NOVEMBER 21, 2024 NEWSLETTER

CHILD SAFETY STATEMENT

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Carers,

With talk building about the end of the school year and the fast approaching silly season, we are mindfully focused on maintaining our routines and learning structures for the next few weeks.  Students have been completing the last of their assessment tasks prior to the teachers preparing the end of year reports. 

Our year 6 students are excited to be starting their surfing lessons with Surfgroms.  I hope the weather and the waves are kind to them. 

The School Advisory Council AGM is being held on Tuesday December 3rd staring at 7.00pm.  

Please mark on your calendars our end of year Carols Night on Friday December 13th starting at 5.30pm.  Families are invited to bring a picnic tea. 

Olga Lyons

FROM THE RE LEADER - ELIZA DWYER

SCHOOL FEES

A reminder that school fees are to be finalised by the end of November.  Please contact Shae Smith to organise a periodic payment plan if your account cannot be settled in full.  The 2025 fee structure will be sent home in a letter in coming weeks. 

VOLUNTEERS FOR COMMITTEE POSITIONS

Fundraising is an important part of belonging to a school community.  The funds are used to compliment the acquisition of resources and to support activities that directly benefit your children. 

The introduction of Time in Lieu for teachers and the escalating cost of buses/fuel has had a huge impact on the cost of excursions and camps.  If the actual cost of teacher replacements and buses were passed onto parents, many parents would not be in a position to send their children on camps.  We value the benefit of camps and want these unique experiences to continue at St Patrick's. Fundraising is the only way we can subsidise these activities moving forward.

Of course, fundraising doesn't just happen!  Committees and events need key people to drive them.  The parents who have generously been instrumental in doing these roles in the past now have their children in the senior classes and will soon be leaving our school. We need parents from the junior classes to consider how they can make a major contribution to the school, while these parents are still here to mentor them.

Our previous calls for suitable volunteers to step forward have not been successful.  Therefore, we are offering a considerable discount from school fees for parents who are willing and able to take on the following roles. A role description of these roles will be available by emailing the principals - principal@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au

1. Parents and Friends President

2. Folk Festival Committee President

3. Folk Festival BBQ Site Manager

If there are a couple of parents who would like to share a role, the discount will be split between them. 

2025 YEAR LEVEL PARENT REPRESENTATIVES

We are looking for parents to nominate to be year level Parent Liaisons for each class. The role involves communicating information and coordinating class events or get togethers to build community.  If you would like to nominate for this role in your child's classroom please email the principal - principal@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au

SWIMMING LESSONS - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29

Our swimming lessons on Friday November 29 will involve safety awareness. All students are to bring clothing or pyjamas that they can swim in.

CDFPAY NEWS - NEW APP IN 2025!!!

CALLING ALL LIBRARY BOOKS

All library books need to be returned to the library by the end of November.  Please hunt around the house and send them back.  No borrowing will be happening in December.  

MINI VINNIES NEWS

PIRATE DAY - WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27

Our Pirate Dress Up Day is to support The Fred Hallow Foundation. Thirty years ago, The Fred Hollows Foundation began a global movement to end avoidable blindness. Olga received a letter from some Year 3 students asking if the school would support this foundation and of course we are very happy to do it.

FOODSHARE DRIVE - PLEASE HELP

SCHOOL TV - WELLBEING

"Confidence and motivation are two critical ingredients for young people's success. Supporting your child to help nurture these qualities allows them to believe in their abilities and navigate life's challenges with resilience and a positive outlook."

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

SCHOOL DATES - 2024

HOST A JAPANESE STUDENT

LIBRARY SHELVING

Thank you to the parents who have volunteered to assist in shelving borrowed books in our Library. You have been rostered on for a week but we only expect you to come in for a short time and later in the week is best.

Week of 25/11/2024 - Mick Pickett

Week of 02/12/2024 - Leearna Moloney

SPORTING SCHOOLS

Sporting Schools days for Term 4 are Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Next week are the last sessions for Sporting Schools for Term 4 are Tuesday 26th & Thursday 28th November.

To sign your child up for Sporting Schools use the Schoolzine App eForms.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Carols by the Bluestone

PFCS are hosting Carols by the Bluestone on Friday, December 6th, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The event will feature food vendors on-site, and all you need to do is bring a picnic rug and enjoy the Christmas carols performed by Mick Ferguson, PFCS classes, the PFCS & St Patrick’s choir groups, and other local artists.

For more information, visit our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/ATRSxuv1ihz6JX2P/. Be sure to click "Going" as we’ll be posting regular updates there.