Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to our fourth and final term of the 2025 school year. Another year that seems to have disappeared very quickly! Term 4 is always a busy one, with much to achieve before the end of the school year. Please note the end of year dates in the ‘Dates for your Diary’ section of the newsletter and put these on your calendar so you don't forget important dates.

Welcome:

Shade Cover: Our new shade cover has finally become a reality with initial foundation work beginning over the school holidays. Currently our blacktop area is partly inaccessible, and we ask anyone visiting the school to please take care and only walk in the designated safe areas. The Shade structure should be completed in approximately eight weeks.

Grandparents Day: Our apologies to all our beautiful grandparents for not being able to offer our traditional morning tea as we celebrate Grandparents Day. When we originally organised the date, we were not aware of the construction schedule or blacktop restrictions we would encounter. Unfortunately, our School Hall is also booked. We hope Grandparent’s are still able to join us for Mass in St Patrick’s Church at 12pm this Friday. Hopefully next year we can celebrate this special event under our beautiful new shade cover!

Year 6: Our best wishes to our wonderful Year 6 students who have commenced their final term of Primary School at St Patrick’s. We wish Emma, Eliza, Indi, Molly, Conor, Dale, Lachlan and Ollie a great term ahead and know they will make the most of their final opportunity as school leaders, great friends and learners. Transition to Year 7 sessions have already begun and these opportunities are ideal ways to help prepare them for high-school years.

Pilgrimage: I am immensely grateful and feel so blessed to have experienced such a wonderful pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and Italy last term. There were so many highlights, it is difficult to pick one as my favourite! One of the most lasting highlights was the incredible display of faith and openness of young people from 18-35 year olds. The churches were packed with young people and families Last week I took the opportunity to share with staff and the students some photos and memorabilia from my pilgrimage.

Personal Highlights included:

-Visiting the Sanctuary of our Lady of Fatima

-Arrival at Santiago de Compostela after 12 days of walking The Camino

-Experiencing Mass and the Rosary in Spanish and Italian

-Papal Audience and unexpected close encounter with Pope Leo

-Visiting the tomb of Pope Francis (so simplistic and beautiful!)

-The Holy Doors Tour

-Visiting the Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Assisi, Italy where St Carlo Acutis tomb is located. St Carlos’s body is displayed in a glass case for public veneration.

The students all received a special Holy Card of St Carlos. These bookmarks were all blessed by a priest in Santa Maria Maggiore Church in Assisi. I hope the students will treasure this small gift and memento of our first millennial saint. Each classroom has also received a bottle of Holy Water from The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima for their prayer tables.

I will be attending the Catholic Leaders Day Principal Meetings in Canberra this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Best wishes for the weekend ahead,

Christine Baron

Principal

Expression of Sympathy

‘May eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace.’ Amen.

First Holy Communion

Our Year 3 children and 4 of their friends from Gundagai Primary have begun their preparation for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This Sacrament is a wonderous time in a Catholics life when they can fully be one with Jesus, through receiving the Eucharist.

Please pray for this special group of children - Lance Crowe, Billy Eccleston, Imogen Graham, Josie Lott, Millie Lott, Thea Lindley, Isabella Melksham, Lucy Nicholls, Calvin Pigram, Ryan Robinson, Harley Rose, Phoenix Rose, Ayvah Smart, and Clancy Smart as they prepare for this joyous Sacrament. First Holy Communion Mass will be on Saturday 8th November at 6.00pm

***** Families please note that there will be a meeting with Father Joe at 5:30 pm this Saturday 25^th October in the Church followed by Mass at 6:00 pm. Your attendance is important.

 Grandparents Mass

October is Mission Month

The theme for Catholic Mission in 2025, a Jubilee Year, is "Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples," as proclaimed by Pope Francis. This theme emphasizes that all Christians are called to be messengers and builders of hope through their faith and actions. Key initiatives and ongoing projects include supporting maternal and child health in Zambia. 

Socktober

Socktober is an exciting way to bring communities together and make a real impact on global issues. By participating, you not only help those in need but also foster a sense of empathy and social responsibility. It's a chance to engage in meaningful activities, learn about important causes, and see the difference your efforts can make.

