St Patrick's Primary School Swansea eNewsletter

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

It is hard to believe but we have made it to the end of the first full year of face-to-face teaching since 2019. And what a year it has been. I would like to thank the community for welcoming me to St Patrick’s. I knew I had big shoes to fill and am very grateful for the vote of confidence given to me by Peter Green. I am also very grateful to the staff, students and parents who have supported the evolving face of St Patrick’s as we continue to build a Catholic school with a positive culture for learning, loving and serving together. The partnership between school and home is an integral part of building community and ensuring quality education and we as a staff look forward to continuing to build those partnerships in 2023.

With the easing of Covid restrictions, we have been able to rebuild connections with and among our community. This year provided a focus on ‘friend raising’ and it has been wonderful to see the many events we have held, so well attended by St Pat’s family and friends. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts, St Patrick’s Day, 70^th Anniversary celebration, Barefoot bowls, trivia night, Book Week and Grandparent’s Day, Colour Run, Christmas family picnic and concert – it’s been a busy year!

The students have also had many opportunities to participate in a variety of events and activities – swimming and athletics carnivals, gymnastics, Dancefever, martial arts, Debating and Public Speaking, Spelling and Maths Bees, Tournament of Minds, representative sports, gala days, excursions, incursions, camps, ANZAC Day march, liturgies, Walk Safely to School, Science Week challenge, guitar and ukulele. Not to mention the introduction of our lunch club activities – painting, singing, drumming, Lego, STEM, sporting games and challenges. It is exhausting just looking back at some of the things we have achieved this year. On top of all these great experiences has been expert teaching and learning. I would like to commend the staff for their commitment to professional improvement, their dedication and hard work, their collaboration, creativity and the respect they show everyone each and every day. Your children are in excellent hands!

Finally, I would like to give an extra special thanks to Mrs McKenzie and Mr Lockwood for their tremendous support this year. They have needed to carry an extra load and have done so with grace and professionalism.

It is an absolute privilege being the principal of St Patrick’s.

I wish you all a wonderful peaceful Christmas. If you are travelling, take care on the roads, travel safely. I’ll see you in 2023!

Merry Christmas
Lucy

Awards Assembly

As has been traditional at St Patrick’s, our Awards Assembly held last week, acknowledged individual students in each class across 3 domains:

academic achievement, consistent effort and application, and community building. Congratulations to the following students:

2022 St Patrick’s Athletic Champions

Congratulations to the following students:

JNR Boys: Xavier Weet JNR Girls: Ava McCullough-Hendriks

11 YR Boys: Aiden Bowmaker 11 YR Girls: Lukah Thornton

SNR Boys: Hayden Wallwork SNR Girls: Madison Trembath

As in previous years, the 2023 swimming champions will be presented next year.

Diocesan Champs

Medals were awarded to Teddy Beckett for Representing at Polding level in softball and Madison Trembath representing at Polding level in athletics. Congratulations Teddy and Madison!

The Sportsperson of the Year

The 2022 Sportsperson of the Year was awarded to Madison Trembath. Madison is an all-round athlete who displays a determination to succeed, proudly representing St Patrick’s with exceptional sportsmanship.

MacKillop Award

This award is given to a student for dedicated service to our school community.

Mary MacKillop’s Congregation of Sisters of St Joseph founded our school in 1952. Both Mary MacKillop and our founding Sisters lived by the motto: “Never see a need without doing something about it”. This award is given to a student who has applied this motto to his/her daily work here at St Patrick’s. The recipient of the MacKillop Award for dedicated service to our community for 2022 is Jack Clarke.

Special thanks to The Rotary Club of Belmont, Yasmin Catley and Pat Conroy for their continued sponsorship of our awards.

Leaving Families

Today we say farewell and thank you to the families leaving St Patrick’s and thank them for contributing to the life of our school: Allen, Blacklow, Boyce, Brough, Clarke, Hammond, Hendriks, Hoskin, Koller, Krueger, McDonald, Quiggin, Ramsay, Reid, Wallwork, Wass, West, Windever families.

