Term 1 - Week 8
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to Term 1 Week 8 newsletter.
“Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Duit”, Happy St Patrick’s Day to you!
We had a fantastic community day Monday, celebrating the patron saint of our wonderful school. Everyone looked very festive in their green! We began our day with a whole school mass where our Year 4 students performed a beautiful liturgical movement to St Patrick’s Breastplate.
Following mass, our school captains Evie and Imogen led our special assembly where they along with Florence, Cooper, Billie, Beth and Lilah retold the story of St Patrick. These Year 6 students did an excellent job remembering their lines and helping to bring Patrick’s story to life.
Our new portrait of St Patrick painted by Mr Steve Todd was unveiled at our assembly. The portrait is a representation of what we imagine St Patrick to look like for us here at Swansea. This more relatable looking figure reflects the qualities and characteristics of St Patrick that will encourage and inspire our school community. Our St Patrick wears the clothing of the time with a blue cloak that was mostly wore by leaders. Patrick had exceptional strength and courage as he brought Jesus Christ to all the clans of Ireland. The fire in his heart is depicted with the Celtic Cross in his tunic and he carries both a staff and a scroll of the Gospels. He is a vibrant young man with the promising gaze of a new beginning depicted with the leaves growing from his staff. Patrick is a young man of conviction, and he speaks with loving encouragement for us today.
Our assembly concluded with the announcement of the winners of our Annual St Pat’s Art Competition. This year’s art competition reflected how St Patrick, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and St Joseph inspire our vision of learning, loving and serving here at St Patrick’s. Congratulations to this years’ winners!
Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 created works of art representing St Patrick and the theme of learning.
Year 3 and Year 4 created works of art representing St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the theme of loving.
Year 5 and Year 6 created works of art representing St Joseph and the theme of serving.
Congratulations to all our students for their effort in showcasing their art. It was wonderful to see so many of our community join us for our special day. Another fantastic day at St Patrick’s! Thank you everyone for helping to make St Pat’s the great school it is.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Lucy Harvey
Principal
Bingo Night
What a fun night had by all! Last Friday night’s Musical Bingo was a great success and a lovely way to end the week. HUGE thanks to Elise and Jenna for their organisation once again, raising an amazing $988.90. Excellent prizes, Jenna! I’m hoping Mrs Simes will ask me to join her for the whitewater rafting!
Enrolments
We already have 15 enrolments for Kinder 2026. I strongly urge any current parent who has a child starting next year to please complete their enrolment online.
Easter Hat Making
All classes will be making their Easter hats on MONDAY 7th April at 12:15. Parents / grandparents are most welcome to join us in creating our masterpieces.
Easter Hat Parade and Raffle
Our Annual Easter Hat Parade and raffle will be held on Thursday 10th April at 2pm in the courtyard.
Holy Week Liturgy
On Wednesday 9th April, we will gather as a school in the hall at 10am, to remember the events of Holy Week. As a Catholic school this is the most important time in the Church’s year. Our Stage 3 students will be leading the reflection with some help from Kinder and Year 1. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents, grandparents and parishioners to join us and support the students in their faith journey. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Upcoming Dates
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Message from RE Coordinator
St Patrick
This week, we joyfully celebrated the feast of St Patrick, the patron saint of our school. Born in Britain, St Patrick was captured by Irish pirates as a young man and sold into slavery. After six years in Ireland, he escaped, returned to his family, and pursued his priestly studies in Gaul. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary bishop, playing a vital role in the growth of Christianity and the organization of the Church. Known for his sincerity and deep pastoral care, St Patrick upheld the dignity of all people. Many legends surround Ireland’s beloved saint, including his use of the shamrock to explain the concept of the Trinity and the tale of him driving all snakes from Ireland.
What makes St Patrick’s story extraordinary is his decision to return to Ireland—not as a captive, but as a well-educated and faith-filled priest—seeking to give back to the land where he had experienced profound moments of faith. Drawing on his own experiences of enslavement and his later influence as a priest, he dedicated his life to overcoming injustice and serving others. His legacy continues to inspire the fight against slavery, intolerance, and threats to human dignity in our own time. St Patrick was truly someone who made the world a better place.
