Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today we celebrate the year that has been and look forward to the rest and recuperation the holiday season holds for us.

So what is there to celebrate from the year that has been? We may indeed reflect that 2021 has been most challenging for us and yet we

• • Endured
  • Persisted
  • Worked together
  • Embraced change
  • Accepted the challenges
  • Held one another close, when even at a distance
  • Celebrated what and when we could
  • Breathed
  • Hoped

And we were

• • thankful for what we had
  • patient
  • considerate
  • understanding
  • sensitive
  • determined.................and more!

On reflection we have been for one another, that which we always are for one another, a supportive community. 2021 has offered us the opportunity to be our best selves in a world that has been more than topsy turvy.

Thank you to the teaching and support staff at St Pat's in 2021 for your dedication to the learning and growth of each student and your support of each other. We wish Ms Nicholas well as she continues her teaching journey in Canberra in 2022. Thank you Ms Nicholas for sharing your energy, enthusiasm, passion and creativity with St Pat's students for the last 18months.

It has been a year in a growing pattern of years for our school and community, years of struggle, hardship, duress and challenge. And years of finding beauty in tragedy, and hope in the seemingly hopeless. As a Catholic Community we continue to be filled with hope. We have sometimes been overcome by the stresses and anguish of Covid restrictions and other disasters in recent years, in 2021 we farewelled our beloved music teacher whom we miss greatly, and yet by God’s grace we have much to be thankful for. Let’s count our blessings as we slow down for the festive season and welcome the Christ child into our midst!

I offer the congratulations of our school community to the Award winners announced at Graduation last night and especially recognise our passionate and enthusiastic teachers and staff who have helped them grow and thrive in their years at St Pat's. We also thank Mrs Antoinette Woods for creating a photo book of memories for the Year 6 students that the school was able to gift to the graduates last night.

A further congratulations is offered to the student leaders for 2021 announced at our Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday. We look forward to your leadership in 2022.

Upcoming Events

Thanksgiving Mass

Eight Christmas Hampers were presented to the St Vicent De Paul representatives at our Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday. Thank you to all the families who donated to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

The uniform shop will close for the Christmas holiday period from today, Friday 17 December 2021 and will reopen to fill orders on Friday 28 January 2022.

Holiday Trading

The uniform shop is open to fill orders during the holiday period on the following days:

Friday 28 January 2022

9.30am - 1.30pm

Monday 31 January 2022

9.30am - 1.30pm

If you would like to come in on these days, you will need to make an appointment by contacting us at stpats.uniform@gmail.com.

QKR Store

You can place QKR uniform orders throughout the holiday period. Please note any order placed over the holidays will not be filled until 28 January 2022.

Term 1 2022

The uniform shop will fill orders each Wednesday and Friday during term.

Second Hand Uniform

Please take the opportunity to have a dig around your cupboards these holidays and see if you have any items that can be donated. We have many new and existing families who need access to second hand uniforms and the proceeds go back into community council projects. We ask that you make sure they are St Pat’s uniform brands ie LW Reid, Midford and Eagle and the items are in a condition that is presentable.

Thankyou for all your support during the year. On behalf of the Uniform Committee we wish everyone a happy and relaxing Christmas break.

Kind regards,

Carmen, Roz, Helen & Holly

Week 10 Answer: