Term 2, Week 5, 2023 School Newsletter
News from the Principal
Dear Families,
Another busy week here at school.
Congratulatioins to our year 5/6 girls on their outstanding teamwork at netball. Well done on a great team effort.
We had another fun swim/gym session, only 2 more sessions left before it is over!
A few reminders for the remaining weeks at school.
This term we are looking forward to welcoming Rose Russell, who will be our year 1 - 2 teacher whilst Jamie is on long service leave and then our Foundation teacher while Libby is on leave. Rose has met our children and they are very much looking forward to having her teach them in their class.
We will also be welcoming 2 student teachers, Amy Mahar and Emma Hill. We look forward to having them as part of our school community for a short while, we hope they enjoy their time here and take away some new-found skills from working hands on in the classroom.
Monday 12th of June is a public holiday for the King's birthday.
Parent teacher interviews are taking place on the 13th & 14th June for Libby, Fiona and Lucy's students.
Jamie to host interviews on 10th & 11th July.
Please access PAM to secure a time to see your child's classroom teacher. There are instructions below how to do this, however, if you have any questions, please call our office.
Lastly, on a personal note, thankyou, from Tracy and myself, to the whole school community for your care and support during this difficult time for our family. We feel very blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community.
Stay warm and have a wonderful weekend.
Paul
St Patrick's Netball
Congratulations and well done to our year 5/6 girls for representing our school in the netball competition at Selkirk Stadium, Wendouree on Thursday 25th May.
A fun day was had by all and it was great to see such wonderful sportsmanship by everyone.
The girls won 3 out of their 4 games. (4th game was forfeited due to the other school not attending).
A big thankyou to all the parents who made it out to cheer on our netballers!
Celebrating Ms Trish!
Congratulations to our wonderful Visual Arts teacher, Ms Trish. This week she is celebrating a huge achievement of 30 years of service as a teacher in Catholic Education.
She will be acknowledged and celebrated tonight, Friday 26th May, at a celebration at Damascus College for Catholic Education Week celebrations.
We thank her for her continued efforts with our children at St Patrick's Primary School, it is a true testament to her bubbly personality that she is so loved by all our students and staff.
Congratulations Trish!!
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are now available for families to book via PAM.
Foundation and years 3 - 6 children, the dates are Tuesday 13th June and Wednesday 14th June from 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm.
For the Year 1/2 Class, interviews will be Monday July 10th and Tuesday July 11th from 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm.
Families, please see below for instructions on how to access PAM. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the office.
PAM - (Parent Access Module) User Guide
Dear Families,
Please find instruction attachment for PAM, this provides parents online access to a range of functions and information specific to their children(s), including attendance records, student assessment area and learning areas. It also allows parents to provide medical details, grant excursion and school activity permissions. Please ensure that you have updated all your child's information on PAM. You will not be able to approve permission slips until medical information is entered and approved in the system.
If you have any questions please ring our office.
Swimming & Gymnastics Program
We suggest that children wear their bathers under their school uniform. Their uniform for the day will be school tracksuits or sports shorts and polos. We request that children bring a small backpack containing a towel, underwear, thongs/sandals and a plastic bag for wet swimwear.
Children will be eating lunch on return to school and we ask that they bring a small bottle of water to have during gym and a piece of fruit morning tea for easy eating.
We will be departing from school at approximately 11am and returning approximately 2.45pm.
We will be travelling on a bus provided by Ballarat Coachlines.
Thankyou for your support.
School Photos
Wednesday 2nd August will be school photo day - we look forward to seeing all the extra smiling faces on that day.
Forms will be sent home closer to the date.
School Beanie
Thankyou to our school community for providing us with your feedback in regard to the school pom-pom beanie.
This is a sample of what they will look like.
We will be going ahead with our order, the beanies will take 4 weeks to produce. We will send home an order form in the coming weeks.
Ballan Scouts
Through the amazing and generous support of the Federal, State & Local Governments a new Scout Hall has been built in Ballan. We will be officially opening the Hall on Sunday 4th June 2023 during our Community Open Day.
Playgroup
Playgroup is a fun and relaxed opportunity for children, parents, families and communities to come together for play and social interaction.
It is an inviting and relaxing atmosphere and all families are welcome to join in, it is held from 9am until 10.30am every Monday in the school hall. Heaters are turned on, it will be warm and toasty, tea and coffee making facilities available.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call the office.
Rapid Antigen Test
We have rapid antigen tests available if anyone would like to take one home.
They are in the foyer, or alternatively call the school and we will ensure one gets put into your child's bag.
Gordon Parish Mass
Please note: Vigil Mass every 4th Saturday at St Brigid's- Ballan at 6pm
(No Sunday Mass when Vigil Mass scheduled)
1st Sunday | 2nd Sunday | 3rd Sunday | 4th Sunday | 5th Sunday | |
Vigil Mass Saturday 6.30pm | Dunnstown | Springbank | Dunnstown | Ballan/Clarke’s Hill | Springbank |
Sunday 8.45am | Gordon | Bungaree | Gordon | Gordon | Bungaree |
Sunday 10.30am | Ballan | Ballan | Ballan | Ballan |
School Term Dates
Gordon Shop Hot school lunches available every Thursday (unless otherwise advised)
Term Two Dates
May
Tuesday, 9th May, Foundation-Year Six Swim/Gym Program commences (5 consecutive weeks)
June
Monday, 12th June - King's Birthday - PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Tuesday, 13th June - Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, 14th June - Semester Reports available to parents via PAM
Thursday, 15th June - Inquiry Expo Afternoon (2.15pm onwards) to celebrate
our Learning for the term.
Friday, 23rd June - Last Day of term Two. Dismissal of students @ 1.15pm
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.
Music lessons
