Term 4, Week 4 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK

RELIGIOUS LITERACY

Religious Literacy simply defined is, the knowledge and understanding of religion. Each year, students in Year 6 in a primary school, take part in a Religious Literacy assessment. Congratulations on the amazing Religious Literacy results that our Year 6 students achieved this year. Congratulations to all within the school, including parents, for supporting Religious Literacy and for giving it the focus it so rightly deserves within a Catholic school. The table and graph below outlines our school results compared to the diocese which shows that we are above in all areas.

NEW MACKILLOP PARK CROSS

Sadly, the current cross in Mackillop Park is starting to rot. It has served us well for the last 14 years. This original cross was designed and painted by a former parent, Tracey Newcombe. Tracey had 3 children who all attended our school. Tracey also painted the image of Mary and the child at the front door of the stable school.

In the coming weeks, you will see a new cross emerge. The cross, as in the image below, was designed and painted by Sr Dorothy Woodward rsj. This original work is displayed within our school foyer. We have received permission from Sr Dorothy to replicate her cross on a larger scale within MacKillop Park. Once completed we will invite Sr Dorothy to our school so she can view it. We will also have an acknowledgement on the back of the cross for Sr Dorothy. We feel the symbols within this cross are more reflective of the space, especially considering it contains the images of both founders of the Sisters of St Joseph.

A photo and explanation of the old cross and acknowledgement for Tracey Newcombe will be framed and will hang on our History wall.

Explanation of the symbols on the cross- by Sr Dorothy Woodward:

The top section of the cross depicts the disused stable at Penola that was converted to a school, thanks to Mary Mackillop’s brother John.

The left-hand side of the cross depicts symbols of the work of Fr Julian Tenison Woods, a well-respected geologist, botanist and environmentalist. These include a geologist’s hammer, fossils, insects. The globe represents the travels undertaken by Fr Julian.

Images of the bush (trees, gum leaves and blossoms) and the coast (ocean and sand) indicate some of the places where the Sisters lived and worked, from isolated country areas to the cities, from the outback to the coast. They even ministered to people on the goldfields. These symbols also emphasise that the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph is a distinctly Australian Order.

HISTORY WALL ADDITIONS

Our history walls at the administration have been completed with the addition of 6 individual photos as shown below. The photos capture elements of the log cabin school, and the aerial one taken with the drone is an amazing shot of the surrounding hills of Lochinvar in drought in 2020. Stage 1 was completed, and stage 2 was in the process of construction.

The photos have been printed on A2 photo paper which is double an A3 page and have been placed on the spare wall near the entrance to the administration foyer. The history space looks amazing and parents are encouraged to view this area upon attending the school at event opportunities.

With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal

CALENDAR EVENTS 

RE NEWS

DIRKIN WEEK

This week we will are celebrating Dirkin Week!

During Dirkin Week we remember Sr Ambrose Joseph Dirkin, one of the founding sisters in Lochinvar and is referred to as the ‘Sister Guardian 1883-1890’.

Through our work with linking the Josephite values to our houses we identified that Sr Ambrose Dirkin embodies the value of ‘Trust in God’.

She is recognised for her own achievements, and as a representative of thousands of young women who entered fearlessly into the unknown to share God’s love with others. Like many women of her time, she left few words behind – but lived her life in a way that makes its meaning clear.  

To acknowledge this week, teachers have been asked to take some time to introduce Dirkin Week to their students and to highlight the linking Josephite value of ‘Trust in God’.

Sr Dirkin was also a talented musician so we will be taking time throughout the week to sing the Lochinvar Hymn in class.

Teachers will also be writing an MJR award with a ‘Trust in God’ focus to be presented on Friday.

To round out our activities for Dirkin Week, all students have been able to participate in Making Jesus Real (MJR) sessions with Marty Ogle.

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.

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.

Students wear sports uniform on Mission Day.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

On Monday 11th November, Year 3 will lead us in a liturgy for Remembrance Day. This liturgy will be held at the hall at 9am. Parents are welcome to join us for this liturgy.

To commemorate this day, we will be flying our school flags at half-mast. We will also ring a bell and put a message on the external speakers at 11am for students to stop for a minute silence.

ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT

CLASS PLACEMENT 2025

Over the coming weeks, class teachers, learning support teachers and the leadership team of St Patrick’s will be working to formulate class lists for 2025. We have had a few inquiries as to how teachers place children in classes. This is primarily based on factors such as academic progress, behaviour, ability to work independently and consideration of additional support needs. To address the social and emotional considerations, teachers reflect on friendships and positive interactions to determine the best placement for learning and wellbeing. There are times where great friendships do not result in effective placement in the same classes, which teachers are aware of, as they have a deep understanding of your child/ren.

Classes for 2025 will give children an opportunity to make new connections, while also strengthening existing friendships. Children can sometimes be a bit worried about their new class and teacher, which is quite common and expected. Please be assured that we will work together with you and your child, to ensure a smooth transition. Before the end of the year, the children will spend a session with their new class and teacher/s. This is known as STEP UP DAY which will be held on Monday 16th December.

