NEWSLETTER 15 - June 1st 2021

Acting Principal's Reflection

John 13:34-35

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

This week is National Reconciliation Week. This week is a time for us to consider what we can do to make reconciliation a reality in Australia and then enact that in the future. How do we show love for one another? How do we show love for our neighbour? I think that being aware of the past is an important step toward reconciliation. I know that when I was younger, and I assume this was the case for many, I never had the opportunity to learn about the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Luckily our students now have this opportunity. Having some knowledge of the terrible things that occurred to our First Nation Peoples is important, as it helps enable our students and ourselves to build in components of compassion and empathy. We can ask ourselves these questions - How would I have felt if my children or my mother and father were taken away from me? How would I feel if someone came into my house and just started living there and then eventually kicked me out with nothing? Putting ourselves in the shoes of others helps us to understand the hurt, pain and grief that has been caused. We know that we are not directly responsible for these things occuring, but when we fail to acknowledge what has happened, we can not have true reconciliation. Our mindset on this issue is extremely important - when we hold onto the idea that “it wasn’t our fault”, or if we allow unconscious bias to creep in, this often gets in the way of us thinking compassionately.

Thankfully, the Australian Curriculum mandates that we now teach our students about Aboriganal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Our students are gaining knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, histories, culture and futures. The theme for National Reconciliation week this year, “More than a word. Reconciliation takes action”, encourages us to take our knowledge and understanding beyond our own thoughts by ensuring that we are standing up for what is right. My hope is that our students will gain the attitudes and beliefs to enact the change that is needed to bring about true reconciliation in our country and that we show love to all people by being the face of Jesus and seeing the face of Jesus in others. The below website from Reconciliation Australia gives 20 actions that you can take for reconciliation.

Kind regards,

Kurt Atkins

Acting Principal

Choir Performance - National Reconciliation Week

Today our Choir sung at assembly for National Reconciliation Week. Please see a description of the songs and then feel free to watch a video of the performance below. Please be aware that this video is not to be shared via social media.

TABA NABA

This is a happy traditional children’s song from the Torres Strait Islands that are just north of the Australian mainland.  It is sung in the language of the people of a group of small islands that includes Murray, Darnley and Stephens Islands.  It tells about going out to the edge of the reef to fish.

Translation :  Come, let us go to the reef

Get into the dinghy when the morning tide is low.

Let us row to the edge of the reef,

Come let us go to the reef.

INANAY GUPU WANA

This song originated in Malaysia, passed over the seas to Thursday Island and the top of Australia, and has travelled all the way to Victoria.  This is part of a songline, and an integral part of Australian culture. 

Cross Country K-6

Our Cross Country Carnival will be held on Thursday 10th June commencing at 11.30am (after recess). Students are able to wear their house colours this day. Parents/ Spectators are welcome but will need to sign in using the Check-in Tas App. 

Race start times are below:

(please note these are approximate times only and we will do our best to run as per these scheduled times but they may differ slightly on the day)

Kinder - 11.35am

Prep - 11.50am

Year 1 - 12.05pm

Year 2 - 12.20pm

Lunch - 12.50pm-1.20pm

Year 3 - 1.25pm 

Year 4 - 1.40pm 

Year 5 -1.55pm

Year 6 - 2.10pm 

After School Playground Use & Childcare

As many parents would be aware, Latrobe Early Learning Childcare uses our playground for after-school care. Due to regulations that they are required to uphold, they can't use the playground while other students not attending after-school care are on the playground. Therefore, we now have an agreement in place where after-school care will not commence using the playground until 3:15 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, and not until 4:00 pm on Wednesdays to accommodate for families that have students involved in soccer and basketball training. As we have now put this arrangement in place, we kindly ask that parents ensure their children do not play on the playground after these times so that students in after-school care can use these facilities. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation.

Meeting with Teachers

At St Patrick's we encourage parents or guardians to book a meeting with their child's classroom teacher if there is an issue that requires more discussion than a note in the diary can provide. If you wish to book a meeting please contact the school office to arrange a mutually convenient time. We request that parents do not come into classrooms during class time or before school to discuss bigger issues as teachers are either teaching the class or preparing the class for the day. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation.

Staff News

Ms Stuart was away today - Miss Maxfield taught Year 4; Mr Atkins will be away on Wednesday; Mrs Fenton will be off class on Wednesday - Mr P will teach Year 2; Mrs Halley will be away on Thursday; Mrs Meech will be away on Friday - Miss Connell will teach Year 3; Mr O'Brien will be away on Friday - Mrs Mac will teach Year 1; Mrs Temple will be away on Friday - Mrs Evans will teach Year 5

Nut Aware School

A reminder to parents that St Patrick's is a Nut Aware School and that we ask that parents not pack nuts or nut products in their children's lunchboxes. 

WEST Award

Congratulations to Olivia Turner 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: Kashaf Kapila for her excellent application towards all of her school work.

Year 1: Fraser Smith for his consistent positive attitude towards all areas of his learning. Great work Fraser.

Year 2: Alexander Fawkner for his fluent and accurate representation of multiplication problems.

Year 3:  Matilda Roach for her enthusiasm and enjoyment of oral language tasks and for her creative approach to tasks.

Year 4: Grace Locke for her great progress with reading and comprehension.

Year 5: Kyan Males for working with diligence in class and being a positive role model for his peers.

Year 6: Talei Sesara for her persistence in exploring the components of electrical circuits through digital technology.

House Raffle Winners

Byrne House: Blair Smith

Dooley House:  Hudson Brumby

Martyn House: Jed Atkins

Photos of Sporting Teams

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 

P&F News - Pie Drive Orders Due

Pie Drive Orders closed today Tuesday 1st June deliveries/pickup will be on Thursday 10th June.  Thank you to everyone who ordered. 

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 for longer than 10 minutes 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 and school hall that can be scanned using this app when you are visiting the school for longer than 10 minutes.

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.