Mrs Makeham

Well here we go again...

How good are the school holidays? I hope you had a chance to have a good rest and recharge ready for Term 4. 

While Mr Hyatt is busy jetsetting all over Eastern Europe, (good for some) the rest of us are energetic and enthused about the term ahead.

Why Talking Drives Early Literacy

As the mother of two of the world's most talkative kids, I understand as well as anyone how overwhelming the incessant questions, endless observations, inane banter, and constant singing can be. However, as an educator, I also know that the language skills children absorb through everyday chatter, rhyming and singing are crucial to their reading and writing development.

Long before students pick up a pencil or open a classroom reader, they rely heavily on phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) that make up words. Through casual conversations, singing, nursery rhymes, and silly word games, children naturally learn to isolate these building blocks of language.

It's not just me... the research agrees.

Australian educational research consistently confirms just how vital these early verbal habits are:

• Predictor of Future Reading Success: According to findings from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), early phonological and phonemic awareness—developed primarily through oral language and rhyming activities in the early years—is one of the strongest indicators of later reading fluency and comprehension.
• Rhyme and Reading Readiness: Long-term studies, such as those published in the Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties, emphasise that a child’s ability to detect and produce rhymes before formal schooling directly correlates with their ease in decoding written words later on.

So the next time you find yourself answering your child's tenth "why?" of the morning or listening to a made-up song on repeat, take a deep breath and remind yourself: you are building a future reader and writer. 

By the way, if anyone knows who would win a fight between a lion and a crocodile, please let me know so I can tell my 26 year old son!

Term 4 - Summer Uniform Expectations

Reminder: It is an expectation for students to wear the correct school uniform each day.

Note: Sport jackets are to be worn on sports days only, Wednesday and Friday's. 

Sport jackets are not to be worn with summer uniform. 

Please wear school jumpers/cardigans on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's.

Congratulations Cian and Alex 

Congraulations to Cian and Alex Baldry on the safe arrival of their gorgeous baby girl Eloise Monti Baldry. Eloise made a special guest appearance to visit the staff at school on Monday and she looks just like her mum. 

Term 4 Major Excursions Update

Thanks again to most of our Years 3-4 parents who have already indicated that they would like their child to participate in the overnight excursion to Lake Keepit Recreation Centre on the 26th and 27th of November. Mrs Davey and myself will be supervising the students on this excursion.

Also, more information went home to all of our Years 5-6 families in regard to their major excursion to Canberra from the 2nd to the 6th November. Mrs Makeham and myself will be supervising the students on this excursion and looking at the itinerary, we are going to have a great time. 

Thank you to all the families who have paid the full costing (incorporated in the school fees) of all of the excursions. 

Long Lunch

Thank you to the Long Lunch committee for their hard work, over many, many months, organising and preparing for Saturday's event. We are very lucky to have a P&F willing to take the time out of their own lives to raise money for everyone's children. 

Thank you in advance for your support of this event.

Band

Band resumes tomorrow Friday 16th October 2026, please remember to bring your instruments.

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  - 8:55am)

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.