Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see many of our mums and special friends at our morning and mass this week. We wish all of our families a Happy Mothers Day this weekend.

Today, four of our Year 6 students proudly represented St Patrick's at the City of Kingston Junior Mayor Elections. Please read below for an update.

A reminder that Harmony Day will be celebrated at our school on Friday 15th May. On this day, students may wear a touch of orange or a national dress. Further details can be found below.

Warm regards,

Joelle Diakrousis, Deputy Principal / Learning Diversity Leader

Anthony Speranza, Deputy Principal / Learning & Teaching Leader

Child Safety Awareness for May - Child Safety Standard 4

Please see the Child Safety page for further information

City of Kingston Junior Mayor elections

Congratulations to Noah, Emma, Henry and Juliette who represented our school proudly at this year’s City of Kingston Junior Mayor elections, held today at Kingston Town Hall. Schools in the council were invited to bring a team of students to respond to the question "What are three ways Council could help young people get involved in activities, programs and decisions in the community?". Our students delivered a very polished presentation that was both informative and compelling.

Students attending from all of the various schools in the Junior Mayor election had the opportunity to listen to all presentations, and then vote for their favourite. Our students will be repeating their presentation at the assembly tomorrow.

We are thrilled to let you know that our head speaker Noah has been elected onto the Junior Council for Kingston for 2025, representing the Como ward!

Noah will have the opportunity to work with the Rotary club and Kingston Youth Services to further learn about leadership and governance structures in council.

Harmony Day

We are excited to announce that our school will be hosting a belated Harmony Day celebration on Friday, May 15th. Harmony Day is a time for us to celebrate multiculturalism in Australia. Its core message is "Everyone Belongs," reinforcing the importance of inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.

To mark the occasion, all students are invited to wear a touch of orange or their traditional national dress. Orange is the official colour of Harmony Day; traditionally, it signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. We look forward to seeing bursts of orange and a vibrant display of our school's diverse heritage as we come together to celebrate what makes our community unique.

Students will be asked to complete a handprint task which will be contributed to a school display. Please note that the task is due back on Friday 8th May.

The handprints will be on display at the Friday assembly on Friday May 15th, hosted by Year 3EL for a special presentation.

Seasons for Growth 2026

A notice has been shared on NFORMA inviting families to express their interest in their child participating in the Seasons for Growth program this year.

At times in life, children experience change or loss that can feel confusing, overwhelming, or difficult to manage on their own. To support students during these times, we will once again be offering the Seasons for Growth program at school this year.

What is Seasons for Growth?

Seasons for Growth is a small-group program designed to support children who have experienced significant change or loss, such as the death of a loved one, family separation, friendship changes, moving house, or other important life transitions.

The program:

Helps children understand that change and loss are a normal part of life
Provides a safe space to share experiences (if they choose)
Builds emotional literacy and coping skills
Encourages resilience and connectedness

Sessions will be facilitated by Mrs Diakrousis and will run in small groups during school hours. The program will recommence in Week 2.

Students who participated last year are welcome to continue the program and will build on their previous learning. New students will begin the program from the first session, which introduces the core concepts and foundations of the program.

Please contact Mrs Diakrousis for further details

Resilience Groups - also known as Bounceback!

This term, Mrs Diakrousis will also be starting the Resilience Groups for select students in Years 1–5. The Resilience Group (also known as the Bounce Back! Group) is designed to support students who may benefit from additional social and emotional skills to help them better manage challenges and build confidence.

An email was shared with all families from Year 1-5 to provide an overview of the program.

The lessons will take place once a fortnight from 2:00pm, ensuring that core learning areas are not interrupted. Sessions will begin in Week 3.

Through small group sessions, students will learn strategies related to:

the Zones of Regulation (understanding and managing emotions)
managing worries and big emotions
building positive friendships and social skills
developing confidence and independence
problem-solving and coping with setbacks

The lessons are based on evidence-informed approaches to social and emotional learning and are delivered in a supportive, safe environment where students can share and practise new skills.

If you are interested in your child participating, please respond to the form on NForma.

Random Acts of Kindness

We are delighted to celebrate the following students for their exceptional kindness and compassion. Whether through a small gesture or an intentional act of support, you have made our school a more inclusive and welcoming place. Thank you for living our values and serving as such inspiring role models for your peers. Keep up the wonderful work!"

Cassie O. (4DM) For her kindness and support of another student when they were upset.

Parish Bulletin