NEWSLETTER 26 -August 31st 2021

Acting Principal's Reflection

“I know my life is better when I work from the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can.” –  Brené Brown, Dare to Lead

How often in the back of our minds do we consider the worst possible scenario? I know that this is something I often do. It can be important because the part of our brain that does this is the part of our brain that helps to keep us safe. Knowing that walking out on the road without looking can result in us getting hit by a car is an excellent use of this tool. However, constantly thinking this way can be incredibly restrictive. Always thinking of the worst possible outcome can lead us down a path of negativity that can result in long-term issues that prevent us from living life to the full.

An extension of the thinking described above is when we apply this to what we think about others. I am sure we are all guilty of thinking the worst about someone, or a group of people for that matter. Usually, it is just a natural assumption for us. We don’t even stop to question it. An example of this is when someone who is driving forgets to indicate when going around a corner. I would bet that many of us would think or say something that indicates that the person is not fit to be driving. However, when we think this way we are automatically assuming that this is a perfect person in a perfect world. Yet we know that people make mistakes and that the world is far from perfect. This is where the notion of Generous Assumptions comes in. As the above quote from Brené Brown suggests, the concept of Generous Assumptions is based on the idea that everyone is doing the best job that they can given the circumstances they are in. Obviously, there are times where people do need to be accountable for their actions or intent, but there are certainly many times where we should give people the benefit of doubt, times where we can be generous in what we assume about that person. Doing so can help them, but it also helps us to be happier. However, being generous in our assumptions is not an easy thing to do as it requires a change in mindset and it requires reflection and practice. One of the fundamental skills needed to do this is to be able to put yourself in the shoes of others, but also to consider when you have been in that situation and done the same thing, or something similar, yourself. Have you ever forgotten to indicate when turning at an intersection? I bet we all have.

This week our Year 5 & 6 students had a visit from Marty Ogle to talk about Making Jesus Real. One of the key ideas Marty discussed was the concept of saying OK with a Smile. Saying OK with a Smile is what we encourage our students to do at school, but it is something that you can encourage at home. Please see a letter from Marty below in this newsletter as he explains this idea in more detail. 

Thank you to all of our students, coaches, parents, organisers and volunteers for another wonderful soccer season. It is fantastic that we are able to keep this wonderful tradition going with the support of our community.

Kind regards

Kurt Atkins

Acting Principal

Upcoming Events

September 

• Wed 1st - Latrobe High School Challenge Day - Year 6 Boys (Date Change)
• Thurs 2nd - Father's Day Stall 
• Mon 6th - Morning assembly - All Welcome
  
• Tues 7th - Fathers Day Sausage Sizzle 
  
• Mon 13th - Year 6 Camp - Hobart (Mon 13/9 - Thurs 16/9) 
  • Morning assembly - All Welcome
• Fri 17th - Devonport Basketball Primary Schools Tournament (Fri, Sat, Sun) 
• Mon 20th - Morning Assembly - All Welcome 
• Fri 24th - Footy Colours Day
  • Last Day of Term 3 

Staff News

Miss Moore was away Monday - Miss Brown taught Year 5 

Mrs. Hayes was away Monday - Mr. Atkins and Mrs. Badcock supervised PE

Mr. Atkins was away today and will be again on Thursday and Friday morning doing interviews. 

Mrs. Stoeisseger, Mr. O'Brien and Mrs. Fenton will be away on Thursday attending an Early childhood PL. Miss Brown will teach Kinder, Mrs. O'Brien will teach Year 1 & Miss Flude will teach Year 2. 

Book Week

Thank you to all the students and parents for putting in such a marvelous effort with their book week costumes. Thank you also to Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Leonard for running a very successful book fair.

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Year 4 News

In Religious Education we are exploring a unit on Christian life. One of our learning opportunities was to respond to the Gospel passage Matthew 25: 35-40 (below) and the statement ‘Love is an action!’, in the context of how we see love in action today. Some of the student's responses are below.

'I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.' The righteous will then answer him, 'When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and we gave you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' The king will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'

- Matthew 25:35-40

Love is an action

I forgot my lunch and you gave me food. 

I forgot my drink bottle and you gave me a cup. 

I was new to the school and you welcomed me. 

I forgot my hat and you gave me a spare one. 

I was hurt and you took me to the office. 

I forgot my homework and you comforted me. 

By Jimmy

Love is an action 

I was alone and you welcomed me, 

I needed help and you helped me,

I was confused and you reassured me,

I was hurt and you cared for me,

I was struggling and you encouraged me.

By Hailey

Love is an action

I was alone and you welcomed me.

I forgot my jacket and you lent me one.

I was sad and you made me happy.

I had no pencil so you gave me one.

I was nervous and you made me confident.

I lost my lunchbox and you helped me find it.

I didn’t know anything and you taught me.

By Sophie 

Love is an Action

I was new to this school and you let me play with you.

I forgot my lunch and you gave me something to eat. 

I was thirsty and you gave me some water. 

I didn't have a pencil and you lent me one.

I was hurt and you took me to the office.

When I was one time out you gave me a kind smile. 

By Mushtaq

Persuasive Writing Piece by Rose Evans

Mobile Phones Are Not For Kids

Do you really want to expose your children to some of the stuff you can access on mobile phones? While mobile phones are great for adults, they are not so great for children’s social, mental and physical wellbeing. 

Mobile phones are great for emergencies for adults, but younger children shouldn’t be responsible for emergencies. Older children on the other hand are more than capable of calling their parents on a landline.

Often children are inside on a mobile phone when they could be outside playing in the sun. The sun gives them Vitamin D which is important for their wellbeing. Outside younger children and older children can use their imagination and play.

Cyberbullying is one of the main reasons I think children should not have mobile phones. Sometimes kids don’t understand how their words affect other people on social media. I know for a fact people act differently online, I don’t believe children should be exposed to this. For example, people can use inappropriate language, it can cause problems with friendships and people can get very upset.

In conclusion, kids can have a lot of problems when they have a phone,if you want to help their mental, physical and social wellbeing do not buy them a phone.

Young Tassie Scientist Visit

The Young Tassie Scientists (YTS) program aims to broaden the profile of science and engineering to students and the general public throughout Tasmania and to provide insights into working as a scientist or engineer.

On Friday 27^th August three Young Tassie Scientists Ash Russell (bioinformatician), Svenja Halfter (marine scientist), and Hannah Moore (volcanologist) visited year 4, 5 and 6 classes and shared engaging information on the work they are passionately involved in.

We hope that by providing dynamic and inspiring role models, engaging hands-on activities, and information on educational opportunities and future careers, the visitors have encouraged some of our students to continue their studies in science and to make connections between studying science and resulting jobs and careers.

eSafety by Design-Information from the eSafety Commissioner

MJR with Marty

Fathers Day - Sausage Sizzle

All fathers and father figures are welcome to come along and share in lunch and some fun with your kids! Join your kids for a bbq lunch and activities on Tuesday, 7th September (the Tuesday after Fathers day) from 12.50.  
All those who are able to come will need to use Check In Tas app or manually sign in at the office if .

P&F Father's Day Stall

The P&F will hold a Father’s Day stall on Thursday 2nd September in the morning block. It will be run similarly to our Mother’s Day stall. Each class will have the opportunity to come out of class and purchase an item/s. Prices will be between $3.00-$10.00

Taking Photos

Please be aware when taking photos of your own child that it is important to ensure, where possible, that faces of other students are not in the photo. This is especially important if you plan to put a photo of your child on social media. It is never appropriate to put a photo of another child on social media or upload it to the internet without the express permission of that child's parent/s and/or guardian/s.

WEST Award

Congratulations to Oliver Singline who received a WEST Award during today’s morning assembly. We will continue to acknowledge those students who exhibit WEST (Welcoming, Encouraging; Sorry; Thankful) qualities and Mercy Values (Hospitality, Compassion, Mercy and Respect) by presenting awards at our Monday morning assemblies. 

Student of the Week

Prep: Matilda Franklin for continually living out our schools WEST values.  You are kind and caring.

Year 1: Londyn Scholtalbers for her positive attitude and perseverance with her learning. Keep up the good attitude.

Year 2: Avril Lewis for her enthusiastic and positive approach towards settling into school life at St. Patrick's.

Year 3: Cooper Cody for his enthusiasm and creativity towards completing design technology tasks.

Year 4: Rose Evans for her consistent application to persuasive writing tasks, especially her convincing text on why mobile phones aren't for kids.

