Mr Hyatt
An Eventful Week and Looking Ahead
This week has certainly been eventful, both within our school community and beyond. The devastating impact of Cyclone Alfred has been deeply felt, and my thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by the flooding and strong winds. I hope that everyone stays safe during this difficult time.
Despite the external challenges, our school has been a hive of activity. Our students are diligently preparing for next Wednesday's cross country event at John Oxley Oval, demonstrating their dedication and athletic spirit. We're all looking forward to a fantastic day of competition and camaraderie.
Our Mini Vinnies committee has been working tirelessly to finalise the activities for our upcoming St Patrick's Day celebrations on Monday. We're excited to celebrate this special day with a range of engaging and meaningful events.
Furthermore, our Year 3 and 5 students are making excellent progress with their NAPLAN assessments, having completed three-quarters of the testing. I commend them for their focus and effort during this important period.
The excitement is building as the Walcha Show kicks off tomorrow! I’m especially looking forward to seeing all of our students' incredible exhibits when I visit on Saturday morning. Their talents never fail to impress me! I have to admit, I’m a little jealous—I can’t cook to save my life, yet I’ve been hearing about all the amazing cakes, scones, biscuits, and jams our students have entered. I might need to step up my game in the kitchen!
School Cross Country
Get ready to rumble, runners! This Wednesday is the day we've all been training for – our school's highly anticipated cross country event, taking place at the sprawling John Oxley Oval. Dust off those running shoes, stretch those muscles, and prepare for a morning of exhilarating competition and school spirit.
This Wednesday, students and staff will depart from school at 10:30 am, travelling to John Oxley Oval for our annual cross country event. Upon arrival, students will enjoy a brief recess before walking their designated course. The first race, featuring Senior Boys and Girls, as well as 11-Year-Old Boys and Girls, is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:30 am.
Following the completion of the Senior and 11-Year-Old races, the Juvenile Boys and Girls (1km) will take to the course. The final race of the day will see the Junior Boys and Girls compete over a 2km distance.
After all races have concluded, our wonderful P&F Committee will provide a barbecue lunch for everyone. The event will then culminate in a presentation ceremony. Students who have qualified to compete in the Diocesan Cross Country Trials at Barraba on Friday, April 4th, will receive notification and their permission slips during the afternoon.
I'm hoping for a beautiful day, weather-wise!
Walcha Show
Leading up to the show, our students have been working diligently, putting the finishing touches on their impressive classroom displays. Best wishes to all the children and families participating in this year's Show, which opens tomorrow and continues through Saturday. Last year, I was filled with immense pride seeing so many St. Patrick's students receive prestigious awards across a wide range of categories. This year, I eagerly anticipate seeing the exceptional talents of our students on display once more, and I extend my warmest wishes for success to everyone. I am particularly impressed by the incredible skills shown in the cooking section, and admire all of your remarkable abilities!
Parent-Teacher Interviews – Term 1
Parent-Teacher Interviews for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will commence on Monday, 24th March. These meetings are a valuable opportunity for parents to gain insight into how well their child has settled into the school year, discuss their current progress, and collaborate with teachers to set individual learning goals for the remainder of the semester.
Parents can book their appointments through the Compass portal under the Conferences section. Earlier today, a notification was sent to all families outlining the available days and times for their child's classroom teacher. Please complete your booking as soon as possible to secure your preferred time.
We encourage all families to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with teachers and support their child’s learning journey.
Premier's Reading Challenge
Exciting news this year as St Patrick's students will again be participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge. We urge all students to take part.
Your child's login details will be sent home shortly. You and your child will then be required to log in, provide the child's information, so they can record their books online.
Many of the PRC books can be found in our school library, where we will encourage students to borrow them during library time. Additionally, we are introducing all students to "SORA" - an app tailored to the contemporary student reading experience. This app enables students to explore and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks from their school, for both recreational and assigned reading purposes. It also includes the PRC books. We aim to have this process completed for students very soon!
O'Connor STEP Day
On Tuesday, Claire, Lochie, and Palesa, had the opportunity to broaden their horizons by participating in the O'Connor Catholic College STEP Day.
The STEP Day at O'Connor Catholic College provides a valuable platform for students to experience a taste of secondary school life and explore potential future pathways. Claire, Lochie, and Palesa immersed themselves in a variety of engaging activities and workshops, designed to stimulate their curiosity and foster their learning.
The day offered a glimpse into the diverse subjects and opportunities available at O'Connor, allowing our students to interact with older students and teachers, and gain a better understanding of the transition to high school.
Band for Years 3-6!
The sound of music filled the air once again last Friday as James and Paul from NECOM (New England Conservatorium of Music) recommenced band lessons for our enthusiastic Years 3-6 students. It was a delightful return to instrumental learning, and the excitement was catching.
For many of the Year 3 students, this marked their very first experience playing a musical instrument. Some of the lessons took part in the staffroom and it was a truly special moment to witness their initial attempts, filled with both concentration and joy. The dedication and patience of James and Paul were evident as they guided the students through their musical beginnings.
The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award Is.......
Eden is the recipient of this week's 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' award. Choosing a winner was a challenging task due to the high number of deserving students. Congratulations to Eden for earning this recognition!
SCHOOL HOURS
Supervision of students commences at 8:30am, there is no supervision prior to this time, therefore no students should be onsite.
NAPLAN UPDATE
The majority of our Year 3 and Year 5 students have now completed the NAPLAN Reading and Language Conventions assessments. The Numeracy assessment will be administered on Tuesday morning at 9:15 am. To accommodate students who may have missed assessments, catch-up sessions are scheduled for next Thursday, Friday, and Monday, March 24th. We kindly request that appointments be avoided during school hours on these testing dates.
Further information for parents and carers can be found here:
https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support
I encourage all parents of students in Years 3 and 5 to explore the Public Demonstration Site with your child (click on button below). Here you will find sample questions for each of the areas assessed.
https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
Click below to see a short video showing how to navigate the Public Demonstration Site.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ElaxjY7xKzPkl4QijbH_YPs9IRtkr8FU/view
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.