St Patrick's Primary School Swansea eNewsletter

Message from the Principal

Loving God,
On this Feast of the Assumption,
we celebrate the life and faith of Mary,
who was taken body and soul into heaven.

May her example of trust, courage, and devotion
inspire us to walk with faith in our daily lives.
Help us to say “yes” to your call,
just as Mary did, with open hearts and willing spirits.

Bless our school community,
our students, staff, and families,
as we continue to grow in love and learning.
May we always seek to uplift one another,
and be signs of hope and compassion in the world.

Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us and guide us always.

Amen.

Dear Families

Welcome to the Term 3 Week 4 newsletter! We hope the term is unfolding positively for all our students and families.

This fortnight, we mark two important feasts in our Catholic tradition. On August 8^th we celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint, continues to inspire us with her unwavering commitment to education, compassion, and justice. Her words, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” challenge us to be people of action and kindness in our school and wider community.

Today we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. The Assumption of Mary celebrates Mary being taken into heaven, body and soul, a sign of hope and the promise of eternal life. Mary’s faithful “yes” to God encourages us to live with trust, humility, and love.

As we reflect on these feasts, may we be inspired to live with purpose, compassion, and a deep sense of faith in all we do.

Have a great week

Lucy Harvey
Principal

Congratulations Miss Murray

I’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Chloe Murray on her appointment to a permanent teaching position at St Patrick’s. Chloe has been with us on a temporary contract last year and this year. We’re absolutely thrilled to have Chloe as a permanent member of our team and look forward to the continued contributions she will bring to St Patrick’s.

Congratulations Evelyn Johns

Congratulations to Evelyn Johns in Year 2 who has won a Bronze Award in WriteOn 2025, our annual writing competition for students in Years 1 to 6.

Evelyn will be recognised at the WriteOn Awards Ceremony on Monday 22 September 2025 at the State Library of NSW. She will receive a special certificate and a copy of The Best of WriteOn 2025 publication from a parliamentary representative.

St Vincent de Paul Swansea

Please find attached a letter regarding the opening of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW’s new Supported Temporary Accommodation Service for Women in Swansea. I have also attached FAQs document from SVdP which you may find useful.

Please feel free to contact me directly or reach out to St Vincent de Paul via email at SwanseaSTA@vinnies.org.au if you have any questions or concerns.

Community_Message.pdf

Swansea_FAQ_August_2025 pdf

Grandparents Day & Book Week

We’re excited to invite families to join us for a special day of celebration next Thursday, 21st August!

Students are encouraged to come dressed as a character from a book or in a costume that reflects this year’s Book Week theme: “Book an Adventure.” Our whole-school Book Week Parade will begin at 9:00am in the courtyard, showcasing the wonderful creativity of our students.

Following the parade, Grandparents will enjoy morning tea before our special liturgy at 10:00am in the Hall to honour and celebrate the gift of grandparents. After the liturgy, visitors are warmly invited into classrooms to take part in engaging Book Week activities with the students.

At 11:00am, we’ll enjoy a pizza lunch, and throughout the morning, the book stall will be open in the Library, a great opportunity to browse and discover some fantastic reads.

We look forward to sharing this joyful day with our school community!

Book_Week_Grandparents_Day_2025.pdf

School Photos- Monday 25^th August

A friendly reminder that school photos will be taken on Monday 25th August. All students are required to wear their full winter uniform on the day.

MSP School Photo Ordering is Ready!

Compass is now set up and ready for parents to order online, please see below correspondence that was sent to all compass users last week.

A reminder email will be sent out before photo day and another one after photo day.

Please also note that family ordering cuts off at midnight the day before photo day and no family orders can be placed online after this time

Father's Day Breakfast & Liturgy

We would love to see all dads, grandads, and father figures join us for a special Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 5th September, starting at 7:30am.

Come and enjoy a delicious egg and bacon roll to kick off the morning, followed by a Father’s Day liturgy in the hall to celebrate the important role fathers play in our lives and community.

We look forward to sharing this meaningful morning with you!

Father_s_Day.pdf

Money Invested, Money Saved- Funding Campaign

Recently there has been much public discussion around the Australian Government's model of funding schools. Catholic Schools NSW have put together some data to explain how government funding for non-government schools—such as Catholic and Independent schools— supports your right to choose the best educational environment for your child while also reducing costs for Australian taxpayers.

Using the most recent data, the report outlines how funding these schools through a mixed education model reduces pressure on public education resources, with savings of up to $6.88 billion annually. The report highlights how school choice benefits families and the broader community alike.

To read more, find the report here: Money invested, Money Saved - July 2025 - Adobe cloud storage.

Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. To assist you in this important role, a list of upcoming webinars provided by reputable providers, free of charge, has been compiled and is available on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage.

A snapshot of Term 3 webinars is included below. More information about these webinars, including links to register, can be found on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/ Please note, the webpage will be updated regularly with news of additional webinars and you can visit the site at any time.

