23 June 2022

Newsletter Articles

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Over the past few weeks, I was required to take unexpected leave to undertake some medical treatment. I am indebted to our executive staff of Mr Nolan, Mrs Waters, Mrs Deegan and Mr Henman who took up the slack to lead in my absence. Despite the disruptions of OOSH closures, inconsistent bus services, traffic chaos, and the impacts of ongoing staff and student illness, our staff have prevailed to provide a calm and settled environment for learning.

As previously reported in this forum, our school has accepted the challenge to embrace the research of Dr Lyn Sharratt and engage in the Diocesan Leading Learning Collaborative (LLC). Members of our executive team, along with Mrs Saxby and Mrs Kleinman as representative teachers, have formed the school’s LLC team to guide staff professional learning. The team travelled to St Patrick’s Wallsend and St Benedict’s Edgeworth last week to view their school learning journey, with particular focus on the impact of the “third teacher” and development of learning intentions and success criteria.

The Third Teacher- How our environment leads to learning

At St Pat’s we believe strongly in the importance of immersing our students in an environment that allows them to thrive socially, emotionally and academically. The design of the classroom environment impacts greatly on our students' ability to access and embed new learning. Research tells us that the parent is a child's first teacher, the adults in the classroom are the second teacher and the environment itself becomes what is known as the third teacher for our students.

We have begun our foray into enhancing the power of the "Third Teacher" with our staff exploring ways to make their environments spaces where children feel supported in their learning and where our teachers and students can use their surroundings to improve their learning.

A strong "Third Teacher" is built as the students learn. It is not about a pretty "Pinterest-Ready" classroom but one that showcases the students' learning journey and is filled with collaboratively developed learning supports that the students use to support their continual growth.

I recommend you ask your child where they can go in their classroom to get help with their learning. Although their first answer may be an adult in the room, I hope that many also refer to the environment itself.

Early next term we will continue our work in this area with attendance by the LLC team at the Diocesan Learning Expo.

CALENDAR EVENTS

KEY DATES

Refugee Week

Refugee Week runs from Sunday 19- Saturday 25 June. It is a unique opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich diversity of refugee communities through theatre, music, dance, film and other events which take place all over Australia and highlight the aims of the Week, as outlined.

PYJAMA DAY REMINDER – Friday 24th June

LAST DAY OF TERM 2

Friday 1st July will be the last day for term 2. We look forward to term 3

DANCE CONCERT

In term 3 all students from Year 2 to Year 5 will participate in a School Dance Concert at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre.

On Tuesday 2nd August students will participate in a dress rehearsal at The Cessnock Performing Arts Centre. All Students will need their costumes to practise movement as well as having class photos taken. Students will travel to the dress rehearsal by bus.

On Friday 5th August we will be holding two performances. It is an expectation that all students dance in both performances. Children in Year 2 to Year 5 are to be dropped off at the back of The Cessnock Performing Arts Centre between 5.30pm and 5.50pm. The children will know where to go as they used these doors for the dress rehearsal. Class teachers will mark the children off when they arrive. All children will be dressed in their dance costumes.

Tickets will be available from Monday 18th July for a two – week period. All purchases will be made in person over the counter at the box office at The Cessnock Performing Arts Centre or by phone using a credit card. Initially a limit of 4 tickets per family in total will be available for either: Performance One on Friday 5th August at 6.00pm or Performance Two on Friday 5th August at 7.45pm. After the initial buying window of 2 weeks closes, any remaining tickets will be made available for sale on Monday 1st August at 9.00am until sold out.

Please see classroom news in this newsletter for more information on costume details. Further correspondence will be sent out with full details of the concert and ticket sales.

TERM 3 IMPORTANT DATES

• Monday 18th July – First Day Term 3
• Friday 22nd July – Pupil Free Day Writing Professional Learning Day
• Thursday 28th July – Year 5 Aspire Excursion Civic Theatre Newcastle
• Tuesday 2nd August – Year 2 – Year 5 - Dress Rehearsal for Dance Concert – Cessnock Performing Arts Centre – Students will travel by bus to the rehearsal.
• Friday 5th August – Year 2 – Year 5 - Dance Performance Evening – Cessnock Performing Arts Centre – Two performances will be held, and students dance in both performances. Parents will drop students to the performing arts centre.
• Monday 15th August – Pupil Free Day Religious Education Professional Learning Day
• Thursday 25th August – Save the date Grandparents Day/ Book Week/ Year 5 Liturgy
• Tuesday 30th August – Father’s Day Stall
• Wednesday 31st August – Friday 2nd September – Year 5 Great Aussie Bush Camp
• Friday 9th September – Kinder Hunter Valley Wildlife Park
• Wednesday 14th September – Friday 16th September – Year 6 Canberra Trip

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.