Socktober 2025 - Zambia

This year we were raising awareness and funds for communities in Zambia, to help ensure children have access to food and education, giving them the chance to build a brighter future.

Zambia, a country of rich culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant communities, lies in the heart of southern Africa. From the majestic Victoria Falls to the wildlife-filled plains and warm-hearted people, Zambia is a land of beauty and resilience. Despite its natural wealth and strong spirit, many families face daily challenges, especially in rural areas. Today, one of the most urgent issues is the severe hunger crisis that threatens the wellbeing of millions.

With your involvement we can:

*** At St Patrick’s we will celebrate Mission Week in Week 5***

We are planning to hold our annual Socktober Mission Day on Wednesday 12^th November.

We will participate in various activities that will support Catholic Mission. We want our children to realise how lucky we are to live in a country like Australia, in comparison to those children living in less developed countries. We want to build knowledge of social justice rather than just giving money.

Our activities will include a Liturgy, looking at case studies of conditions in Zambia, making a coin line, and some fun sporting activities including making a sockball.

How can we help?

The children will come out of uniform on MONDAY 12^th November and bring a gold coin donation.

• Please help support Catholic Mission by sending in some coins for the coin line.

• We need to collect materials such as – rags, old t-shirts, newspaper, bubble wrap, old socks, string etc for groups to make a sockball 

Let’s start collecting.

Kate Howe

REC

Best wishes to our Year 3/4 Boys Basketball team who have headed off to Wagga today to complete in the Basketball NSW Schools Tournament. We wish them every success and a great day of competition! Special thanks to Mrs Caitlin Smith and Mrs Jess Eccleston for training the boys in readiness for the competition.

Time to find those racing snails and prepare them for the annual St Patrick’s Snail race! On Tuesday 4 November, St Patrick’s will enter into the spirit of Melbourne Cup Day with the famous Snail Race and Fashions of the Field events. It is also time to dig out your best fashions and accessories and train up those mighty snails. This is always a highly anticipated and fun day! Who will win the Snail Cup this year? Snails to be brought to school in a breathable container and returned home to the family garden at the end of the day.

Its that time of the year again for our kids to pull out the cricket gear.  See attached flyer for registration for the Cricket Blast that starts this week.  

Monday morning Harley Rose, Phoenix Rose and Fletcher Smith were presented with their Mackillop Athletics Championships Certificate for their participation in Sydney on 24th September.  Well done boys. 

WEEK 2:

Tuesday 21 October: Year 3/4 NSW Basketball Tournament in Wagga

Wednesday 22 October: MCC Tumut 2026 Year 7 Orientation Day

Friday 24 October: 12.00pm Grandparents Mass

3.30pm Fun in the Park-Carberry Park Gundagai

Saturday 25 October: 6.00pm First Holy Communion Commitment Mass

WEEK 3

Tuesday 28 October: 6.30pm School Community Council Meeting

Friday 31 October:  9.00-1.00pm 2026 Kindergarten Orientation Program (Session1)

 Day for Daniel-wear red

 12.00pm Year 3/4 Class Mass

Saturday 1 November:  6pm MASS-All Soul’s Day

Sunday 2 November:  All Saint’s Day

WEEK 4:

Tuesday 4 November: Melbourne Cup Day celebrations-Fashions on the Field/Snail Races

Wednesday 5 November:  9.00-3.00pm First Holy Communion Preparation Day

12.15pm ROAR Program begins

Friday 7 November:  9.00-1.00pm 2026 Kindergarten Orientation Program (Session 2)

Saturday 8 November:   Sacrament of First Holy Communion

WEEK 5:

Monday 10 November - David Enever Concert 11.30

Tuesday 11 November: Remembrance Day

This Friday thanks to the generosity of El Williams we will have Hot Dogs on the canteen lunch order options.   Please remember to place your canteen order via the Spriggy App by Thursday night or no later than 8.30am on Friday morning. 

Don't forget about the "Fun in the Park" activities this Friday 24th October from3:30-5:00pm.  St Patrick's will be running a mini golf activity.

