Term 1, Week 11 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,

PARENT/ TEACHER CONFERENCES

Over the past 2 weeks, our teaching staff have conducted Parent/ Teacher Conferences across the school. Thank you to the many parents who were able to engage in these conversations. It is understandable that it is difficult for all parents to attend, but please know that you are welcome to contact your child’s teacher and make an appointment at any stage should the need arise. We have experienced one of our largest percentage rates in many years for these conferences and it is wonderful to see the value people place on supporting a child’s educational journey. Thank you to our staff who have made themselves available to meet with you over the past 2 weeks.

EASTER PEOPLE

Easter is with us for 50 days from Easter Sunday through to Pentecost Sunday. The shops would have us feel that Easter is finished. In truth, it has only just commenced. We are encouraged to be Easter people. What does it mean to be an Easter person? The phrase "Easter people" typically refers to Christians who understand and celebrate the significance of Easter, the central event in Christianity commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Being "Easter people" implies embracing the core beliefs and teachings associated with Easter. Being "Easter people" goes beyond simply acknowledging the historical event of Jesus' resurrection; it involves embodying its spiritual significance in everyday life, living with hope, joy, and a sense of purpose. What a wonderful way to live your life.

I wish you all a relaxing holiday. I hope you find time to rest and enjoy being with your family and friends. We look forward to seeing everybody again next term.

With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal

CALENDAR EVENTS 

IMPORTANT DATES  - LOOKING AHEAD FOR 2024

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT

PUPIL FREE DAY REMINDERS FOR NEXT TERM

Please note the 2 dates above which are highlighted. Both days are pupil free days for next term:

Monday 29/4- First day of term

Friday 7/6- Friday before the June long weekend

SPORTS UNIFORM DAYS FOR TERM 2

DANCE TIMETABLE FOR TERM 2

KINDER ENROLMENTS ARE NOW OPEN

Enrolments for Kindergarten 2025, opened Friday, 1st March 2024.

Parents/carers are encouraged to go online to St Patrick’s Lochinvar website:

Please complete the enrolment application process. If you are unable to do this, you can collect an enrolment package from our office. St Patrick’s Lochinvar is one of 8 Pilot schools trialing the online enrolment process this year.

Our school will start the enrolment interview process in T2 and would recommend that enrolment applications are completed as soon as possible.

Enrolments will close on Friday 24th May.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

HARMONY DAY 2024 

St Patrick’s recognized Harmony Day on Thursday the 21st March this year. Most students dressed in orange and more students than ever before came to school in their traditional cultural clothing. It was fantastic to see this important date being embraced by everyone. The number of EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) and LBOTE (Language Background Other than English) students continues to grow at St Patrick’s each year, and we are so grateful for the wonderful contribution these students and their families make to our community.  

During Harmony Week we answered the roll using the languages of our students from non-English speaking backgrounds. We took part in lots of activities in our classes, exploring the cultures and customs of people from all over the world. Students blended paint to match their skin tones which they used to paint a hand that represented their unique ethnic, cultural and language heritage. Together we created a giant artwork that reflects the diversity of backgrounds and languages which make up our school.  

Harmony Day’s theme in 2024 was ‘What Can We Do?’. This was a theme that invited us to question how we can impact change in our communities. We were encouraged to support others to be their authentic selves and to step in (safely) when we notice discrimination happening. Inspiring stories were shared, and important conversations were had in our classrooms.  

Our annual Harmony Day Poster Competition was hotly contested yet again. Much consultation was undertaken to determine the winners. The lucky artists were: 

K-2 Winner: Sienna Cooper 
K-2 Runner Up: Alfie Trelease 
3-4 Winner: Marlee Higginbottom and Savannah McManus 
3-4 Runner Up: Ivie Bottomley 
5-6 Winner: Imogen Forster and Gracie Ryan 
5-6 Runner Up: Sophie Webber 

Thank you to everyone for your support and participation in this important day on the St Patrick’s calendar!  

