Dear Parents and Carers,

Another great week of learning at St Patrick's. We welcome another new student, Alen to Year 1!

We enjoyed a visit from Catholic Education Staff in support of Kinder- Year 2 English teaching and learning. Mrs Gill Forrester and a member of the MultiLit team came on Tuesday and visited our Early Years classrooms for observation and support. This was followed by strong positive feedback and coaching for our teachers who are implementing the programs so well. 

Parent Support 

This year we have changed our thinking on parent help and support at school events. We are planning event support in grades and stages. We would like all parents to be able to help or support at either a fundraising or community engagement event. Please see the draft plan in Mrs Grant's messages. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help.

Michael Rheinberger Swimming Award

At assembly on Wednesday morning we presented the Michael Rheinberger Award for Swimming. The award is presented to a student who receives nominations from teachers and students for their engagement at the school swimming carnival. We look for students who demonstrate the attributes of Michael Rheinberger, a past St Patrick's student whom we honour for his life and achievement of climbing to the summit of Everest, on his 8th attempt. The attributes we look for in students include: effort, persistence, sportsmanship & positive attitude. Several students received multiple nominations from peers and staff. Well done to Zoe, Alice, Arly, Henry, Flynn, Archie, Jackson P, and Ava. 

The recipient of the 2024 award is Alice Johnson. Congratulations Alice!

Toward 2042 in Bega Valley

The Bega Valley Shire Council are seeking feedback on their Community Strategic Plan. Our students are being given the opportunity to engage with this. You may like to read the plan and to answer a survey about the Bega Valley Towards 2042. Here is a link to the information and survey https://begavalley.nsw.gov.au/community/welcome-to-the-towards-2042-community-strategic-plan-project

Blessings

Jo

Parent & Community Engagement 

At St Patrick’s we value the participation of parents and carers in our learning community. We value the engagement of parents/carers and families with their child’s learning. Parent and family engagement in learning is the capacity of families in partnership with schools, to support student learning and achievement. 

This year with the support of the Community Council we are engaging parents from each Stage to support the events that are planned each term. Families will be needed at one or two events during the year to put their hand up to help. As the date for the event comes closer teachers will be in contact about how parents can support.  Here is our draft of the planned events for the year. 

Our first event is the Disco!

Direct Instruction and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS)

This week I travelled to Canberra for the Classroom Support Teacher network Day.

Our first session was presented by Jess Colleu-Terradas and focused on Literacy and the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) model which was also a focus at my Assistant Principal network Day in Term 4. 

At St Pat’s we have implemented these key features of MTSS:

• Research-based core literacy instruction
• Universal screening (DIBELS)
• Timely intervention for at-risk students
• The use of data to inform instruction - individual/class/cohort/school
• Systematic approach to instruction, intervention and data collection
• Focus on teaming and fidelity

Future Dates for your Calendar

Chapel Mass, Friday Week 6- 3/4 Green

St Patrick's Day Mass, Friday 15th March 12:35pm

Sacramental Programme dates and information 

World Prayer Day

Today, Friday 1st March, marks World Prayer Day. This day is an opportunity to come together globally and individually, to pray. Below are some prayers that you may like to share at home. 

Dear Lord,

We thank you for the gift of family and all the joy it brings. We ask that You be with each member of our family and grant us Your protection, whatever may come our way. Help us to love each other in difficult times, forgive one another's mistakes, and give us strength to overcome any trials we may face.

Amen.

God, Our Father, loving and merciful, bring together and keep all families in perfect unity of love and mutual support. 

Instil in each member the spirit of understanding and affection for each other. 

Keep quarrels and bitterness far from them, and for their occasional failures instil forgiveness and peace. 

May the mutual love and affection of parents set a good example. 

Instil in children self-respect that they may respect others and grow in mature independence. 

May the mutual affection and respect of families be a sign of Christian life here and hereafter, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen

Managing Screen Time – Setting Family Rules

Screen time is often a concern for parents/carers, and it can be very tricky to know how best to manage and balance this for our children. Screens are inevitably a part of our every day lives, so it is important to work out how screen time can be managed in our homes.

Here is some information on setting family rules for screen time for children, taken from the website raisingchildren.net.au:

Strategies for managing screen time and digital technology use

Family rules

Here are some questions to help you negotiate screen time in your family:

• Do you want guidelines about screen time hours? What about weekends, holidays, and tech-free days?
• When can your child use digital technology? For example, not until after homework, or not during mealtimes? Do children need to ask you first?
• Where can your child use digital technology? For example, in family rooms but not bedrooms?
• How can your child use digital technology? For example, to play a puzzle app or make animations but not to watch YouTube videos?

Making the rules
It’s important to involve all family members when you’re making family rules about screen time. Your rules should be flexible enough to cover school days, weekends, and holidays.

It’s a good idea to revisit the rules every few months and whenever you introduce a new device into your home. This helps you ensure the rules are still meeting everyone’s needs.

Breaking the rules
Sometimes your child might break the rules you’ve agreed on. For example, your child might play on the tablet without asking first. You can discuss and agree on some consequences for these situations with your child. For example, the consequence for using the tablet without asking might be no tablet for a day.

This article continues on the website with information on setting up routines, managing transitions and supporting choices when using digital technology – follow this link if you’d like to read more: https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/entertainment-technology/screen-time-healthy-screen-use/managing-screen-time-3-11-years

Thanks for reading, Sam, school counsellor