Dear Parent and Carers,

It is so difficult to comprehend that we are already approaching the end of Term 1. Our Kindergarten students have just completed their first term of Primary Schooling and have settled in so beautifully to school life. It has certainly been a busy term but also a very productive one. It has been wonderful to observe the students being so engaged in their learning as well as being willing to accept new challenges and opportunities to succeed.

Term 1 will conclude this Friday 12^th April at 3:15 pm. This year, Easter and ANZAC Day will fall in the school holidays. The students will gather together on Friday in their Peer Support groups to put together their Easter Boxes while partaking in the story of Jesus’ journey to Calvary. The boxes will hold significant memoirs representing each part of that journey.

All students are invited to join St Patrick’s and the Gundagai community in the annual ANZAC day parade. The students are asked to meet staff out the front of Lott’s Family Hotel at 10.15am on Thursday 25 March, ready to march at 10.30am. We are looking forward to having a strong contingent of students, to represent our school in the march. At this stage, students are to dress in full summer uniform with the polar fleece jumper if necessary. Please watch facebook for a uniform update should the weather turn cold.

Term 2 will commence on Tuesday 30^th April for all students. Staff will return on Monday 29^th April, as they will be involved in a Professional Learning day on Digital Technologies. Lora Bance from Catholic Education will host the day.

Wishing you and your families every blessing as we approach the Easter period and celebrate the greatest feast day in our Christian calendar.

Happy holidays!

Christine Baron

Principal

EASTER IN A BOX

This week we will be doing Easter in a box. If you haven’t already, please bring in your shoe box for this Easter activity on Friday 12^th April.

40 Days 40 Items

There will be a special collection of all the bags of clothes gathered during the Lent challenge, 40 days 40 Items. Can all donations (garbage bags of clothes) be returned to school next term by Wednesday 15^th May (Week 3).

Thank you in advance for taking up the challenge and helping others in need.

Altar Serving Note

Please return signed notes by the end of the week so that the next roster can be made and handed out for next term.

Project Compassion

Students have been given a Project Compassion box to support Caritas Australia during Lent. This year the theme is “Give Lent 100 %”. Each classroom also has a project compassion box where donations can be made.

PROJECT COMPASSION 2019 PRAYER

Creator God,

You are our constant hope!

In the season of Lent, you call us to prayer,

fasting and love of those most marginalised.

As a community of faith and courage,

let our gifts to Project Compassion be symbols

of hope and solidarity with our one human family.

Accompany us as we journey with Jesus

to bring ‘good news’ to all creation and ready our hearts

to work for the common good of all your people.

We ask this in Jesus’ name

AMEN

Mass Term 2

Next term each class will lead the school in a Mass starting at 12 noon. The Masses will be every fortnight at the church.

Dates to mark on your calendar:
12/04- Easter in a box at school. NO MASS or LITURGY.

Prayer / Thoughts / Questions / Reflection for the week:

BANGLADESH 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT

You may remember Salma, who featured in Project Compassion 2013. At the time she was pregnant with her first child, sick and terribly frightened. In distress, she sought the help of a midwife trained by Caritas’ Safe Motherhood Program. Six years on, she’s now a healthy mother of two strong, happy children. Salma is committed to giving her children the education they need to provide them with the future she hoped for. Please donate to Project Compassion 2019 and help reduce infant mortality rates in countries like Bangladesh and provide hope to pregnant women in remote communities for happy and healthy families.

VIETNAM PALM SUNDAY

Living with a disability was challenging for Nguyet. Yet, since featuring in Project Compassion 2017 Nguyet has successfully built her own business, a dream that has become a reality with the support of Caritas Australia. Connected to the world in new ways, Nguyet has become independent, an important member of her community and has great hope for her future. Please donate to Project Compassion 2019 and give children living with disabilities in Vietnam the opportunity for education and inclusion in their community.

