Term 4, Week 6 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
Our Year 5 students recently took part in the Student Leadership Program, reflecting on what makes a good leader. During the program, they looked ahead to their potential involvement as a school leader at St Patrick’s for 2025. Marty Ogle from ‘Making Jesus Real’ (MJR) led the students on a Leadership Day focusing on the traits required to be an effective leader- traits like respect, compassion and collaboration.
Learning to be a leader is a valuable part of school life at St Patrick’s. It recognises each student’s individual strengths and provides them with opportunities to develop their skills in their area of leadership. Ongoing class activities in Year 6 during 2025, will support the children to grow in confidence and self-assurance, preparing them for life after primary school.
The 2025 student leadership application process has commenced. Successful candidates will be presented to the school community at the End of Year Thanksgiving Liturgy, to be held on Monday, December 9.
Badges are presented at the Opening School Mass at the beginning of next year. I would like to congratulate the students for their courage and commitment in applying for the various leadership positions.
COMPLETION OF MACKILLOP PARK CROSS
Our new MacKillop Park cross is now complete. It looks amazing and is a wonderful addition to this beautiful part of our school. Parents are very welcome to walk down to MacKillop Park any morning before school commences to view the new cross. The explanation of the symbols has been placed on the back of the cross for all to view.
WEEK 8 NEWSLETTER CHANGE
Please note that our next newsletter will not be published in week 8. Our final newsletter for 2024 will go to parents on Thursday 12th December in week 9. A full list of staff for 2025 will be included in this newsletter.
With best wishes,
Dennis Nolan
Acting Principal
CALENDAR EVENTS
Looking ahead- TERM 4: | |
Week 6 | 18/11 - Peer Support @ 1pm- final session |
22/11 - Assembly @ 9am | |
Week 7 | 25/11 - Year 5 Leadership Speeches |
Week 8 | 2/12 - End of year Awards ceremony – Saint Joseph’s Lochinvar- 9:30am |
4/12 – Year 3 play- ‘How to wrap like an elf’ 12pm | |
6/12 - School Assembly @ 9am/ Christmas Craft Day- 11:30am-1:30pm | |
Week 9 | 9/12 - End of Year Liturgy- 9:30am @ school hall |
11/12 - Family Christmas night-5pm-8pm | |
13/12 - Kinder Nativity Play- 12:15pm- 1:15pm | |
Week 10 | 16/12 - Step up day |
Wednesday 18/12 - Students finish – Year 6 clap out- 2:30pm | |
RE NEWS
PARISH MASS
Next Friday we will have our final Parish/School Mass for the year. These masses are an opportunity for the children to engage in a Mass within the church and with our school and parish community. Students in Year 3 & 4 will be attending and assisting with leading along with Father George. Parents and Carers are welcome to attend.
Date: Friday 29th November
Time: 9:30am
Location: St Patrick’s Catholic Church, LOCHINVAR
VINNIES CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2024
SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION 2025
Our parish communities wish to support families who would like their children to be Confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion in 2025.
If your child has been baptised a Catholic and in Year 3 or above in 2025 and would like to receive the other Sacraments of Initiation next year then we would like to invite you to attend two mandatory Information sessions, one in November this year and one in February next year.
Please contact the Parish office before attending these meetings if your child is not baptised in the Catholic faith via email: SOIchisholm@mn.catholic.org.au
It will be necessary for at least one parent or caregiver to attend both information sessions for their child to receive the sacraments next year.
2024 Session 1 at this session an overview of the process will be presented. Our preparation is parish based, family centered, and school supported. After you have heard what is involved, and if you feel your child is ready we ask parents and caregivers to attend Session 2 where resources for the Sacraments will be given.
Tuesday 6pm on Tuesday 26 November at St Paul’s Church Rutherford OR
Wednesday 6pm on Wednesday 27 November at St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland, OR
Thursday 6pm on Thursday 28 November at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beresfield.
2025 Session 2 you will be required to bring a copy of your child’s Catholic baptism certificate to register your child in the preparation process.
