Term 2, Week 11, 2024 School Newsletter
News from the Principal
Dear Families,
We come to the end of another fantastic learning term, full of the range we expect at St. Patrick's , with swimming, inter-school sports, classroom learning with incursions and excursions and the highlight of Term Two 'Pirates of the Curry Bean.' To see all students challenge themselves to move out of their comfort zone and try new experiences in all areas of the curriculum is the joy of teachers to see success on our woderful student's faces.
School will now rest its tired bones with refurbishments beginning next Monday and hopefully concluded by Week Six next term. Students from Monday, 15th July will enter school through the hall where we have now positioned the shoe racks. Access to the remainder of the school will be as normal, excluding the toilet area and current student entrance which will be closed during refurbishment works.
I hope families have had time to read reports highlighting successes and areas for future learning of each of our students. As an educator of 37 years at times growth is rapid and at others it flattens out and is slower. As a school we understand this and try to ensure parents feel confident that learning at primary school is a 7 year journey, and the times do come when it all clicks. And to not focus on the general academic as last night was a great example of working memory through script reading and performance.
If learning is part of the holidays, in between periods of rest and playing outside away from screens, students have access to Sound Waves for revision of spelling across the term, IXL learning for English and Mathematics reinforcement and then board games such as snakes and ladders, or any of the tool time games shared on Dojo, which I'm sure some know their favourite games.
Across the Term Break teachers will be free of school duties therefore replying to Dojo or emails will not take place until the commencement of Term Three. If any matters are pressing or urgent, please email myself at principal@spgordon.catholic.edu.au or 0448 456 480.
We thank all families for their ongoing support, the students for being the best and I thank the staff for their never ending enthusiasm in delivering learning opportunities to our students.
Enjoy your family time and safe travels if part of the break.
Paul
Paul McDowell
Principal
Dear Families,
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible support and kindness you have shown to my family during this difficult time. Your generosity in providing meals has been a tremendous comfort to us as we navigate through the loss of our beloved Matt.
Your thoughtfulness and care have truly touched our hearts. Each meal not only nourished us physically, but also served as a reminder of the warmth and strength of our school community.
With sincere gratitude, Lisa, Romano, Zina and Jess.
This week we celebrated our Julie. We wish her the happiest of birthdays - we all love and appreciate her, her thoughtfulness and dedication to our students and families. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Enjoy your family celebrations next week xoxo
Pirates of the Curry Bean - Opening Night - Thursday, 27th June
What a magnificent performance from our outstanding students last night!! Well done to each and everyone, students, families, lighting technicians and staff! There was an electric atmosphere all day yesterday and it certainly stepped up a notch during our final rehearsal.
We sincerely hope you enjoyed watching the performance as much as we loved putting it together, it was a pleasure to watch the children grow with confidence and excitement in the lead up to the big day. They should all be extremely proud of themselves, as we are of them.
Thank you to the pParents and Friends for their memento biscuits and raffle, raising $700 on the night for our students. Thanks Jenna and Dana for organising this event with assistance from your team.
Sovereign Hill Excursion
On Friday, 21st June our students enjoyed a warm, sunny winter's day out at Sovereign Hill. The students had a fun filled day and had the opportunity to see gold being poured, candles being made, panning for gold and what a day in the life of a child would have been like during the gold rush. We finished off with a visit to the lolly-shop, it was a bit hit!
Out of Hours School Care
Commencing Term Three we will be having The Y (Ballarat) YMCA coordinate our program for the initial period of 6 months with likley extension into a 2 year agreement.
Staff are currently being employed to run our program, incorporating current staff, and we look forward to a wonderful new program supporting our families.
The strength of the program relies on families using the service so I encourgae families to sign up - we will forward more details shortly.
Sadly, the number of children in out of home care are increasing while the number of foster carers are decreasing. This often results in very young children residing in residential care, or moving regularly from home to home.
If you or anyone you know may be interested in this worthwhile cause please reach out to CAFS.
After a successful grant application by our dedicated Parents and Friends we have now purchased and installed a defibrillator for our school and the wider community. It is in the foyer of the building and can currently be accessed from 6.00am - 6.00pm Monday to Friday as we work towards allowing 24 hour access to the whole community and families.
An absolute lifesaving gift which we hope to never use.
Health Update For All Families
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.
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.
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 Three Dates 2024
Monday, 15th July - Term Three commences
Tuesday, 15th July - Parent Teacher Learning Conversations
Friday, 19th July - Assembly
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 Wednesday.
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
We are now taking bookings for 2024 music lessons. If you would like any information please contact Tim on 0450 904 464 and he can discuss with you.
We acknowledge that St Patrick's Primary School is on Wadawurrung Country.
We would like to acknowledge and extend our appreciation for the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the land that we are standing on today.
Today, we pay our respects to leaders and Elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of all Wadawurrung Peoples.
We express our gratitude in the sharing of this land, our sorrow for the personal, spiritual and cultural costs of that sharing and our hope that we may walk forward together in harmony and in the spirit of healing.
