THANK YOU FOR TERM 1

Throughout this term, I have made reference to the rapid passage of time, and it is indeed astonishing how quickly the year has progressed. By the time this newsletter is published, the students will already be at the start of the school holidays. It is true what they say: time flies when you're having fun! I am grateful for the unwavering support from our families this term. Working with such a remarkable learning community is truly a blessing.

I extend my best wishes to you and your families for a safe and enjoyable break. I am excited to hear about all the exciting adventures the children will have once we return to school on Wednesday, May 1st.

A Message from Mrs Makeham

ACADEMIC INITIATIVES AT ST PAT’S.

At St Patrick’s, academic improvement for all students is our core business. This is as it should be!

To better tailor our teaching programs with a steady hand on individual learning needs and an eye to improvement, we have introduced a suite of assessments to diagnose the learning needs of every single student in our care. Without going into too much detail, these assessments provide teachers with detailed information about students’ skills development in much the same way as doctors use blood tests to gauge the health of a patient. The assessment tools we use are comprehensive and provide teachers with a clear direction of what is required in our teaching practices and programs to propel forward the learning of our students.

The staff have been working as a professional learning community to develop learning sprints to address the deficits in students’ knowledge. (Learning sprints are targeted interventions that address specific learning needs.) Next term, I will work with small groups of students from Years 1-6 with common deficits in their learning to ‘plug the gaps’ in their skill sets. These groups will run for five weeks, after which students will be re-tested to monitor their improvement and progress.

I am really proud of our academic program here at St. Pat’s and look forward to sharing more of our successes with you over time.

Enjoy your break from lunch boxes and the early morning routine.

Da Vinci Decathlon

Congratulations to our Year 5 and 6 students who represented St Patrick's at the Northern NSW Da Vinci Decathlon in Armidale last Thursday, where they finished third in their division.

Our team demonstrated exceptional proficiency across various disciplines during the inter-school academic gala day designed to challenge and stimulate young minds. Their noteworthy achievements included first place in Mathematics, third place in Science, second place in Cartography, and commendable performances in all other categories.

We are extremely proud of the accomplishments displayed by our school representatives at this year's Northern NSW Da Vinci Decathlon.

P and F Long Lunch

Congratulations to the entire P & F Long Lunch Committee for organizing a highly successful event last Saturday. Your dedication and meticulous planning led to a fantastic day, bringing together more than 150 individuals to show their support for our exceptional school.

I am amazed by the incredible support from families who went above and beyond to guarantee the success of Saturday's event. Families dedicated days to preparing and dismantling the pavilion at the showground. Thank you!

The total amount of funds raised is still being calculated, and once I ascertain the exact figure collected from this remarkable occasion, I will promptly inform everyone.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their invaluable contributions to the 2024 Long Lunch.

Cross Country

Congratulations to all the students who performed exceptionally in yesterday's Cross Country event! It was wonderful to witness the students giving their best effort, and we appreciate the significant number of parents who showed up to support their child/ren.

Congratulations to the following Champion & Runner up winners:

Cross Country 2024
Juvenile Boys Champion	Jack Provost
Juvenile Boys Runner Up Champion	Campbell Laurie
Juvenile Girls Champion	Mackenzie Wark
Juvenile Girls Runner Up Champion	Mackenzie Gollan
Junior Boys Champion	Benji Provost
Junior Boys Runner Up Champion	Shaun Zorgdrager
Junior Girls Champion	Josie Wauch
Junior Girls Runner Up Champion	Lucie Saxby
11 Years Boys Champion	Lochie Hoy
11 Years Boys Runner Up Champion	Digby Clark
11 Years Girls Champion	Jessica Patterson-Kane
11 Years Girls Runner Up Champion	Grace Fletcher
Senior Boys Champion	Albert Green
Senior Girls Champion	Emily Zorgdrager
Senior Girls Runner Up Champion	Grace Curtis

Congratulations go to the 26 students who will represent St Patrick's at the Diocesan Winter Trials on Friday 17th May at Barraba. Please note that all permissions were sent out earlier today and must be forwarded to the school via Compass by Friday 10th May. I will be the team manager for the day.

There are some photos from our school cross country in the sports section of this newsletter.

Red Cross Pillowcase Program

Two members from the Australian Red Cross Society graciously visited us on Friday to deliver the Pillowcase Program to our Year 3-4 students. This program aims to encourage children to actively participate in their own emergency preparedness. The session covers a wide range of emergencies and includes interactive activities that highlight the importance of being prepared. By utilising a pillowcase, this program effectively helps children overcome both real and perceived fears, ultimately strengthening their ability to cope with stress.

