Good Times Keep Coming!

It is quite scary how fast this year is going. It only seemed like yesterday, when the students had their first day of school for the new academic year. Already there has been a lot of highlights so far this year and I know there are many more to come. Even though we officially have eight more days left (look who's counting), it is definitely going to be a busy end of the term. Tomorrow, nine of our students will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. Mass will be at 11:30am, all welcome to attend.

Next Monday and Wednesday, the teachers including myself will be reviewing the year so far and then collaborating together to establish learning goals on what we want to achieve before the halfway point as well as the end of next term. We will be having discussions in regards to the structure and format of our current reporting system for this semester.

Also, next week we will be commencing with our Read 3 Reading Program. A big thank you goes out to Mrs Harrison for organising most of the resources needed for this program. Besides our cross country on Thursday, we have Darryl Martin and Gerard Hore from the Catholic Schools Office visiting the school to meet with myself with the focus on where we can move forward with the implemention of Religious Education in all classes.

I know I have mentioned numerous times already this year, that we have been quite lucky not to have any active positive COVID cases within our school community. Unfortunately last week, COVID raised it's ugly head as we now have had a number of positive cases in the school. We are playing our part to ensure that the spread of this virus is kept to a minimum with the daily disinfecting of all classrooms. But sadly it hasn't been enough. For some members who have COVID, please hang in there and I am looking forward to seeing you all again in the very near future. But a big thank you goes out to all of our parents who have kept their children who have displayed symptoms (even though it may be a confirmed case of a cold) at home to minimise spread. It is very much appreciated. Surely, soon, COVID will cease to exist! We can only hope.

Cross Country

Thank you to the large majority of the families who have already returned their notes and money for our upcoming School Cross Country next Thursday 7th April. Students are reminded that they will need to wear their sports uniform on this day. Students who qualify to represent our school at the Diocesan Cross Country Trials at Barraba on Friday 6th May will be notified and given their permission note on our first day back in Term 2.

As a reward to all of the students for efforts throughout the term, next Friday 8th April, we will be having a 'Wear Your Favourite Team Colours Day'. Everyone including staff members are encouraged to wear something in the colours of their favourite sporting team. The team could be from rugby union, soccer, netball, cricket, league, hockey, swimming, or from any other sport. If your child doesn't support any sporting team at all, they are allowed to wear mufti. No gold coin donation is needed!

Last Day of the Term

Next Friday the 8th April is going to be action packed! Not only are the students allowed to wear their favourite sporting team colours, we will be having our final assembly for the term commencing at 11.30am in the library. During the assembly, we will be celebrating a Stations of the Cross Liturgy, rewarding some students for their outstanding achievements in the classroom for the previous fortnight, drawing the winner of the "Principal for the Day" raffles and to finish it all off, students will be encouraged to make and then take part in an Easter Hat Parade. A big thank you goes out to Mrs Davey for organising this event. I hope there will be a lot of photos taken as unfortunately I will be in Armidale at the Diocesan Football Trials on the last day of the term. I definitely wished that this event could have gone ahead last Friday.

Easter Raffle

P & F Easter Egg Raffle. The tickets and money are due this upcoming MONDAY 4TH APRIL ready for the raffle to be drawn on WEDNESDAY 6TH APRIL

Thank you to all the families who have already sent in Easter Eggs.

ANZAC DAY MARCH

St Patrick’s School has been invited to attend the ANZAC Day March. Those children who are available to march on Monday 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. At the conclusion of 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 at the conclusion of the march

A note will be sent home next week in attempting to find out who will be available to represent St Patrick's at this event as it is on the last day of the school holidays.

NAPLAN 2022 Dates

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will take part in this year’s National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) on the following dates:

NAPLAN 2022 online test window: 10–22 May

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is held in May each year for Year 3 and Year 5 students. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals and can be used to improve student achievement.

Online Naplan Practise Assessment

Last Monday and Tuesday our Years 3 and 5 students completed the Practise Online NAPLAN Omnibus and Writing (Year 5 only) Assessments. As mentioned before, this test was designed to assist the students to familiarise themselves with the structure, layout and use the various tools that be required when they complete the upcoming NAPLAN Assessments in May. It was a relief to see that no problems were encountered by any of our students or the administrators of this test.

If your child is planning to do any preparation for this upcoming assessment and/or you are interested in seeing what the format of the various NAPLAN Assessments may look like. There are various websites that allow all Years 3 and 5 students to practise for the upcoming Online NAPLAN Assessments beginning in May. A really good site is the ACARA website (address listed below).

https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site

This is not the whole assessment but it gives you an idea on what certain types of tasks our Year 3 and 5 students could be asked to do:

Community Announcements

School Holiday Dance Workshop in Armidale

School Holiday Workshops - Easter Fun Day Saturday 9th April Bright Minds Tamworth