Dear Parents and Carers

For four days this week I have been in Bowral at the Director's Day and the Archdiocesan Principal Retreat. This is a time when all principals in the 56 Canberra and Goulburn schools gather to engage in professional learning and in Catholic leadership.

Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP facilitated the retreat with themes of

Encounter: understanding of how moments of encounter can reinvigorate Catholic Education.

Discipleship: reflections on the movement of the Spirit during times of challenge and change in the Church broadly and Catholic Education specifically through a call to discipleship

Mission: discerning how principals are called to Mission in work of Catholic Education

Leadership: Catholic school principals developing a greater openness to the Holy Spirit in their leadership of Catholic Schools that inspires and builds Catholic community.

It has been an enriching time and I thank Mrs Grant for her wonderful leadership in my absence.

Looking forward to seeing everyone for Week 7 of term next week.

Blessings,

Jo

Learning Out and About: Playtime

How does play help my child grow?
Play has a powerful impact on children’s early cognitive, physical, social and emotional
development. Encouraging your child to make up a game, and joining in, will help the child to:
• become autonomous learners
• develop a lifelong passion for learning
• develop numeracy and literacy skills

At St Pat's we encourage a range of play activities including but not limited to:

• Playground, climbing frame and monkey bars
• Sand pit
• Imaginative play
• Soccer, football, cricket, badminton and a range of other sports/games
• Lego, card games, craft and reading 

Here are some of our students enjoying playtime. 

RE Date for your calendar

• Friday 15th March, 12:35pm- St Patrick's Day whole school Mass (All welcome)
• Sunday 17th March, 9:30am- Reconciliation Enrolment Mass and Family Faith formation.
• Week 9- Holy Week Liturgies (Days and times TBC)
• Holy Week Services at St Patrick's Church (See below)

On Monday ten St Pat's students travelled to Boorowa to compete as part of the Southern Region swimming squad. We are extremely proud of the students who attended, especially for the support they showed each other. 

Competition is very strong at this level and the fact that only two competitors move forward in each event, makes it very hard to be selected in the Archdiocesan team. PB's were broken on the day, and everyone tried their best.

We were very happy to hear that one of our students has been selected to swim in Sydney at the MacKillop trials. Henry came first in the 50m free and 50m backstroke. He also received a second in the Junior Medley. Henry was named Junior Boy Runner Up for the carnival. A huge effort. Congratulations to all who made the trip to Boorowa and a big thanks to the parents for making it happen.