AUG 31 2023 NEWSLETTER

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Carers,

Every 5 years, schools are required to conduct an External Review based on how effectively they have achieved their strategic plan and identify the strategic priorities going forward for school improvement.  On Monday and Tuesday we hosted a review panel who interviewed staff, students and parents about all aspects of the school.  Thank you to all those who gave up their time to participate.  The outcome was very positive and we now have 3 prioroties that will form the basis of our School Improvement Strategic Plan for the next 5 years. 

Please remember that from September 1st all students are to wear the school hat when outside.  Hats must be in good condition, if not, hats are available at the front office.  The new sports polo tops look great.  We aim to have all students wearing the sports polo on sports days by the end of 2024. 

Our year 5/6 students are heading to the Cave Hill Creek Adventure Camp next week.  Mr Fay and I will be going as well.  Lets hope the weather is kind to us.  

This Friday we have a whole school mass focusing on family and God's love. Parents are invited to join us at the church at 12.30pm (weather permitting).  If it is too wet to walk to the church we will hold mass in the open learning space.

Thank you in advance to the parents and staff who are working at the Father's Day Breakfast.  I look forward to seeing our dads.  Once breakfast is over the dads are welcome to visit classrooms or have a kick of the footy in the playground until bell time. 

Olga Lyons (Principal)

FROM THE RE LEADER - ELIZA DWYER

END OF YEAR DATES

As we move to the end of Term 3, I wanted to advise you of some important date changes for our school community so that you can plan ahead as needed. Please read the attached Warrnambool and District Principal Network Letter.

In summary: end of 2023 School Year key dates as follows

• The last day of school for students in 2023 will be Friday December 15. 
• Staff conclude on Monday December 18.  This is a staff meeting day and no student supervision is available.   

HANDS ON LEARNING (HoL) & SOCIAL INNOVATORS

On Tuesday 29th August our Year 5/6 HoL team and four of our Social Innovators ventured to Volcanic Produce. The aim was to help harvest produce which was then given to Food Share. The students worked as a team to harvest 12 tubs of vegetables and enjoyed participating in quality control. 

Here’s what our students had to say about their experience:

Reuben - At Volcanic Produce we picked vegetables for Food Share. My favourite part was picking the bok choy and seeing the electric fence that stops the rabbits from getting to the plants. A man named Ben cut the vegetables and gave them to us to get the slugs and damaged leaves off. 

Jensen - We went to Volcanic Produce and helped pick some food for Food Share. My favourite part was playing with the dog. The day was good fun!

Eli - At Volcanic Produce we picked cabbages, lettuce, wombok and bok choy for Food Share. There was a tiny dog named Winny at the gardens.

Ben - My favourite part was the photo we took with everything we picked for Food Share. 

Maeve - The people that own Volcanic Produce are Ben and Derek. My favourite thing was picking the vegetables and eating them. The reason we were there was to pick vegetables for people in need. 

5/6 NEWS

Year 5/6, as part of their music and drama program, have been rehearsing a musical play called ‘Star Warts - The Umpire Strikes Back'. 

'Star Warts’, features a collection of galactic characters on a space adventure.

It's a hilarious parody of ‘Star Wars’, the cast includes Daft Ada and Luke Warmwater who live on Junction 51, their quiet space station. They soon learn of the Evil Umpire and his dark desire to conquer the universe when Princess Nebula’s ship crashes into them.  They follow the Princess in her rebellion and are accompanied by an array of amusingly witty characters, including Zak Solo and Nigel the Nookie, in their quest to defeat the Evil Umpire’s attempt to strike back and control the universe.

The ‘spacey’ set, starry backdrop, costumes, lighting, sound effects and singing and dancing all add to the overall enjoyment of this production.

This play will be performed in the later weeks of Term 4. Date to be confirmed. The performance will be during school hours and parents are welcome to attend.

May the Sauce Be With You….!

Pictured is Spencer Bant who plays the part of ‘Dr  Woo’ in the play ‘Star Warts - the Umpire Strikes Back’

ASSEMBLY - OPEN LEARNING SPACE

Due to the success of our last school assembly, all future fortnightly school assemblies will now be held in our new open learning space.

Our next assembly is this Friday, September 1. Please enter via the front of the school.

PE NEWS

Year 3 / 4  Winter Sports Carnival - Thursday 7 September, 2023                     The Garden’s Oval Port Fairy

Next Thursday, Year 3/4 students will be participating in a day of sports (Footy, Netball and Soccer) against schools from our Moyne School’s Sport’s Network.  Students will all participate in a minimum of 5 matches

Year 3/4 parents will be emailed information, team lists and a fixture for the day's events.  

Parents, grandparents and friends are all encouraged to come along and help support our students in their first interschool team experience representing St Patrick’s.

Games will begin at 10am and the day will conclude around 2:30pm.

FOLKIE CAMPERS

Sadly St Pat's will no longer have camping in the school grounds over the Folkie weekend. After looking at the costs and income figures and the lack of volunteers, in consulation with the SAC and Olga Lyons, it has been decided that it is no long viable to continue to provide camping here at the school. The camping has been an amazing fundraiser for the school for many years and we would like to thank all the volunteers that have helped make it happen.

We are hoping that we will now have more volunteers for our Folkie BBQ in the years to come.

UNIFORM NEWS - SPORT POLO TOP & HATS

HOUSE GROUP/SPORTS TOPS

Our new house group/sports polo tops are available to purchase on CDFpay!! The price of the top is $25. This polo top is only to be worn with the sports uniform. All 2024 students will be expected to have a house group/sports polo top by the end of next year.

SCHOOL HATS - FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 

All students will need to wear their St Patrick's School hat from 1st September. Parents, please check that your child's hat is not faded or torn/shabby. If your child needs a new hat, they can be purchased via CDFpay or from the office for $25.

SPORTING SCHOOLS

Sporting Schools for Term 3 has finished. It will recommence next term.

MISMATCH CLOTHES DAY

GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY

FROM THE OFFICE - SCHOOL FEE PAYMENTS

Just a reminder that we are nearly three quarters of the way through the year!!  Our governing body is looking at our fee collection and will be asking questions about any fees that haven't either been paid, have a payment plan or signed paperwork, very soon.  It is a requirement by DOBCEL that all school fees are paid by the end of the year. If you haven't set up a payment plan yet or signed paperwork stating how you intend to pay, please contact the office ASAP.
If you need any assistance or have any questions please contact Olga or Bec, on Monday or Thursdays 9-3, or send an email to rlawlor@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au 

P & F NEWS

Sushi Day yesterday was well supported and we would likle to thank Ruth Everitt and Sioban Murnane for organising this event and to the parents who came along and help with the distribution.

Father's Day Breakfast is tomorrow from 8am-9am. We thank Jo Hamilton, Kristen Sheehan and Kristee Hayes who have been involved in the set up and organisation of the breakfast and to all the other parent who have volunteered with cooking and cleaning. We wish all dads a wonderful Father's Day on Sunday.

COMMUNITY NEWS

MOTHERS WHO PRAY FOR THEIR CHILDREN

This prayer group for mothers is held each Friday at the Infant Jesus Church in Koroit at 10.45am.  All are welcome!