26 May 2022

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

STAGE 3 CONSTRUCTION WORKS- STARTING VERY SOON!

The site office and construction compound for the third stage of our school’s masterplan will be established on Tuesday 31st May. This construction program will likely cause considerable disruption in the area bound by the hall carpark. We anticipate the loss of approximately half of the parks in this area and changes to access and exit.

Parents are urged to consider bus transport options, car-pooling and staggered pickup, with the introduction of 2 pick-up times 2.55pm or 3.10pm from hall gate only. If you currently use this pick-up point, please return the slip below to nominate for the alternate pickup time.

Please note that all current pick up arrangements for other designated pick up points will remain the same.

The Stage 3 works will broadly consist of the following:

• Construction of two new general learning pods (Block S and T), each containing three general learning areas and associated amenities for Years 5 and 6.
• The refurbishment of two existing general learning areas (Far end of Block G- Library) into flexible offices and learning spaces.
• The extension of Block G (Library) to provide additional amenities in the form of student toilets.
• The extension of the hall (Block F) to accommodate permanent OOSH facilities and modifications to open the building’s Northern and Eastern elevations.
• Refurbishment of the existing canteen.
• Covered walkways and paths to meet wheelchair access requirements.
• Demolition of the existing copper log cabins and removal of demountables.
• Associated external landscaping, civil works and services connections.

CALENDAR EVENTS

CHANGE TO WINTER UNIFORM

The temperature has dropped this week and we are officially at that changeover time.

All students should now be in FULL WINTER UNIFORM.

Winter uniforms are available from Ken Lane Menswear in the Maitland Levee Precinct. Opening hours are currently Monday-Saturday between 9am -1pm with online and layby purchase options.

INFANTS ATHLETICS CARNIVAL (K-1)

Date: Thursday 2nd June
Time: 11.30-1.30pm
Venue:

• On the grassed area outside the Year 6 demountables for the age races & presentation.
• On the top & middle playground for the novelty events.

Approximate timeline:

11.30- March past
Opening prayer & acknowledgement
11.45-12.20pm Age races
12.20- 1.00pm Novelty events
1.00- 1.20pm Presentation to each grade for participation
1.30pm Picnic lunch

Parents are invited to bring a chair (and a blanket, if necessary) and their own picnic lunch.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

During the week of the 23-27 May 2022, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week across the many schools in our diocese. As an annual event, it is a time where we celebrate the remarkable work, passion, and enthusiasm our Catholic schools exhibit daily. We recognise these places as learning communities who are committed to excellence through the education of the ‘whole child,’ providing an all-round education that nurtures each student spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically. It is this education that enables all students to flourish and become the best versions of themselves.

This year our Catholic Schools Week theme is “Fully Alive,” which reminds us that we are most alive when we are in touch with our inner selves and can acknowledge deep connections between ourselves, God, others, and creation. As communities of faith, we are called to grow in awareness of the life in and around us, to live more fully and not to “settle for a bland and mediocre existence” (Pope Francis, Gaudete Et Exsultate). In a world that is unconsciously losing touch with this inner awareness, our theme encourages us to live in harmony with all of creation, to cultivate a Sacramental Imagination that enables us to recognise the beauty of God in all things.

As we embark on this significant occasion for all our schools, may we truly honour the privileged gift of Catholic education and for all those who contribute to its vitality and spirit. May we too celebrate our young people, who are formed to be good citizens of the world, who love God and neighbour, and who enrich our society by living out the call of the Gospel.

May we all strive to live in active service of Jesus and His mission as we celebrate together during Catholic Schools Week and always.

CSW will be celebrated at St Patrick’s on Monday 30/5 (beginning of Week 6).

Details

Date: Monday 30/5/22 (see times on the flyer below)

• Reconciliation Day Liturgy (COLA). Prepared by Year 3 in place of the Pentecost Liturgy previously scheduled for Friday 3/6. Please note that open classrooms for Year 3 advertised for 3/6 will no longer be required.
• Open Classrooms for visitors.

Depending on the age of students and the content covered to date, activities may include some of the following activities;

• books/ work samples available for viewing
• presentation of a song, poem, hymn, choral reading *NB- potentially repeated
• demonstration of learning e.g. guided art lesson, science experiment
• presentation of learning in a KLA e.g. history unit, maths investigation or game, reading groups, InitiaLit lesson

• Shared lunch. Parents bring a picnic. Canteen open for counter sales only of drinks etc.

WORKING BEE

POSTPONED – FUTURE DATE TO BE DETERMINED
Please note that the working bee has had to be postponed due to it being far too wet and the forecast for more rain.
Thank you for the offers of help and your support to our school.

MUFTI (OUT OF UNIFORM) DAY

There will be an out of uniform day for the children on Thursday 9th June

A gold coin donation is required. All proceeds are for humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine through the Ukraine Crisis Appeal in association with Rotary Australia World Community Service & Caritas Ukraine. Donations can also be made directly to ukrainecrisisappeal.org

ST VINCENT DE PAUL FAMILY SLEEPOUT- Friday 24/6 or Saturday 25/6 (end of Week 9)

More information will be provided in the coming weeks regarding the opportunity for families to take part in the St Vincent De Paul Family Sleepout by sleeping rough. You are asked to sleep on the loungeroom floor, in the garage, under the carport, on the verandah or even next to your bed in a sleeping bag or swag, to raise awareness and support of homelessness in Australia.

