Term 4, Week 2 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

WELCOME TO TERM 4

The year is flying by. We have made it to term 4. Please familiarise yourself with the many opportunities of being involved in the life of St Patrick’s Lochinvar. The calendar items below will keep you up to date and ensure you have a good knowledge of upcoming events.

ST GERARD MAJELLA

On October 16, we celebrated the feast of St. Gerard Majella. I share the story of St Gerard with you as it is an inspirational story. On a personal level, I chose Gerard as my confirmation name many years ago as I really loved his story. I have always prayed to St Gerard as my wife went through the pregnancy of our 3 children (you will understand why if you read on). Who is your special saint you pray to? Research your saint and make sure you are aware of their story.

St. Gerard was born the son of a tailor on April 6, 1726. He grew up about fifty miles south of Naples in Muro Lucano, Italy in a large, poor family. When St. Gerard was only 12, his father Dominic Majella passed away. Upon the death of his father, his mother, beholden to poverty, sent St. Gerard away to live with his uncle. St. Gerard thereafter became an apprentice to a tailor. This tailor treated him well; however, the foreman treated him poorly. After serving as a sewing apprentice for a couple years, he instead became a servant in the household of the bishop of Lacedonia, who was a cantankerous master. Upon the death of the bishop in 1745, he returned home. At the age of 21, he became a journeyman. He split his earnings for his mother and the poor. Afterwards, he opened his own tailor shop.

At a young age, St. Gerard tried to join the local Capuchins, but he was turned down twice due to his youth and poor health. He also tried to become a hermit, but that too was not God's will for him. He then entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in 1749 and professed of perpetual vows under the Redemptorist's founder, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, in 1751.

He served as tailor and infirmarian and became known for his extraordinary supernatural gifts of prophecy, visions, and infused knowledge. Though not ordained to the holy order of priest, his spiritual direction and advice were sought by many among the clergy and communities of nuns, to which he also gave conferences. He was widely known for his sanctity and charity.

St. Gerard was sent to Naples, but when the house was inundated by visitors wanting to see him, he was sent to Caposele a few months later. He served as the porter there and ministered to the poor of the town. St. Gerard spent the last few months of his life raising funds for new buildings at Caposele.

Just prior to his death, St. Gerard visited his friends, the Pirofalo family. One of the daughters ran and called after him as he left the home, as he dropped his handkerchief. Speaking through the gift of prophecy, he replied, "Keep it. It will be useful to you someday." Years down the road, when this young woman was in danger of childbirth, she recalled these words of St. Gerard, and requested the handkerchief. The handkerchief was applied to her, thus a miracle: her pain immediately ceased and she gave birth to a healthy child.

St. Gerard died of tuberculosis on October 16, 1755 at the age of 29 in Caposele. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on January 29, 1893, and was canonized on December 11, 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X. He is the patron saint of mothers, motherhood, expectant mothers, childbirth, children, pregnant women, unborn children, and lay brothers.

GRACE AND JACK CRICH

Congratulation to Grace and Jack Crich (6 Yellow teacher) who were married on Saturday 28^th September. We wish Grace and Jack good wishes for their married life together.

NEW ADDITIONS TO SCHOOL

The following jobs were undertaken during the holiday period:

• Testing and tagging of all electrical equipment. This is a compliance requirement.
• Decorative pavers and concreting of the pathway from the administration up towards Year 2. The paver project was a P&F fundraiser and the children whose parents ordered pavers are very excited to see their family name etched in history.

• Rectification of sewer issues that have impacted the administration building since 2017. There were some other plumbing issues near Kinder and Year 2 that were fixed at the same time.
• Adventure playground work has commenced and will be completed by mid November. We are very excited to see this area transformed.
• Low areas of the Softfall near Year 4 have been fixed.
• Air conditioners throughout the school were serviced in preparation for the warmer weather.
• Widening of entry gate to the staff car park to allow fire tanker entry in case of an emergency.
• Filling of low areas of the staff car park with road base so the area does not flood in heavy rain.
• Creating an entry and exit space for the hall car park. Please read the WHS area of this newsletter for more information on this space.

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION

This week on Wednesday 23^rd October, we welcomed our 2025 cohort of Kindergarten children as they attended school in 2 groups at different times and undertook activities within the Kindergarten classrooms. It was a very exciting day. The same will occur next Wednesday 30^th October followed by a student/ parent morning on Wednesday 6^th November. Welcome to all new children and parents.

