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Dear Parents and Carers,
How wonderful that in recent days and weeks we have some new students at St Patrick’s. It is always great to ask our current students to talk about what it means to be a St Pat’s kid. They offer lots of words of wisdom around the expectations they have of themselves and others, and also the daily application of the school rules and our lived approach to Making Jesus Real through “Gotcha!” moments. This has brought me to some thinking about belonging.
The need to belong is a very strong human force that finds form firstly in the space of family, then in personal relationships, as well as in school and work relationships, community involvement and other ways including national pride and religious affiliation. We all know that belonging has positive effects on our personal wellbeing, our mental and physical health.
Each of us is born in a particular place. This place always has a special presence and meaning for us. One of the first things we learnt as children was our name and then where we lived. Often in life we have to answer the question, “And where were you born?”, as if in the mind of the questioner, there is an importance attached to where we began our life, where we entered belonging.
“Something in each of us cries out for belonging. We can have all the world has to offer in terms of status, achievement, possessions, yet without a sense of belonging our lives feel empty and powerless.” –John O’Donohue. Eternal Echoes.
We parents, like our parents before us, have such incredible power to influence the inner-life of our children, the “place” where their identity is fashioned. Our children’s senses are like sponges, they absorb everything; our voice is like a running tap, giving life to their life. Just like our work in the home, the staff at St Patrick’s work hard to make our school a place of belonging for each of the children in their class, and we also try to touch in with the children in other classes across the school so that we grow the sense that our school community is a family.
If you see some new faces waiting at the gate for their children will you please join me in making our new parents feel welcome and feel that they belong at St Pat’s.
My last message today is a BIG THANKYOU to Antoinette Woods and the support team of parents for the fabulous TRIVIA night last Saturday. SO MUCH FUN. And some recognition of not being very good at trivia – for me! Thanks to all who came, and especially all the local businesses that supported our fundraising for the night.
Blessings for the weekend. See you at the Athletics Carnival on Monday.
Jo
There are two significant bodies of knowledge that
educators draw on to ensure growth occurs for every student in
English and Maths-
The knowledge of the content and
the knowledge of how to teach that content.
There are three questions that we have embraced at St Pat’s to
ensure this target is reached for every student. The questions
are asked, at a whole school level, at an individual educator’s
level and for every student.
The three questions are
Where are we going?
How will we know when we get there?
What is our next step?
A reminder that this coming Monday, 24th June, is our Athletics Carnival. Monday is Canteen day, students may order their lunch through the canteen and it will be delivered to the fields at lunch time. (No recess will be available). Students at the carnival will have to take their own fruit and recess. Those not ordering lunch from the canteen will need to bring their own lunch, fruit and recess. The 8 year old, Year 2, children who are going to the carnival have been given a note to take home.
Southern Region Athletics Carnival
Next term, Thursday 1st August, we will be hosting the Southern Region Athletics Carnival. Kylie will be running the BBQ on the day but she can't do it alone! Helpers will be needed to cook, sell, setup and pack up. We are also asking for donations of baked goods, cakes or slices, to sell at the carnival. If you can help out in anyway please contact Kylie at the school office on 6492 5500. All money raised on the day goes back into the school for the benefit of all our children.
Canteen can refund!
In the case of your child being absent canteen will be refunding your money into your account. Not held over to the following week.
Or you can cancel your order before 8am.