Families will be asked to get sponsors to raise funds and provide photos to the admin email address for sharing with our community.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

STOP WORK ACTION THIS FRIDAY 27TH MAY

A large number of our staff will be participating in Stop Work action this Friday 27th May as part of claims for a new enterprise agreement. There will be no classes at school on this day, and only skeletal supervision. You are asked to make alternate arrangements for the care of your children. Canteen will not operate, and the Year 2 excursion will be postponed.

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION PROCESS- Please note changes

COVID-safe guidelines now allow volunteers into the school. To support this process, the 2022 Volunteer process is now online.

The online volunteer form can be found at

Parents are asked to please complete the online application form and follow the instructions so your details can be verified by the Catholic Schools Office as a volunteer at St Patrick’s Primary School Lochinvar.

Once you have completed the online link, please copy the table below and send all completed details to admin@lochinvarsp.catholic.edu.au

We are in great need of volunteers for our school canteen, which has dramatically increased business. Chris Jones, our talented Canteen Supervisor, is doing a fabulous job, with the support of a few committed regulars, however we need you! Please send an email to admin and we can get you started with some training and the help of a buddy. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

ORGANISATION & MANAGEMENT

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Our school photo day will be Thursday 16th June 2022.

We are moving to a new way of purchasing your photo packages this year. You will receive a notification and information in the coming days from MSP Photography through your school compass portal. You are able to click on this link and purchase your photo packages online with MSP Photography. Families are able to purchase the package that they would like for individual students and also able to purchase family photos to be taken on the day.

RE NEWS

PENTECOST

Come Spirit Come, fall afresh on us. Just as you gave birth to our Church on that first Pentecost, come now and let the fire of your love enflame our hearts. May we your people, your living body, who worship here in praise and thanksgiving on this Pentecost Feast, be renewed and empowered by your Spirit. We make this prayer in your name. Amen.

Pentecost Sunday is a commemoration and celebration of the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the early church. On the day of Pentecost, just as promised, the sound of a violent wind filled the house and tongues of fire came to rest on each of the Apostle’s head and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were given the power of communication, which Peter used to begin the ministry for which Jesus had prepared him. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples did not stay in the room basking in God’s glory but burst out to tell the world. This was the beginning of the church as we know it.

CURRICULUM NEWS

NAPLAN

We have now completed the NAPLAN testing fortnight. We would like to thank the teachers in Years 3 & 5, Mrs Waters and the learning support staff for your assistance, to ensure the smooth running of NAPLAN. Most of all, we would like to thank and congratulate the Years 3 & 5 students for their focus and engagement in the NAPLAN tests.

It is important to remember that these tests only give us a snapshot of where the students are on their learning journey. Teachers analyse the results to assist students to continue to grow in their skills and understanding of the curriculum. This is only one tool teachers use to measure progress. Students are also regularly assessed within the classroom activities. The data collected regularly by staff enables the teachers to help develop your child and target their individual needs, through appropriate planning and curriculum delivery, to improve the learning outcomes for each child.

If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, appointments to discuss the issue with your child’s teacher can be made through the school office.

ABORIGINAL EDUCATIONAL NEWS

SPORTING NEWS

ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

On Monday16th May our students in Years 2-6 were very fortunate to participate in our annual Athletics Carnival. The weather looked a bit touch and go for a while, but we were in luck with a day of beautiful sunshine. Over the course of the day, we saw some magnificent times run, witnessed great encouragement of one another, along with children going out of their comfort zones and giving things a try, and there were also lots and lots of smiles! It was a terrific day for everyone - participants, staff, volunteers and spectators and I thank all those who made it such a great success.

YEAR 5 COACHING CLINICS

COMMUNITY NEWS

NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WEEK

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all those parents, carers and grandparents who volunteer in our school community. From the Canteen and the classroom to P&F and assistance with sporting events, all your efforts are so greatly appreciated, and we could not deliver these services/events without your support. Please know that you are all highly regarded by the staff.

St Patrick’s took this opportunity to recognise the special effort of Christine Price (grandmother of Sunny) with a lovely bunch of flowers. Christine attends every week to volunteer in the school canteen. Sincere thanks to Christine for going above and beyond!

NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS TRANSITIONING TO YEARS 7 TO 12

Over the next five years, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is renewing its approach to secondary schooling in Newcastle to ensure it best supports the educational needs and outcomes for its students now, and as we look to the future.

The Trustees of the Diocese have made the decision to transition all secondary schools in Newcastle to Years 7 to 12. The transition will occur in a staged and planned way.

From 2024, Catholic secondary schools in Newcastle will be commencing a staged transition to Year 7 to Year 12 schools, this includes:

• San Clemente High School, Mayfield – with the inclusion of Years 11 and 12
• St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton – with the inclusion of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
• St Pius X High School, Adamstown – with the inclusion of Years 11 and 12

The transition of schools to a full Year 7 to Year 12 complement is expected to be completed no later than 2027.

PARENT WEBINAR

Positive Choices are offering a one-hour free webinar on e-cigarettes and vaping in young people on Wednesday 1 June at 12.30pm (AEST).

In this webinar Dr Emily Stocking from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, will:

• Give an overview of e-cigarette trends in Australia
• Give an update on upcoming trials and resources
• Provide some brief tips for engaging in conversations about vaping with young people.

There will also be time for a Q&A at the end of the webinar.

You can register for the webinar here .

WESTLEY MISSION

PARENTING PAGE

RAISING MONEY FOR DOLLY’S DREAM

This past Sunday, our P&F secretary, Daisy, shaved her head to raise money for Dolly's Dream. So far, she has raised over $6,000 which will go directly towards funding anti-bullying programs and initiatives.

The donation link is open for a few more days so if you would like to contribute to this very worthy cause, please visit the link below