Mrs Harvey 

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has an absolute and abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children. As a parent sending your child or children to a Diocesan school, you should be aware of your rights and obligations in protecting your child and all children in our schools.

THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON’S (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998

In NSW we can report certain information to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). If we are concerned for one or more of the children in the school, we can discuss our concerns with a teacher, Assistant Principal or Principal. We can report our concerns to the Child Protection Helpline (Ph. 132 111, 24 hrs/7 days) if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm and our concerns are current.

When determining how serious your concerns for a child may be, always consider whether that child has any particular risk factors, including:

• age, the younger the more dependent
• physical disabilities, developmental delays or medical conditions
• social isolation
• culturally diverse background
• diverse sexuality and gender
• nobody looking out for the child they could depend on.

It is better to be safe than sorry, so if uncertain, talk to a staff member at the school.

As parents we are entitled to contact the Office of Safeguarding directly about any concerns we have about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a child or if we are concerned that the school isn’t addressing allegations of reportable conduct or abuse. (Ph. 4979 1390 Mon-Fri).

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Supporting positive school attendance is a shared responsibility - everyone has a role to play in promoting the regular attendance of students.

All children should be at school on time each day and remain until the conclusion of lessons in the afternoon. This ensures a consistent routine for students which helps children feel secure, as well as allowing children to learn and grow. Days off school not only contribute to significant gaps and lost opportunities in learning, it is also hard for children to establish, develop and maintain social connections.

We ask that you try to limit appointments through the school day where possible.  

Frequent lateness should also be avoided, as children need to get into a good routine each morning.

If you are having difficulty getting your child to school on time, please talk to their class teacher.

RE NEWS

MOTHER’S DAY        

We are looking forward to celebrating the important women in our lives as a school community next term on Friday 10^th May. Please see the invitation below for more details.

To help with catering for this breakfast we are asking that families fill out the form below to let us know who will be attending and how many people they will need a light snack for. Click here to fill out the form.

Please check Compass for more updates about this event.

PARISH MASSES

Starting next term, we will be beginning our Parish Masses for the year. This is an opportunity for the children to engage in a Mass within the church and with our school and parish community. Below are the dates of the masses for Term 2. We will send out dates for these masses in Term 3 later next term.

• Friday 17^th May – Stage 3 – led by Year 5
• Parish Mass – Kinder, Year 1 & Year 2 – led by Year 1

CURRICULUM NEWS

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

WHS

HALL CAR PARK UPDATE

Beginning next term, Tuesday 30/4/24, there will be changes to afternoon hall gate pick up.

During the holiday period, a barrier will be placed in the car park in line with the fence running along the pathway beside the school (the one that takes people to the front of the school). This will guide parents as to how far down the car park they can park and will in effect create more space overall in the car park. Parents will be encouraged to park as close to the barrier as possible. Changes are as follows:

• Parents are required to park their car, walk across, and enter the school via the bottom gate near Year 6. The gate will be opened at 2:55pm each day for parents to enter the school grounds.
• Parents walk up to the COLA and collect their child/ children
• Parents and child/ children exit via the hall gate we currently use for dismissal. Parents are encouraged to hold the hand of their child/ children as they make their way to the car
• Pick up times will be 2:55pm and 3:05pm. The hope here is that changing the second time to 3:05pm instead of 3:10pm will encourage more parents to the second pick up thus reducing traffic at 2:55pm
• In terms of staff supervision, standing at the COLA seats will ensure that the correct students are collected as well as assisting parents having trouble seeing their child/ children. Siblings are to sit together. One staff member will stand at the corner of the hall near the bubblers as a final check of students

No formalisation of in and out for the car park will occur at this stage. A professional traffic and car park study will occur in the coming months before any work in the area can occur. This study will be conducted by an external company and will be organised by the Diocese. Once the study has been completed, this will give us a clearer picture of what needs to occur to make the area more organised and safer for all users.

