9 December 2021

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

It is hard to believe that this is the last newsletter for 2021! Thank you to all families for the support and many words of kindness that I have received during this tumultuous year. You have all helped to make this year a very positive one, regardless of the external challenges that the year threw at all of us.

Your children are to be congratulated for their willingness to help others, and bravery to accept the many learning challenges that faced them this year. Our teachers are to be congratulated on staying the course and showing incredible strength in the face of ongoing change.

During the year our resilience was certainly tested. We learned that sometimes things go wrong and don’t always get fixed or put back together in the same way. That sometimes broken things stay broken. We learned that sometimes we are faced with challenges and change, and we need to dig deep, remain flexible and pivot. That we can bounce back.

While many regular events did not take place or go as planned, we created some new events that were just as much fun, captured in the 2021 yearbook. That being said, we look forward to school life returning to ‘normal’ as soon as we are allowed. What Day 1 2022 will look like, remains to be seen. You will be informed as soon as we know because at this stage, access to school sites by parents is still restricted.

Best wishes to our Year 6 students as they experience these last few days with us at St Patrick’s. Moving to high school holds a mixture of emotions though we know that the St Pat’s values that we hold in high regard will live with them forever. Farewell also to those families leaving us at the end of the year to move to new locations. It has been a privilege to have worked with you and your children. Good luck!

If you are travelling this holiday break, I pray that you stay safe on the roads and have the opportunity to truly relax.

At the end of the school year, we give thanks to God:

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place at St Patrick's, both in and out of the classroom and in the home environment
For the gifts and talents that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced
For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed
For the respect and care that has been given

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have been nurtured and grown
For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles,
For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days
And for the loving kindness and support that has kept us going.

We give thanks for the community that we are, and we ask for your blessings upon us Lord;
Bless our students: may your Spirit inspire them with confidence and calmness
Bless our teachers: may your Spirit fill them with peace and give them rest
Bless our support staff: may your Spirit encourage and guide them
Bless our families: may your Spirit bolster them with understanding and patience
We give thanks for the year that was.

As we begin our holidays, we look forward to the opportunity to share time together to build memories to cherish. Pour out your love on us that we may return refreshed and renewed for the new year.

STAFFING UPDATE 2022

Whilst staffing arrangements for 2022 are ongoing, I have great pleasure in confirming the following placements;

• Congratulations to Erin Saxby and Megan Robinson who have secured FULLTIME PERMANENT positions at St Patrick’s. Megan was most recently employed at Good Shepherd Primary School, Plumpton in the Diocese of Parramatta.
• Well done to Jane Kleinman, Jack Crich, Tracee Cinello and Ashleigh Grach who have been successful in securing FULLTIME TEMPORARY positions for 2022
• Welcome back Laura Atkins who returns following maternity leave to job-share with Gemma Baker
• Angela Waters will continue in her role as PEDAGOGICAL MENTOR in 2022
• Jane Mosman will continue in her role as ABORIGINAL EDUCATION TEACHER in 2022
• Cate Lawler will continue in her role as LST in 2022 and as the Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) 0.2. Cate will also take on the EALD support role 0.3 in Term 1.
• RFF- Lisa Owens and Evelyn Covita will continue to provide relief from face-to-face and will be joined by Maryanne Hacker. Maryanne will deliver units of work across grades as RFF teacher, instead of being assigned to a specific class. She will also continue in the important role of Religious Education Coordinator.
• Christine Quinn will undertake an intervention role, providing intensive support to small groups of students in Terms 1-3. Accordingly, Christine will not have a class allocation.
• Congratulations to Christine Jones, who will take on the role of Canteen Supervisor.
• Mark Pearce (Grounds maintenance) has moved on to another organisation and has been replaced by Craig Durham who is currently employed in a similar role at St Joseph’s East Gosford.
• Congratulations to Amy Davis (soon to be Mrs Jones) and Megan Watts (soon to be Mrs Redman). Both teachers are looking forward to their wedding day in the holidays after a covid delay. We wish them the very best for their nuptials and a lifetime of happiness.

Congratulations to all of these staff members as they join the team or renew their roles at St Patrick’s. Sadly, the year’s end also presents us with a number of farewells.

