Dear Parents/Carers

Welcome to Term 3. We are so grateful that we have been able to return to onsite learning as we once again navigate our way forward with COVID restrictions. Thank you to all our families for your support and positive response to the changes that were announced with little notice prior to the end of the school holidays. We are so grateful for your commitment to work through the various restrictions and requirements with us, knowing that we will more than likely, see more changes in the weeks ahead.

Our students have returned to school with a positive attitude towards learning and as such it was a lovely, settled start to the new term. While we have had to postpone some activities, we are committed to ensuring that students have opportunities to engage in as many experiences as possible. This time is always an opportunity to focus on 'being people of hope' and being grateful for the little blessings in our daily lives.

Confirmation lessons begin this week for our Year 5/6 students. Thank you to the Parish Sacramental Team for their preparation and planning in ensuring lessons could continue for our children during the restrictions. A very special commitment Mass was held on Saturday evening where children and their parents pledged their commitment towards making the most of their preparation time over the next few weeks. Preparations for our school play, ‘Alice the Musical’ are also underway, our new St Patrick’s School Choir and Little Learners Program are set to forge ahead, and Years 3-6 are beginning their preparations for the WR Public Speaking competition to be held in Week 5 against McAuley. We may have to make changes to some of these programs to accommodate restrictions however we will continue to be flexible in our planning.

A special welcome is extended to Mr Braith Crane who has joined our St Patrick’s Staff team in the position of Classroom Support Assistant (CSA). Braith will continue in the role of CSA until the end of the year. He replaces Ms Tina Loukissas who was unable to continue in the position due to family reasons.

Last week I had the pleasure of taking a very exciting phonecall from an ex-St Stanislaus student, Mr Bernie Harrington, who wished to share his gratitude for the wonderful education that he and his good friend Mr Raymond Young (RIP) received at our school many years ago. Mr Harrington (and on behalf of Mr Young) wished to donate money, towards the enhancement of our new school administration area. We are very grateful to both the Harrington and Young families for this extremely generous offer and their continued gratitude over many years, to the school for the valued education they received.

Please continue to keep in your prayers all those communities that have been adversely affected by this recent COVID outbreak. We pray that all in our Gundagai community stay safe and well as well.

Best wishes for a happy week,

Christine Baron

Principal

St Patrick and St Joseph, pray for us

The day emphasised the importance of ‘stillness’ in our lives. God calls us to be silent and still. In this quiet expectance, with humility of spirit and honesty of soul, we need to discover, to be silent, to be still, to be responsive to God.

Achieving stillness seems beyond us and this leaves us with a certain dilemma, we need stillness to find God, but we need God’s help to find stillness.

This day allowed us to be still, reflect and respond to Scriptures and listen to all that is around us.

Each Staff member found the day rewarding and enjoyed time to embrace silence.

Sacrament of Confirmation

This week 22 children from our Parish begin their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Candidates and their Parents made a Commitment Pledge at Mass on Saturday night to fully participate in their preparation for this Sacrament.

The Confirmation Candidates are: Lilly Cotterill, Harry Crowe, Locky Eccleston, Oliver Gailey, Sophie Graham, Eliza Hargreaves, Charlie Hindmarsh, Ellie McDonnell, Jessica McDonnell, Juliet Pearce, Gracie Peterson, Jack Peterson, James Reardon, Tahlira Rose, Hugh Ryan, Akacia Winchester, Jezanna Winchester, Cooper Bartlett, Evie Jones, Joel Sharman and Jimmy Smith.

We pray for these children as they continue their faith journey. Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 14^th August with Archbishop Christopher Prowse officiating.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

Winter is definitely here! The season of winter can be a difficult and stressful time for families.

Last year, Vinnies Conference members provided over $2 million in emergency assistance including food vouchers and parcels to people in need.

Help us make a difference to people in need in our local community this winter. Support the Vinnies Winter Appeal and help bring safety and security to people struggling to make ends meet.

