Message From Our Principal

Welcome back to all our students, families, and staff! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable break. Term 2 brings a fresh start filled with exciting learning opportunities, engaging activities, and community events. We're eager to continue our journey of growth and achievement together. Let's make this term a memorable one!

The staff returned to school a week earlier than the students and had three engaging days of learning, collaboration, and professional growth with Dr Jared Cooney Horvath’s focusing on the Science of Learning. They learnt about the following:

-What is the Science of Learning? 

-Foundations of Human Thinking 

-Stress & Performance 

-Principles of Effective Relationships 

-Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Learning 

-Learning Principles 

-Memory and Learning

-The Transfer Dilemma and the Learning Trajectory, and

-The Mystery of Creativity

There was also an introduction to Steplab with Ollie Lovell.

We were honoured to participate in this year's local ANZAC Day commemorations, and I am incredibly proud of all our students who attended and represented our school with respect and dignity. A special acknowledgment goes to James, Lil, Angie, and Archer, who delivered heartfelt speeches during the ceremony. Their thoughtful words and confident presentations were a testament to their understanding of the significance of ANZAC Day and the values it embodies. Our students' involvement in such important community events reflects their commitment to remembering and honouring those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.

A special thank you to Belinda and her dedicated team of helpers for organising the Wonderful Women's Stall. Their hard work and creativity made the stall a tremendous success, adding a vibrant touch to the celebration. We are grateful for their contribution and the joy they brought to the event.

I hope you enjoy a weekend celebrating and spoiling all of the marvellous women in your lives!

We are thrilled to share the ongoing success of Mini Paddy's Playgroup, led by the ever-enthusiastic Abby. Held every Tuesday morning at 9:00 AM, the playgroup has become a cherished part of our school community, offering a warm and welcoming environment for our youngest learners and their families. The sessions are filled with engaging activities that promote early development and social interaction, and it's been heartening to see such strong attendance each week. We look forward to continuing this joyful start to the week and welcome all families with young children to join us.

This term we welcome a new Learning Support Officer, Sean McDonell, to the St Patrick's team. Sean is currently enrolled in the Certificate IV in School Based Education Support with the Institute of Teacher Aide Courses. He brings a strong passion for supporting students in their learning journey and is committed to working alongside our teachers and fellow Learning Support Officers to create a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Sean shares, “My desire to pursue a new pathway in Education Support is that I am passionate about supporting children and young adults in achieving their best. I want to work collaboratively in a team with fellow LSO and teachers to build positive relationships with students and help them work towards their goals while at school.”

We are excited to have Sean as part of our team and look forward to the valuable contribution he will make to our students’ learning experiences.

We are thrilled to share the success of our recent School Cross Country Event, where every student from all year levels participated with enthusiasm and determination. The event was a celebration of physical fitness, school spirit, and personal achievement. It was inspiring to see our students support one another, challenge themselves, and embrace the spirit of healthy competition. Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding effort and sportsmanship. We look forward to building on this momentum in future events!

Mrs Brennan has shred results and photos o the Specialist Page of this newsletter.

Yesterday we switched off our lights for the whole day as a symbol of our commitment to caring for creation.  

This action is symbolic of our commitment to the preservation of God’s fragile creation. It is also symbolic of our solidarity with those who are suffering due to climate change. 

We also learnt just how much natural light we have in our classrooms.

School Photos

Spice Drive

Due to popular demand, the Spice Drive is back in 2025!!

It even has a fresh new menu to whet the appetite!

Every sachet comes with its own unique recipe, and all mixes are pure spice; which means gluten, dairy, salt and additive FREE.  Some of the mixes are also garlic/onion free too.  For anyone with an intolerance, these blends are a game-changer! To learn more about each specific spice blend please visit www.saucyspice.com.au

Order forms will go home with students this week, otherwise please drop into the office or email rhiannanbrennan@gmail.com if you’d like to place an order (order form also available in comments).

The Drive will run for approximately 2weeks, so please have your orders returned to the office by no later than Friday 16th May.

Discover the Heart of Learning at St Patrick’s!

Come along to our Open Day & Information Evening to see what makes our school so special – from joyful classrooms and strong values to a welcoming community that feels like family. 

You might just find the perfect place for your child to learn and grow!

Register your interest here: https://forms.office.com/r/7RXa9qmFYu

🌟 Mental Health Support at St Patrick’s 🌟 

At St Patrick’s, we care deeply about every student’s wellbeing, and we know that good mental health is just as important as learning to read and write. 

That’s why we’re proud to be part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative! 

As part of this program, we have a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader on staff. Mrs Geenah Loughran is our Leader and her job is to: 

• Support students' wellbeing and mental health across the whole school. 
• Help teachers spot any students who may need extra support. 
• Lead programs that teach students important life skills like resilience, emotional awareness, and confidence. 
• Help families connect with external services if needed. 

Mrs Loughran (Mrs Gee) works closely with teachers, leadership, students, and families to make sure every child feels safe, valued, and supported. 

If you ever have any concerns about your child's wellbeing, or just want to know more about the support we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are here to work alongside you! 

Together, we can build a strong, supportive school community where every child can shine. 🌟 

Important Health Reminder: 48-Hour Rule for Gastrointestinal Illnesses

To help prevent the spread of illness within our school community, we kindly remind parents and carers that if your child experiences vomiting or diarrhoea, they should remain at home and not attend school for at least 48 hours after the last episode. This guideline is in line with health recommendations to ensure that children are no longer contagious before returning to school. 

Adhering to this 48-hour exclusion period is crucial in minimising the risk of outbreaks and maintaining a healthy environment for all students and staff. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to the well-being of our school community.

For more information on preventing the spread of gastroenteritis, please visit Healthdirect Australia.

To focus on the positive we will acknowledge students with excellent attendance at the end of the term!!

MAGNIFY SANDHURST

 Learn more about Magnify Sandhurst at  https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/lea.../magnify-sandhurst

A new day, a new podcast show! We’re proud to launch Magnify Matters, a podcast proudly produced by Catholic Education Sandhurst focused on teacher practice, system-wide improvement, and the science of learning.

We’ve dropped two BIG episodes today:

- Magnify Sandhurst: The story so far 

- Inside the science of learning with Dr Jared Cooney Horvath

- And stay tuned as new episodes drop every Monday at 6am.

Magnify Matters follows the rollout of Magnify Sandhurst, our bold, evidence-informed school improvement initiative across 51 schools in regional Victoria.

We’ll be sharing our story and speaking with educational leaders from our world class partners. You’ll get a front row seat to hear from respected educators as they work with us to create lasting change for every student, every teacher, every school, every day in Sandhurst. 

This won’t just be academic, you’ll hear from people involved at all points of the project - the joys, the trials and the tribulations of those of us working together to ensure lasting learner growth across every school, for every teacher and every student, on every day.   

To listen, search 'Catholic Education Sandhurst' on your favourite podcast app.  https://magnifymatters.captivate.fm/listen

Stay with us as we magnify what truly matters in education.