Dear Families and Friends

Enrolments 2019

Currently we are in the process of accepting enrolments for Kindergarten 2019. To assist with allocated 2019 staffing decisions, could I ask parents who have made a decision to enrol your child at St Patrick’s for 2019 to complete the enrolment forms and drop them into the office for processing as soon as it is convenient for you to do so. Enrolment forms are available from our school office (office hours 9:30 -3:30) and our web site. Additionally, if you are aware of any parents considering St Patrick’s, please invite them to contact us for further information or encourage them to join Supportive Playgroups or the Little Learner's program which continues in Term 3.

Semester One School Interviews

Just a reminder to return your “Parent / Teacher Interview Time” selection form by Tuesday, the 26^th of June. Once you have returned your interview slips, teachers will contact you with your allocated interview times. We will do our utmost to accommodate families where parents have a number of interviews to attend. Interviews will be held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4^th and 5th of July. (Last week of the term).

Here are tips for getting the most out of parent-teacher interviews:

Before the interview:

• Revisit the student report card and determine what information you need before the interview to support your child.
• Ask your child if there are any areas they would like followed up (for example, where they feel they need extra help or have concerns) and share this information with your child's teacher during the interview.
• Write a list of specific questions you wish to ask your child's teacher and take notes during the interview so you can share the comments with your child.

During the interview:

• If you want to know about a specific area of your child's progress (for example, how they are progressing in English) let your child's teacher know this at the start so you can focus the interview on this topic.
• Ask your child's teacher for suggestions or more details about how you can help your child at home?
• Find out more about how your child is participating in classroom activities and whether, for example, there are any general issues with behaviour or participation that need discussing.
• Ask your child's teacher to clarify any extra support given to your child.

After the interview:

• Keep in regular contact with the teacher to follow up on a mutually-agreed plan.
• Talk with your child about what you have discussed and how you can work together to improve their learning.

Online Gaming – World Health Organisation warning

Most parents of adolescent children would be aware of the online game, ‘Fortnite’. For many young people, the addictive nature of this game is having adverse effects on children’s behaviour and affecting their mental health. With over 125 million registered players worldwide, this game encourages players to battle each other to death using a variety of weaponry.

With an age rating of 13+, this game raises many cybersafety concerns. Unfortunately, it allows unmoderated chat between players, leaving children exposed to be contactable by 'randomers' online. This function alone makes it unsuitable for primary aged children.

In light of last week’s announcement from the World Health Organisation now recognising “gaming disorder” as a mental health issue, this special report will help parents gain a greater insight into Fortnite and the concerns surrounding it. Parents are encouraged to reassess their gaming allowances and better manage technology usage at home.

If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information.

Here is the link to your special report :

http://spg.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/online-game-fortnite-special-report

Term 3 Newsletter

Following last Thursday’s Community Council meeting and the current parent survey data, it was decided to introduce changes to the frequency of our newsletter service. The Newsletter will be published every 2nd week and a weekly Bulletin containing updates of the coming week emailed to parents every Friday. The Newsletter cycle will be on odd weeks and Bulletin on even weeks.

Thank you to our Community Council members for another great term and to those parents who are contacting the council with great initiatives to improve our school. Please continue to bring your ideas forward to the Community Council to be discussed and acted upon.

Principal Professional Development

Next week I will be attending a Development and Renewal Program for Leaders in Australian Catholic Schools. This program is offered to 24 experienced Principals nationally each year and it combines engagement with the latest educational thinking, a deepening of the religious dimension of Catholic schools, the opportunity for quiet and reflection and active professional and personal encounter in a prayerful community in a residential program. The program has been structured in such a way that it addresses the Australian Professional Standard for Principals from within the context of Catholic schools. It has a particular focus on the National professional practices of ‘Leading Teaching and Learning,’ ‘Leading Innovation and Change’ and ‘Leading self and others’.

Please contact Assistant Principal Mrs Lisa Wilson if you have any concerns during week 10. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our dedicated staff, parent helpers and wonderful students for making St Patrick’s a great place to learn and grow. I wish all a safe and restful Semester Two break.

Learn Lead Serve Succeed

SCHOOL FEES ARE NOW OVERDUE. 

PLEASE ENSURE PROMPT PAYMENT IS MADE

School Mass

On Friday our school leaders led our School Mass. The theme was St John the Baptist who was sent by God as a messenger to prepare the way for Jesus.

Mass and Liturgy Times:

This term, Mass will be on Fridays at 12pm and Liturgies will be Friday at 12:30pm.

Liturgies may be held at the school, pending the weather on the day.

Dates to mark on your calendar:
29/06- Liturgy led by Kinder (12:30pm).
06/07- End of term Mass led by SRC (12pm).

