Term 3, Week 4 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Dear Parents, caregivers and friends,
ASPIRE
With a great soundtrack of music and a hugely relevant script, the 2024 Aspire production called ‘Disconnected’ involved over 150 young students from our Catholic schools across the Diocese in a recent performance at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle from 31/7/24 to 3/8/24. Two of those students were Monique Traub-Rehm from Year 5 and Armani Garland-Sherbon from Year 6. Monique featured in the dance ensemble and Armani in the vocal ensemble. Congratulations to both students on a wonderful performance.
Our Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed the opportunity to watch the matinee show and the feedback was outstanding.
MACKILLOP WEEK
On Monday 5/8/24, we unveiled our house banners in the school hall and took part in a MacKillop Week assembly. The celebrations continued all week and our focus on the life and teachings of Mary Mackillop and her ‘Special Love for the Poor’ were evident in lessons and activities throughout the week. A special thank you to Sr Patricia, Sr Maureen, Sr Ruth and Sr Carmel who were able to join us for the occasion. The house banners look amazing and we really enjoyed singing the Lochinvar Hymn.
THANK YOU
Following our MacKillop Week assembly, I was truly surprised and appreciative of the recognition noting my 30 years of service to St Patrick’s Lochinvar. Not one child gave the surprise away. I had absolutely no idea what was about to take place. I am totally humbled and feel very blessed to have been involved with St Patrick’s Lochinvar for the last 30 years- as a teacher, REC, Assistant Principal and as your Principal in 2024. This year has bestowed on me the greatest honour, as I have loved every moment of being your Principal. Working with the staff, children and parents to create a wonderful environment for learning and the community in general is my passion, and being at school is a very happy place for me, especially this beautiful school, working with you all. Thank you for the most wonderful memories you brought back to me on Monday. I am amazed at the lovely gift that now sits behind the Penola Catholic School within MacKillop Park (see photo below), without a doubt, my most favourite place within the school. I am so grateful to the staff, students and parents who organised the day and for the beautiful gift arranged and installed by the P & F, and for being surrounded by people who mean so much to me in life. Thank you.
DISCO- KINDER, YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2
The K-2 children had the best night on Friday 2/8 at our disco. They all went home exhausted after an evening of dancing and having fun with friends. Thank you to our P&F group of parents for their organisation around the disco prior to the event and on the evening. Thank you also to the many staff members who supported with supervision.
With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal
CALENDAR EVENTS
IMPORTANT DATES - LOOKING AHEAD FOR 2024
Looking Ahead | |
Week 4 | 12/8 – English ICAS - Peer Support – moved to Friday 16/8 |
14/8 - Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 - Singleton Netball Gala Day | |
15/8 – Feast of the Assumption of Mary | |
16/8 – Parish Mass – Year 3 leading, Year 4 attending parents welcome 9:30am -Peer Support @ 12:30pm- Bullying No Way focus- changed from Monday 12/8 -Bullying No Way Day School Assembly @ 1pm- Parents welcome- note the change of time | |
Week 5 | Book Week |
19/8 – Science ICAS -Year 6 Religious Literacy test | |
20/8 - Kinder families Reading Picnic/Book Fair Preview | |
21/8 - Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 | |
22/8 – Illustrator visit – Cheryl Orsini | |
23/8 – ‘Reading is Magic’ Book week Celebrations (Grandparents Day) | |
Week 6 | 26/8 – Mathematics ICAS -Father’s Day stall -Peer Support @ 1pm |
27/8 – Stage 2 Soccer Gala Day | |
28/8 - Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 | |
29/8 - Regional Debating at St John’s - Stage 3 Touch Football Gala Day | |
30/8 – Father’s Day Breakfast/ Liturgy/ Classroom visit for Dads | |
Week 7 | Summer Uniform Discretion Period |
2/9 – Stage public speaking competition | |
