Dear Families,

Thank you to all families for preparing your children so beautifully for the start of the 2026 school year. Today, as I’ve visited classrooms and learning spaces, I’ve been truly impressed by how settled, confident and ready to learn our students are. While the lead-up to a new year can bring a mix of emotions, I can assure you that the students have had the very best start we could have hoped for.

Thank you also to our staff, who have worked with great care and professionalism to prepare engaging, purposeful learning for the year ahead.

We extend a very warm welcome to all new students and families joining our St Patrick’s community in 2026. Your presence enriches our school, and we look forward to getting to know you and partnering with you in your child’s learning journey. To our returning families and students – welcome back! We missed your smiles, laughter and energy over the break, and we’re excited to continue the adventure of learning together.

As the year unfolds, I encourage all families to regularly check in with the St Patrick’s School Newsletter. This is our key communication channel and where you’ll find important dates, operational information, celebrations of learning, updates, and reminders throughout the year. Staying connected through the newsletter ensures you’re well informed and able to engage fully in school life.

We also understand that the beginning of a new school year can be both exciting and challenging for families. Please remember that our staff are here to support you and your child. If you have any questions, concerns, or simply need to touch base, don’t hesitate to reach out. We value strong partnerships with families and look forward to a positive, collaborative year ahead.

New Bishop for Ballarat

Over the holidays Pope Leo XIV appointed Parish Priest, Fr Mark William Freeman (aged 66), as the new Bishop of Ballarat. He will succeed Bishop Paul Bird CSsR who has led the diocese since 2012. Fr Mark Freeman will be ordained to the episcopacy and installed as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat in mid-March 2026. We look forward to welcoming Fr Mark Freeman to our school community.

Beginning of Year Mass

This year our Beginning of Year Mass will be held in the Madden Hall at 10am on Friday 6th February. All families are warmly invited to join us for this celebration.

Family Connections interviews

We are thrilled to invite you to a Family Connection Session to build a learning partnership between school and home. The Family Connections last year provided valuable insights to really promote and support the learning partnerships.

Date: Mon 9th and Tues 17th Feb

Time: 3:30 - 6:00 pm at 10 minute intervals.

This unique session aims to foster a strong partnership between parents and teachers (children are welcome to attend but not required) by providing a dedicated 10-minute opportunity for you to connect with your child's teacher and share valuable information to build a collaborative and supportive environment for your child’s learning journey.

These 10 minutes will provide you with the opportunity to -

Share insights about your child – their interests, strengths, and any special considerations.
Share family traditions and rituals that are important to your child.
Meet your child’s teacher and learn about the classroom environment and what to expect throughout the year.

From this afternoon, you may login to your PAM account to book a time to ensure your family has the opportunity for a meaningful discussion.

Meet our 2026 staff team

Please see the below email addresses for our staff. Feel free to reach out to us and you will hear from us within regular business hours.

Administration Team
Administration Officer	Julia Geue	jgeue@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Business Manager	Michelle Cushing	mcushing@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

General enquiries	(03) 53 32 7680	info@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

Leadership Structure
Principal	Ben Shields	principal@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Deputy Principal	Thea Hubble	thubble@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Religious Education Leader	Kerin Johnson	kjohnson@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Learning Diversity & Mental Health Leader	Nicole Reynolds	nreynolds@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

Teaching Team
Chelsea Greenbank (F/1G)	cgreenbank@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Paige Irvin (F/1I)	pirvin@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Cecily Frost (1/2F)	cfrost@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Marney O'Brien (1/2O)	mobrien@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Narelle Lamb (2/3L)	nlamb@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Melissa Cornell (3/4C)	mcornell@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Ben Stott (3/4S)	bstott@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Kaitlyn Arnold (5/6AM - M-W)	karnold@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Kate Mahon (5/6AM - Th-F)	kmahon@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Kathy Finn (5/6F)	kfinn@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Matthew Wakely (5/6W)	mwakely@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

Specialist Teachers
Julie Delaney - Healthy Living	jdelaney@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Emma Ferguson - Indonesian	eferguson@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Kerin Johnson - Music	kjohnson@spballarat.catholic.edu.au
Aaron Valentine - Physical Education	avalentine@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

School Counsellor
Sharalle Raven	sraven@spballarat.catholic.edu.au

Support Staff
Daniela Attard	Eloise Sheridan
Lolita Brain	Sue Squire
Claire Gillett	Kylie Weyers
Jo Halsall	Cathy Whelan
Kaye Rix

Maintenance
Peter Anderson

Sacramental Program 2026

Reconciliation - Term 1

Grade 4 & Above

Parent Information Meetings -

St Patrick Parish Primary School at 9 am on Tuesday, 10th February (For St Patrick’s families)
Parish info session in Glowrey Room at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 5.30 pm on Thursday, 12th February (Open to all)

Presentation of candidates at Masses

28th February Saturday 5.30 pm, 1st March Sunday 10.30 am and 5 pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral

(No presentation masses on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March - due to Labour Day Long weekend)

14th March Saturday 5.30 pm/15th March Sunday 10.30 and 5 pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral
21st March Saturday 5.30 pm/22nd March Sunday 10.30 and 5 pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Sacrament of Reconciliation Date:

Tuesday 24th March 5:30 pm Co-ordinated by St Patrick’s and Siena at St Patrick's Cathedral

Important Dates for 2026

To support our families with early organisation, we are pleased to share a set of key dates for the 2026 school year. Providing this information now helps ensure everyone can plan ahead with confidence - whether it’s booking family commitments, arranging care, or simply preparing for the year to come.

There are, of course, many more relevant dates across the school year; however, the list provided captures several of the major events and milestones to help guide your 2026 planning. You will find the 2026 Term 1 calendar available now also.

Term 1
29th January	First day of term one for students
16th February	School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Literacy)
2nd April	Term 1 Concludes
Term 2
20th April	Term 2 Commences
20-22nd April	Grade 5/6 Camp
26th May	School Photos
5th June	School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Collaboration)
8th June	King’s Birthday Public Holiday
26th June	Term 2 Concludes
Term 3
13th July	Term 3 Commences
31st July	School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Religious Education)
1st September	School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Literacy)
18th September	Term 3 Concludes
Term 4
5th October	Term 4 Commences
2nd November	School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Numeracy)
3rd November	Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
13th November	School Sports Day
17th December	Last day of Term 4

Note: Foundation students have Wednesdays off throughout February - first full week at the beginning of March.

2026 Classroom Helper - Child Safety Induction Sessions

We value any time parents support us with learning activities or special events such as excursions and Mother's and Father's Day stalls and breakfasts.

If you would like to participate in any such activities, you are required to attend a 'Child Safety Induction' session each year.

For those of you getting prepared for 2026, the following sessions are available in Term 1.

Sessions run for 20 min.
Tues 10th Feb 9 am	Fri 13th Feb 9 am	Wed 18th Feb 2:45pm	Thurs 19th Feb 9 am
Tues 3rd Mar 9 am	Fri 6th Mar 9 am	Wed 11th Mar 2:45pm	Thurs 12th Mar 9 am

SchoolTV

This week on SchoolTV you will find a focus topic on New Beginnings.

Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!

However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.

Click on the link below to access a wealth of videos, articles, and resources on the aforementioned topics.

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

Kind regards,

Ben Shields

School Calendar Term 1-2026 UPDATED as of 29/1