With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal

CALENDAR EVENTS 

RE NEWS

SOCKS ON A MISSION DAY

Our big fundraising event for Catholic Mission this year will be our ‘Socks on a Mission’ event on Friday 8th November. For this event we are combining our Socktober – Crazy Sock Day and our Mission Day for one big fundraiser!

On this day, students will be invited to wear crazy socks for the day and bring a gold coin donation! This ‘gold coin’ donation or any other donations can also be provided online through our Socktober fundraising page. 

Students will participate in a short liturgy where they will be reminded of the purpose of our fundraising day and of Catholic Mission and their 2024 focus country, Mongolia. This Liturgy will begin at 11:30am and we encourage parents to join us.

Following the Liturgy we will have our usual Mission Day structure of different stalls run by our Year 6 students. For something different this year, most of these stalls will have some sort of sock-based activity to link to the Socktober part of our event.

St Pat’s Bucks are available to purchase now on QKR under the School Events section. These ‘bucks’ will be used by your child to participate in the activities at each stall. The bucks are sold as booklets of 10 and each activity will cost 1 ‘buck’.

Our celebrations will conclude with a shared lunch at 1:30pm. If you are taking your child home after the shared lunch, sign out sheets will be available.

Parents are welcome to join us from 11:30am for our Mission Day Celebrations.

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
• clustering of children with exceptionalities
• 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.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

PERIOD POSITIVITY

Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education and inadequate toilet facilities.  It is also the stigma and feelings of shame and embarrassment of a normal bodily function, and subsequent impacts on mental health.  

In 2022 students from St Paul’s Catholic College Booragul advocated for female hygiene products to be made available in school toilets to provide access, equity and dignity to students who menstruate. A Diocese-wide working group was formed to investigate the impact of period poverty in our schools and lead the way in addressing the issues by exploring the feasibility of: 

• Installing free period products in dispensing machines in our schools, aligned with the placement of the sanitary bins.
• Developing an awareness education program for schools in conjunction with the syllabus.
• Developing a policy that will help reinforce the promotion of dignity, gender equality and reproductive health.

The working group soon developed an initiative called Period Positivity. The initiative is about making periods normal. From free period care products to more informative discussions, the initiative aims to promote greater accessibility, equity and dignity for all. 

In 2022 a pilot program was conducted at St Paul’s Catholic College Booragul, trialling the installation of sanitary dispensing machines with the provision of free sanitary products at the school. The trial was very successful – with strong survey results in addition to positive student engagement and feedback. 

Due to the success of the trial, dispensers were rolled out across all Diocesan Secondary schools in 2023. This is being followed up with a rollout across Primary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle across 2024.

The Period Positivity initiative commenced at St Patrick’s Primary School starting 21st October, 2024.

Sanitary products will be available to students for free, via dispensers in the Year 4, 5 and 6 female toilets.

If students find themselves needing pads or tampons, they will be available from the dispensers. 

Students will still be able to use their own products, but there will be the option to use the free products provided in the female toilets for those who need them.  

The product roll-out will be complemented by an educational awareness program that will be deployed to students. Professional Learning resources will enable teachers to be competent and confident to deliver the educational materials such as Menstrual health; information about periods and anatomy, dispelling myths, products, accessibility, gender equity and promoting dignity.

For more information, please visit the link below.

IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATING

CURRICULUM NEWS

YEAR 4 NEWS

YEAR 1

During Term 3 for their drama lessons, our Year 1 students learned and rehearsed a play of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus !" 

On the last week of Term, they were very excited to perform in front of their teachers and Mr Nolan. All students did a fantastic job! Well done Year 1!

CURRICULUM OVERVIEWS

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

SPORT NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Amandi De Silva who has been selected to trial for the Diocesan Cricket Team. We wish her the best of luck!

WHS

HALL CAR PARK

During the holiday period, further changes have been made to the hall car park space. These changes are designed to improve safety and organisation within the car park. We need your assistance in implementing these changes and following the correct procedures. Works that have taken place are:

• A dedicated entry to the car park has been created. The entry is a large gap on the higher side of the car park.
• A dedicated exit to the car park has been created. The exit is narrower than the entry and is on the lower side of the car park.

The entry and exit are separated by sandstone blocks that have been placed parallel to Gregory Road.