• Sadly, we farewell Erin Mitchell who has decided to take a role with the DET, closer to home. We also farewell Helena Elias who has completed her temporary contract and has secured employment at Holy Spirit Abermain. We wish them the best for the next steps in their careers.
• And finally, we thank Mrs Margaret Quirk for her life of service to Catholic schools. May her retirement bring joy and fulfilment.

The process of staffing is ongoing with the finalisation of remaining positions. A summary is provided below.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY PHOTOS

ST PATRICK’S LOCHINVAR 2021 END OF YEAR AWARDS RECIPIENTS

The Mary MacKillop Award for Excellence is presented to one child each year who has demonstrated commendable qualities of faith, respect, compassion and leadership. The recipient of this award can come from any grade from Kinder to Year 6.

The Mary MacKillop Award for Excellence for 2021 was presented to SOWMYA BOMMAREDDY – Year 6.

On a daily basis, Sowmya demonstrates care, compassion and empathy to her peers and teachers, showing a willingness to assist, while expecting no thanks or praise. Sowmya’s Christian values are evidenced in her everyday interactions. She recognises the Spirit of Jesus in others and always strives to demonstrate and model that Spirit for everyone she meets.

Sowmya is interested in the world around her, shows dedication towards her learning and consistently tries her best. She articulates a concern for the poorest of the poor, is actively involved in fundraising and shows an awareness of people less fortunate than herself.

P&F AGM

Thank You! Each year we rely on the assistance of many parent volunteers. Our volunteers make a significant contribution to building and sustaining our community through their efforts, particularly the amazing fundraising the P&F do for our school community. Of course, during 2021 our many planned fundraising efforts were cancelled; however, the pandemic could not dampen the enthusiasm and contribution of a small number of parents who generously gave their time and efforts to see some events proceed.

At the AGM meeting scheduled last week, all positions were declared vacant. All positions were unanimously upheld. It will be wonderful to see what this group can achieve as we head into the new year, hopefully unencumbered by restrictions.

Committee 2022
President: Yolanda Armstrong
Vice President: Jess Spanos
Secretary: Daisy Farmer and Erin Hvirf
Treasurer: Allison Smith
Federation Delegate: Christy Farr-Forest

We look forward to the involvement of all of our parents and extended families to contribute to school life in meaningful ways. Please ensure your clearance to volunteer is up to date by undertaking the registration process with the Diocese. Documentation or support can be obtained through the school office.

CALENDAR EVENTS

CLASS PLACEMENTS 2022

Student reports are currently available via Compass. Yearbooks and class placements will be sent home on Monday 13th December.

Parents are asked NOT to make contact regarding class placements. The teachers and support staff have worked hard to ensure that all needs and parent requests communicated through the advertised channels, have been considered.

NO changes will be made.

YEAR 6 GRADUATION

Our Year 6 students are fast approaching their final days at St Patrick’s. We’ll be celebrating their graduation by coming together in liturgy. We are grateful to be able to hold this event and have limited family and staff numbers in attendance on this special occasion.

Event: Year 6 Graduation Liturgy

• Venue: School Hall at St Patrick’s Lochinvar
• Date: Monday 13th December 2021
• Time: 10.15am (Hall gate will open at 10am)
• Detail: 1 attending guest per child only (unless there are dual care arrangements). Only fully vaccinated adults are allowed on school sites and will be required to show evidence of their vaccination status to a school staff member.

Event: Year 6 Graduation Lunch and Activities

• Venue: School Hall at St Patrick’s Lochinvar
• Date: Monday 13th December 2021
• Time: 12noon- 2pm
• Detail: Year 6 students only- no parents/visitors permitted. Children will engage in social activities with their peers, including the use of a photo booth and music. They will also enjoy a sit-down lunch provided by a professional catering company.

Event: Year 6 Final Rite of Passage

• Venue: To be held on site at St Patrick’s Lochinvar
• Date: Wednesday 15th December 2021
• Time: 2.20pm
• Detail: Staff and students in Years K-5 will assemble on the path leading from the canteen to the administration building (within the school), and from the administration building to the carpark (outside the front entrance), effectively creating a ‘tunnel.’

Parents and family members are invited to gather in single file along the concrete path which runs outside the black fence and connects the administration building at the front of the school to the base of the hall car park off Gregory Rd (Please observe physical distancing). The Year 6 students will continue their procession along the path, being celebrated by their loved ones as they go, and completing their journey at the end of the path, where their Year 6 teachers will be waiting to meet them.

