Mr Hyatt
Where has the year gone so far?
I always seem to be asking this question recently: where has the year gone? We are nearly in the final stages of Week 5, which means we are already approaching the halfway point of Term 3. Sometimes you really do wonder why each year seems to pass faster than the last! Before we know it, I will be making that familiar, mad dash on Christmas Eve to organise last-minute presents.
As I mentioned briefly before, I am definitely glad to be back at school, though now I am wishing for a bit of consistency where I am actually on campus for a full week! Last week was a whirlwind—I was away for nearly three days attending the Principal’s Cluster Meetings and the Principal’s Conference, as well as supervising our Stage 3 team at the Todd Woodbridge Cup on Friday.
While these events and conferences are invaluable for our school's growth and allowed me to watch our wonderful students shine on the tennis court, there really is no place I’d rather be than right here on site. Being in the classrooms, walking through the playground, and catching up with our students and families each day is what makes this role so rewarding.
As we slide into the second half of Term 3, our calendar remains full of exciting learning opportunities, community events, and sporting activities. I encourage all our families to keep an eye on the upcoming dates in this newsletter so we can finish the term just as strongly as we started. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
Random Acts of Kindness
Over the past couple of weeks, whether visiting classrooms, judging our recent handball tournament, or on general playground duty, I have been deeply impressed by the high level of random acts of kindness displayed by our students.
In a world that often moves so quickly, seeing our students slow down to look out for one another is truly heartening. During the bitter cold days last week, I witnessed students thoughtfully offering their spare jackets to classmates who were feeling the chill. On the oval, after competitive games of soccer, players were quick to shake hands and show great spirit. Time and again, I have watched students offer assistance to others in need without any prompting—simply stepping up because it was the right and thoughtful thing to do.
These everyday moments of care and consideration do not go unnoticed. I have been making a special effort to note down these wonderful acts, as they reflect the true spirit of our school community and the genuine respect our students have for one another.
To all our students who continue to show compassion, helpfulness, and warmth: thank you for making our playground and classrooms such a positive place to be. Keep up the fantastic effort!
Faith & Learning: Living out the Primacy of God
At our school, our educational journey is rooted in the core values of Armidale Catholic Schools, with the Primacy of God sitting at the very heart of everything we do. Placing God first means recognising that faith is not just something we study in a classroom, but a living presence that shapes how we love God and love our neighbour. We aim to nurture a warm, supportive environment where Gospel values guide our actions and every child feels known and valued.
This principle comes alive in the quiet routine and spontaneous moments of our everyday school life. We begin our days and gatherings with shared prayer and reflection, offering students and staff a calm space to connect with God and center their thoughts. During break times, loving our neighbour translates into practical kindness on the playground as students practice empathy, include peers in games, and build respectful friendships.
Furthermore, through various social justice initiatives and acts of everyday service, our students learn that putting faith into action means reaching out to help others. By keeping the Primacy of God at the center of our community, we help our students grow not only academically, but as compassionate, thoughtful individuals ready to make a positive difference in the world.
K–2 Excursion to Tamworth
On Wednesday, September 9, students in Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 will attend an excursion to Tamworth.
As part of the visit, students will attend a live performance of Bluey at the Capitol Theatre.
Further details regarding travel arrangements, departure times, and items to bring will be communicated to families via Compass in the coming weeks.
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.
P and F Meeting this upcoming Tuesday 25th August
Just a reminder that the next P and F Meeting will be held this upcoming Tuesday 25th August commencing at 6.00pm in the Year 3-4 classroom as well as being broadcasted via Google Meet. It would be great if all of our families could log on and join us during this time.
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.
Kindergarten Transition Program Starting Soon!
It is just over a week before our Kindergarten Transition program commences! We are looking forward to having our 2027 Kindergarten children come to big school onMonday 31st August for their first day of transition. This program will be on every Monday for the rest of Term 3 as well as four Mondays in Term 4. Mrs Kelly Makeham, will be leading transition and she has organised a lot of fun activities that will be conducted throughout the program.
Transition Days for children are significant in helping children familiarise themselves with the school environment and helping to make the transition to ‘big school’ so much easier.
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.