As a school community, we honored his life and feast day with a Mass and a special presentation by our Year 6 students, who shared the story of his life and virtues. This celebration provided a meaningful opportunity to come together in faith and reflect on the stories that shape our journey here at St Patrick’s.
Each year, our school participates in the Caritas Project Compassion campaign. This initiative teaches students about the Catholic Social Teachings of preferential option for the poor and the dignity of every person. To support this cause, students were invited to wear an item of green in exchange for a donation, with all contributions going to Caritas Australia. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped support this important mission by raising $175.85.
Mr Daniel Lockwood
RE Coordinator
Message from Assistant Principal
WORLD OF MATHS - HANDS ON MATHS WORKSHOP
As part of this term’s work, we have invited World of Maths (a travelling, interactive Maths Workshop) to visit our school.
World of Maths offers an ideal opportunity for students to see how Maths is applied to everyday life situations and explore Maths in a hands-on environment.
Students are encouraged to communicate their Maths ideas and answers with other students in small teams, working together.
Students will gain insight into problem solving, working in teams, and explore various mathematic focus areas which are part of their curriculum this term.
It is a highly engaging session which will show that Maths is everywhere and is important and of course that Maths can be fun!
Parents are welcome to come along and assist small groups as they progress through the activities.
Years 1-6 will be participating. Time sessions are as follows:
9:10am -10:40am - Yr 5&6
11:40am -12:40pm - Yr 1&2
12:40pm -1:40pm - Yr 3 & 4
A huge thank you to the P&F for covering the cost of this event!
Sharing Hats
Due to an outbreak of headlice and general hygiene practices, there will no longer be spare hats available for students to borrow if they forget to bring their hat to school. When students forget their hat, they are asked to play in shaded areas for the day.
Bell times at lunch and recess
Last week we trialed a swap of eating time and play time during both breaks. We also trialed students lining up outside their classroom at final break time bells, rather than lining up under the COLA.
Our Year 6 leaders surveyed all students on which way they preferred. Most students said they preferred to eat first, then play, reason being that they were hungry at the start of both breaks. Most students also said they preferred to line up outside of their classroom.
Teachers also noted that many of our infants students were not finishing their sandwiches at lunch time.
For these reasons, we will return to students eating first and then playing during both break times, and students will go directly to their classrooms after the final break time bell.
Mrs Janine Schneider
Assistant Principal
Message from Diverse Learners Team
Learning Support - Inclusion
Inclusion is one of those 'buzz' words in education, but what does it really mean? This is something we will be discussing as a staff at our Diverse Learners staff meeting next week. The definition we will be using is 'inclusion is where all students are taught within the classroom with adjustments to curriculum, instruction, assessment and environment'.
Often, an adjustment is suitable for all students even though we are implementing it for one particular individual. For example, having a seating plan so that a student with a hearing impairment is seated nearer to the teacher helps all students because there is a designated space (I don't have to offend my friend by not sitting near them when I know they distract me, or I have enough room around me so I don't feel crowded). Using alternate colours and finger spelling to code new spelling words is a great strategy for all learners, not just those with reading difficulties (I can sound out words I don't know). Having an alphabet strip on the wall or every desk might be to help a particular child with letter orientation or alphabetical order, but all students can benefit from this resource (I've forgotten which way to write a Z).
High Potential & Gifted Education - International Day of Mathematics
The International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is a worldwide celebration. Each year on March 14 all countries are invited to participate through activities for both students and the general public in schools, museums, libraries and other spaces. March 14 was chosen as the date for the IDM because it was already celebrated in many countries as Pi Day, based on the fact that some countries write it as 3/14 and the mathematical constant Pi is approximately 3.14.
Mrs Jo Simes
Learning Support, Gifted Education, EALD Teacher
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Education
Junior JAECG Badge Presentation
Last week, three of our senior students were presented with their badges after being elected to the Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group or AECG.
