Term 4 - Week 2 (belated)

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to Term 4. There is a saying, “there is no place like home” and this couldn’t be truer. As you may remember from the last newsletter in Term 3, I was spending the school holidays on pilgrimage in Israel, Palestine and Jordan with about 40 other Diocesan staff. The day we flew home was the day the conflict between Israel and Palestine was heightened. It has been hard to reconcile how close we were to being caught up in this conflict. I feel very lucky and blessed that I am home safely with my family, friends and school community. Watching the news and hearing of the devasting events that are unfolding in the Middle East has had a far greater impact on me than I could have ever imagined. Having just visited the troubled areas, I feel a personal connection to the people and places. It was confronting to realise how little I knew of the history of political unrest and the humanitarian crisis that has existed for many years as a result of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

I pray that those in power, all world leaders, hear the pleas of the victims and causalities of conflicts being faced in many parts the world today. As tensions and the number of causalities continue to rise globally, I’m reminded of a famous quote, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’. I pray that there are enough good men, and women, courageous enough to do something to address the many humanitarian disasters impacting so many global communities.

Lucy Harvey
Principal

Welcome

This term we welcome 3 new families to the St Patrick’s community. We warmly welcome the Foreman family- Megan, Daniel and Amelie (Kinder), the Kanev family - Vyara and Max (Year 4) and the Jarvis family – Sapphire, Jesse and Joey (Year 4). Thank you for choosing St Pat’s!   

Congratulations

Congratulations to Kamile and Mark Rukin on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Medeina Danguole. A little sister for Joris!

Happy / Sad News

Our much-loved Miss Wiseman has been teaching at St Pat’s on a temporary contract for the past 3 years. Layne has recently been successful in applying for a permanent teaching position at St Kevin’s Cardiff commencing 2024. We sincerely congratulate Layne on securing her first permanent position! Whilst celebrating with Layne, we are also deeply saddened that she will be leaving St Pat’s at the end of the year. We will farewell and thank Layne at our end of year celebrations.

World Teachers Day

Friday 27^th October is World Teachers’ Day. I would like to give a HUGE thanks to every staff member of St Pat’s who always go above and beyond for our students. They are the most supportive, dedicated and hardworking group of professionals that I have had the pleasure to work with. Our community is indeed very blessed! Thank you, Team Swansea!

St Pat’s Needs You!!

St Pat’s relies on parent volunteers in many ways. At the end of 2023, our very dedicated Uniform Shop Coordinator, Leisha Fitzgibbon, will be leaving us. We are looking for a new coordinator or coordinators to take on the role for 2024. Please give this some serious thought as we cannot operate the Uniform Shop without parent volunteers. Leisha is very happy to chat to anyone who might be interested.

Budgeting 2024 / Students Leaving

We are currently finalising the 2024 budget for the school. To ensure we stay within our allocated budget for classes, could you please notify me as soon as possible if your child/ren will not be returning to St Patrick’s for the 2024 school year.

Fees

We are very conscious that the end of year is fast approaching and school fees need to be finalised by 30^th November. If you are experiencing unforeseen challenges at the moment and will be struggling to finalise your commitment by this date, please contact the office to arrange a conversation with me. We don’t want families to be stressed however we need to meet our financial commitments with outgoing expenses.

Holiday Works

During the recent school holidays we had many jobs completed around the school.  The Diocese have updated all lighting to smart lighting.  The difference, particularly in the student bathrooms, is quite amazing.  The Albonese Government funded deck is almost complete.  We are just waiting on the shade sails to be installed.

Term 1 Week 3

Term 1 Week 4

Message from RE Coordinator

Catholic Mission Crazy Hair and Sock Day

Socktober for Mission Month encourages us to engage with mission for children by using our heads to enquire about the reality of the world around us, using our hearts to feel empathy for those in situations of great need, and using our hands to take action for them in whatever way we are able.

To acknowledge and support the work of Catholic Mission we will be having a crazy hair and sock day on Friday 27^th October.  On this day, we are encouraging the students to do their hair in a fun and unconventional way and wear bright and colourful socks for a gold coin donation, which will go towards helping the people of Timor-Leste.