YEAR 5 GREAT AUSSIE BUSH CAMP

Year 5 students will have Great Aussie Bush Camp on Wednesday 31st August – Friday 2nd September Term 3 Week 7. Year 5 Camp has now been added to year 5 students school fees. This will show on your school fees balance in compass and the next statement that is generated. If you have any questions or difficulties in paying this please contact the school office to discuss. A Compass event will be created next term to provide the details and will require your permission. Notes and further details will be communicated from your child’s class teacher.

YEAR 6 CANBERRA TRIP

Save the date for year 6 Canberra Trip Wednesday 14th September – Friday 16th September. We are currently in the process of finalising the cost for the trip, once this has been finalised it will be added to the year 6 students school fees. A Compass event will be created next term to provide the details and will require your permission. Notes and further details will be communicated from your child’s class teacher.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

STAFF UPDATE TERM 3

In Term 3 we welcome the return of Mrs Amy Shakespeare to Year 1Y and Mrs Jessica Trappel to Year 1W. Amy Shakespeare will job-share with Mrs Teagan Newson, and Jessica will job-share with Mrs Amy Jones. I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Kate Watt for her work with the Year 1 team in Semester 1.

Mrs Michelle Harvey will also re-join St Patrick’s following a period of maternity leave. Mrs Harvey will continue the wonderful work in supporting students whose first language and background is not English.

We have also been joined by Mrs Alison Campbell. Alison will work with the Learning Support Team as a class assistant. We welcome her to the role and wish her every success.

PUPIL FREE DAYS

Professional Learning is essential to the daily pursuit of our school improvement objectives. It is planned, deliberate and purposeful.

Please be advised that St Patrick' s will hold Pupil Free Days for the purposes of professional learning on the following dates;

• FRIDAY 22/7/22- This day will concentrate on St Patrick’s development of the Leading Learning Collaborative as part of our Strategic Plan for improvement, including Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
• MONDAY 15/8/22- Staff Faith Formation

Students DO NOT come to school on these days.

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS 2023

Thank you to Bettina O’Heir (LST), Cate Lawler (LST), Angela Waters (Acting REC) and Amber Deegan (Primary Coordinator) for joining me to welcome all families seeking enrolment for their children in Kindergarten 2023. The demand for places far exceeds availability and we will be working together to determine those who will receive an offer as part of our enrolment process.

St Patrick’s is a wonderful school and beautiful community. It is no surprise then that we were inundated with enrolment applications. It was certainly wonderful to hear many new parents to our school mention the positive comments they have heard about our school in the community. Positive feedback of this nature only comes when our parents are speaking out about the great things that are happening in our school. Thank you to those parents who have been working to help us build an exemplary school culture.

SEMESTER 1 REPORTS

It is that time of year when teachers are busy finalising Semester 1 Student Reports.

Report time should be a time of celebration of learning for your child. My thanks to the teachers for their careful consideration of each child during the preparation of reports. I trust as a parent you find the reporting process informative and helpful in understanding your child’s progress to this point.

These reports provide a snapshot for parents about how their child is tracking against the standard set by the National Education Standards Authority across all Key Learning Areas. Aside from noting achievement against the standards, the teachers also identify areas of particular strength and areas for the student to focus on for improvement. Given that continued progress is the aim for all students, it is important to identify areas for improvement regardless of how a student is tracking against these standards. The report template has changed slightly this year as part of the review of reports across the Diocese. Development of this process will see further changes to support greater parent and student engagement with feedback and reporting.

You will notice this semester a glossary has been included and that teacher comments in Religion, English and Mathematics have maintained the structure of including two strengths and one area for development. The final comment is a summary of the report created by the teacher and in future this section of the report will be a summary of the goal setting conversations between students, teachers and parents. Additional information has been added to the descriptors in subject areas.

Reporting student achievement is based on curriculum content. Written reports include an overall achievement level against syllabus standards. These reports use a common grade scale of A-E in Years 1-6, and the achievement ratings of Below, At or Above Stage Level in Kindergarten.

Teachers make professional on-balance judgements to decide which grade description best matches the standards their students have achieved, by awarding A to E grades. Achievement standards (identified by allocation of a grade A-E) describe how well students have achieved at a point in time.

The use of A-E gradings meets Commonwealth Government requirements as part of funding regulations under the Education Act 2008 and subsequent legislation. The A-E grading however can be difficult to understand. Information below is provided to help parents and children understand the grades.

As you will be aware, our school uses the Student Information System, known as Compass to distribute student reports electronically. Therefore, it is important that all parents and carers have accessed the parent portal by logging in and updating their details. Reports will be published to COMPASS and available for download next week. Parents and carers requiring a hard copy can do so by contacting the school office.

SICK CHILDREN- COVID, INFLUENZA and other illnesses

A reminder that despite all precautions, common illnesses are easily spread as the children work and play in close contact with each other. Although it may seem obvious, children should not come to school when they are contagious to others, when they have a fever and when they’re too sick to learn. Childhood illnesses are easily spread when children are in close contact in the school setting. As we navigate through the winter months, many students (and staff) are falling victim to winter ailments. I would like to remind parents that sending a child to school when they are clearly unwell is likely to prolong the illness for that student as well as unnecessarily exposing other students and staff to potential illness.

Parents are urged to keep sick children at home until they are fully recovered. Parents should be aware that they may receive a phone call to pick their child up if they are unwell at school.

If your child is sick and is taken to the doctor, parents should ask for a certificate, which clearly indicates the period for which the child is not fit to attend school. This will greatly assist in minimising any risk to other students and staff.

In the best interests of all students and staff, I seek the support of parents in this very important matter, particularly as we navigate the anticipated very difficult flu season ahead.

Your child has a sore throat, cough, and a high fever. Is it COVID-19? Could it be the flu? Or just a cold?

All these illnesses are caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract. All are contagious and can spread easily from person to person. And they cause some similar symptoms. So, it can be hard to tell them apart.

Here are some things to look for if your child gets sick.

The Common Cold (Caused by Many Different Viruses)

Cold symptoms usually are mild. They often include a tickly throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. If there's a fever, it is not high. A child with a cold usually feels quite well and has a good appetite and normal energy levels.

There is no test for the common cold, and no specific treatment. It just needs to run its course.

The Flu (Caused by the Influenza Virus)

The flu can also be mild. Usually, though, kids with the flu feel worse than if they have a cold. They might have a fever that comes on suddenly, with chills, a headache, and body aches. They can have a sore throat, runny nose, and cough. And they feel generally miserable and tired and don't have much of an appetite. Some kids even have belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

A PCR can confirm the flu virus.

Most kids with flu get better at home with plenty of liquids, rest, and comfort. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe an antiviral medicine to ease symptoms and shorten the illness. Some people get very ill and need treatment in the hospital.

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 below:

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 AND MANAGEMENT

UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

A school uniform is a visual representation of a school community. Wearing the school uniform or a particular standard of dress, is a mark of respect for the community in which one lives, works or play. The St Patrick’s school uniform is designed to represent our school and the community it serves. At St Patrick’s, children are expected to always wear the correct school uniform and to wear it with respect, pride and a sense of community.

Linking the School Uniform to Our Mission and Positive Behaviours

Our mission statement promotes a sense of standing together. Our uniform ensures that we stand together as one community.

Our PBL school expectations ask us to Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be a Community of Learners. Wearing our school uniform is a sign of respect to our community and the school traditions. It is an important symbol of belonging. Certain elements of our school uniform provide us with safety. For example sensible shoes that protect and support our feet and our school hats that protect us from the sun. Additionally, wearing our school uniform when on an excursion has the safety benefit of identification.

Where can we get uniform items?

Uniform items are available from Ken Lane Menswear, located in the Levee Precinct in Maitland Mall. Many of the uniform items have our school logo and the particular cut or material is specific to our school uniform. For this reason, we ask that families source the uniform from Ken Lane’s for all items, despite similar (but ultimately different) generic items available in the big clothing stores.

Opening Hours

• Monday - Fri 9am - 5pm
• Saturday: 9am -1pm
• Sunday: Closed

Hats, school bags, approved hair accessories and tab ties are available for purchase from the school office.

