Deputy Principals' Report

Dear Families,

Yesterday, the staff at St Patrick’s said their final goodbyes to our dear friend and much-loved Learning Support Officer, Ms Leanne Brown.

This has been a very difficult time for our school community, and we would like to sincerely thank you all for the incredible care, support, and kindness you have shown towards our staff during this period.

If  your child are finding it hard to cope with the recent sad losses we have experienced at St Patrick’s, we have attached some resources below that may be helpful.

We are pleased to let you know that the school will be participating in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) in August. The AMC contains a range of problems designed to challenge and extend proficient students. Parents of students in Years 3 to Year 6 are welcome to register their interest before the end of this term. A nominal fee of $9.00 is payable per registration. For further information, please see the notice below.

Warm Regards,

 Deputy Principals: Joelle Diakrousis and Anthony Speranza

SRC Update - Acknowledgement of Country

In this week’s SRC meeting, representatives considered a range of designs for an Acknowledgement of Country that will be displayed in the front office. The representatives will take these back to their classes for further discussion and voting. 

Australian Mathematics Competition, Tuesday 5th August

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is Australia’s longest running, largest and most well-known maths competition for students. The AMC contains a range of problems designed to challenge and extend students with proficient problem-solving skills from Years 3 to 12. Students interested in this competition can participate in the Middle Primary division for Years 3 and 4 and the Senior Primary division for Years 5 and 6. Participating students will complete the competition on a device and are given 60 minutes to answer 30 questions, 25 multiple choice and 5 written solutions ranging in difficulty. The topics covered include basic arithmetic content such as Fractions and Ratios, Algebra and Pre-Algebra, Geometry, Measurement, Statistics and probability, Problem-solving (including enumeration).

The cost to register for the competition is $9.00 per student. The school will facilitate the competition and will supervise the students.

If you would like your child or children to be registered for this competition please complete the form below:

https://forms.gle/da1at2e4GRbngCcp8

You will then be contacted at the start of Term 3 to finalise registration and organise payment.

Resilience Groups Year 3 & 4 (Formerly Bounceback)

Mrs Diakrousis will resume her small group Resilience sessions beginning in Week 9 of this term. At this stage, the groups will be offered to Year 3 and 4 students only.

These sessions will explore a range of strategies designed to support the development of resilience through small group activities and discussion. Our first focus will be on worry—what it is, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.

During the sessions, students will:

• Develop an understanding of what worry is and how it feels in the body
• Learn strategies to manage worry, such as Worry Time and mindfulness
• Build resilience through strengthening emotional literacy and self-regulation

The program will run as an eight-week block, with sessions held once a week in the afternoon.

We look forward to supporting our students as they continue to grow in confidence and emotional wellbeing.

Before School Drop-Off Reminder

We kindly remind all families that students should not be dropped off at the school gate before 8:30am. This is to ensure the safety and supervision of all children. Our school gates open at 8:30am, and three staff members are on duty from this time to welcome and supervise students. If you do arrive before 8:30am, we ask that you remain with your child until the gates are open.Students who walk or ride to school are encouraged to time their walk to arrive between 8:30-8:45am.  Thank you for your support in keeping our students safe. 

School Winter Uniforms

All students are now required to be in their full school winter uniform.  It is an expectation that winter shirts are tucked in at all times and that the correct shoes are also worn.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining our school’s high standard of presentation.

St Patrick’s is a Nut-Safe School

At St Patrick’s, the health and safety of our students is our top priority. We are a nut-safe school, which means we ask all families to avoid sending any food items that contain nuts or nut products.

This is to protect students in our care who have anaphylaxis or severe allergies, which can be life-threatening. Even trace amounts of nuts can cause serious reactions.

Please do not send the following items to school:

• Peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches
• Muesli bars or snack bars containing nuts
• Cakes, biscuits, or slices with nuts
• Trail mix or any snack packs containing nuts
• Satay or nut-based sauces in lunches

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping our school environment safe for all students.

If you have any questions or concerns about food safety or lunchbox options, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.

No Dogs on School Grounds

We kindly remind all families that dogs are not permitted on the school property at any time.

While we understand that many children love seeing pets at drop-off and pick-up, for the safety and comfort of all students, staff, and families, we ask that all dogs remain outside the school gates. This includes even the most well-behaved and friendly pets.

If you do bring your dog with you during school drop-off or pick-up times, please ensure they are kept on a lead and remain outside the school boundary.

Random Acts of Kindness 

We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding display of kindness and compassion towards others. Your willingness to support, encourage, and uplift those around you has set a wonderful example for our entire school community. It’s incredibly inspiring to see students across different year levels go out of their way to make others feel valued, included, and respected.

Your acts of kindness—whether through small gestures or significant efforts—are powerful reminders of the positive impact we can all have. Thank you for embodying the values that make our school a welcoming and caring place for everyone. Keep up the amazing work!

Week 7

Avery C. (4EC) For always looking out for her classmates and lending a hand without being asked.