They are:
Cooper Ballard-Totten - President
William Bevan - Vice President
Ryker Henderson - Secretary
Here in Swansea, we are within the Minimbah AECG footprint. Alex Milles from Minimbah AECG helped us to establish a Junior AECG at St Patrick’s at the end of 2024, so that our Aboriginal students have a voice in matters relating to Aboriginal Education in our school, for their own cultural learning and that of their peers.
Alex presented our students with their badges and we are very proud of them.
We will hold regular school meetings, following formal routines and keeping minutes of ideas discussed and actions to take. Each term, our representatives will attend a Junior AECG meeting with other schools in our area.
We know these three boys will lead our meetings and represent our school with pride and help come up with wonderful ideas to enhance Aboriginal education and cultural understanding in our St Patrick’s community.
Harmony Week
Next Monday 24th March after morning assembly, our school will gather in the hall to celebrate Harmony Week. Several students from across the grades and from different cultural backgrounds contributed to this short presentation.
Harmony Week in Australia is a week-long celebration that recognizes and embraces the country's multiculturalism, encouraging inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone, with the theme "Everyone Belongs".
It takes place annually from Monday to Sunday, encompassing the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21st.
Wearing orange is a common way to show support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia, as orange signifies social communication, freedom of ideas, and mutual respect. The students will be given an orange wrist band to wear but if they would like to wear an orange accessory such as a ribbon or socks with their regular school uniform, they may.
Parents, grandparents and carers are invited to join us in the hall.
Mrs Liz Walker
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Teacher
Library News
Send us your pet pics!
The book for this year’s National Simultaneous Storytime is The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell.
We are working on a display for NSS and would love you to send in a photo of either your pet or your child with a pet (one for each if you have siblings at school). Feathers, fur and scales – we’d love them all! If your family doesn’t have a pet then a favourite stuffed toy works as well.
It is a beautiful book and we encourage you to register and join in on 21st May. Find out more here.
Please email pictures to karen.devlin@mn.catholic.edu.au
Premiers Reading Challenge
The PRC is a statewide reading challenge that St Patrick’s participates in each year. Books that have been read this year at home and in class - including audiobooks – all count towards the total.
Usernames, passwords and instructions have been sent home this week to log completed books online.
Book Club
Issue 2 orders close on Wednesday 26th March. Order online through LOOP.
A copy of the catalogue can be viewed here.
Thank you for your support of book club. Books purchased through book club earn credits for the school which we use to purchase to new books for our library.
Mrs Karen Devlin & Mrs Penelope Hale
Library Teacher and Library Assistant
Year 3 News
Year 3 have been exploring the mentor text Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl. They have been analysing the author's use of language to describe characters and settings, as well as his skill in building suspense leading up to the story’s conclusion.
In Maths, one of Year 3’s favourite games is the game 'Strike It Out!' It's an addition and subtraction game using a number line. You might like to have a few games at home. Our clever Year 3s can show you how to play.
In Religion this term, Year 3 have been learning about Jesus as the Good News for all people. They have been developing an understanding of the story of Jesus as told in the four different Gospel authors. For the St Pat’s Day Art Competition, Year 3 completed artworks of St Mary MacKillop expressing the theme of love. Congratulations to Evelyn on winner the Year 3 award this year.
In Science, the students have been exploring heat energy. They have been learning about thermal cameras and their applications in emergency services.
Mr Daniel Lockwood & Mrs Mary Grace Tisdell
Year 3 Teachers
Creative Arts
Mrs Liz Walker
Creative Arts Teacher
Sport News
Cross Country
Save the date, Monday 7th April, for our School Cross Country at Chapman Oval, Swansea. Students will need to wear their sports uniform on Monday of this week instead of Tuesday. We will be asking for volunteers to be course marshals on the day. Please email me if you can assist for the morning. If you haven’t yet completed your volunteer registration please see the office.
Weekend Sports Stars
Congratulations to Khloe and Ruby Hansen on their recent sporting achievements.
