Term 4 is upon us already and we have a busy calendar as we head towards the end of the 2020 school year. We especially wish our Year 6 students a happy and exciting term with the end of their Primary Schooling in sight.

Congratulations are extended to Jezanna Winchester on being announced as the winner of the 2020 Year 5/6 short stories in the Anglicare Pens Against Poverty writing competition. Jezanna’s entry title was selected from over 260 entries. St Patrick’s was also presented with the Regional and Rural Schools Award recognising the high number of quality entries from a regional school.

We continue to be regulated by NSW health and Catholic Education as we navigate the updated COVID restrictions for Term 4. While most restrictions remain in place, we are excited to announce that school excursions have been given the go ahead, under specific guidelines. Teachers are working to ensure class groups experience an excursion before the end of term.

We were also very pleased to resume our Little Learners Preschool program last Friday. Our ‘little learners’ were very excited to be returning to the program so capably run by Ms Tash Smith. This week the children will join our school for our Bookweek parade.

Everyone is looking forward to our Bookweek dress up and activities this Friday. While parents are still unable to visit our school grounds we have decided to take our parade out to the community. Once again, under specific guidelines, our ‘Curious Minds characters will leave school at 9:10am and head down Homer St, across Sheridan, up Kitchener and back to school via First Ave. Parents, grandparents and any family members are welcome to view the parade along any of those routes. We felt this was one way to include our families in a special school event.

Please note the key dates for Term 4 activities have been put on our website. We are still unsure how our end of year functions will operate. We will keep parents informed as we draw closer to the end of term but we are hoping to be able to celebrate our Annual Award Day and Year 6 Graduation Mass with our families.

Thank you to our Community Council members who have worked hard to put together our Street Stall over three days. A COVID safety plan has been submitted to enable this event to take place.

Wishing everyone a happy week ahead.

Christine Baron

Welcome back to Term 4. We hope you had a well-earned rest and had the opportunity to enjoy some special family time. The term ahead looks extremely busy with many events planned.

First Holy Communion

This week eight children will commence their preparation to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Our prayers are with Amy Cotterill, Tessa Crowe, Emmy Gaskin, Harvey Graham, Darby Jones, Riley Lott, Charlotte McDonnell and Nate Tozer as they continue their faith journey.

Lesson Timetable

Tuesday 20^th Oct – 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Saturday 24^th Oct – 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm followed by 6 pm Mass

Tuesday 27^th Oct – 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Saturday 1^st 2Nov – 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm followed by 6 pm Mass

Wednesday 4^th Nov – Retreat Day 9:00 am – 3:15 pm

Saturday 7^th Nov – First Holy Communion 6pm Mass

Class Reconciliation

This term each class will be visited by Father George and Father Namora for the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The class will hold a prayer service in their own classroom before each child having the chance to speak privately with Father. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament that can be celebrated throughout a person’s life. Times are advertised in the Church Bulletin for parishioners.

We thank Father George and Father Namora for providing the opportunity for our children to go to Reconciliation during school time.

October – Month of the Rosary

Traditionally the Catholic Church has dedicated the month of October to the Our Lady of the Rosary. October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary because we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary each year on October 7.

The Rosary has been a prayer recited by Catholics for centuries. The rosary is an invitation to experience the grace of Mary’s spiritual motherhood as she leads us to her Son, Jesus. Remember, every time you pray the rosary you are given the privilege and honour of pronouncing the holy name of Jesus more than 50 times.

The Rosary – A prayer for all and in all situations of life.

2020 Marian Procession

Due to COVID restrictions, the 2020 Marian Procession will take place online. Led by our ethnic communities, the event is an opportunity to pray the Rosary together as a community.

We encourage participants to gather online in hubs with members of their families, local parishes, friends, or just individually to pray the Rosary during the week leading up to the celebration of the live-streamed Multicultural Mass Sunday 25 October.

Find out more information and register for notifications at https://hozana.org/en/community/9352-marian-procession

Mission Month

Pope Francis – World Mission Day Message 2020 

‘The call to follow Jesus as told to us through the Gospel sends us everywhere. Through our example of faith in Jesus and the telling of his story, God can be seen in us.

Through us God’s love touches and changes hearts, minds, bodies, societies and people in every place and time.’

Cambodia is the focus of Catholic Mission in 2020.

This year, students across Australia are encouraged to not only learn about Cambodia and the work of the Church there, but to do something positive to assist these people through the fundraising, advocacy and prayers.

Catholic Mission is supporting The Arrupe Centre in Cambodia which provides children and youth with shelter, food and healthcare, education and career opportunities to help empower them and build their future extraordinary for Mission.

The children will be supporting Catholic Mission through their learning and by donating their coins to our school fundraising cylinder.