The students were introduced to several practical strategies that they could utilise to prepare for and handle different emergency scenarios that may arise in the future. Following this, each student received a pillowcase to personalise and bring home, in order to begin assembling their own individual emergency kit. They were also urged to emphasize the significance of emergency readiness with their families.

OPEN MORNING for 2025 Kindergarten Students - 14th May 9:30am-11am

The Open Morning provides parents with the chance to discover what St Patrick's School can offer their children. Parents can engage with the faculty, take a tour of the campus, and partake in a morning tea. Transition students are also welcome to participate in activities with the current Kindergarten class.

Should you be aware of individuals with a child preparing to begin school in the upcoming year, or individuals interested in exploring our school and its offerings, we kindly request that you extend an invitation to them for our Open Morning.

Enrolments are now open for Kindergarten 2025.

Our school open morning for Kindergarten will be Tuesday 14th May 2024.

Please contact the school for an enrolment package - 67772328 or email

spwadmin@arm.catholic.edu.au

ANZAC DAY MARCH

St Patrick’s School has been invited to attend the ANZAC Day March. Those children who are available to march on Thursday 25th April, need to assemble with the school at 10:30am at the corner of Hill and South Streets. The service will begin at the end of the march, approximately 11:00am in ANZAC Memorial Park. After the service, the march will go down Darby Street to Fitzroy Street and finish at McHattan Park.

Parents could you please make sure:

*your son/daughter is in the correct school winter uniform, tie, black shoes and school hat

*you collect your son/daughter at McHatton Park after the march

A note was sent home on Tuesday to find out who will be available to represent St Patrick's at this event as it is on during the second week of the school holidays.

Term 2 Visitors and Events

The beginning of Term 2 at St Patrick's will be busy with numerous events and guests scheduled in the initial weeks.

The P and F are organising a Mother's Day Breakfast under the COLA on Friday, 3rd May, starting at around 7.45am. Various activities will take place alongside the breakfast, and we look forward to welcoming all our lovely mothers and grandmothers on that day.

Mitch Tambo is Australia's unique and dynamic First Nations entertainer, renowned as "the new voice of our generation." His debut album "Guurrama-Li" topped charts worldwide. Mitch's powerful renditions of iconic songs, like 'You’re the Voice' at the historic Fire Fight Concert, showcase his commitment to preserving Gamilaraay language and culture. His electrifying pop single 'Yugal Yulu-gi' marked his tenth consecutive #1 iTunes Worldwide Chart success. Mitch has received two Golden Guitar Award nominations and passionately supports various social causes.

On Monday 13th May, Dr Cameron Stelzer will be visiting the school. Cameron Stelzer, an Australian author and illustrator, is dedicated to creating captivating children's books and nurturing a passion for reading, writing, and creativity in young individuals. Renowned as one of Australia's beloved children's authors, Stelzer's collection of over thirty books, such as the acclaimed Pie Rats series, the whimsical Scallywags series, the engaging SOS series, instructional drawing books, and the delightful Stroogle picture book series, have captivated, motivated, and thrilled children. Stelzer's literary works have been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the International Book Awards, the Book Excellence Awards, the American Fiction Awards, and the NYC Big Book Awards.

Dr. Cameron will be in charge of conducting several presentations and workshops with all the students on this particular day.

The Winner of 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' Award Is.......

Congratulations to Mackenzie G on being the recipient of the 'Wearing Uniform With Pride' award this week. As mentioned earlier, choosing the winner every week is becoming more and more difficult. Mackenzie G, your continuous display of pride in both your school and sports uniforms is truly commendable.

TERMS 1 and 2 PUPIL FREE DAYS

The student's last day for this term is today, Thursday 11th April.

The first two days of Term 2 (Monday 29th April and Tuesday 30th April), will be Pupil Free Days. Students will return to school on Wednesday 1st May. I do apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause.

2024 Staff Development Days (PD Days)

All schools within the diocese have been granted a total of eight staff development days for this year. These designated days aim to improve the teaching capabilities of the staff, with a specific focus on the curriculum. Additionally, they provide an opportunity for the staff to implement the new teaching syllabus for the upcoming year. So far, we have already utilised two of the allocated staff development days. To minimise any inconveniences caused to our families who need to arrange care on days when the school is closed, I have scheduled the remaining six PD Days to occur either on the last few days or the first few days of each term. Below are the dates when the remaining six staff development days will take place.

Friday 12th April (Last day of Term 1)

Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th April (First two days of Term 2)

Monday 22nd July (First day of Term 3)

Monday 14th October (First day of Term 4)

Friday 20th December (Last day of Term 4)

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.

Mini Vinnies

Mini Vinnies A