From the Principal

Dear families,

This week I have been fortunate to attend the National Catholic Education Conference, a gathering that brings together educators and leaders from across the country to share ideas, celebrate our mission, and explore the future of Catholic education. It has been both affirming and inspiring to engage with such a wide range of voices and perspectives.

One of the strongest themes has been the call to anchor our work in faith and hope. Sr Nathalie Becquart’s keynote on a synodal vision for Catholic education reminded us that our schools are not only centres of learning, but also communities of belonging, faith and shared purpose. Alongside this spiritual grounding, there has been a powerful emphasis on evidence-based practice and excellence in teaching. Presentations from educational leaders such as Professor Dylan Wiliam and Dr Jordana Hunter highlighted the importance of high-quality curriculum materials and responsive teaching practices that ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Equally important has been the reminder of the role families and communities play in student success. Dr Steve Constantino’s insights into authentic family engagement challenged us to think about how we can strengthen the partnerships between school and home in ways that make learning richer and more connected for our young people.

Back at St Patrick’s, the energy and excitement of school life has been on full display. Last Friday’s disco was a wonderful opportunity for our students to come together, have fun and celebrate with their friends, and it was heartening to see how much joy it brought. Our upcoming school concert is also creating a real buzz, with tickets selling quickly and students eagerly preparing their acts for what promises to be a fantastic evening of talent and community spirit. In addition, Book Week is filling the school with creativity and colour, with a range of activities and the Book Fair capturing the imagination of our students and families alike.

It is a privilege to be part of such a vibrant community where faith, learning and celebration come together so richly. I look forward to carrying the insights from this week’s conference into our ongoing journey here at St Patrick’s.

School Concert

School Concert Tickets On Sale Now!

Tickets are selling fast for our 2025 School Concert, which will take place on Tuesday 16th September at the Civic Hall. Be sure to purchase yours now to avoid disappointment (see link below).

The performing arts is a valued and vibrant part of the curriculum at St Patrick’s. Over their seven years of primary schooling, our students will participate in the school concert three or four times, as it alternates with our visual art show to celebrate the creativity and talents of our young learners. Each concert reminds us of the courage it takes to stand in the spotlight - and the incredible growth we see in our students as they step out on stage.

From the tentative twirls of Foundation students to the confident, coordinated performances of our senior classes, every act is a celebration of learning, collaboration, and bravery. And yes - there will still be shaky knees and butterfly tummies! But it is in these moments that children build resilience, learning that with effort, practice and encouragement, they can achieve things they never thought possible.

We can’t wait to share this special evening with you and look forward to seeing our students shine under the lights of the Civic Hall!

Feast of the Assumption Mass

Last week we had the privilege of celebrating Mass for the Feast of the Assumption with Fr Ed here on our school site. This was a particularly special and unique occasion, as we do not often have the opportunity to gather for Mass at school in this way.

It was a beautiful celebration of faith and community, and Fr Ed was highly complimentary of both the support provided by staff and the reverent engagement of our students throughout the liturgy. Well done to everyone for making this such a memorable and prayerful occasion.

Disco

A big thank you to all of our parents who helped to make last Friday’s disco such a wonderful success. The children had an amazing time dancing and laughing, and it was clear that the evening was one of those memorable experiences that they will talk about for weeks to come.

Events like these don’t just happen - they are the result of the time, effort and generosity of our parent community. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Nicole and Emma, whose energy, organisation and creativity were the driving force behind the night. Their commitment, along with the support of so many others who helped with setup, supervision and pack-up, ensured everything ran smoothly and the students had the best experience possible.

We are very grateful for the way our families continue to contribute so generously to the life of our school. Thank you for making the disco a highlight of the term.

Confirmation

We extend our warmest congratulations to the students of St Patrick’s who recently celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is such an important step in their faith journey, and it was a joy to witness their commitment and reverence as they received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are very proud of the way they prepared and participated so wholeheartedly in this special occasion.

A sincere thank you goes to Kathy for her outstanding leadership in Religious Education and for guiding our students so beautifully throughout their preparation. We are also most grateful to Thea and Matthew for their generous support on Sunday, ensuring the celebration was such a prayerful and memorable one for our students and their families.

Children's Book Week turns 80 in 2025

Children’s Book Week is the CBCA’s key national event of the year, and this year’s celebration runs from Saturday 16 to Saturday 23 August with the theme Book an Adventure!

Throughout the week, our students have been immersed in a range of exciting school-based activities designed to spark their imaginations and deepen their love of reading. From mixed-level group sessions to engaging classroom activities, it has been wonderful to see the whole school community come together to celebrate literature. A very special thank you goes to Chelsea Greenbank for her outstanding work in coordinating Book Week. Her careful planning, particularly in setting up the mixed level groupings, ensured that students across the school were able to share in the joy of books together.

One of the real highlights was seeing the children dressed up in such creative costumes, inspired by their favourite stories and characters. The atmosphere around the school was filled with excitement, colour and enthusiasm for books and storytelling.

Well done to all involved, and thank you to our parents for the time, effort and creativity that went into supporting Book Week 2025. It truly has been a celebration of reading and imagination that our students will remember.

SchoolTV 

This week on SchoolTV you will find a focus topic on Dealing with Disappointment.

Disappointment is a natural part of life that young people will encounter as they navigate through different experiences. It can result from unmet expectations, setbacks, or shattered dreams. However, learning to manage disappointment is crucial for building resilience and personal growth. Young people have a lot of choice regarding how they hey think and respond to disappointment.

Disappointment can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. It’s important to understand that disappointment is a normal emotion and plays a vital role in a young person's emotional, intellectual, and social development. Instead of trying to shield children from disappointment, we can support them in learning how to cope with it, as it equips them with the skills for future challenges. Helping children develop healthy strategies for managing disappointment will contribute to their long-term happiness and success. It's like a practice lap on the course to adulthood.

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

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

Kind regards,

Ben Shields