Tuesday 6pm on Tuesday 11th February at St Paul’s Church, Rutherford OR
Wednesday 6pm on Wednesday 12th February at St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland OR
Thursday 6pm on Thursday 13th February at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beresfield.
These meetings are for families from the eight churches of our region:
Our Lady of Lourdes, Cnr Delprat Avenue & Anderson Drive, Beresfield
St Joseph’s, Cnr King Street & Newcastle Road, East Maitland
Immaculate Conception, Cnr George & James Streets, Morpeth
Holy Family, 11 John Street, Largs
St Columba’s, Cnr Church & Prince Streets, Paterson
Sacred Heart, New England Highway, Campbell’s Hill
St Paul’s, 10 Young Street, Rutherford
St Patrick’s, 55 New England Highway, Lochinvar
Our parishes have an abiding commitment to promote the safety, welfare and well being of children. More Information can be found via our website:
On behalf of Fr George and the Sacramental team
ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT
AWARDS CEREMONY- MONDAY 2/12
An assembly to present the End of Year Awards will be held on Monday, December 2nd at 9:30am. All parents are welcome to gather for this ceremony to be held in the hall at MacKillop Place, St Joseph’s College Lochinvar.
CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY- FRIDAY 6/12
Our Christmas Craft Day is Friday 6th December- 11:30am- 1:30pm. 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.
Click Christmas Craft parent helper form to view the Christmas Craft parent helper form.
END OF YEAR LITURGY- MONDAY 9/12
Our end of year Thanksgiving Liturgy will be held on Monday, December 9th commencing at 9:30am in St Patrick’s Lochinvar school hall. School leaders for 2025 will be announced at this celebration.
CHRISTMAS FAMILY EVENING- WEDNESDAY 11/12
Time – Gates open 5pm, Carols from 6pm.
Where - St Patrick's Primary School (entry via Gregory Rd gates).
What to wear - Students are invited to wear a Christmas themed t-shirt or costume.
What to bring - Families can bring picnic rugs and chairs, picnic food.
What to buy- Food items will be available to purchase.
Restrictions- NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED. NO PETS. NO SMOKING.
We are very excited to host another whole school community event. Families are invited to come together for a family picnic and join in the spirit of Christmas as we sing communal Christmas carols and songs. Each grade will lead their favourite song.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION- FRIDAY 13/12
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).
STEP UP DAY- MONDAY 16/12
Students will move up to the next classroom with their allocated class group for 2025.
YEAR 6 CLAP OUT- WEDNESDAY 18/12
Time: 2.30pm
Detail: Staff and students in Years K-5 will assemble on the path leading from the canteen to the administration building (within the school), and from the administration building to the carpark (outside the front entrance), effectively creating a ‘tunnel.’
Parents and family members are invited to gather in single file along the concrete path which runs outside the black fence and connects the administration building at the front of the school to the base of the hall car park off Gregory Rd.
The Year 6 students will continue their procession along the path, being celebrated by their loved ones as they go, completing their journey at the end of the path, where their Year 6 teachers will be waiting to meet them to escort them, through the carpark, to the hall.
Following the procession, parents will be asked to collect their Year 6 child from the hall carpark gate and;
- Promptly leave the school site or
- Move to usual dismissal points to collect siblings.
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FOR PARENTS
CHOIR NEWS
Last Tuesday, 5th November, our School Choir represented St Patrick’s at the very first diocesan Vocal Showcase. There were over 500 students who attended this showcase and sang their hearts out!
Our choir performed 2 songs: ‘Believer’ (Imagine Dragons) and ‘Rip Tide’ (Vance Joy). The students sang these two arrangements beautifully and are to be commended for their dedication to choir this year.
It was a wonderful experience to sing on the Civic Theatre stage! A big congratulations to these students: Winter Booth, Maeve Bradley, Pearl Conway, Karma Cummings, Indi Hepplewhite, Marlee Higginbottom, Arlia Hilton, Quinn Hosking, Divyajot Kaur, Savannah McManus, Amelia McNally, Lainie Redgrove, Quinn Redgrove, Ava Sadaj, Mylah Thomas, Lily Tiedeman, Bella Tillman and Arabella Trelease. (Absent: Ivie Bottomley and Sadie Cunningham.)