On this day, the students will also be participating in a liturgy and formation experience.

Catholic Mission Launch 10^th October

Last week Mr Lockwood took 4 students to the launch of the Catholic Mission campaign for 2023.  This year’s theme, ‘Hearts On Fire, With Feet On The Move’ invites people to take action and participate in God’s Mission, helping people all around the world, by fundraising, making goals for yourself and others. During the launch for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle we played a variety of soccer games and drills that were held on the McDonalds Jones Stadium pitch. We participated in a liturgy ran by Bishop Michael, and a variety of sandwiches, fruit and drinks were provided for lunch. Overall, from a student perspective it was a great experience not only for the students at St Pat's, but for our Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. We look forward to leading the students at St Pat's in building awareness of the work of Catholic Mission and raising funds to assist the people they help.

Jack A (Year 6)

Sacramental Program

Last Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of attending the ceremony of Confirmation.  The evening was a very special night, with mass being celebrated by Bishop Michael and Father Gerard.  Congratulations to the children who received the sacrament of Confirmation and we wish them well as they complete their first holy communion this weekend.  I would also like to thank Fr Gerard for all the guidance and support that he has offered the children while guiding them through their preparation to receive the sacraments. 

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Mr Daniel Lockwood
RE Coordinator

Assistant Principal Message

ACER PAT Online Testing

The CSO diocesan wide assessment schedule includes all students in Years 2-6 completing online tests for Reading and Mathematics and one other test of the school’s choice. We have chosen to have students also complete the Spelling test. The frameworks for PAT Maths and PAT Reading assessments are adaptive, which means questions will increase or decrease in difficulty depending on student responses, providing valuable information about students’ achievement, and learning progress. Our students will complete these tests across various days in Week 4.

Launch of SchoolTV

Raising confident and happy children in a modern world can be hard work! Often one of the biggest challenges can be sourcing relevant and reliable information that you can draw on to support their wellbeing.

As such, St Pat’s is excited to announce that we have recently added an award-winning resource to our school website. The resource, SchoolTV, includes evidenced-based information and practical strategies to build parent, carer and educator knowledge and confidence across a range of mental health and wellbeing topics.

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle supported St Pat’s to add SchoolTV to our website in response to feedback received from parents and carers who said they are seeking greater support in understanding the challenges their children are experiencing, as well as practical strategies for ways they can assist them. 

SchoolTV features interviews with leading wellbeing experts and researchers from around the world, on topics including:

Mental Health (encompassing grief and loss, anxiety, trauma and depression).

Healthy Bodies (including mindfulness, body image, sleep, diet and nutrition, physical activity and exercise).

Cyber Safety (encompassing cyberbullying, digital reputation, internet addiction, and managing screen time).

Positive Parenting (including friendship and belonging, blended families, resilience, positive parenting and understanding adolescence).

School Survival (encompassing school refusal, school transitions and exam jitters).

Diversity and Inclusion (including multiculturalism, neurodiversity, respectful relationships, gender diversity and supporting children with a disability).

These topics are presented in a variety of ways including videos, factsheets, podcasts and SchoolTV also includes recommendations for additional resources including books, apps and other websites.

While we will continue to host parent and carer information events as a school, one of the many benefits of SchoolTV is that you can watch it pre-emptively or as the need arises, from the convenience of your own home, either by yourself or, as a family.

From time to time, we may also promote key topics contained in SchoolTV for families either through Compass or our newsletter, when they coincide with student learning and/or matters arising in our school community.

Importantly, SchoolTV complements initiatives already underway in our school including our Student Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Policy and the “Wellbeing Together” Student Learning and Wellbeing Framework.

Our staff are familiar with SchoolTV, and as such, I am confident that this shared knowledge between staff and parents will assist us all in partnering together to better support children and young people’s learning, safety, mental health and wellbeing.

If you have any questions about SchoolTV, or the topics contained within the site, please get in touch with the staff listed on the site or, me directly.