• Temporary signs are in place to indicate entry and exit areas. Professional signs have been ordered and will be erected soon.

Of an afternoon, a common practice that has evolved is for parents to park several cars wide and several cars end to end on the edge of Gregory Road but within the carpark. This practice has now stopped and parents are to be thanked for their efforts here. This space is now the dedicated entry point to the car park. Parents need to use the dedicated parking areas indicated by the posts and yellow chain. Parents can also park in a line from the new sandstone blocks across to the barrier in the middle area of the car park. This is encouraged as it forms the middle area of cars within the car park.

Please follow these safety points within the car park:

• Drive at no more than 10km/h in and around the car park.
• Follow the entry and exit points as indicated by the entry and exit signs.
• Park in the designated areas indicated by the posts and chain and in a line from the new sandstone blocks across the middle area of the car park. 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.

We have identified that there is too much of a dip at the exit point of the car park, and this will be fixed over the coming weeks. Further improvements have been identified and will be communicated to parents when works have been completed. We appreciate your assistance in the interest of safety for all.

LIBRARY

AUTHOR VISIT- LIBRARY NEWS

TERM 4 PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Online safety webinars

Parents and carers webinar ‘eSafety 101’

Date:               Thursday 24 October and Wednesday 4 December
Time:               12.30pm-1.00pm
Presented by: eSafety Commissioner
Cost:                Free
Register:          https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/4429149931214716000

This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in primary and secondary school.

The webinar will cover:

• the role and nature of the office of the eSafetyCommissioner
• what you can report to eSafety
• helpful advice and resources for parents and carers to keep their families safe, online.

Parents and carers webinar ‘Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school’

Date:               Tuesday 29 October and Thursday 28 November
Time:               12.30pm-1.00pm
Presented by: eSafety Commissioner
Cost:                Free
Register:          https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5292449078565496666

This 30-minute webinar is suitable for parents and carers of young people in upper primary school (aged 11-12) and Year 7.

The webinar will explore:

• the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school.
• practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

Parents and carers webinar ‘Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into high school’

Date:               Tuesday 12 November   
Time:               12.30pm-1.00pm
Presented by: eSafety Commissioner and the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT  
Cost:                Free
Register:          https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/707533969409578587

This 30-minute webinar is suitable for parents and carers of young people in upper primary school (aged 11-12) and Year 7.

The webinar will explore:

• the social pressures, peer influences, and technological challenges young people face as they transition into high school.
• practical strategies for navigating online friendships and connections to help minimise negative experiences.

Mental health webinars

Parents and carers webinar ‘Breaking Point- Unpacking the crisis into youth mental health’ with Dr Justin Coulson

Date:               Wednesday 30 October 
Time:               7pm-8.00pm
Presented by: Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT  
Cost:                Free
Watch it live:   Council of Catholic Schools Parents | Breaking Point | 7pm AEDT - Happy Families

Dr Justin Coulson is a captivating speaker who aims to leave his audience with genuine ‘how-to’s’ so they can help their kids right now.

In this webinar, he'll cover:

• The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible
• The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children
• Science-backed, relationship-focused strategies to remedy school refusal
• Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child's wellbeing without completely alienating them from their peers
• Creating margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness  

Join the conversation and be part of a dynamic, interactive experience where we collaborate to reshape the future of your children's mental health. Hear real stories, explore innovative solutions, and discover practical strategies to empower your kids.

Parents and carers webinar ‘Strengthening teens against anxiety’ with Karen Young  

Date:               Wednesday 11 December   
Time:               7pm-8.30pm
Presented by: The Federation of P&F Associations
Cost:                Free
Register:          http://mn.shor.tn/KarenYoung

If you are unable to take part in the webinar at the designated time, you are still encouraged to RSVP. Approximately one week following the webinar, a recording will be made available to everyone who has RSVPd and they will have two weeks to watch it.

Anxiety can be tough for anyone but add in the whirlwind of changes that come with adolescence, and anxiety can intrude on young lives more than it deserves to. If left unmanaged, anxiety can limit their reach into the world and their discovery of their very important place in it. It can also leave the adults in their lives who care about them feeling helpless - but it doesn’t have to be this way. Anxiety is manageable, and our teens have a profound capacity to shift anxiety out of their way and move forward with strength.

