Dear families,

One of the things I love most about St Patrick’s is the sense of community that exists here. Over the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed seeing this come to life in so many different ways. Our Hot Chocolate Morning was a perfect example. Although I couldn’t be there myself, I heard how lovely the Hot Chocolate Morning was - with students enjoying a hot chocolate with their friends, families dropping in and staff taking the time to chat and connect. It was a wonderful reminder that it is often these simple moments of togetherness that make a school truly feel like a community.

I have also loved seeing the enthusiasm around Run Club. There is something pretty special about watching students arrive early, ready to run, walk, talk and laugh together before the school day even begins. With more than 50 students getting involved at times, it has become a wonderful part of our school culture and another opportunity for our children to simply enjoy being together.

There is plenty more to look forward to, too, with our School Disco and Father’s Day Breakfast coming up. I know how much work goes into these events behind the scenes, and I am incredibly grateful to our staff, parents and volunteers who give their time and energy to make them happen. They might seem like small events in the busy life of a school, but I think they matter enormously. They give us the chance to put the books and timetables aside for a little while, come together, have some fun and create memories with our children.

These are the moments I think we will remember. They are the moments that make a school feel like our school. I feel very fortunate to be part of a community where people genuinely care about one another, where families get involved, where our students are excited to be here and where there is such a strong sense of belonging.

A Day of Formation and Connection

On Friday 31 July, our school was closed for students as staff from across the Cathedral Parish schools came together for a day of professional formation. These days provide an important opportunity for our staff to step away from the day-to-day demands of school life, reflect on our shared mission and consider how we can continue to strengthen the experiences we provide for our students.

We were also grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Bishop Mark and Fr Justin, listening to their reflections and engaging in conversation about our shared role in supporting the faith formation of children and families. These opportunities for dialogue are incredibly valuable, reminding us that Catholic education is fundamentally relational. Our work is strengthened when schools, parish and diocesan leadership work together with a shared understanding of the mission we have been entrusted with.

As a Catholic school, our work extends beyond curriculum and learning. It is about forming young people who understand that to love is to serve, and who recognise their responsibility to contribute positively to the communities of which they are a part. Days such as this allow our staff to reflect on this shared purpose and continue building consistency and excellence across our schools.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Our Junior students have recently had the opportunity to visit Bill Crawford Lodge, providing a wonderful opportunity to connect with members of our local community. These experiences are incredibly valuable for our children. They help students develop confidence in interacting with people of different generations, while also reinforcing the importance of belonging, respect and genuine connection.

Community connections are an important part of education at St Patrick’s. We want our students to understand that their world extends well beyond the school gates and that everyone has a story, knowledge and experiences that are worthy of listening to and learning from.

Our Middle and Senior students have also been taking their learning beyond the classroom, visiting Scienceworks this week. The excursions have been deliberately connected to the science learning taking place within classrooms, giving students the opportunity to see concepts explored at school brought to life through practical experiences, demonstrations and investigation.

These experiences are an important part of our approach to learning. When students can connect what they are learning in the classroom with the world around them, knowledge becomes more meaningful, memorable and relevant.

Preparing for Confirmation

Our students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation have also been undertaking important preparation in the lead-up to this significant occasion. This preparation provides an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the sacrament, reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives and consider what it means to live out their faith through their words and actions.

The Sacraments are important moments in the faith journey of our students and our wider school community. We look forward to supporting our students and families as they prepare for this special celebration.

A Visit from Bishop Mark

It was a great privilege to welcome Bishop Mark Freeman to St Patrick’s this Tuesday. Bishop Mark spent time visiting classrooms, speaking with students and teachers and joining us for morning tea.

Visits such as these are a wonderful reminder that our school is part of something much larger - our parish, the Diocese and the broader Catholic education community. The students were excited to meet Bishop Mark, ask questions and share some of what they have been learning.

We are very grateful for his time and for the genuine interest he continues to show in the life of our school.

Leave

Finally, I would like to remind families that I will be away from St Patrick’s for the coming weeks, returning to school on Monday 7 September.

I have been fortunate to be selected to participate in a Finnish Study Tour, representing the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL) as part of an international exploration of educational practice and innovation. The tour will provide opportunities to visit schools and engage with educators and educational leaders across Finland, with a particular focus on how high-performing education systems approach learning, leadership, collaboration and innovation.

While I am away, the school will continue to be in the very capable hands of our leadership team and staff. I look forward to bringing back ideas, insights and questions from the experience that can contribute to our ongoing work at St Patrick’s.

As always, thank you to our families for the wonderful support you provide our school. The strength of St Patrick’s comes from the connections between our students, staff, families, parish and wider community - and it is these connections that make our school such a special place to belong.

SchoolTV

This week on SchoolTV you will find additional resources available to gain greater insight into the importance of sleep and sleep habits.

"Children these days seem to be going to bed later and later. Distractions such as TV, computer games, internet, texting friends and social media are all having a negative impact on a child’s sleep time. Sleep is vital to a child’s wellbeing. When children sleep well, they are more settled, happier and ready for school the next day. Sleep also strengthens their immune systems, supports overall development and their ability to function properly on a daily basis. Children who do not get enough sleep show increased levels of aggressive behaviour, are less attentive and are much less active. Trying to catch up on sleep on weekends is not the answer and can still lead to severe sleep deprivation. Recent studies have shown than many children, especially teenagers, are missing out on vital REM sleep, which is particularly important for memory and learning."

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

School Calendar Term 3- Updated 13/8