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Dear Parents and Carers,
A Taste of St Pat's 2025 We need a few willing and interested parents to help us plan our second 'A Taste of St Pat's' event. A meeting is planned at 3.30pm on Wednesday 28th May in the school library. PLEASE COME. Many hands make light work.
Calendar date: Please mark Wednesday 13th August in your diaries for the 'A Taste of St Pat's' event.
A water leak at school is not something to celebrate, but finding and fixing the water leak is! A big thanks to 2 great plumbers, who happen to have pretty close St Pat's connections! Look at the interest and enthusiasm on the faces in the crowd watching proceedings before school yesterday morning!
Congratulations to Levi who has made it to Sydney for Cross Country.
Important Information for Parents & Carers
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with Disability
Dear Parents and Carers,
Each year, all schools across Australia—including our Catholic schools—participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). This important initiative helps ensure that every student receives the support they need to thrive in their learning journey.
At the heart of our Catholic tradition is the belief that every child is sacred, equal, and deserving of dignity and respect. Supporting students with disability is not just a legal requirement—it is an act of love and a reflection of our commitment to inclusive education.
What is the NCCD?
The NCCD is a national process that identifies and counts students who receive adjustments (or extra help) at school due to a disability. This data helps governments plan and fund resources to better support students with disability across Australia.
Who is Included?
To be included in the NCCD, schools consider four key questions:
- Is the student receiving adjustments to help them participate in learning on the same basis as their peers?
- Does the student meet the broad definition of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992?
- Have the adjustments been discussed with the student and/or their parent or carer?
- Is there documentation (e.g. assessments, reports, learning plans) showing the student’s needs and progress?
If all four criteria are met, the student is included in the NCCD.
What is Considered a Disability?
The NCCD uses a broad definition of disability, which includes:
- Sensory (e.g. vision or hearing impairment)
- Cognitive (e.g. learning disorders, dyslexia)
- Social-emotional (e.g. anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder)
- Physical (e.g. cerebral palsy, chronic health conditions)
A formal diagnosis is helpful but not required—teacher judgment and school documentation are sufficient.
What are Adjustments?
Adjustments are the supports provided to help students learn and participate. These may include:
- Extra teacher or aide support
- Modified learning programs
- Assistive technology or equipment
- Changes to classroom layout or teaching methods
- Support for medical or behavioural needs
Adjustments vary depending on each student’s unique needs.
What Information is Collected?
Schools gather information from:
- Teachers’ observations and records
- Parent/carer input
- Reports from specialists (e.g. psychologists, speech pathologists)
- Personalised Learning Plans and meeting notes
This information helps build a clear picture of the student’s needs and the support provided.
Is the Data Confidential?
Yes. All data is handled in line with the school’s Privacy Policy. Student names are not included in the national data set. The school principal verifies and submits the data each August.
Do Parents Need to Give Consent?
No. Under the Australian Education Act 2013, schools are not required to obtain active consent from parents for a student’s inclusion in the NCCD. There is also no opt-out option.
Want to Learn More?
If you have questions or would like to discuss your child’s support needs, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office. You can also visit the official NCCD website: www.nccd.edu.au
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting every child’s learning journey.
Emma Grant
Assistant Principal & Classroom Support Teacher
Dates for your calendar
Class Mass- Friday 23rd May, 5/6Red (Families Welcome)
Confirmation Retreat- Friday 6th June
Confirmation Mass- Sunday 8th June
Poetry in 1/2 Red
The students of 1/2Red have written heartfelt poems about God’s love, expressing their thoughts with warmth, wonder, and creativity. Their words remind us all that God's love is everywhere—gentle, kind, and always near.
Helping on the playground
Today on the playground, we discovered that many hands make light work. A group of Year 6 boys showed initiative, finding a way to make the job of returning the football pads to the hall just a little easier.
Mel Ferris
Rugby League: Conor, Will, Jayden and Archie travelled to Canberra last week to play for the Canberra Goulburn team. Will made the possible, probables game but was injured. A great achievement. Congratulations to Conor Herbert-Scott who has been selected in the MacKillop Under 12 Rugby League team, he will now go on to play all schools for a place in the NSW side. Well done Conor!
Cross Country: Good luck to our cross-country runners who are competing in Canberra today, we look forward to hearing how they go.
Sporting Pathways: How do they work?
Already this year we have had two school carnivals, for swimming and cross country. Athletics is the third carnival and will be held towards the end of this term. School carnival days are where everyone is encouraged to have a go, and a fun element is included. From these carnivals the pathway begins for the more capable athletes. Swimming and athletics are straight forward. At St Patrick’s we are given a number of entrants allowed per event who MUST have competitive times. This is why at times a third placed student might not make the ‘next’ level. Once we move past the school carnival it loses the having-a-go element and becomes real competition. The other Southern Region schools become involved and a new team evolves from this with limited numbers of competitors and even more competitive times needing to be met. Travel and commitment now come into the equation. At this level the students are working towards MacKillop and state representation.
Cross country is a little different, this one is an endurance event. At the school level there are many students who struggle to run the distance, but all are encouraged to at least walk the course. We have to consider things like, did the child have to walk a lot of the way? Has the child been to the challenging Wolumla track before? How were they at the finish? Did they fall over? Did they go the wrong way and run extra distance? The final number included for each age group is decided by looking at all these things and other factors that arise. Also, the time difference between first and those who come after eg if 4th and 5th were close in times they would both go. In another race 5th may be a minute behind fourth. 3rd may be 2 mins behind 1st, this isn't termed ‘competitive.’ Some children become highly distressed at the more competitive levels and it may turn them off having a go at all sports. Some children will actually choose not to go to the next level event, particularly the cross country, even when they have placed.
If at any time for any sporting event you feel your child should have been included in the next level please email or come and see me. These pathways are in place to provide the best opportunities for our able and gifted athletes.
Next week I'll endeavour to explain the pathways process for individual sports.
Jannene Harnett
Hello Students, Families, and Staff,
My name is Jess, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the new school counsellor here at St Patricks Primary School, Bega. I feel truly honoured to be part of a community that values student well-being, personal growth, and academic success.
As a school counsellor, my role is to support students in all areas of their development—socially, emotionally, and academically. Whether it’s helping students navigate personal challenges, build positive relationships, explore their goals, or simply providing a safe space to talk, I’m here to listen and help.
Throughout the year, I’ll be working closely with students through individual check-ins, group sessions, classroom lessons, and school-wide initiatives that promote mental wellness and resilience. I also collaborate with parents, teachers, and staff to ensure each student has the support they need to thrive.
I will be available to take appointments every Tuesday and Wednesday. If you would like to refer a child or learn more, please feel free to contact me via email (Jessica.colton@mccg.org.au), or reach out to the St Patrick's Office. All counselling will take place inside school hours and no doctor's referral is needed.
I look forward to meeting you all.
Warm regards,
Jessica
School and Family Counsellor, CatholicCare Marymead (BSW).
Have you heard the exciting news about FLING’s NEW Circus program??
Starting this FRI 16 May in Bermagui
Starting MON 19 May in Bega
Classes for 5 - 14yrs
FLING’s new Circus program led by Dance Development Facilitator Christopher Wade is a brilliant addition to our Community Engagement Program.
With classes for 5-14yrs, young people will learn to juggle, hoop and fly in acro balance skills - in the same joyous, welcoming space and high quality arts experience you’ve come to know from FLING.
What are you waiting for? Secure a spot and see our full timetable via our website
www.flingphysicaltheatre.com.au/community-dance-classes
