WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back to the second term. I trust that each and every one of you had a wonderful break and cherished the moments spent with your dear ones. As we glance at the school calendar, it is evident that the second term is going to be filled with numerous engagements for different individuals within our school community in the very near future.

Possible change to some parts of our uniform in the future

During the School Advisory Council Meeting held at the conclusion of the previous term, a matter was brought up concerning potential alterations to our school uniform. Rest assured, there is no cause for alarm as this was merely a suggestion. Based on my past involvement in altering school uniforms, I can attest that extensive discussions are necessary prior to implementing any changes.

I understand certain points raised during the meeting and I particularly agree on the issue of girls' sports uniforms. Short skirts may not be suitable for certain sports, and I am aware that many girls already opt for blue navy shorts as part of their sports attire.

For me, I believe our uniform is one of the best in the diocese and if we are to change, some aspects, we need to think of our school history and identity, the climate, designs, costing, transition periods, etc.

However, this has been a suggestion only and I am not willing to make any executive decision on whether we should change any part of our school and sports uniform without going through the correct channels. In the very near future, I will be sending home a survey requesting for all of our families thoughts and suggestions on this proposal. Once this is completed, I will decide on our next course of action.

Mother's Day Breakfast

The P and F will be having a Mother's Day Breakfast under the COLA tomorrow commencing at approximately 7.45am. There will be a number of events coinciding with the breakfast, including family portraits, massages for our wonderful mothers and many more! We hope to see all our wonderful mothers and grandmothers tomorrow morning.

OPEN MORNING for 2025 Kindergarten Students - 14th May 9:30am-11am

The Open Morning 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.

Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2025.

Our school open morning for Kindergarten will be Tuesday 14th May 2024.

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

spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

ANZAC DAY MARCH

I was very proud of the students from our school who took part in the ANZAC Day March last Thursday. The students displayed pride and respect as they represented our school. They paid tribute to those who have served to protect Australia, as well as the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to defend the freedom that we all enjoy in this country today.

GOOD LUCK - Grace F, Jessica & Angus

Tomorrow, Grace F, Jessica, and Angus will participate in the Polding Winter Trials for both Girls and Boys Hockey in Tamworth. We extend our sincerest wishes for their success and have full confidence that they will represent our school with utmost excellence.

WINTER UNIFORM

Thank you parents for your support in ensuring your child/children are fully dressed in their correct uniform each day. Our uniform standard is a very important aspect of our school brand. It teaches the children to show pride, understand that standards are important in their lives, as well as respecting the community they belong to. Each of us play an important part in our SCHOOL BRAND.

Welcome Mitch and Dr Cameron

During the upcoming two weeks, St Patrick's will be honoured to welcome two distinguished guests, Mitch Tambo and Dr Cameron Stelzer. These esteemed individuals will not only grace us with their performances but also conduct workshops for our students.

Mitch Tambo is Australia's unique and dynamic First Nations entertainer, renowned as "the new voice of our generation." His debut album "Guurrama-Li" topped charts worldwide. Mitch's powerful renditions of iconic songs, like 'You’re the Voice' at the historic Fire Fight Concert, showcase his commitment to preserving Gamilaraay language and culture. His electrifying pop single 'Yugal Yulu-gi' marked his tenth consecutive #1 iTunes Worldwide Chart success. Mitch has received two Golden Guitar Award nominations and passionately supports various social causes.

On Monday 13th May, Dr Cameron Stelzer will be visiting the school. Cameron Stelzer, an Australian author and illustrator, is dedicated to creating captivating children's books and nurturing a passion for reading, writing, and creativity in young individuals. Renowned as one of Australia's beloved children's authors, Stelzer's collection of over thirty books, such as the acclaimed Pie Rats series, the whimsical Scallywags series, the engaging SOS series, instructional drawing books, and the delightful Stroogle picture book series, have captivated, motivated, and thrilled children. Stelzer's literary works have been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the International Book Awards, the Book Excellence Awards, the American Fiction Awards, and the NYC Big Book Awards.

Dr. Cameron will be in charge of conducting several presentations and workshops with all the students on this particular day.

Australian Early Development Census

From May 2024, our school, along with thousands of others across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.

The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years. Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information.

The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need. AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.

Some teachers have found that completing the AEDC made them more aware of the needs of individual children and their class, and that the data was useful for planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing programs. Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however, the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection.

2024 Remaining Staff Development Days (PD Days)

Monday 22nd July (First day of Term 3)

Monday 14th October (First day of Term 4)

Friday 20th December (Last day of Term 4)

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.

Classroom Gallery

More Highlights from Anzac Day