TERM 4

• 60th Birthday Celebration - 10.00am - 1.30pm
• SCHOOL PHOTOS - Catch Up Day - Week 3
  • Thursday 31st October - Week 3 - Catch Up Photo Day (ONLY) for children who were unwell on the main photo day

In the JBLSC, we have been learning about the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly. We found some interesting facts and vocabulary words about butterflies and completed our infographic. Through stories that we have read, we made very colourful dioramas to show the sequence of the butterfly’s life cycle. We learnt new words like cocoon, migrate, chrysalis, pupa and proboscis!

Dear Families,

Welcome back to the final term for 2024.

As usual, the last term is often full of activity and various events that can make life busy for students, teachers and parents alike. Of course, this weekend we celebrate a huge milestone in the life and history of our school with the 60^th Birthday Celebration this Sunday 27 October.  I thank parents in anticipation for your supporting the day and ensuring that your children are in attendance. Please read further in the Community section the details for the day.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIMENSION:

PUPIL FREE DAY:

The School Board has approved another Pupil Free Day for 15 November 2024. Staff will undertake a Staff Reflection Day that was not able to be done as the presenter was unwell. We appreciate the time provided for staff to undertake this important work as educators in a Catholic school. On the pupil free day last term, teachers undertook alternative learning in curriculum and planning.

CLASS PLACEMENTS 2025:

Staff are about to start class placements for 2025. This is a lengthy process considering many factors. Last term, each family was sent home a letter asking of their 2024 intentions. Thank you to all the families who returned this important information. This information is needed to determine how many students are returning in each year level and how many vacancies we may have to offer to other students. If your situation has changed, please inform the Principal via email at gmannella@stpatsmp.catholic.edu.au. Children are given time to identify four students who they believe are good learning friends. Each child is guaranteed to be placed in a class with at least one of the peers that they named. Although the ultimate placement of students is a school responsibility, parents may have concerns regarding their child’s learning or social and emotional needs that they would like to be considered. If this is the case, requests for consideration must be emailed to gmannella@stpatsmp.catholic.edu.au by Monday 30 October. No late requests will be considered. A child will be placed with a particular teacher based on class structures, a teacher’s field of expertise and the number of times a teacher has had a particular child. I remind parents that no specific teacher requests will be considered.

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY:

Tomorrow, Thursday 24 October, students will have their individual and class photos taken. Please make sure that your child brings their form and payment to school on this day, or alternatively be sure you have ordered on line following the instructions in this newsletter.

LEARNING DIMENSION:

Testing in Literacy and Numeracy will be undertaken over the next few weeks in preparation for students’ final reports for the year. While there are many things happening during this term, our focus for the children is firmly on teaching and learning. To support students, intervention in Literacy and Numeracy is part of the daily teaching program, as are the extension programs for higher achieving students. Regular attendance at school is essential to enable a child to gain the knowledge and skills required to be successful learners as they prepare to move into their new year level.

PE:

Mrs. Johnson will be sending out information regarding the athletics carnival and cricket clinics to be held after school on Wednesday’s.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC STUDENT PERFORMANCE:

Mrs Myers will hold the performance afternoon for students learning a musical instrument on Friday 1 November. This will take place straight after school. We have some very talented young people at St Patrick’s. For those parents who have children involved in this program, your attendance is highly encouraged. Children succeed in any endeavour when they know it is valued and appreciated by their parents.

CAROLS EVENING:

This year, our biannual cycle means that we will have our Christmas Carols Evening.

This will take place on Friday 22 November and all families are invited to attend. More information will be provided closer to the day. All classes will be involved in this concert.

COMMUNITY DIMENSION:

60^th Birthday Celebration!

This coming Sunday 27 October.

Please ensure that you arrive from 9.30am ready for a 10.00am start.

I wish to express my gratitude and thanks to all the families who are preparing food, assisting with cooking the BBQ, serving food, and helping to set up for the day.

The structure of the day is as follows:

• 10.00am Welcome and introduction by Ms Moran
• Welcome to country and smoking Ceremony by Mr Robert Taylor and David Booth
• A short Liturgy led by Fr Charles.
• The choir and students present will be involved in singing
• A short address by Mr Mannella and two of our special guests
• Acknowledgement of past and current principals
• Unveiling of the painting created by Artist David Booth
• Cutting of the birthday cake
• Students will lead a Lion Dance as we move into opening the Hall Exhibition
• Food stalls open after formal proceedings
• Vietnamese, Filipino and Indian dances and musical performances by other groups of students

Other activities for children will include:

• Face Painting
• Glitter tattoos painting
• Balloon art
• Volleyball exhibition game
•  ‘Olden day’ games of the 1960s.

For parents:

• Come dressed in your national dress!
• Exhibition of students’ art and science and technology/ STEM
• In the classrooms in the court area, there will be digital presentations of Literacy programs (R-6), Numeracy (R-6), Behaviour Education  -‘ Friendology’ and a listening post where you can listen to the amazing work of our Podcast program.

PARKING IS AVAILABLE ON THE SCHOOL OVAL. Please enter from Haddington Street.

So please come and join us for this wonderful day of celebration of the past and the present of 60 years of 60,000 - Celebrating our diversity and welcoming all!