I hope you all have a safe and happy Easter, God Bless, Mrs Flanagan REC

Dear Parents,

This year the sacramental program will be presented directly from the Gundagai Parish under the leadership of Father George NOT BY THE SCHOOL (as in previous years)

Reasons for this change:

Parents are the first educators for their children, the Parish is the source of Sacramental life and the School assists parents in the faith education or their children.

Registrations for Confirmation in June, First Reconciliation in August and First Holy Communion in November, will need to be made through the Parish website only cg.org.au/gundagai where you will find your letter of introduction, dates and other information along with the individual registration forms.

If your child is in Year 5 upwards for Confirmation, or Year 3 upwards for Reconciliation and Holy Communion, you will need to register by May 7. The website is being prepared now and will be available by Easter. There will be a further reminder in Week 1 of Term 2 of the urgency that these registrations must be completed by May 7.

Please note that you will be required to upload your Baptism certificate as part of the registration for Reconciliation and Holy Communion sacraments and the certificates of the above sacraments for the registration of Confirmation candidates. 

Deputy Prime Minister

Michael McCormack’s

2019 ANZAC Booklet

Writing Competition

This year Mr McCormack invited students to write an imaginative and original piece on the topic “Coming home from the Great War to the Riverina and Central West” Lillian wrote a piece titled “Smile” for which she has received a Highly Commended Award. This piece will be published in Mr McCormack’s Anzac Day Commemorative Booklet which is distributed across the electorate.

We are very proud of Lillian’s passion for literacy and continued commitment to writing.

Well done and congratulations from everyone at St Patrick’s School

Easter Egg Raffle tickets, money and any egg donations need to be sent into school by tomorrow please ready to be collated for the raffle draw.

Also tomorrow the SRC will be handing out the sunglasses that were ordered by students. Please send your money in with your child tomorrow if you have not already done so.

Week 8 - Term 1 

Kindergarten/Year 1: Lachlan Hargreaves - for great listening and following direction.

Year 1/2: Nate Tozer - consistent effort across all areas.

Year 3/4: Sophie Graham - being a problem solver and using her initiative. 

Year 5/6: Sadie Eccleston - commitment and enthusiasm towards all learning experiences.

Week 9 - Term 1 

Kindergarten/Year 1: Riley Smith - an independent and responsible attitude toward his learning.

Year 1/2: Pippa Fitzgerald - for active participation in class discussions and valuable contributions to our class learning.

Year 3/4: Locky Eccleston - more consistently producing work he is capable of.

Year 5/6: Maggie Peterson - showing initiative and own experiences in writing pieces.

Week 10 - Term 1 

Kindergarten/Year 1: Emily Ryan - always showing kindness and care for those around her.

Year 1/2: Emmy Gaskin - participating more confidently in class discussions.

Year 3/4: Lilly Cotterill - making sensible choices with reading.

Year 5/6: Abby McDonnell - showing care and concern for all and emerging leadership qualities.

Week 8 - Term 1 

RESPONSIBLE:  Gracie Peterson, Taite Johnson, Charlotte McDonnell, Lily McDonnell & Max Graham.

RESPECTFUL:  Oliver Gailey & Sam Turck

SAFE: James Reardon, Gracie Peterson, Ellie McDonnell & Taite Johnson.

Week 9 - Term 1 

RESPONSIBLE: 

RESPECTFUL: Joey Gailey

SAFE: 

Week 10 - Term 1 

RESPONSIBLE: Oliver Gailey, Joey Gailey & Amy Cotterill

RESPECTFUL: Amy Cotterill, Flynn Leane & Garvita Joshi

SAFE: Jess McDonnell, Charlotte McDonnell & Montanna Manns

Peer Support Leadership Training Days

Today the Year 5/6 children began their two day Peer Leader’s Training.  The purpose of their training is to prepare them for their role as Peer Support Leaders.  As a group with Mrs Wilson and Mrs Hughes they will undergo a series of fun training sessions down at the school hall to develop the skills of:

• Relationship building
• Verbal communication
• Non verbal communication
• Empathy
• Decision making
• Assertiveness
• Facilitation

The children will be equipped with the necessary skill of a Peer Leader to assist us in conducting our Peer Support program to be run in Term 2 across the whole school.

