St Patrick's Primary School Swansea eNewsletter

Message from the Principal

End of Term Prayer

Loving God,
As we finish this school term, we give thanks for all we have learned, shared,
and achieved together.
Bless our students, staff, and families with rest, joy, and safety over the holidays.
May this break be a time to refresh our minds, renew our spirits, and enjoy the gift of
family and friends.
Keep us safe in Your care and bring us back ready for a new term filled with hope
and new opportunities.

Amen.

Dear Families

As Term 3 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate the many highlights that have made this term so memorable. It’s been a joy to witness our students engage, grow, and shine across a wide range of experiences.

We began the term with a beautiful NAIDOC celebration at Belmont, honouring First Nations culture and history with pride and respect. Our students were entertained by the talents of the ASPIRE team, they participated enthusiastically in gala days and impressed us with their confidence and clarity during public speaking competitions.

Book Week and Grandparents Day brought our community together showcasing the talents of staff and students alike whilst creating a heartwarming reminder of the special bonds across generations. We shared a delicious Father’s Day breakfast, ventured out on engaging excursions, and came together for special liturgies that deepened our sense of community and faith.

Thank you to our dedicated staff, supportive families, and of course, our wonderful students for making this term so rich and rewarding. As we head into the holidays, I hope everyone finds time to rest, recharge, and enjoy the break.

We look forward to welcoming you back in Term 4 for the final stretch of the year with more learning, celebration, and connection ahead.

Stay safe.

Lucy Harvey
Principal

Welcome to Our Newest Little Members!

Last week, we were delighted to welcome eight adorable new additions to the St Pat’s family, a group of fluffy ducklings who have already captured the hearts of students and staff alike. Their arrival has brought joy, curiosity, and plenty of smiles to our school community!

Uniform

Full summer uniform is to be worn from the start of Term 4. The school hat is an essential part of our uniform. Students who do not have a hat during our warmer months have to stay under the shade of the COLA at lunch and recess.

Early Arrivals

This is a respectful reminder that student supervision does not commence until 8:30am each school day. While the school gates open at 8:00am to accommodate families commuting through to Newcastle and surrounding areas, please note that this is not a general drop-off time. Students arriving before 8:30am are not under staff supervision.

To ensure the wellbeing of all students:

Students arriving between 8:00am and 8:30am must remain seated and quiet in the designated waiting area. Please discuss with your child.
If your child is unable to meet these expectations, we kindly request that they not be dropped off before 8:30am.

Church Parking

Families are reminded that the church carpark is not to be used for student drop-off or pick-up, unless prior arrangements have been made with the school due to special circumstances. This is to ensure the safety of all students and to respect the operations of our neighbouring church.

Kinder 2026 Parent information night

On Thursday night this week we welcomed our 2026 Kinder parents to an information session about transitioning to school. We had a full house! This year, Jackie Parsons, Education Officer – Speech Pathologist for the Catholic Schools Office, and Ellen Mason an OT from University of Newcastle Occupational Therapy Clinic, co-presented with Miss Murray as part of our orientation and transition program for St Patrick’s. Jackie presented a session on transitioning into the school setting from a Speech Pathologist point of view, especially focusing on two really important areas- talking and listening. We received very positive feedback from our new parent cohort, taking home the important message of ‘play with your child, talk with your child, read with your child’. Ellen presented a session on how an OT can assist children do what they need to do, want to do or are expected to do in their day. We thank Jackie, Ellen and Chloe for their time and expertise.

Holiday Building Work

During the school holidays the following works will be undertaken on site:

The erection of a 2.1m fence along the boundary between the school and Vinnies
The removal of the old concrete water tank at the front of the school, and
Extra drainage spots on the playground

TERM 4 DATES

Term 4 Planner

Week 1 Term 4 at a Glance

Week 2 Term 4 at a Glance

Message from RE Coordinator

Socktober Launch

On Thursday, 18 September, our Leaders of Mission joined representatives from other Catholic Schools to celebrate the launch of Socktober at St Joseph's Church, East Maitland, with a liturgy presided over by the Most Reverend Bishop Michael.

Socktober unites our communities to bring light and much-needed support to those less fortunate. Our Catholic Schools are coming together to raise vital funds to support efforts to eradicate famine in Zambia.

Early next term, the Leaders of Mission will hold a liturgy and fundraising event to develop the community’s understanding of Catholic Mission, the work it does and why we as Catholics support these initiatives.

Our Catholic Faith Parent Handbook

The Catholic Council of Schools Parents NSW/ACT has developed a guide, ‘Our Catholic Faith.’ (create as a link)

https://ccsp.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/3243/ccsp_our_catholic_faith_handbook_2025.pdf

This guide is intended for parents and carers and is an introduction to Catholicism, with easy-to-understand explanations of Catholic beliefs and traditions.

