Term 3, Week 10 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

TERM 3 THANKS

Thank you to everybody for an amazing term 3. It has been especially busy with many events taking place throughout the term.

We wish you a happy holiday period with your family. Stay safe and safe travels if you are taking a break away. Please find below, the term 4 calendar of events. We look forward to the many ways you will be able to engage with our school community throughout the term.

NEW WELCOME SIGN

A new ‘Welcome’ sign has been installed near the entrance gate beside Year 6 (the gate we use for entry of a morning and afternoon). We hope all people entering St Patrick’s Lochinvar do feel welcome. Our new sign is a simple and colourful reminder of being welcome and to be a welcoming person, as is the case in the first letter of being a WEST person:

W- Welcoming
E- Encouraging
S- Saying sorry
T- Thanking others

Being a WEST person is reflected in our afternoon Making Jesus Real (MJR) prayer that we pray every afternoon.

MJR AFTERNOON PRAYER

Jesus lives his life through us each day.
Thank you for the times that we have been the Spirit of Jesus for others.
As we leave for home, help us to continue to be WEST people and to greet, treat and speak to others in the way Jesus taught us.
AMEN.

Teacher- Live Jesus in our hearts
Children- Forever

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION FOR 2025

On Tuesday evening, 17/9/24, we held an orientation evening for our new Kinder parents for 2025. We welcomed existing parents along with 28 new families to the St Patrick’s Lochinvar community. The new 2025 Kinder students will take part in 3 visits to the school early next term to finalise the orientation process. One of these sessions will involve the children meeting their ‘Buddy’ for next year. Exciting times.

With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal

CALENDAR EVENTS 

IMPORTANT DATES  - LOOKING AHEAD FOR 2024

RE NEWS

FUN FACTS FOR RELIGIOUS LITERACY

In this edition of Fun Facts for Religious Literacy, we’re exploring the four key parts to a Catholic Mass.

Remember to head to the form to let us know what things you want to know about the Catholic faith and traditions or the specifics of Catholic schooling.

SOCKTOBER LAUNCH 2024

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT

CLASS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMING YEAR

Planning for the coming school year will commence early Term 4 and involve considerations for student class placement. One complex process involves assigning students to classes. Many factors need to be taken into consideration including:

• the student’s intellectual, social, emotional, and behavioural developmental levels & needs
• the student’s physical and social maturity
• the student’s interactions with other students
• the age of the student
• the “social dynamics” factors within the class
• learning support needs
• the male/female balance in each class
• the balance of leaders in each class
• the number of years the student has been with the teacher
• student friendships

If there are any special considerations or concerns that parents/carers feel the school should take into consideration, please put them in writing and send them to school no later than Monday 28th October. Letters should be addressed ‘Attention: Dennis Nolan and marked ‘Confidential’.

Please note, this is not the opportunity to request friendship groupings or specific teachers for your child. While all requests will be noted and discussed, final decisions on placements will be made following careful consultation with teachers. Information provided after 28th October will not be considered and parents should not assume that previous requests or communication will suffice, as situations do change over time.

YEAR 1 HISTORY DAY

Today, Year 1 immersed themselves in a History Day to consolidate their learning for their History unit, ‘Present and Past Family Life.’ This exciting day took place at school.

Students dressed in clothes from the past which added to the atmosphere of the experience.

Families were invited to come and join in the fun and they participated in playing some games from the past such as elastics, hopscotch, quoits etc. We had a lot of fun.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

The below article is taken from the QLD government website on Early Childhood Education and Care. It focuses on the importance of reading to children. There are some useful tips for parents to consider to support children with reading.

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING TO CHILDREN

WHY READING IS IMPORTANT

Reading aloud and sharing stories with your child when they are young can help them develop literacy skills and learn about the world around them.

HAVING FUN WITH WORDS

Children learn words and language skills from listening and engaging in stories, songs and conversations. By reading aloud, sharing stories and singing with your child, you are helping them become familiar with words and sounds. This will develop early literacy skills and help them to go on to read successfully later in life.

Your child will pick up on your voice changes and expressions, so make sure they sit close to you when you read. They will also learn how to hold a book and gently turn the pages by watching you. As you read, try pointing out details in the pictures, asking questions or using funny voices.

LEARNING THROUGH STORIES

Engaging in a story is also a great way to get your child talking about what they are seeing and thinking. It can help them to understand emotions and feelings and learn the difference between 'real' and 'make believe'.

Stories can also help them to deal with new or frightening experiences. For example, a book about going to the dentist or hospital can help your child learn what to expect in this situation. Having a conversation about what happened after a scary part in a book can help your child understand how to deal with certain events and position you as a role model.

You can encourage your child to become involved in story time by asking your child to choose the books they want to read or joining group story-telling sessions at the library.

MAKING STORY TIME FUN

Reading aloud gives you a chance to be silly and joke around with your child while helping them learn and grow.

Putting on funny voices or changing the storyline lets you shake up story time, creating quality moments and making learning fun. It can be a great way to encourage kids to look forward to reading with you.

Goofing around can make special time for you and your child to bond and shows that reading is important. By showing that you enjoy story time, you are helping your child develop a love of reading too. Using different voices and being dramatic also shows your child how words can be used differently to make new meanings.

