Principal Report

Leaders for 2023

Congratulations to our school leaders for term 1 in 2023.

School Captains = Jimmy Tueon & Rose Evans

Byrne House Captains = Wynnie Bryant & Frank Dewrance-Milligan

Dooley House Captains = Amaja Scott & Jake Bracken

Martyn House Captains = Zarna Bakes & Egan Bos

We know these leaders will do an amazing job leading our school.

Assembly

From next week, school assemblies will be held once per week on Monday mornings at 8:50 a.m. During the Monday morning assembly, awards will be presented, as well as a focus on our school values, Mercy and WEST, as well as School Wide Positive Behaviour Support. It is important for our students to settle into daily routines where learning can occur from the start of the school day. For this reason, assembly from Tuesday to Friday will no longer take place. We hope to see parents and carers at each Monday morning assembly.

Mobile Online Digital Devices

At St Patrick’s, we have a Student Mobile Online Digital Devices Policy. These mobile online devices include mobile phones, smart watches and any device that allows digital communication. This policy sets clear guidelines in relation to the appropriate use of mobile online digital devices at school and/or during school events. Mobile online digital devices must be left in the school office at the beginning of the school day and signed-in and signed-out at the end of the school day. Parents or caregivers wishing to leave messages for their children should do so by telephoning the school; school staff endeavour to ensure that messages are passed on during class breaks. Compliance with these guidelines will avoid unnecessary interference with teaching and learning, and respect the right to privacy of others. Any use of mobile online digital devices that is contrary to the school policy will lead to confiscation of the device; parents will be notified and asked to collect the mobile online digital devices from the school office. Contact our school office for a copy of the full policy.

Fidget Toys

A number of students are bringing fidget toys into classrooms during learning time.

Fidget tools were designed for students with either chronic or occasional attention problems. Disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and autism can often hinder one's ability to stay focused. In some circumstances, a child's anxiety or stress level may reach a critical high. Simple fidgeting tools such as textured putty or a squeezy ball that allows quiet non distracting movement can be helpful for students with disorders or disabilities to remain calm and attentive. More elaborate toys like fidget spinners and twirling toys may pull attention away from where it should be and can become a distraction for the students and others. 

Fidget toys are written into a student’s learning plan. For this reason, at St Patrick’s only students with a formal diagnosis will be allowed to have fidget tools in the classroom. If your child does not have a Learning Plan, they will be asked to leave their fidget toys at home.

Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday

This week marks the beginning of Lent with Shrove Tuesday which directly precedes Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday was the day when Christians were encouraged to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season. Over the years, Shrove Tuesday not only became a day for Confession but a time for Catholics to feast on eggs, sugar and dairy which are traditionally restricted during the Lenten fast.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday always falls 46 days before Easter. Since Easter falls on a different date each year, Ash Wednesday does, too.

On Ash Wednesday, Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass and receive ashes on their foreheads in order to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday. After the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them with holy water, the faithful come forward to receive them. The priest dips his right thumb in the ashes and makes the Sign of the Cross on each person's forehead. The ashes that we receive are a reminder of our own sinfulness. As Lent begins, we set specific spiritual goals we would like to reach before Easter and decide how we will pursue them—for instance, we may forgo indulging in luxury foods. St Patrick’s will be learning about poverty and justice in the 6 weeks leading up to Lent. We will be sending home small Project Compassion boxes to fundraise for people living in poverty. If you have any small change to donate, this would be appreciated.

Kind regards

Carmen Aylott 

Principal