Dear Parents,

Week 6 is upon us already and we are now ½ way through our final school term for the year. It is always amazing how quickly time flies once Term 4 comes around! While St Patrick’s continues to remain under Level 3 restrictions, we are starting to see some of the restrictions slowly easing for NSW schools. Please see the section below with the latest restriction updates. As from yesterday, Monday 8^th November, it is now a mandated Public Health Order that all staff, relief staff, visitors and volunteers that come onsite are fully vaccinated against COVID19. This also applies to all parents and helpers who assist in any way onsite such as canteen helpers, reading helpers or parent volunteers.

Special congratulations are in order for Akacia Winchester in Year 5, after she was announced the winner of the Year 5/6 Pens Against Poverty competition. Akacia’s entry entitled ‘Attitude Mystery‘ was selected from among hundreds of entries from Year 5/6 students across NSW and the ACT. Akacia was announced winner at an online award ceremony that her class participated in last Wednesday. Akacia was awarded with her certificate and book prize at last Friday’s class assembly. We are all extremely proud of Akacia and this great achievement.

Congratulations to our wonderful Year 5 students, who are currently delivering their 2022 School Captain leadership speeches to the students and staff. We have been extremely impressed with the effort and high quality of all the speeches so far. The final group will present their speeches tomorrow morning and from there staff and students will vote. School Captains will be announced at our annual Award Day. Thank you to Mrs Fairall for livestreaming the student speeches to enable parents and families to watch the presentations.

This Thursday is Remembrance Day.  Thank you to Mrs Reardon and Year 5/6 who have organsied a school Remembrance Day ceremony. Our School Captains will represent St Patrick’s at the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at ANZAC Grove. This event has been approved in line with COVID protocols as it is an outdoor event. We give thanks to all those who sacrificed their lives protecting and serving our nation.                                                                

Excitement is building at St Patrick’s with a handover date being given by CE for our new administration area. The handover date is set for this Friday 12^th November. The interior of the administration building has been completed and the exterior will be dependent on weather conditions this week. Mrs Fairall is looking forward to moving into her new space.

Best wishes are extended to past students of St Patrick’s who are sitting the first of their Year 12 HSC exams today. We wish them every success for the exams and their future endeavours.

Christine Baron

Principal

First Holy Communion

On Saturday afternoon 16 very special children made their First Holy Communion in St Patrick’s Church. Father George welcomed the children and their families and addressed the children as ‘little angels’. The children were so reverent and excited to receive the Eucharist.

We thank Father George for celebrating the Mass, the children for their thorough preparation, their very supportive parents and all those who contributed in any way to make this Sacrament such a special occasion.

We congratulate you on your First Holy Communion and pray that you will continue to feel God’s light, God’s warmth, and God’s love within you.

Altar Servers

In the coming weeks a new Altar Serving Roster will be sent out. Our First Holy Communion children are invited to be part of this special ministry and serve at Mass. If you would like to become an Altar Server, please complete the form given out during our FHC Preparation or send a note to Mrs Howe.

We will arrange a training session and place new servers on the roster with children who are experienced servers.

Socktober

St Patrick’s celebrated Catholic Mission Month, Socktober with lots of fun, enthusiasm and generosity. The children celebrated prayerful and thought provoking liturgies in their classrooms on Wednesday in preparation for their money raising activities on Friday.

Each class formed a line of coins and constructed a sock ball. A competition was held to see which ball would travel the furtherest.

A very long line of coins.

Mr Crane limbering up in readiness to kick off.

Akacia and Gracie carrying a very heavy bag of coins.

A huge $552.70 was raised to assist Catholic Mission in their quest to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in Thailand and around the world. 

A sincere thank you for your amazing generosity. We truly are an incredibly supportive and giving community.

Kate Howe

REC

St Patrick’s look forward to welcoming two prac students from CSU at Wagga. Under level 3 restrictions, student practicums are permitted. Miss Karleigh Bower will be completing her 15 day practicum with Mrs Carberry in Kindergarten and Miss Dempsey Elphick will be completing her 15 day practicum with Mrs Howe and Mrs Eccleston in Year 1/2.  It is a pleasure to welcome them both to complete practicums as part of the teaching degrees.

Dear Parents and Carers,

On behalf of the Community Council, I would like to invite you to our next meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 16 November at 6.15pm.

The purpose of the open meeting is to provide you with an opportunity to discuss areas relating to the school in an open setting, with Community Council members and staff. It is also an opportunity for the Council to provide you with updates on relevant areas including fundraising, uniform changes, and building and playground upgrades.

Due to COVID restrictions all attendees will need to be double vaccinated and will need to RSVP to the school before 12 November 2021.

In addition, we would appreciate you letting us know what you would like discussed at the meeting. That way, we can put together an agenda to keep us on track and on time. We want the meeting to be as productive and action focused as possible.

Please RSVP via email to the front office by Friday 12 November 2021. 

Thank you in advance and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening.

Kim Paton

St Patrick's Community Council

The 2022 Kindergarten Transition Program began in last Friday. The new Kindergarten students had a wonderful day, completing lots of fun activities and familarise themselves with our school environment. The Transition program will continue over the next few weeks.

KINDERGATEN TRANSITION DATES:

Session 2: Friday 12^th November-9.00-12.00pm

Session 3: Friday 19^th November-9.00-1.30pm

Session 4: Friday 26^th November 9.00-3.15pm

Children will need to bring Crunch and Sip plus recess for Sessions 1 and 2.

Children will need to bring Crunch and Sip, recess and lunch for Sessions 3 and 4.

Please make sure your child brings a hat and sport shoes for activities.

Teachers are busily completing assessment activities in readiness for Semester Two reports. The reports will be completed through the COMPASS portal and therefore will have a different set out to previous reports. Reports are due to go home on Wednesday 1^st December. Parent/Teacher meetings are set for Tuesday 7^th and Wednesday 8^th December.

