5 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

BUILDING UPDATE

I am delighted to see the final touches underway to complete the landscaping and development of our new playground spaces. Turf is going down on the areas most impacted by demolition of buildings and site construction vehicles. The extension of the administration carpark is now complete and the concrete pathway connecting the Gregory Rd carpark and the office is operational creating dedicated access for walkers and prams.

Over the next fortnight we expect to open three new playground spaces- the Sticks and Stones area which includes a new sandpit and excavation zone; Activity Playground which includes the maze, giant spider web and upright balance beams; and the Imaginative Play Space at the front of the school which includes water-play.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

On Friday this week (6/3) parents and visitors are invited to visit our school for CSW celebrations. Parents will have the opportunity to attend one of the liturgies held concurrently in two different timeslots, with a shared lunch in the middle. Classrooms will be open for visits during the allocated times.

Schedule:

Recess: 11am- 11.40
Infants Liturgies: 11.45am held in individual pods
Followed by Open Classrooms for K, 1, 2 until 12.50pm
Communal lunch: 12.50- 1.30pm (Parents are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket or chair. If parents wish to order from the canteen, they are asked to place orders using QKR to ensure lunches will be delivered with the student lunches)
Primary Liturgies: 1.30pm held concurrently in Year 3 and 4 individual pods and a combined Liturgy in the hall for Years 5 and 6.
Followed by Open Classrooms for 3/ 4/ 5/ 6 until 2.40pm.

ENROLMENTS OPEN

Enrolments are now OPEN for families seeking entry for their child to Kindergarten in 2021 at St Patrick’s Lochinvar. Please be advised that due to the demand for places, and to best meet the needs of each child, St Patrick’s Enrolment Committee will consider children who will turn 5 years of age before February 28th 2021.

Each enrolment application is considered according to our Enrolment Policy, with preference given to existing families, and Catholic families who live in the immediate area.

Enrolment packs can be collected from the School Office.

CALENDAR EVENTS

WHAT’S ON?

• Friday 6th March – Catholic Schools Week Activities see the schedule in this newsletter
• Monday 9th March – In School Concert for all students - Michael Mangan Concert
• Tuesday 17th March - St Patrick's Day - Students wear items of GREEN to replace school uniform

CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL

The Cross Country event for Years 2-6 will be held at the Coffey Field (across the road from St Patrick’s) on Friday 27th March (Week 9). This event will serve as a trial for the Diocesan event to be held on 5th May at Cessnock. Students will be required to meet strict cut-off times in order to progress to the Diocesan event. Parents are advised that no separate event will take place for the All Saints Cluster (ASC).

Parents who are keen to volunteer (and have completed the induction process) should contact Mrs Sarah Richards who is the Sports coordinator for St Patrick’s.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

STANDARD COLLECTION NOTICE

RE NEWS

PROJECT COMPASSION

MJR IN ACTION…

I was delighted to read this beautiful prayer written by Armanii-Lee in Year 2Blue, sharing her understanding of what it means to Make Jesus Real.

The earth and sun- God gifted us with it.

We keep promises and we don’t break our promises when we make them.

We are gifted with good hearts and when someone is hurt you pick them up and say, “Are you ok?” You don’t walk straight ahead and ignore them, instead you just help them.

SHROVE TUESDAY

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast

On Tuesday the 25th of February we celebrated Shrove Tuesday at St Patrick’s. I know that this day was very successful in the cause of raising money for Project Compassion. We loved to see everyone in the morning having fun, eating pancakes and helping us raise money. The total amount of money we raised for this event was over $600 and we will give all of this money to Caritas Project Compassion. This money will help those who are less fortunate then us and Caritas will help them live a better life. I would like to give a big thankyou to the staff, students and parents that helped us organise and make this event happen. We celebrate Shrove Tuesday because it is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of LENT and the day before we fast. We get all of the flour, eggs, sugar, etc; to make pancakes. Thank you for taking the time to bring in some money to buy some pancakes and helping us raise money for Caritas Project Compassion.

Sophie Fogarty (Social Justice Leader)

CURRICULUM NEWS

PARENT/ TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Interviews have been scheduled for Weeks 9 & 10 of Term 1 in response to parent feedback, expressing that this contact is more meaningful earlier in the school year. This is a formal opportunity for all parents to meet with the class teacher/s to discuss social development, attitude and behaviour, recognised strengths and vulnerabilities and goals for the year ahead.

