Term 1, Week 3, 2023 School Newsletter.
News from the Principal
Dear Families,
Today we welcome you through our first newsletter for the year.
Each fortnight we shall keep you updated on our past fortnight in learning achievements and share future events for your diary.
It has been an absolute pleasure each morning to be greeted by happy, motivated students and see the joy parents have as they follow the learning at the end of each day. Our new Foundation students are a reminder of the reason why I am an educator – with their eagerness to share and joy of curiosity and discovery.
The staff have commented that each child has come back motivated to learn and they are all beginning to find their place in our school family. We have spent the past week focussed on wellbeing, classroom expectations, our school values and our learning routines.
As the weeks progress and in line with our aim to show the positive of each day, here are some
questions you might like to share with your child, as you make your way home or are having a
quiet moment in the evening:
What was the best thing that happened at school today?
Tell me something that made you laugh today?
How did you help somebody today?
How did somebody help you today?
Tell me one thing that you learned today.
When were you happiest today?
I look forward to seeing each child’s progress across this term.
Any time that parents have questions, please see your child’s teacher personally or contact via Class Dojo or direct any questions to myself.
Thanks for your suppor,t as we begin another year at St. Patrick’s Primary,
Paul McDowell, Principal.
Welcome to our cubby village
Prayerful Reflection
Entering the New Year God of all time,
help us enter the New Year quietly,
thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others,
mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.
May we walk gently.
May we speak only after we have listened well.
11/12 February PARISH MASS TIMES
Springbank – Saturday - 6.30 pm
Bungaree – 8.45 am
Ballan – 10.30 am
Parent Information Evening
We look forward to meeting families on Monday, 20th February at 6.30pm to share the year
with you. We will gather in the Sports Hall for an overall look at the year before spending
time in classrooms speaking with Year Level teachers. The evening should conclude by
7.30pm.
Opening School Mass
Father Justin will celebrate our Opening School Mass on Tuesday, 28th February at St. Patrick’s
Church, commencing at 10.00am.
All families and grandparents are invited to celebrate and sing with us. We look forward to seeing you so please put the date in your diary.
St. Patrick’s Twilight Sports - Save the Date: Friday, 3rd March
St. Patrick’s has established over the past 2 years our three houses – Patrick, MacKillop and
Bunjil.
Please view which house your child is connected to for their learning years at St. Patrick’s. House teams are used for a number of learning activities across the year but are also used in sport for both our House Athletics and House Cross Country.
Our House Athletics is an evening commencing at 5.30pm for a 5.45pm start whereby students will compete in a number of sporting pursuits, to win points for their House to see whose name will be on the shield for 2023.
MacKillop has had bragging rights for the last 2 years. Parents are invited to bring a picnic rug, chairs, nibbles and drinks and join us on the sports field to cheer on the athletes. Students are able to wear colours to align with their house – t-shirts, socks, face paint, ribbons (anything really is acceptable).
Stay tuned for more updates. We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 House Athletics.
MacKillop | Patrick | Bunjil |
Foundation | Foundation | Foundation |
Clancy Berens | Freddie O’Donnell | Tyler Van Egmond |
Sansa Ruthen | Griffin Stewart | Hudson Grima |
Olivia Carey | Jobe Kenna | Clover De Spirt |
Zara Toohey | Thomas Best | Izzy Winter |
George Maher | Emmalyn Seter | Maggie Eastwood |
Finnley Vella | Eva Dickson | Georgia Nissan |
Sophie Farrant | Kira Jakac | Lily Nolan |
Zoe Simpson | Nikita Jakac | Pippa Robbie |
Ollie Murphy | ||
Year One | Year One | Year One |
Harry Reynolds | Henry Cain | Jenna Thannhauser |
Lucy Berens | Olivia Nicholson | Millicent Ruthen |
Zavier Holland | Sam Whitehead | |
Dermot Will | ||
Year Two | Year Two | Year Two |
Ty Carey | Archie Stewart | Ned Tudor |
Tom Moran | Thomas O’Donnell | Logan Thannhauser |
Sofia Burbergs | Isabella Best | Layla Nissan |
Lotte Seter | ||
Year Three | Year Three | Year Three |
Ollie Lehocky | Michael Tran | Harry Murphy |
Yan Lehocky | Anika Pamic | Mabel Flint |
Charlotte Ruthen | ||
Year Four | Year Four | Year Four |
Theo Burbergs | Sienna Kenna | Conor Donohoe |
Ruby Moran | Meg Conroy | |
Year Five | Year Five | Year Five |
Macy Newman | Elle Kenna | Rose Flint |
Lily Stewart | ||
Year Six | Year Six | Year Six |
Ollie H. Everist | Jobe Blazko | Dylan Van Egmond |
Jez Barnes | Angela Tran | Aidan Hughes |
Eva Pamic |
Term Dates and Pupil Free Days
Each year, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat are allocated pupil free days for staff
Professional Learning, report writing and curriculum planning.
The 2 closure days listed for this Term, relate to our 3 Year Wellbeing Initiative that we began in December last year and our Review Day is part of our 5-year Cycle, whereby we are visited by external consultants to allow staff, students and parents to share our successes and plan for the next 5 Years.
I will invite families to share in this later in the year. The external consultants will visit us in
October and I look forward to inviting families to share their story with the panel.