This guide explains some Catholic beliefs and traditions parents and families might hear their child talk about when they’re discussing their religious education and Catholic events parents and carers may be invited to attend during the school year. With sections about liturgy and Mass, faith formation, the Catholic calendar, prayers and a Catholic A-Z glossary, you’ll find this the perfect guide to ‘Our Catholic Faith’ and what makes a school Catholic.

Mr Daniel Lockwood
Religious Education Coordinator

Message from Assistant Principal

Whole School Paddy Token Reward

To celebrate our students’ achievement in filling the Paddy Token jar, we’re excited to announce a special out-of-uniform day on the last day of term—Friday, 26th September!
A big congratulations to all our students for consistently demonstrating our school values of Learning, Loving, and Serving. Well done!

Just a reminder for out-of-uniform days:
Students must wear closed-in shoes and hats for safety, and clothing should ensure shoulders and midriffs are covered. Thank you for helping us keep our school environment safe and respectful!

Year 2 Cake Stall

Last Thursday, our Year 2 students hosted a lunchtime cake stall, and it was a huge success!
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Year 2 families for donating such delicious treats, and to our entire school community for your generous support. Together, we raised $234 to help fund the Story Dogs program—what a fantastic effort!

Student BYOD Devices important message: Windows 10 is reaching end of life

Action is required for students with BYOD Windows 10 devices as Windows 10 will soon no longer be supported by Microsoft.

To ensure your student device security you should upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible.

Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end on 14 October 2025, meaning it will no longer receive critical security updates.

To stay protected and ensure optimal performance, it is strongly recommended that all students with BYOD Windows 10 devices follow Microsoft’s instructions and upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. There is no charge for this upgrade.

We ask that all families with Student Windows 10 computers complete this process before 15 October 2025 so that students do not experience disruptions to their learning.
Most newer devices will support Windows 11.
If the device is too old, you may need to consider an alternative supported device (where possible).
If you need assistance or have questions about upgrading, please reach out to the IT support team in our school.

Why this matters:

Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 from 15 October 2025.
Upgrading to Windows 11 ensures your child’s device remains secure and supported.
Student Work Protection: Staying current helps safeguard assignments, projects, and personal data.

Ways to install Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ - Microsoft Support

Read our FAQs for more support:

How do I check what version of Windows am I running?

Select Start > Settings > System, then select About. You then see Edition, Version, and OS Build information.

What if my device can’t upgrade?

If a Student’s BYOD laptop is running Windows 10 and can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 (usually due to older hardware), Microsoft is offering a free security update program to help keep the device safe for one more year.

The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to keep your current Windows 10 PC protected after support ends, helping you stay secure during the transition.

How to Join Microsoft’s ESU Program

Microsoft has made it easy to enrol directly from the laptop:

On eligible computers, a setup wizard will appear in Settings > Windows Update.
There are three ways to enrol:

Free – Sync your settings to the cloud using Windows Backup. You must be logged in as administrator and with a Microsoft account.
Free – Use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
Paid – Buy a one-year license for $30 USD (families cover this cost).

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn

Mrs Janine Schneider
Assistant Principal

Diverse Learners Team News

High Potential & Gifted Education

The High Potential and Gifted Education team in our Diocese has just released a new blog for families of high potential and gifted children: 

“Our best kept secret for high potential and gifted learners”

The blog highlights the innovative strategies and support in place for High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) and is a wonderful way to showcase the work being done to support high potential learners across our community.

Our Best-Kept Secret for High Potential and Gifted Learners | Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle

Young Space Explorers Event - free school holiday activity

Dear Parents and Families,

Next Friday, 3 October, Young Space Explorers will open its doors at the International Convention Centre Sydney. Thousands of students and families are expected to attend this once-in-a-generation event – but they need to register to secure their place.

Space Day is a free, hands-on STEM experience featuring:

Astronaut meet-and-greets
VR space cadet training and rover driving challenges
Live science shows and demonstrations
LEGO® build zones and interactive experiments

When: Friday 3 October 2025 (school holidays)

Where: International Convention Centre Sydney

Cost: Free – registration required

Registration: Registration Link

WriteOn Competition 2025 Bronze Award Winner- Evelyn Johns

We are very proud to celebrate the achievement of one of our Year 2 students, Evelyn Johns who has been awarded a Bronze award in a state-wide writing competition. This is a wonderful recognition of her creativity, effort, and developing writing skills. To be acknowledged at this level is a fantastic accomplishment, and we congratulate her on representing our school and diocese so proudly. The annual WriteOn competition is an exciting opportunity for schools, teachers and students to focus on writing. Through the competition, students develop skills in writing to express their ideas and may become published authors.

Mrs Cathy Curk
Gifted Education Teacher

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education

Learning the Awabakal Language

Every week for the remainder of the year, our students will be introduced to an Awabakal word and its meaning. There are many benefits to learning local indigenous words for our students:

It builds cultural awareness, respect and curiosity about language origins and meanings.
It helps students develop a stronger connection to the land they live on.
It encourages understanding of local history and geography through Indigenous place names and terms.
It strengthens ties with local Indigenous communities and Elders.

