Dear Parents and Carers

ENROLMENT 2024

If you have a child beginning school in 2024 you can now go online and complete their enrolment application. Children turning 5 before July 31st 2024 are eligible for school enrolment. We may begin some current family enrolment interviews before the end of term one, with the official enrolment period in April and May. 

Student behaviour We have high expectations that our students, your children, can learn and apply good behaviour for learning and engagement at school. We work hand in hand with you, our parents, to instil in our students strong and positive ways of interacting in their class and school community, with a disposition of respect. 

At St Pat's we teach students behaviours for learning and engagement and then we expect students to practice and perform these behaviours each day. Among the many behaviours we teach to support the children to learn and grow their capacity are

• to be active listeners (whole body listening is a phrase that is used)
  
• to pay attention to people, and to learning
  
• to follow instructions / directions in a timely manner
  
  
• to answer questions with both thought and respect
• to speak and interact with respect for self and others
  
• to take responsibility for own, others and school property
  
• be safe with our words and actions
  
• to be welcoming of all (everyone can play, inviting people to your game)
  

Many of the behaviours we teach are building on the great behaviours you have been teaching your children since they were born. Thanks for supporting us as we support your children to learn and grow into their best selves.

We use a script when supporting students to make good decisions and follow expectations and directions. The script is from BehaveAbility. Some parents who have come to the parent sessions on behaviour have had good success applying the script at home. You may want to try it in support of your children following your directions.

Happy St Patrick's Day to all! A big thank you to the Community Council for organising the afternoon tea and fun for today, we look forward to seeing everyone this afternoon!

Blessings,

Jo

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.
As students progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy.
NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.
NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about studen tperformance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

This week our Year 3 and 5 students began NAPLAN assessment in writing and reading. Schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. All Year 3 students will continue to complete the writing assessment on paper.
Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are more engaging for students. One of the main benefits is tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test presents questions which may be more or less difficult depending on a student’s responses.  

How can you support your child?

Students are not expected to study for NAPLAN. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best. 

Religious Education

Upcoming Dates

Thursday 6th April – 2:30pm Easter Liturgy 

Chapel Mass 

Every Friday a class participates in Chapel Mass in the Church at 9:15am. Parents are welcome to join. Here are the upcoming classes:

Week 8: 5/6R & 5/6G

Week 9: 1/2G

My Body, My Life Puberty and Personal Development Program Year 5 and 6

The Archdiocesan Relationship Education Team visited St Pat’s this week to run the My Body, My Life puberty and personal development program with Grade 5 and 6.

To support conversations at home parents can access the online content, at their discretion, with or without your child.  The videos are still available here at his link: https://cgcatholic.org.au/my-body-my-life/st-patricks-bega/. These videos will only be available until Sunday!

Ways to Pray - St Patrick’s Day

Today is the Solemnity of St Patrick. For this feast day you can pray the Sign of the Cross, a traditional prayer practice that remembers and honours the Holy Trinity. Use the hymn based on St Patrick’s Breastplate to reflect on how St Patrick experienced God’s presence around him each day.

Supporting Students – Encouraging a Growth Mindset  

Congratulations to Drew Duncan who has been selected in the Canberra Goulburn under 12 rugby league side. In the coming weeks Drew will travel back to Canberra for the MacKillop Trials. The very strong Sydney and Wollongong sides will be in attendance on this day to choose a MacKillop side to play for NSW selection. Drew made it to this elite level last year in the under 11's so we hold strong hopes that he will also make the under 12 side this year. Well done Drew and good luck at the next level.

The school cross country will be the next school based sport for representative level. Students interested in this should have begun training as this sport needs a high level of fitness.

Boys and girls soccer rep level is still open until the end of March. If you feel your child fits the criteria necessary contact the school to acknowledge your interest.

Jannene

Term 1 School Fees

Thank you to the families who have finalised their Term 1 fees. 

Term 1 fees are due next Tuesday 21st March 2023, except those with direct debit arrangements.

If at any time your family is experiencing financial hardship, or if your family is in need of other support, please contact the school to organise an appointment for a confidential meeting with our Principal, Jo Scott-Pegum to discuss how the school can help support your family.

Representative Sports jumpers/apparel

Please be reminded that any representative clothing purchased at representative level sport (school related only) is only to be worn by students on their sport day. A regular polo fleece school jumper or school jacket is to be worn with day uniform.