Visit our SchoolTV site here: https://swansea.catholic.schooltv.me/

Mrs Janine Schneider
Acting Assistant Principal

Kids Helpline

Safe and Respectful Peer Relationships

The Kids Helpline website has a number of great resources that are child friendly to help support safe and respectful relationships.  Some topics include:

• Fights with friends
• Bullying is not ok
• Making friends
• Being ok with being different
• How to be happy being yourself
• My friends are fighting
• Wanting to fit in
• Treating others well

Please take some time to show your child the Kids Helpline website so they can learn to navigate through these resources should they ever want to know more information on some of these topics or others. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/kids/issues

21-29 October 2023 – Children’s Week: Council of Australia

This year’s theme is: Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities.

This theme is based on article #31 from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).  It highlights that all children and young people can participate in and make a valuable contribution to their society.

For ideas on how you can celebrate Children’s week with your child/ren, visit this website:  https://www.nswchildrensweek.org.au/ideas-for-adults

Save the Date

From the Diverse Learners Team

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education –

NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 22-29 October 2023

Kaayi (greetings)

The theme of the Aboriginal Languages Week 2023 is “Languages Alive, Culture Thrives”.

At St Patrick’s, we are proud to be learning some words from the local Awabakal language, this Country on which we work, live and play.

St Patrick’s is part of the newly-formed Powaikaliko Malang (“Grow Together”) Catholic Community of Schools, along with our Catholic Primary and High School friends in Belmont, Windale, Gateshead and Charlestown.

For our first project Aunty Laurel, from Minimbah Local AECG, has worked with us to create a totem for each of our schools to protect and care for.

St Patrick’s has been thoughtfully assigned the kanbal (black swan), which not only are a symbol of grace and beauty but also included in our school crest.

Other animals we see at St Patrick’s include:

Karoongkaroong (pelican)

Wirikada (kookaburra)

Makuru (fish)

Learning Support & Gifted Education – What is neurodiversity and what does it mean at school?

The term ‘neurotypical’ simply refers to a person with a more common type of brain (otherwise known as a neurotype) in terms of how they sense the world and people around them, and how they think, feel and respond. When you are neurodivergent, you differ from the ‘typical’ or more common type of brain. People with Autism are neurodivergent, as are people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental language disorder (DLD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or with learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyspraxia. About 1 in every 5 or 6 children has variations in their brain development (raisingchildren.net.au, 2022).

When we understand and make allowances for neurodiversity, children are less likely to experience difficulties at school and more likely reach their full potential.  At St Patrick's, a number of adjustments are made for students on a daily basis.  This might include using different methods of teaching or the use of visuals (pictures, diagrams or written prompts) to show a sequence of actions, e.g. for the daily timetable or how to complete an activity.  There may be environmental adjustments like a 'calm corner' or a seating plan or additional equipment such as a slope board, pencil grips, headphones,  fidget tools, mov'n'sit cushions, weighted blankets, floor seats.  Some students make use of assistive technology, which might mean using the immersive reader function to enable text to be read aloud or changing the size and font of the text.

We try to understand the barriers to learning and then find a way to overcome that barrier.  If you have any concerns about your child's learning, please see their class teacher to find out how we can best support them and help them to progress.

Mrs Simes
Learning Support Teacher

Wellbeing News

Wellbeing

Some recent unsettling news events, both locally and internationally, may evoke some feelings of confusion, insecurity or worry for children. The following resource may be helpful when speaking to children about such events. If you have noticed any changes in your child’s behaviour or you are concerned about how your child may be feeling, please contact the school for further support.

https://www.savethechildren.org.au/getmedia/59752d89-0388-4a51-ada5-4f65a30a1f63/How-to-talk-to-kids-about-scary-news.aspx

Smiling Mind

Years K-6 are continuing with our Smiling Mind Program with great enthusiasm.  Each class participates in a fortnightly lesson which explicitly teaches concepts related to self-awareness, social awareness, self-management and social management in line with the Personal and Social Capabilities in the Australian Curriculum. Additionally, students are practicing mindfulness on a regular basis throughout the week. Research provides evidence that social and emotional learning, combined with mindfulness practices enhances concentration, emotional regulation, relationship skills and resilience- all which impact on academic performance and overall wellbeing. For further details about how parents and carers can support the program at home, please see https://www.smilingmind.com.au/at-home

Mrs Fiona Walker
Wellbeing Support Teacher

Year 5 News

This term Year 5 are studying the novel A Wild Robot written by Peter Brown. In our writing lessons we have discussed the use of adjectives, verbs and verb groups to enhance our writing. The students then wrote a descriptive paragraph based on a setting from the story. Read our amazing paragraphs below.

