Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Next week the end-of-year reports will be available through COMPASS. As I remind parents every year, a school report IS NOT ABOUT COMPARING YOUR CHILD TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THE CLASS. It is about reporting on the quality of the learning that has been achieved in relation to what a child in this stage at school should have achieved. The staff at St. Patrick's are committed to assisting your child achieve their own personal best, and then moving beyond this level. The teachers work extremely hard to find out where your child is achieving AND THEN PLAN WAYS TO MOVE THEM BEYOND THIS POINT! One way of doing this is to set REASONABLE GOALS for them to achieve along the way. These Grades are a good indication of how your child is progressing – BUT THEY ARE NEVER INTENDED TO BE THE REASON WHY YOUR CHILDREN ARE AT SCHOOL!

As an adult, think about what you value in a workmate or colleague: Honesty and integrity? Kindness and compassion? An attitude of not giving up when the going gets tough? Trustworthiness and a sense of humour? An ability to admit when they make a mistake? Are these the exact same qualities we want for our children? As philosopher Charles Roth wrote, “In your personal world there is no such thing as competition. When you do your best, you are a winner, and when you haven’t done your best, you’ve lost to the person you might have been.  But such a loss is only temporary. The finish is only a starting line. Just begin again!” 

Regards,

Steve Darcy (Principal)

2026 CLASSES

Next Monday the students will find out their classes (and teacher) for 2026.

Please be aware that while we have taken into account requests from parents, the final decision is made by the School.

Some parents have requested that their siblings be put into the same class. However, if the teachers felt that this was not allowing these students to perform at their very best, then they have been separated.

Also, we don't split students because of one recent incident between them. 

While I understand that some people will not be happy, we need to remember that CLASS time is for LEARNING...they can still associate together at Recess and Lunchtime.

The experts, in this case, are the teachers. And we have to trust their judgement.

CHRISTMAS ARTISTS

Congratulations to Emily D'O (Year 2) and Joshua G(Year 5) for having their artwork selected to be part of Maryanne Stuart's  (Local State member) Christmas Card for 2026.

STAFF NEWS

We congratulate  Mrs Moss who has been appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at St. Thomas Moore's Catholic Primary School at Brighton, beginning in 2026.

We thank Mrs Moss for the wonderful contribution that she has made at our school and she will be greatly missed. Fr Dan and myself will be part of the panel interviewing for a new Religious Education Coordinator early next week.

In 2026 we welcome Mrs Lynda Winwood who will be taking on the role of Instructional Specialist while Mrs Hussey is on leave. Mrs Winwood has been in this role at another school for the last few years so we welcome her experience to our team.