Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 4! I hope the holiday was a wonderful time for rest, recuperation, family time and fun. This week we welcome two new students to St Pat’s Abdu in Year 1 and Sumeya in Year 5!

On the last day of Term 3 and the first day of Term 4 our staff participated in 2 days of Cultural Competence professional learning led by two members of the Catholic Education team. Lachie and Libby shared with us a rich presentation about First Nations peoples history and cultures. We were blessed to have an on-Country experience led by local elders Aunty Ellen Mundy and Uncle David Dixon who shared their life experience, wisdom and deep understanding of our local area, the lands of the Diringanj peoples.

As we begin Term 4 we do this with the anticipation of the end of another year of learning. Term 4 is a really special time, a season of celebration, reflection, and preparation for the year ahead. We change our focus to the school green pillar ‘Look ahead to the Future.’

As you know, Term 4 is filled with significant events starting in Week 1 with the Beachathon, and ending in Week 10 with Year 6 Graduation. There are also other Term 4 events including junior swimming, Day for Daniel and the Big Steps program for our 2026 Kinder students. Our teachers and support staff are really committed to ensuring that every student finishes the year being proud of their learning growth and achievement and a strong sense of belonging. This term we also focus on transitions, welcoming new students for next year and supporting our Year 6's as they prepare for high school.

One of the highlights of this week is our much-loved Beachathon, a St Pat's tradition that brings our whole school community together in the spirit of fun, fitness, and connection. It’s always a joyful celebration together on a great beach in our beautiful coastal environment. The Beachathon brings such joy in the shared journey and fun on the sand. Thank you to Tam Prime for her organisation and to the team of parent helpers who have made the day a success!

A reminder to please take time each week to check the google calendar, Compass notifications and weekend updates so that you know what is happening at school. Thanks for also ensuring your child is doing their home reading homework EVERY night. 

Your partnership with us continues to be a vital part of St Pat's success. We are looking forward to making Term 4 a really joyful and memorable one for all.

Blessings,

Jo

Week 1: Welcome to Term – Building Strong Foundations

Welcome to a new term! As Assistant Principal and Classroom Support Teacher, I’m excited to share weekly insights into how we support student learning and wellbeing across the school. This term, we’ll be highlighting our use of Direct Instruction, our partnership with The Resilience Project, and practical tips for families to support learning at home.

Direct Instruction is a teaching approach that ensures every student receives clear, structured, and consistent lessons. It’s especially effective in building foundational skills in literacy and numeracy. Alongside this, we’re embedding the principles of Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM) from The Resilience Project to help students develop emotional literacy and resilience.

Dates for your calendar

Class Mass- Friday 24th October, 5/6G (Families Welcome)

Icy Poles 

Icy poles are back this term from Friday of Week 2!

Cost is 60 cents and these will be available at lunch time. Money raised this term will go to support Catholic Mission and the St Vincent De Paul Society.

Science in Year 5

This week students were learning about the water cycle and its key processes—evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and water movement. They began their week with some experiments in the playground. 

Mel Ferris