Dear families,

Last week marked a significant moment in the life of our wider Church, as the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat gathered to celebrate the ordination and installation of Bishop Mark Freeman as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat.

The celebration brought together bishops, clergy, parish representatives and members of the broader community, reflecting the strong sense of unity that exists across our diocese. Led by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, the ceremony honoured the rich traditions of the Church, including the laying on of hands, prayers of consecration, and the moment Bishop Mark was seated in the cathedral - formally beginning his ministry among us.

For us at St Patrick’s, occasions like this are a powerful reminder that our school is part of something much bigger. Our ongoing involvement in parish life connects our students to the living tradition of the Church, helping them to understand their place within both the local parish and the wider diocesan community.

In his address, Bishop Mark spoke with humility and gratitude, expressing his desire to serve the people of the diocese with faith, hope and love. He also acknowledged the faithful leadership of Bishop Paul Bird, whose contribution has helped shape the strong and vibrant community we are part of today.

As a school community, we look forward to opportunities to continue growing in our connection with the parish and supporting our students to engage meaningfully in the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church. We keep Bishop Mark in our prayers as he begins his ministry and leads our diocese into the future with hope.

As we come to the end of Term 1, I would like to sincerely thank our entire St Patrick’s community for what has been a wonderful start to the year. The energy, positivity and commitment shown by our students, staff and families have set a strong foundation for the months ahead.

It has been a term filled with learning, connection and many opportunities to grow together as a community. We are grateful for the way our families continue to support the life of the school.

As we enter this sacred time of Easter, we are reminded of the message of hope, renewal and new life that sits at the heart of our faith.

Wishing all of our families a happy and holy Easter, and a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 2.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

On Tuesday evening, a number of our Year 4 students gathered as part of the St Patrick’s parish community to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a reverent and reflective experience, marking an important step in their faith journey as they prepared their hearts through an Examination of Conscience and encountered God’s mercy in a very personal way.

We extend our sincere thanks to Bishop Mark Freeman for leading the celebration, along with Fr Jim, Fr Abraham and Fr Marcello for their support in making the evening so meaningful for our students and families.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation invites us to pause, reflect and renew. It is a sacred opportunity for students to consider their choices, acknowledge moments where they may have fallen short, and experience the peace that comes through God’s forgiveness. Through this sacrament, our students are reminded that God’s love is constant, and that each new day offers the opportunity to begin again.

At St Patrick’s, we see this as more than a one-time event. It is part of an ongoing journey of forming compassionate, reflective and faith-filled young people who seek to live in right relationship with God and others.

Project Compassion Fundraiser at St Patrick’s

During the season of Lent, our school community will once again support Caritas Australia through the annual Project Compassion initiative. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to put their faith into action by showing care and generosity towards others in need around the world.

On Wednesday 1st April, we will be holding a fun fundraising day at St Patrick’s and we invite all students to come to school wearing their craziest socks. Students are asked to bring a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going towards Project Compassion.

On the same day, we will also be holding some friendly classroom competitions. Each class will work together to create:

the longest coin line, and
the most valuable coin line.

Students are encouraged to bring along any spare coins they may have at home to help their class with the challenge. It promises to be a fun and engaging way for students to contribute while also learning about the importance of supporting others.

All money raised will be donated to Project Compassion, helping support communities around the world through the work of Caritas Australia.

Winter Uniform - Terms 2 & 3

As we move into Term 2, students will transition from summer to winter uniform. We ask that all students return next term wearing the correct winter uniform, helping to maintain a consistent and neat standard across the school.

A sincere thank you to Emily for her ongoing support in coordinating the second-hand uniform stall. It has been fantastic to see so many families taking advantage of this opportunity in preparation for the seasonal change. Your time and organisation are greatly appreciated and make a real difference to our community.

Further detailed information about our uniform can be found on the Uniform tab. In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight our general presentation expectations for all students at St Patrick’s. We thank families for your continued support in upholding these standards.

School Uniform Expectations

At St Patrick’s Primary School, we encourage students to take pride in their appearance and wear the correct school uniform at all times. A consistent and neat uniform supports a sense of belonging, school identity, and personal responsibility. Parents can support this by ensuring that uniforms are clean, tidy and correctly worn, with all items clearly labelled. School shoes should be polished, and school hats are compulsory and must be worn whenever students are outside (terms 1 & 4). If there is a need to vary from the uniform for any reason, a note to the school explaining the temporary variation is expected.

Personal Presentation

Students’ hair should be their natural colour, worn off the face, and tied back if long, in a style that allows the school hat to be worn comfortably. Hair accessories should reflect school colours - green and gold - and be plain or made from school uniform fabric. Hairstyles should not be extreme, and lines, shaved designs, make-up, nail polish and temporary tattoos are not permitted. It is expected that these uniform and presentation standards are upheld at all times, including when returning from holidays or travel, as students are required to present in full school uniform and appropriate presentation from the first day back.

2027 Foundation Enrolments

2027 Foundation Enrolments are now open. If you have a child in kindergarten and you would like to secure a place for them in Foundation at St Patrick's in 2027, you need to follow the enrolment application process outlined on our website: www.spballarat.catholic.edu.au

Please note - this is for all enrolments including our current St Patrick's families. Applications close on 14th May.

Toilet Refurbishment Update

Further to our recent communication regarding the refurbishment of the senior-end toilets, we’re pleased to provide a positive update on the progress of these works.

All aspects of the project are currently on track, with minimal disruption to day-to-day school operations. We thank both students and staff for the way they have adapted to the temporary arrangements, which has helped ensure learning time has remained largely uninterrupted.

This week, contractors are fitting the new flooring, marking an important step forward in the refurbishment process. Looking ahead, the installation of new partitions is scheduled to take place over the holiday break, which will position the project well for completion early next term.

As always, student safety remains a priority, with the work area continuing to be clearly managed and contained.

And, for a lighter moment - our builders shared that they were approached by a group of senior boys with a very specific request: the addition of a mirror in the boys’ toilets! While no promises have been made, it certainly gave everyone a good laugh and shows just how invested our students are in the project.

End of Term

Next Thursday is the Way of the Cross in which will be held on the turf at 9:15am - all families are most welcome.

Please note that Term 1 concludes on Thursday at 2:30pm.

SchoolTV

This week on SchoolTV you will find a focus topic on Happiness and Gratitude.

“Happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort. It’s more than simply a positive mood, it’s a state of wellbeing that encompasses living a good life.”

All Editions | St Patrick's School - Ballarat (schooltv.me)

Kind regards,

Ben Shields

School Calendar Term 2