Spencer

Rozz was dangerously hiking up the mountain when she soon found a boulder on a cliff, it was on the peak of falling. Then suddenly it started rolling, crushing everything in its path. It had jagged spikes on it and a few holes in it, nothing could stop it. A little tree was peacefully absorbing water and then all of a sudden, the jagged heavy boulder crashed and made it into a pancake. There was a rock kind of shaped like a ramp and when the boulder hit it instead of going up in the air it smashed into little pebbles.   

Chloe

Huge black clouds started to roll over. The robot heard the tiny raindrops falling on her tin body then she started sprinting down to the bottom of the tall hill, she sensed that there was a storm coming. As she was running down, she spotted a cave so she ran into the dark cave to get out of the rainy weather, but little did she know she had wandered straight into somebody else's home. 

Alyssa

As I wandered through the wilderness day after day, I started to think...What is this place? ...Why am I here?... How did I get here? And then suddenly I felt something tug and grab onto my tin leg, I looked down in curiosity, it was a massive furry beast! I could slowly feel its razor-sharp teeth making an indent in my thick metal tin suit. I looked around for anything to grab onto to try and make this thing go away but I started to see something else.... ANOTHER BIG FURRY BEAST!  

Sienna

The flashing thunder hailed down on the ship as the raging water swallowed the ship, pulling it deep down into the depths of the ocean. The wind roared back and forth, rumbling, tumbling as chaos filled the island. As the current pulled the remaining boxes from the ship back to shore, the water became calm.  

Lara

Chirps everywhere, pinecones dropping on her head. “WILL THIS EVER STOP?” she yelled but mother nature did not like that. As Roz was walking and zooming through the forest a big chunk of wind hit her head, and more wind followed behind. She climbed up on a tree to think she was safe, and she was! In the morning she was covered in dust but overall, she continued her journey. 

Max

As the waves splashed and sploshed the sea otters were curious and cautiously crept closer to the unknown crates. The beach was a gravesite of dead robots. The raging ocean was a gravesite of sunken ships and dead bodies. The curious otters climbed on to the crates and swatted at the crates cautiously.     

Angus

Lightning struck the boat leaving it motionless in the raging ocean. But they can't stop it from sinking into the deep depths of the ocean. As the boat sinks nearly all of their stock of robots wasted at the bottom of the ocean. Only five survived but then four crates thrashed and slammed at the sharp deadly rocks. The curious otters saw a sparkle in the distance and slowly approached the robot parts. 

Drew

Rumbling, tumbling waves were crashing up on to the cargo ship making it capsize and lose the cargo onboard.  The ship then started to sink into the dark depths of the ocean destroying most of the cargo. The storm eventually passes over and only five crates of cargo are left and in each of those crates is a brand-new robot. Days go by of these crates drifting in the big blue ocean and these robots seemed to be lost but then a smudge of green became visible on the horizon. 

Xavier

BANG! The lightning struck ten metres from the cargo ship electrocuting the water and shutting off the motor. The cargo ship slowly started sinking, they had lost and failed the mission of getting ninety-five crates of robots to the island. Once the ship had gotten swallowed by the gigantic rushing waves with a breeze powerful enough to push a whale to shore, it was a tragic night of disaster. UNTIL five robotic crates landed on the island, four robots didn’t survive but one got turned on by two otters.  

Chelsea

The wild robot carefully walked up the rocky, sandy, sheer mountain. As she walked around trying to find shelter, she saw peaceful vultures flying around.  She felt safe and happy here. She saw berry bushes and colourful flowers everywhere. Once she got to the highest point on the mountain, she saw a beautiful clear glistening waterfall. She saw the ocean, it was full of curious creatures. 

Sophia

A cargo ship was crossing the ocean to deliver a hundred crates of robots. A storm came over, but it was no ordinary storm, it crushed the ship and pulled it down to the deep depths of the ocean. The ship sunk with all the crates except for the 5 that survived. 

