St Patrick's Primary is the place to be!

Hi Everyone and welcome to the edition of the school newsletter. Before I go on any further with my column, I do apologise for sending, withdrawing and then sending out again the last edition of the newsletter. I am still familiarising myself with the procedures involved with the creation and publishing of the newsletter using this format. I am getting better and I know not to select a certain option again before publishing.

Anyway, back to business. As my role of being the MaST Coordinator, I have been blessed to observe and take part in various mathematics lessons in all classes. From observing certain events that are likely or not likely in the Year 1-2 classroom, seeing Year 5-6 successfully converting 12hr to 24hr time as well as Kindergarten showing me their paintings on what they do in the day time as well as night, have been a blast. Year 3-4 have taken their mathematics to a new level as their work on data using various ice cream flavours will be tested, as there may be a possibility that the data they have obtained will be used as a Project Compassion fundraiser later in the term. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how this all eventuates, especially if one of the ice cream flavours that they are serving is: cookie dough. I will be definitely buying more than one!

Swimming Carnival - Tuesday 15th February

Well what a wonderful day that we had on Tuesday! We were blessed with fine weather (even though I still haven't reacclimatised myself back to New England weather as yet). I have organised and/or been involved with a number of large and small school swimming carnivals throughout my teaching career and I have to admit that our carnival was one of the best that I have been involved in. Congratulations to everyone! THANK YOU children, staff, parents & families for making Tuesday such a great day. Well done to the children on your excellent participation & effort. Our St Patrick's Swimming Carnival is evidence that all children's abilities are valued and everyone is included and provided with opportunities to participate. Below is a list of our 2022 Swimming Champions and Runner Ups. Congratulations on your achievements.

Juvenile Boy Runner Up	Harry Fletcher
Juvenile Boy Champion	Teddy Healey
Juvenile Girl Champion	Lucy Rizzi
Junior Boy Runner Up	Albert Green
Junior Boy Champion	Angus Fletcher
Junior Girl Runner Up	Grace Smith
Junior Girl Champion	Georgina Arundale-Fuller
11yr Boy Runner Up	Nate Powell
11yr Boy Champion	Lachie Provost
11yr Girl Runner Up	Addison Smith
11yr Girl Champion	Annabelle Patterson-Kane
Senior Boy Runner Up	Hugo Blomfield
Senior Boy Champion	Casey Crossman
Senior Girl Runner Up	Sarah Swanton
Senior Girl Champion	Brydie Elks

But last of all, again I would like to congratulate the Red team! All of you thoroughly deserved your victory and no doubt the Blue team will be plotting their revenge at our next house challenge.

Thank you to the P & F for catering for lunch at the carnival. Thank you to all our parent helpers on the day. It was wonderful that our parents & families could attend, thank you for maintaining the COVID regulations.

Kindergarten Parent Best Start Interview

A letter will be sent home to all of our Kindergarten families with a report of their child's Best Start Assessment results early next week. When restrictions ease, Mrs Makeham will be sending home an invitation for Kindergarten parents to attend a Best Start Interview for their child. Please respond with your preferences and Mrs Pittman will confirm your interview time.

2022 P & F AGM Meeting - 21st February 5.30pm

The P&F AGM will be held on Monday night in the school library. All positions will be declared vacant and nominations will be called for & accepted at the meeting. Please consider taking on a position on the P & F as the events are vital in providing extra opportunities for our children. - Reading Eggs, Mathletics, Mini Minstrels, IT resources, classroom resources, library resources & canteen to name a few. As the saying goes: "Many hands make light work", so I encourage anyone who would like to be actively involved in helping St Patrick's to be the best primary school in NSW to attend. I look forward to seeing you there.

Centacare Counsellor

Last week I had the opportunity to welcome our new counsellor Camille White who will be visiting us regularly this year. Camille will be working at St Patrick's every second Wednesday beginning next week.

School Assembly

Assemblies are currently cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

Friday School Assemblies have not yet resumed due to the school not being allowed to having visitors for the first four weeks of school. If restrictions ease in the very near future, we plan to have our first assembly of the year on Friday 11th March.

Jelly Bean Cup