4/9 – Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 -Great Aussie Bush Camp (Year 5) | |
5/9 - Great Aussie Bush Camp (Year 5) | |
6/9 - Great Aussie Bush Camp (Year 5) -Kinder Excursion – Civic Theatre - Year 3 Excursion – Western Sydney Zoo - Saturday 7/9 - Sunday 8/9 Tournament of Minds | |
Week 8 | Summer Uniform Discretion Period |
9/9 – Peer Support @ 1pm | |
10/9 – Stage 3 Soccer Gala Day | |
11/9 – Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 -Canberra (Year 6) | |
12/9 - Canberra (Year 6) | |
13/9 – School Assembly - Canberra (Year 6) - Polding Athletics | |
Week 9 | Summer Uniform Discretion Period |
16/9 – Pupil Free Day (Staff formation Day) | |
17/9 – Kinder parent Meet & Greet/ Information Night | |
18/9 - Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 -P&F; Uniform Shop (5.30pm), meeting in the library (6.00pm) | |
19/9 – Regional Public Speaking @ Chisholm | |
20/9 – 9.30am Parish Mass – Lead by year 6, Kinder attending -Maitland Netball Gala Day | |
Week 10 | Summer Uniform Discretion Period |
23/9 – Peer Support @ 1pm -House rewards afternoon | |
25/9 – Gymnastics – Kinder /Yr 1 | |
27/9 – School Assembly -Term 3 concludes | |
RE NEWS
MACKILLOP WEEK
Last week we held the first of our celebrations for our School Colour Houses. We began with MacKillop Week which will be celebrated in Term 3 each year to coincide with the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Our celebrations began with an assembly where we were able to unveil our new School House Banners and matching House Candles. Throughout the week, each class visited MacKillop Park and spent some time looking through the quotes of Mary MacKillop. We also had daily prayerful reflection based on the qualities of Mary. On Thursday, to link with the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and her ‘Special Love for the Poor’, we had a Yellow out of uniform day and raised money for Catholic Care.
This was a wonderful way to introduce our School House celebrations and we are now looking forward to Dirkin Week which will be held in Term 4.
RELIGIOUS LITERACY
Next week our Year 6 students will take part in the Primary Religious Literacy Test. This test is taken by Year 6 students across the diocese and is then taken again in Year 8.
Students are assessed on how well they KNOW, UNDERSTAND and can APPLY what they have learned throughout their Stage 3 Religious Education units.
Year 6 have been working hard on revising their learning in preparation. We look forward to seeing their results later in the year.
ASSUMPTION
Today, 15th August is the feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Mother of God. This holy day is a special time in our liturgical calendar. The Feast of the Assumption honours the belief that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. The day is a moment for reflection on the virtues of Mary—her grace, humility, and devotion. Let this feast inspire us all to live with compassion and commitment in our daily lives just as Mary did.
CURRICULUM NEWS
KINDERGARTEN NEWS
DEBATING
Introducing our St Patrick’s Lochinvar debating team. The team was selected out of interested students in Years 5 and 6, based on skill and commitment. Congratulation Eliza Dagg, Divya Kaur, Josie Lawler and Sreeya Bommareddy who are working very hard in their lunch breaks training for the Regional Debating Competition at St Johns in Week 6. We wish them luck!
TOURNAMENT OF MINDS
This year we have entered a St Patrick’s Tournament of Minds team who will compete in Week 7, Sunday 8th of September at Newcastle Grammar School. This is a program for primary and secondary students providing the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork. We had many interested students and a team of 7 were chosen based on observations during a mock challenge last term. Congratulations to Armani Garland-Sherbon, Finley Catton, Bella Sligar, Andrew Crawford, Celeste Harding, Nateisha Michel and Oliver McNally. This team has selected the literary challenge and are working very hard on this during their lunch breaks.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS
ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT
FATHER'S DAY
Week 6
Monday 26th August - Father’s Day Stall. Order your gifts via Qkr!
