NEWSLETTER 3 - 7th March 2023

Swimming Carnival

Well done to all our years 3-6 students in their participation in the Swimming Carnival. The students from St Brendan Shaw College came and assisted in the day. It was great seeing these students participate as role models in the day. Thank you to Ms Kris Brown for organising the event. Students who qualify will compete in the North West Swimming Carnival next week.

Traffic in Noone Street

We are aware that the traffic in Noone St can get quite hectic at drop off and especially pick up time. We would like to remind parents and carers to obey traffic laws and to drive cautiously during these times. Please be courteous and keep an eye out for students and other drivers. Please also ensure that you do not double park, as this blocks other drivers in, holding the flow of traffic even more, or blocking driveways.

Gestures and Postures During Mass

Why do we make gestures and postures during Mass?

When we engage in the Liturgy with a keen sense that we are engaging with the risen Christ. Our attitude at every liturgical event is one of deep faith, sincere desire and profound reverence. Archbishop Julian Porteous offers some thoughts on gestures and postures so that we can participate more reverently at Mass. 

Some of the key gestures:
Sign of the Cross: We make the Sign of the Cross whenever we are about to begin our prayer. Through the Sign of the Cross we both invoke the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and our gesture of signing ourselves reminds us of the redeeming death of Christ on the cross. When we enter the church we have the custom of blessing ourselves with Holy Water.

Genuflection: We genuflect when we are about to take a seat in the church. It is an act of reverence towards the presence of Christ in the tabernacle.

Bow the Head: A Catholic custom has been to bow the head when the name of Jesus is said. Bowing your head is a simple sign of respect.

Postures carry meaning. Standing is a sign of respect. Sitting is a posture adopted to listen. Kneeling is a sign of reverence, contrition or intense prayer.

There are three key postures:

Standing: We stand for the entrance of the priest and remain standing until the end of the Opening Prayer. We stand at the Gospel Acclamation chant before the reading of the Gospel. We stand when the priest announces the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer

Sitting: We sit during the reading of the Gospel, for the homily, during the preparation of the offertory. People may kneel or sit after receiving Holy Communion.

Kneeling: In Australia it is our traditional practice to kneel from the end of the Sanctus until the Amen at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer. After the Lamb of God, we kneel in preparation for receiving Holy Communion.

Lent

Giving back during Lent  

During the 40 days of Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, Catholics around the world take part in fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

There is a long tradition of giving something up for Lent. In the Christian tradition, the forty days originated from Jesus’ forty days and nights in the wilderness. Ever since, people have followed this in a variety of ways, giving up specific items (abstaining) or having meat-free days during Lent.

What to give up for Lent

Giving something up is a simple way to combine the three Lenten pillars of fasting, prayer and almsgiving into one charitable activity. Some of the things that you can give up during Lent include:

• Junk food
• Coffee
• Chocolate
• Single-use plastic
• Social media
• Watching TV

Want to give up something during Lent while also giving back to communities in need? You can start your own fundraiser and ask your family and friends to sponsor you. By turning your personal Lenten challenge into a fundraiser, you can help support vulnerable communities around the world to forge a path out of poverty.

Retrieved from Caritas Australia https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/lent/

Prayer for Lent

Heavenly Father, as we enter this Lenten season, change our hearts and help us to fast from those things that keep us far from you and feast on the things that draw us closer to you. 

The response to our petitions is, ‘Lord, change our hearts.’

Lord, we ask your grace –

To fast from judging others and feast on what makes them special, 

To fast from unkind words and feast on kindness,  

To fast from getting angry and feast on being patient, 

To fast from worry and feast on trusting God, 

To fast from complaining and feast on gratitude, 

To fast from conflict and feast on understanding, 

To fast from selfishness and feast on helping others, 

To fast from discouragement and feast on hope, 

To fast from doubt and feast on faith, 

To fast from a heart that is closed and feast on a heart that is open to you.

Have a great week

Carmen Aylott

Principal

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 25th April, Monday 24th July, Monday 16th October.

March 

Year 1 has made a very good start to the year. The students have settled into the year very nicely and have demonstrated a positive enthusiasm for learning. Even though we are just 5 weeks in, it seems like we have done a tremendous lot. Earlier in the term we spent some time with Mr Tim in the school garden planting some vegetables in preparation for Term 2. So far we have sown seeds for spring onions, leeks, carrots and beetroots. Students have started their roster for meditation and sharing. The students, who have so far carried out these tasks, have done a very good job with their preparation and performance. In Science, students have been looking at forces. So far students have explored push and pull forces that occur in our everyday life. Next we will be creating sculptures using push and pull forces. All of our routines are up and running and students have responded positively to them. This includes; reading groups, spelling, homework, sight words and our literacy program InitiaLit. The students in Year 1 should be very pleased with the way that they have started the year in Year 1. We look forward to the year ahead with this wonderful class.  