Interviews will be 10 minutes in duration. Accordingly, it is essential that parents arrive promptly. In some cases, teachers may make contact to schedule a longer interview, if this is deemed necessary.

Interviews will be booked using the COMPASS app. A message will be sent to parents indicating when the online Booking System is open for use.

CLASSROOM NEWS

SUCCESSFUL FOUNDATIONS IN KINDERGARTEN

Successful Foundations is an action research project which supports the positive transition to school of 2020 Kindergarten children and supports system wide implementation of the Early Learning Policy for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Successful Foundations involves the implementation of provocations and formative assessment to support the transition to school.

The emphasis on play with intentional and meaningful loose parts offers children opportunities to demonstrate what they know in non-threatening situations and is intended to provide each child with a positive and affirming first experience of school regardless of prior experience. Successful Foundations reinforces a commitment to ‘the school being ready for the child’ rather than the expectation that the ‘child should be ready for school’ (Dockett & Perry, 2014).

The five provocations within Successful Foundations are:

1. Dramatic play which involves children in imaginative social play with familiar resources and supports self-identity and emerging social relationships and group membership.
2. Blocks and boxes which supports children to participate in creative constructive play, making, building and using individual and collaborative problem solving and fine motor skills.
3. Maps in my world which enables children to explore their local environment and to represent their understandings through drawing, writing and symbolic representation.
4. Sharing stories which engages children in speaking, listening, responding to, composing and presenting stories using a range of materials.
5. Being outdoors which provides children with time to be a friend to others and all living creatures, and to experience awe and wonder through open-ended physical and sensory engagement outdoors.

Each provocation engages children as creative, collaborative and imaginative problem solvers. Please see the attached photos which capture our Kindergarten children deeply engaged in play.

LIBRARY NEWS

SPORTING NEWS

SWIMMING

Congratulations

Congratulations to Aston Longbottom, who has qualified for the Australian BMX Championships to be held in Tasmania. This is a major achievement for Aston as he has been training hard for the past 6 months. Ashton is in Kindergarten and will compete in the 2020 BMX Australia National Championships (Challenge Classes) –in the category of Sprocket-5-6 Boys.

2020 REGIONAL SOCCER TRIALS

We had many enthusiastic soccer players from years 5 and 6 try out for the ASC Regional Soccer trials this year. All students showed great skill and sportsmanship during the selection process.

Thank you to the Lochinvar Rovers Soccer Club for your continued support with our soccer selections and development of players.

A total of 13 students were selected and represented St Patrick’s Lochinvar in the ASC trial at Cessnock on the 14th February. Congratulations to everyone who attended and to those who were successful. The following students have been selected to participate in the ASC team at Diocesan level in March. We wish them well.

Sophie Johnson
Charlie Cornwall
Archie Brideson
Everett Bell
Rylan O’Brien
Rhys Tyrrell

NETBALL

Regional Netball trials were held last Friday.

The following girls will attend the Diocesan Netball Trial on Tuesday 24th March at Maitland Basketball Stadium. We wish them all the very best!

Sienna Liva - St Patrick's Lochinvar
Harper Redgrove - St Patrick's Lochinvar

COMMUNITY NEWS

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert). Bullying behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (for example, through sharing of digital records).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

The 10th Anniversary of the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence will be held on Friday 20th March. Our Engaging Community student leadership group will be coordinating our School’s response to this day. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING MEAN AND BULLYING

There is a lot of talk about bullying these days, which can only be a good thing. There are international movements against bullying, such as NoBullying.com and in Australia the National Centre Against Bullying. The link below is a video resource from ParentTV to support parents and schools, and contributes to the education, care and wellbeing of children.

PARENTING PAGE

BAND

Students that are interested in joining band will be asked to see Mrs Kleinman.

They need to give their name, class, instrument of choice and whether they have an instrument at home. Instruments are guitar, keyboard, ukulele, drums or if you are learning another instrument. Come and join in the fun.

PAVER FUNDRAISER

Major Fundraiser - Due tomorrow, Friday 6th March

You can now pay on QKR app for these pavers and return the forms to school

Please join us in supporting our Major Fundraiser for 2020 by ordering a Paver for your family.

PLEASE NOTE - You can order one per family or one per child, multiple names are allowed on a single paver.

These will be a part of our school's history forever. If you require extra forms, please contact the office.