Happy Fathers Day!

I would like to wish all our Fathers a wonderful Father's Day this upcoming Sunday.

Fathers you play a vital role in the lives of your children. You offer guidance, wisdom, support and love throughout their life. Amazing Fathers make sacrifices every day to give their families a good life. THANK YOU FATHERS

O'Connor Yr 6 Visit

Some of our Year 6 students went to O'Connor today had a very enjoyable day at the Agricultural Farm, Science Labs Design & Tech Labs and PE. Thank you O'Connor for hosting our Yr 6 students. Also, a number of our Year 5 and 6 students went to the Walcha Central Taster Day as well. We hope these students enjoyed their day.

Kindergarten Transition Program Has Commenced!

Last Friday, we welcomed Campbell, Charlotte, Harper Jack, Levi, Mackenzie and Reid for their first day of transition. The students were very busy on their first day in big school and they completed a wide range of activities. From all accounts, our transition students had a fantastic day and are looking forward to joining us again tomorrow. Thank you again Mrs Hoy for leading transition as I know it would have been a tiring and actioned pack day.

Transition Days for children are significant in helping children familiarise themselves with the school environment and helping to make the transition to ‘big school’ so much easier.

NAPLAN 2022

More NAPLAN Success at St Patrick's Walcha!

Naplan results for Years 3 and 5 went home to parents with the students on Tuesday.

The envelope contains individual student report & a letter to parents.

2022 NAPLAN results show a high level of success for our students in both Years 3 and 5.

In NAPLAN Year 3 reading results, St Pat's have had our highest ever NAPLAN mean score of 518.7, compared with the state average of 446.12. Looking at the school average, we are one of the highest performing schools across the nation.

In 2022 the proportion of Year 3 students who have achieved the top two bands for reading and grammar/punctuation was 75% in this category!

Other highlights include:

In Year 3

Our school averages in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language and Numeracy were way above the National average.
Reading, 100% of students above the National Minimum Standard
Writing, 83% of students above the National Minimum Standard
Numeracy, 83% of students above the National Minimum Standard

In Year 5

Our school averages in Reading, Grammar and Punctuation as well as Numeracy were above the National average.
Reading, 88% of students above the National Minimum Standard
Writing, 88% of students above the National Minimum Standard
Numeracy, 88% of students above the National Minimum Standard

Congratulations on these results, children, teachers & parents. It is a testament to the work of the whole school professional learning community. I am very pleased with the journey we have made in improving learning and teaching outcomes that have contributed to this success in NAPLAN.

Thank you to the staff who have worked so hard to improve our student outcomes across the school!

Walcha Central School NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Next Thursday the 8th September, all of our students and staff have been invited to take part in Walcha Central School's NAIDOC Week Celebrations. We will be leaving school at 11.15am and travelling by bus to Walcha Central. The students will need to wear their sports uniform on this day as they will be participating in a number of sporting challenges. There will be a barbecue operating on this day. Thank you to all of the parents who have already given approval via COMPASS for their child/ren to take part in this event. The closing date for approvals to be completed by is Wednesday the 7th September.

ICAS Assessments 2022

The last ICAS Assessment for 2022, Numeracy was conducted earlier this week. Congratulations go to Connor, Annie, Georgina, Athena, Emily and Jessica who took part in all or most of the assessments. Very soon the results of these assessments will be released and as soon as we receive them, I will pass them on to our participant's families.

Year 5-6 Canberra Excursion

This time in two weeks, our Year 5-6 students will be having their last full day at Canberra! I best I better start packing. Anyway, our Year 5-6 students and families need to be aware that before their child can board the bus on the Monday morning (12th September), they will need to give myself a signed copy of their Personal Health Declaration Form that needs to be completed in the 24 hours leading up to our departure. A copy of this form is included in one of the attachments below. A paper copy form will be also sent home to our Year 5-6 students this time next week. Students are encouraged to take a rapid antigen test on the morning that we are departing.

A fortnight ago, more information was sent home to our Years 5 and 6 students in regards to their excursion to Canberra on the COVID protocols that we need to acknowledge and abide by. Many thanks to the parents who have already sent back their acknowledgments so promptly. Please remember these acknowledgments need to be returned back to school by tomorrow, Friday 2nd September. A copy of this document is included in one of the links below.

Information that was sent home included an itinerary, School Excursions to the ACT COVID-19 Protocols Parents/Guardians Checklist, COVID-19 Personal Declaration Form as well as details on what to bring, medications, expectations of behaviour, spending money and other various items. Unfortunately some parents still need to send in their child's medical information form. Can these be returned back to school as soon as possible? Also all participants will need to complete their COVID-19 Personal Declaration Form in the 24 hours leading to our departure.

Below are links and attachments for the various pieces of documentation that were sent home.

