NEWSLETTER 28 -September 14th 2021

Acting Principal's Reflection

James 2: 14 -18

Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,’ without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.

This is the way to talk to people of that kind: ‘You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds – now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.’

This week’s second reading from James I imagine would speak to many of us and hopefully allow us to reflect. It is one of my favourite passages, as it highlights the need for actions alongside thoughts and words. It is not enough to know what is right or to be faith filled; it must also be lived out. This is something that we encourage at St Patrick’s. Our students know what our Mercy Values are; they can talk about them. And, they know what it means to be WEST; they can answer all the questions and give examples. Yet, It is how we live these things out that matters, it is how we ‘Make Jesus Real’ in our lives and the lives of others. This, of course, is the hardest part, but it is something that we continue to encourage and foster, in the knowledge that we must reflect on and learn from our mistakes.

This week our Year 6 students are at camp in Hobart and Port Arthur. The camp is aimed at building resilience while also being a fun and memorable experience for the students. No doubt we will have plenty of photos and stories to share in next week’s newsletter. So far we have seen the students showing great resilience and encouragement on the high ropes course at Hollybank where they had to challenge themselves to push through some very difficult parts of the course. They also had a fantastic experience playing wheelchair basketball once we got to our accommodation. We have witnessed many Spirit of Jesus moments and no doubt will see many more. 

A big thank you to Mrs. Young, Mrs. Halley, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Tueon and Mrs. Anthony for assisting with our Father’s Day BBQ. Events like this would not be able to go ahead without the wonderful support of volunteers and staff.

Kind regards

Kurt Atkins

Acting Principal

Upcoming Events

September 

• 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 
• Wed 22nd - P&F Footy Feast Day (orders due 
• Fri 24th - Footy Colours Day
  • Last Day of Term 3 

October 

• Mon 11th  - Term 4 Commences 
  • Morning Assembly - All Welcome 
  • Welcome Back Mr. Linhart

Staff News

Mr. Atkins, Mrs. Kingshott, Mr. O'Brien and Mrs. Tueon are all attending Year 6 camp this week. Miss Brown is teaching Year 1 and Mrs. Anthony is the Teacher Aid. 

Mrs. Meech was away Monday - Mrs. Badcock taught Year 3

Ms. Stuart was away Monday and Today, Mrs. Marshall taught Year 4  on Monday and Mr. P taught today. 

Health & Physical Education News

Prep to Grade 6 students were all excited to be involved with hockey sessions in HPE over the last two weeks. Samantha, from the West Devonport Hockey club came in for the two weeks, giving each class 4 sessions to learn and practice hockey skills like controlling and trapping the ball, push passing, and tacking tactics such as the ‘jab’ tackle. All of our students seemed to enjoy the introduction to hockey, and if you are, or your child is interested in playing hockey, please make contact through the West Devonport Hockey Club Facebook page for further information.

Prep News

'Prep Learning Activities', featuring writing cards, Chrome Book online learning, construction, art and sorting.

My New Gallery

Religious Education News

On the 24th of September, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Mercy, which is the feast day for the Sisters of Mercy. In the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy who helped the poor and homeless, as well as in the education of children, please bring along your small change and coins and these will be added to the class love hearts which will grow and grow with more and more coins.  Your children may like to do some 'jobs around the house' for coins or go without a treat and put that money towards this. All money raised will go to the St Vincent de Paul appeal for toiletries and pet food for those in need.  You may also want to contribute any new toiletries or pet food  (maybe pick up a few extra items in your next shopping trip) into the baskets at the front office.  Toiletries may include: toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, comb, brush, floss, mouthwash, soap, body lotion, shaving gel, razor, deodorant, lip balm, face cloth, bandaids, hand sanitizer, tissues, nail clippers, nail files, hair ties, wet wipes, face masks, feminine hygiene products). 
We will be adding to the love hearts and collecting items all of Week 10.  Thank you so much in anticipation. 

P&F Footy Feast Lunch Day

The P&F is holding a “Footy Feast” lunch day on Wednesday 22^nd September. Order forms went home last week, these must be returned, including money by no later than 1 pm Friday, September 17^th.  Please contact the office if you require another copy of the menu/order form. Strictly no late orders accepted.  

Staff Car Park

A reminder that families are asked to not use the Staff Carpark as an entrance to the school in the interest of safety. Gates in the Staff Carpark will be locked moving forward. Families can access the school via the gate near the Noone St turning circle.

Winter - Summer Uniform Transition

Our winter to summer uniform transition will begin on Monday 13th September. Students can start to wear their summer uniform from this date, if a student chooses to wear their summer uniform they must wear the full uniform including a school hat. All students must be transitioned to full summer uniform by the commencement of Term 4, Monday 11th October. 

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 Eliza Radich  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: Max Phillips for attempting his work tasks with a positive attitude and for a longer time.

Year 1: Ethan Dick for your outstanding improvement and perseverance with your reading. 

Year 2: Henry Jones for his enthusiastic approach when using drama elements to express an idea to his audience.

Year 3: Hudson Brumby for working hard on learning the multiplication and division facts and for being helpful around the classroom.

Year 4: Buckley Davis for working consistently to create an entertaining persuasive letter. 

Year 5: Thomas Marshall for working hard and applying himself fully to all tasks. 

Year 6: Not Awarded due to Year 6 Camp.

House Raffle Winners

Byrne House: Suraya Khan

Dooley House: Georgie Tueon

Martyn House: Axel Bos

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 

Devonport Basketball - Spring Roster

Please find the below link for the spring roster. 

Canteen - Volunteer Helpers

Mrs. Davis is still requesting volunteers to help out in the Canteen for a few hours on a Thursday and Friday. If any parents/grandparents are available to assist in the canteen for 1-2 hours from 11.30am could you please either contact Mrs. Davis or let Mrs. Harris know and she can pass on your details. 

Latrobe Basketball Holiday Camps

Latrobe Basketball Association, McDonald’s and Basketball Tasmania are pleased to announce another round of the BTAS Macca’s On Your Team Basketball Camps are coming in October!   The Holiday Camps offer junior basketballer’s the opportunity to develop their skills while having fun, and not to mention all campers receive a Molten Basketball!

Camp Dates are:

• 2-Day Boys & Girls Camps
  5 & 6 October in Hobart, Launceston & Devonport

• 1-Day Girls Only Camp
  7 October in Hobart, Launceston & Ulverstone

The camp cost is $80 per person for the 2-day camps and $50 per person for the 1-day Girls Only Camp. Register online: www.basketballtasmania.com.au

Latrobe Tennis Club

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.

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