From the Principal

The feast of the assumption celebrates the role of women in our church. This day acknowledges Mary as the mother of Christ and a model for women as disciples throughout the church. When Mary was assumed into heaven she was rewarded for a life of dedication, service and unconditional love to Jesus her son and to all with whom she encountered. As a mother who witnessed her son’s ministry unfold she must have been proud but also worried for his ultimate safety. Her faith must have been so strong to endure the hardest of times and yet we know that her gentleness has been an inspiration to so many others throughout history.

Through the feast of the Assumption may all mothers be blessed.  May you see the love of God in the eyes of your children and may you encounter the spirit of God in those you meet. Through your caring and understanding may you continue to model the love of Christ to others and may Mary remain for you a model of pure motherhood.

Dear families,

Our recent Behaviour Blitz, aimed at enhancing how we move safely and responsibly around the school, has been a tremendous success. This initiative was designed to reinforce the importance of safety and responsibility in our daily routines, and the results have been truly impressive.

Over the past few weeks, our focus has been on fostering a culture where every student understands and embraces the key principles of safe and responsible behaviour. From the hallways to the playgrounds, our students have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to these values. 

Stay tuned for more updates and initiatives as we work together to make our school the best it can be!

School Advisory Council

Our School Advisory Council (SAC) met on Monday and had a great conversation supported through our partnership with Tony Dalton. The SAC is an important group in our school community that discusses facets of school operations, some of which are included in the graphic below. 

Some further discussions that are addressed within the SAC are class structures for the following year, fees and levies, policy guidance, guidance upon future pathways for the school etc. 

There is a current vacancy on the SAC for 2024. If you are interested in being part of the group and have a commitment to the ongoing improvement of our school please reach out to me to express your interest (principal@spballarat.catholic.edu.au). 

The prerequisites for membership are:

● provide the school with proof of identity – photo identity (eg license, passport)

● hold and present an up-to-date Working With Children Check (WWCC)

● abide by the school’s Child Safe Policies and the school’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct

Important Dates

Our staff are looking forward to a culturally enriching experience at tomorrow's closure day. We look forward to sharing our learning in the weeks ahead and begin further planning for enhancing our inclusion of indigenous perspectives within the St Patrick's community. 

Confirmation

Over the past 4 weeks our Confirmation candidates have learned about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and awe of the Lord. During the celebration of Confirmation each of them will be anointed with chrism on the forehead with the words, “Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” A special thank you to Fr Ed and Fr Francis who supported the children in their preparations earlier in the week.

Please keep our Confirmation candidates in your prayers this week as they receive the Sacrament over the weekend.

Mini Vinnies

We are delighted to share that our Mini Vinnies team represented our school with great enthusiasm at today's conference. This event was a wonderful opportunity for them to engage with the broader Mini Vinnies network and learn more about their impactful work.

We are also proud to announce that our team received their badges today, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to service and leadership. Congratulations to all our Mini Vinnies for their dedication and achievements!

Classroom Appointment

We're very blessed and appreciative of Kate Mahon's exceptional work with the students in F/1AM this year. As you're aware, Kate will be commencing her maternity leave in a couple of weeks time. 

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Jenny Harbour to the Junior team (Thurs/Fri). Jenny brings a wealth of experience to this role, having worked extensively in both classroom and early childhood teaching environments, as well as in Literacy Support and Intervention.  Her experience is complemented by a thorough understanding of effective teaching practices, including the ‘Sounds Write’ Phonics and Reading program, which will be complimentary to the phonics based approach currently implemented in the junior classes.

Please join us in welcoming Jenny to our school community. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring to our students and our school.

Science Works Excursion

Yesterday our Junior students had an amazing time on a really loooonnnnggg bus trip to Science Works. They had a fantastic time learning about the weather and had a special education session in the Lightning Room. 

Disco

Now I'm not quite sure who's more excited about the disco - the kids or the parents! It's been great working with the P&F as the event has taken shape...lots of great ideas, inspiration and enthusiasm to make it a great school event. Thank you for all your work.

We'll have lots of great photos to share following the disco tonight. Have fun!!!

InsightSRC Surveys for Families

Thank you for offering your feedback to assist us in our commitment to continuous improvement at St Patrick's. It looks like the survey is still open - if you haven't had the opportunity to complete the survey yet, your feedback is most welcome and will be well received. 

Fullness of Life

A reminder that our work continues throughout the second semester with the 'Fullness of Life' program. All students will learn about their bodies, relationships and staying safe, in the physical world and online.  

Each Monday, beginning Week 5, teachers will use 'The Fullness of Life' program to ensure students understand Catholics believe that all human life is sacred having been created in the image of God. 

The program is broken into the following 6 themes.

1. My Body
2. Lifecycles 
3. Relationships
4. Identity
5. Taking care offline and on
6. Getting help when I need it. 

Teachers will continue to focus on teaching students the importance of  Recognising, Reacting and Reporting situations in which they feel unsafe. 

Book Week 2024

We're looking forward to celebrating our love of literature at St Patrick's throughout Book Week this year. Each morning, our learning and teaching will focus on a short-listed book with an activity as students move across the school in multi-age groups. On Friday 23rd we will hold the annual Book Week dress-up day in which your child may like to come as a character out of a book or dress to the theme of 'Reading is Magic'. We'll have a short parade at 9am in the Madden Hall if you'd like to join us! 

As you're likely aware, there is a clash of dates for the students attending the Eureka basketball. Unfortunately, the date for the dress up day can't be moved due to some other conflicting events. If you have a child attending the basketball that is in Grade 6, they are welcome to dress up on Wednesday 21st August instead. The Grade 5 students have another event on this day.

SchoolTV 

This week on SchoolTV you will find additional resources available to gain greater insight into Cultural Diversity. This may be a beneficial support topic to continue the conversations at home that are happening throughout classroom around diversity & inclusion which fits with the schoolwide concept of 'Influence'.

"Cultural diversity is an inherent aspect of modern society. It enriches our communities by bringing together a wide array of cultures, traditions, and histories, contributing to our unique identity and strength. Embracing and celebrating this diversity is essential for fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging among children. By valuing every child's cultural background, we enable them to excel in all facets of life. Nurturing an environment of curiosity, open-mindedness, and respect for all cultures, will set a strong example for all young people. Through collective efforts, we can pave the way for a more accepting and vibrant future."

Click on the link below to access a wealth of videos, articles, and resources on the aforementioned topic.

All Editions | St Patrick's School - Ballarat (schooltv.me) 

Kind regards,

Ben Shields