St Patrick's School Leadership Team

Gennaro Mannella

Greetings from the Acting APRIM

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (10: 42-45)  

Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them: ‘You know that among the pagans their so-called rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ 

The Gospel urges us to get outside ourselves and to meet the challenge to prioritise service over authority and winning. In our own small way, we can serve by showing respect and by genuinely listening to what others have to say.  

A key element of respect is to do more listening than talking. (Anonymous) 

At the heart of life is service. (Mother Teresa)  

To bring joy to one heart through love is better than a thousand litanies (Sufi saying) 

In All Things Love (St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop)

Dear Families,

I write to you to extend an invitation to our special celebration for the St Patrick’s School Community. On Sunday, 27^th October 2024, the St Patrick’s School community will celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the establishment of our school.

St Patrick’s has a long and proud history in serving those in the community seeking a Catholic education in the area. Established by the Sisters of St Joseph, the school has welcomed each wave of refugee and migrating families that continues to this day. Among the many students who have passed through our doors, we are delighted to see where students have gone on to make significant contributions to the wider South Australian community. We would love for you to take the time and come celebrate with us.

The theme of the celebration is ’60 Years of 60,000 - Celebrating our story of Diversity and Welcoming all’.  where we acknowledge our history and that of Aboriginal Australians who inhabited what we would define as the greater Port Adelaide region. This history continues in our community today. Artist David Booth has been commissioned to create a mural of our story with the involvement of our senior students and will be unveiled at the celebration.

Beginning with 10.00am Liturgy celebration, the day will include, the unveiling of the mural commissioned by South Australian Aboriginal artist David Booth, cultural dancing, including Dragon Dance, Polish and Indian dances from across our diverse community, music, food and art exhibition of student’s amazing work. The day will conclude around 1.30pm.

There will be many invited guests including former Principals who led the school. It is an exciting time in the history of the school, and we encourage you to be a part of it and celebrate with us.

On this day we commemorate World Children’s Day which is celebrated earlier in that week. This day is in place of the full Moon Festival that we normally celebrate but due to circumstances beyond our control, it did not happen earlier this year. We are inviting you to attend with your children in national costume on this day. We would love to see as many families as possible attend.

If your child is attending, please remember they must be accompanied by a parent or adult. We look forward to seeing you all there. Please complete the return slip sent home with your child this week and return as soon as possible please.

Gennaro Mannella

Acting Principal

who have celebrated a birthday over the last few weeks

• 26 September - Joanna, Justin & Minh
• 27 September - Mathea & Ajay
• 28 September - Mathea
• 30 September - Anik
• 2 October - James & Alvin
• 4 October - Margarita
• 6 October - James K
• 9 October - Kaylena
• 11 October - Estelle
• 12 October - Farhaan, Zajna, Chloe
• 21 October - Sally
• 22 October - Tyson
• 23 October - Khushveer & Duyen

A friendly reminder to those families, who do not have a direct debit set up, that Term 3 fees were due the last day of Term 3 which was the 27th September 2024.      

We offer direct debit, BPay, EFTPOS and also direct deductions from Centrelink payments to cater to the changing financial needs of our families at St Patrick’s School. When the direct debit payment option is selected your school fee payment is calculated over the full school year right up until the 31^st of December 2023. This means smaller payments are required, making this method the most affordable way to budget for your commitment.

Please come into the office or ring me on 83034500 if one of these options would better suit your financial requirements.  

School Card 2024 is applied for online if you haven’t already applied for this year please arrange as soon as possible as the cut off date is early November. Instructions on how to do this are available at the front office. School Card must be applied for each year.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL FAMILIES:

Please be aware St Patrick’s School has changed their bank details. These new bank details do now appear on your school invoice.

If you pay a direct debit the bank details are automatically updated.  The new details are as follows:

CTB

BSB 066-782

Account number 100000262

If at any time you are having trouble meeting your school fee commitment, or have any queries, please contact me on 83034500 to discuss this matter.

Christine Lavender

Finance Officer

Welcome to Term 4 everyone!  Just a few reminders please.  Term 4 means children are required to we wear their hats for outside play,  so they need to bring their hats to OSHC.  If they have a spare hat they can bring it into here and it will be kept in a separate bag with their name on it so they have one at all times.  If you require our services you need to go online and register at www.campaustralia.com.au and when you select the school please select St Patrick School Mansfield Park.  We open at 7.00am in the morning offering breakfast for the children plus arts and craft, sports.  We reopen when school finishes and close at 6.00pm offering fresh fruit and a snack.  Any queries please contact myself by coming in to see me or ringing 0447 141 518.  If you leave a message I will get back to you when I come in.Thank you Michele

PLAYGROUP

St Patrick’s Playgroup 9.30am- 11.30 am (Wednesday and Friday)

Welcome all children 0-5 years and their parents-carers residing in City of Port Adelaide Enfield, City of Charles Sturt

Goals of Playgroup:

• To provide individual support, engage with families and raise awareness of other Community Resources
• To promote Children’s interactions with others and learn basic English
• To facilitate a smooth transition for both Child and Parent into a new schooling environment
• To promote, encourage the opportunity for parents and children to learn and play together
• To promote a friendly and safe environment for parents and children to form social networks and establish new friendships

All parents and carers are responsible for the children they bring to playgroup

Communities for Children is funded by the Australian Government  Department of Social Services

Please contact Chau Tran or Huong Nguyen on 8303 4500 if you would like further information.