From the Principal

Dear families,

Today we held the first of our Advent liturgies, hosted beautifully by our Grade 5/6 team. Advent, a time of hope, anticipation, and preparation, is a deeply significant period in the Catholic tradition. It invites us to reflect on the coming of Jesus—both as the infant born in Bethlehem and as the light of the world in our daily lives.

The Advent season reminds us to pause amid the busyness, focus on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love, and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas. The lighting of the Advent wreath each week offers a visual and prayerful way to mark this sacred journey, symbolising the light of Christ growing brighter as we draw nearer to His birth.

In our school community, we will be reflecting on these themes during whole school prayer, helping our students to understand the deeper meaning of this season. Advent is also a time to live out our faith in action, and I encourage families to embrace opportunities for acts of kindness, generosity and compassion during this season of giving.

As we begin this journey together, let us take time to nurture our faith, our relationships, and our sense of community. May this Advent season be a time of renewal and grace for us all. 

Community Conversations

I want to extend my thanks to those able to attend our recent Community Conversations for engaging so proactively in the discussion. Your thoughtful contributions, questions, and ideas have been invaluable in shaping our shared vision for the school.

The energy and passion you bring to these discussions are a true testament to the strength of our school community. It is through this kind of partnership that we can continue to grow and provide the very best for our students.

Thank you for your time, your input, and your unwavering commitment to making our school a wonderful place for all. Below is a summary of some of the questions and discussion points raised over the two sessions. 

Parent comments from the community conversations of November 13th

What do families view as the top reason for choosing St. Patrick’s for their children?

Good values raise people up, kindness, respect and honesty

That children are happy in a their learning

That personal learning need are met

That there is a good balance between children’s learning and their wellbeing

Building people up

Teaching self confidence

Supporting children to be uncomfortable in their learning

Engaging parents in their children’s learning –home support and communication that is two way.

Welcoming to parents (this was a thank you and appreciation)

To be in a happy and safe environment

Creating strong foundation and a solid base for learning

Reading writing, spelling and setting up enjoyment of learning

21st century skills-critical thinking, creativity and communication

Provide equal opportunity for learning

Resilience and coping skills-learning to lose, life skills, accepting and receiving feedback

Catholic values

If given a set budget (“$X”), how would they allocate it to enhance the school, and in what proportions?

Support for teachers and students through additional personnel

Buy tome for teachers and more classroom support

Healthy living program   and initiatives e.g. walk to school bus

Enhance the playground (shade)

Sporting and playground equipment

Children’s mental health support

Mental health and problem solving coaching for children and parents with a focus on do it yourself for children

Playground supervision

What direct recommendations would they offer the principal for school improvements?

More Parent engagement focus

Empower, engage and energise teachers

Challenge and validation of teaching staff

Develop STEM/STEAM (more of)

Drama 

Concert renewal

Enhance social media presence

If they could “prune” any part of the school, what would they change or remove?

Learning diaries

Extension to conversation: What aspect of the school would they like reviewed? (A thoughtful addition by a participating parent.)

Healthy Living program

School Assembly

Whole school Prayer

Student leadership structure and roles

Affirmations and appreciations

Although we did not solicit any affirmations and appreciation there were a number made directly but also the entire feedback session was extremely positive and all commentary was made in appreciative tones

Thank you for asking and including us

We appreciate that you have done this again after last year because we have been able to see in the school's actions that we were listened to

Love what you are doing with student management and the positive behaviours approach

Some Immediate Action...

We are thrilled to announce the introduction of a new Student Leadership Framework at St Patrick’s Primary School for 2025! This initiative stems from our commitment to increasing meaningful leadership opportunities for our students and fostering a sense of ownership and pride in our school community.

The new framework features an Executive Team of three Grade 6 leaders who will oversee and guide the work of our three leadership branches:

• Mission: Focusing on faith, service and social justice initiatives.
• Community: Building school spirit, student led media publications, and strengthening connections.
• Wellbeing: Promoting inclusion, kindness, and positive mental health.

Every Grade 5/6 student will play an active role within one of these branches, ensuring that leadership is a shared responsibility and that all students have the opportunity to contribute their unique talents and perspectives. Each branch will be led by a member of the Executive Team, who will guide their peers in planning and implementing initiatives throughout the year.

This is an exciting opportunity for our students to grow as leaders, collaborators, and changemakers. We are confident this framework will strengthen our sense of community while empowering our senior students to make a lasting impact.

I had the privilege of unpacking this in detail with our current Grade 5 students. They have been invited to apply for the Executive Team should they wish to do so. Applications can be submitted to their classroom teacher by Friday 29th November as a letter or video presentation outlining 3 actions for each branch they would enact should they be successful. 

