NEWSLETTER 39 - 14th December 2021

Our School Vision Statement states: St Patrick’s Catholic School endeavours to be a Jesus - centred community in which staff, parents and students collaborate to provide an environment where the worth and dignity of each person is realised and appreciated through collectively living out and implementing the Gospel values of Jesus Christ. We all need a guiding imperative, a simple mantra or set of principles that act as a touchstone for our thoughts, deeds and interactions and this school vision statement provides an ‘anticipation’ or aspirational goal that assists us, as would a ship’s keel (which is intended both to steady the boat and to make it handy to steer), when the stormy waters of inter-personal differences may cause us to feel like we need to ‘batten down the hatches and bring in the sails’ in the light of stormy weather. Building a community that is Christ-centred is an aspiration for our school and implies that we, as a school community, can overlook the idiosyncrasies of others in an effort to build a community that by ‘looking after each other’ we can create a community of positive action. Our extremely busy school schedule, as with our own busy lives that compel us to be often serving the interests of others, can often distract us from the importance of the term ‘service’. While it is little wonder that many of us feel a little jaded, to be of service to others and provide life to our mission as educators, parents, sons or daughters or work colleagues, we need to feel joy in our mission.

It is said that the greatest weariness comes from work not done. I am sure we can all attest to such a feeling, however, there is so much inspiration that comes from observing the simple yet affirming actions of our children. The outstanding efforts of so many of our students in helping support our school’s mission is often quite astounding, as characterised by; the generosity of students such as Eamon, Ruben, Monty, Nate who volunteer to set up the hall in the morning for assembly; the tremendous efforts of Dana, Maria, Alivia, Sophia, Emilia and so many others who regularly take it upon themselves to keep our playground tidy; the generosity of time and spirit displayed by Kale, Tully and Adam in helping Mr Angliss provide breakfast two mornings a week; the small but not insignificant acts of helpfulness shown by many of our students each day such as Frank whose simple action of consoling a classmate who was hurt during a lunch-time soccer game speaks volumes of what we are endeavouring to instil in our children; the ‘good morning’ that staff receive from so many students each day; the comments I receive from members of the local and extended community who commend a class’s behaviour or a student’s WEST qualities.

I am thankful that my work enables me to work with children of St Patrick’s Catholic School for it is by their simple generosity that we find the most profound reason for being – the delights in what we adults find mundane and the honesty and sensitivity that has not, as yet, been compromised by the sometimes-adverse effects of time and experience. They provide a useful and meaningful ‘mission’ for us each day. Children are, arguably, more educated by what we, as adults, ‘are’ rather than what say. Carl Jung, a contemporary of Freud, reminds us in the following quote that we all, regardless of our work, usually do our ‘jobs well’, however, there is something remarkable about those who ‘bring heart’ into any of the tasks that are associated with their jobs: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” Whilst I am incredibly grateful to continue to be enriched by my work with your children, I am incredibly humbled and appreciative to work alongside such dedicated and talented staff – my thanks to them are sincere and deep. Similarly, I feel privileged in my daily interactions with so many parents whose vision for their children accord with ours, and are collaborators and, in many ways, colleagues for a time with our shared desire for their children’s welfare and outcomes.

This newsletter, the final for the year, includes important information regarding our school routines and I commend it for your reading and reference. I wish our families the best for the Christmas season and a very happy new year, and I look forward to welcoming families on our first school day of 2022, Thursday 3^rd February 2022.

Regards,

Rod Linhart (Principal)

The school office will close for the school holidays from noon on Friday 17^th December the school Office will open on Monday 24^th January 2022. Inquiries can be made during the holidays by ringing the school telephone number; please leave a message if no-one is able to answer the phone and a return call should be made to you within 24 hours.

December 

Tuesday 14th:

• Whole school Mass
• 11.30-12.40 Year 2022 class taster session
• School reports and yearbooks distributed to families

Wednesday 15th:

• School Picnic Day:
  • Children in Years 3 to Year 6 will walk to the Latrobe pool to commence their picnic session at 9:30am. They will have lunch at the pool and will walk back to school at 12.30pm and attend class activities in the afternoon block.
  • Students in Prep to Year 2 will walk to the Latrobe pool to commence their picnic session at 12:30pm commencing with lunch. The session will conclude at 2.00pm and they will walk back to school; from 1.45pm parents of children in Prep to Year 2 may assist their own child with changing out of bathers and may take their child home – remaining students will leave the pool at 2.00pm to return to school.
• Optional Parent-Teacher Interview

