Thank you for a great Term 1!

As we enter the final stages of the school term, I want to take a moment to reflect and say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped make this term such a positive and successful one.

To our students—thank you for your enthusiasm, hard work, and willingness to grow in both your learning and your friendships. To our staff—your dedication, care, and commitment to excellence never go unnoticed. And to our families—your continued support, encouragement, and involvement in school life have played a vital role in all that we’ve achieved together.

This term has been filled with rich learning experiences, exciting events, and special moments that have helped build a strong and supportive school community. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and look forward to finishing the term with the same energy and spirit that has carried us through.

I wish everyone a safe, restful, and enjoyable break, and look forward to welcoming all students and staff back for Term 2 on Monday, 28th April.

Thank you once again for being part of what makes our school such a special place.

Northern NSW Da Vinci Decathlon at TAS

Last Thursday, St Patrick’s Primary School was represented by Tom, Kiara, Katie, Grace F, Adelaide, Jessica, Indie, and Claire at the Da Vinci Decathlon, held at The Armidale School. The students faced a range of intellectually stimulating challenges, competing against some of the brightest minds from across the region. They demonstrated remarkable problem-solving skills in areas like code-breaking, mathematics, design, and creative writing. Our team's hard work paid off, as they achieved impressive results, including a 1st place victory in English and 2nd place finishes in Cartography, Science, and Mathematics.

I would like to express my appreciation to Mrs Williams for her valuable assistance with transport arrangements. The school is immensely proud of the outstanding performance displayed by our students at this year's Northern NSW Da Vinci Decathlon.

ACS Cross Country Trials

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 24 outstanding students who represented St Patrick's Primary School at the Armidale Catholic Schools Cross Country Trials held in Barraba yesterday! Your dedication, determination, and sportsmanship were truly commendable.

Competing against students from across the diocese, you all displayed incredible resilience and a remarkable team spirit. We are immensely proud of your efforts and the way you represented St Pat's.

For a full recount of the day's events, including individual performances and highlights, please refer to the sports section of this newsletter. I encourage everyone to read about the achievements of our talented athletes.

EASTER HAT PARADE TOMORROW

Get ready for a burst of creativity and festive cheer! Tomorrow, at 11:30 am, we will be hosting our annual Easter Hat Parade, a beloved tradition that promises to be a delightful event for students, families, and staff alike.

Our students have been busy crafting their most imaginative and colorful Easter hats, and we can't wait to see their spectacular creations. From whimsical bunny ears to elaborate floral designs, we anticipate a parade filled with creativity and Easter spirit.

Once the parade has concluded, the P&F will draw the winners of the Easter Egg Raffle, and we’ll also be announcing which student has been selected as Principal for the Day—a role they’ll enjoy early next term.

I warmly invite parents, grandparents, and friends to join us tomorrow as we celebrate the creativity and festive spirit of our students. Come and witness the parade of colorful hats and share in the joy of the Easter season.

I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at 11:30 am for a parade that's sure to be a highlight of the term!

Stations of the Cross Liturgy Tomorrow

As we approach the school holidays, we are reminded that Good Friday falls during the first week of the break, a solemn day marking the passion and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. To help our students reflect on this important event, they will be participating in a Stations of the Cross liturgy tomorrow, Friday, 11th April, at 10:00 AM at St Patrick’s Catholic Church.

This special liturgy will guide us through the final moments of Jesus’ journey to the cross, offering a time for prayer and reflection on His ultimate act of love and sacrifice.

I warmly invite parents, families, and community members to join us for this meaningful service. Let us come together in faith as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

OPEN MORNING for 2026 Kindergarten Students - 13th May 9:30am-11am

Our open morning will be held on Tuesday May 13th from 9:30am - 11am.

The Open Morning in 2026 provides parents with the chance to discover what St Patrick's School can offer their children. Parents can engage with the faculty, take a tour of the campus, and partake in a morning tea. Transition students are also welcome to participate in activities with the current Kindergarten class.

Should you be aware of individuals with a child preparing to begin school in the upcoming year, or individuals interested in exploring our school and its offerings, we kindly request that you extend an invitation to them for our Open Morning.

LET'S GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN 2026

Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2026.

Our school open morning for Kindergarten will be Tuesday 13th May 2024.

Please contact the school for an enrolment package - 67772328 or email

spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

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!

ANZAC DAY MARCH

St Patrick’s School has been invited to attend the ANZAC Day March. Those children who are available to march on Friday 25th April, need to assemble with the school at 10:30am at the corner of Hill and South Streets. The service will begin at the end of the march, approximately 11:00am in ANZAC Memorial Park. After the service, the march will go down Derby Street to Fitzroy Street and finish at McHattan Park.

Parents could you please make sure:

*your son/daughter is in the correct school winter uniform, tie, black shoes and school hat

*you collect your son/daughter at McHattan Park after the march

A note was sent home earlier this week to find out who will be available to represent St Patrick's at this event as it is on during the second week of the school holidays.

Walk for Water Challenge

It was truly heartwarming to see the overwhelming support from our students this afternoon during the Walk for Water Challenge. The school grounds came alive with a sea of yellow, symbolising our shared commitment to raising awareness for those who walk long distances each day just to access clean water.

Our students embraced the challenge with great enthusiasm, carrying buckets of water and completing lap after lap around the field—demonstrating empathy, teamwork, and a strong sense of social justice. Their efforts not only supported an important cause but also showed the strength of our school community when we come together to make a difference.

A heartfelt thank you to all the students who participated. Your commitment and compassion were evident in every step you took. You should all feel incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved today. Well done!

The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award Is.......

I am delighted to announce Palesa as the final recipient of this term's 'Wearing Uniform with Pride' award! Palesa has consistently demonstrated an exemplary commitment to presenting himself in both his school and sports uniforms. her attention to detail and respectful presentation have been noticed and appreciated by staff and peers alike. Congratulations, Palesa, on ending the term with such a positive and commendable achievement!

SCHOOL HOURS

Supervision of students commences at 8:30am, there is no supervision prior to this time, therefore no students should be onsite.

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.

Project Compassion - Caritas