It's great to be back for a big year ahead!

Welcome back everyone! It is with immense enthusiasm that I welcome each and every one of you to the start of a brand-new school year. Whether you are a returning member of our school family or joining us for the first time, I am delighted to have you here as part of our vibrant and supportive community.

A new school year represents a fresh start and endless opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. Together, we will embark on a journey that fosters curiosity, nurtures talents, and builds the foundation for lifelong success. Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every student can thrive.

Education is a collaborative effort, and the partnership between school, families, and the wider community is essential. Your involvement—whether through attending events, volunteering, or staying actively engaged in your child’s education—makes a profound difference. Together, we can create meaningful experiences and foster a sense of belonging for everyone.

This year is filled with promise and excitement as we roll out innovative programs, enriching extracurricular activities, and opportunities to celebrate our students' achievements. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the sports field, or through creative pursuits, there will be countless ways for students to shine and grow.

All of the students have had a fantastic beginning to the academic year. Earlier this week we dedicated some time to discussing ways in which each individual can contribute towards making St Patrick's Primary the top school in not only in the New England region but in NSW! Our conversation revolved around the importance of maintaining high standards in behaviour, adhering to the school uniform policy, and giving our utmost effort in class to reach our full potential. Additionally, we emphasised the significance of allowing our teachers to fulfill their role of providing quality education.

The staff expresses their gratitude for your support in upholding these standards throughout our school community. We appreciate your efforts in ensuring that all children attend school daily in their complete St Patrick's school uniform and that good manners are consistently reinforced at home.

Finally, I would like to welcome Thibaud who had his first day at St Patrick's earlier this week. Thibaud is in Year 3 and has joined us from Walcha Central School. He has already settled into his classroom routines very smoothly and I know he will definitely enjoy his time with us.

Kindergarten's First Day Today!

Today marked a significant milestone for a special group of our new students as Alistair, Archie, Cohen, Daisy, Dusty, Finn, Jack, Lacey, Matilda, Miley, Patrick, Poppy, Riley, Ruby, and Tessa all embarked on their first day of kindergarten. The morning was filled with a mix of excitement, curiosity, and a few nervous jitters as parents captured photos and shared hugs before sending their little ones off to start this exciting new chapter of their lives.

As the day unfolded, the children settled into their routine, learning about life in the classroom, spending time with their Year 5 buddies, and understanding the importance of sharing and kindness. Ms Wilson and Mrs Hoy marveled at how quickly the class began to form friendships, each child bringing their unique personality and energy to the group.

By the time the final bell rang, the initial nervousness had melted away, replaced by smiles, laughter, and stories about new friends and favorite moments. Parents greeted their little ones with open arms, eager to hear all about their adventures. It was clear that this first day of kindergarten was just the beginning of a journey filled with learning, growth, and cherished memories for all of the students.

Changes to Classroom Spaces for 2025: Adapting to Growth

With increasing student enrolments and a commitment to providing flexible learning spaces, we are excited to announce a reshuffling of our classroom and library locations for the 2025 school year. These changes are designed to enhance the learning environment for all students while ensuring adequate space for collaborative and individual work.

Year 3-4 Classroom: Our library, which previously occupied a central part of the school, will now serve as the Year 3-4 classroom. This larger space will give Year 3-4 students the opportunity to work comfortably in a setting that supports both group activities and independent study.

Library Relocation: The library has been relocated to the former Year 5-6 classroom.

Year 5-6 Classroom:Year 5-6 students will now use the old Year 3-4 classroom as their primary learning space. With a lot more space than their previous room, it has been thoughtfully arranged to ensure students still have access to engaging and dynamic learning opportunities.

We believe these adjustments will make the most of our facilities, promoting a more effective and enjoyable experience for all students. Thank you for your support as we continue to adapt to meet the needs of our growing community.