You can take a closer look at the Student Leadership Framework attachment below. We look forward to seeing the incredible work our young leaders will achieve together!

100th Year Celebrations - This Friday - Tomorrow

Tomorrow, children are expected to wear their full summer school uniforms. During the morning, Leadership will be conducting tours of our school beginning at 9:30, 10:00, and 10:30 a.m. Even if you haven't had the opportunity to book, we'd love you to join us. 

At 12:05, we will celebrate Mass, and all are welcome.

After Mass families are invited to join us for a BYO picnic lunch on the turf and the opportunity to enjoy our grounds until 2:20 pm.

We will be providing families with shamrocks  (above) in which they may like to record a 

St Pat's memory,  to be placed in our beautiful time capsule,  created and donated by Rhys McGregor.  

This will be on display at our office over the next few weeks. 

If you can't make it on Friday, you may organise for your child to bring a shamrock home.

As part of our centenary celebrations, we’re inviting all students to join us on Monday, 25th November for a special 100-Year Dress-Up Day! This is a fun opportunity for students to come to school dressed in styles from the past. It could be as simple as wearing something old-fashioned, inspired by any decade from the last century. Whether it's vintage hats, floral dresses, or even a pair of retro glasses, we’d love to see a range of creative and historical looks that reflect our school's rich history.

Please advise our admin team if your child is not returning to St Patrick's in 2025

If your child will not be returning to St Patrick's in 2025, please inform the office as soon as possible. This helps us reach out to families on the waiting list and supports our class list and planning processes. Email info@spballarat.catholic.edu.au and include your child’s name and the school they will be attending next year.

2025 Staffing

We would like to share the news that Kim Whittle will be taking 12 months leave in 2025 to join the team at St Joseph’s School. This exciting opportunity will allow Kim to embrace a brand-new learning experience and extend her expertise by supporting students outside of mainstream education.

While we will sorely miss Kim’s dedication, warmth and invaluable contributions to our school community, we are thrilled for her as she takes on this rewarding role. We are confident that her talents and passion will make a significant impact at St. Joseph’s, just as they have here at St. Patrick’s.

We look forward to welcoming Kim back in 2026 and hearing about the insights and experiences she gains during this time. Please join us in wishing Kim all the best for this exciting chapter in her career!

We are excited to announce that Melissa Cornell will be joining our teaching team in 2025. Melissa brings an impressive skill set that includes strong data-informed practice, a dedication to contemporary educational strategies, and a commitment to ongoing professional growth. Her extensive experience includes seven years at Ballarat Clarendon College, eleven years at Ballarat Grammar, and a year at Ararat Primary School.

Most recently, Melissa has been teaching at the Mount Rowan Campus of Ballarat Grammar, where her passion for research and innovation has positively impacted her practice. We are thrilled to welcome her expertise and energy to St Patrick’s Primary School.

We are also pleased to announce that Stephanie Valentine will be joining the St Patrick’s School teaching team in 2025 as a classroom teacher. With a background at Arnold’s Creek Primary School, Stephanie has developed expertise in team teaching within open-plan classrooms, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to supporting diverse learners. Her passion for integrating the arts and digital technologies into education has been highlighted through her leadership in organising school concerts, art shows, and digital workshops. She has also presented at events such as the ACPS Conference and Apple Showcase, showcasing her ability to share innovative practices with the wider educational community.

We are delighted to welcome Stephanie  to our school community and look forward to the expertise, enthusiasm, and creativity she will bring to her role. Please join us in giving her a warm St. Patrick’s welcome!

Save the Date

Our Semester 1 Celebration of Learning morning was a great success and received glowing feedback from those who attended. We will be holding a Semester 2 Celebration of Learning morning on Wednesday 4th December between 9-10am. 

Update

Please note that all fee and payment structures including information regarding the Family Fee Assistance Scheme has recently been sent home with your child. 

Our first closure day for 2025 is scheduled for March 7th which connects with the Labour Day long weekend to support a longer break period for families. I am awaiting approval for the remaining closure days but wanted to communicate this as soon as possible. On this day, the staff will engage with Michael Ymer, a well known education consultant in the area of mathematics. 

SchoolTV 

This week you'll find extra information on a special report entitled 'Confidence and Motivation. 

'Confidence and Motivation' are two essential traits that not only help young people believe in themselves, but also empowers them to face challenges and pursue their goals with resilience and purpose.

Fostering confidence and motivation in young people will help build their self-worth and emotional strength. This edition of SchoolTV provides practical strategies and guidance to nurture these essential qualities, ensuring children and adolescents thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Click on the link below to access a wealth of videos, articles, and resources on the aforementioned topic.

All Editions | St Patrick's School - Ballarat (schooltv.me) 

Kind regards,

Ben Shields