Dear Parents and Carers,

This week, we joyfully celebrated the feast day of our patron saint, St. Patrick. Monday was a day filled with learning, reflection, and community spirit, as we honoured the legacy of this remarkable saint who has inspired generations with his faith and dedication.

St. Patrick's Life and Legacy St. Patrick, known as the Apostle of Ireland, is celebrated for his missionary work and his role in spreading Christianity throughout Ireland. His life story is one of resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment to his mission. As a school community, we draw inspiration from his example, encouraging our students to live out their faith with courage and compassion.

Activities and Celebrations Our celebrations included a special liturgy, where the story of St. Patrick was shared and we were reminded of the importance of faith in our daily lives. The students participated enthusiastically and with reverence.

At the end of the day, our classrooms were filled with learning and fun, with activities related to St. Patrick. Students engaged in various projects, from creating shamrock crafts to writing about the saint's life and his contributions to Christianity. Our younger students enjoyed story time sessions where they learned about St. Patrick's adventures and his use of the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity.

Community Spirit One of the highlights of our celebration was the St. Patrick's Day Afternoon Community gathering in the hall and on the flats. It is always wonderful to see our students, dressed in green, enjoying a rotation of fun activities. They demonstrated such school spirit and unity.

Reflection and Gratitude As we reflect on this week, we are reminded of the values that St. Patrick embodied—faith, perseverance, and a deep sense of community. We are grateful for the opportunity to come together as a school family to celebrate these values and to strengthen our bonds with one another.

Thank you to all the teachers, staff, and parents who contributed to making this celebration a success. Your support and dedication are truly appreciated. May the spirit of St. Patrick continue to inspire us all.

On another note, thank you for ensuring your children are on time to school and at school every day. Every minute counts for learning!

Blessings,

Jo

Resilience Project GEM Chats: Building Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness

This week, we are focusing on GEM Chats, which stand for Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness. These are essential components for building resilience in our students.

Gratitude: Encouraging students to express gratitude helps them appreciate the positive aspects of their lives. This week, we will have daily gratitude exercises where students can share what they are thankful for.

Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others is crucial for building strong, supportive relationships. We will engage in activities that promote empathy, such as role-playing and group discussions.

Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness helps students stay present and manage stress. We will introduce simple mindfulness exercises, such as deep breathing and guided imagery, to help students focus and relax.

Student Testimonies:

• "We feel happier when we think about the good things in our life. Writing down what we are grateful for every day has made us more positive." - 3/4 students
• "Learning about empathy has helped us understand our friends better. We try to listen more and be there for them." - 5/6 students
• "Mindfulness exercises help us calm down when we are worried. We like the breathing exercises the most." - 1/2 students

We encourage parents to continue these practices at home and share their experiences with us. Together, we can build a resilient community!

Dates for your calendar

Week 8 Class Mass 9:15am, 1/2 Green (Families Welcome)

Holy Week Liturgies, facilitated by Kindergarten, 1/2Red and 1/2Green - Week 10 (Days and times TBC)

Key Dates for Confirmation:                                                                                 

• Family Mass- Sunday 4th May, 9:30am

• Retreat- Friday 6th June, 9:15-2:30pm

• Confirmation- Sunday 8th June, 9:30am                                                   

Please contact the Parish for enrolment

My Body, My Life

This week, the Year 5/6 "My Body, My Life" program and the Year 4 "Wonders of Life" program were both held at St Pat’s. Students engaged enthusiastically in a variety of activities, gaining valuable knowledge about health, well-being and navigating change. The programs were designed to be both educational and fun, and the students' positive responses and active participation were clear indicators of their success.

St Patrick's Day Celebration

Our St Patrick's Day celebration was a fantastic event, filled with joy and community spirit! It was wonderful to see so many families come together to celebrate. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who contributed, whether by bringing delicious afternoon tea or lending a helping hand on the day. Your support and participation made the event truly special and memorable.

3/4R have started the year learning with resilience.

Speaking about resilience, 3/4R have been learning about GEM, gratitude, empathy and mindfulness, from Hugh at the Resilience Project.

This week they have been focusing on GRATITUDE, learning that it means 'the quality of being thankful and returning kindness.'

3/4R have also been learning about the stages of seed growth in Science, and have all planted a seed to watch it grow.

Lincoln said, “It is so fun to learn about symbiotic relationships."

Wyatt said that in Religion they have also been learning about Lent, and Lent is 40 days long and how you give up something special during Lent.

3/4R still have a lot of learning ahead of them but they are all ready for it!

Bella

Term 1, 2025 School Fees

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

School Fees for Term 1, 2025 have been emailed to families and are due today, Friday 21 March 2025. The exception of due date will be for families on an instalment plan. We recommend and encourage all families to set up a weekly or fortnightly school fee payment plan via BPAY through your bank. See BPAY details on your Fee statement.

2025 Instalment Plans

Payments made in instalments that don’t cover Fees-in-full before the due date must be arranged and approved by the school. Please complete the form below and return to the office in person, or via email cathy.smith@cg.catholic.edu.au

Please see below the weekly payment costings, calculated over 52 weeks.

  I / we wish to pay school fees via an instalment plan:

Review of 2024 approved instalment plans

For families already on approved payment plans, now is the time to review and adjust your weekly/fortnightly payments according to the current year school fee commitment.

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.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please contact the Office Manager, Cathy Smith 6492 5500 or cathy.smith@cg.catholic.edu.au

CCSP invites all parents and carers to join them for the Term 1 free cybersafety webinar with the expert eSafety Commissioner team.

Please register using the link CLICK HERE TO REGISTER