ASPIRE
Recently, auditions for ASPIRE 2025 took place within our diocese. Congratulations to Monique Traub-Rehm from Year 5W who has been accepted to the Dance Ensemble and Armani Garland-Sherbon from 6B who has been accepted to the Vocal Ensemble.
CANTEEN NEWS
CHANGES TO CANTEEN DAYS
As outlined in the Compass notices the Canteen will be closed on Monday 25th November. There will be no meal deal this week however the canteen will open on Wednesday 27th November for both breaks for counter sales.
END OF YEAR CHANGES
As we move toward the end of the year the amount of stock stored in the canteen will be reduced. Menu items will be limited or removed from QKR to run down stock.
VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to the many volunteers who have helped me since the beginning of term. Your help is always greatly appreciated.
There are still some spaces to fill on the roster over the coming weeks. It is a busy time but if you can spare any time, it all helps.
Please contact me at chris.jones@mn.catholic.edu.au
CANTEEN ROSTER
CURRICULUM NEWS
Year 5 News
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER NEWS
SPORT NEWS
BASKETBALL
On Tuesday, 12th November, eight young basketball players from Saint Patrick’s Primary Lochinvar, took part in the 2024 Basketball New South Wales Schools Tournament held at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium.
I was incredibly impressed by these students' sportsmanship, respect for others, tolerance, endurance, indomitable spirit and general manners during the day. Under the expert coaching of Ms Shaye Kelleher, this outfit was a force to 'reckoned with'!
The team reached the grand final, only to be beaten by a very TALL and disciplined group from Central Coast Adventist School.
Congratulation to all the boys and a huge thank you to Ms Kelleher for coaching the team.
2024 Basketball NSW Schools Tournament Saint Patrick’s Lochinvar Team:
Maxwell Anderson
Flettchar Bourke
Liam Brian
Charles Cooper
Bailey cummings
Judd Dunning
Tate Dunning
Cameron Worrell
Results:
Game 1
Central Coast Grammar School 26 points
Saint Patrick’s Lochinvar 28 points
Game 2
Hunter Christian School 9 points
Saint Patrick’s Lochinvar 32
Grand Final
Central Coast Adventist School 33points
Saint Patrick’s 14 points
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Judd Dunning, Maxwell Anderson and Charles Cooper who have all been selected to trial for the Diocesan Basketball Team at the end of the month. We wish them all the best of luck!
WHS
KISS AND DROP FEEDBACK
During week 5 (11/11- 14/11), data was collected around the use of the newly introduced ‘Kiss and Drop’ (morning only) at St Patrick’s Lochinvar. Year 4 White under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs Kleinman, collated the data and created graphs in excel to plot the results. On average, 65 cars used the K&D daily. Over the 4 days, 259 cars used the K&D. This has resulted in 259 cars not using the hall car park. This has improved safety overall for everybody. Congratulations to everybody for following the rules and for using the K&D in the intended manner.
We are at a stage now where parents have a good understanding of the process of Kiss and Drop (K&D) so we are looking ahead to formalising the space to alleviate the need to manually place out witches hats each morning and set up the K&D. You will notice that we have some witches hats temporarily fixed to the K&D area that we use in the morning. For those parents who choose to reverse park in the K&D space of an afternoon, please reverse between the witches hats that are now there. The gap between them is 3m and this is wider than the tradition parking space you will see in other car parks. We are in the process of purchasing more appropriate flexible poles to fix permanently. These will not cause damage to your cars as they are flexible. If you are not comfortable reversing into the spaces, simply park in another area of the car park and leave the cone/ pole area for more confident drivers. Thank you for your continued cooperation.
HALL CAR PARK EXIT
We used the opportunity on Friday 15th November, due to the pupil free day, to undertake work at the exit to the hall car park. The exit has been creating issues, particularly for cars low to the ground with scraping of the front of cars due to the dip. This has now been fixed. The exit was concreted on Friday making it flat and accessible for any car. Drainage was placed under the concrete to assist when heavy rain occurs. See image below.
PARENTING PAGE
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