Thursday 16th:

• 9.00am class Kris Kindle gift-sharing – assembly at 9.30am
• Final school day for students: BBQ lunch, icy-pole and drink provided by the school P & F
• Optional Parent-Student-Teacher consultations
• Activities Day for Students:  

  9:30-10:50: From assembly students disperse to one of the following activities:

  • Educational movies P-2    Location: Years 1 & 2                   
  • Board games 3-6 Location: Assembly Hall   
  • *Outdoor games 3-6

  11:30-12:40: From assembly students disperse to one of the following activities:

  • Educational movies 3-6    Locations: Year 5 & 6                   
  • Board games P - 2 Location: Assembly Hall   
  • *Outdoor games P-2

  1:30-2:40: From assembly students disperse to one of the following activities:

  • Colouring-in, simple craft Location: Years 3 & 4
  • Board games 3-6 Location: Assembly Hall   
  • *Outdoor games 3-6

                    2:40pm Students assemble in their classrooms to be dismissed.

Friday 17th:

• Staff Finish office closes 12.00pm

January 

Monday 24th:

• Office Re-opens (8.30am-4.000pm)

Thursday 27th:

• 8.30am - 4.00pm Uniform Sales (Books sales will be available if not already collected before end of 2021) 

Friday 28th:

• 8.30am -4.00pm Uniform sales (Books sales will be available if not already collected before end of 2021) 

Monday 31st:

• 8.30am - 4.00pm Uniform Sales (Books sales will be available if not already collected before end of 2021) 

February 

Thursday 3rd:

• Term 1 begins - All Students (summer uniform) 

Term 1 - Thursday 3rd February - Thursday 14th April

Term 2 - Monday 2nd May - Friday 8th July

Term 3 - Monday 25th July - Friday 30th September

Term 4 - Monday 17th October - Thursday 15th December

One Student Free Day to be confirmed. 

Some classes have reached what we consider an optimal size, and we have families on waiting lists. If you are intending leaving St Patrick’s, please contact Mr Linhart to allow prospective families the opportunity to consider any prospective vacancy. St Patrick’s will contact a school upon a former student taking up an enrolment at that school, which is a legal obligation - schools are required to ensure their enrolments are current and to formally request any forwarding school of the subsequent new enrolment to ensure children are enrolled in a registered school or education program as per the Education Act, which obliges parents of school aged children to ensure their children are enrolled and attend regularly. Thank you for your continued support.

Reports and school yearbooks (eldest only)have been sent home with students today. Reports will also be made available through Compass from 3.30pm this afternoon. The format of the End of Year reports is different this year as it reflects the new data information system that all Catholic Education Tasmania schools are using or will soon be using - Compass. Teachers have put a considerable amount of work into their deliberations of student report grades and we all should be aware of these reports being indicative of a grade in one point of time, given the evidence available - it may or may not reflect the future potential. A limited number of school yearbooks are available for purchase ($20.00) - please contact a school office staff member if you would like to purchase an additional copy.

The proposed 2022 class and staff structure is summarised below. Changes to 2022 will include an increased focus on sustainability initiatives, the four members of the school leadership team timetabled support throughout the school to enhance staff welfare and student outcomes, an increase of School Counselling to two days per week, and initiatives that were introduced in 2020 and have proved effective include increasing the profile of Music in the school, and combining Health and Physical Education into the one responsibility area for a specialist teacher. Routines that support early literacy learning, a focus on some numeracy skills and understandings will be communicated by the end of the school year - exciting times ahead for 2022 building on the growth of 2021:

• Kinder: Laura Stoessiger (3 days) and Kim Klug (3 days); D’Arne Adams (1 day); Angela Sutton (2 days).
• Prep: Ann Jak (5 days) and Nicole Adams; Kelly Mundy.
• Year 1: Shane O'Brien (5 days) and Anita Tueon.
• Year 2: Kylie Fenton (3 days – Mondays-Wednesdays); TBC 2 days and Michelle Lamprey.
• Year 3: Megan Meech (5 days) and Kelly Mundy.
• Year 4: Jane Stuart (4 days) Shannon Fraser (1 day) and Tim Lowry (1 day); Angela Sutton.
• Year 5: Erin Moore (2 days); Vanessa Harvey (3 days) and Tammy Hyland.
• Year 6: Karyn Kingshott (2.5 days); Abbey O'Brien (2.5 days) and Tameika Anthony.
• Health & PE (HPE): Courtney Hayes: (2 days – Mondays & Fridays.)
• Languages (Japanese): Kayla Lockett (1 day - Thursdays.)
• Early Childhood Education (ECE - Kinder-Year 2) Music: Leonie Watson-Peters (1 day).
• Primary Music (Years 3-6): Dominique Baker (1 day).
• Speech Program Implementation – whole school: D’Arne Adams.
• Playgroup Coordinator (Fridays): Kim Klug.
• Library: Melissa Carter.
• School Garden: Tim Lowry.
• Student Support: Melissa Marshall (5 days).
• Religious Education Coordinator: Catherine Dunn (1 day).
• ICT/Early Childhood Education Literacy Coordinator/Literacy Project: Tina Badcock (5 days).
• Chaplain: David Angliss.
• School Counsellor: Karlie Lawson (2 days).
• School Utility Officer: David Broos (Tuesdays-Thursdays).
• School Administration Officer: Tameka Harris (5 days).
• School Executive Officer: Lennice Leonard (5 days).
• Deputy Principal: Kurt Atkins (5 days).
• Principal: Rod Linhart (5 days).

Specialist Classes Timetable 2022

Special Note of importance regarding the first day of school in 2022 - Thursday 3rd February 2022 (full summer uniform expected for the first day of school please):

• HPE: each Monday and Friday: students should wear their sports uniform on these days.
• Music: K, Prep, Years 1 & 2 and choir each Tuesday.
• Music: Years 3, 4, 5 & 6 each Wednesday.
• Languages (Japanese) for all classes each Thursday.
• Library: days will be confirmed in the first week of term 1 2022 – students are required to have a library bag for borrowing please (this can simply be a plastic bag if other bags are not available.

Could all outstanding Learning Plans please be returned back to school by this Thursday 16th December. Thank you.

Students and staff had a lovely time today during the middle block in their 2022 classes.

Congratulations to the following Year 6 students who were conferred with the following awards during yesterday’s morning assembly. 

Thankyou to our Year 6 families and staff, especially Mrs. Kingshott, Mrs. Anthony, Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Adams for the wonderful occasion of school community in celebrating the achievements and contributions of our Year 6 class. 

Our Thanksgiving Mass

Our whole school community celebrated our Thanksgiving Mass with Fr Jaison this morning.  It was a lovely celebration of our year together, with special blessings for the Year 6 leavers and those leaving our school at the end of the year. 

Our theme for the mass was Let Your Light Shine.  We included some of these prayers:

We pray in thanksgiving for the gifts of kindness, friendship, community and for all those who have enriched the life of St Patrick’s school throughout the year - the staff, students, parents, friends and priests. We thank you for their valuable contributions in making our school what it is today. We pray to the Lord.

We pray for all those who will be leaving our school community – our Year 6 students, other students, families, in particular those who have been associated with our school for a long time, and staff.  Bless them all and help them to share their gifts as they make new beginnings.  May they continue to be the light of Christ for others.  We pray to the Lord. 

We pray for ourselves and for the future. For a happy holiday time, for safety for those who travel, for families and friends, for help and guidance in the new year, and for continuing to grow in faith, hope, love and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

God our Father, help us to live 

as children of the light.  

We had a very successful Christmas Appeal for the St Vincent de Paul Society.  Our cupcake sales and casual clothes raised $278.95 which was great.  And then we had the Christmas items for the hamper donations which had a most amazing and generous response!  Thank you so incredibly much - the Spirit of Christmas is well and truly alive at St Patrick's.  Your donations and money will make a big difference in the lives of others in our community this Christmas time.  May you all be blessed for your generosity and kindness.  Wishing you all a Very Blessed Christmas.

Prep: The Prep Talent Quest Team - Thank you for your enthusiasm and team spirit.

Year 1: Amir Khan for having a great year and having been an outstanding contributor to our class.

Year 2: Kaylee Chappell-Hope for always listening respectfully and following classroom instructions.

Year 3: Cooper Cody for his courage to perform in the Talent Show and for the compassion he demonstrates towards his class-mates.

Year 4: Shahad Al Roubie for displaying initiative, giving her best and always striving to follow our WEST values.

Year 5: Oliver Gatehouse for his outstanding performance starring as Theo in the Wizard of Oz! 