In this presentation, we will discuss:

• A new, empowering way for adolescents to think about anxiety and how to use this to manage anxiety;
• How anxiety can interfere with learning and performance, and how to get anxiety out of the way;
• The changes in the adolescent brain that can make teens more vulnerable to anxiety;
• Proven, practical ways to calm and strengthen an anxious brain;
• The power of parents to move young people towards brave, and how to do this
• How to build solid neural foundations that will strengthen the adolescent brain against anxiety, and how to engage young people in the conversation and behaviours that will make a difference;
• Why new behaviours take time, why old responses can feel tough to change, and the simple explanation for teens that can build resilience and grit.

Please see attached flyer for more information.

Neurodiversity information sessions

Parents and carers workshop ‘Supporting young people with Autism’ with Professor Tony Attwood

Date:               Thursday 31 October (Singleton) and Friday 1 November (Warners Bay)
Time:               9.30am-3.30pm
Presented by: The Federation of P&F Associations
Cost:                Free
Register:          Registration is essential prior to the event.

Singleton workshop (31 Oct):                                     mn.shor.tn/Singleton  
            Warners Bay workshop (1 Nov):                    mn.shor.tn/WarnersBay

The workshops will provide parents and carers with information that can help them to increase their understanding of their child or teenager whether their child has only recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or the diagnosis has been known for some time.

The workshops will cover:

• The latest research in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
• Making friends: Strategies that can support your children to improve social understanding and friendship skills
• Managing feelings: Unpacking Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and how it can help children to manage anxiety, sadness and anger

Please see attached flyer for more information.

Parents and carers webinar ‘Converting neurodiversity into neuro-advantage’ with Andrew Fuller

Date:               Wednesday 20 November    
Time:               7.00pm-8.00pm
Presented by: The Federation of P&F Associations
Cost:                Free
Register:          mn.shor.tn/AndrewFuller

Everyone’s brain processes information differently, it is as unique to an individual as their fingerprint. 

In this session, parents and carers will learn the superpowers and learning strengths of brains with:

• Autism Spectrum
• Oppositional Defiance
• ADHD
• Dyslexia

Andrew will also cover the methods, interventions, apps and tech that can help these young people to not only survive in school but thrive in life.

To increase your learning from this event, you are encouraged to complete an analysis of your own learning strengths ahead of time at www.mylearningstrengths.com

Please see attached flyer for more information.

About the presenter: Andrew Fuller is an Hon. Fellow at the Uni of Melbourne, a scientific consultant for the ABC and a regular presenter on Radio National. He has established programs for neuroscience and education, neurodiversity and the promotion of mental health in schools, substance abuse prevention, and the reduction of violence and bullying, suicide prevention programs and for assisting homeless young people

Career choices webinars

Students, parents and carers webinar ‘Making confident career choices at results time’

Date:               Tuesday 3 December   
Time:               6pm-7pm
Presented by: My Futures
Cost:                Free
Register:

The end of the year can be an anxious time for senior secondary students as they take their final exams, wait for their results, and think about what the future holds. Some students will celebrate, some will be disappointed, and many will feel uncertain about what it all means.

Join myfuture's career development expert Dr Michael Healy as he shares tips with students on how to make sense of their results and plan their next steps accordingly.

Dr Michael will cover the following topics with students and, parents and carers are welcome to join:

• How to make sense of what your results mean for you
  
• How to deal with second thoughts
  
• How to change your plans, if you really need to
  
• What kinds of options you have if you didn't achieve the results you hoped for
  
• Where to go for help if you need it.

These tips will help students to make good career decisions and approach the next chapter of their journey with confidence.

Parents and carers webinar ‘The many ingredients of employability: The Employability Capital Growth Model’

Date:               Tuesday 19 November  
Time:               12.00pm-1.00pm
Presented by: My Futures
Cost:                Free
Register:

People draw on a wide range of skills, attributes and resources when they look for work. These can be described as forms of ‘employability capital’, a broad range of factors that enable people to secure, maintain and transition between jobs. The Employability Capital Growth Model is a new tool designed to help students, and the educators who support them, understand and enhance their employability.

In this myfuture Insights webinar, Associate Professor William E. Donald will describe how the Employability Capital Growth Model was created and provide a summary of the nine forms of employability capital and how they can be developed. He will also discuss how educators, parents, and other adults can support young people to develop their employability and approach their transition into their working life with confidence. 

PARENTING PAGE

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.