We are proud of our students for learning our first two Awabakal words so quickly and for using them in conversation with their peers and teachers.

Mrs Liz Walker
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher

Wellbeing

World Gratitude Day

World Gratitude Day was celebrated on September 21^st. This week, staff, students and parents were invited to show their gratitude by writing a message and adding it to our Gratitude Wall. Practising gratitude has been proven to have many benefits for health and wellbeing, including: stronger relationships, increased happiness and life satisfaction, improved sleep, and reduced stress and anxiety. To learn more about the power of gratitude and how to develop this character strength in children, please access the following resources.

Search | St Patrick's Primary School - Swansea

Develop Gratitude in Children | Quirky Kid Clinic

10 Tips for Raising Grateful Kids - Child Mind Institute

Child Protection Week

September 7-13^th was Child Protection Week. The theme this year was ‘EVERY CONVERSATION MATTERS: Shifting Conversation to Action’. The theme highlights that while open discussions are crucial, words alone are not enough: we must turn dialogue into meaningful action to create safer environments for children that prevent them from harm. Each year, to promote Child Protection Week, the Office of Safeguarding runs a ‘Decorate Your Space’ competition. Our school entry took an action hero approach to this year’s theme.

Be a Hero for Kids: Shifting Conversation to Action

This year’s theme, “Every Conversation Matters – Shifting Conversation to Action,” calls on everyday heroes to protect children. Like action heroes who fight for justice, we must move beyond words and take real steps to keep kids safe.

Conversations are powerful — they raise awareness, challenge harmful norms, and spark change. But true heroism means acting: listening to children, speaking up, and creating safer environments in homes, schools, and communities.

Young voices matter too. When we include them in tough conversations, we empower them and build trust.

Let’s team up — families, educators, community leaders — to turn awareness into action. Because every child deserves a champion, and every hero starts with a choice: to act.

Our 2025 Decorate Your Space Entries - Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Official Program Webinars & Events 2025 - NAPCAN

Parents | eSafety Commissioner

Resources | ThinkUKnow

Mrs Fiona Walker
Wellbeing Teacher

SchoolTV: Dealing with Disappointment

Disappointment is a natural part of life that young people will encounter as they navigate through different experiences. It can result from unmet expectations, setbacks, or shattered dreams. However, learning to manage disappointment is crucial for building resilience and personal growth. Young people have a lot of choice regarding how they hey think and respond to disappointment. Disappointment can be a tricky emotion to deal with at any age. It's important to understand that disappointment is a normal emotion and plays a vital role in a young person's emotional, intellectual, and social development. Instead of trying to shield children from disappointment, we can support them in learning how to cope with it, as it equips them with the skills for future challenges. Helping children develop healthy strategies for managing disappointment will contribute to their long-term happiness and success. It's like a practice lap on the course to adulthood.

Full SchoolTV Article

Year 6 News

Year 6 Science News

Year 6 have been investigating sudden and extreme changes to the Earth’s surface during Science lessons this term. They’ve learned the details of how tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanos, droughts and floods occur, and how they are measured.

This week, students made the Earth quake at Patrick’s, building and testing their own seismographs. Did you feel anything?

Library News

200 Nights

Congratulations to Charlotte H, Matilda G, Colby I and Noel W who have all read for 200 nights this year. What an achievement!

SORA – free ebooks, audiobooks and magazines

SORA is an amazing way for students to access ebooks, audiobooks and magazines – and especially useful during the upcoming school holidays. It can be accessed on a phone, tablet, laptop or desktop via web browser or an app.

Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is an educational version of the popular game Minecraft, tailored to enhance learning experiences for students. It provides tools and features that promote creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in an immersive and safe environment.

Education Edition is not ‘open world’ so students are safe to build a world on their own or with a specific join code they can share with friends to play together.
Learn more and download the game https://education.minecraft.net/en-us

Students have free access to Minecraft Education through their school login. They use their username/email address and password that they use to log in to the school laptops (or their Teams etc if in Yr5-6). Usually, it is firstname.lastname@mnstu.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Karen Devlin
Library Teacher

Mrs Penelope Hale
Library Assistant

Sport News

Netball Gala Day

Congratulations to our students in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 for representing their school with pride at Monday’s Regional Netball Gala Day. Students displayed camaraderie, resilience, willingness to serve, sportsmanship and athleticism. Whether netballers or not, all students gave 100% to their teams and we are very proud of them.

We extend a huge thankyou to our volunteer team managers and umpires, Emma Frazer, Jo Dunn, Nicole Fletcher, Sarah Buchanan, Chantelle Fletcher and Kayla Bevan, along with Mrs Walker for sourcing bibs for each team, Year Six students Imogen Walker and Lilah Ward who played and umpired and all the staff who attended.

It is because of your support that these fantastic community building days can go ahead.