Year 5: Harrison Fawkner for being a responsible, cooperative group worker and for his knowledgeable contributions to our group discussions. 

Year 6: Emily Phegan for being a willing and enthusiastic participant during the lessons presented by the Young Scientists.

House Raffle Winners

Byrne House: Adam van der Hulst

Dooley House: Jovi Rand

Martyn House: Peyton Allford

Book Club

Issue 6 is out now! Please have your orders in by 7th September 2021. This is our last Book Club for term 3, and books will be here before the term break, so it's a good opportunity to get some extra books to keep the children entertained for the holidays. Thanks for your support!

Photos of Sporting Events

If any parents or guardians have photos of students from school sporting teams and would like to see these included in the newsletter, please email them to stpatslat@catholic.tas.edu.au 

My New Gallery

Basketball News

The Tasmania Jack Jumpers are the new NBL basketball team in Tasmania and next Friday, 3rd September, the mascot and the development officer for the Jack Jumpers will be visiting St Patrick's.  The students in Years 3 & 4 will have the opportunity to participate in a basketball clinic.  Students may wear their sports uniform to school for this opportunity.

The students in 3/4 and 5/6 who are participating in the Devonport Basketball Council's "Spring Roster, " will begin games this Friday, 3rd September in Devonport.

The Devonport Primary School's Tournament will be held on 17th-19th September and coaches should be in contact in the new future regarding training for the participants.

Canteen - Volunteer Helpers

Mr. Garrad is no longer available to help in the canteen with Mrs. Davis on a Thursday & Friday due to other commitments. If any parents are available on a Thursday or Friday to help in the canteen for 1-2 hours from 11.30am could you please either contact Mrs. Amy Davis or let  Mrs. Harris know and she can pass on your details. 

Latrobe Tennis Club

Devonport Junior Soccer

Devonport Little Athletics

Nut Allergy School

A reminder to parents that St Patrick's is a Nut Allergy School and that we ask that parents not pack nuts or nut products in their children's lunchboxes.

Inquiring Minds - Birth to 5 Years

‘Inquiring Minds’ Birth to 5 program - a ‘Set-Up for Success’ Catholic Education Tasmania initiative.
Our ‘Inquiring Minds’ birth to 5 program operates each Friday during school term time from 9.00am to 10.30am. This program involves a considerable focus on communicating to parents the learning intentions of important activities that are associated with early years learning. Mrs Klug will be working to engage parents in early years learning experiences that will ensure children who are enrolling in Kindergarten, will be informed in regards to developing key social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills and understandings. Parents or an adult family member stays for the duration of these sessions; there is no cost, however if you would like to donate a gold coin it would be appreciated. Please feel welcome to participate.

Care and Concern

Please feel welcome to be included in our Care and Concern Volunteer List - thank you to the many school community members who are already on this list and are assisting others: Always please contact your child’s teacher, the office staff or Mr Atkins if you feel we could offer support in any way to anyone in our school community in need.

Shim Jang Taekwondo

Check in TAS App

It is now a requirement, as part of our COVID Policy, that any adult that visits the school must sign in using the 'Check in TAS App'. 

Please view the below PDF for information regarding how to install and use the Check in TAS App.

We have QR codes at the office, school hall, entry doors and classroom doors that can be scanned using this app when you enter a school building.

If you do not have a smartphone or device that will let you install this app, you will need to visit the school office so that we can check you in.

Covid-19 School Safety Protocol

• Adults to please hand sanitise upon entering any school building: the school provides hand sanitiser at school venue entry points or adults may use their own (and be observed to use a sanitiser).
  
• Adults, where practicable, to maintain 1.5m physical distancing, observing seating arrangements as communicated by signage or instruction please: indoor event attendance limited to one person per 2 square metre per indoor space.
• Adults to sign-in, either at the school office or on a list provided at the entry of the school building. The school is obligated to record contact details of visitors to school events held in school venues, with this information stored securely for a period of 21 days.
• Appropriate COVID safe signage is communicated at school entry points. Key message to visitors - if feeling unwell, it is important not to be in attendance; the school will bar entry to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who are close contacts of a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Although daily cleaning of frequently touched internal surfaces is undertaken, we ask adult visitors to avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily.
  

THANK YOU