Term 4, Week 5, 2023 School Newsletter
News from the Principal
Dear Families,
We come to the end of another busy week, highlighted by our Grandparents and special persons day. It's an absolute joy to see school alive with many generations sharing what school was like and is now. We look forward to it now being an annual event but as I siad to those present, always feel welcome anytime to visit and see how learning continually evolves at St. Patrick's.
Next week we begin our Foundation interviews for 2024 and I marvel at how far our current Foundation students have grown since our first meeting in late 2022. Their confidence, emerging personalities and joy for learning make the role of educators so rewarding.
Today we also recognised those who shape the young minds at school on World Teacher's Day. All staff (teachers, LSOs and administration) are dedicated professionals always wanting the best for each child and the way all staff know each child's journey shows their passion for educating the future generation. I am very proud to work alongside each of them.
Next week will end with a celebration with our Mission Fete on Friday. Everyone is welcome to lunch from 12.45pm with stalls open from 1.15pm. We pray for good weather to aid us to have a great day.
Our Parents and Friends have been notified that they have been successful in a grant to build a new playground area and an extension to our current one. Allisha, Cathryn and Rhonda are to be congratulated for their commitment to our school. You can read below an outline of installations that will take place in the coming months.
As we enter Term Four staffing is almost finalised along with our 2024 Year Level structure. This will be shared with families next week. Learning for each student is personalised and we work on achieving growth across 12 months and our classes will be structured to reflect that. There will be some changes to both staff and classes and these will be shared with families by mid term. If you have any questions about your child please make an appointment to meet with me or email at school on principal@spgrodon.catholic.edu.au
Enjoy the weekend.
Paul
Grandparents Day
It was wonderful to see the Grandparents and special people on Tuesday. A child’s interactions with their grandparent are often their first interactions with an older person. The relationship between grandparents and young people help to create and foster positive attitudes toward ageing and older people and it was so heartwarming to see this amongst our own community.
Thankyou to everyone for taking the time to come to St Patrick's and celebrate these wonderful people in our student's lives.
PARENTS & FRIENDS UPDATE
Term 4 is flying by and we have been busy behind the scenes! Our major fundraising event for 2023, the St Patrick's Recipe Book, was launched at the art show. Our cover design competition was presented to the students, and they came up with some amazing pieces of feature artwork! Mr. Paul McDowell was given the judges hat and he selected works to include on the cover. Congratualtions to Mabel, Emma, Lucy, Pippa, Macy, Izzy, Ruby and Jez on having your works published and taking home a Rebel Sport voucher. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all students (and their families), staff and sponsors for their contributions toward our amazing book. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used in the new developments around the school, including the installation of new playground equipment and a safety upgrade to one of our major playground access points. With your help and support, we have raised over $3o00 to date. The Gordon Shop, Old Wallace Garage, Bungaree General Store, Millrose Quilting & Gallery and Half Pace General store have sold books on our behalf, so we thank them for their continued support with our fundraising endeavours. There is a limited number of cookbooks available for purchase. If you haven't had a chance to snap one up, or would like to purchase one (or more), please contact the P&F via email and we will get your order to you. Alternatively, you can purchase one at the Old Wallace Garage.
Over the past week we were delighted to receive some exciting news from the Moorabool Wind Farm. Our grant application for continued playground works was successful! We were awarded just over $52, 000 to complete our playround works, which include an expansion and development of the top playgrond area (near the existing playground), as well as an exciting addition to the 9 square playground area (near the oval). Our aim is to have the expansion works completed by Term 1, so the new equipment can be ordered, installed, utilised and enjoyed by all by mid-year 2024. Thanks to the Moorabool Wind Farm for making these developments a reality. In addition to these developments and with the help of our fundraising efforts, we will be replacing the old wooden step leading to the playground with a much safer, up to standard concrete installation. This will make the area and the playground landing a safe space for all!
Our last event for the term incorporates a family-friendly night of celebration, entertainment and reflection - the 2023 St Patrick's School Christmas Carols. This will be a great way to gather as a whole school community, before farewelling our year 6 students and breaking for the end of the school year. More details will follow over the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled and commence the vocal cord preparations!!
Rhonda, Cathryn & Allisha
End of an Era
St Brendan's Primary School of Dunnstown warmly invites you to celebrate with them the "End of an Era".
Saturday, 25th November from 2pm onwards there will be a celebration at the school, including face painting, Kelly Sports, afternoon tea and official proceedings.
If you would like to attend a Carvery Dinner from 6pm to 8pm please RSVP directly to St Brendan's on 5334 7604.
Dear Parents
As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being at all students at St.
Patrick’s, we are reaching out to inquire about any unnotified asthma or allergy plans that may be in
place for your child.
Your child’s health and safety are our top priorities and your cooperation in providing this information is greatly appreciated.
If your child has been diagnosed with asthma or allergies (also seasonal), we kindly request that you
inform us of any existing plans or protocols that should be followed while they are at school. This
information will help us better understand your child’s needs and enable us to respond
appropriately in case of health related situations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any
questions or concerns.
Book Club provides families with an affordable and convenient way to bring the best in children’s literature into their homes. Each issue contains curated, age-appropriate titles that have been carefully selected and levelled by a dedicated team of professional booklovers.
Scholastic operates on a unique model, proudly partnering with Australian schools and educators for over 50 years. As well as bridging the important class-to-home reading gap, Book Club also benefits Australian schools—for every Book Club order placed, Scholastic gives back 15% of the order spend to schools to purchase valuable educational resources via its Scholastic Rewards program.
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 and story time with our foundation teacher and students.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call the office on 5368 9495.
Story-Time
Story-time during playgroup on a Monday with our Foundation students and teacher. Such a fun and engaging activity for the playgroup children to sit and join in with the big school kids!
Gordon Parish Mass
LITURGIES /WEEKLY MASSES | |||||
Day & Time | 1st Sunday | 2nd Sunday | 3rd Sunday | 4th Sunday | 5th Sunday |
Saturday 6pm* or 6.30pm | Dunnstown | Springbank | Dunnstown | Ballan* Clarkes Hill | Springbank |
Sunday 8.45am or 9am* | 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 Four Dates
Thursday, 30th November - Stay Back - Foundatioin, Year 1 & Year 2 - 2pm - 7pm
Friday, 3rd November - Mission Day
Monday, 6th November - Curriculum Day - School Closed
Tuesday, 7th November - Melbourne Cup - Public Holiday
Monday, 20th November - Foundation Orientation Day #1 - 9.15am - 11.45am
Monday, 27th November - Foundation Orientation Day #2 - 9.15am - 11.45am
Monday, 4th December - Foundation Orientation Day #3 - 9.15am - 11.45am
Tuesday, 5th December - Adventure Park - Year 5/6
Wednesday, 13th December - Whole School Christmas Lunch
Thursday, 14th December - Whole School Mass - 2pm - 3.30pm
Thursday, 14th December - Year 6 Graduation Dinner
Friday, 15th December - Last day of Term 4 - Concludes at 3.3opm
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