KEEPING THE INTEREST

Using funny voices and plot twists helps to keep your child’s interest in the book and reading.

You can encourage your child to join in by:

• suggesting ideas for the story line
• choosing how a character’s voice sounds
• repeating words back to you
• using gestures, clapping and acting out events
• using funny facial expressions.

Your child can try to mimic your actions and voice or come up with some of their own.

FOCUSING

While getting active and excited can keep the interest, it’s important to have quiet and calm reading opportunities as well. This allows your child to focus on the words and sounds and develop their literacy skills.

LOCATION, LOCATION

Using different locations to read with your child can also help keep things fresh. You could go outside or bring a book to the beach or to the shopping centre. Reading a book with places and events that your child can relate to can be a great way to start conversations about the story.

BEFORE YOU START

• Let your child choose the book.
• Find a quiet place where you can sit side by side.
• Make sure you can both see and touch the book.
• Look at the front cover and title and talk about what the story might be about.

WHILE READING

• Read slowly and take your time to discuss the images or talk about what is happening along the way.

AFTER THE STORY ENDS

• Your child might want to flip back through the book to explore different sections or ask questions.
• Ask them what their favourite part was or what they would change in the story.

SCHOOL TV

All parents at St Patrick’s Lochinvar have access to SchoolTV.

This resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.

SchoolTV topics are conveniently arranged into a number of series. Topics feature interviews with leading youth wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world offering hours of relevant and practical information. Additionally, each topic includes a compilation of related resources from key organisations providing a comprehensive stream of content. Resources include informative fact sheets, articles, apps, books, podcasts, websites, and other videos - all related to a single topic, in one place for easy access!

To access School TV, simply go to our St Patrick’s Lochinvar website and click on the Parent Information along the top. Then click the first tab on the dropdown which is School TV. Alternatively, click on the following link to take you straight there- 

COMPASS INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACCESS SCHOOL DOCUMENTS FOR PARENTS

GOVERNANCE

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.

CURRICULUM NEWS

CANBERRA EXCURSION

Our Year 6 students recently embarked on an educational trip to Canberra, designed to enhance their understanding of Australian history, government, and science.

The adventure began with a visit to the National Museum of Australia, where students engaged with exhibits showcasing the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. Following this, they explored the CSIRO Discovery Centre, gaining insights into groundbreaking scientific research and innovations.

Next, the students visited the Royal Australian Mint to observe the coin production process and learn about the role of currency in Australian history. The day continued with a captivating night tour of the Australian Botanical Gardens, offering a unique perspective on Australia’s diverse flora.

The following day featured a tour of Parliament House, where students explored the workings of Australia’s democratic system and even seen the Prime Minster in the flesh! They then visited the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to learn about elite sports training and the importance of physical fitness.

The National Planning Exhibition provided an overview of Australia's urban and regional planning, highlighting the development of Australian cities. An ANZAC Parade walking tour allowed students to reflect on Australia’s military history and the significance of various memorials.

The trip concluded with a visit to Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre, where interactive exhibits made learning about science both fun and engaging. Overall, the excursion offered a rich blend of historical, cultural, and scientific experiences, making it both educational and memorable.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school on the amount of $30 per student under the Parliament and Civics education Rebate program towards these costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon complete

REGIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION 

Congratulations to the Evie Worth, Amelia McNally and Bella Sligar who represented St Patrick's in the Regional Public Speaking Competition last Thursday. They all spoke about how proud they were of the speeches they wrote and delivered, and their enjoyment of the day. A special congratulations to Evie Worth who came first in Stage 1 and Amelia McNally who came second in Stage 2. Well done to all three girls, we are very proud of your achievements. 

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

SPORT NEWS

POLDING ATHLETICS

On Friday 13th September, Finn Cooper, Hughston Robinson, Cooper Robins and Mitchell Summers competed at Polding Athletics representing the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. The boys displayed dedication and sportsmanship as they competed against students from a variety of Diocese. Mitchell came first in the 12-13 boys 100m and 200m sprint and will now compete at Sydney Olympic Park in the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships.

Well done boys!

NETBALL

The school netball team attended the St Catherine’s Catholic College Netball Gala Day on Friday 20th September in Singleton.

The team consisted of Olivia Sharp, Isabella Crouch, Nevaya Live, Leura Russell, Phoenix Russell, Kiarna Marko, Eliza Dagg, Josie Lawler and Ada Stirrat.

The girls showed amazing sportsmanship and skills to be undefeated and were crowned winners of the Open Girls Division.

WHS

HALL CAR PARK

During the upcoming holiday period, further work will take place in our hall car park. We have been granted permission from council to create an entry and exit to our car park area. Once this occurs, communication will be given to parents as to how the space will operate. Signage will be included as part of the works. In the interest of safety for all, please follow these guidelines:

• Drive at no more than 10km/h in and around the car park. People are still driving too fast and placing others at risk.
• Park in the designated areas indicated by the posts and chain. Children are not to be let out in the driving areas of the space and made to walk across the traffic. This is very unsafe.
• Be patient and respectful to other drivers in the car park and along Gregory Road. We are all aware that Gregory Road is too narrow near the gully. Drivers need to be courteous to others and assist with traffic flow where 2 cars are unable to fit side by side.

LIBRARY

LIBRARY NEWS

PARENTING PAGE

P AND F NEWS

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