Dear Parents,

The flood waters over the weekend were certainly a sight to behold. We know many of our families and staff members had road and bridge access cut off but we are thankful that everyone has remained safe and well.

Last week Mrs Wilson and I had the pleasure of accompanying Year 5/6 on their school excursion to Dubbo. It was a fabulous excursion with some fantastic educational experiences undertaken. The students are to be commended on their enthusiastic approach and willingness to be immersed in every experience. We were also extremely proud of their sense of responsibility and excellent behaviour. Every place we visited gave us positive feedback on the students wonderful manners and behaviour. We were extremely proud of all of them. Special thanks to Goodes Coaches for organising our fabulous itinerary and to Anthony our wonderful bus driver.

On Monday St Patrick’s welcomed 16 delegates from the Catholic Education Commission (CEC) to our school. The CEC were undertaking a tour of our regional area. After a tour of our school, they enjoyed morning tea with staff before attending our whole school

Mass to celebrate the feast day of St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop). The CEC thoroughly enjoyed the students enthusiastic involvement in the Mass and their beautiful singing.

We would like to extend a special welcome to Miya Zhang who has joined our Year 5 class. We also welcome Miya's parents Cai and Bin to our school community.

Our Little Learners program began last Friday with 10 very enthusiastic participants. If you know anyone with a 4/5 year old who would enjoy participating in this program please encourage them to come along each Friday from 9:30 to 11:00am. Thank you to Year 5/6 who are assisting with the activities.  

Please note Little Learners has been postponed until next Friday. 

Wishing everyone a happy week ahead.  We are continuing to monitor our daily staff and student attendance data in relation to planning school activities.  Week 4 was on of the predicted peaks of health concerns and this week we do have a number of staff absent due to illness or caring for unwell family members.  With relief staff in short supply, our priority willbe to keep classrooms operating and may mean small changes or postponement of other school programs.  We will keep you posted about any such changes ASAP.  

Christine Baron

Principal 

Feast of St Mary of the Cross – 8^th August

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop – St Mary of the Cross. St Mary is Australia’s only saint, and in our School Mass Year Three/Four presented a beautiful tribute to her. St Mary of the Cross devoted her life to God and to the service of others.

Mary’s devoted faith, her determination to provide an education for everyone and her sense of justice and fairness for all make her a wonderful role model for us all to follow.

Mary’s motto was ‘never see a need without doing something about it’.

May we all be inspired by the good deeds of St Mary of the Cross.

A Prayer to Mary MacKillop

God of all people. We thank you for Mary MacKillop who like your Son Jesus reached out to the poor, the isolated, the rejected and all in need with a compassionate and loving heart.

As we walk in her footsteps may we see with her eyes, listen with her ears and love with her heart.

May we respond in practical ways wherever we see a need. We ask this in Jesus‘ name, the One who shows us the way of compassion and love. Amen.

Sister Annie Bond rsj

Visit from the Catholic Education Commission

St Patrick’s hosted a delegation of 17 members of the Catholic Education Commission yesterday. The Commissioners were on a tour of three schools in our area. Professor Patrick McArdle, Chairperson of the Commission lead the group. They were very impressed by our school and felt very welcomed.

Monsignor John Woods celebrated our Mass alongside Father George in honour of Mary MacKillop. Monsignor Woods commended the children on their reverence and enthusiastic participation in the Mass.

Feast of the Assumption - Monday 15^th August

Next week we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day we celebrate the Assumption of Mary’s body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This Feast is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon. Year 5/6 will present this Mass.

Altar Serving Practice

This Friday at 2 pm our Altar Servers will attend a training session with Father George and Peter Gain in the Church. This will be a valuable refresher for all, and especially for our new altar Servers, to gain further confidence and skill.

We sincerely thank all the children who are involved in this special ministry in the Church and their families for supporting them.

Kate Howe

REC

Community Council Update - August 2022

The Community Council is very busy at the moment with lots of events planned and preparations underway.

The CC has ordered a gazebo for the school to use at sporting carnivals and school events. It will contain the school logo so it will be easy to locate at busy carnivals and provide protection from the weather for children, teachers and parents. The CC has also contributed to the purchase of a ride-on mower to make mowing the school lawn more efficient for Kristen, so that she has time for other garden and maintenance jobs in the school.

The preparation for the School Fete/Spring Fair on October 29^th is going well. A major raffle has been organised with some fantastic prizes. The Street Stall is booked in for September 1^st/2^nd/3^rd. Thank you to Tash Smith for offering to help run this fundraiser. We are looking for another volunteer to help Tash in future as this will be the final street stall run by Simone Jones and myself. It is a good fundraiser to be involved with as it is well supported by the community. It is planned that the funds raised from these events will go towards the Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA).

The Meat Raffles are going well and making a good profit each week. Thanks to everyone who has offered to help out on Friday nights.

The CC has applied for some grants this year (CRT, Grants Hub), but unfortunately have not been successful. We will submit a grant soon for representative sports uniforms from Bendigo Bank. Applications for larger community grants are currently open – the CC will look into applying for a grant to upgrade the hall facilities. Please let us know if you have ideas or would like to help as the grants involve quite a bit of work, and the CC is a couple of members down at the moment. We are always looking for helpers and we are currently in need of new members, so please contact the CC if you are interested. It is a great way to contribute to the school and turn your ideas for your children and the school into reality 

Kate Graham

Secretary

Community Council

St Patrick's Parish Gundagai are currently advertising for the position of a Parish Secretary for St Patrick's Catholic Church Gundagai and Tumut.  This is a part time permanent position. Applications and further information regarding this position can be sent through to tumut@cg.org.au  

Essential Requirements:

* Experience with financial and database packages

* Strong communication and liason skills 

* Strong organisational skills 

* Ability to work in a team environment and take direction

* Understanding and respect for the Catholic Church and its teaching 

* Experience in an office environment 

Applications addressed to the Parish Priest Fr. George Ogah, St Patrick's Catholic Church Gundagai or can also be emailed through to tumut@cg.org.au 

The School Photographer will be at St Patrick’s on Friday the 16^th September for school photos.   Envelopes can be sent into school prior to photo day or brought in on the morning of photos. If you are paying online please ensure you write your receipt number on the envelope.  

Please contact the office if you would like a "Sibling Envelope" sent home

Just reminding our parents and families of our two Staff Professional Development Days so that parents can mark these dates on their calendar:  

Monday 29th August (Week 7) 

Friday 23rd September (Week 10) Last day of Term (NO CANTEEN THAT WEEK) 

Both days will be PUPIL FREE DAYS

Gundagai High School are taking enrolments for Yr 7 2023.   If you have not already enrolled your child into high school and you are thinking of enrolling into Gundagai High please contact the office at Gundagai High School for an enrolment pack to be sent out or you can also do the enrolment online via their website under the enrolment tab

www.gundagai-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

Enrolments need to be sent in by Friday 27th August. 

Congratulations to our Week 3 Class Awards

Kindergarten - Harley Rose for excellent number work 

Yr 1/2 - Harrison Campbell for showing gained confidence when making and writing two digit numbers 

Yr 3/4 - Archie McDonnell for application and engagement during Angles lessons in Maths 

Yr 3/4 - Isabella Boswell for fantastic contribution and focus in number work in Maths 

Yr 5/6 - Charlie Hindmarsh for his manners & enthusiam for all activities whilst on Camp

Happy Birthday to the following students and staff who have recently celebrated their birthdays

21st July - Mrs Crowe 

28th July - Toby Nicholls 

28th July - Anna Murphy 

31st July - Archie Peterson 

2nd August - Mrs Flanagan 

6th August - Mrs Hughes