Principal Report

St Patrick’s Mini Market - Sunday 17th March

On Sunday, we held our St Patrick’s Mini Market to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. The classes organised items to sell at the market stalls, including preserves, cakes and sweets, craft, plant and produce, raising over $3000.00 on the day. We would like to thank staff for their contributions to the market’s success. The market was organised by Megan Meech, with many staff members contributing to organising class stalls, raffle prizes, and setting up and working on the stalls on the day. We would like to thank families and the community for attending the market and the following businesses for their generous donations. 

Arriving at School Before 8:30 am.

A number of students have been arriving at school before 8:30 a.m. each morning. As there are no teachers on duty before this time, students are expected to sit on benches and wait until the classrooms are opened. Students are the responsibility of their parents before 8:30 a.m. If you are waiting with your child before 8:30 a.m., please do not allow them on the playground equipment as this encourages others to do the same. If you need to drop your child off before 8:30 a.m. please remind them to sit quietly and wait for the doors to open. If any students are found to be playing and not sitting quietly, parents will be called and asked not to bring them before this time.

Communication

Any parents wanting to communicate with a teacher you can do so through the following ways:

• A brief comment regarding any information that may impact your child's day at morning drop off before 8.45am 
• Student Diaries
• For any concerns about your child, parents can book a meeting through our St Pats email: stpatslat@catholic.tas.edu.au or phone the office on 64261626

Please do not email teachers directly.

Student Wellbeing Officer

This year, we have employed D’Arne Adams as our Student Wellbeing Officer. D’Arne’s role is to complement existing programs that enhance student health and wellbeing. The Student Wellbeing Officer supports the various programs that are being implemented in the school including, Grow Your Mind, School Wide Positive Behaviour, Child Safety. Students are provided with support for friendship issues, social connectedness, social skills, and emotional regulation students will also have the opportunity to participate in the broader school community, such as breakfast club and lunchtime activities.

Lent

Giving back during Lent  

There is a long tradition of giving something up for Lent. In the Christian tradition, the forty days originated from Jesus’ forty days and nights in the wilderness. Ever since, people have followed this in a variety of ways, giving up specific items (abstaining) or having meat-free days during Lent.

What to give up for Lent

Giving something up is a simple way to combine the three Lenten pillars of fasting, prayer and almsgiving into one charitable activity. Some of the things that you can give up during Lent include:

• Junk food
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Single-use plastic
• Social media
• Watching TV

Want to give up something during Lent while also giving back to communities in need? You can start your own fundraiser and ask your family and friends to sponsor you. By turning your personal Lenten challenge into a fundraiser, you can help support vulnerable communities around the world to forge a path out of poverty.

Retrieved from Caritas Australia https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/lent/

Prayer for Lent

Heavenly Father, as we enter this Lenten season, change our hearts and help us to fast from those things that keep us far from you and feast on the things that draw us closer to you. 

The response to our petitions is, ‘Lord, change our hearts.’

Lord, we ask your grace –

To fast from judging others and feast on what makes them special, 

To fast from unkind words and feast on kindness,  

To fast from getting angry and feast on being patient, 

To fast from worry and feast on trusting God, 

To fast from complaining and feast on gratitude, 

To fast from conflict and feast on understanding, 

To fast from selfishness and feast on helping others, 

To fast from discouragement and feast on hope, 

To fast from doubt and feast on faith, 

To fast from a heart that is closed and feast on a heart that is open to you.

Have a great week

Carmen Aylott

Principal