Farewell to Leaving Staff

As a community we would like to say thank you and farewell to the following staff who will be leaving us:

Miss Jasmine Hewitt, who has been teaching Year 4 with Mrs Walker. Jasmine has provided great stability and support to the students who will miss her greatly.

Mrs Connell, thank you for your commitment and dedication to our Year 6 students throughout the year and for the ‘extra’ that you bring to St Pat’s. We know we will see you back sometime next year!

Mrs Dougherty leaves us as RFF teacher for the pitter-patter of tiny feet. We wish Ally and her growing family all the very best.

Mrs Cumming leaves us as Learning Support Teacher. Thank you, Kerry, for your enthusiasm and zest for life but mostly thank you for your passion and commitment to supporting our students and families through the lens of learning support.

We also say a sad farewell to Mrs Dent who has been a dedicated staff member at St Patrick’s for the past 6 years. Cathy is also hanging up her teaching hat after 24 years of service to Catholic education. It is always a difficult decision to leave something you are so passionate about and committed to. We thank Cathy for her dedication to the many, many students she has taught throughout the Diocese. Her love for her students and her desire to bring out the best in them is to be admired. Cathy has also been instrumental in leading learning at St Patrick’s as Pedagogical Mentor for the past few years. Cathy, on behalf of the school community, we wish you a very relaxed transition to whatever the future may hold for you. Enjoy!

Advent Liturgy

On Monday, Year 3 lead a beautiful Advent liturgy to mark this very important time in the Church’s year. Thank you Mrs Walker and Miss Wiseman for your organisation.

Rite of Passage

Congratulations to our Year 6 students for the manner in which they celebrated their Rite of Passage on Wednesday. They left us in no doubt that they are all truly amazing, talented, spirit-filled young people with very bright futures. They are going to be greatly missed! This special day was made that much more special having the Year 6 parents present to help celebrate.

School Leaders

Last week we announced our 2023 leadership team. Congratulations to:

School Captains: Sienna Reddie and Aiden Bowmaker

Leaders of Mission: Isabella Moldrich and Jack Ayshford

Stewards of Creation: Arielle Chestney and Elijah Munster

Leader of IT: Parker Kelly

Pelican House Leaders: Hudson Brown and Blake Marriott

Seagull House Leaders: Lukah Thornton and Ashley Newell

Swan House Leaders: Shyanna Henderson and Evan Brennan

We look forward to all of Year 6, 2023 stepping into the role as school leaders. Year 6, 2023 will receive their Leader badge at the opening school mass next year.

Staffing 2023

Staffing for next year is complete. This was sent home Monday but is also attached.

Staffing 2023

Reports

A reminder to Year 6 parents and any other leaving family to download reports before your COMPASS access expires with the end of the school year.

Swimming Carnival

Thank you to Mrs Ogden for a very well organised swimming carnival last Friday. A very big job! Thank you to the parent volunteers who assisted on the day. The certificates and ribbons will be presented at the first assembly next year. Congratulations to all the students for having a go.

Creative Arts Expo

Thank you for joining us at our first ever Creative Arts Expo. It was wonderful to see the enjoyment on the students’ faces as they showcased their talents in a variety of areas. Thank you to Miss Wiseman for inspiring the expo. We can’t wait to share next year’s talent with you.

Year 6 Big Day Out

Year 6 ventured out yesterday to the Central Coast Aqua Park for the end of year Big Day Out. From all reports the students had a fantastic day with excellent weather, loads of fun and great memories. A lovely way for our leaders to end the year.

School Shoes Reminder

Please ensure that children wear the correct school shoes in the 2023 school year. Black leather shoes are part of the uniform and compulsory. No child should be wearing suede or branded name shoes. All companies now supply plenty of options that are comfortable and comply to our uniform policy. Please also note, girls are to wear white crew socks (ankle length, turned or pushed down). No knee length socks.

