Happy holidays!

I would like to wish everyone a very relaxing and safe holiday! We have made it through a difficult term and I really hope that families enjoy these holidays being able to go to the parks, for a picnic, camping, beach and other places that bring you joy. I would like to thank our staff, students and families for their hard work and support since the end of Term 1.

Farewell Ms D'Arcy & Ms Cunningham

The end of Term 2 sees two of our staff members leaving St Patrick's.

We say THANK YOU to Ms Meegan Cunningham for keeping our school spotless for the past three years. You will be greatly missed and you leave big shoes to fill.

We wish Ms D'Arcy all the very best, Yr 5/6 will miss you. We will keep your father in our prayers.

Teacher Yr 5/6 Term 3 & 4 Monday - Thursday

I would like to announce that Mrs Cary Roberts will be the classroom teacher in Yr 5 /6 for remainder of the year. We welcome Mrs Roberts back to St Patrick's School. Mrs Roberts taught at St Pat's as a casual teacher in 2014, as the Leader of Pedagogy 2015 to 2017, then as a casual teacher 2018-2020.

Mrs Roberts has an extensive teaching background teaching in a range of educational settings from Kindergarten to Year 7, as Classroom Teacher, Reading Recovery Teacher, Principal & Head of a Junior school. I welcome Mrs Roberts back to St Patrick's and look forward to working with her.

Student Progress Reports

Our Semester 1 Student Progress Reports will be posted home tomorrow. The reports will also be uploaded to Compass.

How to view your child's report on Compass

Log into Compass

To view the Semester 1 progress report either click on the link in the newsfeed or select your child's profile and select report.

Compass

The Compass 'Kiosk' is in the reception for parents to sign in students arriving after 9 am and sign out students leaving before 2.55 pm. Late students must be signed in by a parent or arrive at reception with a note stating the reason as to why they are late.

PRINCIPAL AWARD - to the Mini Vinnies students

Thank you to the Mini Vinnies children for organising the Winter Appeal activities. You are to be commended for your generosity and for responding to the call to help others.

Winter Appeal Mufti Day Friday 3rd July

This Friday is a Mufti Day. Children can wear casual clothes and bring a gold coin for the Winter Appeal for St Vincent de Paul.

Congratulations - Guessing Competition

Congratulations to Amelia Somerville who is the winner of the Winter Appeal Guessing Competition. Thank you to the Miller family for organising the competition.

Holiday Safety, Keep Your Child Safe - pedestrian safety, wearing helmets, bike riding, road safety

As we approach the school holidays it is timely reminder about child safety matters (eg parental supervision, pedestrian safety, wearing helmets, bike riding etc). See https://www.safetytown.com.au/parents/

RETURN TO SCHOOL - Term 3 Dates

20 July	Term 3 Begins
22 July	UNE Discovery Bus
27 July	Catholic Schools Week
31 July	School Audit
4 August	Kindergarten 2021 Open Morning TBC
5 August	School Photos

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

We are celebrating CSW in Week 2 Term 3 (26th July- 1 August). This is a time to celebrate what we have achieved this year.

Thank you GIVIT for the Bubbler & Water Tank.

We are very grateful for the amazing support from GIVIT. We have received a Water Tank & Bubbler from GIVIT. Thank you Melissa Bowman the NSW Drought Support Officer for making our request come true. Both of these gifts will make an amazing difference for our garden & playground. drought@givit.org.au

Zoom Call with GIVIT's new Patron Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi96QBaH6k0&t=3s&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the_givit_family_welcomes_a_royal_member&utm_term=2020-07-01

Position Vacant - We are currently advertising for a School Cleaner

CLEANER

Permanent Part-time 32 hours per fortnight

Applications are invited from experienced cleaners to fill the position at St Patrick’s Primary School, Walcha.

The position commences on 20th July 2020. For further details about the position contact Belinda Burton, Principal, on (02) 6777 2328 or email bburton@arm.catholic.edu.au

An application for a General Employee Position Form must be completed as part of your application, available from the Armidale Catholic Schools Office website https://arm.catholic.edu.au/employment/ employment-documents/ Applications, including a letter of application addressing the selection criteria and outlining your suitability are to be emailed to the Principal bburton@arm.catholic.edu.au Applications close 3pm 8th July 2020 Preferred applicants are subject to employment screening.

Safe Practices

We continue to ask parents & visitors not to enter the playground or classrooms but to come to the front office. All parents & visitors must sign in at the office when entering the school grounds, this is a school & government requirement. We thank you for your support in reducing contact with children & staff as we maintain a safe environment.

CANTEEN RETURNS - Monday and Friday in Term 3

Thank you Liz Turner & Chloe Hoy for organising the canteen & roster for Term 3.

The Canteen will continue with the current system of all food must be ordered on the lunch bag. There will be no sales over the counter. All ordered food items will be placed in the child's bag.

To continue COVID safety it is necessary to REDUCE THE CONTACT WITH THE SAUCE BOTTLES. THE CANTEEN WILL NOW SELL SAUCE SACHETS - these will cost 30c .

The Catholic Schools Office is introducing a new finance system into schools. When this roll out is complete across the diocese we will have the ability to pay for school costs eg canteen items online.

YEAR 5 / 6 EXCURSION TERM 4

A decision has been made to go ahead with the planning of the Year 5/6 Canberra excursion in October. Thank you to our families for your input in the decision.

Parent helper for Excursion

An expression of interest note regarding our major 5/6 excursion in Term 4 will be sent home next term. We will be calling for a Dad to accompany us on the excursion.

NAIDOC Week 2020

National NAIDOC Week 2020 celebrations will be held from the 8-15 November.

The November dates follow the decision by the National NAIDOC Committee (NNC) to postpone NAIDOC Week from the original July dates due to the impacts and uncertainty from the escalating Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across our communities and cities.

Kindergarten 2021 Open Morning

Postponed until TERM 3 Tuesday 4th August (Due to the current Coronavirus restrictions).

Our Transition Program will be the last five Fridays in Term 3 and the first five Fridays in Term 4.

If you are aware of anyone wishing to enrol their child for 2021, please encourage them to contact our office as soon as possible for an enrolment package, thank you.

UNIFORM REMINDER

Please support the staff in ensuring your child/children are fully dressed in their correct uniform each day. St Patrick's has always had high expectations around the school uniform and it is an expectation that everyone wears the uniform with pride.

There are many good quality items in various sizes available in the clothing pool. Please contact or see Mrs Pittman if you wish to access any items of clothing in the clothing pool.

Please, check that you have written your child's name on all belongings so we can return lost items.

Class & Students work

2020 University of New England School Acquisitive Art Prize