Kate Howe

REC

This Friday will be our Book Parade and the theme for this year's dress up is "Curious Creatures & Mysterious Minds" or the children can come dressed up in their favourite book character.  We are still unable to have parents and grandparents visit the school which is usually one of our big events on the calendar but unfortunately this year with Covid and our restrictions we are unable to hold our morning tea book parade like previous years.   However, the students and teachers will be parading their costumes down Sheridan Street and leaving St Patrick's school grounds at 9.10am so for any family wishing to check out the children's imagination and costumes they will be leaving right on 9.10 heading down Homer Street, Sheridan Street, up Kitchener Street and back to the school via First Avenue. 

The students will also be put into groups for our curious creatures & mysterious minds Trivia which is always alot of fun. There will be lunch time activities all week in the library during second lunch. 

Just a reminder to all of our families that our annual Street Stall is on this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Please ensure you return your sold tickets and money to the office this week.  We are also putting out a call to parents to drop off any cooking to the street stall on Thursday morning. Simone Jones and Kate Graham will be there setting up ready to sell lots of exciting gifts, crafts, potted plants and lots more.  

POSITION VACANT - Canteen Coordinator 

Our school community would like to extend our greatest thanks and appreciation to Leanne McDonnell who has decided to step down as our school canteen coordinator after 5 years in the role. Leanne has provided our teachers and students with healthy, nutritious and economically priced food over her time as canteen coordinator.  Leanne will be still hanging around this term but we are now seeking a canteen coordinator to take over the operation of our school canteen.  

If you would be interested in this role as our school canteen coordinator we would ask that you contact the school to express your interest.  Leanne will be available all term to step through the process and provide you with all the tools of how to run the canteen weekly.  Should you have any questions you would like to ask Leanne please email the office or contact Leanne who would be more than happy to answer any questions regarding the running of the canteen. 

Tuckshop Job Description: 

* Ordering all products eg Wedges, ice creams, pizzas, chicken burger patties

* Liase with companies and representatives regarding products available 

* Checking stock and rotating (if required)

* Cleaning canteen at the beginning of each term and checking on supplies 

* Communicate with Principal ideas on menu items or special canteen days

* Preparing Roster and liaising with families their availiable days/dates 

* Pricing items for menu 

The Hospitality Hosts, Maggie, Finlay and Will, are excited to announce the commencement of the ‘Top Up Breakfast Club’.

This will commence THIS Thursday from 8.30-8.55am and operate each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Top Up Breakfast Club is ideally for students who have to start their day early and have to catch early buses. It is hoped that these students will be able to be ‘topped up’ so they can start learning on a full tummy.

A huge thank you to Gundagai IGA Foodworks for supporting this program.

Synergy Healthworks is currently running kids pilates every Thursday from 3.30pm, 30  minute classes which are instructed by fully qualified physiotherapists and are health fund rebatable.  These classes are for core stability and balance.  Strictly limited to 10 participants per class.  There is currently 3 spaces left for Term 4.  Bookings are essential. Call Synergy Healthworks on 6921 3390 to book. 

Applications for Student Travel in 2021 have opened.  Students who require a travel pass for 2021 need to apply online and have the application submitted before 31 December 2020.  See attached flyer for more information. 

During our last assembly for Term 3 we held our Student of the Month Awards for Week 10.  Congratulations to our students who received this award. 

Kindergarten - Mackenzie Little 

Year 1 - Molly Lott 

Year 2 - Essie Norden 

Year 3 - Jack Ryan 

Year 4 - Sophie Graham 

Year 5 - Jack Peterson 

Year 6 - Maggie Peterson 

Week 1 - Term 4 

Kindergarten/Year 1 - Jasper Zhifeng for his excellent spelling skills 

Year 2 - Christyne Calub for her wonderful manners and positivity towards her learning

Year 3/4 - Sophie Graham for her fluent and expressive reading 

Year 5/6 - Locky Eccleston for his quick and accurate percentage calculations 

Well done to our Week 10 Term 3 and Week 1 Term 4 WildCat Awards.  

Week 10 Term 3 2020

RESPONSIBLE - Essie Norden, Addison Fairall, Abby McDonnell 

RESPECT - Christyne Calub, Akacia Winchester, Jess McDonnell & Maggie Peterson 

SAFE - James Reardon

Thank you once again to all of our wonderful canteen mums who continually offer our students the best lunches on a Friday.  Your time given to help run the canteen smoothly on a Friday is much appreciated. 

Roster for the next few weeks: 

Friday 23rd October - Renee Lindley & Sam Johnson 

Friday 30th October - Michelle McDonnell & Simone Jones

Friday 6th November - Alicia Hargreaves & Madeline Ryan 

Happy Birthday to the following students who have celebrated a birthday recently.  We hope you all had a wonderful day filled with lots of love and laughter

24th September - Lachlan Hargreaves 

5th October - Charlie Hindmarsh 

12th October - Conor Cotterill 

13th October - Riley Smith 

16th October - Hugh Ryan