Wow! What a Performance!

Last night was a truly unforgettable evening for everyone who attended the performance of "The Dragon's Return". The play, which was staged at the Walcha Multipurpose Centre, showcased the incredible talent of all of our students who have been working tirelessly for the whole term remembering their lines and all of their dance moves.

From the moment the curtains were raised, the audience was transported into a magical world of dragons, knights, and princesses. The stage was filled with stunning sets and props, all designed and created by our fantastic staff and parents, which added to the authenticity of the performance.

This was the first time I had seen the performance from beginning to end and although I am very biased when it comes to anything associated with St Patrick's, I thought it was one of the best school shows I have seen.

The show was a was a resounding success, and it is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of the students here at St Patrick's. This show wouldn't have been an outstanding success without the many helpers that we had. I would like to thank Mrs Davey for all of her tireless work coordinating the performance, as well as all of the staff members who contributed in many ways. Also, thank you to all of our parents for organising the costumes for the students and last of all the Laurie and Young families for the creation of all of the props as well as Becky Tate for assisting with the hair styling.

I am definitely looking forward to seeing what the students will perform in 2025.

Wrap up of Year 3-4's Excellent Adventure at Thalgarrah!

I have to admit I was relieved to get back home after the Year 3-4 overnight excursion to Thalgarrah last week as I didn't realise how much I rely on mobile coverage and access to wifi! Simply put, I wasn't coping. However, besides attempting to cope with this minor difficulty as well as being relieved of my cooking duties, I had a great two days and I know all of our Year 3-4 students will have some pleasant memories of our trip.

It was an actioned packed two days as soon as the students arrived and had their sleeping arrangement sorted, it was time to participate in a number of team-work activities that included placing a dragon's egg in a nest using handheld ramps over twenty metres as well as attempting to get all of the members of their group to use mats to move from one location to the other without touching the ground or letting go of their mat. This proved to be a challenge for some groups, especially Tom L and Ryan who were left stranded by their team-mates.

After lunch, the student's orienteering skills were tested as they had to use a compass and a map to find 18 checkpoints throughout the centre. All groups managed to find 17 of the checkpoints but were unable to find the last one due to a mistake from our camp leader. On the way back to the meeting area, some groups found a baby kookaburra that fell out of its tree.

The students had afternoon tea and then they were back in the paddock again playing 'tribes and territories', where they had to find a totem hidden by their opposing team, retrieve it, and attempt to make their way back to their camp without getting tagged. This proved to be very challenging for some as there were a number of students who hid among the trees, while others preferred to attack and run into their opposition's territory attempting to find the 'prized icon'.

The first day ended by having sausages, meatballs, and chicken kebabs for tea and then it was time for showers then bed.

On the second day, the students had the opportunity to get up close and personal with insects, carpet snakes, and cockatiels as well as having the chance to scratch the back of a bearded dragon. Then it was time again to go back into the paddock to find some leaves, moss, flowers, and small animals to view under a microscope. The morning session finished off exploring the shapes of various seeds and how the wind can help them to spread to different locations.

After consuming hamburgers for lunch, it was time to pack the bus and head back to Walcha, where a number of the students took the chance to catch up on some sleep before we arrived back at St Patrick's. It was a great two days and thank you to Mrs Healey who was called in at the last minute to assist with supervising as well as all of the Year 3-4 students who were a pleasure to take on this experience.

Staffing for 2024

I am still finalising the staffing arrangements for next year, but I can officially announce the leaders of all classes.

Kindergarten - Ms Wilson and Mrs Hoy (1 day a week)

Year 1 / 2 Mrs Flanagan and Mrs Hoy (1 day a week)

Year 3 / 4 Miss Cattelini

Year 5/ 6 Mrs Davey and Mr Hyatt (1 day a week)

2024 School Fees

Recently the Catholic Schools Office sent out a letter to all schools in the office stating that all schools will need to increase their school fees by at least 4%. I know a lot of members in our local community are struggling financially due to the continued rise of interest rates as well as essentials like electricity, fuel, food, and other necessities. I am still juggling various factors for the school budget for next year, therefore school fees will be increasing by 4% in 2024. This equates to around $1.40 per week.

THE LAST DAY FOR RETURNING LIBRARY BOOKS IS TOMORROW, FRIDAY 1ST DECEMBER!

It is getting to that time of year when very soon we will need to start stocktaking all of the books that are in the library. This is going to be a huge job and to ensure that this task is completed before the end of the school year, the last day that all books will need to be returned to school by tomorrow! Thanks again to all students and their parents who have already returned their library books. It will make our stocktaking job that will be commencing very soon.

End of Year Presentation Night

Next Thursday 7th December, we will be having our annual Schools Presentation Night under the school COLA, followed by a barbecue, where all members of our school community are invited to join us.

Term 4 - End of Year Date

The last day for students this academic year is Thursday 14th December.

Semester 2 Reporting

Currently, the teachers are working on Semester Two student reports. Parents will be able to view the reports via the parent portal in Week 9. If you would prefer a paper report please advise school.

How to access the Semester Two reports on Compass in Week 9:

Log into Compass

To view the Semester 2 report either click on your child's profile and select report.

The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award For This Week Is.......

Congratulations to Hannah who was the worthy recipient of this week's 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' award. You should be proud of yourself Hannah, as everyone at St Patrick's always notices the way in which you wear your school and sports uniform.

Carols by Candlelight - December 12th

Dates for Term 1, 2024

The official start date for the 2024 school year will be Thursday 1st February 2024 for all students in Years 1 - 6.

Kindergarten will commence Tuesday 6th February 2024 following Best Start Assessments.

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.

Classroom Gallery

More highlights from the Year 3-4 Thalgarrah Excursion