NEWSLETTER 35 - 8th November 2022

Last weekend, while driving, I took the long way home.  On the side of the road, I saw a small creature ambling through the long grass on the bank on the side of the road.  I stopped to watch the echidna for a moment and, to my surprise, saw a second one higher up on the bank.  After a minute, I took out my phone to record these two curious animals.  Sitting there in silence, with only the sounds of the bush around me, reminded me of the early days of my teaching career.  

I have been privileged to work in three Catholic schools within my career, all unique, and all have a very special place in my heart.  In my first year of teaching, I was introduced to Peter Mitchell, the creator of the Making Jesus Real program and saw the remarkable effects of Mitch’s work with the students. In my third year of teaching, I got to experience MJR first-hand and have looked at the world and my place in it differently since I worked with Mitch with my Year 5/6 class. Throughout that year and beyond, Mitch  ‘unpacked’ for us and for thousands of students,  the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of how we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus and how we can make a difference in our own and others' lives in so many small ways. 

One of the many memories I have of this experience is how the students (25,  ‘too cool for school’ Year 5/6 students) were encouraged to identify, reflect on and share one (of many) of Mitch’s ‘gold nuggets’  - ‘God Moments’.  God moments are those ‘Wow’ moments in the world around us when we may notice something special - just for us, at that moment. God Moments are a sign of God’s love in the world around us, an adoration of the miracle of creation.  They are always there, but we must take the time to notice.  God Moments remind us to be aware of and grateful for God’s loving presence in our daily lives.

One of MJR’s cornerstones is the belief that we are all God’s children and are called to try to be like Jesus in the way we live.  We are Jesus’ friends; He calls us into friendship with God and calls us to embody His way of living.  

For over 20 years, MJR has guided school communities towards this mission, and I feel so fortunate to have been part of this.  MJR is not a program we ‘do’ at school; it is a way of being.   We are so lucky at St Patrick’s to have witnessed this approach to life and in living out the Church’s mission in this way and living it every day.  MJR, WEST and the Spirit of Jesus are truly alive at our school. 

This quiet moment on the side of the road also reminded me that we need to take the opportunity to stop, be still and take in the wonder of the universe that surrounds us - one simple opportunity in the ‘busyness’ of the day.  A time to pause, reflect and be thankful for our many blessings and gifts.

As we approach the halfway point in this term, we are presented with one of the more challenging times of the year in regards to life becoming busier in the end-of-year rush and preparation for Christmas. So, in the coming week, I hope you can find a few minutes to pause, reflect, and be thankful for your many blessings and the gift of that moment.

Melissa Marshall

Acting Deputy Principal

2022

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

*Student Free Day Friday 8th July 2022

2023

Term 1 - Friday 3rd February - Thursday 6th April

Term 2 - Wednesday 26th April - Friday 7th July

Term 3 - Monday 24th July - Friday 29th September

Term 4 - Monday 16th October - Thursday 14th December

*Student Free Day Monday 24th April 2023

November

December 

Good luck to our students who are attending the North West Catholic Primary Schools Swimming Carnival this Thursday 10th November. The carnival is held at the Burnie Aquatic Centre. Ms Moore, Miss Brown and Mrs Anthony will be accompanying our team. Parents and spectators are welcome to attend this event.

The 2023 Schedule of Fees is included in today's newsletter. A copy will also be emailed to families today. At the commencement of the 2023 school year, families will be issued with an annual invoice. Families that completed a Payment Arrangement Form for 2022 won't be required to complete a new one for 2023, unless your current payment arrangements will change in 2023. Mrs Leonard will be in contact with families who haven't completed the Payment Arrangement Form in the coming weeks. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your 2023 Payment Arrangements, please contact our Finance Officer, Lennice Leonard on 6426 1626 or via email: lennice.leonard@catholic.tas.edu.au

Congratulations to the following students who have received Student of the Week.

Prep: Hallie Lewis for your positive attitude towards everything at school. You help to make our classroom a happy place.

Year 1: Anas Abdelgayed for your great work and improvement with your reading, writing and oral language.

Year 2: Alivia Dewrance-Milligan for improved time management when completing written tasks.

Year 3: Ava Mulvey for her great application and attitude and a positive start to Term 4.

Year 4:William Hawkins for his positive attitude and application towards Mathematics tasks.

Year 5: Jimmy Tueon for his encouragement of peers at the sports carnival.

Year 6:Omar Abdelgayed for his encouragement towards others at the athletics carnival and the positive attitude he displayed towards having a go at the different events

Congratulations to our House Raffle winners this week: 

Dooley - Lincoln McQueen  Martyn - Ryan Jackson

Byrne - Dempsey Cock

Parents are welcome to contact Mr Atkins, Mrs Marshall or Mrs Badcock at any time to discuss issues relating to their child’s education. It is important for parents to always make contact with the leadership team (Mr Atkins, Mrs Marshall & Mrs Badcock) or their child’s teacher if they require elaboration or clarification on any issue. Contact to the school can be made by either phoning the office between 8.00am - 4.00pm (after-hours phone calls will now go to the school message bank) your child's diary, or by making an appointment. 

Student End of Year Reports will not be printed this year and instead will only be available via Compass. Reports are easy to access via Compass and instructions for this will be made available in future newsletters. We will however print reports if requested by parents/guardians. This can be requested after the reports have been made available on Compass. Please note the reports from previous years and the Mid Year Report from this year can also be accessed via Compass (either in the App or the web version).

Please contact the school office if you are unable to access Compass or do not know your login details. 

Latrobe U12’s Junior Cricket would like to invite all kids interested in playing junior cricket to come along to training every Thursday night from 16:30 till 17:30 at Latrobe Cricket Club. Any questions please contact Stephen Kettle 0407 185 608

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 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.