JULY 13 2023 NEWSLETTER

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome Back for Term 3! It's great to see everyone back at school ready for a new term full of challenges and opportunities. I spoke to the children on Monday about Term 3 being the most important term of the year, much like the third quarter of a football match.  The learning the children do this term will strongly influence their end of year learning outcomes.  It is important that children attend school every day unless they are unwell.  Success will also be determined by the way the children engage in their learning.  It is important to keep in mind that..."Learning is Urgent!"

Congratulations to Naomi Harman and Abby Lee who have both announced that they will be taking maternity leave in 2024, with their babies due in January.  Anne Templeton will go on maternity leave in Term 4 this year.  I now get very nervous when female staff members comes into my office and asks if I've "got a minute to chat." Benson Steere is awaiting the birth of his third child and will take paternity leave at the appropriate time next month. It's all happening here at St. Patrick's. 

This term our 3/4 and 5/6 classes will be going on camp.  A new Wage Agreement for Teachers in Victorian Catholic Schools has been reached, which includes a defined limit to daily scheduled working hours and time in lieu for teachers who attend extra activities and go on school camps.  While we are still probelm solving how this will look, it may in future be necessary to allocate a rest day for teachers and students following a camp and increase camp fees to cover teacher replacement costs. 

Our second and final 2023 Working Bee is happening next weekend on July 22.  If you volunteered for this event please save the date or let the office know if you are unable to attend. If  you haven't registered, please register at the office. More information is below. 

Olga Lyons 

SYLVIE SUNSHINE TEAM MARATHON

Good luck to all those fit and courageous "Sylvie Sunshine Team" members who are taking part in the Melbourne Marathon this coming weekend to raise funds for the "We've got You" foundation. Your dedication to your training and this wonderful cause has been inspirational. Thank you to Emma and Steve Watty for rallying such a great community spirit to support families who have lost a loved one. You are truly amazing. We'll be thinking of you all. 

FROM THE RE LEADER - ELIZA DWYER

CLASS NEWS 34CF

CLASS NEWS 1/2D

JAPAN HERE I COME!

This week Jacob Murray is flying off to Japan for his 10 day adventure.  He will be hosted by two schools and host families while he explores the Japanese culture and develops his Japanese language skills.  His suitcase is loaded up with Australiana gifts for the students in his classes and host families.  We wish Jacob well for this adventure and look forward to hearing about it when he returns.  

NAIDOC WEEK

In the last week of term 2, local indigenous artist Amelia Bell ran a workshop with the junior students as part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations. Students were introduced to local Gunditjmara symbols and Amelia showed the students how to use these symbols to create their own special indigenous art piece.Each student created a piece based around the theme 'My Place.' The picture had to tell a story about the special places and activities and animals they like to see and do here in Port Fairy.

TERM 3 WORKING BEE

Our Term 3 Working Bee is on Saturday July 22nd from 9.00am to 12.00pm.  This will be our final working bee for the year.  Our focus will be on the gardens at the front of the school.  We want to weed, trim the grasses and apply mulch to give our school a fresher look.  We also want to fill trenches and pot holes on the ovals with soil so that the children stay safe. 

Please bring gardening gloves, shovels, wheelbarrows and rakes!

BOOK WEEK IS COMING! August 19 - 25

Book Week will be celebrated in Week 7 of Term 3. The Theme is READ GROW INSPIRE! Children can dress up as a book character or something related to the theme on Friday August 25.

BOOK FAIR

Our annual Scholastic Book Fair will be open for business in week 3. The children will be visiting the fair Monday & Tuesday to browse the books and we will be open for sales on Wednesday July 26 to Friday July 28. Parents can attend to purchase books before and after school on these days. More information regarding this will be shared next week. The Book Fair raises funds to purchase quality books for our school library. 

SPORTING SCHOOLS

Sporting schools will begin again next week, Tuesday July 18. Sign up via the schoolzine app.  It will be Tuesday's and Wednesdays after school.

NON-Government School Census Collection

The Australian Government Department of Education (the department) would like to advise all staff,
parents and guardians that it will collect certain information about your school, its staff and student
body as part of the 2023 Non-Government School Census collection (the Census). Click on the link below for more information. This collection will occur on August 4th. 

COMMUNITY NEWS