Khloe achieved 1st place at Nippers in the U/12 girls for Caves Beach and ran at lightning speed to come 2nd in the Flags event at the Hunter Branch Nippers Championship.
Khloe and Ruby attended the Ninja Parc's first National Qualifier last Friday and both earned their place at National Championships.
Khloe placed 3rd in the 11-15yrs age group and Ruby came 1st in the 7-10yrs age group.
What superstars!
If your child is a Weekend Sports Star, please email details and a photo to so we can celebrate their success in our next newsletter.
Mrs Claire Browne
Sport Coordinator
Office News
2025 Fee Information
Please commence payments as per the preferred frequency (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) prior to 31st March and then continue on that frequency to erode the fees over the course of each month and be finalised to a $0 balance by 30th November 2025. In April, any family that has not yet commenced fee payments will be deemed in arrears of the March component of the account.
If you have any queries please contact the office to discuss.
Applications for school travel passes through Transport NSW
The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) gives eligible school students free or subsidised travel between home and school on NSW public transport, including trains, buses, ferries and light rail.
Depending on where students are travelling, they may receive a free school travel pass, a School Opal card, or both.
Please visit Transport NSW in the link below, to learn about eligibility criteria and apply for a travel pass which will help support transport options for our school community.
https://transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply
Other useful links and resources can be found here.
Volunteering at St Patrick's
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.
Rachelle McKenzie
Senior School Officer
P&F update
Family Bingo Night
"Our Family Bingo Night held on Friday March 14th was a great night out for everyone who attended!!
Together, we raised $988.90 which is an amazing effort!
A big thankyou to all businesses who sponsored the event which allowed us to give away some great prizes on the night
- Body Bend Pilates
- Red Parrot Coffee
- Sublime Skin Clinic
- Apex Jiu Jitsu
- Bunnings Warehouse
- Football Australia
- Sold Real Estate
- Raging Waters Sydney
- Taronga Zoo
- Belmont Golf & Bowls Club
Zantar & Dexter Beisler were the lucky winners of our Major raffle prize & picked up 2 tickets to the upcoming Matildas vs Korea game on April 7th & a pair of soccer boots!
CANTEEN UPDATE
The last few weeks we have seen volunteer numbers decrease leading to us closing our lunch service for St Patricks Day and scrambling to get helpers for our Friday service. Closing these services with short notice creates a lot of admin work behind the scenes coordinating manual credits, refunds & cancelling orders.
Please - if you or anyone you know who has a valid WWCC & Food Handlers certificate (Free of charge to receive online) are available to help, please reach out!
We understand that we all have different commitments, however without the help of volunteers, we simply can not open.
We warmly welcome all new & existing community members to join our P&F at any time but if you have any enquiries, our P&F committee can be reached via email on stpatrickspf1@gmail.com
Hot Cross Bun Drive
Available to order online now until April 1st, with delivery to our school on the last day of term! All money raised goes towards funding our year 6 students go to their year 6 farewell.
Easter Egg donations
We are seeking Easter egg donations for our very popular Easter Egg Raffle on Thursday April 10th, coinciding with our Easter Hat Parade. Tickets will go on sale towards the end of March.
If you can help out with one or all, please reach out to the school or directly to our committee via email - stpatrickspf1@gmail.com
Thanks again.
Elise Moncrieff
St Patricks P&F President
P&F Minutes
Community Notices
Cancer Council - Sun Smart
With autumn in full swing, it's important to remember: think UV, not heat.
Sun damage is caused by UV radiation, which is different from the sun's thermal radiation (heat). Last weekend's heat wave illustrates this difference: Sydney temperatures reached 36°C on Sunday and only 22°C on Monday, yet the UV forecast for both days was very high at UV 8.5.
When the UV index is 3 or above, sun protection is recommended for all skin types. Ensure that children and employees use a combination of sun protection measures—clothing, hats, sunscreen, shade, and sunglasses—when outdoors. Download the free SunSmart Global UV app to check the current and forecasted UV in your area.