Religious Education - Forward Planning 

Parents are invited to attend our upcoming Chapel Masses. Mass begins at 9:15am in the Church on Friday of each week:

Week 7- 4/5Y

Week 8- 5/6G

Week 9- 5/6R

12th December 12:15pm - Thanksgiving Mass

14th December 6pm - Year 6 Graduation Mass

Vinnies Christmas Appeal - Christmas Hampers

A message from Mini Vinnie's:

St Pat's would like to continue to support the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal.  Families who are able to donate can place an item in the hampers in their classroom or school foyer. Donations can include:

Toothpaste and toothbrushes 

Shampoo and conditioner

Chips

Popcorn

Pasta

Rice

Cake mix

Tinned fruit or vegetables

Tinned soup

Biscuits 

Lollies 

Christmas cake/pudding 

 Please do not include items such as chocolate that could spoil in warm weather.  

My Body, My Life - Puberty and Personal Development Program

The Archdiocesan Relationship Education Team are very excited to be visiting
St Patrick’s Primary School to run the My Body, My Life puberty and personal development program with Grade 5 and 6 early next year.

The team of relationship educators and trained youth ministers will be working in small groups with the year 5 and 6 students on Tuesday, 7^th March 2023.

St Patrick’s has requested early access to the online units for all parents of current Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students. Parents can access the content, at their discretion, with or without your child.  The videos are available here: https://cgcatholic.org.au/my-body-my-life/st-patricks-primary-school-bega/.

The My Body My Life online parent / child program includes about 60 minutes of video content, plus a few activities.  You can watch all 6 short videos in one sitting, or over a few nights, whichever works best for your family.

 Research shows that despite any awkwardness you and your child might feel, children much prefer to hear this information first from their own parents and carers. We are simply trying to help you with that process and then reinforce the same information at school.

The topics covered in the videos include:

• Changes during puberty: physical, emotional, social
• Personal hygiene: skin, hair, cleanliness
• Reproductive systems: growth, development, changes and experiences
• Human conception
• Mood changes, mental health and wellbeing
• Respecting yourself and others
• Talking to trusted adults

NAPLAN 2023

Students in Years 3 and 5 are expected to sit the NAPLAN tests in Term 1 2023.

There are some instances where students may be exempted from one or more of the NAPLAN tests or marked absent (for the purpose of the tests) or withdrawn from the tests. The NAPLAN national protocols for test administration provide the framework for understanding student participation.

Exemptions 
While a range of adjustments are available for students with disability, exemption may be suitable for some students with disability and for some students with a language background other than English. In both cases, schools need to discuss the proposed exemption with the student’s parent/carer and gain their permission prior to testing.

 
English language proficiency: Students with a language background other than English who arrived from overseas and have been attending school for less than a year before the test may be exempted. However, these students are not automatically exempt and should be given the opportunity to participate in testing. Principals can expect information from test administration authorities on the preferred method for collecting and recording this information. Students may be exempt from one test (e.g. reading) but still be able to participate in another test (e.g. numeracy).

 
Students with disability: Adjustments are provided to students with disability to support access to the tests and encourage maximum participation. Students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests may be exempted from sitting the national tests. This is determined after consultation has occurred between the principal and the relevant parent/carer, and if it is decided the student is not able to access the tests with adjustments. For more information on the types of adjustments available, see Adjustments for students with disability.

Withdrawals
 
NAPLAN tests are a routine part of the school calendar. However, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent/carer for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school. A formal application in the manner specified by the relevant test administration authority must be received by the principal prior to testing.

For more information about adjustments you can follow this link: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/accessibility/adjustments-for-students-with-disability 

Mrs Grant will touch base with parents of students on Personalised Plans in the coming weeks.

If you would like to discuss exemption or withdrawal, please email Mrs Grant @ emma.grant@cg.catholic.edu.au