Week 8 Term 4 Newsletter 2023

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

END TERM 4 MESSAGE

The staff of St Patrick’s sincerely thank you for your support this year. We hope that all families will be touched by the simple and wonderful story of Christ’s birth over the festive season. We especially keep in our thoughts and prayers those families and individuals who for many reasons will find this special time more of a challenge than a celebration. We pray that the sense of peace and support for each other is magnified through the message and blessings of Christ’s love.

I personally wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe and holy holiday.

O God of all beginnings and endings,
We praise and thank you for the gift of this school year.

It has been a time filled with grace and blessings,
With challenges and opportunities, joys and sorrows.

Give us the rest and refreshment we need this summer.
Let our efforts of this past year bear fruit.

Bring all of our plans to a joyful conclusion,
And bless us, according to your will,

With the fulfilment of our summer hopes and dreams.
Watch over us in the weeks of rest ahead.

Guide each day as you have done this past year.
Help us return to school with a new spirit and a new energy.

May we continue to grow in age, wisdom, knowledge and grace
All the days of our lives.

Amen.

CALENDAR EVENTS

TERM 4 DATES

BISHOP MICHAEL KENNEDY TO VISIT – Friday 1st December

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL- Out of Uniform Day- Monday 4th December  - Collected gold coins will go towards this charity.

FINAL AWARDS PRESENTATION – Wednesday 6^th December

Our final assembly to present the End of Year Awards will be held on Wednesday, December 6th at 10am. All parents are welcome to gather for this ceremony to be held in the hall at MacKillop Place, St Joseph’s College Lochinvar. All students to wear full summer uniform on this day.

P&F AGM- Thursday 7^th December

9.30am in the library, following assembly. An online option will also be provided via ZOOM.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY- Friday 8^th December

Children are invited to wear their Xmas clothes and engage in Christmas themed art/craft activities. NO COST

YR 6 GRADUATION & THANKSGIVING MASS- Tuesday 12^th December

Our Thanksgiving Mass including Year 6 Graduation will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 12 commencing at 11am in the hall at MacKillop Place, St Joseph’s College Lochinvar. This will be our final whole school celebration for the year. All students to wear full summer uniform on this day.

The Year 6 graduation lunch (for students and staff ONLY) will follow this event and be held in our school hall.  

CHRISTMAS PICNIC FAMILY NIGHT- Wednesday 13^th December

We are very excited to host the return of another whole school community event. Families are invited to come together for a family picnic and join in the spirit of Christmas as we sing communal Christmas carols and songs. The night is a fun filled event that celebrates community and of course music. (not a concert).

Time – Gates open 5pm, Carols from 6pm.
Where - St Patrick's Primary School (entry via Gregory Rd gates).
What to wear - Students are invited to wear a Christmas themed t-shirt or costume.
What to bring - Families can bring picnic rugs and chairs, picnic food.

Food trucks will be on the oval area. There are 3 different food trucks- Gray’s Hot Food, Southern Smoke and Hunter Soft Serve. They will be ready to serve from 5pm. Where to sit: Families are able to sit anywhere in our playground to eat – similar to our beginning of the year social gathering.

Music: Music will be situated in the St Pat’s amphitheatre (stage between yr 5 & 6).

Restrictions- NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED. NO PETS. NO SMOKING.

SCHEDULE

Children will be called down to the amphitheatre (yr 5/6 stage) to perform with their grade. The music will be played throughout the playground so all families will still hear the music regardless of where they are sitting. This will allow the parents/families of the grade to come and see their children sing.

5.15-.5.55pm- Pre-carols music: junior band, senior band & choir will entertain us before our grade music.
6pm- Carols begin: Kinder, year 1, year 2, year 3, year 4, year 5, year 6
Finale all students & staff.
Estimated finish time 7.30-8.00pm.

STEP-UP DAY- Thursday 14^th December

Students will move up to the next classroom with their allocated class group for 2024.

YEAR 6 FINAL RITE OF PASSAGE- Friday 15th December 2023 - Time: 2.20pm

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2023

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2024

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

KINDER TRANSITION

In the last few weeks, our newly enrolled Kindergarten students for 2024, attended St Patrick’s for their transition sessions. It is always exciting to meet our new students and to welcome many new families into our school.

Our Year 5 students, who will undertake the leadership responsibilities of Year 6 next year, stepped up as buddies for our incoming Kindergarten students, and by all account were very good ambassadors for our school.

FEES PAYMENT NOTIFICTION FOR 2024

All parents will have an event set up in compass to nominate your fees structure for 2024. This is a couple of questions under your eldest child’s name on how you intent to pay your fees in 2024. If you can please take the time to complete this section to allow us to set your payment preference at the beginning of 2024. If you have any questions please contact the school office.

OUTSTANDING FEE BALANCE

Fees for 2023 are due to be finalised by 30^th November 2023. If you have not finalised your fees please make arrangement to clear your remaining balance. Should you be having financial difficulties or not be able to clear your fee balance by this time and haven’t already contacted the school office,  please contact Mrs Grant our finance officer.

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

VOLUNTEERING 

If you would like to volunteer, you MUST complete an online application, and be approved by VERIFY NOW and the Catholic Schools Office, prior to the date. This is a mandatory requirement for those working in this capacity.

Parking for approved and registered volunteers will be at HALL GATE ONLY. 

TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT, PARENTS ARE ASKED TO ENSURE THAT THEIR VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION PROCESS IS COMPLETE PRIOR TO REGISTERING INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING

SAFEGUARDING at St Patrick’s means...

The Catholic Schools Office promotes an absolute commitment to the safety, welfare and wellbeing of all children, particularly those attending the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Our school is committed to fostering a community of safety and care. We acknowledge the legal, moral and spiritual responsibilities to care for and uphold the dignity and rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

“Protecting children is one of our most sacred trusts.”
(Bishop Bill Wright, 2012)

RE NEWS

MISSION DAY

Since the last newsletter, we had our very successful Mission Day. We were blessed with beautiful weather (following threatening clouds) and the community spirit and family support was amazing to see. I extend deep gratitude and thanks to our staff who supported our stall holders and the many families who generously donated items for the stalls. I thank you all for your partnership at St Patrick's.

Mission Day raised over $4400. The funds will go towards supporting important initiatives of Catholic Mission.

ADVENT

The first day of Advent (3rd December) is the first day of a new Liturgical (or church) calendar and begins a four-week period of preparation for the nativity of Jesus Christ at Christmas. The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for Christ's birth in the world as it is today.

The four candles of Advent represent the four Sundays of Advent, and they respectively symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love.

This Advent we are called to pray for patience, healing, transformation, and peace as our world, ravaged by war and turmoil, needs Jesus as much as ever this year.

SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION PARENT INFORMATION MEETINGS

Our Parish communities wish to support families who would like their children to be Confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion in 2024. 

If your child has been baptised a Catholic and in Year 3 or above in 2024 and would like to receive the other Sacraments of Initiation next year then we would like to invite you to attend two mandatory Information sessions, one in December this year and one in February next year.

Please contact the Parish office before attending these meetings if your child is not baptised in the Catholic faith via email: SOIchisholm@mn.catholic.org.au

It will be necessary for at least one parent or caregiver to attend both information sessions for their child to receive the sacraments next year.

2023 Session 1 at this session an overview of the process will be presented. Our preparation is parish based, family centered and school supported. After you have heard what is involved, and if you feel your child is ready we ask parents and caregivers to attend Session 2 where resources for the Sacraments will be given.

• Tuesday 6pm on 5th December at St Paul’s Church Rutherford OR
• Wednesday 6pm on 6th December at St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland, OR
• Thursday 6pm on 7th December at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beresfield.

2024 Session 2 you will be required to bring a copy of your child’s Catholic baptism certificate to register your child in the preparation process.

• Tuesday 6pm on 6th February at St Paul’s Church, Rutherford OR
• Wednesday 6pm on 7th February at St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland OR
• Thursday 6pm on 8th February at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beresfield.

These meetings are for families from the eight churches of our region:

• Our Lady of Lourdes, Cnr Delprat Avenue & Anderson Drive, Beresfield
• St Joseph’s, Cnr King Street & Newcastle Road, East Maitland
• Immaculate Conception, Cnr George & James Streets, Morpeth
• Holy Family, 11 John Street, Largs
• St Columba’s, Cnr Church & Prince Streets, Paterson
• Sacred Heart, New England Highway, Campbell’s Hill
• St Paul’s, 10 Young Street, Rutherford
• St Patrick’s, 55 New England Highway, Lochinvar

Our parishes have an abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and well-being of children. More Information can be found via our website: https://maitlandcatholicparishes.org.au/

On behalf of Fr George and the Sacramental team.

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

CLASSROOM NEWS

KINDERGARTEN AND YEAR 6 BUDDY VISITS

YEAR 4 MARBLE RUNS

YEAR 5 LEADERSHIP DAY

SENIOR BAND

Our senior band played at Aspire’s Vivace band showcase last Friday Night at City Hall in Newcastle.  They joined other schools ranging from primary to high school bands and also played a finale with all schools on stage.  Our band played with such pizzazz.

Senior band consists of:  Rei Sithole (drums),  Lucas Taylor (Keyboard), Billy Black (keyboard), Josh Bell (guitar), Jayan Paris (guitar), Toby Melmeth (guitar), Oliver McNally (guitar), Andrew Crawford (guitar).  They made St Patrick’s incredibly proud!

LIBRARY NEWS

EXTERNAL PROVIDERS

Current external provider contracts to provide therapy at St Patrick’s expire on the 8^th December. After this date, no external provider visits can occur at school.

At the commencement of 2024, please contact the school office for a new application form for each provider. On-site therapy sessions will not recommence until Week 5- Monday 26^th February, and until all required documentation has been processed.
 
Thank you for your cooperation.

SPORTS NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Nevaya Liva for making the 2024 Maitland Newcastle Diocesan Basketball Team. Nevaya will now attend the Polding trials in the new year and we wish her the very best of luck!

COMMUNITY NEWS

The Sisters of St Joseph have recently elected a new Congregational Leader. Sr Carmel Hanson has been elected to lead the Sisters for the next 4 years. Sr Carmel is a former Principal of St Patrick’s Lochinvar and was involved in the transition of the school from the high school across the road to the present site. Sr Carmel was given the directive at the time to close the school rather than relocate. Due to the enormous efforts of selected parishioners and the parish priest at the time, the battle was on to save the school and have it continue into the future. Much of this story is captured in the letter on our history wall at admin. If you haven’t had time to read it, please do before the end of the year. We are the beneficiaries of the battle to save St Patrick’s.

Sr Carmel will lead the Sisters with distinction and we wish her well in taking on this challenge.

ASPIRES FIRST DRAFT SCRIPTWRITING PROGRAM

Over the course of the year Kaitlyn Babaran, Sayuri Nolaso and Ivy Chavez have been participating in Aspire’s First Draft Scriptwriting Program. They have taken part in workshops to explore the different facets of scriptwriting and the techniques that you can use to engage and entertain the audience. On Thursday 23^rd November, the program culminated in a performance night where secondary school actors from the Aspire program took the scripts written by the young scriptwriters and performed them on stage at Maitland Town Hall. Kaitlyn, Sayuri and Ivy were fabulous ambassadors for St Patrick’s at this event. They introduced their scripts with confidence and the audience was well and truly entertained! Congratulations girls!

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