Our year 6 students used the WordArt program to create an image that reflects their understanding of  'Walking in Jesus' footsteps', during Lent.

It was my pleasure to recently work with the year 5/6’s at St Patrick’s and we focused on the theme ‘Accountability’ and how important it is ‘to claim the blame’ when we do something wrong. Teachers and parents/carers must hold young people accountable for their actions and as a class, we discussed how the ‘Art of Reflection’ will help us to correct mistakes. Tied into this was also how essential it is to understand and use manners. We looked at habits and how we need to work on changing negative habits and cultivating positive habits.

We also introduced the term ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’ If you like to follow up on this why not visit The MJR podcasts – a GPS for Life at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-mjr-podcast-a-gps-for-life/id1513474986

Again, the students were an amazing group due to their enthusiasm, love of magic and their ability to see and be the Spirit of Jesus – why not ask them what they learned in the session e.g., about not back chatting, saying OK with a smile, making someone’s day with a smile or compliment. Some of year 6 parents/carers will receive a written letter from your child, asking for help concerning them being held accountable.

God Bless

Marty Ogle

Mrs Fenton will be away on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th of March. Ms Z will be teaching Year 2. Miss Moore will be away Tuesday 14th March. Mrs Woodcock will teach Year 5. Mrs Stoeisseger will be attending a meeting on Wednesday 15th March. Mrs Butcher will be teaching Kinder. 

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent St Patrick's at the North West Catholic Primary School Swimming Carnival next Tuesday 14th March. Permission and more detailed information will be sent home to these families this week. 

Year 6

Livai Sesara, Frank Dewrance-Milligan, Dempsey Cock, Jimmy Tueon, Daniel Eastley, Melia Sesara, Amaja Scott, Peyton Clarke, Zarli Mulvey.

Year 5

William Hawkins, Harry Phegan, Liam Becker, Oliver Singline, James Sullivan, Harper Clark, Lucy Chapman, Chloe Anthony.

Year 4

Zander Bloomfield, Bentley Clarke, Alexander Fawkner, Dakota Skipworth, Emmy Radich, Meg Kelly, Ellie Hayes, Ava Mulvey.

Year 3 

Tom Anthony, Ethan Dick, Xavier Parker, Indiana Bowkett, Alivia Dewrance-Milligan, Alice Parry.

Good Luck to all our competitors! 

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

Prep

Year 1

Leon Dewing for his kindness, compassion and your outstanding effort towards his learning. 

Year 2

Ryan Davey for his attitude and application to learning.  

Elsie Tueon for always being positive and trying her best with all learning tasks.

Year 3

Indiana Bowkett for demonstrating good organisational skills and for excellent application towards the competition of her work.

Blair Nichols for his excellent participation in the swimming carnival and for the positive and friendly attitude he displays towards his classmates.

Year 4

Tallan Mayes for his compassionate response to Project Compassion and for generously caring for others.

Kaylee Chapell-Hope for her generous and gentle spirit that shines in her daily interactions with both students and staff. What a star!

Year 5

Year 6

Congratulations to our House Raffle winners for the fortnight:

Dooley - Max Phillips & Charlotte Nichols 

Martyn - Rehan Hasan & Peyton Allford

Byrne - Esther Viney & Archer Parry

Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for their development. The experiences they have can shape who they become as an adult. We realise the importance of these years and ensure that our SETUP sessions are full of play-based activities that allow children to investigate and learn in their own way.

Lots of time spent playing, talking, listening and interacting with you helps your child learn the skills they need for life. These skills include communicating, thinking, solving problems, moving and being with other people and children. That’s why our SETUP sessions allow children time for provocative play and exploring both on their own and with other children. We do offer arts and crafts, storytime, interactive games and activities as well as outside play.

Our sessions start this Friday and run every Friday from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m during school terms. Please bring a piece of fruit to share, a hat and drink bottle. Tea and coffee is provided for parents/carers. We hope to see you there!

Registrations for the 2023 Devonport Basketball winter primary school roster have now closed. Games will commence on Friday 17^th March for grades 3 – 6 and Wednesday 22nd March for grades 1 and 2.

Rosters and basketball tops will be distributed to families in the coming week. 

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the DBC Office on 64242440.