Where has this Term gone so far?

Where has this term gone? I trust that everyone had a wonderful, restful long weekend and enjoyed the extra time with family and friends.

The past few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of energy and excitement across our school. Our community has been bustling with memorable events, including our Catholic Schools Week, Parent Assembly and various special ceremonies. Our students have also been heavily engaged beyond the classroom—preparing and competing at the Athletics Carnival and exploring new opportunities at the Walcha Central School Taster Day.

I also extend my warmest congratulations to Campbell and Thibaud , who recently celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This was a beautiful milestone for them and a very special moment for our school community.

With just over three weeks left of Term 2, our calendar remains incredibly packed. The final weeks promise to be just as busy and exciting as the first half, so please be sure to check the dates and event details outlined throughout this newsletter.

On that note, I better get myself ready for the high jump tomorrow!

Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to everyone involved in making yesterday’s Athletics Carnival at Walcha Central School such a wonderful success. The day was filled with great sportsmanship, outstanding effort, and a true sense of community spirit. A huge thank you goes out to all of our students for participating so enthusiastically and giving their absolute best in every event. I also extend my gratitude to the parents, families, and supporters who came along to cheer, as well as the staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. This carnival simply could not have happened without your collective support.

I am thrilled to celebrate three of our outstanding students who made history by breaking school records at yesterday’s athletics carnival! Josie put on a masterclass in the Senior Girls division, throwing her way to a new record in the Discus. Meanwhile, our 11 Years Girls absolutely dominated on the field and track; Lucy showcased incredible technique and power to set a new benchmark in the Shot Put, while Phoebe had a stellar day of competition, shattering school records in both the 200m sprint and the Long Jump.

The sporting action is not quite over yet, as tomorrow we will conduct our final event of the carnival, the High Jump, on the top playground. The competition will begin with the Seniors and 11 Years Olds jumping from 9:00 am, followed by the Juniors at 10:00 am. Our Juveniles will then take their turns to compete at 1:00 pm, commencing straight after the conclusion of Mass.

Following the completion of the high jump, the entire school community is warmly invited to gather under the COLA at 2:30 pm for our official presentation ceremony. During this special event, we will celebrate our students' achievements by announcing all of the Age Champions and Runners-Up, crowning the overall winning House, and revealing the squad who will be representing St Patrick's Primary at the Armidale Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival in Tamworth early next term. Best of luck to all our competitors with the high jump tomorrow.

School Mass and Holy Communion Celebrations

The celebrations continue for our school community tomorrow, Friday 12th June, as we gather to celebrate Mass together at St Patrick's Catholic Church. The service will commence at 12:00 pm, and all parents, families, and parish members are warmly invited to attend and join us for this special occasion.

During tomorrow's school Mass, I also wish the absolute best to Angus, Freddie, and Jack, who will be receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the very first time. This is a special milestone for these students, and I ask that you please keep these students and their families in your thoughts and prayers as they mark this memorable step in their spiritual journeys. I look forward to sharing this wonderful celebration with you all.

Semester 1 Reports

Reports will be sent home electronically via the Compass parent portal on Friday 26th June. If you would like a paper copy of your child's report, can you please let us know? If parents have any questions and/or would like to have a meeting with their child's class teacher, they can contact them to arrange a suitable time to meet or discuss any matters in regard to their child's learning during Week 11.

How to view your child's report on Compass

Log into Compass

To view the Semester 1 report either click on the link in the newsfeed or select your child's profile (photo) and click Reports, select 2026 Semester 1 Report.

ICAS Assessments 2026: Key Dates Approaching

The annual International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are just around the corner for 2026, offering students an opportunity to challenge their academic skills in various subjects. These online assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence, encouraging higher-order thinking and problem-solving abilities.

ICAS Assessments cover a range of subjects, including:

Digital Technologies
Writing
English
Science
Spelling Bee
Mathematics

For many subjects, the main sitting windows will occur in August 2026.

ICAS provides a valuable benchmark for students, allowing them to see how their performance compares against peers nationally and internationally. All participating students receive a certificate, with top performers also eligible for Distinction, High Distinction, and even medals.

How to participate in ICAS 

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please: 

read about ICAS subjects and prices here: (icasassessments.com/products-icas) 
go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/YHA639 
enter the parent’s access code – YHA639
enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.

Upcoming Event Term 4 - New England Sings 2026 Term 4 for Years 3-6

NEW ENGLAND SINGS! 2026 COMBINED PRIMARY CHOIRS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Armidale and surrounding schools – outreach schools will have rehearsals scheduled at their own school. However, outreach schools are welcome to attend the Armidale workshops if possible.

This event is quickly beginning to take shape. It promises to be a massive celebration of music, with over 1,000 students participating from 36 different schools across the New England Region.

Ian Jefferson will attend the workshops throughout the year and conduct the Primary choirs at the final weekend of rehearsals and concerts.

St PATRICK’S WALCHA REHEARSAL with Ian Jefferson

Date: Wednesday 29th July

Time: 9.30am-10.45am

FINAL REHEARSAL (all schools, including outreach schools to attend):Date: Saturday 31 October (directed by Ian Jefferson) Time: Primary Choir 1 9:00am – 10:45am

Venue: Lazenby Hall, UNE

CONCERT:Date: Sunday 1 November Time: Primary Choir 1 11:00am – 1:00pm (arrive at 9:30am)

Venue: Lazenby Hall, UNE

St Patrick’s School is an outreach school for the rehearsals but we will attempt to attend two of the rehearsals in Armidale.

Parents will have to commit to the Saturday 31st October - Final Rehearsal and Sunday 1st November Concert. If they wish their child to participate in New England Sings.

A short video on what New England Sings! is all about is included below:

School Hours & Supervision

Teachers commence duty at 8:30am and finish duty when the last bus leaves St Patrick’s approximately 3:10pm.

Supervision begins at 8:30am in the COLA

School starts: 9am (Bell - 8:50am)

Recess: 11:00am – 11:30am

Lunch: 1:30pm – 2:10pm

School finishes: 3.00pm.

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS

The school office hours are 8:30am to 3:30pm

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.

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