A pre-loved clothing pool is also available, run by the P&F committee where uniform items suitable for reuse are sold at reasonable prices. Donations are gratefully accepted. Open days and hours are advertised in the newsletter.

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE IN DIOCESAN SCHOOLS- DID YOU KNOW?

Reporting

Staff in Diocesan schools are mandatory reporters. This means they are lawfully required to report to the Community Services Helpline if they have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is at risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect and those grounds are identified in the course of, or from the person’s work. Also the Reporting Concerns for Children package of policies and procedures obliges all school personnel to report any child protection concerns to their supervisor or Principal to be assessed as possible risk of significant harm reports to the Helpline.

The Office of Safeguarding or School Principals will contact NSW Police if they believe a criminal act has occurred.

As parents of children attending a Diocesan school you are encouraged to discuss any child protection concerns you have with your school’s principal, assistant principal, or the Parent Liaison Officer. If you believe your concerns are not being addressed appropriately, you have the right to contact the Office of Safeguarding directly. If you believe a child has been the subject of abusive or neglectful conduct by one or more adults or the child’s peers, you must report them to the Office of Safeguarding:

(Ph. 4979 1390 during office hours).

As parents you also have the right to report your concerns to the Community Services Helpline or NSW Police at any time you believe it appropriate.

Investigating

All allegations of child abuse or neglect are taken seriously by the Diocese.

Where the alleged conduct involves a person working for the Catholic Schools Office or was alleged to have occurred in a diocesan school, the allegations are investigated at a level commensurate with the seriousness of the allegations. When an allegation is made, a thorough risk assessment is conducted, and appropriate interim safety measures may be put in place.

The Diocese will provide all cooperation to Police or Community Services if the allegation is investigated by statutory authorities. The Diocese will not commence an investigation till the statutory authority advises us that we are able to do so.

Where the alleged misconduct is deemed minor, the Principal of the school, oversighted by the Office of Safeguarding, may undertake a local investigation. Where the alleged conduct is more serious, a specialist investigator from the Office of Safeguarding Prevention and Response Service will conduct the investigation. Investigations of ‘more serious’ matters are oversighted by the NSW Ombudsman.

If your child is a witness or otherwise involved in such an investigation, the Office of Safeguarding will contact you as the parent, explain what is happening and request your permission to interview your child. The Office of Safeguarding prefers to interview your child at home, with you present.

Child protection investigations are confidential. Unless your child is involved in the investigation, it is unlikely that you will be aware that an investigation has occurred. If you are aware of an investigation you are asked to uphold strict confidentiality.

RE NEWS

Here is the link to donate your money directly or you can send the money into school.

CURRICULUM NEWS

YEAR 4 EXCURSION TO COCKATOO ISLAND

YEAR 3 EXCURSION TO TARONGA ZOO

CLASSROOM NEWS

DANCE CONCERT

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Wonnarua people as the original and ongoing owners and custodians of this land.

The History of the Aboriginal Flag

The year 2021 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Aboriginal flag, which can now be seen flying in many public places in our community. This was not always the case and today’s article explores the history and the meaning of the flag’s colours.

The Indigenous artist who designed the Aboriginal flag is Mr. Harold Thomas and the flag was first displayed on National Aborigines’ Day (as it was called back then) in Victoria Square, in Adelaide on the 12th July 1971.

In 1994, Cathy Freeman caused controversy at the year’s Commonwealth Games by waving both the Aboriginal flag and Australian National flag during her victory lap after winning the 200m sprint. This was mainly due to the fact that, the protocol at the time was that only the country’s national flag could be displayed. Despite strong criticism, Freeman again carried both flags after winning the 400m race.

In 1995, the then Prime Minister Paul Keating made the decision to make the Aboriginal flag a national flag and later also included the Torres Strait Islander flag. This decision was opposed by many in the community, but successive governments have not overturned this action and the Aboriginal flag now sits proudly alongside the Australian National flag (blue ensign) and the Torres Strait Islander flag.

In 1997, the Federal Court of Australia declared Mr. Harold Thomas as the owner of the copyright in the design of the Aboriginal flag and during the 2000 Olympic Games, the flag was flown at all Olympic venues.

