Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the new school year, we are excited to start the 2024 year of learning!

Welcome back to all St Pat's kids, a special welcome to all our Kinder students:

Levi, Ollie, Harper, Joseph, Gemma, Billy, Elley, Elliott, Saede, Delilah, Jason, Delisha, Max, Reed, Mason, Chi, Jovana, Anhad, James, Olivia, Lucy, Flynn and Charlotte.

Welcome to all new students in our school.

Welcome back to the great staff at St Patrick's.

Alongside the staff we welcome a School Based Apprentice / Trainee (SBAT) at St Patrick's. Gypsy, a past student and currently in senior secondary school, will be undertaking an education traineeship at St Patrick's one day a week for the next two years. St Patrick's is proud to support Gypsy and hope she loves working in education and considers teaching as a future career. Welcome back Gypsy!

Blessings

Jo

Welcome to Term 1 2024!
The excitement for the first day of school was evident in the line up for the photoframe.

We look forward to a term full of learing and joy.
Here are the dates of our February upcoming events:
Monday 5th Feb: Years 3-6 Swimming Program Begins
Thursday 8th Feb: Opening Mass
Monday 12th Feb: Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival
Thursday 15th Feb: K-2 Responsible Pet Program
Wednesday 28th Feb: 5/6 Questacon Visit

In Term 1, Tuesday will be the normal sport day for middle and senior primary this term. However due to circumstances beyond our control, we will be swimming on Monday for the next two weeks.

This coming Monday 5th February the middle and senior students will go to the pool in age divisions. For those students wanting to go in the time trials for the Narooma Carnival which will be held on Monday 19th February they will do this. Those not trialling will work with the instructors. ALL seniors and middle primary students will be going swimming.

If you have a child in Year 2 who is turning 8 this year and can swim 50 metres please contact the school as they will need to come with us on Monday.

The following Monday, 12th February, is our school swimming carnival. All events other than the 100m races will be one lap races. There will be novelty events in the shallow end of the pool for those less confident. Thank you if you can encourage your child to go in the one lap events, if they are less confident they can be slotted into a side lane to still attempt the race.

The children will have a chance to practice and nominate for the one lap events this Monday as part of their swimming instruction.

Parents are invited to come particularly to our school carnival where we will need timekeepers to help the day run smoothly. A coffee van will be there in the morning for those who wish to partake.

There will be reminders and more details about the school swimming carnival next Friday.

Representative sport

Representative sport starts very early in 2024. Participating in these sports requires a lot of time and commitment. We already have three children who were selected last year for rep teams this year. I'm sure we will hear more about their progress as the year unfolds. The first rep sport trials this year will be for netball and rugby league. This will be held in Canberra on Tuesday 12th March. The rugby league is in divisions – U12 and U11 years. To be eligible to attend any trials students must play at a high standard and have represented locally. Anyone interested in either of these sports should contact the school. If your child fits the criteria, they will be issued with a letter setting out details.

Please email Nicole on nicole.collins1@cg.catholic.edu.au if you are available

on Mondays to help for an hour in the canteen between 10 - 1.30pm.

Please note due to supply issues there will be a limited Menu.

My name is Sam and I have been part of the Marymead CatholicCare Student and Family Counselling team, and working at St Patrick’s, since 2021.

I am a psychologist and I have been working as a school counsellor since 2019, whilst gaining my full registration. I have also previously worked as a primary school teacher in the UK and the UAE. I love working with children and their families and am very happy to be continuing my work at St Patrick’s for another year.

Feel free to touch base with any questions or concerns relating to the counselling service at your school. I am at St Patrick’s on Wednesdays and alternate Thursdays.

I can also be reached via email: Samantha.hessenthaler@mccg.org.au

In order to make a referral to the school counselling service for your child please get in touch with the school, or follow the below link: https://mccg.my.site.com/housing/s/school-referral-form

I look forward to working with you and your school throughout 2024!

SAMANTHA Hessenthaler