^th September 6pm

Walking with you in Faith and Knowledge,

 Mrs Howe 

REC

CRITERIA FOR STUDENT OF THE MONTH AWARDS:

The ‘Student of the Month’ awards are awarded every 5 weeks of term.

The following criteria is used for teachers to select students for the awards.

* Learning excellence 

* Consistent effort to achieve at their best 

* Cooperative and collaborative learning behaviours 

* Displaying a positive learning attitude towards all tasks  

ST PATRICK’S PROPOSED SKI EXCURSION:

We are calling for ‘Expressions of Interest’ for a proposed ski excursion to Mt Selwyn in 2020. Approximate cost per student for the day, would be around $130 including ski hire, lift access, helmet, bus travel and lessons. This excursion would be open for Years 3-6 plus parents.  Any first time skiiers would be requested to have a skiing adult with them.    

We will be sending home an 'Expression of Interest' note and would ask that you return to school by Friday 6th September to enable a decision to be made.                                                                                                    

ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL EXCURSIONS 2020:

The staff will look at Scope and Sequences for subject areas to align proposed future excursions closely to outcomes. Costs for transport and any incurred excursion fees will also be considered. We hope to have a proposed excursion structure available in Term 4.                              

MAINTENANCE AND FACILITIES PERSON:

St Patrick’s is currently seeking to employ a Maintenance and Facilities person to attend to our school grounds and other facilities. This person would be employed for 3 hours per week. Dates and times negotiable. Please apply via the Catholic Education Website, under Employment for a job description and online application. Alternatively please contact our Front Office for further information.

Our very own local author, Helen Castles will be visiting our school this Thursday 29th of August at 10am to talk to our students about her role as an author for her newly published book "Scoop McLaren".  Parents, grandparents and carers are more than welcome to attend the school to hear all about Helen's book. 

Helen will have copies of her book for sale and they are $14.99 each.  Order forms have previously been sent home but if you would like a signed copy then please send your money into the school with your order form and Helen will ensure you receive your personally signed copy.  

Last Wednesday we held our inter-school public speaking final with McAuley Catholic Central School Tumut. Special mention of thanks to our judges Cheryl Levien and Abb McAlister for adjudicating the morning, we really appreciated you giving up your time to assist with the judging.  The competition was tough and the standards were very high.  Congratulations to Sarah Scott who was awarded first place for Year 5 with her "Don't Try This" speech.  

Sarah will now compete at Cootamundra on Monday 9th of September and we all wish her the best of luck. 

Special mention to the following students who representated our school

Year 3 Hugh Ryan and Akacia Winchester (Akacia receiving the runner up award) 

Year 4 Jessica McDonnell and Juliet Pearce (Juliet receiving the runner up award) 

Year 5 Sadie Eccleston 

Year 6 Isaac Pearce and Lily McDonnell 

Week 4 - Term 3 

Kindergarten/Year 1: Andrew Cole - Working hard to improve neatness of his work

Year 1/2: Archie McDonnell - Showing great knowledge of place value in mathematics  

Year 3/4: Gracie Peterson - Making stronger connections with her number knowledge, skills and understanding 

Year 5/6: Sam Turck - An enthusiastic and motivational speech "Don't Try This" Just be yourself

Week 5 - Term 3 

Kindergarten/Year 1: Riley Smith - Writing lengthy, detailed and interesting writing

Year 1/2: Skye Somerville - Listening well and showing on task behaviour - always trying her best! 

Year 3/4: Sophie Graham - Writing a quality story called "The Jungle Protector"

Year 5/6: Addison Fairall - For presenting a fantastic speech and showing commitmet to all learning tasks

STUDENT OF THE MONTH AWARDS

Week 5 Term 3 

Congratulations to our Student of the Month Awards for Week 5.  This award is for learning excellence and for consistent effort to achieve at their best, cooperative/collaborative learning behaviours and displaying a positive learning attitude towards all tasks. 

Kindergarten - Savannah Manns

Year 1 - Emily Ryan 

Year 1 - Alexander Ryan

Year 2 - Nate Tozer 

Year 3 - Akacia Winchester

Year 4 - Jessica McDonnell 

Year 5 - Abby McDonnell 

Year 6 - Isaac Pearce 

Week 4 - Term 3 

RESPONSIBLE - Isaac Pearce, Abby McDonnell, Sarah Scott, Benny Bartlett, Montanna Manns 

RESPECT - Lily McDonnell, Addison Fairall, Max Graham, Isaac Pearce, Ella Nugent, Flynn Leane, Taite Johnson, Archie McDonnell 

Week 5 - Term 3 

RESPONSIBLE - Christyne Caleb, Charlotte McDonnell, Riley Smith, Isabella Boswell, Lachlan Hargreaves, Emily Ryan, Eliza Graham, Molly Lott, Tyler Manns, Dale Paton, Savannah Manns, Denver Blundell, Indi Cole, Jezanna Winchester

RESPECT - Riley Smith, Indi Cole

SAFE - Molly Lott 

Many happy returns to the following children who celebrated their birthdays recently.  

15 August - Lincoln Fallon and Sarah Scott 

23 August - Jessica McDonnell 

We hope you all had a wonderful birthday