Mr Hyatt
Message from Mr Hyatt
If there is one thing we have all had enough of it is Covid. We have had a fair share of our community impacted and as a result, some students and staff members have had to miss several school days due to contracting this virus. Hopefully, in the near future, there will be fewer confirmed cases of this virus and life can continue on as normal for all of our school community members. I have to admit I am absolutely sick of testing myself on several occasions over the last fortnight. But looking at the positive side, I am glad that I have a cold, not the actual dreaded "C" word.
During my visit to the show on Saturday morning, a couple approached me inquiring if I was the school principal at St Patrick's. Confirming their assumption, they proceeded to praise the appearance of our students in their school uniform, expressing that we should take pride in them. I acknowledged their compliments, stating that I feel honoured to work alongside such exceptional children, their families, and the dedicated staff.
When I got home and started uploading the photos for this newsletter that I had taken, I thought about that meeting and looking back at it, I realised I should have mentioned that I am the class principal instead of school.
I am aware that a significant portion of my time is dedicated to overseeing and managing the overall functioning of the school within the office. However, I must confess that my greatest satisfaction comes from being in the classroom and collaborating with both students and staff members. I eagerly anticipate every Wednesday when I have the opportunity to lead Year 5-6.
Last week during my many visits to all of the classrooms, I had the opportunity to observe our Kindergarten students represent various numerals in various forms, Year 1-2 showing me their oral reading, writing and phonemic skills during one of their literacy blocks, Year 3-4 exploring the work of the abstract artist, Vassily Kandinsky and the students in Year 5-6 creating a google slide on various celebrities like Steve Irwin, Edith Cowan and others who continue on with the mission of Jesus.
I found the students' attitudes towards learning and their eagerness to share their work very impressive. I truly enjoy my job!
Congratulations on a very successful Show
Congratulations on the fantastic exhibition over the weekend. The displays from the children and St Patrick's families in the pavilions were truly remarkable! Kudos to all participants and a special well done to the prize winners for their hard work. Kindly check out more photos on the forthcoming 2024 Walcha Show page.
Term 1 Parent Teacher Interviews
We are approaching the final stages of our Parent Teacher Interviews for this term. It is of utmost importance that these meetings have occurred, as they provide valuable opportunities for collaboration among all members of our school community in establishing both short and long-term learning objectives for our students. We extend our gratitude to all the parents who have already participated in their respective meetings. We hope that this experience has fostered a stronger working relationship between you and your child's teacher. The remaining interviews will be conducted this afternoon. If you have not yet participated in a Parent Teacher Interview and would like to do so in the near future, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child/ren's teacher.
School Photo Day This Upcoming Wednesday
As the highly-anticipated School Photo Day approaches on Wednesday, March 20th, students and staff alike are gearing up to capture memorable moments. The annual tradition of taking school photos not only marks a moment in time but also serves as a poignant reminder of growth and milestones.
The students are reminded that they will need to wear their sports uniform on Tuesday and Friday, and their normal summer uniform on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for next week only.
P & F
Our next P & F Meeting is Tuesday 19th March at 6pm in the library as well as via Zoom.
Invitations have been sent out to all of our school members. Please feel free to join us.
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!
The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award Is.......
Hugh 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 Hugh for earning this recognition!
2024 Staff Development Days (PD Days)
All schools within the diocese have been granted a total of eight staff development days for this year. These designated days aim to improve the teaching capabilities of the staff, with a specific focus on the curriculum. Additionally, they provide an opportunity for the staff to implement the new teaching syllabus for the upcoming year. So far, we have already utilised two of the allocated staff development days. To minimise any inconveniences caused to our families who need to arrange care on days when the school is closed, I have scheduled the remaining six PD Days to occur either on the last few days or the first few days of each term. Below are the dates when the remaining six staff development days will take place.
Friday 12th April (Last day of Term 1)
Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th April (First two days of Term 2)
Monday 22nd July (First day of Term 3)
Monday 14th October (First day of Term 4)
Friday 20th December (Last day of Term 4)
NAPLAN
Most of our Year 3 and Year 5 students have finished both their NAPLAN Reading and Language Conventions Assessments today. The NAPLAN Numeracy Assessment will be conducted on Tuesday morning starting at 9.15 am for these students. This upcoming Thursday and Friday are designated as catch-up days for any students who were unable to complete the assessments. Kindly avoid scheduling appointments during school hours on these testing days.
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.