Dear Families,

As we conclude another incredible year at St. Patrick’s Primary School, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our parents and carers for your unwavering support and dedication throughout 2024.

Your tireless efforts in nurturing and encouraging your children, coupled with your commitment to collaborating with our staff and broader school community, have been amazing. It is through this strong partnership that we have continued to provide a nurturing, vibrant, and faith-filled learning environment for all our students.

As we approach the Christmas season, we reflect on the many blessings of this year and the shared moments that have strengthened our school community. We wish each of you a joyful, safe, and peaceful Christmas, filled with love, laughter, and cherished time with your loved ones.

May the holiday season bring rest, renewal, and countless blessings as we look forward to a wonderful 2025 together.

2025 Stationery Order Update

We are making some changes to our stationery ordering process for 2025 to streamline the system and help reduce costs for families. This year, we have partnered with Maxim for our stationery needs. Families will need to order exercise books and a few larger stationery items exclusively through the Maxim Parent Portal. These items will be specified, and it is essential to purchase them through this company to ensure all students have the same required materials.

Please ensure all orders are placed by Sunday the 15th December to receive free shipping, orders placed after this date will incur a $15 fee as the packs will be delivered directly to the school during the holidays and labelled by staff.

How to online order with Maxim Office Group Pty Ltd

Dear Parents,

Many thanks for supporting St Patrick’s Catholic PS with the online portal for Bookpack purchasing. We have partnered with Maxim Office Group Pty Ltd to ensure a seamless school start for 2024. Packs will be delivered to the school for collection.

Please note:

Orders must be placed by Sunday 15th of December to ensure delivery is on time.

Any orders after this date will incur a late order processing fee of $15 and will be delivered within the 1st two weeks of February.

To order your Bookpack:

Please follow this link: http://www.maxim.booklists.com.au or go to our main website and click the link ‘BOOKLIST’ as indicated below
Your access code is: STPATMENTO

*Please note this is capital sensitive. Please enter code as displayed in screen.

Select the year level required for order This is the year your child is going into for 2025.
Please ensure that the students’ name, your name and contact details are given and correct
Select ‘Place order’
If purchasing more than one booklist, please select ‘Add another booklist’ and follow the same procedure from step 3
Select ‘Proceed to payment options’
Your total payment amount required will display on screen
Select ‘Pay Now’
Please choose your check-out option – Credit/ Direct Debit available. Ensure payment details are correctly entered
You will receive a payment receipt and an order confirmation to the email address you provided
Your child's pack will be delivered to school

In addition to the Maxim order, I am also providing a supplementary stationery list- St Patrick’s Student Stationery Requirement List. This list will include items such as pencil case essentials—colouring pencils, erasers, rulers, etc.—which you can either purchase from a retailer of your choice (e.g., Woolworths, Big W, Officeworks) or reuse from this year if they are still in good condition and are expected to last the entire year. This approach aims to reduce costs for families while supporting sustainability through the reuse of suitable items.

Please remember to label all these items at home before sending them to school. Thank you for your cooperation in making this new system as smooth and efficient as possible for everyone!

Please Click HERE for St Patrick’s Student Stationery Requirement List and select the correct Year Level Tab

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 10

Lara J. (3IM), Evie A. (3IM) and Layla D. (3IM) For making a new student feel welcome

Gracie V. (6EL) and Callan H. (6EL) For helping Mrs Diakrousis with a special task

Grace M. (5JD) and Gisella C. (5JD) For helping set up tables for the uniform shop

Sasha D. (PSM) For being kind to others on the playground

Zahara V. (4MS) and Jemima W. (4MS) For being such wonderful helpers

Outstanding Sportsmanship and Sporting Achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have shared their fantastic achievements in extracurricular sports to close out the year with me. I am incredibly proud of their dedication and success and love celebrating the accomplishments of our students. Congratulations to all other students who didn't share their achievements with me.

Henry G. (1BT) and Aidan O. (1KP)- Grand Final Winner for Mentone United Soccer Club, Douglas O. (1BT) - Runners-Up with Bayside Argonauts Soccer Club, Jack I. (1BT) - Runners-Up with Beaumaris Soccer Club, Kezia G. (1CL) - Gold Medal for Lyrical Dance with Mathis Pearls at the State Championship

Charlotte C. (2IL) and Brooklyn V. (2BL) - Encouragement Award from Dance Fusion

Poppy H. (2BL) - Most Encouraging Player for Mentone Stars

Milo C. (2BL) Runners Up for Parkdale Pacers Basketball Team

Remy N. (3FH), Alessi D. (3IM), Archer S. (3IM), and Jaiden C. (3SC) - Grand Final Winners with Mentone Mustangs Basketball Club. Congratulations to Jaiden, who was also named MVP

Andrew K. (3FH) - Grand Final Runners-Up with Mentone Tennis Club

Amaey A. (3FH) - Received his yellow belt from Melbourne Taekwondo Centre

Ethan M. (3SC) - Defensive Player of the Year for Mentone Mustangs

Leo A. (3IM) - Coach's Award for the Mentone Mustangs Basketball Club

Lachlan B. (3SC) and Jack B. (3IM) - Grand Final Champions for Mentone Mustangs Basketball Club. Lachlan was also named MVP.

