Dear families,

What a vibrant and busy start we’ve had to December! It’s a joy to see our school buzzing with energy and excitement as we wrap up 2024 and look ahead to 2025.

This week’s ‘Going Up Morning’ was a tremendous success, as we welcomed not only our new Foundation students but also those transitioning into new year levels across the school. The smiles, enthusiasm and curiosity as students got their first glimpse into next year’s opportunities were inspiring. A special welcome to our new teachers, Melissa Cornell and Stephanie Valentine, whose skills and passion for education will undoubtedly enrich our team and inspire our students.

It was equally wonderful to see so many families come together for the Advent Family Activity last Friday evening. The sense of community and shared faith is always a highlight of our celebrations, and this event was no exception. A special thanks to Kerin Johnson for all her preparation to support the Advent Family Activity and Liturgies.

This morning’s Celebration of Learning was an excellent showcase of the incredible achievements of our students. It was a proud moment for all as our students articulated their learning with confidence, reflecting on their growth and accomplishments throughout the year. Thank you to the families who joined us—your support is always appreciated.

As we move through this busy and festive season, let’s continue to celebrate the successes, hard work and strong connections that make St Patrick’s a thriving community.

End of Year Mass and Year 6 Graduation

St Patrick’s Primary School is pleased to invite all families and friends to our End of Year Thanksgiving Mass, which will take place on Tuesday, 10th December at 6:00 pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

This special celebration marks the conclusion of our school year and provides an opportunity to reflect, give thanks and come together as a community.

Following the Mass, we invite everyone to gather in St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall for the Year 6 Graduation Ceremony. This is a meaningful occasion to mark the achievements of our Year 6 cohort as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey. During this ceremony, we will also farewell families who are leaving St Patrick’s, whether due to a child’s transition to secondary school or other circumstances.

To conclude the evening, Year 6 families are warmly invited to enjoy a light supper and hot drinks in the Glowrey/MacKillop Rooms, hosted by our generous Year 5 families.

Please Note: While we have received inquiries about other planned Grade 6 events, we wish to clarify that this is the school-endorsed celebration for our Year 6 students and their families.

Evening Timeline:

5:30 pm: Year 5 families to deliver plates to the hall.
6:00 pm: End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass.
Approx. 7:15 pm: Year 6 Graduation Ceremony.
Approx. 8:30 pm: Supper for Year 6 families.
9:00 pm: End of Celebration.

We look forward to celebrating this significant milestone with our students, their families and the school community.

Student Leadership 2025

Following on from our previous newsletter, I can see that next year's Grade 6 cohort has put a significant amount of work into writing or filming their application to be an Executive Team leader. There are only 3 positions, but so many applicants! Although there may be some disappointment, their will be an opportunity for all senior students to play an active role in the new student leadership model.

From the last newsletter:

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.

2025 Staffing

We are excited to welcome Aaron Valentine to the St Patrick’s Primary School team for 2025, replacing Kim for 12 months. With extensive experience in teaching physical education, Aaron is passionate about building strong relationships within the school community and creating a caring, supportive environment where all students can thrive. His teaching philosophy focuses on understanding each student’s unique needs and providing engaging, differentiated programs to help them achieve their full potential.

Aaron values the importance of community and partnerships in education. He is also committed to integrating technology into his teaching to enhance learning opportunities and prepare students for the future. We look forward to the energy, expertise, and dedication Aaron will bring to our school community.

Exciting News – We're Joining the MHiPS Initiative in 2025

We are pleased to announce that St Patrick’s Primary School will join the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative in 2025. This important program, developed by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Victorian Department of Education, aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in primary school students.

As part of the MHiPS initiative, our school will gain access to resources, training, and a framework to support early identification and response to students’ mental health needs. The program emphasises building capacity in schools to foster resilience, emotional regulation, and overall wellbeing, ensuring that all children have the tools they need to thrive both academically and socially.

We are excited about this opportunity to strengthen our commitment to student wellbeing and look forward to working closely with the MHiPS team to create an even more supportive environment for our students.

Wrapping up 2024...

A couple of dates to pay particular attention to:

Friday 6th December - Advent Liturgy (led by Gr 1/2s) 2:45pm

Tuesday 10th December - End of Year Thanksgiving Mass and Grade 6 Graduation

Friday 13th December - Advent Liturgy (led by F/1s) 2:45pm

- Learning Diaries come home & Reports released via PAM

Wednesday 18th December - Final day for students - 2:30pm finish

Important Dates for 2025

29th January – First day of term one (Grades 1-6)

30th January - Foundation students commence

7th March – School Closure Day (Staff Professional Development - Maths)

22nd-24th April – School Closure (Launch of new DOBCEL Strategic Plan with Central Ballarat Schools, further collaboration day with partner schools and planning for our school context)

28th April - School resumes for Term 2

6th June – School Closure Day (Curriculum/Assessment PD)

3rd November – School Closure Day (Religious Formation)

19th December – Last day of Term 4

That's enough dates for the moment! The Term 1, 2025 calendar will be shared in the weeks ahead.

SchoolTV

This week you'll find extra information on a special report entitled 'Surviving Christmas'.

As families around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas by decorating their homes, singing carols, buying gifts and planning feasts, often the true meaning of Christmas can be lost due the commercial exploitation of this time of year. Many people see it as a joyous occasion to spend with family and friends, but for others it is viewed as a stressful and challenging time attributed by a combination of things such as financial pressures, relationship issues, and quite often, loneliness.

During the Christmas period, there is a huge increase in the number of calls to support organisations. Many of these callers are considered to be in a high-risk category and sadly, this is the ugly side to Christmas. Should you, or a loved one, ever feel that the pressure of Christmas becomes too much, it is important to seek help. Reach out to a trusted friend, talk to your doctor or counsellor, or phone one of the many support organisations available to you 24/7.

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

School Calendar Term 4 2024 - Updated 7th Nov.