In 2021, the Federal Government secured the copyright for the Aboriginal flag, which now allows the flag to be available for public use from the beginning of this year. To note is that as part of the deal, an annual scholarship has been provided for Indigenous students in Mr Thomas’s honour.

The meaning of the flag colours as shared by Mr. Thomas:

Red: Represents the red earth, the red ochre and the spiritual relation to the land
Yellow: Represents the Sun, the giver of all life
Black: Represents the Aboriginal people of Australia

For those families wanting to find a little more about Kathy Freeman’s story, here is book I would recommend.

The target audience is for children aged 8 and above and explores the theme of rising up against all odds to fulfill your dream:

As a little girl, Cathy Freeman had only had one dream – to win a gold medal at the Olympics. At twenty-seven years old, that dream came true. At the Sydney 2000 Games, she crossed the finish line, won a gold medal for Australia and became a national hero.

Many thanks and happy reading!

Mr. Chris Devorsine (Saint Patrick’s Lochinvar, Aboriginal Education Teacher)

WHS

SCHOOL ZONES & PARKING EXPECTATIONS

A reminder to all our parents that school zones remain in place for the safety of our children and families. School zones operate on all gazetted school days, which are all days the school is open, even pupil free days. Parents are expected to comply with the 40km speed limit in and around our school to ensure the safety of staff, students, families and visitors.

Similarly, parents are reminded to follow all traffic guidance and parking expectations at pick-up and drop off, with particular adherence to correct use of the hall car park and bus zones.

Also be aware that the local Council Ranger regularly patrols this area and will issue fines to drivers who are parking in NO STOPPING areas. Please adhere to the signage to avoid the embarrassment and frustration that comes with the financial pain.

COMMUNITY NEWS

LOST PROPERTY

Please remember to check that your child’s jumpers, jackets, hats, lunch boxes etc. are all clearly marked with their name. Recently, large numbers of expensive school jumpers and belongings have been found discarded during playtimes- unfortunately unnamed- making the job of finding their owners rather tedious and costly.

ASPIRE 2022

‘Did your parents ever give you money to throw into a well and make a wish when you were little? I was so certain my wish would come true, even though I wished for like the most ridiculous stuff.’ When a group of friends find a covered up well Molly can’t help but wish for that pair of sneakers she’s had her eye on. Little does she know her wish is about to wake up a host of creatures at the bottom of the well, called the Well Dwellers, all determined to grant her wish and those of everyone around her. In ASPIRE’s 2022 production we are reminded to be careful what we wish for as chaos ensues when wishes are granted regardless of their effects on others. Featuring a host of magical tunes ranging from pop and folk to heavy rock, the young cast and crew cannot wait to ‘Let the Granting begin!’

Join a cast of over 130 young performers in ASPIRE’s 2022 production The Cost of Wishes. A production that introduces its audience to a host of mythical creatures and characters, through their lows, their highs.

Our talented students from across the diocese will be sure to entertain you in music, dance and drama as they bring the story to life. There are some wonderful surprises in store for audience members as the ASPIRE team has produced a spectacular performance work that has allowed our students to really shine. We are again performing in the magnificent Civic Theatre. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enjoy the contemporary performance work and to actively support the development of the Creative and Performing Arts in Catholic Schools.

Tickets are available through Civic Theatre Box Office Now!

Two evening performances:

• Friday 29 July 2022 @ 7.00 pm (opening night)
• Saturday 30 July 20212 @ 7.00 pm

Ticket prices are as follows:

$36.00 a ticket for an adult
$26.00 a ticket for a pensioner/concession
$30.00 a ticket for a group booking of 10 or more people
$92.00 family ticket (two adults and two children)

All tickets must be purchased through Civic Theatre Ticket Office

I encourage you to avail yourselves of this wonderful opportunity to see the enormous array of talent that we have in our diocese. Please encourage your friends and relatives to come and see our students in this production.

PARENTING PAGE

PROMOTING HEALTHY FAMILIES

Did you know that Beyond Blue provides many resources to assist parents become Healthy Families?

Healthy Families is all about giving you the information, knowledge and confidence to support the young people in your life – whether you’re a parent, guardian, grandparent, a favourite uncle or an awesome auntie. We’re also here to help you take care of your own mental health and wellbeing, especially if you’re a new parent or about to become one.

Resources from Beyond Blue can be accessed using the following link