Following the procession, in order to comply with Covid- safe protocols, parents will be asked to collect their Year 6 child and;

1. Promptly leave the school site or
2. Move to usual dismissal points to collect siblings.

END OF TERM DATES

Please note that classes conclude for all students on Wednesday 15th December, at the normal time of 2.50pm.

TERM 1 2022 DATES

ADVANCE NOTICE- PUPIL FREE DAYS TERM 1 2022

Please be advised that St Patrick' s will hold Pupil Free Days on the following dates

• Friday 25th February 2022. Teachers will engage in professional learning titled Developing an Effective Writing Programme. The new date reflects a postponement from Term 4 2021.
• Friday 1st April 2022 - last day of Week 10, Term 1. This day will concentrate on St Patrick’s development of the Leading Learning Collaborative as part of our Strategic Plan for improvement.

Students DO NOT come to school on these days.

RE NEWS

ADVENT

As we light the next candle of Advent on Sunday and continue our journey toward Christmas, the readings encourage us to take time to connect with God, to make room for him in our lives. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the doing of things in life and it is easy to put God to the side instead of prioritising time to connect with Him. We can do this through prayer time, taking quiet moments, building in some time for stillness, simply thinking back on the day and where his constant presence has been felt in some way.

Our prayer spaces and our churches have been decorated with their Advent purple finery but have you noticed that nature is also preparing for Christmas? One simple way to ensure that Advent preparation stays in our thoughts is to simply take time to notice the abundance of purple that is all around us at this time of year. Challenge your children to spot the purple flowers! Why not plant something in your garden that will bloom at this time every year and remind you it is Advent?

When the bloom of the jacaranda tree is here,

Christmas time is near!

CHRISTMAS ART COMPETITION RESULTS

The All Saints Cluster Art Competition was fierce, and, in some years, more than one prize was awarded as the judges couldn’t decide. This year judging was conducted by a priest from the Ballarat Diocese, an REC from Lismore Diocese and a High school Visual art teacher from Maitland Newcastle Diocese.

Congratulations to all those who were shortlisted to represent their grades from each school. The winners for each category and their entries are included. Special mention for Isabella Tillman (K), Erin Kelly (Yr 4) and Isabella Drinkwater (Yr 6) from St Patrick’s who were successful in their divisions.

Thank you to Lucy Sneesby-Tooth (Family Ministry Coordinator) who took carriage and oversight of the competition this year.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Parents wishing to commence or resume services provided by external providers at school are advised to email the school admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au requesting an external provider application which will be sent home via the class note bag. Once the completed application form is returned to school, admin personnel will contact the external provider to request documentation and proposed therapy session times.  The Learning Support Teacher will liaise with class teachers and external providers to finalise mutually agreeable session times.  External providers may commence service delivery from Monday 21 February 2022.

CLASSROOM NEWS

VIRTUAL ACADEMY

On November 25, Annabelle See participated in the Virtual Academy Online Presentation Day, alongside 90 of her Virtual Academy peers, presenting her Semester 2 research to a panel of experts.

Annabelle has worked in the Virtual Academy over the past 2 years, completing units of work beyond the regular classroom curriculum. ‘Adaptations’ was the focus for Semester 2 and for her presentation, Annabelle demonstrated her understanding of adaptations by presenting a TED Talk, discussing the world’s relationship with plastic. Annabelle competently delivered her research to diocesan heads of service, CSO, school and community members who offered positive and thoughtful feedback for the students.

Annabelle presented her TED Talk with conviction, engaging and encouraging the audience to become involved in finding and implementing solutions. Annabelle found the research phase of her project insightful, learning perseverance and developing her self-confidence along the way. Annabelle was able to apply newly learned skills using the video editing software application, Adobe Premier Pro, to present her project.

Annabelle received outstanding feedback for her efforts and our school community congratulates her.

YEAR 5 REMEMBRANCE DAY

As part of Year 5’s Remembrance Day Unit of work linked with English, the students and teachers recently joined a Zoom meeting to meet an Australian Veteran. Paul Douglas, who lives in Victoria, served in the Australian Army for 22 years and achieved the rank of Major. Some of Paul’s deployments included a member of the Australian led peacekeeping operation in East Timor and also time in Afghanistan. Paul’s wife Brigid also served in the Australian Army for a number of years and was deployed to Afghanistan on two occasions, both six months in duration. Paul is now a Logistics Manager and Brigid is a High School Teacher.

