Principals' Report

Dear Families,

Prayer of Remembrance and Thanksgiving 

For Mr Daniel Bau, Ms Leanne Brown and Mr Tim Noonan

Loving and ever-present God, we gather as a community with heavy hearts, to remember and give thanks for the lives of Mr Daniel Bau, Ms Leanne Brown, and Mr Tim Noonan — beloved members of our St. Patrick’s family.

We thank You for the gift they were to our school: for their dedication, their care for students, and the unique gifts they shared so generously with us all.

For the wisdom of Mr Bau, the gentle kindness of Ms Brown, and the vibrant spirit of Mr Noonan, we give You thanks.

In our grief, Lord, we ask for Your comfort. Surround their families, friends, and all who mourn with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. May we find hope in the promise of eternal life, and strength in the love that binds us together as a faith-filled community.

May the memory of their lives inspire us to live with compassion, to teach with passion, and to love with open hearts.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. 

Amen.

New Playground Update

The Mitchell Street Playground officially opened this week and has quickly become a very popular destination in the school yard! It has been so pleasing to see all of our students engaging with this new space in such a positive way—playing respectfully, safely, and with care and consideration for one another. The playground has already brought so much joy to recess and lunch times, and it’s wonderful to witness the sense of shared enjoyment and community it has fostered.

I’m excited to share that we’re already looking ahead to our next project to enhance our school environment. Stay tuned for more details in upcoming newsletters!

Protective Behaviours and Sex Ed

This term St. Patrick's School will be providing classroom sessions for students (Prep - Year 6) centred around protective behaviours.  These include: keeping ourselves safe, body parts and listening to what our body is telling us.

Our presenter and facilitator is Mrs. Sue Pain who has worked extensively at St. Patrick's School over the past few years.  Protective behaviours sessions will be held in Week 5 and Week 6 of this term during the school day.

Attached below is a more indepth description of content presented at school.

There will also be online parent and family sessions for Sex Ed.

The online Family Sex Ed sessions will be offered on: 

Thursday 7th August (Tonight)

Year 3 & 4 Families - 6pm - 7pm

Year 5 & 6 Families - 7:15pm - 8:15pm

The online booking link has been sent out via Audiri this week.  Please note that it is the same link for either session

School Fee Statements

Please note that updated school fee statements have been emailed to all families this week. If you have any questions or require clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact our school bursar, Mrs Ann Easton, via email at aeaston@spmentone.catholic.edu.au

P & f Meeting

My sincere thanks to our dedicated Parents & Friends representatives for an excellent meeting on Tuesday evening this week. It was a pleasure to come together in such a positive and collaborative spirit to reflect on the many successes from Term 2 and the wonderful achievements we’ve already seen this term. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to share ideas, celebrate our progress, and begin mapping out the key events and initiatives for the remainder of Term 3.

Together, we discussed a number of exciting upcoming events, including our Italian Day celebrations, the Year 6 Confirmation, Book Week activities, the Arts Festival, Footy Colours Day, and our Father's Day celebrations. I am continually grateful for the energy, creativity, and support that our Parents & Friends team brings to our school community. Your commitment plays a vital role in enriching the experiences of our students and helping to foster the strong sense of connection that defines our school.

School Advisory Council Meeting

Our next School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday evening at 7:00pm. I’m very much looking forward to coming together with the team as we continue our important work in shaping the future direction of our great school. This upcoming meeting will provide an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion around our shared goals, and to begin preparing for next term’s School Review. As you know, the review is a significant milestone in our school’s journey, offering a valuable chance to reflect on our achievements, identify areas for growth, and set a clear path forward for the years to come. I appreciate the time, insight and commitment each member brings to these conversations, and I’m excited for the collaboration ahead.

MACSEYE Out of Hours Care - Holiday program

I am pleased to share some exciting news with our school community — we have officially applied for a license to operate a Holiday Care Program here at St Patrick’s School, in addition to our regular before and after school care program. We are well on track to launch this service at the end of December, just in time for the summer break.

Once approved, the program will run during every school holiday period, offering a convenient and familiar option for families right here on our school grounds. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to enjoy engaging, well-supervised activities in a safe and comfortable environment they already know and love.

We look forward to keeping you updated as we move closer to launching this valuable service for our community.

School Calendar

Please use the following google link to add the school calendar to your own calendar for ease of information exchange. School Google Calendar HERE.

God Bless

Pat Berlingeri

Principal