Parent Information Night-Tuesday 18th February

This year, we are pleased to announce that our annual Parent Information Night will be held on Tuesday, February 18th, starting at 5.30pm in the Year 3-4 Classroom. During this event, we will cover a range of important topics including our Annual Improvement Plan, the targets we aim to achieve this academic year, the structure and procedures of different learning areas, and discussions on agreed practices for homework and other related matters. We encourage all new and existing families to attend and participate in these informative conversations

Once the Information Night component has concluded, the P & F will be having their Annual General Meeting and this will be followed by a Welcome Barbecue for all of our community members. More information about this night has been sent to all families via the COMPASS app.

School Fees 2025

School Fees are now available to view and pay through Compass.

Armidale Catholic Schools receives funding from both Commonwealth and State Governments which is necessary to operate our schools. School fees supplement the income received from the Commonwealth and Statement Government and are essential to help meet the gap between government funding and the cost of providing quality educational experiences and outcomes for students.

School Fees and excursion levies are billed on an annual basis at the commencement of the School Year and our standard payment terms are 10 monthly installments from February to November.

Parents will be issued an annual Tax Invoice/Statement shortly with monthly statements issued thereafter.

St Patrick's has facilities to pay fees by BPAY, EFTPOS or Credit Card and Cash. Our preferred payment method is BPAY.

Walcha Races Tomorrow

The Walcha Race Day is tomorrow, Friday 6th February. This is a half day holiday. Buses will collect students at 11:30am, other students need to be picked up 11:20 - 11:30am.

School will be closed from 11:30am.

Beginning of School Year Mass - Monday 17th February 11:30am @ St Patrick's Church

Our first K-6 School Mass for 2025 will be the Beginning of the Year School Mass, on Monday 17th February in St Patrick's Church beginning at 11.30am. Our new School Captains, House Captains and School Leaders will have their badges blessed by Monsignor Ted and be formally commissioned. Everyone is invited to join us.

Swimming Carnival - Friday 14th February

Our Swimming Carnival is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 14th. A notice regarding the Swimming Carnival has been sent home to all families via Compass, as well as a paper copy of the nomination form. We kindly request that you complete the consent process through Compass as soon as possible and return the nomination forms to the office by Wednesday, February 12th. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we put in a lot of effort to ensure the success of our swimming event.

Best of Luck to Josie, Katie, and Grace F at the Polding Tennis Trials

We would like to extend our best wishes to Josie, Katie, and Grace F, who will be representing St Patrick’s Primary School and our diocese at the Polding Tennis Trials in Tamworth tomorrow.

This is a fantastic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to tennis. We wish them all the best as they compete and showcase their skills at this event. We know they will represent our school and the Armidale Diocese with great spirit and sportspersonship.

Good luck, Josie, Katie, and Grace – we are cheering you on!

Staffing for 2025

I am delighted to welcome Mrs Elyce Laurie and Mrs Amy Clark to the team at St Patrick's Primary School. Both Elyce and Amy join us as education assistants, bringing their enthusiasm and dedication to support our students’ learning journeys.

Their roles will involve working closely with teachers and students to ensure a supportive and enriching classroom environment. We are excited to have them as part of our school community and look forward to the positive contributions they will make.

Please join us in giving them a warm St Patrick's welcome!

Classroom Leaders

Kindergarten - Ms Wilson and Mrs Hoy (1 day a week)

Year 1 / 2 Mrs Flanagan and Mrs Hoy (1 day a week)

Year 3 / 4 Miss Cattelini

Year 5/ 6 Mrs Davey

Other Staffing Arrangements

IST-Mrs Kym Didlick-Godwin (every Friday)

Mrs Davey- Library every Friday for all classes

Ms Wilson- MaST Coordinator

Mrs Hoy- Kindergarten every Wednesday, Release From Face to Face (Kindergarten on Thursday every odd week and Year 3-4 on Thursday every even week) and Year 1-2 on Friday.

Mrs Makeham- Release From Face to Face (Year 5-6 every Friday) , as well as Leader of Pedagogy

My Hyatt - Principal, Religious Education Coordinator and Release Face to Face (Year 1-2 on Thursday every odd week and Year 5-6 every even week).