Cross Country 2019

The school’s annual Cross Country carnival was held last Thursday down at the racecourse. The day was a great success with all children loving the lush green surrounds of the race course area and running tracks. We are very proud of the efforts of all children and it was great to see smiles on their faces as they crossed the finishing line.

A big thank you to the parents and teachers that assisted on checkpoints and parents and family who cheered and supported. This extra help and support ensured a smooth running carnival and we are most appreciative. Many thanks for the Racecourse Trust to allow us to use their facilities.

The winning house on the day was FINNEGAN!  They won by only 2 points! The placegetters in each age group were:

5/6 girls: 1^st Indi Cole 2^ndSavannah Manns, 3^rd Eliza Graham

5/6 boys: Equal 1^st Dale Paton & Ollie Crowe, 2^nd Lachlan Hargreaves, 3^rdJayden Crossley

7 years girls: 1^st Emma Ferguson, 2^nd Skye Somerville, 3^rd Pippa Fitzgerald

7 years boys: 1^st Taite Johnson, 2^nd Alexander Ryan, 3^rd Archie McDonnell

8 years girls: 1^st Montanna Manns, 2^nd Charlotte McDonnell, 3^rd Emmy Gaskin

8 years boys: 1^st Jack Paton, 2^nd Jack Ryan, 3^rd Nick Quine

8/9 years girls 2 km: 1^st Juliet Pearce, 2^nd Sophie Graham, 3^rd Gracie Peterson

8/9 years boys 2 km: 1^st Charlie Hindmarsh, 2^nd Reo Norden, 3^rd James Reardon

10 years girls 2km: 1^st Jessica McDonnell, 2^nd Lilly Cotterill, 3^rd Jezanna Winchester

10 years boys 2km: 1^st Locky Eccleston, 2^nd Harry Crowe

11 years girls 3km: 1^st Abby McDonnell, 2^nd Sadie Eccleston, 3^rd Addison Fairall

11 years boys 3km: 1^st Lincoln Fallon, 2^nd Sam Turck, 3^rd Will Gaskin

12 years girls 3km:’ 1^st Lily McDonnell, 2^nd Alix Kerin, 3^rd Molly McDonnell

12 years boys 3 km: 1^st Isaac Pearce, 2^nd Max Graham, 3^rd Benny Bartlett

Congratulations to the top 5 placegetters, these children will now represent our school at the Western Region Carnival which will be at Harden in Term 2, Week 1 on Friday 3rd May.  Just a reminder that all representative notes are due back to school by this Thursday 11 April, please.

As a part of National Volunteer Week, I would like to invite everyone who is involved and engaged with the St Vincent de Paul Society in your schools to attend our Volunteer Thank You event. It is an evening event where we celebrate with our volunteers from all programs and services who do good works all through the year. Please find the event invitation attached.

Time: 5:30-7:30pm

Date: Monday 20 May 2019

Location: St Clare’s College, 1 McMillan Crescent, Griffith ACT 2603

I realise that many of you will be unable to attend due to school commitments and distances, but would like to acknowledge the role you play in allowing the Society to reach a larger audience every year. I look forward to seeing some of you there and working with many of you throughout the rest of the year!

Kind regards,

Wez

Wesley Raymond | Youth Liaison Officer – Primary Schools

St Vincent de Paul Society - Canberra/Goulburn

Belated birthday wishes to the following students:

Ellie McDonnell celebrated on 19 March

Jezanna Winchester celebrated on the 19 March also.

Philippa Fitzgerald celebrated on 24 March

Our very best birthday wishes to the following people who celebrate their birthdays this week and during the holidays.

Sam Turck celebrates this Friday 12 April

Juliet Pearce celebrates on 14 April

Molly McDonnell celebrates on 22 April

Mrs Howe celebrates on 26 April