SPORT NEWS

CROSS COUNTRY

Our school will hold our annual Cross Country Carnival on Friday, April 12^th (Week 11). This will be held across the road at Ted Coffey Field and all children from Year 2 to Year 6 will participate in the event. However, all children are not expected to finish the course. The distance of the race varies between age groups:

2kms - 8/9/10's

3kms - 11/12/13's

Below are the approximate times each age group will run on the day:

9:10am - Boys 12/13 Years 

9:35am - Girls 12/13 Years

10:00am - Boys 11 Years 

10:30am - Girls 11 Years

11:40am - Boys 8/9 Years

12:10pm - Girls 8/9 Years

12:40pm - Boys 10 Years

1:10pm - Girls 10 Years

Further Representation:

All selected students must meet the qualifying times in order to progress to the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival. Each school is able to send 3 runners per gender per age group. The 8 years and 9 years is ONE category, they run as 8/9s. It is the same for the 12/13 years (one category). 

The 2024 Diocesan Cross Country Carnival will be held on 15th May at Maitland Park. 

CONGRATULATIONS COOPER

Congratulations to Cooper Robins who placed 3^rd in the state for Under 12's Boys High Jump over the weekend. Well done Cooper!

NRLW KNIGHTS 7’S GALA DAY

On Friday 22^nd of March, 7 St Patrick's children participated in the NRLW Knights 7's Gala Day. Whilst our students had very little Rugby League experience, their performance was nothing short of outstanding. They remained humble and played with great spirit throughout the day and were commended of their efforts by multiple staff and parents from various schools. Well done to Scarlett Crouch, Isabella Crouch, Grace Hudson, Phoenix Russell, Leura Russell, Kensi Gibson, Emerson Gibson and a special thank you to Sophie Miller and Sophie Patton from Holy Spirit, Kurri Kurri for joining St Patrick's on the day. Congratulations girls!

CONGRATULATIONS SAM

Congratulations to Sam Horan on being selected in the Under 11's Diocesan Rugby League Team. As a part of this squad, Sam will now travel to Tamworth and trial for the Polding Team.

We wish him the best of luck!

CANTEEN NEWS

Thank you to all our lovely volunteer parents and grandparents who have helped our canteen get off to an amazing start this term.

VOLUNTEERING

Once again, thank you to everyone who has helped in the canteen over the last two weeks.  if you have ever considered coming to help in the canteen, please complete your registration then come in and give it a go.  Volunteering is a terrific way to be involved in your school community, meet new people, and get the kids excited about having you at the school.

FOOD HANDLING CERTIFICATE

New food safety requirements have been introduced to all schools over Australia. As part of these standards, volunteers are encouraged to complete a free Food Handler Basics Training provided on the NSW Food Authority website.

The course takes approximately one hour to complete.  You’re welcome to complete the course while at canteen.  You can still volunteer without the certificate, but this is a fantastic way to get an update on the basics.

The training can be accessed following the link 

Once complete, forward your certificate to me at chris.jones@mn.catholic.edu.au

MONDAY MEAL DEAL CHANGES

The introduction of the Monday meal deal has been very well supported by students and teachers alike.  As a result, ensuring I have enough stock has become tricky.  Beginning Term 2 options for the Monday meal deal will be released on Compass the Monday prior and QKR ordering will close on the Friday prior to the deal.  In summary,

Monday- meal deal released on Compass

Friday- QKR orders for Monday meal deal close at 8:30am.

VOLUNTEER ROSTER

The volunteer roster will be emailed to registered volunteers this week.  Please email me your preferred day and times if you are unable to do the whole day.  If you are either not receiving the emails or no longer want to receive emails, please make contact and I will update your preferences.

I hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing holiday.

Chris Jones

PARENTING PAGE

WINTER UNIFORM

Winter uniforms are now available at Ken Lane Menswear in High Street Maitland. The school holiday period is an ideal time to purchase your winter uniforms and avoid the last minute rush. 

We offer flexible lay-bys as a way to manage the cost. Don't forget you can shop online at 

 Get in early and don’t miss out! 

Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this newsletter are placed by independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters. Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that are the subject of these advertisements.