Message From Our Principal

This week our students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Swimming Week at the Echuca Pool. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm, confidence, and perseverance each student has shown as they developed their swimming and water safety skills. These lessons are such an important part of our curriculum, helping students build confidence in and around the water while also having fun with their classmates. A huge thank you to our staff and parent helpers for supporting the smooth running of the program and to the instructors for their patience and expertise. It’s been a fantastic week of learning, laughter, and splashing about!

Last Friday night, our school community came together for a fantastic Outdoor Movie Night Fundraiser, and what a wonderful evening it was! Families enjoyed relaxing under the stars, sharing snacks, and watching the movie together in true community spirit. A huge thank you goes to our incredible Fundraising Committee for their hard work and organisation in making the night such a success. It was also great to see so many of our students and families get into the Halloween spirit — the costumes were amazing! Congratulations to Buddy, Morgan, and Amelia, who took out the prizes for Best Dressed. Events like these remind us how special our St Patrick’s community is — full of fun, connection, and support.

Our Grade 5/6 students proudly participated in the Tongala Beersheba Commemoration.

Alongside Tongala Primary School, our students helped host the service; showing great respect and leadership throughout. Well done to James, Jack and Dusty, who spoke beautifully, and to all students who laid wreaths, carried flags and banners, or supported respectfully during the ceremony. They especially enjoyed meeting soldiers and checking out the artillery that was part of the service.

Later this term we will complete an off-site evacuation drill. Practicing an off-site evacuation drill is essential for ensuring that students and staff are well-prepared to respond safely and calmly in an emergency situation. Such drills provide hands-on experience in managing potential challenges, such as moving quickly and efficiently to a designated location, accounting for all students, and following instructions under pressure. During our recent off-site evacuation, our students demonstrated remarkable behaviour; they were calm, attentive, and respectful throughout the entire process. Their ability to follow directions and maintain focus made the drill a success, reinforcing the importance of preparedness and teamwork in ensuring everyone’s safety.

This Friday we will celebrate World Teachers' Day. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated teachers at St Patrick's Primary School. Every day, our teachers inspire, guide, and nurture our students, creating a vibrant learning environment where each child is encouraged to thrive. From classroom teaching to leadership roles, each staff member contributes uniquely, fostering a culture of care, growth, and achievement. Special thanks to Mrs Jaleigha Mclay, Miss Erin Emmett, Miss Alex Wooden, Mrs Ashlea Stock, Mrs Fiona McKiernan, Ms Christina Dove, Miss Katie Rasmussen, and all our specialist staff – Mrs Sarah Hill, Ms Kathleen Parry, Mrs Geenah Loughran and Mrs Rhiannan Brennan – for their unwavering commitment and passion. We celebrate their tireless efforts and the positive impact they make in our school community. Thank you for all that you do!

As we head into the upcoming long weekend, I’d like to remind families that Monday will be a curriculum day for staff, who will be hard at work writing Semester 2 student reports. This valuable time allows teachers to reflect on each child’s growth and achievements throughout the year and ensure reports provide meaningful feedback for families. On Tuesday, we’ll all enjoy a well-deserved break for the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday. We hope everyone enjoys the extended weekend, taking some time to relax and recharge before we head into the busy final weeks of term.

School preparations for the bushfire season:

Each year, to prepare for bushfires and grassfires, schools complete a range of activities. Please read the attached document to see what we have done:

Fundraising

Our wonderful Fundraising Committee are finishing the year strong with two amazing fundraisers. 

Please support both the Gingerbread House Fundraiser & the Christmas Holiday Raffle by scanning the relevant QR codes shown below.

MAGNIFY SANDHURST

 Learn more about Magnify Sandhurst at  https://www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au/lea.../magnify-sandhurst