From the Principal

In 2025, we embrace the Diocesan theme: "May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace." (Romans 15:13). This scripture calls us to be bearers of hope, fostering a community where joy and peace flourish in the hearts of our students, staff, and families.

As we enter the Jubilee Holy Year, a time of renewal and pilgrimage, we reflect on our role as Pilgrims of Hope, walking together in faith. Inspired by Pope Francis' call for renewal and St Paul’s encouragement to the early Christian communities, we at St Patrick’s are committed to uplifting and guiding one another in faith, learning, and love.

Our school community will celebrate this theme through prayer, reflection, and action, ensuring that the hope, joy, and peace of God are lived out daily in our classrooms, relationships, and service to others with clear ties to our motto, 'To Love is To Serve'. 

Dear families,

Last Friday we celebrated the Opening School Mass, where we gathered as a community to ask for God’s blessing on the year ahead. Thank you to Fr Ed and Fr Abraham for leading us in this special celebration, reminding us of the joy and peace found in our faith.

Our Grade 3/4 students have already been out and about, exploring the geographic features around Mt Buninyong as part of their learning. Their enthusiasm and curiosity have been wonderful to see as they connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

Throughout the school, students have been engaging with our Positive Behaviour Matrix, ensuring that respect, responsibility, and safety continue to shape our daily interactions. It has been great to see students embracing these values, creating a positive and welcoming environment for all - especially the role of senior students supporting new students.

We have also begun exploring our Semester One concept,"Change: Growth Matters More Than Comfort." This theme challenges us to step outside our comfort zones, embrace new opportunities, and recognise that real learning happens when we are open to change.

2026 Foundation Enrolments

We are excited to commence our Foundation enrolment tours this week! It is always a pleasure to welcome prospective families and showcase the wonderful learning and growth happening across our school.

A reminder to current St Patrick’s families with children in Kindergarten this year: if you wish to enrol your child in Foundation 2026, please complete an Expression of Interest by 10th March. You do not need to book a school tour — simply follow the application steps on our website: www.spballarat.catholic.edu.au.

We look forward to meeting new families and sharing what makes St Patrick’s such a special place to learn and grow!

Parish Reconciliation Sacramental Program 2025

Please check the Our Faith Community page for further information about the Reconciliation Sacramental Program.

School Choir

We are excited to share that choir practice has commenced with great enthusiasm! It’s wonderful to see so many students eager to develop their love of music. A huge thank you to Kerin for her dedication in supporting our students on this journey.

Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 2:20 pm – 3:15 pm for students in Years 3 to 6. We have already been invited to perform at St Patrick’s College on Sunday, 2nd March, between 1 pm – 3 pm, as part of the Sharing our Voices concert, supporting The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute and The Choir of Hard Knocks. 

Health and Physical Education

Following our recent Family Connections meetings, I’d like to take the opportunity to share the school’s approach to substantially addressing the Health and Physical Education curriculum. We appreciate the questions and feedback raised, and we value the opportunity to ensure clarity around how this important learning area is embedded into the fabric of our school week.

All classes from Foundation to Year 6 participate in a weekly 60-minute Physical Education session, ensuring consistent skill development, movement-based learning, and active engagement. Additionally, students in Years 3 to 6 have access to a range of events throughout the year that extend beyond these sessions, including physical activity opportunities and partnerships with other schools and community organisations. These experiences help foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and broader connections beyond the school environment.

The Health and Wellbeing component of the curriculum is also comprehensively addressed through our whole-school Social Emotional Learning (SEL) block every Friday - a new, important, inclusion for 2025. During this dedicated time, students engage with the Resilience, Rights, and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) program, an evidence-based resource that supports emotional regulation, respectful interactions, and personal wellbeing. The topics covered in the RRRR program are:

• Emotional Literacy
• Personal Strengths
• Positive Coping
• Problem Solving
• Stress Management
• Help Seeking
• Gender and Identity
• Positive Gender Relationships

Our participation in the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) project further strengthens our commitment to equipping students with strategies to navigate their social and emotional world with confidence and care.

Later in the year, a component of our Social Emotional Learning time allocation will incorporate the Fullness of Life program, the Diocesan-approved sexuality program. This will be delivered in an age-appropriate manner and within the context of our school’s values, ensuring students receive developmentally appropriate guidance in this aspect of their learning.

We are committed to fostering the physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of all students, and we welcome any further discussion on our approach. Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Healthy Living Beyond the Classroom

Our Healthy Living program continues to be a highly engaging and insightful space where students develop a deep understanding of how food choices impact their wellbeing. Just this week, I was blown away by a response from Harry in Grade 5/6, who articulated the effects of junk food on our bodies — explaining dopamine spikes, how cravings are engineered, and why certain foods are designed to keep us coming back for more. 

These conversations highlight the importance of practising what we teach beyond the classroom. As a school, we encourage families to be mindful of food choices in lunchboxes. One growing concern is the amount of sugar in some snacks brought to school, particularly lollipops, which not only contribute to unhealthy sugar consumption but also pose safety risks in the schoolyard.

SchoolTV 

This week on SchoolTV you will find additional resources available to gain greater insight into School Transitions.

"Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means that the children are growing up!

However, for many it may also be a very anxious and stressful time for both parents and children. Parents need to be aware of their child’s feelings during any school transition and minimise anxiety so the process is an enjoyable experience for all. It is important for children to attend transition or orientation programs offered by schools. Familiarisation is often key to reducing stress levels. It is also important for parents to talk to their children about their expectations and being more responsible for their own needs.."

Click on the link below to access a wealth of videos, articles, and resources on the aforementioned topics.

All Editions | St Patrick's School - Ballarat (schooltv.me) 

Kind regards,

Ben Shields