Personal COVID Health Declaration Form

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY COVID-19 PROTOCOLS PARENTS/GUARDIANS/CARERS CHECKLIST

Year 5-6 CANBERRA EXCURSION 2022 GENERAL INFORMATION AND MEDICAL INFORMATION FORM NOTE

Year 5-6 CANBERRA COVID INFORMATION, PROTOCOLS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Year 5-6 LINK TO ACCESS PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THE CANBERRA EXCURSION

Grandparents Day, Book Fair and Book Week Fashion Parade-Friday 2nd September

Tomorrow is definitely going to be an action-packed day with a number of activities that are happening. Personal invitations were sent home late last week. We will be beginning the day with our annual Father's Day and Grandparents Breakfast at 8.00am. Also, in the morning session (9.15 am-11.30 am), we are inviting all of our grandparents to join us for Grandparents Day, where there will be a number of activities coinciding with this special occasion in all of the classrooms. Everyone is invited to call into the library to view our Book Fair Display and we will be finishing off with our annual Book Week fashion parade and an awards presentation. Also, Bridget from The Herd Bar will be here all of the morning for parents, grandparents and students who wish to purchase a coffee or a hot chocolate when they are here at school. Our Mini Vinnies will also be operating a Father's Day Stall as well as a "How Many Lollies Are In The Jar" competition.

The theme for Book Week this year is: Dream With Your Eyes Open and for the fashion parade, we are encouraging our students (including transition) to dress up as: 'What They Want To Be When They Grow Up!'. I have finally sorted out my costume for the fashion parade and it is still going on the green theme like last year. Can you guess what I am going to dress up like? Come dressed in costume for the book parade.

We are looking forward to the book parade tomorrow after morning tea - 11:30am to finish off our Grandparents and Book Week Celebrations tomorrow!

Our Library has been transformed into an area where we can dream and already a large number of books and other accessories have been purchased. The Book Fair will be open throughout the morning.

If you would like to purchase a book & donate it to the library please make a note of this on your order form. The book you donate to the Library will have a donation label inside the cover with your families name, a gift of reading to pass onto to other children.

Premier's Reading Challenge 2022

The Premier's Reading Challenge for this year finished last Friday! Again, well done to all of the students who participated, and from what I have heard there were a large number and wide range of texts read. The validations close tomorrow, Friday 2nd September. If you have any questions and/or queries in regards to anything associated with the reading challenge, please contact Mrs Healey.

2022 School Improvement Survey

Thank you to all of the parents, staff and students who completed the 2022 School Improvement Survey. We will be receiving the results towards the end of the term. As soon as these become available, I will pass them on to all members of our school community.

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New England Sings 2022 Term 4 for Years 3-6

Thank you to the parents who responded to the survey in regards to indicating if their child/ren are willing to participate in the New England Sings Concert early next term. At the moment, we have 8 students participating in this event.

STOP PRESS: Over 500 tickets have sold to New England Sings! since bookings opened last week. if you are planning to attend the concert, I would advise you to purchase your tickets as soon as possible!

Ticket prices are Adults $30, FT students $20 and can be purchased through the following link: www.trybooking.com/CBWYY

NEW ENGLAND SINGS! 2022 COMBINED PRIMARY CHOIRS REHEARSAL SCHEDULE Armidale and surrounding schools – outreach schools will have rehearsals scheduled at their own school. However, outreach schools are welcome to attend the Armidale workshops if possible.

This exciting event is beginning to take shape, 16 schools (with approx. 500 choristers) in the combined Primary choirs and 14 schools (with approx. 450 choristers) in the Secondary choir.

The 2022 project will include:

The commissioning of two works from wonderful Australian composers – Justine Clarke for the Primary choir and Luke Byrne for the Secondary choir.

Paul Jarman will be attending workshops throughout the year and will conduct the Primary choirs at the final weekend of rehearsals and concerts.

FINAL REHEARSAL (all schools, including outreach schools to attend):

Date: Saturday 22nd October (directed by Paul Jarman)

Time: Primary Choir 1 9:30am – 11:00am (arrive by 9:15am)

Venue: Armidale Secondary College

CONCERTS: Date: Sunday 23rd October (directed by (with Paul Jarman)

Time: Primary Choir 11:00am – 1:00pm (arrive by 10:15am)

Venue: Armidale Secondary College (Butler St)

St Patrick’s School is an outreach school for the rehearsals but we will attempt to attend two of the rehearsals in Armidale.

Parents will have to commit to the Saturday 22nd October - Final Rehearsal and Sunday 23rd October Concert. If they wish their child to participate in New England Sings.

A short video on what New England Sings! is all about is included below:

School Assembly

We will have our next awards ceremony with our Book Week Fashion Parade tomorrow, Friday 2nd September . Parents are definitely welcome to attend. Hopefully, we will see you then.