Dear Parents,

Week 8 has arrived and so has winter! We have been experiencing some very cold weather and it is a timely reminder that students require jumpers and coats every day. We also ask that students wear their tracksuit pants as part of their school uniform on Thursday mornings and can change into shorts/skorts as the days warm up.

Last week some services in our community were listed as a potential COVID link site. We would like to reassure parents and carers that we continue to practice and encourage good hygiene practices at school. Thank you to parents who have been keeping unwell children at home. Please however remember that it is a legal obligation to provide the school with the reasons regarding why your child has been absent from school. With our new COMPASS Attendance system, teachers need to enter an explanation for the absence that is at least 10 characters long ie dental appointment, sinus infection, head cold etc. Please DO NOT just write ‘sick’ as we require additional information. A doctor’s certificate is required for students who have 3 or more consecutive days absent please.

The new survey platform ‘Tell Them From Me’ site will remain open until the end of this week. Thank you to those who have taken time to complete the survey. We use this information to assist in our forwarding planning for 2022. Please complete the survey by Friday 11^th June for your input to be considered.

All staff are currently busy compiling Semester 1 reports.  These are due to go home on Wednesday 16^th June. Parent/Teacher conversations are an essential component of the new report format. Information dates and times regarding meetings will be provided for parents. Thank you to Community Council members who have offered to assist during P/T conversations in helping direct parents to the right classroom and assisting with managing time requirements. It is most appreciated.

Stay warm and enjoy an extra sleep in on Monday!

Christine Baron

Principal

St Patrick pray for us

Change in Mass times

• Please note the change in Mass time to 5pm for the winter months.

Donation of Rosary beads

Recently we received a gift of 50 pairs of Rosary beads from the Mary Help of Christians Friendship Group. This group is based in Canberra and is made up small group of “oldies” (the words written on the card). The Rosary’s are handmade and came packaged with a booklet of how to pray the Rosary.

We are very grateful for this generous and beautiful gift which will be used by students in our classroom prayer time.

Friday Mass

This Friday’s Mass will be presented by Year 1/2. Friday is the Feast of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. We warmly invite you to be part of this celebration.

‘May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere.

Sweet Heart of my Jesus, grant that I may always love You more.’

Sacrament of Confirmation

Next term the children in Years 5 and 6 will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Lessons begin in Week 2 Term 3. The children will be Confirmed by Archbishop Christopher Prowse on Saturday 14^th August.

We ask that all Registration Forms be completed and returned as soon as possible.

Kate Howe

REC

Mackillop Cross Country

Charlie Hindmarsh competed at the Mackillop Cross Country at Eastern Creek today.  Congratulations Charlie on representing Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese, we are very proud of his sporting achievement.  Charlie came 26th out of 62 participants with a time of 13.58 mins. 

 Aged Champions - Athletics

Announcement of Age Champions and House Champions will be finalised shortly. We are this week completing the High Jump finals and then will notifiy families if their son/daughter has recieved the top honour for this years athletics carnival.

Western Region Athletics

Our athletics team will travel to Tumut this coming Friday 11 June.  All notes and payment was due back today. Please contact Mrs Flanagan or Mrs Wilson if for any reason your child cannot attend.

 Netball Cup Wagga Wagga 3/4 and 5/6 Teams

On Tuesday 22 June in week 10 our 3/4 and 5/6 netball teams will compete in the NSW Netball Cup in Wagga.  A revised consent and travel note will be sent home shortly.  Any parents wishing to assist on the day please contact Mrs Wilson or Mrs Fairall at Front Office.

Community Council Report

The Community Council (CC) met last week. The tuckshop is continuing to run smoothly in its new location and the tuckshop ladies are doing a great job to get the orders up to school in time for lunch. The meat raffle is also running well, and our weekly profits have shown that it has been enthusiastically welcomed back by the local community.

Online ordering for the uniform shop is getting closer. There will be a link to access it through the School website. Further directions for parents will be sent out soon. Please remember to contact Bec Gaskin to organise a time to try on uniforms. Jacki Fairall is only available to assist with urgent orders.

The fundraising working group is also in action. Thank you to everyone who reached out to Sam with offers of help, ideas and feedback. The group has begun planning the fundraising activities for the next 12 months. A school fete has been proposed for March 2022. This would be a great way to showcase the new administration building and playground improvements to the community. A fete however requires many helpers to make it a success, so it can only go ahead if we have the support of the school community. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in the planning of this event. Other smaller fundraisers such as a cookie dough drive, sock drive, crazy camel, rose bush fundraiser, dinner at the school play will also be considered for this year. Please let us know if you would be interested in assisting with any of these.

The CC has also taken on the feedback that parents would like more transparency with our fundraising goals. Classroom technology (iPads and Chromebooks) were purchased by the CC in the previous 12 months, this was particularly important during remote learning in 2020. The CC also has an ongoing commitment to assist with cost of buses for excursions, and expenses are still required for the playground upgrade, including the revegetation of the space that faces First Ave. Looking forward, a few larger projects have been discussed which will require grant funding in addition to fundraising and we will keep the school community informed once these goals are clearer.

