Term 3, Week 3, 2024 School Newsletter
News from the Principal
Dear Families,
We have ended the week with a lovely assembly - two in a row as we farewelled mrs J last week, who has commenced her maternity leave and looks forward to joining us periodically in 2025. Our assembly this week showcased work related to STEAM classes along with the Olympics, - students are always proud to share their learning.
Our Parents and Friends have worked tirelessly to have this weekend's Trivia night a major fundraiser for the school. We appreciate everyone who has contributed and those who are attending. Next week we have our time at Bunnings Creswick Road, with the sausage sizzle a great chance to have the wider community add to our school. Following this event we will share how the P and F are contributing their fundraising back to school, with the wellbeing wagon to be used at lunch breaks one of the initiatives.
Across this part and ending on Friday, 9th August, staff, students and families have been invited to complete a survey that assists in school getting a sense of how we are doing -in communication, wellbeing, learning and general operation. The main aim of the survey is to identify those factors that contribute to the organisational health of your school. The results will benefit everyone within your school by providing valuable information about the ways in which the organisational health of your school can be improved. Families that were randomly selected I thank you for your participation.
This week I will attend the Principal Gathering in Horsham that will outline Catholic Educations strategic Planning for the period 2025-2035 that has been overseen by Finnish expert in education Pasi Sahlberg. Following the next School Advisory Council meeting on Monday, 12th August I will share how this strategic plan looks like. We are always looking at best practice at St. Patrick's - what all good schools should be doing.
Our refurbishments (Stage One) are excitedly almost complete - with the wooden hoarding taken down Friday students were able to get a sneak peek at the new design - we eagerly await the completion hopefully in a fortnight's time.
We look forward to another week cheering on our Olympians with a special event this coming Friday, 9th August, when our senior students will lead a range of Olympic themed afternoon activities for all students. A sports theme of Green - Gold , Blue - Red - White, or any nationality is able to be worn so happy to see a real colourful uniform day. Runners as footwear a must for this event.
Enjoy the weekend and I'll see you across the coming week.
Paul McDowell
Principal
Farewell & Good-Luck Mrs J!
On Friday 26th July we said farewell to our very much loved Mrs J as she embarks on this incredible journey of motherhood.
May her maternity leave be a time of bonding and creating wonderful memories with her precious arrival and time spent having sweet baby snuggles filled with joyous baby giggles.
We will all miss you here at St. Patrick's, however, we are so delighted for this next phase of your life. We eagerly anticipate the news of the arrival and can't wait to meet the already, much loved Baby J!
Young Mary MacKillop
On Tuesday 23rd July, our school hosted St Brigid’s and St. Mary’s learning in a fun and informative way about our First Australian Saint and our school patron.
Our years 3-6 students, along with St. Brigid's and St. Mary's enjoyed the informative and funny performance, a few even getting to join in on stage.
Please follow the link below for the latest Scholastic Book Club issue. (Issues for this issue are now closed)
https://www.scholastic.com.au/media/10628/bc_5-24_issuu-1.pdf
Bunnings BBQ
On Saturday, 10th August the Parents & Friends will be holding our annual Sausage Sizzle fundraiser at Bunnings.
This is a major fundraiser for our school and is a big day, so we need as many helpers as possible throughout the day.
Please call Julie or Nadia in the office, or pop into school and write your name down on our roster, we thank you for your ongoing support of us and our fantastic school.
Parents & Friends
Out of Hours School Care - COMMENCING WEEK FOUR
Commencing Week Four, Monday 6th August, we will be having The Y (Ballarat) YMCA coordinate our program for the initial period of 6 months with likely 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 encourage families to sign up - we will forward more details shortly.
Children must be enrolled to attend the program - whether ongoing or casual
TO ENROL PLEASE USE THE ATTACHED LINK:
https://prodadmin.myxplor.com/enrollment_v2/centre/4MxeRH0TsTorIGPLx24356Sh0A
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
Saturday, 3rd August - Trivia Night
Saturday, 10th August - Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser
Wednesday, 14th August - School Photos
Monday, 19th August - Book Week Dress Up Day
Friday, 23rd August - School Closure Day
Monday, 26th August - Wednesday, 28th August - Years 3-6 Camp
Thursday, 12th September - Sovereign District Athletics
Friday, 20th September - Last Day Term 3 - concludes at 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 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.