Myla W. (3FH) - Fastest Beach Runner for Aspendale Little Nippers

Hudson B. (4IS), Rhys L. (4IS), Lenny T. (4IS), Noah B. (4IS), Brody M. (4IS), Charlie B. (4IS), Max M. (4MS), and Jack H. (4MH) - Basketball Grand Final Runners-Up with Mentone Mustangs Basketball Club. Congratulations to Noah, who also received the Coach's Award, and Hudson for his performance with Mentone Mustangs Shooters Basketball Club.

Andrew P. (4IS) - Coach's Award for Mentone Mustangs-Thunder Basketball Club

Oliver R. (4MS) - MVP for Mentone Mustangs-Thunder

Dominic H. (4IS) - State Grand Finals Champion with Broxham Football

Thomas B. (4IS) - MVP and Grand Final Runners-Up with Beaumaris Sharks Football Club

Hudson B. (6EL) - MIC Academy Basketball Tournament 1st Runner-Up

Will N. (4MS) - Mentone Mustangs Magic MVP

Charlie B. (4MS) - Sandringham Sabres Basketball Runners-Up

Ava B. (4MH) - MVP for Beaumaris Opals Soccer Club and MVP for Mentone Tiger Flames Netball

Evie T. (4MH) - Enthusiasm Award for Tiger World Class Taekwondo

Ava B. (4IS) - 1st Place at her dance competition for Sharon Lawrence Academy of Dance

Jaimee C. (4MS), Antonia P. (4IS), Ava B. (4MH), Peyton H. (4MH), Chloe C. (4IS), Indi T. (4MS), and Nancy W. (4MS) - Mentone Tigers Flames Grand Finals Runners-Up

Emma E. (4IS) - Principal's Perpetual Award from Junior Dance Fusion Performing Arts Academy

Ella D. (5ID), Grace M. (5JD), Gracie D. (5JD), Amelie R. (5JD), Isabella B. (5SB), and Gloria E. (5SB) - Grand Final Champions with Mentone Tigers Lightning Netball Club. Isabella also won the Coach's Award, and Gracie was named MVP.

Olivia S. (5SB) and Milla C. (5SB) - 1st Place for Lyrical and Jazz at Jewels Dance Fusion

Maddie S. (5ID) and Chloe P. (5ID) - 1st Place at National Cheerleading with Bullets Allstars

Ashton R. (5SB) - Runners-Up in the Futsal Tournament with East City Wolves

Zac C. (5ID) - MVP for Mordy Flyers Basketball Team

Luke B. (5ID) - MVP for Mentone Mustangs Basketball Team

Louis R. (5JD), James W. (5JD), Buddy Z. (5JD), and Levi R. (5JD) - Mordy Flyers Basketball Team. Louis was also named Most Improved, and James the MVP.

Sebastian H. (5ID) - Coach's Award for Mentone Mustangs Basketball Team

Lachlan M. (5SB) - Coach's Award for Mentone Mustangs Clippers Basketball Team and Runners-Up in Futsal with Beaumaris Sharks

Jake R. (5JD) - 2nd Place for Cross Country with Mentone Athletics Club

Ben W. (5SB) - Runners-Up for Mentone Panthers Hockey Team

Jasper D. (5SB), Lucca D. (5SB), Kyle W. (5ID), Max C. (5SB), and Seb M. (5JD) - Runners-Up for Mordy Flyers Wildcats

Keira D. (5ID) - MVP, Coach's Award, and Grand Final Champion with Parkdale Pacers

Hadrian C. (5ID) and Phillip B. (5JD) - Grand Final Champions for Mentone Mustangs United

Dallas H. (6EL) - Defensive MVP and Thomas K. (6EL) - Hustler Award with Mordialloc Flyer Hurricanes

Dallas H. (6EL) - Hitting Award MVP with Cheltenham Rustlers Baseball Team

Ezra G. (6EL) - State Cup with FTS Academy

Joshua B. (6EL) - Playing basketball in the Philippines in 2025

Jack H. (6EL) - State Final Winner at Youth Super Cup Soccer

Callan H. (6EL), Leopold J. (5ID), Tommy H. (5JD), and Jack O. (5ID) - Runners-Up for Mentone Tennis Club Section 9

Teddy R. (6BR) - Runners-Up for Junior Super League with FTS Academy

Daisy H. (6BR) - Runners-Up for Tigers Netball Team

Mia L. (6BR) - Molly Bunnet Award for Kindness and Improvement at Dance Fusion

Grace F. (6BR) - MVP and Runners-Up for Mentone Tigers Thunder Netball

Hudson H. (6BR) - Runners-Up at Mentone Tennis Club

Taylor C. (6BR) - Runners-Up in Trampolining at CYC and MVP for Basketball with Mordy Flyers

Thomas K. (6BR), Jade Q. (5ID), and Madeleine J. (6EL) - Runners-Up for St Patrick's Mentone Tennis Club, with Madeleine named MVP

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

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend ahead—enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather!

Kindest regards,

Joelle Diakrousis

Deputy Principal

Learning Diversity Leader

Parish Bulletin