Monday 27th February - School Closure Day - ReLATE wellbeing training for staff
Friday 10th March - School Closure Day – DOBCEL St. Patrick’s Review Planning Day
2024 School Enrolements and NAPLAN
We are currently accepting inquiries and conducting tours for new families interested in our
school for the 2024 school year.
If you know any families that have children attending 4 year old kindergarten and considering schools please encourage them to visit us online at www.spgordon.catholic.edu.au to view our virtual tour and make contact via the website or the office on 5368 9495 or principal@spgordon.catholic.edu.au
NAPLAN has been moved from early Term Two to commence on Wednesday, 15th March for
all students in Years 3 and 5.
Information will go out families in the coming weeks around what students complete online in each assessment.
PARENTS AND FRIENDS 2023 OVERVIEW
Welcome to the 2023 school year - a year packed full of learning, fun and fond
memories. As a group, we would like to introduce ourselves to all new and
returning families. In 2023 our P&F team consists of Allisha Reynolds, Cathryn
Ruthen and Rhonda Best. We are parents to children in Grade 2, Grade 1, Prep and kindergarten. We aim to provide support to the school in various areas including the organisation of social events, fund raising for particular needs in the school and providing opportunities to foster the development of community spirit, just to name a few.
As you may have seen in recent Dojo posts, we are currently in the process of
constructing the community village play space, with thanks to the Moorabool
Wind Farm grant allocation (received in 2022).
To date, we have completed excavation and clearance works and are now moving into the construction phase of the project. Our cubby houses have been installed on a fresh bed of rock (donated by Crossroads Trading Ballan) and we now look forward to the completion of landscaping works to tie the area in with the rest of the school playground. An official opening date will be announced in the near future.
Speaking of social activities, we would like you to mark the calendar for Sunday, Feb 26 for our whole school family "meet and greet afternoon". Covid put a halt to everyone’s social plans over the last 2-3 years, so it’s time to dust off your picnic gear, pack the chairs, throw in some food and drink and come and introduce yourselves (parents and children). Stay for as little or as long as you like! The start time and venue will be advised closer to the date, so keep your eyes peeled on Dojo posts.
While you have the calendar out, mark in Sunday, March 19th for the Ballan Autumn Festival (superhero theme). St. Patrick’s will be participating in the street parade as ‘Everyday Heroes’. This year we will be holding a superhero stall. We will be calling for volunteers to help man the stall, so please let us know if you can lend a hand on the day. A note will go home with all students to help with planning and numbers for the day. We will be holding a complete superhero bbq package raffle (valued at over $300, with thanks to Bunnings Ballarat) on the day and will be sending home tickets in the lead up to the event. Tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5.
Finally, on the back of last year’s success, we will be conducting the
Bakers Delight Hot Cross Bun drive again this year. More information will be
sent home via class Dojo and order forms will be sent home with the students.
Term One Dates
Gordon Shop Hot school lunches available tomorrow and every Thursday, unless otherwise advised.
February
Monday 13th February Playgroup recommences - Sports Hall - all families and friends welcome.
Monday 20th February - Parent Information Evening @ 6.30pm
Tuesday 21 st February - Pancake Tuesday – parent helpers welcomed. More to follow.
Wednesday 22nd February - Ash Wednesday Para liturgy at 2.30pm (Hall) All welcome.
Sunday February 26th - P and F 'Meet and Greet" social gathering for all families.
Monday 27th February - School Closure Day - ReLATE wellbeing training for staff
Tuesday 28th February - Opening School Mass @ 10.00am. All Welcome (Church)
March
Wednesday 1st March - Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharist Enrolment Evening
Friday 3rd March - St. Patrick’s Twilight House Sports - commences 5.30pm
Friday 10th March - School Closure Day – DOBCEL St. Patrick’s Review Planning Day
Monday 13th March - Labour Day Public Holiday
Wednesday 15th March – NAPLAN commences for Years 3 and 5
Sunday March 19 for the Ballan Autumn Festival (superhero theme)
Friday 31st March - Moorabool Sports F-6 Masons Lane Bacchus Marsh
April
Thursday 6th - April Easter Hat Parade and Stations of the Cross. 12.00 noon (Hall)
Thursday 6th - April Term One concludes @ 1.15pm
Term Two Dates
April
Monday, 24 th April Term Two commences @ 8.50am
Tuesday, 25 th April Public Holiday ANZAC Day
May
Monday, 1 st May to Wednesday, 3 rd May Year 3-6 Camp Program @ Camp Wilkin Anglesea
Tuesday, 9 th May, Foundation-Year Six Swim Gym Program commences (5 weeks)
Scholastic book club orders close on Friday 17th February. Orders can be made via the loop as per instructions on the below link or alternatively via hard copies (available on the table at the front of the office). Orders can be placed at the school office with cash payments.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is key to our strong sense of community across the School. There are many threads to the programme – both formal and informal – and all have the intention of addressing the well-being of each student at their individual point of need.
Vivian Lunt is the Pastoral Care Worker at our school. She is a qualified and a very professional and caring Pastoral Care Worker employed at our school every Thursday.
Vivian works with individual children on request, small groups and parents and families as required. All interactions remain strictly confidential.
If any family would like to access this service, either for themselves personally or their child, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with Vivian.