Education Assistants -Mrs Donna Harrison - Monday – Friday, Mrs Karen Rizzi: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, Mrs Elyce Laurie - Monday-Thursday, Mrs Amy Clark - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and Ms Jenny Allen - Monday-Wednesday

Parish Priest – Monsignor Ted Wilkes

School Office Staff - Mrs Sally Pittman Monday – Friday

School Finance Officer - Mrs Karen Rizzi - Wednesday & Thursday

Grounds – Mr Murray Blake

NECOM Music Teachers - Mrs Nicole Mackson/ Mini Minstrels & Mr James McKay Primary School Band.

2025 National Servicemen's Commemoration Day Service

The Armidale and District National Servicemen's Association will be holding a Commemoration Service on Sunday the 16th February commencing at 11am at the National Servicemen's Monument in Central Park Armidale.

The service is in remembrance of the national servicemen (conscripts) who were killed in action during World War 2 and Vietnam, who died during their service and those who have passed away since completing their military obligations.

St Patrick's have been invited to lay a wreath in memory of the departed national servicemen during this ceremony. Expressions of interest were sent out to our school leaders to take part in this service earlier this week.

Covering of Students' Books

All classes will be sending your child's workbooks home tomorrow afternoon for covering over the weekend. If it is possible, could you please cover these books and return them to school by Monday, February 10th.

I understand that many parents are busy over the weekend, so if you are unable to cover the workbooks, please still return them to school on Monday. You can make arrangements with your child's classroom teacher to have the workbooks sent home on a more convenient date.

Communication

There are multiple methods available to stay informed about the latest happenings at school. It is crucial to stay updated by reading the weekly newsletter. The newsletter can be accessed electronically through COMPASS.

It is essential for all families to subscribe to our COMPASS portal. This site regularly provides information to families. Each family is provided with a login. If you have misplaced your login details or are experiencing difficulties logging in, please contact our Front Office staff for assistance.

Furthermore, our Facebook page is active and continuously updated with upcoming events that St Patrick's is involved in. A significant number of families are already following us. If you wish to access our Facebook account, the link is provided below.

Family Information Paperwork

A package will be sent home early next week with all students. The paperwork contains very important information, annual Update Family Details, Medical Plans, Media Permission (on Compass) & IT Code of Conduct. The notes need to be signed and any changes to details made, then return to school by Monday 20th February.

We ask that you take time to go through the contents carefully and update information as required and complete and return forms by the date listed above.

Please return this paperwork whether you have any changes or not by Monday the 20th February. THANK YOU

Attendance

Parents must notify the school in case their child is absent from school. The school can be contacted through phone, email, or by submitting a compass attendance note. If a student's absence is not recorded by 10am, a SMS reminder will be sent out.

Punctuality is highly valued at our school. At the start of each day, teachers establish the day's agenda and provide important reminders. We kindly request that families prioritize arriving on time. If students arrive after the bell, they must sign in at the Front Office to ensure accurate attendance records.

Students Arriving Late or Leaving School Early

PLEASE NOTE that all students arriving late, or being collected early for an appointment, MUST REPORT to Mrs Pittman at the Office to be signed in or out by a parent /guardian.

School Hours & Supervision

Teachers commence duty at 8:30am and finish duty when the last bus leaves St Patrick’s approximately 3:10pm.

Supervision begins at 8:30am in the COLA

School starts: 9am (Bell - 8:50am)

Recess: 11:00am – 11:30am

Lunch: 1:30pm – 2:10pm

School finishes: 3.00pm.

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

The school office hours are 8:30am to 3:30pm

Afternoon Process

Students are dismissed from class at 3.00pm and assemble in the COLA area for messages & dismissal. Students are dismissed at 3.05pm.

Buses are loaded at 3.05pm, pickups are taken to the front gate at St Patrick's Church, walkers are seen across Apsley Street.

Contacting Your Child's Teacher

Teachers welcome contact from parents, if you need to talk with staff please either contact the class teacher by phoning the school – 67772328 or email the school at spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au.

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