Dear Parents and Carers,

Public speaking is both a time of excitement and sometimes one of nervousness and  anxiety. For many of our Year 3 students the public speaking competition this week  was their first experience standing in front of an audience, voice trembling, palms a little sweaty, hearts racing. And yet—they did it. And yes, for some they had a slightly smaller audience than others. But, what an achievement!

The Year 4-6 students had experienced public speaking in Year 3 so were a little more ready, but still experienced the bredth of emotion!

In every classroom we witnessed the preparation: the drafting, the redrafting, the quiet rehearsals, the growing confidence. Children who just weeks ago whispered their speeches were able to deliver them with conviction and clarity. It’s a powerful reminder of what can happen when courage meets support.

Yes, nerves were present—but so were perseverance, pride, and a great sense of accomplishment. Whether it was a humorous take on what would happen if animals could talk, a creative response to a ‘much needed invention’ or thrilling us with what they would do if they had a time machine, each student brought something meaningful to the presentations.

At St Pat’s we look for opportunities to celebrate the growth of our students in their learning. Opportunities like the public speaking competition build not only communication skills but also resilience, empathy, and a deepening sense of community. Watching our students step forward with bravery and speak their truths was inspiring.

To our Year 3-6 students: I am proud of you. Not just for the speeches you wrote or the confidence you displayed—but for the way you lifted each other up. For every round of applause you gave your peers. For celebrating every brave friend and classmate who stood and presented their speech. Well done!

Congratulations to the St Pat's finalists and to the 2 students in each year who have made it to the regional public speaking event. 

Blessings

Jo

“Moments That Matter” – Building Strong Partnerships

As we enter Week 9, the rhythm of the term shifts toward reflection and connection. Parent-Teacher interviews are a valuable opportunity to pause and celebrate the growth of each student—not just in academic achievement, but in character, effort, and resilience.

This week, we focus on the theme “Moments That Matter.” Whether it’s a conversation that sparks new understanding, a shared laugh over a learning challenge, or a quiet moment of encouragement, these small interactions build the strong partnerships that support our students to thrive.

We are especially mindful of students on personalised plans (PPs), and the way their learning journeys are uniquely shaped. Adjusted reports reflect not only their progress but the care and collaboration that surrounds them.

Let’s continue to honour the moments that matter—together.

St Patrick's Public Speaking Competition

Congratulations to all students who participated in our recent school level public speaking competition! It was a joy to witness such thoughtful speeches from students across year levels 3-6. A special congratulations to those who have progressed to the next level—we are so proud of your achievements and wish you all the best in the upcoming rounds.

3-6 Athletics Carnival

What a fantastic day of energy, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship at our Years 3–6 Athletics Carnival! From track to high jump and long jump, students gave it their all and cheered one another on with wonderful team spirit. Congratulations to all who participated—you should be proud of your efforts and achievements. A big thank you to our staff and volunteers who made the day run so smoothly, and especially Mrs Harnett for her fantastic organisation of the day. 

A special thankyou to Nate from 3DGT guitars for the loan of a PA system for the day while ours was getting fixed. 

Work Experience Students

It has been a delight to have three Year 10 work experience students at St Pat's this week. Students have enjoyed showing them their fabulous learning across the week. We look forward to maybe seeing Tyger, Ivy and Cooper in the classroom again- maybe next time as teachers!

Year 5 Maths

Students in Year 5 have enjoyed learning about measurement this week, with hands on and engaging lessons. 

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held yesterday in quite pleasant conditions for a mid-winter’s day. The students were able to compete and showcase their athletic abilities.

Our age champions for this year are:

• Juniors: Austin and Indi T.

• 11 Years: Mia D. and Henry

• Seniors: Isabella and Archie

Congratulations to these children and to all those who received place ribbons!

The Regional Carnival for those moving on is here in Bega and will be held next term, on Monday 28 July. This is a big day for our school, as we are the hosts. A lot of volunteer help will be needed—from setting up, to cooking, selling, and packing up. Reminders will go out through Compass, so please help out if you can. Any money raised comes back to the school to benefit all children, not just those competing on the day.

Yesterday, a little band of helpers lent their time to move gear and help with setup. A huge thanks to Jodie, Aaron, and Angus—without you, the carnival wouldn't happen! Thanks also to the parents and grandparents who assisted around the grounds and those who came along to cheer.

Ribbons and trophies were presented at the field, so house points are still to be tallied. The winning house will be announced at next Tuesday’s morning assembly.

This week my focus is on 5/6G, I will share a little about each subject they are studying. Interestingly they are learning about conscience. Conscience is an individual’s inner sense of right and wrong. In English they have been reading a book called “Can you see me?” In Maths they have been learning about graphs. All sorts of graphs, such as bar graphs and line graphs. Painting fruit is the 5/6G Visual Art focus. Painting or drawing the fruit while it is sitting on a table is a type of still-life. In Science they have been learning about Isaac Newton and his laws. The laws are about motion. 5/6G have also been learning about plastic pollution and how we can help reduce this problem.