NEWSLETTER 36 - 14th November 2022

Wow, this year has gone quickly. I hear people say this every year sometime between mid November and early December when they realise that Christmas is just around the corner. For many people this is an anxious and stressful time with so many things to do leading up to Christmas. It is a shame, particularly during what should be a joyful time because, as anyone that has suffered from some sort of anxiety or stress will tell you, it takes most of the enjoyment away.

Research generally indicates that anxiety and stress related disorders are on the rise and have been for a long time, particularly in children. We often think about what has been and what is to come. It is simply human nature and, in many cases, can be very helpful. It is good to look back and reflect on what has been. It can allow us to carefully consider the positives and negatives and then make changes accordingly. To look forward in a positive sense is also extremely helpful. We can attempt to prepare for what is to come and make sensible decisions. However, this all becomes less helpful when these reflections and future considerations lead us into a negative space. When constant thought of the various permutations of our future and the mistakes of our past overwhelms our mind that is when anxiety and stress and subsequently our fight/freeze/flee response kicks in.

The below passage from Matthew's Gospel has something to offer us in this space.

Matthew 6:26-34 (NRSV)

26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

In today's context, we have much more to worry about than just food or clothing, but the sentiment of this passage holds true. Not one moment of worry, stress, or anxiety will change the outcome of what is to take place or what has already happened. But how do we stop ourselves from falling into the trap of worrying? What advice would we want our children to follow to alleviate their anxiety and stress? The final verse of the passage from Matthew gives us an indication. Live in the now. Do what you can now. Procrastinating over your worries prolongs the worry, so, don’t procrastinate. Develop a plan, visualise your plan working, and put the plan into action. Ask for help from family, from friends, and importantly, from God. Find joy in the small things. See mistakes as an opportunity for growth. Stay positive.

At St Patrick’s we aim for our students to develop the tools to maintain a positive mindset that will allow them to better navigate stress and anxiety now and into the future.

Kurt Atkins 

Acting 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 Days

Monday 24th April, Monday 24th July,

Monday 16th October.

November

December 

Congratulations to our team who are attending the NWCPS Athletics Carnival in Penguin tomorrow. Miss Brown, Miss Moore and Mrs Anthony will be accompanying the team. Family members and spectators are welcome to attend this event. The carnival commences at 10.30am.

• Axel Bos, Owen Christie, Zander Bloomfield, Henry Jones 
• Ava Mulley, Aleks O'Toole, Evie Bracken, Meg Kelly
• Taylor Goss, William Hawkins, Hamish Crawford, James Sullivan, Harry Phegan, Jakk Burgess
• Sophia Simmonds, Emilia Ling, Chloe Anthony, Lucy Chapman, Zita Omogbai-Musa, Izabella Goss 
• William Brazendale, Egan Bos, Jovi Rand, Tanner Davis, Daniel Eastley, Jimmy Tueon
• Zarli Mulvey, Melia Sesara, Zara Omogbai-Musa, Amaja Scott, Zarna Bakes 
• Ryan Jackson, Lincoln McQueen, Connor Anderson, Cameron Reeves, Kyan Mayes, Nate Crump
• Tyla O'Toole, Ruby Anthony, Nikola Crump, Claire Simpson 

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

Prep: Leon Dewing for your application and attitude toward your work is outstanding. Thank you for being a kind and caring class member.

Year 1: Lily Nichols for your positive engagement across all areas of your learning and your consistent pleasing work. Well done Lily.

Year 2: Ethan Dick for his consistent effort and conscientious attitude in MiniLit sessions.

Year 3: Avril Lewis for her application to tasks and for the compassion she demonstrates towards others.

Year 4: Sienna van de Hulst for her cooperation and kindness when interacting with her peers.

Year 5: Frank Dewrance-Milligan for an outstanding improvement in his reading comprehension.

Year 6: Hamish Fulcher for the focus and hard work he applied to his learning tasks this week.

Congratulations to our House Raffle winners this week: 

Dooley - Amelia Willis   Martyn - James Sullivan 

Byrne - Meg Kelly 

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. 

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. 

‘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.