Thoughts/ Questions / Reflection for the week: Visio Divina 

Visio Divina invites the viewer into "divine seeing." Visio Divina shares origins with the ancient practice of Lectio Divina. (Lectio Divina calls for a slow, careful interaction with scripture through meditation and prayer, allowing a word or phrase to rise in one's consciousness, a holy word to be savoured and examined.) Similarly, Visio Divina invites one to encounter the divine through images. A prayerful consideration of and interaction with a photograph in the magazine, icon, piece of art, or other visual representation allows the viewer to experience the divine in a unique and powerful way.

Visio Divina can be practiced individually or with a group in a small group or worship setting by using a piece of art as a focal point for prayer. Scripture can also be paired with the image in order for the viewer to reflect on the scripture through the art.

Use this image of ‘Communion of Saints’, to encounter the divine.

1) Prepare: Close your eyes, breathe, clear your mind, and ask God to enter into this time of prayer with you. Ask God to speak to you through this image.

2) Lectio (read): Open your eyes and scan the image. Note what draws your interest but continue to scan the whole image. Close and rest your eyes a minute.

3) Mediatio (meditate): Open your eyes and let your eyes be led. Focus on just the part of the image that caught your eyes and name it. Close your eyes, seeing that piece of the image in your mind.

4) Oratio (pray): Open your eyes and look again at the piece of the image that caught your eye. Allow it to bring forth a word, image, or emotion. Close and rest your eyes.

5) Contemplatio (contemplation): Open your eyes and gaze at the whole image. What is God speaking to you today through this image? How will you respond to Him? Spend time processing that with God. Pray or journal about it.

God Bless, Mrs Flanagan REC

KINDERGARTEN: Harry Peterson - trying hard to improve written work.

YEAR 1/2: Tessa Crowe - making an effort to stay focused and complete tasks.

YEAR 3/4: Sadie Eccleston - putting in deep thinking and improving her writing.

YEAR 5/6: Henry Hindmarsh - excellent knowledge of 24 hour time and reading of timetables.

RESPONSIBLE: Isaac Pearce & Benji Leane

RESPECTFUL: Isaac Pearce

SAFE: William Naughton & Lillian McDonnell

A 

drop

of rain is

like a sudden

knock at the door

unexpected yet often

welcomed with a smile. It

can brighten your day or ruin

your plans. It can make you laugh

or make you sad. Whether the raindrop

is moving fast or slow or is big or small

it always get's everyone's attention.

A raindrop contains many

secrets.

Max Graham

Term 3's tuckshop roster is currently being collated. If there are any parents that would be interested in volunteering in Tuckshop that hasn't before or parents who do Tuckshop that may like to do it another time not just once please contact Leanne McDonnell asap on 0427 455 100 or email dandlmcdonnell@bigpond.com

The World of Robotics

Last Friday the children of St Patrick’s were highly engaged in fun, hands-on STEM-based challenges using the Robotix construction system. The classes were highly engaged and eagerly constructed and programmed.

Each class task was:

Kinder, 1/2: water fun park ride

3/4: A piece of farm machinery performing a function

5/6: coding and programming cars

Working in pairs the students were given a scenario, discussed together ways to best address the problems they are presented with, then design and build robots. The 3/4 children were required to program their robot to perform certain functions. The 5/6 class programmed their car to travel forward, backwards and diagonally. Kevin commented on how well the 5/6 class approached their task with a 'can do' attitude. He said that other 5/6 groups had very quickly given up on the process and he was impressed with how well the children had listened and problem solved their way through the build.

In the K-2 lesson, the children tested their creations, observed other student’s solutions in action, they then re-evaluated and made changes to their design, before presenting their modified designs to their peers.

The children absolutely loved the experience and we thank Kevin and Pauline for providing such a high-quality program.

Our very best wishes to the following people who celebrate their birthdays this week.

Abbey Flanagan celebrated on Sunday 24 June

James Reardon celebrates TODAY 25 June

Sam Crane celebrates on Tuesday 26 June

Addison Fairall celebrates on Tuesday 26 June

Week 8 – A Better Friend

In this week’s final session of the Peer Support module Keeping Friends the children will be participating in a board game, reinforcing all of the concepts and skills that have been learning over the past 7 weeks.

They will be reminded of the qualities of a good friend and the skills needed to maintain friendships and make new friends. Each Peer Support group will have the opportunity to celebrate what they have learnt and the new friendships and connections they have made.

Please submit your expression of interest for the Trent Barrett Rugby League Coach position by the end of Term 2 to the front office.  Gameday is in Term 3 - week 4, 15 August.

A special thank you from Judy Bell to Leanne McDonnell and her 4 children Molly, Abby, Ellie and Archie for delivering the load of wood won at this years street stall. It was greatly appreciated.