A BIG WEEK AHEAD!

It is quite scary how quickly this term is going as the end of next week will see the halfway point of Term 2. Every year during the fifth week of the second term, the Catholic Schools Office celebrates Catholic Schools Week and the theme for this year is: Our Hope Filled Future. This theme is an ideal match on what we are achieving here at St Patrick's Primary as all of our students are great ambassadors for our school and the potential that they have is mind boggling! I wouldn't be surprised if a large number of our students in the future will achieve outstanding success in their chosen field.

But back to the present, there are a number of events that the students will be taking part in during this upcoming week. On Wednesday, our K-2 choir will be performing at the Armidale Eisteddfod. On the following day, our Year 3-6 choir will be performing and then celebrating with other schools in the Armidale Deanery the Catholic Schools Week Mass at the cathedral commencing at 11am. Some of our students will be reading some readings as well as prayers of the faithful during this mass. On Friday, the school will be hosting a House Challenge Day where the Blue and Red House will be resuming their rivalry in a number of challenges. We will be also having a classroom award ceremony as well if the weather holds out a picnic lunch on the green (either on the middle oval or top oval). Everyone is definitely welcome to join us on this day. A timetable of the day is included below.

Thank you to the parents who replied to the survey in regards to whether St Patrick's should be using facebook to enhance our communication and marketing. It looks like we are going to begin using facebook in the very near future but we need to iron out a few technicalities to ensure all members of our school community privacy is protected with various postings that we will be using. More information will be sent out soon.

Also as you may have been aware we have recently been advertising our Kindergarten Open Morning that will be happening later this term. We have been using different formats with our advertising in the hope to improve our overall image. When we had our school photos earlier this term, the photographers spent some time after the official class, individual and family portraits were taken, going around the school to take some promotional snaps and they look absolutely fantastic. Below is an advertisement that will be placed in the Advocate very soon. I know I am a bit biased but I think it looks absolutely fantastic. Below is a preview of our promotion flyer.

Before I finish off my section, there is one more piece of exciting news. Our school will be having a two page spread in a very popular lifestyle magazine. We will be appearing in it's Spring Edition. I will keep you updated when we know more.

UNIFORM FOR NEXT WEEK

Please note the uniform changes next week:

Wednesday -Full Winter Uniform (tie, black school shoes) for the Eisteddfod in Armidale (K-2 students)

Thursday - Full Winter Uniform (tie, black school shoes) for the Eisteddfod and Catholic Schools Week Mass in Armidale (3-6 students)

Friday - Sports Uniform or Red Clothing (Red House students) or Blue Clothing (Blue House students)

NAPLAN

Well done to our Year 3 & Year 5 students who have completed NAPLAN for 2022.

Thank you children for your excellent application to NAPLAN. We look forward to receiving the results in late August.

OPEN MORNING for 2023 Kindergarten Students - 23rd June 9:30am-11am

Our open morning will be held on Thursday June 23rd from 9:30am - 11am.

The Open Morning is an opportunity for 2023 parents the opportunity to listen to what St Patrick's offers its students & families. Parents will be able to speak with the staff, have a guided tour of the school and enjoy morning tea. The Transition students are invited to join in with the current Kindergarten class for a morning of activities.

If you know of anyone with a child ready to start school next year, or anyone who would like to have a look at our school and what we have to offer, please invite them along for our Open Morning.

LET'S GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN 2023

Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2023.

Our school open morning for Kindergarten will be Thursday 23rd June 2022.

Please contact the school for an enrolment package - 67772328 or email

spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

UPCOMING CHANGES TO OUR SCHOOL FEE PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

Over the next few weeks our school will be transitioning to a new finance system. The change will include new ways in which you can make payments to the school which include Bpay, CompassPay and EFTPOS. Current direct debit options will still be available for a limited time. Our current school bank account will be closing and therefore we will be asking parents to make payments to the school via one of these new functionalities.

Shortly you will receive your new Fee Statement and included on the Statement will be your new Bpay payment details. You can easily set up regular payments from your bank account to the new school bpay account.

Via the Compass App, you can also make payments for School Fees and Events. Please contact the School if you require assistance with the Compass App.

Our School will also have EFTPOS facilities available. This means you will be able to make payments or purchases over the counter at the School rather than relying on cash.

THE 38TH ARMIDALE EISTEDDFOD 2022

We wish both our Infants and Primary Choirs all of the best for next week as they will be performing at the Armidale Eisteddfod. Our Infants choir have been scheduled to perform at the NEGS Multipurpose Centre on Wednesday 25th May at 9.45am. The 3-6 Primary Choir have been timetabled for Thursday, May 26th at the same venue. The choir will perform at 10.15am and then head straight to the cathedral for the Catholic Schools Week Deanery Mass.

Also Year 3-4 and Year 5-6 have been allocated to perform their various recorder items on Wednesday 8th June at 9.00am at the Old Teacher's College. This clashes with our visit to St Joseph's Primary, Uralla for our Year 6 and 4 students to participate in the Real Talk program as well as the rest of Years 2, 3 and 5 students will participating in a number of challenges against the St Joseph's students. Again we have requested a change. As soon as dates and times have been finalised, I will let everyone know.

Audience Fees:

Adult $5.00 for a single session or $10.00 for the day.

Concession $3.00 single session or $6.00 for a day ticket.

www.armidale-eisteddfod.org.au

Pie & Lamington Drive

Thank you for the amazing response to the Pie Drive.

Order pickup: tomorrow Friday 20th May 2022.

National Walk Safely to School Day

National Walk Safely to School Day is tomorrow Friday 20th May. Now in it's 23rd year, the annual campaign encourages all primary school children, their parents and carers to walk safely and regularly to school. The event seeks to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.

Walking regularly is the best exercise because you can build it into your daily routine.

School Assembly

We are planning to have our first school assembly for this term on Friday 27th May at our House Challenge Day. All parents/grandparents are invited to join us for this event.

Jelly Bean Cup