Dear Parents,

The school is once again filled with children’s laughter and chatter! We were so pleased to welcome back all our students to face-to-face learning.  The teachers have all commented on the children’s positive energy and eagerness to get back into class routines.  We look forward to cautiously moving forward together with our teaching and learning.

Essential Health and Safety Measures In Place

With resuming full time attendance some of the safety measures we are putting in place include:

• If your child displays any signs of illness, cold or flu like symptoms they should stay at home.
• If an unwell child is sent to the school office their temperature will be checked and parents will be asked to collect them.
• Physical distancing measures are encouraged amongst students.
• Increased hygiene and hand washing will be encouraged – each classroom with anti-bacterial hand sanitizer.
• Daily extra cleaning of high traffic spaces (Toilets, students desk space and play equipment).
• Students are to bring their own drink bottle as there is no access to bubblers.
• Parents are encouraged to continue drop off / pick up outside our Homer Street entrance gate observing social distancing guidelines.
• Whole school Friday assembly will continue to be online through MS Teams with all classes joining in via a group video conference in their own classroom.

Together every one of us has a responsibility to keep our school community safe. Thank you in advance for this. 

Enrolling Now for 2021!

Enrolments for Kindergarten 2021 are now open! If you are intending to send your child next year OR know of any families looking for a quality and contemporary education for their child please recommend us and complete the online enrolment link on our school website.

Arriving on Time to School

With one week down we are all gradually re-adjusting to school life, with this in mind it is a timely reminder to try and have all children arrive on school premises before the morning bell at 8:55am. Being present and on time for class morning messages and setting up for the day is vital for a productive start to learning.

School Fees 

School fees will go out this week along with a letter outlining a drought fee relief package for all St Patrick’s families who have been affected by the 2019 drought experienced in our district and community. This funding allocated is a partial fee reduction of $200 for each family.  We thank Catholic Education for this one off measure that brings relief to our parent community during these uncertain times.

Thank you to our Families

We are extremely grateful for all the positive feedback received from our parent community regarding our return.  We are gradually returning to some type of routine and normality! We pray that the COVID-19 situation remains stable so we can continue to operate within medical guidelines. Please continue to monitor your child’s well being and let the school know of any difficulties that your child/children may be experiencing.

We Miss You, Mrs Baron! 

We continue to keep Mrs Baron in our thoughts and prayers as she takes much needed recovery time at home.  She popped in for the first time late last week and conveyed how much she misses the students! We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to her return in the near future.

Many thanks for your continued support,

Lisa Wilson

Acting Principal

How wonderful it was to see our Church opened on the weekend with two Masses celebrated. Even though only ten people were able to be inside the Church, others still had the opportunity to listen to the Mass broadcast from the outside speakers.

There are some protocols that must be observed if you are entering the church for any reason, be it private prayer, Mass, rosary, funeral etc:

* Please sanitise your hands (sanitiser available at the back of the church) 

* Please sign in - there is a register in the black folder at the back of the church.

A Message from Archbishop Christoper Prowse

Dear Friends in Christ,

Easter greetings to you all!

The bishops of Australia have just completed their bi-annual gathering, albeit via zoom!

One of our decisions is to entrust Australia during this pandemic to the Immaculate Heart of Mary under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians.

This entrustment is to be prayed throughout Australia on 24^th/25^th May. Please find attached the Prayer of Entrustment.

I ask you to spread this prayer far and wide over the next week so that we can all be ready to pray it in parishes, schools, communities, families and so on the dates indicated.

With every encouragement and thanks in the midst of this pandemic moment of history.

+c.c.prowse

Archbishop of Canberra Goulburn

Our 2021 enrolments are now open.  If you are intending to send your child to school in 2021 the online enrolment link is located on our website:

- spg.nsw.edu.au  

- Parents tab 

- Enrolment tab

Please ensure you attach copies of Birth Certificate, Immunisation Certificate and Baptism Certificate.   

We also have hard copies in the office should you wish to fill one out by hand.  