Sport shoes should be predominately white.

Message from RE Coordinator

Christmas Giving Tree

Thank you to all the families that have been able to contribute to the Christmas Giving Tree this year, assisting those families in our community in need. We have a great response and all the gifts were passed on to the Vinnies conference ready for distribution. I’m sure that there will be some very happy families in our community.

Rite of Passage

On Wednesday we celebrated the Rite of Passage liturgy for our leaving Year 6 students. The theme of the liturgy was ‘Live your Story’, encouraging the students to share their story and the story of Christ with those that they meet. Congratulations and thank you to the our Year 6 students for their leadership this year, they have been exceptional role models to the younger students at St Patrick’s.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is a celebration, a time for giving and not simply a day we exchange gifts. The spirit of Christmas is in the ‘togetherness’. It’s in the thought to which you put into thinking about others, it’s a selfless time, where we forgive, take stock of what’s important and become better versions of ourselves. I wish each and everyone family in the St Patrick’s community a safe and merry Christmas. May you enjoy the company of your loved ones, appreciating the joy and hope that the birth of Jesus Christ has to offer.

Dear God,
Our world is in darkness.
We need the light of peace and love to shine in our world.
Help us to prepare our lives and our homes to receive the One who said,
‘I am the light of the world’.
We pray in the name of Christ our Lord.
Amen

Mr Daniel Lockwood
Religion Coordinator

Save the Date

27th January - Staff return - Pupil Free Day
27th January - Uniform Shop OPEN 9am to 10am
30th January - Pupil Free Day
30th January - Uniform Shop OPEN 9am to 10am
31^st January 2023 - Students Year 1-6 return
2^nd February - Kinder commence
^9th Feb - Welcome Back Disco

Sport News

Swimming Carnival

Last Friday 9th December we held our Annual Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to Seagull House for winning with a grand total of 167 points. All swimmers competed eagerly, demonstrating wonderful fair play and encouragement for their fellow team-mates. Congratulations to all students who competed for their House Colours.

A huge thankyou to the many helpers and the staff of St Patrick’s who worked tirelessly throughout the day to make our carnival a success.

The Lakes Region Swimming Carnival will be held on Monday 13^th February 2023, the Regional Team will be announced early in 2023. More information will be sent home in the New Year.

Mrs Cheryl Ogden

Touch Football

Last Monday, Sophie Hill (Yr 4) and Hudson Brown (Yr 5) attended the Lakes Region Touch Football Trial. They both showcased the amazing sporting talent we have here at St Pat’s and were selected to attend the Diocesan Trial next year. Congratulations Sophie and Hudson!

If your child is a weekend Sports Star please email details and a photo to Claire.browne@mn.catholic.edu.au so we can celebrate their success in our next newsletter.

Mrs Claire Browne
Sports Coordinator

Classroom Supplies

Please see attached classroom supply list for 2023.

2023_Classroom_Supplies.pdf

PEG

Congratulations to the school community for your efforts in supporting St Patrick's through the canteen, uniform shop and fundraising. We have a very healthy bank balance of $47,206.76, raising $24,667.27 this year in a non-fundraising focused year! A great start to our outdoor education fund.

PEG_Operating_Financials_16.12.2022.pdf

Canteen

If you'd like to volunteer your time to help out of a Friday in 2023, please email StPatsCanteen1@gmail.com Each canteen shift starts at 9am and you’re done by midday, so its an easy, fun & social morning out if you’re free!

Uniforms

The uniform shop will be open during the school holidays on the following days only:

Friday 27th January 2023 - 9am to 10am

Monday 30th January 2023 - 9am to 10am

Leisha and Natalie can be contacted via email at stpatricksuniformshop1@gmail.com to answer any questions or to make alternate fitting arrangements.

Thank you
Leisha & Natalie

Office News

Medical Plans

Medical action plans are required to be updated annually. Please submit your updated asthma/anaphylaxis or allergy action plan for 2023 to the office on your return to school.