Dear Parents,

Thank you to all our beautiful mums, grandmums, aunties and friends (dads and grandads as well) that came along to last Friday’s Mother’s Day and Catholic Schools Week celebrations. It was so exciting to be able to open our classrooms and welcome back family members for a visit. Thank you to staff for the delicious morning tea that was enjoyed by all who attended. We have had some lovely feedback from our families with the joy of being able to visit classrooms once again. We hope all our special ladies were very spoilt on Sunday.

As overseas news of the terrible toll the COVID pandemic continues to unleash on other countries, we thank God that we have been largely fortunate to be able to control the spread of COVID in Australia. We are however deeply aware of the devastation COVID is currently causing in India and the stress and anxiety this must be causing our families that have relatives in India. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of all families affected by the COVID pandemic. It is also a pertinent reminder to all families that if your child/ren are unwell, please keep them at home to help keep our school and families safe. COVID testing is still required for staff and students presenting with flu like symptoms.

The NAPLAN assessment program for 2021 began today for our Year 3 and 5 students. We wish them well as they undertake their online NAPLAN assessment throughout the course of this week. Each assessment last for approximately 40-45mins and will be conducted in the morning sessions. Please ensure your child/ren have a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast each day for optimal success.

Year 3 and 5 will follow the following schedule……………

Tuesday-Writing

Wednesday-Reading

Thursday-Conventions of Language

Friday-Numeracy.

Reconciliation classes also begin this afternoon with the first lesson being held at St Patrick’s Hall from 3.30pm. We have 16 students making their first Reconciliation and know they are very excited as they begin their sacramental journey. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated on Wednesday 26^th May. Students are welcome to walk from school to Tuesday Reconciliation lessons with Mrs Howe but we ask parents to please contact the school to give permission first.

It is certainly exciting to see our new administration area beginning to really take shape. All work is on track for completion by the end of Term 2 or early Term 3.

Best wishes for a wonderful week ahead,

Christine Baron

Principal

Reconciliation Program

This week the children in Year 3 begin their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Reconciliation is the second sacrament on our children’s faith journey. Through this program the children learn about making loving choices that help us to follow Jesus’ footsteps. When we make poor choices, we turn away from Jesus and sin. If we are sorry for our mistakes, we will be forgiven.

We pray for the following children as they embark on their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – Denver Blundell, Christyne Calub, Andrew Cole, Emma Ferguson, Joseph Gailey, Taite Johnson, Archie McDonnell, Harry Peterson, Corby Rose, Alexander Ryan, Riley Smith, Skye Somerville, Joseph Murphy, Jackson Armour and Nicholas Quine.

Important dates to remember:

Tuesday 11^th May – Lesson 1- 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm in Parish Meeting Room

Saturday 15^th May – Lesson 2- 4:45 pm – 5:50 pm and Commitment Mass at 6pm where children will be presented to the Parish.

Tuesday 18^th May – Lesson 3 - 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Saturday 22^nd May – Lesson 4 - 4:45 pm – 5:50 pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation – 26^th May at 9:30 am

*** Please remember only the children will attend Tuesday’s lesson, but will be accompanied by a Parent on Saturdays.

*** Mass is celebrated at 6pm straight after the lesson.

Mother’s Day

Last Friday we celebrated Mother’s Day in a special way at St Patrick’s. Our celebrations began with visits to the classrooms, where the students very proudly shared their achievements with family members. We then entertained our Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts and significant women in our lives with a delicious morning tea supplied by the Staff. Thank you, Year 5/6 and Mrs. Wilson for leading us in a lovely Mother’s Day Mass. It was remarkable to have so many of our Mothers, Grandmother’s and special ladies here to celebrate with us. It was lovely to have so many special people visiting our School on Friday.

Project Compassion

Wow, what a generous community we have here at St Patrick’s School. We have collected and counted the Project Compassion Boxes that were returned to school. An amazing amount of $524.35 was raised to assist Catholic Mission and the incredible work they do around the world. A huge thank you to all who supported Project Compassion, however big or small. Your efforts have made life so much better for many, many people.

If you still have your Project Compassion box at home, it is not too late to return it.

Brisbane Curriculum

Last Wednesday and Thursday the Staff worked with Bernadette Scott and Andrea Muller who are part of the Canberra Goulburn Religious Education Team, on programming using the Brisbane Curriculum. The focus on the day was to plan Inquiry based programs to stimulate the children’s wondering and deep understanding in Religion. We will continue to develop our learning in the teaching of RE. I would like to thank all our teachers for their dedication to their professional development and the long hours they have spent working through this process.