Plans have started for our annual Trivia Night…SAVE THE DATE: AUGUST 6^TH!!! Please see the advertisement in this newsletter and on Facebook and spread the word! This year it will be hosted in the school hall with a bar available. As with previous years, supper will be provided in the cost of the ticket, and a raffle will be run on the night. So, it is officially time to get out the costume box and dress like an Olympian!

Please note the date for the annual school street stall has changed to October 7^th/8^th/9^th. These dates will hopefully give us some spring sunshine to sell our cooking, plants and craft.

The Dad’s social night was a success. Thank you to Michelle McDonnell and Pete Reardon for co-ordinating the event, and Madeline and Tim Ryan for opening up the Remote Control office for the night.

Kate Graham

Secretary, Community Council

Parent/Teacher Meetings are scheduled to take place during the last week of Term 2. This year the dialogue between parents and teachers, will be an important aspect of the meetings as reports will not contain subject or additional teacher comments. A note will come home with the dates and times as listed below.

The following dates and times have been set aside for P/T conversations: Please note that Year 3/4 dates and times are different considering the large class cohort and Mrs Flanagan being unavailable on Tuesday 22^nd June.

Tuesday 22^nd June: Kinder, Year 1/2 and Year 5/6 ONLY: 3.30-5.30pm (NO interviews for Year 3/4 as Mrs Flanagan will be away)

Wednesday 23^rd June: Kinder, Year 1/2 and Year 5/6: 3:30-5:30pm

                                     Years 3/4-12.30-5.30pm

Thursday 24^th June: Kinder, Year 1/2 and Year 5/6: 3:30-5:30pm

                                  Years 3/4-12.30-5.30pm

If these dates and times do not suit you, please contact your class teacher to make alternate arrangements.

Our Administration Building is coming along nicely thanks to Tom Gaskin and his team of dedicated workers.  The attached photos show of the project to date.  The photos were taken in May 2021.  The building will be completed around the end of July at this stage. 

A 2022 Year 7 Orientation Day will be held NEXT Friday 18 June at McAuley Catholic Central School Tumut. All interested Year 7 2022 students are welcome to attend even if you are considering another school for Year 7. Please let Mrs Wilson know if your child is planning to attend the day.

The Little Learners program will commence in Term 3. This program is open to all children 0-5 years of age. Ms Tash Smith will once again run the program on Friday’s from 9:00am until 11.00am in the Learning Hub. A program of activities will be available soon.   The First day of the program will be Friday 23rd of July 

Saturday Night Mass has moved to 5pm during the Winter Months.  Could you please ensure the children are at the Church by 4.45pm to allow time to get dressed. 

Saturday 12th June - James Reardon & Josie Quine 

Saturday 19th June - Emmy Gaskin & Sophie Graham 

Saturday 26th June - Oliver Gailey & Nate Tozer (SCHOOL HOLIDAYS) 

W I L D C A T    A W A R D S  

Week 6 and Week 7 

RESPONSIBLE -  Nate Tozer x 2, Lachlan Morgan, Charlotte McDonnell,  Kaydee Smith, Harrison Campbell, Mackenzie Little 

RESPECT -  Jack Paton, Parker Melksham, Fletcher Smith 

SAFE - Akacia Winchester & Lachlan Morgan 

Congratulations to our Week 6 and Week 7 Class Awards 

Week 6 - Friday 28th May 

Kindergarten: Remi Taylor for great class participation 

Year 1 / 2 : Oliver Crowe for improved participation in all class discussions 

Year 3 / 4 : Charlotte McDonnell for her consistent effort and engagement in her learning 

Year 5 / 6 : Jack Peterson for consistent approach to home reading 

Week 7 - Friday 4th June 

Kindergarten : Fletcher Smith for always working hard to complete work 

Year 1 / 2 : Conor Cotterill for his enthusiastic class participation

Year 3 / 4 : Taite Johnson for his consistent effort and committment to all learning tasks

Year 5 / 6 : Jezanna Winchester for her thoughtful and considerate leadership in peer support and Kinder buddy system

St Patrick’s School Choir: Begins Tuesday 20^th July

Little Learners Program: Begins Friday 23^rd July

Year 5/6 Dubbo Excursion: Monday 26^th July to Thursday 29^th July

Community Council Trivia Night: Friday 6^th August

Public Speaking Competition: Years 3-6 Reps: McAuley v’s St Patrick’s-  Tuesday 17^th August (Please note the change of previously advertised date) 

Sacrament of Confirmation: Saturday 14^th August

School Play: ‘Alice The Musical’ Matinee-Wednesday 8^th September, Night Performance-Thursday 9^th September

School Photos Day - Friday 10th September