15 July 2021

Newsletter Articles

Newsletter: Term 3, Week1 2021

Prayer for the new school term.

Dear Lord, as we begin a new school term, we will fear not. You have commanded us to be strong and of good courage! We won’t be afraid or discouraged because You are with us wherever we go. You watch over us and we know You will strengthen us daily. Amen

Joshua 1:9

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

As we enter into Term 3, I assure you that our school staff is committed to maintaining calm and stable learning environments for students. It is vital that as a school community, we all take our responsibilities seriously and do our individual best in relation to the protocols mandated by NSW Health. I thank each of you for your adherence to the protocols implemented at St Patrick’s and thank you for your willingness to support our staff for the betterment of all.

Whilst cases in regional Australia have been thankfully suppressed, it is always good leadership to be forearmed and ready if things do happen to change. To ensure that we are fully prepared to manage whole-school student dismissal if a COVID case is confirmed at St Patrick’s, I have provided a hard copy of updated protocols and procedures for your reference. Please ensure you are familiar with the process so that order is maintained.

Vitally important is the need to have your login in to COMPASS active and operational, and notifications turned ON in your mobile phone settings.

CALENDAR EVENTS

BOOKWEEK/GRANDPARENT’S DAY (COVID DEPENDENT- DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)

WHEN? Term 3 Week 7 (23rd – 27th August)

THEME: New World, Other Worlds

WHAT’S PLANNED?

• Illustrator visit to St Patrick’s - Liz Anelli coming to talk to all students
• Tuesday/Wed/Thurs- Author ZOOMS
• Bake a Book- more details to come
• Grandparent’s Day, including Dress Up Day unique to the theme- Friday 27th August

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

NEW COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES FOR PARENT VOLUNTEERS

All CURRENT volunteers who have not been verified within the last 18 Months must now update their documentation to ensure ongoing eligibility. ACTIVE volunteers (e.g. canteen helpers, P&F members) have been sent home packages to complete.

If you do not receive a pack and would like to remain on the registered list, please request a new VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK from the school office by sending an email to admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au

In order to continue volunteering at St Patrick’s, the forms mentioned below (found within the NEW VOLUNTEER INDUCTION HANDBOOK) will need to be returned to office as soon as possible.

These include:

1. SCREENING PAGE
2. REGISTRATION FORM
3. VOLUNTEER POLICY DECLARATION
4. CODE OF CONDUCT DECLARATION.

St Patrick’s has introduced a transition period allowing you to continue volunteering, with your current clearance, until the end of Term 3. After this time, you will not be permitted to volunteer in any capacity unless updated processes are complete. Please factor in the time required to verify documentation, and attend to this important matter without delay.

Thank you for generously volunteering and we look forward to continuing your support for our school.

CURRICULUM NEWS

DID YOU KNOW?

EXTERNAL REVIEW SURVEY

As mentioned previously, our school will undertake the EXTERNAL REVIEW PROCESS, a formal, follow up to the SELF REVIEW undertaken in 2018. This is an opportunity to revisit and evaluate the growth and achievement made in significant areas.

Parents and caregivers are asked to contribute to the evidence of where we have been, where we are currently, and where we are going by completing a survey.

We need your input and contribution to celebrate the successes and make this a substantial collection of both quantitative and qualitative data, worthy of ensuring our school continues to meet the needs of our community and achieve our school improvement goals.

A hard copy will be sent home for ease of use to all families. Your engagement is appreciated.

THE LEARNING BAR TELL THEM FROM ME SURVEYS- OPENING 23 AUGUST 2021

Parents will also be asked to contribute to a Diocesan wide process of data collection. Last year the Diocese commenced a journey in partnership with The Learning Bar to create a data rich environment to better inform our system and school improvement agenda.

This process strongly aligns with our strategic priorities and will monitor progress of key areas including Catholic identity, learning, wellbeing and safeguarding. Our community will be asked to engage by completing the TTFM survey instrument for 2021. Annual data will assist us to monitor goals and targets in our annual improvement plans as part of an explicit improvement agenda.

The survey will open from 23 August until 14 October 2021.

CLASSROOM NEWS

Parents are advised that the library block is currently closed for remediation and cannot be occupied. Consequently, Year 6Y at the end of this block are temporarily located in the hall. I anticipate that things should be back in order mid-term and thank the teachers and students for their flexibility and patience.

ABORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL NEWS

NAIDOC WEEK CELEBRATIONS

Sadly, our NAIDOC Week commemorations are on hold. I look forward to the rescheduling of activities and the opportunity to celebrate, explore, learn about and come to understand and appreciate the amazing culture of Indigenous Australians and their unbroken cultural and spiritual connection to this Country.

During NAIDOC Week especially, we come together as one whole nation of nations; a time when we can learn from each other and grow through listening to Traditional Wisdom. St Patrick’s recognises the diversity of Australia's first peoples and the long and continuous connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country.

ORGANISATION & MANAGEMENT

UNIFORM STANDARDS & BACK TO SCHOOL HAIRCUTS

Our uniform policy requires a conservative and natural hairstyle. The Parent Handbook clearly states that ‘long hair is to be pulled back and secured with ties/ribbons in approved school colours; extreme hair styles and colours are unacceptable.’

We remind parents that dyed hair, undercuts or radical hairstyles (including ‘mullets’) are not acceptable and should not be extended past the holiday break. Acceptance of enrolment at St Patrick’s means that you agree to follow all school policies and procedures.

SPORT NEWS

DIOCESAN ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

GYMNASTICS SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR TERM 3

TO COMMENCE WEEK 6 FOR KINDER - YEAR 6

Changes to the commencement date for Gymnastics have been made as the hall is temporarily unavailable. Parents and students will be advised when we are able to confirm the new dates.

Please note that all students will be required to wear their sport uniform on the day that they have been given for their gymnastics lesson. The timetable below indicates the day of the week the students will have their lesson and therefore the day of the week that we ask that the students wear their sport uniform.

In alignment with our COVID safe practice, all students will use hand sanitiser at the commencement and completion of each lesson.

COMMUNITY NEWS

To honour the investment of the 160+ cast and crew and that of our schools who were to attend the performances of ASPIRE’s 2021 production of The Masked DJ, the following updates and advice as of Monday 12 July is made available:

The matinees and evening performances on Wednesday 21 July, Thursday 22 July, Friday 23 July and Saturday 24 July HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. This is largely due to the enforced limited audience capacity of the theatre (50 %) and that schools from across the region will converge in one venue.

It is hoped that the performances will be held in Term 4 with tentative dates provided below.

Civic Theatre Newcastle

• Wednesday 10th November 11.00 am (schools’ matinee)
• Wednesday 10th November 7.00 pm
• Thursday 11th November 11.00 am (schools’ matinee)
• Thursday 11th November 7.00 pm

PARENTING PAGE

P & F MEETING

The next P and F meeting scheduled for Friday 23rd July in the school hall at 9.30am has been CANCELLED.