Deputy Principal's Report
Dear Families,
It has been another fantastic week at St Pat's as our students continue to grow and thrive across all areas of learning.
Resilience in Focus
Throughout the year we’ve been focusing on resilience and social-emotional learning, throughout our year levels. Through the Resilience Project, BounceBack program and our classroom lessons, students have been exploring important topics such as coping with setbacks, building positive relationships, and practicing mindfulness. These skills are essential for their development and well-being, and it’s been heartening to see them applying these strategies in their daily lives.
You can support this learning at home by:
- Encouraging your child to talk about their day, including challenges they faced and how they worked through them.
- Practicing mindfulness as a family, such as taking a few minutes to breathe deeply together.
- Celebrating effort and persistence, even when things don’t go as planned.
SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK, SLIDE
With summer and the warmer weather quickly approaching, I’d like to remind all students to come prepared with their hats and sunscreen each day at school. As we spend more time outdoors, it’s essential that everyone stays protected from the sun’s UV rays.
Parents, it would be greatly appreciated if you could teach your children to apply sunscreen at home before they come to school in the morning. This not only helps start their day off with good coverage but also ensures they’re familiar with the routine, as students will need to reapply during the day. By building this habit at home, we can work together to keep everyone sun safe.
A helpful reminder for all of us is the Cancer Council’s “Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide” slogan. This easy-to-remember message encourages children to Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, Seek shade, and Slide on sunglasses whenever they’re outside. Practicing these sun safety steps helps build lifelong habits that protect skin health.
Thank you for your support in encouraging sun-smart habits! Let’s work together to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and healthy summer season for everyone.
Random Acts of Kindness
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding display of kindness and compassion towards others. Your willingness to support, encourage, and uplift those around you has set a wonderful example for our entire school community. It’s incredibly inspiring to see students across different year levels go out of their way to make others feel valued, included, and respected.
Your acts of kindness—whether through small gestures or significant efforts—are powerful reminders of the positive impact we can all have. Thank you for embodying the values that make our school a welcoming and caring place for everyone. Keep up the amazing work!
Week 6
Cassie O. (2IL) For always being so polite and helpful to staff
Arriving at School on Time
We kindly request that all students arrive at or before 8:45 am each school day. Our school gates will close at 8:50am. Punctuality not only helps students settle into their day smoothly but also maximises their engagement in the learning process. Being present and ready at the beginning of the school day allows students to make the most of instructional time and fosters a positive classroom environment.
In the event that your child arrives after 8:50am, we kindly ask that you sign them in at the school office. This helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures that any missed instructions or announcements are communicated to the students promptly.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and we appreciate your cooperation in instilling the importance of timeliness with your child. Consistent and prompt attendance supports their academic progress, social development, and overall success in school.
Should you have any concerns or if there are specific challenges your family is facing regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to support you and work collaboratively to ensure the best possible learning experience for your child.
St Patrick's Prayer
For those parents who attend our school assemblies or school mass, I am including a copy of the St Patrick's School Prayer.
Dear God,
We at St Patrick’s Primary in Mentone believe that Christ is in the heart of all.
As with our role model, St Patrick, we pray that Christ will be with us, within us, behind us, beside us and before us.
Through our actions of love and kindness may everyone in our community come to know that Christ is the heartbeat of our school.
May everyone in our school feel welcomed, loved, accepted, safe and inspired to learn for the greater good of our world.
St Patrick, pray for us
St Mary MacKillop, pray for us
Kindest regards,
Joelle Diakrousis
Deputy Principal
Learning Diversity Leader