Kate Howe REC

Community Council Report

The Community Council (CC) met last week and discussed many exciting initiatives for the school.

The canteen is now operating out of the hall and Alicia Hargreaves has been working with Simone Jones to set up a system to run it efficiently. Alicia has recruited some new parents to help in the canteen and grandparents can now re-join the team. Thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to work in the canteen and cook cookies for this term. We do so well for a small school to fill the roster each week! The meat raffle has also started, thank you Tim Ryan for co-ordinating this.

Uniforms will now be ordered online. Kim Paton has worked with Bec Gaskin and Catholic Education to make this happen. This will increase efficiency, track orders and assist with stocktake. Further communication and directions for parents will be sent out soon.

We have successfully established a fundraising working group! Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to be a part of the group and to Anne Saunderson for offering to help as a member of staff. This will be a great little group to work with! Some parents hesitated at the commitment that might be involved however the purpose of the group is for many hands to make light work, and to have a greater diversity of parents to support each other and link with different members of the community. Rest assured we are aware that parents are busy, and time is precious for everyone. Sam Johnson has kindly offered to lead the group and has organised a meeting on Friday May 21^st to discuss ideas and a strategy. Another date for your diary is the annual school street stall on August 26^th, 27^th and 28^th. Now might be a good time to start growing some vegetable seedlings to sell at the stall. And watch this space for the announcement of our annual trivia night!

The playground improvements are continuing. The new soft fall area is required to be completed by August 30^th, so this is likely to be done in the July school holidays. As part of the government grant, we are also required to install lights and a sound system, and to develop a cultural space by the end of September. Furthermore, the CC is looking at ideas to improve the playground area that faces First Avenue, however further funding might be required so it is project that the CC will work towards. Please let us know if you have any ideas for the design or use of this space.

The CC has linked with the Parish to organise a social night for Dad’s in May. The night will involve watching the football, meat pies for dinner and BYO esky. Michelle McDonnell is co-ordinating the night with the help of Pete Reardon. More details to come.

Finally, Michael Leane has resigned from the CC. Thanks goes to Michael for his contribution to the school during his time on the CC.

Kate Graham

Secretary, Community Council

We look forward to you joining us at the Gundagai Services Club on Thursday 24 May for the Biggest Morning Tea. Our Kindergarten and Year 1/2 classes will be singing at the morning tea and as usual we are very proud to support this very worthy cause. Please be at the club by 10.30 am.

* Mortimer Shield  - Tackle Skills this Thursday (13th May) with James Smart for our Yr 5 / 6 boys. Please bring along all protective gear for training.  Thank you to Mick Eccleston and Steve Magnone for assisting with the team on game day. 

* Canberra Goulburn Cross Country - We would like to wish Taite Johnson and Charlie Hindmarsh all the best for their representation in the Western Region team at Stromlo on 25th of May 

* Athletics - 1st of June - we have set our date for this year's athletics carnival which will be on Tuesday 1st of June.  If you are able to help on the day with the running of the carnival could you please contact the front office. More details regarding the carnivl will be sent out shortly

Congratulations to our Week 2 and Week 3 Wildcat Award recipients 

Week 2 - Term 2 

RESPONSIBLE  - Lachlan Barton, Kingsley McDonnell, Harry Campbell, Lilly Ferguson, Fletcher Smith, Drue Summers, Denver Manns, Gracie Peterson 

RESPECT - Taite Johnson, Sarah Gailey, Archie Peterson, Kaydee Smith, Remi Taylor, James Reardon

SAFE - Harrison Barton, Parker Melksham 

Week 3 - Term 2 

RESPONSIBLE - Zoe Paton 

RESPECT -  Leila Gaskin, Dale Paton, Lane Johnson, Maeve Ryan, Indi Cole, Zoe Paton

SAFE - Hugh Ryan, Jasper Rui 

Congratulations to our Week 2 and Week 3 Class Awards 

Week 2 - Term 2

Kindergarten - Parker Melksham for his amazing work 

Year 1 / 2 - Mackenzie Little for trying very hard with her writing 

Year 3 / 4 - AB Ryan for his consistent, neat handwriting and presentation of school work

Year 5 / 6 - Harrison Crowe for his enthusiastic participation in Leadership initiatives 

Week 3 - Term 2

Kindergarten - Lilly Ferguson for great writing and listening to sounds 

Year 1 / 2 - Molly Lott for fast and accurate addition facts 

Year 3 / 4 - Amy Cotterill for her engagement and participation in Maths lessons 

Year 5 / 6 - Ellie McDonnell for asking questions to clarify her learning - Keep this going