Mrs Burton 

Term 4 Welcome back

Welcome back to Term 4!

We welcome two new families to our school this term. Nathaniel Morris in Kindergarten and Benson Smith in 3/4, welcome to St Patrick's.

Please see the important dates for Term 4 listed on the What's On page in the newsletter.

Transition

At the very end of last term, we received good news regarding our ability to have a modified transition program.  A letter went home to 2021 Kinder families inviting them to four Friday's in November for our transition program -  6th, 13th, 20th & 27th November. We look forward to having our 2021 Kindergarten children come to 'big school'.

School Masses Resume Term 4

Monsignor has invited the school to attend Mass on the following Fridays at 11:30am

Friday -16th October

Friday - 30th October

Friday - 20th November

Friday - 11th December

Parents are able to attend Mass with the school. Parents are asked to sit in the back pews sitting 1.5m away from other adults and students. All attendees are aske to follow the following COVID -19 requirements. 

The Covid-19 requirements  for Mass are -

All attendees must sign the sign on sheet when entering the church.

All adults must sit 1.5 m apart.

There is to be no singing, no altar servers, no offertory, no sign of the peace.

School Uniform

The children look great in their Summer Uniforms. Please support the staff in ensuring your child/children are fully dressed in their correct uniform each day.  This includes the correct hat, shorts, socks and black shoes.

St Patrick's has always had high expectations around the school uniform and it is an expectation that everyone wears the uniform with pride. The expectation is the correct uniform is worn everyday. 

Water Bottles

A number of students are coming to school without a water bottle.  As the weather is starting to warm up please make sure you remind your child to pack their drink bottle each morning. Also due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there are no bubblers available for drinking from only to refill water bottles.

Manners Matter

Good manners matter!

We expect our children to 

• Reach our full learning potential in a safe and supportive environment (Work hard)
• Be treated with respect, courtesy and kindness (Be kind)
• Be an active part of, and contribute positively to our community (Join in).

Current Covid 19 Protocols

The following restrictions are still in place at the school level:

• Everyone needs to sanitise their hands on entry to school
• All visitors including parents must report to the office
• Parents are not to enter school grounds at drop off or pick up times and must social distance when waiting outside the school gates. Please avoid close contact with others.
• Students with mild flu-like symptoms must have a COVID 19 test before returning to school. Parents must provide the school with evidence of a negative result.

There are still restrictions on large gatherings, but we will continue to work on ways to celebrate at the end of the year the successes of our students in a Covid-safe way.  

St Vincent de Paul - Armidale Diocese -Community Sleepout 2020 

On 23rd October Vinnies NSW will hold a virtual sleepout (on a couch, in a car or in the backyard) to raise funds to tackle homelessness and other crisis needs. Local monies raised will stay in the Armidale area.  

Families are invited to either participate (and gain sponsorship) or donate to this sleepout as a St Patrick's School Team, or as a parishioners as part of Parish team. 

Visit    https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-community-sleepout-armidale-2020/saints-mary-joseph-cathedral  to register or donate.

Can you donate a small amount to this cause which will provide a 'Fresh Start' to those needing help locally?

You can send any donations to the school office or visit the above address to donate. 

Please see the letter attached from the St Augustine’s Conference of St Vincent de Paul, Armidale.