After the success of the ROAR program last term we are able to offer the program again to some of our Year 3/4 students this term. Geoff will work with a small group of students from Year 3/4 (nominated by their class teachers) with the Kimochi program. The Kimochi program offers a range of activities to support self-confidence, resilience building, emotional regulation, friendship building and respectful interactions. Parents of students participating in the program will be contacted.

As the weather warms up, students are now welcome to make the change into their summer school uniform. Please ensure your child has a jumper as the mornings have still been quite cool. We encourage all families to include sunscreen in their child’s bag to be applied regularly through the day.

Morning supervision begins at 8:40am. If your child arrives at school before this time, they will need to sit down on one of the seats near their classrooms until a teacher begins morning duty. Please do not drop your child at school before 8.30am unless prior arrangements have been made with the school.

Morning Bell: 8:55am

Morning Session: 9.00-11.00am

Recess: 11.00-11.25am

Middle session: 11.30-1.05pm

Lunch: 1.05-1.50pm

Afternoon Session: 1.55-3.15pm

WEEK 8:

Friday 5 December:    9.30am-11.00am Marty’s Music Concert

WEEK 9:

Wednesday 10 December:     K-6 Christmas Play and BBQ - TBC

Thursday 11 December:    Semester 2 Reports go out on COMPASS

Friday 12 December:      9.30-11.00am 2025 Award Day

                                       12.00pm Year 6 Graduation Mass

WEEK 10:

Monday 15 December/Tuesday 16 December: Parent/Teacher Meetings

Tuesday 16 December: Year 6 Big Day Out - TBC

Wednesday 17 December:   Year 6 Graduation Dinner - TBC

Thursday 18 December: 3.15pm Term 3 concludes for students

Friday 19 December: Staff Development Day  (NO STUDENTS)

Our annual Crazy Camel Art fundraising project packs have been sent home last week. This is a great way for the children to create their artwork into gifts for Christmas.  We have some of the products available if parents wish to check it out just call into the office to view samples.  

We also have heaps of spare art paper if little errors happen we are more than happy to send home extra art paper. Just contact Jacki in the office and it can be sent home. 

Orders and money are due back to the office by Friday 31st October to allow time to be processed and back in time for the end of term.  

Tune into "Sounds of the Mountains" radio station (FM94.1) every Wednesday at 2.15pm to hear about what our classes and school have been up to over the week.

Week 2 - Lachlan Hargreaves & Jasper Rui

Week 3 - Molly Lott & RV Calub 

Week 4 - Mackenzie Little & Dale Paton 

Week 5 - Zoe Morgan & Conor Little 

Our students have hit the ground running in Week 1 and we would like to congratulate our class awards for week 1. Well Done

Kindergarten : Hazel Miller for her fantastic writing this week

Year 1/2 : Michael Winters for his efforr in visual arts and his hand writing 

Year 3 : Lance Crowe for excellent class participation and work ethic

Year 4 : Harrison Barton for his inquisitive thinking 

Year 5 : Leila Gaskin for her insightful and enthusiastic participation in discussions

Year 6 : Conor Cotterill for his impressive knowledge of the natural environment

Congratulations to our WildCat Awards for Week 1 

RESPONSIBLE : Noah Zhu, Eddy Smith

RESPECTFUL : Ned Phelps, Alfie Eccleston 

SAFE : Sophia Knight-Gregson, Sam Hufton, Charlotte Kennedy, Lilly Barton, Olivia Smart

Lots of Birthdays were celebrated during the school holidays and we acknowledged these students on last Friday's assembly.  We hope you all had a lovely day

22nd Sept - Remi Taylor 

24th Sept - Anna Nicholls and Lachlan Hargreaves

30 Sept - Hallie Butt 

5th Oct - Anastasia Chittick and Sam Hufton 

6th Oct - Mackenzie Little 

7th Oct - Lilly Ferguson 

10th Oct - Imogen Graham 

12th Oct - Conor Cotterill 

17th Oct - Lexi Bayley

18th Oct - RV Calub