If parents have downloaded the COMPASS App to their smartphones or desktop they will be able to view the reports through the App.  If you have not already downloaded the app we would suggest you do so as this will be our new platform for communication. Contact Jacki in the office is you need your username and password reset.  Its a very easy system and app to use once you have downloaded it. 

In Summary:

• Students to play and learn in cohorts. Continue to limit mingling of cohorts.
• Masks mandatory for all staff indoors. 
• Masks strongly encouraged for primary children but not enforced.
• Assemblies allowed onsite. Must be held outdoors and in cohorts
• Parent and Carers unable to enter school grounds unless requested by a staff member or to pick up a child that is unwell.
• Parents & Carers permitted onsite for reading support, canteen etc.  Proof of vaccination must be provided and check in using QR code.
• Windows and doors are to be kept open as much as possible.
• School sports allowed in cohorts.
• Inter-school sport allowed out of school hours.
• Graduations allowed. Vaccination requirements
• Orientations allowed in cohorts for enrolled 2022 students.

Banned Activities: 

• Singing, chanting, group repetition and choirs (except for HSC preparation)
• Instruments that rely on breath or require a mask to be removed to be played, as well as singing and chanting, are not permitted in Term 4 
• Emergency drills 
• School performances, productions, concerts
• international excursions 
• Student visits to aged care facilities
• Community events (fetes, grandparents day etc) 
• Playgroups
• School holiday programs (noting that vacation care programs on school sites may continue under current guidelines

CRICKET REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Local Cricket Clubs are taking registrations for the new cricket season.

There is something suitable for boys and girls aged 5 and up.

Cricket is a great way to be active and make new friends

Click on the link below to register with our local club

https://play.cricket.com.au/club/gundagai-district-cricket-association/6d42e1b3-86d8-eb11-a7ad-2818780da0cc

Catholic School Parents Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (CSPACG) and CECG are hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course for parents and carers of young people (12-18yrs).

Participants will learn how to assist a young person who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence-based action plan. This course is delivered by a training facilitator and is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

The 2 day training will take place on 1^st & 2^nd December from 8.30am-4pm at the St Mary’s Parish Administration Centre, Campbell St, Young.

Places are limited to 20 participants, so parents and carers are encouraged to register early at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/193148050017

Congratulations to our Week 4 and Week 5 Class Awards

Week 4 - 29th October 2021

Kindergarten: Parker Melksham for positive class participation and trying hard to improve written work

Year 1 / 2: Leila Gaskin for enthusiastic participation in all clas activities and being a thoughtful class member 

Year 3 / 4: Emmy Gaskin for her effort and concentration in Numeracy and Literacy

Year 5 / 6:Ollie Gailey for his increased effort and commitment to his learning tasks. Keep it up 

Week 5 - 5th November 2021

Kindergarten: Kaydee Smith for a positive attitude and class participation

Year 1 / 2: Lane Johnson for his super effort with reading and writing 

Year 3 / 4: Andrew Cole for improved spelling results in writing 

Year 5 / 6: Lilly Cotterill for a mature approach to her learning tasks. Keep going Lil!

Congratulations to our Week 5 Student of the Month and Principal Awards which were presented at our Friday afternoon classroom assemblies

Kindergarten - Lachlan Barton 

Year 1 - Zoe Paton 

Year 2 - Ollie Crowe 

Year 3 - Corby Rose 

Year 4 - Jack Ryan 

Year 5 - Gracie Peterson 

Year 6 - Ollie Gailey 

Principal's Awards - Week 5 

Remi Taylor, Zoe Morgan, Emmy Gaskin and Jezanna Winchester 

Congratulations to our WildCat Awards for Week 4 and Week 5

RESPONSIBLE: Anson Chew, Gracie Peterson, Harrison Barton 

RESPECT: Locky Eccleston x 2, Charlotte McDonnell, Lachlan Barton

SAFE:  Kingsley McDonnell 

Year 6 Radio Weekly News

Tune into "Sounds of the Mountains" radio station either FM96.3 or FM94.1 every Wednesday afternoon at 2.15pm to hear about up coming events, weekly awards or around the school news which is presented by our Yr 6 school leaders

Week 8 (24/11) - Juliet Pearce & Nick Little 

Week 9 (1/12) - Lilly Cotterill & Alec Bell-Magnone

Week 10 (8/12) - Jezanna Winchester & Jack Peterson

Thank you to all of our children and families for your continued support of our Parish.  We would ask that you please arrive at the Church by 5:45pm to allow time to get dressed. 

 13th November - Nate Tozer & Jack Peterson 

20th November - Harry Crowe, Tessa Crowe, Sophie Graham 

27th November - Juliet Pearce, Ellie McDonnell 

Thank you to our families who are ordering through our new online School24 Canteen ordering system. For those who have not yet downloaded the School24 App for our online ordering for Friday's canteen its very easy and less time consuming for our volunteer mums.   

Go to: www.school24.net.au OR on your mobile device iPhone/Android install the app from the store
Press the BLUE registration button to create your account.
Enter your unique school ID number to help us match your account with your school,
St Patricks Primary School- NSW: 25406963

If orders could please be ordered by Thursday evening (no later than 9pm) 

Roster: 

Friday 26th November:   El Williams &  Sam Johnson 

COOKIES: Kate Graham & Sam Johnson 

Friday 3rd December: VOLUNTEER NEEDED & Bec Gaskin 

COOKIES: Lisa Ryan & Michelle McDonnell 

Friday 10th December :  NO CANTEEN 

Only one birthday to celebrate since our last newsletter - Happy Birthday to Nick Little who had his birthday on 7th November 2021.  We hope you had a great day