Dear Parents and Carers,

What better week to host the school swimming carnival that the week of the February hot weather. We have survived the mini heat wave with a few red faces, lots of water and a little splash of 'half a hat of water' on the hottest days. 

Thank you to Mrs Harnett and the Year 3-6 teachers and support staff for a fabulous swimming carnival! I am so proud of our students, and in particular those who took up the challenge and participated in an event where they had to push themselves to achieve something they didn't know they could do. One fabulous effort to celebrate was Will entering a race he had never achieved before - the individual medley - and proudly finishing the race! A little fun on the side was Mark (Philipzen) encouraging Will with a promise to get wet, clothes and all, if Will completed the race. Needless to say Mark was happily wet at the end.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winning house Tenison and to the swimming age champions: Nate, Lily, Drew, Eva, Sienna, Henry and Arly. Good luck to all our swimmers going to Narooma for the Southern Region Carnival.

Gardening

Yesterday we had some harvesting joy with one bunch of bananas finally being ready to pick and eat! What a feast we had of delicious lady fingers!

  

COVID UPDATE

This week has ended with a few changes to covid protocols for schools. We are following the CECG Safe Return to School NSW Roadmap 2022. For safety for our students and staff, schools continue to operate with reasonable restrictions.

• We continue to have cohorting for eating and play time.
• We can have short whole school outdoor assemblies (no parents) with students sitting in cohorts.
• We can have dancing / drama / singing at school in well ventilated or outdoor venues. 
• Class or cohort excursions are permitted - with specific covid restrictions eg. no sharing of facilities or mixing with other groups. A special clause is to be added to permission notes for excursions regarding covid expectations. 
• Non-essential visitors are not permitted on school site.
• Parents attendance at school is for the following reasons: to collect sick children, attend the front office, attend the uniform shop, attend critical meetings with myself of school staff at school request.

Thank you for your continued support of the covid safe practices for schools. We all await the first opportunity to have you all back on site and engaging in your child's learning and our school community.

Have a great weekend. If you get to the Bega Show take a look in the art section, many of our students have artworks entered in the show. Thanks to Mrs Lightly for her organisation!

Blessings,

Jo

QUESTACON CIRCUS VISIT

The Questacon Science Circus is a major outreach program from Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra. A Science Circus experience is designed to stimulate and challenge students to explore science and technology for themselves and is an ideal basis for follow-on activities. It includes an exciting and interactive presentation covering aspects of science in everyday life.

St. Pat's Year 3-6 students were fortunate to participate in an engaging and explorative science show presented by Anna and Rhys from Questacon. The students had an  opportunity to learn about forces, sound, friction and building structures. The presenters used familiar everyday materials that demonstrate a variety of scientific principles.

Val

Upcoming Dates:

25/2 - Chapel Mass 3/4G 9:15am

27/2 - Sacramental Program Enrolment Mass 9:30am

2/3 - Ash Wednesday Mass 

Due to COVID restrictions parents will be unable to attend this Mass

Sacramental Program 

Thank you to the families who have completed their enrolment forms and returned their permission notes for the Sacramental Program.

Students who are baptised in the Catholic Church can participate in the St Patrick’s Parish Sacramental program. If your child is yet to be baptised and you would like to discuss our baptism program please touch base with either the parish @ bega@cg.org.au or emma.grant@cg.catholic.edu.au 

A link for the Virtual Parent Formation Session will be shared next week. 

Ways to Pray

The Brisbane Curriculum focuses on praying Grace before Meals in February. 

At home explain to your children that ‘Grace’ is a prayer which gives thanks for gifts.  
Teach a simple formal grace before meals or write a Grace before meals prayer together. 

Swimming Carnival

What a perfect day Tuesday was for a swimming carnival. Our St Pat's kids made the most of the beautiful conditions. We proudly note that the participation level in all events was high. Everyone had a chance to get wet in the novelty events held between races. The overall point score was close with Tenison winning by a small margin. Congratulations to all the children who competed especially our individual age champions.

Senior Age Champions were Nate Irvin and Lily Salway.

11 year Age Champions were Drew Duncan and equal girl winners Eva Ridley and Sienna Jessop.

Junior Age Champions were Arly Schrader and Henry Philipzen.

This is the first time we have had an eight year old age champion! The junior division covers the age group 8, 9 and 10 so it was a big effort by Henry to win this division. Well done Henry!

A team of 20 children has been selected to swim at the Southern Region Carnival in Narooma on Thursday 24^th February. Good luck to all those children.

Term 1 school fees have been sent to families.

Thank you to the families who have paid their term 1 fees.

Term 1 fees are due 16 March 2022, except those with direct debit arrangements.

If at any time your family is experiencing financial hardship due to Covid-19 or any other reason or your family is in need of other support, please contact the school to make a time for a confidential meeting with our Principal, Jo Scott-Pegum to discuss how the school can help support your family.

Ever thought about joining FLING PHYSICAL THEATRE'S Youth Companies? 

COME TRY IT Workshops 

*Saturday 19th February*

- Bega Indoor Stadium - Give it a try, meet our team and hear about our 2022 company program

YFLING 7 - 10yrs

10am - 11:15am  *Info session for families at 11am 

FLUX Creators 11 - 14yrs

11:30am - 12: 45pm *Info session for families at 12:30pm

FLING Company 14 - 19yrs

1pm - 2:45pm 

FLING’s Youth Companies are at the heart of our organisation, offering regional youth in the Bega Valley the opportunity to work with visiting and local professional artists to create original contemporary performance work. 

NEW TO FLING Companies? 

Get in touch and join us this Saturday Feb 19th admin@flingphysicaltheatre.com.au

Or check out our Community Dance Classes in Bega, Merimbula, Bermagui and Tathra. www.flingphysicaltheatre.com.au