Newsletter 8 - 4th June 2025

Acknowledgement of Country

St Patrick's Catholic School is located on the traditional lands of the Punnilerpanner people of the North Nation, the old people who lived with and cared for this land for many generations. 

We acknowledge and respect the Palawa people, and the deep connection that Tasmanian Aboriginal people have to Country and Culture. We acknowledge and respect the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community and pay our respect to Elders past and present. We are committed to learning as a part of this community, and to supporting the continued sharing of knowledge and Culture.

Reconciliation Week 27th May to 3rd June

The National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Last week we began Reconciliation Week celebrations with an excursion for years 3 & 4 to Tiagarra. Tiagarra is one of the oldestAboriginal operated Cultural Centres and keeping places in Australia. The Bluff is a place of great natural beauty and deep Aboriginal cultural importance. It holds middens, traditional living grounds, and possibly ancient carvings, as well as rich plant and animal life used for food, medicine, and weaving. Tiagarra continues to work with schools to support learning about Aboriginal history. Ongoing research is helping identify and protect ancient artefacts and rock markings, ensuring this knowledge is preserved for future generations. 

This week, Knowledge Sharers Aunty Dawn and Uncle Hank visited classes and worked with students across the school.

Aunty Dawn worked with classes on storytelling and artwork relating to the theme of Reconciliation – ‘Bridging Now to Next’. She also explained the importance of ‘Welcome to Country’ to herself personally and the First Nations people.

Uncle Hank worked with classes on the importance of language and dance ceremonies. He also looked at Connection to Country, looking at sustainability with technology and tools.

Students cooked Flash Cakes with Mrs Adams. Flash Cakes are a type of simple fried bread, often made from basic ingredients like flour and water, sometimes with sugar or fat added. They were commonly made by both settlers and Aboriginal people in Tasmania around the time of Fanny Cochrane Smith and other parts of Australia during the colonial period—especially when ingredients were limited. 

 

Student Free Day

Just a reminder to all families that tomorrow,  Friday, 6th June, is a Student Free Day. In accordance with the new Tasmanian Catholic Education Enterprise Agreement, schools have been allocated a planning day for teachers. This allows teaching staff dedicated time for curriculum planning, assessment preparation, and professional collaboration.

On Friday 6th June, St Patrick’s Child Care will be offering Outside School Hours Care (OSHC). They can be contacted on 6426 3048. If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

Five Day Kindergarten 2026

Have a great week!

Carmen Aylott

Principal.

Our 2025 Sacramental Candidates completed their First Reconciliation on Wednesday, 4 September, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Devonport. Daphnee, Dawson, Evie and Miss Mundy were all able to celebrate this very special sacrament with other candidates from the Mersey Leven Parish. We congratulate them and wish them all the best for the remainder of the year as they continue to prepare for the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist.

As has already been communicated, families with students on a learning plan, we have accommodated double appointments to discuss this additional document at the upcoming parent meetings.  

This year we will be changing the timing of new learning plans and when these documents are reviewed.  For the last few years the timing of learning plans has been:

• Term 4  - End of Term 1  (Reviewed at the end of Term 1)
• New Learning Plan for Terms 2 & 3  (Reviewed at the end of Term)
• Term 4  - End of Term 1, following year  (Reviewed at the end of Term 1), and so on.

• Terms 1 & 2 (reviewed at the end of term 2)
• Terms 3 & 4 (reviewed at the end of term 4)