• FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER - CHRISTMAS CAROL EVENING ...START 5.30PM ...ALL WELCOME
• MONDAY 9 DECEMBER 5.45PM - 9.00PM YEAR 6 GRADUATION DINNER AND CEREMONY
• THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL TERM FOR CHILDREN - NORMAL FINISH TIME 3.10PM

Dear Families,

Welcome to our Week 6 Newsletter.

ADMINISTRATIVE DIMENSION:

Pupil Free Day:

Staff had a successful Staff Reflection Day at the Bethany Mary MacKillop Centre on Friday.

The day was led by Father Philip Marshall on the theme of ...In the eyes of God each of us matters absolutely!  We explored ideas of God’s creative love, living the truth that is within each of us and that tenderness is at the heart of everything.

When we take time out of normal busy days to take an inward look at ourselves, then hopefully we can better manage the pressures of the day to day tasks. Whether it is paid work, managing our families, dealing with health challenges or reveling in the joy and celebrations of life, how we respond to these events or routines impacts on those around us. For our staff, self-reflection helps us all better undertake our vital work in caring for and educating your children. I would like to thank Mr Michael Proctor for coodinating the day and thank families for enabling us to take these additional days from the school term to do this work.

School Lunches:

Some concern has been raised by staff around how some children bring lunches to school.   With the increasing warmer weather, some lunches containing meat, especially chicken, and rice have the potential to be affected by bacteria and subsequently cause illness through food poisoning if they are not maintained at the correct temperature.

If lunches are prepared and sent to school from the morning, we highly recommend providing a frozen ice pack to maintain lunches at a SAFE temperature. This is important for milk products such as yogurts as well. If you are bringing a cooked lunch for your child, please do so as close to 12.50pm as possible as these lunches can sit on the office counter for long periods too and be affected by bacteria.

Thanks for your understanding in this matter.

End of Year Excursions/Events:

Teachers will be sending home information about end-of-year class events and excursions. Please make sure that all permissions and documents are returned to your child’s teacher by dates provided. Any child who does not return a signed permission will not be able to attend the excursion.

Enrolments:

If you are yet to enroll a sibling for 2025 Reception class, or you are aware of someone who has a Reception aged child who is not enrolled in a school, please let the Office know. They will provide you with an application form and other necessary information. We have only a few more weeks left for the Reception Transition program to prepare children commencing in Term 1 2025.

LEARNING DIMENSION:

Enrichment Program:

A number of our children attended another GATEWAYS enrichment day for children demonstrating talent in  extended thinking and problem solving. This day was held at Dominican School Semaphore. We thank Mrs. Bain for coordinating this program.

Pulse Survey:

Last week all students undertook the Pulse Survey for Term 4. This CESA survey assists teachers to monitor children’s wellbeing and satisfaction with their school experience.

COMMUNITY DIMENSION:

Carols Evening 2025:

This Friday 22 November, the school community once again comes together to celebrate St Patrick’s Christian tradition of singing Christmas Carols. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas. we acknowledge that this is not the tradition of all families in our school, but we invite you to come and watch your child participate in a choral item with their class.

The event will be held in the Sr Mary Mercer Hall. Children may come dressed in a Christmas story costume or red and green colours.

A BBQ will be available from 5.30pm where sausage (Halal) and drinks can be purchased from the canteen. The performance will commence at 6.30pm and is expected to finish around 8.00pm.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Gennaro Mannella and the Leadership Team

St Patrick's School Leadership Team

Gennaro Mannella

APRIM Reflection and News

Be watchful, and pray constantly, and be careful how you listen! (Based on Luke 21:36) 

As we approach Advent and Christmas we are reminded that it is important to live in a mindful (contemporary) way; to engage fully in life and with all whom we interact with each day. It is very challenging, because we find this time of year busy and often stressful. We are encouraged to take some time regularly to engage in mindful (contemplative) practices so that we are less reactive and can interact with others kindly, gently and patiently. 

Vinnies ChristmasAppeal  

It is now the time of the year when many families prepare for Christmas. In the Catholic Tradition, we call the time of preparation, Advent. This is primarily a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In this season and in the Spirit of Christmas we are inviting families to help our St Vinnies members, by contributing non-perishable food and drink items, used to make up hampers or donating gifts for children. More information is available in the letter to families, that I have emailed to you. 

Donations of food and drink items will be taken to the classrooms and be stored in plastic tubs and gifts and wrapping paper for children can taken to the Front Office Christmas Tree. We ask that all donations be brought to school by Friday 6 December.

Community Events for Term 4:

Dear Parents & Caregivers

Advent

&

Season of Christmas

It is now the time of the year when many families prepare for Christmas. In the Catholic Tradition, we call the time of preparation, Advent. This is primarily a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

With children we can talk about God coming amongst us in the person of Jesus Christ. Our children are very familiar with the love Jesus showed for all people, so it is fitting to prepare for Christmas by our families showing love for each other and for people in the community. In that spirit, we invite families to help our St Vinnies members, by contributing non-perishable food and drink items, used to make up Hampers or donating gifts for children.

The types of food or drink items that could be included in a Christmas Hamper:

mince pies, sauce, gravox, long life milk and custard, tuna, salmon, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, tin vegetables, tinned fruit, jelly, honey, candy cane, Christmas pudding, jam, short bread biscuits and other sweet or savoury biscuits, lollies, soft drinks, cordial, chips, milo, marshmallows, tea bags, coffee, sugar, table clothes, serviettes, bon bons and tea towels.

You may like to donate a gift for a child. If so, please do not wrap the gift. However, you may also like to donate some wrapping paper. That way the parents receiving the gifts and paper, can know that is given and wrap the presents for their children.

Please take your donations of food and drink items to the classrooms and gifts and wrapping paper for children taken to the Front Office Christmas Tree. We ask that all donations be brought to school by Friday 6 December.

I thank you, in anticipation, for your kindness and generosity!

May God richly bless your family!

Mike Proctor

Assistant Principal

who have celebrated a birthday over the last few weeks

• 8 November - Caitlyn
• 11 November - Taskirat
• 13 November - Azaehel
• 14 November - Ajok
• 15 November - Ellie
• 17 November - Ava
• 18 November - Amanda

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. Updated fee statements for any overdue fees have gone home last week.     

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

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.