Mr Hyatt

I need to start packing my bags!

It is often said that there is no such thing as a quiet week in a school, and this week has certainly proven that true once again! From national sporting stages to collaborative meetings, dynamic student workshops and completing all of the jobs for the upcoming excursion to Canberra.

On the sporting front, I have heard fantastic updates from Newcastle, where Josie and her NSW teammates are performing brilliantly at the Under 12 Girls National Hockey Championships. With just two games remaining, we are all cheering them on as they work towards a strong finish!

 Late last week, I attended a meeting at St Mary’s Primary in Armidale. It was a great opportunity to connect with staff members from both St Mary’s and St Joseph’s, Uralla, alongside our School Performance Leaders from Armidale Catholic Schools. Together, we shared our recent success stories, reflected on our common challenges, and discussed strategic ways to keep supporting our students' learning journeys.

Back at school, we were delighted to host the Real Talk team on Tuesday. Our Year 4 and 6 students engaged in insightful, interactive workshops focusing on self-image, online safety, and making positive choices—a truly meaningful experience for everyone involved.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, anticipation is building for our annual Crazy Sock and Hair Day in support of Catholic Mission! I am really looking forward to seeing all the creative hairstyles and vibrant socks around the yard, though I have a funny feeling I might end up taped to the wall again for a good cause!

On that note, I had better wrap up here and get on with my next job—which includes starting to pack my bags for the Year 5 and 6 excursion to Canberra next week.

Take care and I hope to catch up with everyone soon.

Transition Graduation Ceremony 9th November!

It feels as though it was just yesterday when our fifteen transition students—Archer, Arthur, Bella, Braxton, Clancy, Cliffy, Elyse, Finnigan, Isla, Ivy, Kodi, Lily, Mae, Riley and Tiro. Over the past two months, I am confident that each child has enjoyed their experience and is well-prepared for Kindergarten next year. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mrs K Makeham for her leadership during various sessions of the program. To honor the accomplishments of our transition students, we will be hosting a Graduation Ceremony as part of our school assembly on Monday, November 9th, starting at 2:30 PM. We warmly invite everyone to join us in this celebration.

Real Talk Workshops

On Tuesday, our Years 4 and 6 students were joined by peers from St Joseph's Primary, Uralla, for a series of inspiring workshops led by the Real Talk team. Throughout the day, students engaged in interactive activities focused on self-image, wise decision-making, cyber safety, and navigating the impacts of social media. The feedback was positive, with students enjoying the hands-on format and leaving the sessions feeling motivated and empowered.

Year 5-6 Canberra Excursion

In just a few more nights, the majority of Year 5-6 students, Mrs Makeham, several students and staff from St Joseph's Primary in Uralla, along with myself, will embark on our journey to Canberra. Upon reviewing the itinerary, it is clear that we are in for a week filled with numerous activities. Among the experiences we will engage in are visits to the Australian War Memorial, an exploration of the history of our currency system and the coin production process at the Australian Mint, testing our athletic abilities at the Australian Institute of Sport, and a tour of Parliament House, which merely scratches the surface of our planned adventures.

Parents and students are reminded that they need to be at St Patrick's at 6.45 am at the latest on the morning of the 2nd of November (this upcoming Monday). 

All information, (itineraries, what to pack, etc) are included in the link below.

Look out Canberra, here we come!

Year 3-4 Excursion to Lake Keepit

The Year 3-4 students will be participating in an overnight excursion to the Lake Keepit Sport and Recreational Centre on the 26th and 27th of November. Mrs Davey and myself will be supervising the students on this excursion. 

End of Year Presentation Morning - Friday 11th December at 9.30am

This year, our school Presentation Morning will be held on Friday, 11th December, commencing at 9:30 AM at the school.

The first hour of the event will celebrate the many highlights of our academic year, alongside special student performances and award presentations. Following the ceremony, all members of our school community are warmly invited to stay and enjoy a community morning tea.

Further details regarding this event will be shared with families shortly.

CRAZY SOCK AND HAIR DAY - tomorrow, Friday 30th October for Catholic Missions Fund Raising.

October is Catholic Mission Month, and this year’s theme, 'One Christ, United in Mission', calls us to reach out and build a more inclusive, supportive world. This year, Catholic Mission is focusing its efforts on Malawi.

To support this worthy cause, our Mini Vinnies team is busy organising several fundraising initiatives throughout the month. Mark your calendars for Friday, 30th October, when we will be holding our annual Crazy Sock and Hair Day! All students and staff are encouraged to come to school sporting their wildest hairstyles and most colourful socks, along with a gold coin donation for the Mission Appeal.

Adding to the excitement—and perhaps my own personal apprehension—is the return of our famous duct-tape challenge. While I am still recovering from the memory of being taped to the wall in previous years, we are shaking things up this year! Students will get to vote for a brave staff member (from a list of willing nominees) to be kidnapped and taped to the wall by students and staff on the day.

I have a strong suspicion I might find myself stuck to the wall once again, as word on the street is that I’m at the top of everyone’s list! For just $1 per strip of tape, students can join in the fun and help secure the "winning" staff member. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get to be on the taping side of the roll this time around—we will just have to wait and see!

Thank you for supporting our Mini Vinnies team and helping us make a difference for Catholic Mission this October.

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  - 8:55am)

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.