Vinnies need -

* Jumpers     * Blankets     * Scarfs     * Socks     * Beanies   * Gloves

On Friday 23^rd July, St Patrick’s would like to support the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Winter Appeal.

• The children will come out of uniform and wear a scarf and beanie to emphasis the comfort we have in comparison to those in need.
• A gold coin donation would be appreciated.
• On this day families are encouraged to donate suitable winter clothing, jumpers, jackets, scarfs, hats, gloves, socks, blankets etc.
• We will celebrate Mass on this day, taking our items with us and placing these into the St Vinnies blue bin as we go to the Church.

With more than 3 million Australians living in poverty, including over 700,000 children, your support of the Vinnies Winter Appeal will provide more than immediate help, it will provide something much more valuable – the opportunity of a better life.

Help us make a difference to people in our local community.

Kate Howe

REC

This Friday 23rd of July the children are to come to school dressed "Out of Uniform" to support the "St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal".   The children are to come to school wearing a scarf and beanie and warm clothes.   Gold Coin donation would also be appreciated. 

This week we are asking the children to go through their cupboards and donate any winter clothing they have outgrown and no longer need to donate to the Winter Appeal. St Vincent de Paul are in desperate need of blankets, jumpers, scarves, tracksuit pants, beanies, gloves and covered in shoes.  

Many thanks again to our wonderful St Patrick's Community for your continued support

During the school holiday our little school was a hype of activity. Many Thanks to Jeremy Pearce and his team of workers for laying the new soft fall around the play equipment the kids are loving this new area. 

Tom Gaskin, Rob and Max from Tom Gaskin Construction have also been extremely busy with the new office administration building and if you happen to have drove past  recently you would have noticed that the bricklaying has started and our new office archway taking shape. Thank you Tom and your team of contractors for an amazing job.  We will continue to keep our school community up to date with the progress as we draw closer to completion. 

This year’s draw will feature 3/4 Rugby League Tackle and 3/4 Girls League Tag. Both Tackle & Tag divisions will be 7 a side.

Braith Crane has kindly offered to assist with coaching of the boys with Mr Ferguson.     Mrs Flanagan will coach the girls. 

Courtney Barrett NRL skill development Officer will be coming Monday 26th July, 2pm for tackle skills.  Could all boys please bring the required safety gear on this day. (Headgear, mouthguard, footy boots)

YEARS 3-6 PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION

McAuley Catholic Central School Tumut will host this years speak off between St Patrick’s and McAuley Years 3-6 students. The date is now Tuesday 10^th August. We apologise for another change of date, however McAuley have had to work around some changes to their school plans.

Year 6 Radio Weekly News

Tune into "Sounds of the Mountains" radio station either FM96.3 or FM94.1 every Wednesday afternoon at 2.15pm to hear about up coming events, weekly awards or around the school news which is presented by our Yr 6 school leaders

Week 2 - Ollie Gailey & Harry Crowe

Week 3 - Jessica McDonnell & Nick Little 

Week 4 - Jezanna Winchester & Alec Bell-Magnone 

Saturday 24th July - Tahlira Rose & Eliza Hargreaves 

Saturday 31st July - Darby Jones & Hugh Ryan 

Saturday 7th August - Jessica McDonnell & Charlotte McDonnell 

Our Student of the Month and Principal's Awards presentation was held on the last day of Term 2 - Congratulations to each student who received this special award

Kindergarten - Kingsley McDonnell 

Year 1 - Jasper Rui 

Year 2 - Indi Cole 

Year 3 - Christyne Calub 

Year 4 - Nate Tozer 

Year 5 - James Reardon 

Year 6 - Jessica McDonnell 

Week 10 Term 2 Principal Awards 

Emma Brown, Jack Paton and Nick Little 

We would like to extend our birthday wishes to the following students who recently celebrated a birthday.  We hope you all had a lovely day with family and friends 

25th June - James Reardon 

27th June - Maeve Ryan 

3rd July - Emma Ferguson