*Date*	*Topic*	*Presenter*
Thursday 21 August	*AI-assisted image-based abuse: Navigating the deepfake threat*	eSafety Commissioner
Thursday 28 August	*Understanding AI Companions: What parents and carers need to know*	eSafety Commissioner
Tuesday 2 September	*Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online*	eSafety Commissioner
Tuesday 9 September	*Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know*	eSafety Commissioner
Wednesday 10 September	*Nurturing Strengths: Unlocking your child’s potential*	Presented by Beyond on behalf of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT
Thursday 11 September	*Understanding AI Companions: What parents and carers need to know*	eSafety Commissioner

Raising Body Bright Children - LIVE WEBINAR

Support for children's body image!

Children today are growing up in a world where appearance pressures start far too early. Parents and carers naturally want their children to feel confident and comfortable in their bodies, but it’s not always easy to know how to help.

That’s why Butterfly is inviting parents of primary age children to a live, virtual seminar designed to provide the tools, knowledge, and confidence to nurture a positive body image and a healthy relationship with eating and physical activity, right from the start.

In this practical, engaging session, parents will learn:

How body image develops in primary-age children
Common risk factors for body dissatisfaction and how to reduce them at home
Everyday ways to be a positive role model around eating and physical activity
The importance of the language used around bodies and appearance
How to respond if you notice body image concerns

Where to find help and support if needed.

Event Details

Date: Monday, 1st September 2025

Time: 7pm - 8pm AEST (+15 mins for questions)

Via: Zoom. Time limited recording available

Cost: $15

Full Registration Link

Parent Line NSW

Week 5

Week 6

Message from RE Coordinator

Feast of the Assumption

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This special day reminds us of our belief that, at the end of her life, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into Heaven. It is a holy day of obligation, meaning Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass.

This feast is important because it honours Mary’s deep faith, her “yes” to God, and the hope we share as followers of Jesus — that we too are called to be with God forever.

As a school, we marked this day with prayer, reflection, and a liturgy. Students reflected on Mary’s role in God’s plan, and we encourage the students to follow her example of trust, humility, and love.

Sacramental Program

This year we have 4 boys from Year 3 & 4 participating in the parish sacramental program. Egan, Leon, Zantar and Vinnie were acknowledged at the Feast of the Assumption Mass today at Belmont where the parishioners were asked to guide and pray for them. May we keep these boys in our prayers as a school community, as they continue along their faith journey completing the Sacraments of Confession, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

Parish Children’s Liturgy of the Word – All Are Welcome!

JOIN US at St Francis Xavier Church Belmont for a special Children’s Liturgy of the Word during 9:00AM Mass on Sunday, 17 August. This child-centred liturgy offers a friendly, safe, and engaging space where children can hear and reflect on the Gospel in a way that speaks to their hearts. All children are warmly invited to participate – come and share in the joy of faith made simple and meaningful for our youngest parishioners. Stay after Mass for a relaxed morning tea – a great chance to connect with fellow families and parishioners!

Mr Daniel Lockwood
RE Coordinator

Diverse Learners Team News

Learning Support – Proudly supporting Bullying No Way: National Week of Action

This week St Patrick’s have been participating in the Bullying No Way: National week of action, 11 to 15 August 2025.

Bullying No Way Week is a commitment being made by thousands of schools and supporters across the country. It provides an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to bullying prevention. It gives us an opportunity to connect with students, staff and school communities to implement workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for this year's campaign is Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up. We had a presentation at our school assembly last Friday (see below) and Year 6 have been continuing to deliver a daily message about ‘being bold, being kind and speaking up’ each morning this week.

It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and speak up to support others being bullied. While trusted adults are there to support children and young people learn how to be kind to each other and report bullying.

This Bullying No Way Week, we’re asking you to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone and be proud to speak up against bullying.

For more information about Bullying No Way Week and bullying prevention, visit the Bullying No Way website.

Assembly presentation

Mrs Jo Simes
Learning Support Teacher

High Potential & Gifted Education

The High Potential and Gifted Education team in our Diocese has just released a new blog to support families of high potential and gifted children:
“Supporting Your High Potential and Gifted Child: A Guide for Families”.

The blog offers practical strategies to help parents understand how their child learns, foster emotional wellbeing, and build strong partnerships with schools.

Supporting Your High Potential and Gifted Child: A Guide for Families | Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle

Mrs Cathy Curk
Gifted Education Mentor

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education

Powaikaliko Malang (Grow Together) Junior AECG Meeting - NAIDOC - Show, Tell & Share!

Today, our school hosted the third Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group meeting with representatives from St Francis Xavier’s Belmont, St Pius X Windale, St Joseph’s Charlestown, St Columbia’s Adamstown and St Mary’s Gateshead. We come together with our community of schools once a term.

It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to show, tell and share our NAIDOC celebrations which have taken place over the last few weeks. The leadership team from St Mary's guide our meetings and continue to inspire us with their contributions and insights.

