From the Principal

Dear families,

What a fantastic week it has been at St Patrick’s! Last Friday’s Sports Day was an absolute highlight - perfect weather, great sportsmanship, and incredible participation from every student. The energy and enthusiasm on display made it a day to remember, capped off with a Green House victory - their first win since 2004! Congratulations to all our students for their effort, teamwork, and spirit, and a huge thank you to our staff and parents for your support throughout the day. A special word of thanks goes to Aaron for his exceptional organisation and leadership in coordinating such a smooth, enjoyable, and well-run event.

This week, we also celebrated another special milestone - our very first transition session for the 2026 Foundation students. The morning was a great success, filled with smiles, excitement, and many children who didn’t want to leave when it was time to go home! Thank you to our junior team for their thoughtful preparation and warm welcome. It was wonderful to officially meet and welcome our new families to St Patrick’s. We look forward to seeing everyone again for our next session on Tuesday 25th November.

Celebration of Learning

Our Semester 1 Celebration of Learning morning was a great success and received glowing feedback from those who attended. We will be holding a Semester 2 Celebration of Learning morning on Friday 5th December between 9-10am. 

Enrolments

If your family is aware that you will not be returning to St Patrick’s in 2026, we kindly ask that you inform the school office as soon as possible. We continue to receive a number of enrolment enquiries from families seeking places for next year, and your early communication greatly assists with our planning.

Helping Families Prepare for the New Social Media Age Restrictions

The Australian Government is introducing new age restrictions for social media, meaning young people under 16 years old will no longer be able to create or maintain accounts on most major platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, X (Twitter), and YouTube.

These changes are designed to make online spaces safer and more age-appropriate for children and teenagers. The goal is to give young people time to develop the digital literacy, emotional resilience, and social skills they need before engaging in social media use.

What This Means for Families

For many families, this shift may feel significant. Social media has become a common way for young people to connect with friends, follow interests, and express themselves creatively. The upcoming restrictions may mean young people lose access to some of the platforms they currently use daily.

The eSafety Commissioner encourages families to start preparing now. Their 8-Step Action Plan for Under-16s offers a helpful guide for supporting children through this change. It suggests families:

• Check which apps your child currently uses and note which will become age-restricted.
• Make a list of friends, family, and groups your child wants to stay connected with, and think about other ways to do this.
• Explore new ways to follow creators, learn, and socialise through age-appropriate platforms.
• Back up photos, videos, and messages your child wants to keep.
• Start reducing social media use gradually to avoid a sudden change.

• Keep communication open about how your child is feeling and any challenges they face.

   

How Parents Can Support Their Children

Parents play a crucial role in helping young people navigate this transition. The eSafety Commissioner’s website offers a dedicated section for parents at esafety.gov.au/parents. This page includes step-by-step guidance, practical tips, and resources to help families manage online safety and digital wellbeing at home.

The eSafety site also has a section written specifically for young people, with advice on staying connected, protecting their privacy, and coping with change.

Families can also access free eSafety webinars, designed to help parents and carers understand current online risks, learn how to set up parental controls, and explore ways to foster positive online habits. These webinars are a valuable opportunity to hear from experts and ask questions in a supportive environment.

Where to Find Help

If your child experiences something distressing online — whether or not they’re using a restricted platform — they can still report it and seek support through eSafety’s I Need Help page. Services like Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) are also available 24 hours a day for young people aged 5 to 25.

For more details, resources, and the full action plan, visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website and explore their pages for both parents and young people. Starting these conversations early can help families navigate the transition smoothly and confidently.

There has also been a special report about the new social media restrictions released on SchoolTV which you can view via this link: All Editions | St Patrick's School - Ballarat (schooltv.me) 

School Fees

School Fee Statements

The final 2025 direct debit and credit card payments organised by the school will be finalised by the 15th of November.  Once these payments have been processed school fee statements will be emailed home.  If you have an amount outstanding on your statement this will need to be paid separately. The school’s bank account details are listed on your statement or please be in contact with the office if you would like to pay via another method.

We would appreciate payment in full for any outstanding school fees by the end of November.  If you are experiencing financial difficulty and believe this year’s fees will not be settled by the end of November please be in contact with Ben or Michelle ASAP to discuss your situation and come to an arrangement to suit both the school and your family. 

2026 School Fee Increases & Outline of School Fees 

In line with advice from Catholic Education Ballarat we will be increasing the Tuition Fee by $200 per family for 2026.

Outline of School Fees

Tuition Fee – is charged per family, for 2026 this is $1,870.  This fee is levied to assist with the running costs of the school.

Capital Fee – is charged per family, for 2026 this is $400.  This fee is levied for the ongoing capital upgrade of school facilities, as well as specific purchasing priorities such as computers, playground equipment and library resources.

Fundraising Levy – is charged per family, for 2026 this is $150.  The fundraising levy assists with the local contribution required to supplement the state and federal funding to run the school. 

Chromebook & iPad Fee – to ensure the school is able to provide high quality 1:1 devices to improve learning opportunities students in foundation and year 1 a $175 annual fee for iPads and years 3 to 6 are charged a $125 annual fee for Chromebooks.  The family will retain ownership of the device at the end of year 2 for iPads and year 6 for Chromebooks.

Student Fee - is charged per student, for 2026 this is $480.  This fee is used to meet the costs of running classrooms for the year purchasing items such as books and stationery, art & craft materials, costs of the swimming program, healthy living and excursions.

Camp Fee – camp fees are charged to assist with covering costs of camps. 

2026 Fee Payment Agreements

Each family will receive a hardcopy 2026 Fee Payment Agreement form.  This document will also be an attachment with the newsletter. 

Please return this completed form to the office by the 5th of December. 

We recommend that families take advantage of setting up regular direct debit or credit card payments.  Also keep in mind if you would prefer more regular payments to be deducted such as weekly or outside the nominated dates this can also be possible. Please detail on your form if an arrangement outside of the usual payment methods might be more suitable. If you have any questions or queries please contact Michelle by phone on 5332 7680 or email mcushing@spballarat.catholic.edu.au. 

School Fee Exemptions for families with Health Care Cards

For those families who are current holders of Health Care Cards there are 2 exemptions available to assist families with school fees.  The Family Assistance Scheme is offered by the diocese of Ballarat and the CSEF exemption is offered by the State Government of Victoria. 

The application forms are available from the office and we have also attached them to this week’s newsletter. Please remember we also require a copy of your current health care card to apply for the exemption. 

Carols on the Turf

We are looking forward to hosting our Carols on the Turf on Tuesday 2nd December from 5.30pm (Carols starting from 6pm). This is a very special event where families are invited to come along and enjoy a picnic on the Turf while being entertained with some traditional Christmas carols. Mark the date in your diary so you don’t get double booked at this very busy time of year!

This year, our Carols on the Turf Raffle will be presold, following a similar format to our Easter Raffle. Raffle sheets will be sent home with students in the week ahead, giving families the chance to purchase and sell tickets before the event.

We are currently seeking donations of prizes for our raffle. If you or your business are able to contribute an item, voucher, or service, we would be most grateful. Donations can be dropped off at the school office over the coming week.

Please note that a limited number of tickets will also be available for purchase on the night. However, our aim is to complete most sales in advance so that our wonderful volunteers can enjoy the evening with their family and friends.

Thank you for your support!

Kind regards,

Ben Shields