Welcome to Week 3

As we step through another busy and rewarding week at St Patrick’s, I am continually reminded of the vibrant spirit and dedication that makes our school community so special. Walking through the classrooms and playground, it is wonderful to see our students engaging so enthusiastically in their learning, demonstrating kindness to one another, and striving to do their best every day.

In this edition of the newsletter, we have a number of important updates, celebrations of student achievements, and upcoming events to share with you. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support, partnership, and engagement in our school community.

I hope you enjoy reading about the many great things happening around St Patrick’s this week!

Armidale Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival

Yesterday, I had the privilege of accompanying 24 of our talented students to the Diocesan Athletics Carnival in Tamworth. Competing against over 600 athletes from across the diocese, our team put on a fantastic display of athletic ability and sportsmanship—they should be immensely proud of their efforts! It was a brilliant day all round, though I definitely paid the price, losing my voice from enthusiastic cheering and being stiff and sorry marshaling everyone for their events. A huge congratulations to the students who qualified to represent the Armidale Diocese at the upcoming Polding Athletics Carnival in Glendale on Friday, September 11th!

Congratulations to our outstanding student athletes who have qualified to represent Armidale Catholic Schools at the upcoming Polding Athletics Carnival! Josie had an incredible day in the 12 Years Girls events, placing second in both Shot Put and Long Jump, as well as taking out the Discus while smashing the ACS record by over 6 metres. Benji put in a stellar performance to qualify, placing second in both the Senior Boys 1500m and Long Jump. Rounding out our successful qualifiers, Rebee placed third in the 12 Years Boys Discus, Audrey earned third place in the Junior Girls Discus, and Thibaud delivered a fantastic performance to take first place overall in the Junior Boys High Jump.

Josie capped off an incredible day of competition by claiming the Senior Girls Overall Champion title.

Well done to these students and also to all of the members of our team, all of you should be proud of your achievements.

A Note on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Safety, and Respecting God’s Image

I wanted to include this article in my section of the newsletter today simply to ensure all members of our school community are aware of an emerging digital issue—not to cause any alarm, but to keep you informed.

I have recently read a number of concerning articles highlighting how schools, often completely unintentionally, have posted photos of students online that were subsequently taken by members of the public and digitally distorted using Artificial Intelligence (AI). I know that other schools have unwittingly been caught up in some of these areas, and while AI is a powerful tool with tremendous potential to support learning and various professions when used responsibly, these rapid advances in technology can unfortunately be used in negative ways as well.

I am also aware that some educational settings have experimented with AI by inputting photos of their own students to generate digital artwork or assist with creative writing tasks. Please be assured that this practice does not occur at St Patrick’s, nor will it ever happen at our school.

At St Patrick’s, our Catholic identity guides everything we do. We firmly believe that every individual is uniquely made in the image and likeness of God. Because of this inherent dignity, we hold a deep respect for our students' identity and privacy, and photos of our students taken at school are never altered or manipulated in any way.

Our school strictly follows our Use of Technology Policy for all staff and students, and we operate in full accordance with the procedures and guidelines set by Armidale Catholic Schools regarding the appropriate and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence.

Furthermore, careful consideration is always made whenever we share photos of our students. You may have noticed that we have deliberately decreased our posts on Facebook, and we maintain a very considered approach to how student images are used in our school newsletters.

Protecting the safety, privacy, and wellbeing of your children remains our highest priority, and our school continues to ensure that none of our students become victims of their photos being manipulated in any way. Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support.

Year One Phonics Screener Assessment

Very soon, all Year 1 students throughout NSW will take part in the Year 1 Phonics Screener Assessment. This is a short assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonics. More information about this assessment is included below:

2026 Survey My School

Armidale Catholic Schools has once again collaborated with Survey My School in 2026 to facilitate parents in giving feedback on the practices and procedures of St Patrick's School. Please be aware the structure and several questions have been modified for this year's survey to ensure there is no repetition of questions as well as being more user-friendly. Parents can expect to receive these surveys via email next month.

Premier's Reading Challenge 2026

The Premier's Reading Challenge for this year is approaching its conclusion. Congratulations to all students who took part; it has been reported that a significant number of diverse texts have been read. Please note that validations will close on Friday, 11th September. Should you have any questions or concerns related to the reading challenge, do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs King or Mrs Harrison.

Save the Date: Friday 4th September

Mark your calendars! Friday, September 4th promises to be just as action-packed and exciting as last year.

There is a warm invitation to all grandparents to join us for Grandparents Day celebrations and activities. Adding to the fun, we’ll also be hosting our annual Book Week festivities, complete with a book fair and the beloved Book Week dress-up parade.

This year's theme is 'Symphony of Stories', and we encourage all students to come dressed as their favourite book characters (a book character-not from a television show!). I better start digging through my costume box to find the perfect outfit! Keep an eye out for more details in upcoming newsletter editions.

Looking Ahead: 2027 Transition Program

It won't be long before we begin welcoming our future students to St Patrick's Primary, with our 2027 Transition Program scheduled to commence during the second half of this term.

This program is a vital step in helping our upcoming students familiarize themselves with the school environment, routines, and classrooms, ensuring a smooth and confident start to their schooling journey. I am pleased to announce that Mrs Kelly Makeham will be leading the program, guiding our newest learners through their transition sessions.

At present, we have 13 students enrolled to take part in the program. We look forward to welcoming these children and their families into the St Patrick's Primary community over the coming weeks.

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 - 8:50am)

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.

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