Year 6:

Although not having a direct relationship with St Patrick’s by way of family members being part of the school community, Mumma Buzz Café and Restaurant in Deloraine regularly provide sandwiches which are shared with many families of St Patrick’s. This gesture of goodwill has no real financial benefit to Mumma Buzz, however, such values epitomise our school Mercy values of Respect, Compassion, Hospitality and Mercy and we are humbled and grateful for the support for several families over the years by the ‘lived faith’ of Caroline, Buffy and the staff of Mumma Buzz. So, if you are in Deloraine over the holidays and are in need of delicious, home-made food with friendly service, please consider Mumma Buzz as a means of supporting a business that supports our school values.

Our survey of a preference for the ‘traditional’ print version of the school newsletter (over 60 responses) compared to the current online version (over 40 responses) indicates a need to consider the ‘ideal’ format for our school newsletter in 2022. Staff are examining whether the online option can be enhanced to enable such a version to be printed with a similar appearance as our ‘traditional’ print version, and I look forward to sharing with you the results of this investigation in 2022. The school newsletter will remain the central source of weekly school information, reports, updates from school to families, with Compass (SMS and Compass notifications) being used to complement the newsletter for the dissemination of information that requires more targeted information delivery, or for important information that has come to hand that requires immediate distribution.

The class teachers have ensured each child has been secretly allocated a classmate for whom a small present will be purchased - parents and their child were informed by a letter, which was distributed to children last week. The present will be presented to the classmate during a gift giving ceremony that will be conducted on Thursday 16^th December, our final day of school for 2021. Please restrict the gift to approximately $7.00 and parents are requested to help ensure any gift is thoughtfully chosen.  Gifts should be brought to school prior to Thursday 16^th December to be left in the classroom, next to the class Christmas focus (Christmas tree, poster, display etc) to help facilitate the joyous anticipation that characterises this special Christian season. Children are also invited to help ensure that their Kris Kindle recipient receives daily messages of encouragement.  Such messages could be simple statements of affirmation or something that might brighten the person’s day. Please discuss this with your child. Children not wishing to participate in this activity were requested to inform their class teacher no later than Thursday 25^th November.

We are planning on the school canteen to continue to operate on Thursdays and Fridays each week - beginning week 2 of term 1 2022 (No canteen on the first two days of the 2022 school year.) We are grateful for Amy Davis for offering a wonderful range of canteen items over the last two years; with Amy finishing her service to St Patrick’s this year, we have examined possible opportunities and have settled on a school-supported model for our canteen in 2022 - the aim is to continue to offer families affordable, healthy, tasty food options.

When Devonfield were no longer able to support the canteen two years ago, the school provided staff support by reallocating staffing hours to Tameika Anthony, who lead the school canteen magnificently, supported by many wonderful volunteers, especially Carl Garrad and Lorraine Young. Tameika will facilitate the School Canteen again in 2022 and we are looking for two volunteers a day (11.00am to 1.30pm) to give the generosity of their time to support this school-based service. We look forward to what 2022 might bring regarding a continuation of the wonderful, personalised service that we have enjoyed by way of our canteen.

Dear St Patrick's Parents, Student's and Staff. I would like to personally thank you all for the support you have shown for myself and the canteen over the past two years that I have been operating it. I have appreciated it all very much. I would like to say a special thank you to Lorraine Young, Carl Garrad, Mr David Anglis and Claire Aherne for their continuous support and to the many other parents that volunteered their time to help me in the canteen. Thank you all, Amy Davis. 

• The Department of Health have advised that bookings are now open for children aged 5 to 11 to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Special vaccine clinics will run exclusively for children aged 5 to 11 across Tasmania from 10 January 2022. Clinics will be held at community locations across the state to give every primary school aged child the opportunity to get at least one dose of the COVID 19 vaccine before they return to school in February.
• Vaccinations are not mandatory to attend school, but parents and carers are encouraged to get their children vaccinated to protect their children, their families, and our school community.
• Last week a smaller paediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine was approved as safe and effective for children aged 5 to 11 by Australia’s top medical experts. Children will get two doses, eight weeks apart – but they will only be available in special children’s clinics and GPs.
• Bookings are essential for children’s clinics and children should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• To find out more, visit the Tasmanian Government’s coronavirus website. https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/who-can-get-a-vaccine/covid-19-vaccines-for-children-aged-5-to-11/_nocache

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 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 co

nsiderable 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.

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.

• 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

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.