PUPIL FREE DAY REMINDER

A reminder that Friday 15^th November is a pupil free day. Children are not at school on this day.

END OF YEAR AWARDS

Our Awards ceremony will take place this year on Monday 2^nd December. Please see the table below indicating the categories for the awards.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY 

Our Christmas Craft Day is Friday 6th December. Parent helpers will be invited to join in on the Christmas fun and assist in the classroom with the Christmas craft activities. This year, we ask you to complete the following form to identify if you intend on coming as a parent helper and the grade/grades you would like to assist with. We ask that you complete a separate form for each helper please. This will assist with our planning of the day.

IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS

MESSAGE FOR YEAR 6 PARENTS- YEAR 6 GRADUATION

The Year Six Graduation Liturgy and dinner will be held on Friday, December 13th.

The Graduation will take place at East Cessnock Bowling Club (ECBC) commencing with a Liturgy at 5:30pm followed by dinner and further formalities of the Graduation. Year 6 students and their parents are invited to attend the Graduation. Tickets can be purchased through Qkr at a cost of $35 per person (the cost of the ticket includes a 2-course meal).

PUBLIC SPEAKING 

Congratulation to both Evie Worth (Year 2) and Amelia McNally (Year 4) who competed in the Diocesan Public Speaking Competition last Thursday 24/10 at St Aloysius. A special acknowledgment to Amelia who walked away with a beautiful bronze medallion for coming 3rd. 

SUMMER LUNCHBOXES

GOVERNANCE MATTERS

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)

CURRICULUM NEWS

YEAR 1 LEARNING UPDATE

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS

SPORT NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS

During Week 2, Term 4, Mitchell Summers travelled to Sydney Olympic Park to represent the Polding region in Athletics at the NSWPSSA Athletics Championships. He made the final in both the 200m and 100m events and finished 2nd in the 200m and 5th in the 100m. Mitchell will now represent NSW and compete against students across Australia at the end of November. Congratulations Mitchell, an amazing achievement and we wish you the best of luck!

NETBALL GALA DAY

WHS

HALL CAR PARK- 'KISS AND DROP' INTRODUCTION

St Patrick’s Lochinvar is introducing a morning only hybrid system of parent drop off to school. Morning options are:

1. ‘Kiss and Drop’ option
2. Use of hall car park option

How does the ‘Kiss and Drop’ operate?

• Driving along Gregory Road from the Station Lane end, parents leave the road and drive single file and parallel to the road and the new barrier that was put in place on Friday 1/11/24. Stop at the gaps in the barrier and let your child/ children out of the car (exiting from the passenger/left hand side of the car only). Witches hats will be in place in the introduction phase. Simply drive between the orange witches hats into the 'Kiss and Drop' zone.
• Children walk through the gaps in the barrier across to the pedestrian area adjacent to the school fence.
• Children follow the pedestrian path to the school gate entry and walk into school.

Please note- Each morning, a chain will be placed across the area of car park that the children will be walking through to prevent vehicle access and ensure the safety of students. The chain will be removed after morning drop off so that the area can be used for afternoon parking.

‘KISS AND DROP’ MUST DO’S

• ‘Kiss and Drop’ only operates from 8:20am- 8:45am each morning. If you do arrive before 8:20am, you must park in the hall car park as children are not to be let out of the car and left unsupervised until the gate opens at 8:20am. This will be highly monitored, and cars will be turned away from the ‘Kiss and Drop’ if you arrive before 8:20am. Saying that, no cars should be arriving before 8:20am in the car park, as the school gate does not open until 8:20am.
• If you are required as a parent to get out of your car to assist your children into school or to open the door or boot of your car to get out bags etc, ‘Kiss and Drop’ is not for you. It is also not a place to stop and check your phone. It is a simple stop, children open the door (passenger/ left hand side of the car only), get out, walk safely into school. Vehicles move off immediately keeping in the line/ no overtaking in the ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone. This will keep the flow of traffic moving through the space.
• An unbroken white line has been painted, 4 metres from and parallel to the new barrier, to indicate to vehicles, where they enter, use and exit the ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone. Drive between the barrier and the white line when using ‘Kiss and Drop’. Note that it is a single line of cars, not 2 cars side by side.
• Be respectful and careful as you exit the “Kiss and Drop’ zone and be aware of cars entering and exiting the hall car parking space.
• The recommendation is that if you are using the ‘Kiss and Drop’ option, drive along Gregory Road from the Station Lane end.
• If you are using the hall car park option, drive along Gregory Road from the Robert Road end.
• The maximum speed limit when you leave Gregory Road is 10km/h. This applies to the ‘Kiss and Drop’ zone and the hall car park.

The above procedures will be in operation from tomorrow morning, Friday 8/11/24. They will constantly be reviewed to ensure the rules are being adhered to and that our high safety standards meet the requirements for all users. Afternoon procedures will remain as per the current arrangements.

The above information was also sent as a Compass notification on Thursday morning, 7/11/24.
Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility.

ROAD SAFETY MESSAGES

PARENTING PAGE

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