Winter is here!

Welcome to this week's newsletter. As we are now approaching the end of our first official week of Winter, our school calendar is buzzing with activity, and there is a sense of competitive spirit with the school athletics carnival quickly approaching. Go Blue!!!

First and foremost, I want to wish all of our families a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable long weekend ahead. Whether you are travelling, catching up with extended family, or simply enjoying some quiet time at home, I hope you have something wonderful planned and take the opportunity to recharge.

We have some major milestones and events converging over the next few days. This upcoming Sunday is a deeply significant day for our parish as we celebrate the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. Please keep our young communicants in your thoughts and prayers as they take this next step in their faith journey and receive the Eucharist for the very first time.

Looking ahead to next week, the excitement is building for our annual School Athletics Carnival, which will be held this upcoming Wednesday. It promises to be a fantastic day of team spirit, participation, and healthy competition. Parents and families are, as always, warmly invited to come along and cheer on the students. Hopefully the weather will be kind!

On a more immediate note, tomorrow is shaping up to be an incredibly busy day! We will be hosting our Parent Assembly tomorrow morning, and I look forward to seeing many of you there as we celebrate our students' recent achievements.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community. I look forward to seeing many of you tomorrow morning and wish you all a fantastic long weekend.

Let's Hang It Art Competition Finalists

I am proud to announce that two of our very own students, Dusty and Eleanor, have been named a finalist in the "Let's Hang It" art competition!

Organised by the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM), this annual competition showcases the creative talents of school students from across the region. Becoming a finalist is a massive achievement, as hundreds of entries are submitted each year, and only a select few are chosen to be part of the official exhibition.

Dusty's and Eleanor's artwork will be displayed at NERAM in Armidale, giving the wider public a chance to view the artwork.

The official exhibition opening and prize-giving ceremony will take place at NERAM on Friday, 24th July, where the final winners for each category will be announced. The exhibition will then remain open for public viewing until mid-August.

On behalf of all the staff and students, I extend my congratulations to Dusty and Eleanor on this milestone. I wish them the best of luck in the final judging!

Walcha Central School High School Taster Day

On Tuesday, a group of Year 5 and 6 students will attend the second Walcha Central School High School Taster Day.

This event allows primary students to view the facilities, and participate in introductory subjects and activities. Attending these open days is part of the process that helps students prepare for the transition to secondary education in the future.

I hope these students find the day informative as they participate in the program and meet other students from the local area.

Monday 8th June - Public Holiday

I hope all of our families will be able to enjoy some family time this upcoming Monday.

Semester 1 Reports

As this term is approaching its halfway point, our teachers are beginning to collect data as well as completing various student assessments in preparing for this semester's reports. These reports will be on Compass parent portal. Should you have any questions after reviewing your child's report, please feel free to contact their class teacher during Week 11.

The Semester 1 Report provides parents with an overview of their child's achievement and development in all key learning areas, as well as their level of engagement and social interaction.

The government requires a five scale grading system. In place of the A-E grade, a new language is being used to describe the level of knowledge and skills demonstrated by each child. This is comprehensively explained in your child's report.

ICAS Assessments 2026: Key Dates Approaching

The annual International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are just around the corner for 2026, offering students an opportunity to challenge their academic skills in various subjects. These online assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence, encouraging higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities.

ICAS Assessments cover a range of subjects, including:

Digital Technologies
Writing
English
Science
Spelling Bee
Mathematics

For many subjects, the main sitting windows will occur in August 2026.

ICAS provides a valuable benchmark for students, allowing them to see how their performance compares against peers nationally and internationally. All participating students receive a certificate, with top performers also eligible for Distinction, High Distinction, and even medals.

How to participate in ICAS 

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please: 

read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas) 
go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/YHA639 
enter the parent’s access code – YHA639
enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.

Upcoming Event Term 4 - New England Sings 2026 Term 4 for Years 3-6

NEW ENGLAND SINGS! 2026 COMBINED PRIMARY CHOIRS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Armidale and surrounding schools – outreach schools will have rehearsals scheduled at their own school. However, outreach schools are welcome to attend the Armidale workshops if possible.

This event is quickly beginning to take shape. It promises to be a massive celebration of music, with over 1,000 students participating from 36 different schools across the New England Region.

Ian Jefferson will attend the workshops throughout the year and conduct the Primary choirs at the final weekend of rehearsals and concerts.

St PATRICK’S WALCHA REHEARSAL with Ian Jefferson

Date: Wednesday 29th July

Time: 9.30am-10.45am

FINAL REHEARSAL (all schools, including outreach schools to attend):Date: Saturday 31 October (directed by Ian Jefferson) Time: Primary Choir 1 9:00am – 10:45am

Venue: Lazenby Hall, UNE

CONCERT:Date: Sunday 1 November Time: Primary Choir 1 11:00am – 1:00pm (arrive at 9:30am)

Venue: Lazenby Hall, UNE

St Patrick’s School is an outreach school for the rehearsals but we will attempt to attend two of the rehearsals in Armidale.

Parents will have to commit to the Saturday 31st October - Final Rehearsal and Sunday 1st November Concert. If they wish their child to participate in New England Sings.

A short video on what New England Sings! is all about is included below:

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

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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