Sophie

Swish, swoosh! A massive hurricane threw around five robots waiting to be unpackaged and four of the robots got their wish, they were unpackaged by the storm. There was only one remaining that made it to the green, lush island. One survivor made it, but its crate was still damaged from the raging storm. But inside that one lucky crate was one amazing robot, Roz.

Mrs Cheryl Ogden
Year 5 Teacher

Sport News

School Sport Term 4

This week, the students at St Pat’s began a four week Lacrosse Program delivered by Gecko Sports. At the completion of the program, students will continue to hone their Lacrosse game skills with their teachers during PE lessons. We look forward to sharing some photos of tstudents skill development over the coming weeks.

Polding Athletics Championships

Last Friday Sienna (Yr6) and Jaymie, Evie, Skye and Mia (Yr 4) competed at The Polding Athletics Championships in Sydney. Congratulations to all our outstanding athletes and a special mention to Skye and Mia who made the final of the 100m and to our Junior Girls Relay Team (Jaymie, Evie, Skye and Mia) who won their event and will now progress to NSWPSSA Championships on October 26^th. What an amazing achievement!

Pathways Sport

We wish the best of luck to Tyla Hope (Yr5) and Cooper Brown (Yr4) who will be attending Regional Trials for Tennis and Basketball (respectively) in the coming weeks.

Catholic Schools NSW offers many sporting pathway opportunities for talented athletes. If your child is an aspiring athlete, you might like to familiarise yourself with the CSNSW Sport web page here: https://csnsw.sport/ 

Sport information specific to our Diocese can be found on the Maitland Newcastle Diocese tile on the CSNSW Sport page https://csnsw.sport/maitland-newcastle/primary/home 

Any registrations on these pages must first be approved. 

Weekend Sports Star

If your child is a Weekend Sports Star or extra curricular activity, 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

P&F News

It’s coming, Get Excited...!!

Our 2023 RAINBOW RUN is happening on Friday November 17th from 1pm! Students will each participate in 10 of the most colourful and laughter filled laps, over, under & through obstacles around our school playground! Family & friends, please come along to join the fun! (We may even recruit you to join in on the colour & water spraying!) You’re also welcome to join us for lunch before the fun starts. All are welcome! Student Registration is now available to purchase on Qkr!

Your $15 purchase includes:

* Obstacle course supplies
* A White T-Shirt
* Colourful Sweatbands
* Lunch & a drink
*An iceblock to cool off afterwards

Students will be sent home with information packs and forms next week, so please keep an eye out. Registrations close Friday November 10th to allow us time to prepare supplies before the day.

Canteen

Uniforms

The uniform shop is open on each Monday during the school term from 2.00pm - 3.00pm.

Orders can be placed on the QKR app. The cut-off for orders is 12pm on Monday.

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

School fees are to be finalised no later than the 30th November.  Please ensure your regular payments will have your fees paid in full by this date.

Our preferred method of payment is either BPay or direct debit. For Fee Payers wishing to establish a new Direct Debit, or adjust their existing direct debit, please complete the form on the Catholic Development Fund website www.CDFmn.com.au.

For those families experiencing financial hardship, or wishing to discuss other payment arrangements, please contact the school office to arrange an appointment with the Principal.

Schools will now commence the school fee management process if there has been no contact with school office or no initial payment received.

An event for the Diocesan Pastoral Contribution has been created, this is a voluntary fee that assists the Diocesan Pastoral Support Programs, you can elect to pay or decline via the Compass Parent Portal.

Rachelle McKenzie
Senior School Officer

Volunteering at St Patrick's

We have many events still planned for the remainder of the year.  Please get in early and register so you won't be dissappointed in missing out.

If you would like to register to volunteer at St Patrick's, can you please complete the "Volunteer Registration Form" by clicking on the link here. 

St Patrick's will be notified by the Catholic Schools Office once you are cleared to volunteer.

If you are unsure if you have clearance, please email the office at admin@swansea.catholic.edu.au to enquire.

Community Notices

Christmas Card Competition for Stage 2 Years 3 & 4