Dear Parents and Carers

On Wednesday we were delighted to hear from our Year 5 students as they presented their speeches on why they would make a great school captain or sport captain. We are always inspired by the courage, determination and hope our students demonstrate as they approach their final year of primary school. The second part of the process for appointment as a captain is to have an interview and present a statement about their contribution to our school over their years as students at St Pat's. We look forward to announcing the roles for our 2023 student leaders at the final year Mass in Week 10 of term.

Our final Kinderstart morning was on Wednesday with lots of energy and learning for our 2023 Kinders. Thank you to Mrs Banks and Mrs McPherson for supporting this strong transition to school program. Thanks to the Community Council Uniform Committee for setting up a uniform pop-up stall for our new families. More photos and information is in Mrs Sheahan's news today.

This week I offer a special thank you to Mrs Kerry O'Callaghan for her years of dedicated service to Catholic Education and especially to St Patrick's Primary School in her role as Teaching Learning Officer - Aboriginal Education. Over the years Kerry has made a significant contribution to our cultural education programs for the whole school community, and of course the programs for learning and engagement for the Koori kids at St Pat's. Kerry's last visit to St Pat's was on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Please ensure your child is wearing full correct school uniform to school each day. We expect St Pat's kids to take pride in their uniform and presentation each day. If you are experiencing financial hardship and we can support with uniform or shoes please contact me. 

3 weeks to go, and only 2 to the St Patrick's Community Market Festival, the excitement is building! I have a number of students telling me they are going to bid for the privilege of seeing me fully soaked on the dunk tank at the end of the day! I am bracing myself for this fun end to the festival day:)

Blessings on a restful weekend.

Jo

KINDERSTART 3

On Wednesday our Kindergarten 2023 students spent a wonderful morning enjoying St. Pat's. This is the third time we have been visited by our prospective Kinders and we can see them developing confidence as they become familiar with their classroom and the school surrounds. The students enjoyed craft, storytime, songs and gross motor activities with their Year 5 buddies. St. Pat's was blessed to have a visit from Kerry O'Callaghan, Aboriginal Education Officer at Catholic Education. Kerry showed the Kinders an emu egg and explained the way aboriginal people collect the eggs from the nest. The students were then supported by their Year 5 buddies to participate in some fun gross motor activities while parents had a cuppa and browsed school uniforms.

We can't wait until or new Kinders arrive next year. 

Religious Education - Forward Planning 

Parents are invited to attend our upcoming Chapel Masses. Mass begins at 9:15am in the Church on Friday of each week:

Week 8- 1/2R

Week 9- 5/6R & 5/6G

12th December 12:15pm - Thanksgiving Mass

14th December 6pm - Year 6 Graduation Mass

We are still looking for more altar servers for weekend and school Masses! Please email Mrs Grant emma.grant@cg.catholic.edu.au 

Vinnies Christmas Appeal - Christmas Hampers

Thank you to the families who have already donated to our Christmas Hampers!

St Pat's would like to continue to support the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal.  Families who are able to donate can place an item in the hampers in their classroom or school foyer. Donations can include:

Toothpaste and toothbrushes 

Shampoo and conditioner

Chips

Popcorn

Pasta

Rice

Cake mix

Tinned fruit or vegetables

Tinned soup

Biscuits 

Lollies 

Christmas cake/pudding 

Please do not include items such as chocolate that could spoil in warm weather.  

My Body, My Life - Puberty and Personal Development Program

The Archdiocesan Relationship Education Team are very excited to be visiting
St Patrick’s Primary School to run the My Body, My Life puberty and personal development program with Grade 5 and 6 early next year.

The team of relationship educators and trained youth ministers will be working in small groups with the year 5 and 6 students on Tuesday, 7^th March 2023.

St Patrick’s has requested early access to the online units for all parents of current Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 students. Parents can access the content, at their discretion, with or without your child.  The videos are available here: https://cgcatholic.org.au/my-body-my-life/st-patricks-primary-school-bega/.

The My Body My Life online parent / child program includes about 60 minutes of video content, plus a few activities.  You can watch all 6 short videos in one sitting, or over a few nights, whichever works best for your family.

 Research shows that despite any awkwardness you and your child might feel, children much prefer to hear this information first from their own parents and carers. We are simply trying to help you with that process and then reinforce the same information at school.

The topics covered in the videos include:

• Changes during puberty: physical, emotional, social
• Personal hygiene: skin, hair, cleanliness
• Reproductive systems: growth, development, changes and experiences
• Human conception
• Mood changes, mental health and wellbeing
• Respecting yourself and others
• Talking to trusted adults