Specialist Classes

ITALIAN

Italian – Christmas in Italy 

In Italian, students from Foundation to Grade 6 have been learning about Christmas traditions in Italy and how they compare to celebrations here in Australia. Students explored the rich cultural customs that make Natale a special time for Italian families.

Foundation–Grade 2 students enjoyed learning new Italian Christmas vocabulary such as albero di Natale (Christmas tree), Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) and stella (star). They listened to short stories and practised using greetings like Buon Natale! in conversations.

Students in Grades 3–6 investigated how Italians celebrate throughout December, including La Festa di San Nicola, the importance of the Presepe (Nativity scene), and family gatherings on Christmas Eve (La Vigilia). They also learnt about regional foods and traditions, such as panettone and la Befana, who arrives on 6 January during La Epifania.

La Befana is a kind old woman in Italian tradition who visits children on the night of 5 January. Riding a broomstick, she delivers sweets and small gifts to those who have been good and leaves coal for those who haven’t. She marks the end of Christmas during La Epifania.

Across all levels, students compared similarities and differences between Italian and Australian celebrations, developing intercultural understanding and strengthening their vocabulary. We wish all families a joyful and safe Christmas season — Buon Natale a tutti! 🎄🇮🇹

SPORT

In the final Sport edition for this year, I'd like to acknowledge our outgoing group of Year 6 students who have been trailblazers in the sports arena at St Patrick's.  When they started in 2019 as little Foundation students, the school was still quite small and there was very little opportunity to enter representative teams into local sporting comps.  As the years have rolled on, we've grown in both size and our love of sports and have been able to introduce our very own Cross-Country, Swimming and Athletics carnivals.  Alongside our own school events, we've also seen huge progress in our ability to enter district sports comps with teams entered in football, netball, lawn bowls, tennis, soccer, cricket, and more recently, our very first girls cricket side!

Thanks again to our outgoing Grade 6 crew - it has been a pleasure to watch you all grow into such wonderful, sports-mad people.