Some of the questions the Year 5 students asked included the following:

• What training and exercises did you have to do as a soldier in the Australian army? (Tilly B 5B)
• Why did you join the military? (Noah 5B)
• How did you stay in contact with your family and friends back home? (Tom 5W)
• Did you see combat? (Xanda 5W)
• What careers are you now in after leaving the army? (Mille 5Y)
• Do you think serving in a war has changed the way you think about war and also serving in the army? (Kade 5Y)

Thank you to Paul for your time and also to Brigid for your efforts in the organisation of this valuable experience for the Year 5 students and staff.

YEAR 5 GREAT AUSSIE BUSH CAMP

Year 5 Excursion to GABC (Great Aussie Buch Camp)

On Tuesday 30th November, Year 5 students and staff visited the Great Aussie Bush Camp at Tea Gardens.

A fabulous day was enjoyed by all. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the children challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zones and share a fun time away from school. Equally important, were the encouraging words and actions the students gave to their peers.

The Year 5 students completed four outdoor activities. They were archery, high ropes course, dual flying fox and the giant swing.

Thank you to Mrs Hacker for organising the excursion and to the Year 5 staff for their time and efforts to ensure the day ran smoothly. A thank you must also be extended to the professional and terrific staff at the GABC. We’ll be back with Year 5 2022!

ABORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL NEWS

As we told you in the last newsletter, our stingless bees are now settled members of the Lochinvar community. We have been able to report back to Tim from Sugarbag Bees (from whom we purchased the hive) that our guests are thriving. With our Bush Tucker Garden flourishing in this summer’s conditions (and a new garden dug by Mr Pearce for our new plants from Bunnings), our stingless bees will be kept busy pollinating.

Here are some more bee facts, this time from our Year 2 Writing Team.

Stingless Bees are cold blooded so they go and get food when it is hot.
Judd Year 2

They have furry bodies and they have black feet and a black body and they have white hairs on their head.
Kara Year 2

The Queen can lay eighty eggs a day. Guard bees protect them if another bug gets in.
Scarlett Year 2

Ants, beetles, wasps, flies and people are threats to the bees. Harrison Year 2

A Stingless Bees hive is the only hive that makes their honey in a swirl. Nyssa Year 2

The bees are diurnal – which means they are mostly active through the day. Shailah Year 2

Year 4 Writing Group explored some of the reasons that a school might think about keeping bees.

• When you have bees they can make honey and make money. Who does not want to make money? Also, without bees the flowers could be dead and without the flowers the world would be gone.
  Kenny Year 4
• I think you should get stingless bees because you can get honey without getting hurt. Bees can help plants, trees and other things. If we did not have bees the environment would not be alive.
  Boyd Year 4
• These are some ways you could sell honey. You could sell it in bottles or in things like a hand cream or hair mask. You could also use it in cooking and make some really good. Honey and lots of things that come from bees and you can make lots of food with honey.
  Libby Year 4
• I think every school should have bees because they are very good and helpful for the environment. Bees pollinate flowers to make honey for food. You can even make lollipops with honey but they have to be processed. Eve Yr 4
• I think bees can save you money and then make you money. You should get bees because you can sell the honey and then schools can use the money to buy new play equipment.
  Olivia Year 4
• I think that schools should have bees because it helps the gardens and the flowers and helps the world. I think that all schools should have bees because it helps the school and the flowers.
  Ashton Year 4

THANK YOU

Kiera and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of our inaugural Aboriginal Education Committee in 2021. It is always hard to be the first people to do anything, but their interest and enthusiasm was lovely to see. The Bush Tucker incursion, the Bush Tucker Garden, our Stingless Bees and our Native Plant Garden all happened because of suggestions and ideas from this group. They have been heavily involved in our Kreative Koala artwork and led our Reconciliation Week assembly.

A particular thank you to Riley and Tiffani (co-presidents) and Scarlet (treasurer) and Choe (secretary) for taking on these roles in our first year. We look forward to seeing the great ideas and plans you will come up with next year.

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