Friday 30th August - The day we celebrate the Father's and Father figures in our lives is fast approaching. Please join us Friday morning for a sausage sandwich breakfast beginning from 8am. This will be followed by a liturgy led by Year 1 at 9am in the hall and open classrooms. For catering purposes please order your free sausage sandwich on Qkr!
Qkr! orders for both will close Thursday 22nd August
BOOKWEEK AND GRANDPARENTS DAY
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS
INFANTS OLYMPICS
On Friday 9th August, Kindergarten and Year 1 students gathered to participate in the first ever St Patrick’s Infants Olympics. Red, yellow, green, blue and black could be seen amongst the students as each child in Kinder and Year 1 dressed in a colour of the Olympic Rings to commemorate the 2024 Olympic Games taking place in Paris. The games began with an Opening Ceremony where there was a spectacular display of marching led by our Year 6 leaders. This was followed by the Torch Relay where the games were officially opened. Our Kindergarten and Year 1 athletes showed an amazing display of athleticism as they competed in the running events, cheered on by many of their peers in Years 2-6. The track events were followed by a number of tabloid activities where students were able to show off their strength and agility. At the conclusion of the tabloid activities the medal ceremony was held, with all students receiving a much sought after ‘gold medal.’ Students were then able to share a picnic lunch with their number one fans, their families. This was a wonderful day that saw students demonstrating great sportsmanship. Smiles could be seen on the faces of students, parents and teachers alike. Thank you to those families who were able to join us, it was an amazing day that will be remembered fondly for years to come.
WEEK OF ACTION
This week, St Patrick's has had a focus on 'Everyone Belongs' which is the theme of Bullying No Way: National Week of Action. All students will engage in our Bullying No Way Day on Friday 16th of August. Activities will include classroom lessons, Webinars on Cyber Bullying for Stages 2 and 3, Peer Support and a whole school assembly. Please note our school assembly time on this day has changed to 1pm. All parents/carers are invited to the school assembly.
It has been wonderful to see students engage with our kindness display throughout the week, promoting how we can all be the 'I' in Kind.
YEAR 1 PHONICS INFORMATION
SPORT NEWS
POLDING
On Wednesday of Week 3, 10 students from St Patrick's represented our region (Lower Hunter) at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. Well done to all our students who competed at this event and congratulations to Cooper Robins, Mitchell Summers, Finn Cooper and Hughston Robinson who have progressed to the Polding Athletics Carnival. Their results were nothing short of outstanding; Cooper came 1st in senior high jump, Mitchell finished 1st in the senior 100 metre and 200 metre, Finn finished 1st in the 8 year's 100m, and Hughston came 2nd in the junior high jump.
We wish them the best of luck at the next event!
COMMUNITY NEWS
SACRAMENT AND LITURGY
CANTEEN NEWS
INFANTS OLYMPIC SPORTS DAY
Last weeks Olympic themed canteen day was very well received by the children. On offer we had Olympic ring pikelets, flame torches and twistie cups and podium bear biscuits.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped out with both preparation and on the day.
GRANDPARENTS DAY
Grandparents’ day is fast approaching. The menu for this year’s orders is available on QKR, with orders closing on Tuesday 20th August. Make sure you get your orders in early. Please put orders in under the oldest sibling and ensure family and friends know, which child the order is under, their year and their class colour. Once again there will be tea and coffee available for a gold coin donation. Soft drinks and some treats will be available for cash sales as well as the usual counter sale items. Ordering will be for the special menu only on the day. We look forward to seeing everyone on the day.
As Grandparents day is particularly busy, there will be a special volunteer roster put out for the day. If you could please look at the roster and volunteer some time, it is greatly appreciated.
There are still a few vacant spots on the roster. Please email me at chris.jones@mn.catholic.edu.au if you can come in or if you are interested in volunteering.
PARENTING PAGE
P AND F NEWS
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