L E G O   C H A L L E N G E 

Week 1 - Mysterious Creatures 

We have our very own "Lego Masters Challenge" starting today during second half of lunch in the Library. Riley Smith one of our Year 2 students is the brains behind this very exciting challenge which will be conducted every Tuesday and Wednesday 2nd half of lunch. Thank you Riley for coming forward with this activity and your team of participants.   

Please label all clothing.  We have had a lot of second hand items being handed into the office with old names of previous children who are no longer at the school written on jumpers.  The children may not realise that the items belong to them.    Many Thanks  

Year 6 Polo Shirts have been ordered through Rock Solid Gear and should approximately arrive in 3-4 weeks time.  Payment of $44.00 to be made to the front office before shirts will be handed out.  The Year 6 shirts can be worn on Tuesday and Thursday for the duration of the year.  

Congratulations to our Week 3 class award recipients which was conducted via MS Teams with all classes joining via group videos

Week 3 - 15th May 2020

Kindergarten/Yr 1 - Maeve Ryan for fantastic sounding out of words when writing 

Year 2 - Tyler Manns for coming back and working so hard in all areas

Year 3/4 - Montanna Manns for her consistent application during remote learning 

Year 5/6 - Abby McDonnell for a consistent mature approach to all her learning tasks 

We advise that Canteen will remain closed at this stage indefinately.  As soon as we are advised by Catholic Education that we can resume our canteen service all families will be notified. 

Birthday Cupcakes for Sharing: 

Cupcakes from home may be shared for a child's birthday celebration at school as long as parents are reminded of the importance of good hygiene when preparing and cooking the food.  A more precautionary approach is that parents may supply a pre-packaged birthday treat instead (eg. Individually wrapped freddo frog) for each child and they are handed out individually to children in the class. 

Many Happy Returns to the following students who have recently celebrated a birthday at school over the last week

11th May - Joseph Gailey 

15th May - Emma Brown 

18th May - Zoe Paton 

Dear Parents,

We are participating in the Redgum Book Club virtual catalogue this term. Every order will earn resources and books for our school. www.redgum.com.au  Our school is registered and will receive points for every purchase which will benefit our school library.   You can order online at home and have the books delivered directly to your address. 

Orders will leave the Redgum warehouse within two days, with free delivery on orders over $40. For orders under $40 there is a $6.50 delivery fee.

New Release titles in the current catalogue include:

• Bluey: The Creek - Bluey is an inexhaustible six-year-old Blue Heeler dog, who loves to play and turns everyday family life into extraordinary adventures, developing her imagination as well as her mental, physical and emotional resilience. Bluey: The Creek
• Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother - There's lots to love about Ruby and Grandmother and they will touch the hearts of everyone who has ever had a special relationship with a grandparent.  From Australian author, Kate Knapp. Ruby Red Shoes
• Magnificent Mistakes & Fantastic Failures - Refreshingly simple and delightfully quirky, Magnificent Mistakes and Fantastic Failures, will help kids build resilience. From Award Winning Australian Author, Josh Langley. Magnificent Mistakes & Fantastic Failures
• Funny Kid Peeking Duck – Funny Kid is the mega-bestselling series from Australian author-illustrator Matt Stanton that’s got everyone laughing! Funny Kid Peeking Duck
• The Pug Who Wanted to be a Bunny - A funny story with an uplifting message about sibling rivalry. The Pug Who Wanted to be a Bunny
• Slime – The new children’s book from No 1 bestselling author David Walliams, a fantastically funny tale illustrated by Tony Ross. Slime
• Wink - Based on author, Rob Harrell's real-life experiences and packed with his cartoons and illustrations, this is a heartbreaking and hilarious story of survival and of finding the music, magic and laughter in all of life's weirdness. Wink
• Crazy Aarons Thinking Putty Mini: Coral Reef – This mini tin of Coral Reef colour block Thinking Putty boasts a rich, glittery blue colour but stretch it out by the light to reveal a gorgeous coral pink. Crazy Aarons Thinking Putty
• STEM Hero Astrophysics Jupiter – This STEM kit introduces children into the world of STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), through a completely new playful approach! STEM Astrophysics

If you have any questions, email Lesley on schools@redgumbookclub.com.au