From the Principal

Remembering Pope Francis

As the Catholic Church—and indeed, the world—mourns the passing of Pope Francis, we pay tribute to our joyful shepherd in faith by remembering his life’s work of helping people find mercy, hope, and joy in God.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio entered the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958, and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. As a Jesuit, he served as novice master, a theology professor and provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina (1973-1979).

He was named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and archbishop in 1998. Pope Saint John Paul II elevated him to the College of Cardinals in 2001. On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope, making him the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.

Prayer for Pope Francis

Loving God,

today, we grieve for our beloved Pope Francis.

We know you join us in our grief,

that you too weep at the death of your dear friend

and companion as Jesus did at the tomb of Lazarus.

Welcome our beloved Pope Francis into your waiting arms.

Envelop him in your eternal love.

And comfort us in our mourning as we strive to continue

to follow his Gospel example to encounter Christ

in all people and in all places.

We thank you for the gift of Pope Francis.

Through his life and teaching, you showed us how to love and serve one another,

how to hear the cries of the poor and the cries of the earth

and respond in compassionate love.

Pope Francis, pray for us.

Mary, Mother of Sorrows, comfort us.

Amen.

Dear Families,

It is with great joy that I welcome all our families and students back to Term 2 after what I hope was a restful and blessed Easter holiday. It has been wonderful to see the children return with such enthusiasm and energy, ready for a new term of learning and growth. A special mention must go to our Foundation students, who have made a great start to term 2. It is truly amazing to see just how far they have come since their first days at school. They have returned settled, calm and full of confidence — a testament to the hard work of the students, teachers and families.

We were deeply saddened over the holidays to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. His leadership, humility, and unwavering dedication to social justice, care for creation, and the dignity of every person has left an enduring mark on our Catholic faith tradition. We grieve his loss and pray that he is now reunited with God. Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' reminded us all of the vital interconnectedness between social, economic, and ecological concerns — a message that has greatly inspired our students here at St Patrick’s. His teachings continue to call us to action in caring for our common home and for one another.

A reminder to all families that our Foundation 2026 enrolment window is almost closed. If you have a child ready to start Foundation next year, please ensure you have completed the enrolment process online as soon as possible. We would love to see our community continue to grow with many new smiling faces next year.

Pursuing Fullness of Life for All – DOBCEL Strategy 2035

Last week, the St Patrick's School Staff joined with all Central Zone schools for a Collaboration Day, where we explored the Pursuing Fullness of Life for All –DOBCEL Strategy 2035. This important gathering was led by Tom Sexton (Director of Catholic Education for the Ballarat Diocese), Pasi Sahlberg and David Runge, who guided us through the strategy and its significance for Catholic schools across the Ballarat Diocese. It was a meaningful and inspiring day that encouraged deep thinking about the future of catholic education in our community. As we look ahead, we do so with excitement and curiosity, ready to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in building a high-performing and faith-filled system of schools. Click here to find a copy of the booklet - here.

Mother's Day Events

We have several Mother’s Day events planned to celebrate the mothers and carers in our children’s lives. Our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast will be hosted by the Parents and Friends between 7:30- 8:30am on Wednesday 7th May. Egg and bacon rolls and will be served to all with a visiting coffee van available also. On Friday 9th May, the Mother's Day Stall will be held as well as a Mother's Day assembly led by 1/2G. For more information please see the flyers in the Parent Information tab.

Respecting Our Neighbours

We’ve recently received some concerns from our neighbours about cars parking across driveways during school drop-off times, particularly in the mornings. While we understand how busy mornings can be, it’s important to remember that our neighbours are also trying to get to work and appointments on time. Blocking driveways — even for a short time — can cause significant inconvenience and stress for those needing to leave their homes.

We ask all families to please be mindful of where you park, allowing clear access to driveways and being respectful of the local residents who share our school community space. A little courtesy goes a long way in maintaining positive relationships with our neighbours.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Grade 5/6 Camp – Araluen Lutheran Camp, Anglesea

A friendly reminder that our Grade 5/6 students will be heading to Araluen Lutheran Camp in Anglesea for their school camp from Monday, May 19th to Wednesday, May 21st.

We're completing the final preparations for this experience and plan to meet with the students next week to discuss cabin arrangements, share scheduled activities and provide a copy of the packing list.

Winter School Uniform (Term 2 & 3)

It is now expected that all students are in their correct winter uniform - time for the shorts to be packed away until term 4. For an outline of the correct uniform items please check the information page here.

Federal Election 2025 – Supporting Catholic Education

As we approach the upcoming Federal Election on Saturday 3 May, we encourage you to take a moment to consider how your vote can support the future of your child’s education.

This election presents an important opportunity to reinforce the value and voice of Catholic education in our communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in announcing the election, referenced key issues impacting Catholic schools—especially around school choice and fair funding for all.

National Catholic Education Executive Director, Jacinta Collins, has outlined Catholic education’s election priorities under the banner “Catholic Education benefits all Australians”.

These include:

Ensuring affordability and choice for families
Addressing student hardship, wellbeing and disadvantage
Continuing to build and innovate for the future

Catholic schools make a vital contribution to the Australian community, educating one in five students, including a high proportion of those from low socio-educational backgrounds and regional communities. Our schools save taxpayers billions each year while delivering strong educational outcomes and lifelong benefits for students.

To ensure this contribution continues, we are calling on all political leaders to:

Guarantee fair and stable funding, so Catholic schools remain accessible and affordable
Expand support for student mental health and wellbeing, particularly for disadvantaged and rural students
Invest in Catholic education infrastructure and early learning to meet future needs

Thank you for continuing to support the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Ballarat.

SchoolTV

This week on SchoolTV you will find a new addition about celebrating Mother's Day.

"‘Mother's Day’ originated from humble beginnings in 1908 as a simple tradition to honour all mothers, living and deceased. However, it did not take long for florists, confectioners and card companies to jump onboard and commercialise the day, much to the disappointment of its founder, Ann Jarvis.

Today, Mother's Day is an annual reminder to say thanks to our mum, or other motherly figure, who plays an important role in our lives. It is a day to express our gratitude and love towards the women who have dedicated their time, energy and love to raise and support us. Whether it's a simple gesture like a card, a bunch of flowers or a heartfelt message, Mother's Day is an opportunity to show our mothers how much we cherish and admire them. It's a time to reflect on the love, sacrifices and unwavering support that our mothers provide unconditionally.

Mothers will often put the needs of others above their own, so it is paramount to remind them to take care of themselves, especially when it comes to their mental health. Research has shown that women experience some mental health conditions more so than men and at much higher rates. There are many factors that can impact a woman's well being physically and emotionally. Seeking effective treatment can enable her to engage more readily in everyday activities and fulfil the needs of her children and family. This Special Report highlights that Mother's Day is not only a celebration, but also a reminder of the vital role mothers play in the developmental growth of her children and the impact this has on shaping our society.’ (School TV, 2025)"

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

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

Kind regards,

Ben Shields