Two of our JEACG representatives, Cooper Ballard-Totten and Ryker Hendersen, helped to host our meeting and also shared some of our NAIDOC activities with the other schools.

We will continue to celebrate and promote the rich cultures and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our school communities. Our meetings give our students a voice and the opportunity to put forward their ideas and hopes for Aboriginal Education, this year, and into the future.

Mrs Liz Walker
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher

Social media has become such an integral part of a teenager's life that it can cause anxiety and lower their self-esteem. Modern teens are learning to do most of their communication whilst looking at a screen instead of another person. They are missing out on very critical social skills. And dependant on what they are communicating online, it can affect their digital reputation. Friendships, relationships and even future job prospects are all at risk. As a parent, It is very important that you are aware of what picture they are painting of themselves online. Once information makes its way online it can be difficult to remove. Images and words can be misinterpreted and altered as they are easily and quickly shared around. Privacy settings on social media sites need to be managed in order to protect your child's digital reputation.

Full SchoolTV Article

FREE Webinar 3 September 2025 - Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part III)

DATE: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Topics in this webinar include:

New Social Media Regulations
Digital Footprint and Reputation
Screen Time and Brain Development
Parental Controls

http://swansea.catholic.schooltv.me/webinar/east-coast-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-III

Webinar_East_Coast_Digital_Media_Literacy_Safety_Part_III_Poster.pdf

SchoolTV: Sibling Relationships

Sibling relationships play a powerful role in shaping a child's social and emotional development. For parents and caregivers, understanding the dynamics between siblings is key to promoting harmony at home and fostering resilience. These relationships can be a source of lifelong friendship and support, but they can also be marked by rivalry and conflict if not guided positively. Encouraging young people to value each other's differences, communicate openly and resolve disputes respectfully, helps build strong sibling bonds. By creating a nurturing environment that avoids comparisons and recognises individual strengths, adults can help siblings grow into compassionate, cooperative and emotionally intelligent individuals.

Full SchoolTV Article

Year 2 News

We’ve had a fantastic and busy start to the term in Year 2! A big, warm welcome to Kai and Remi, who have joined our wonderful class. We feel so lucky to have you with us!

We started off the term celebrating NAIDOC Week Celebration at SFX Belmont. It was a truly meaningful experience for all our students, filled with learning, reflection, and connection.

We have welcomed back Alex and Boji from Story Dogs and we are loving practising our reading with our furry friend. We will hold a Year 2 cake stall later in the term to raise some money for this wonderful organisation.

We celebrated Evelyn’s success as she was achieved a Bronze Award in the NSW Education Standards Authority annual writing competition for students in Years 1-6. We also celebrated Molly’s Public Speaking achievement as she became a finalist in St Pat’s Stage One Public Speaking competition. Congratulations!!

In Sport, the children have been enjoying AFL sessions, focusing on learning new skills, sharing, and encouraging teamwork. It’s been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and cooperation grow each week.

This week, we took part in a special Formation experience to celebrate Mary of the Cross MacKillop. The children reflected on her inspiring life and how we can follow her example:

“Never see a need without doing something about it.”

With Grandparents Day and Book Week just around the corner, our students have been busy:

Creating beautiful artworks for display
Sharing their favourite books
Collaborating on ideas to decorate our classroom door

We can’t wait for you to see what we’ve been working on next week!

Mrs Janine Schneider & Mrs Sharon MacNevin
Year 2 Teachers

Premier’s Reading Challenge

5 weeks until the PRC closes. Mrs Devlin has entered the books she has read with Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 in library lessons as well as books students have read in their classrooms. All of those students are now completed and validated.

Congratulations to Lucy L and Leni in other classes who have recently finished the challenge.

Book Week

We have been engaging with the shortlisted books through craft activities in preparation for Book Week celebrations in Week 5.

Book Parade– Thursday 21^st August

We can’t wait to see everyone in their costumes on Thursday morning. We can all head off on our wonderful adventure together.

Book Fair – The Book Fair has arrived.

Students will have the opportunity to browse the books and complete a Wish List. Cash and credit card are both accepted.

Minecraft Club

After the initial excitement, Minecraft Club students have settled in and begun working through some build challenges.

Sport News

Athletics

The sun shone on the Diocesan Athletics Carnival last week and our students made the most of it, running, jumping and throwing, achieving personal bests and finals qualifications.

We are very proud of all our athletes and congratulate the following students on their selection to compete at the Polding Athletics Championship on September 12^th: Jaymie Tisdell. Florence de Champlain, Layla Watkins, Jude Mulder, Egan Joyce, Vincent Walker and Lucas Nicoll.

Weekend Sports Stars

Last weekend, Mr Lockwood participated in the Surf Life Saving Australian Pool Championships. He had a very successful competition winning a gold meda1 (by over 20 seconds!) in the 200m Obstacle race, First in the Line Throw Relay heat, and second in both the Manikin Tow and Manikin Carry.

Congratulations Mr Lockwood!