February 9 2023 Newsletter

St. Patrick's Vision and Motto

In the tradition of the Good Samaritan sisters, we are a Catholic educational community, giving ourselves to goodness throughout our lives.

"Give Yourself to Goodness"

Child Safety Statement

Acknowledgement of Country

We Acknowledge the Gunditjmara people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today.

We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and future. We acknowledge their stories, traditions and living cultures on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week we are well on the way with our Learning to Learn program and assessement tasks in the classrooms.  These activities assist to set up our collaborative learning expectations and provide the teachers with timely insights into each child's learning abilities, interests and needs. 

We are looking forwar to our Athletic Sports for Years 1-6 next Wednesday and the children have been training hard with Mr. Greene.  Families are welcome to join us as spectators on the day.  A coffee van will be at the showgrounds around 11.00am. 

One of the charactistics that define our school is the way parents contribute to it's vibrant and welcoming community culture. I encourage parents to consider how they are going to volunteer their time throughout the year, in particular to the busy term 1 events, to help our Parents and Friends group to raise much needed funds for our school or to simply enhance family connections.  All funds raised by the P & F last year and this year will go to resurfacing the old asphalt courts at the back of the school.  

On Tuesday we had a visit from Mr. Terry Harney,  one of the DOBCEL Board Members.  Terry was very complimentary of our new learning spaces. Terry is a former principal of St Thomas’ School Terang. Now retired, Terry brings extensive practical knowledge of the realities faced by principals and of the education ministry in rural and regional areas. Principals and School Advisory Council Chairpersons then had a dinner in Camperdown to discuss the purpose and function of the SAC in schools. 

Olga Lyons 

School Closure Days

Term 1 

Monday February 20 - ReLATE Wellbeing PD 

Thursday April 6 - SIF Review

Term 2 

Monday April 24 - SIF Review

Friday June 9 - VCOP

Friday June 23 - RELATE

From the RE Leader - Eliza Dwyer

Opening School Mass and Commissioning

On Monday we celebrated our Opening School Mass, where we commissioned our school staff and student leaders.  We wish our leaders well for their big year as they represent and lead our school. 

Sr. Maureen - Thank You

Sr. Maureen has reluctantly informed us that she is retiring from the important work that she has been in our school library for 18 years. We will miss her cheerfulness and her expertise in caring for our books each Tuesday but understand that she now needs to devote her time to caring for herself.  Farewell and good health to you Sr. Maureen. We will honor her retirement with a staff morning tea. 

Condolences

Please keep the following families in your prayers on the recent death of a loved family member.

Jason, Jae, Jack, Millie & Bobby Leddin

Antonia & Simeon Balmer; Blair, Sally Riches, Dusty, Lulu, Beau, Duke & Tully Robertson

From the Office - Janine Moloney & Bec Lawlor

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child. The annual CSEF amount per student is $125 for primary school students. Families that have applied for CSEF funding last year do not need to reapply. New families will need to fill in the application form and provide a copy of their current Health Care Card. Forms can be collected from the school office or downloaded from the link below.

DOBCEL Family Fee Assistance Scheme

The Family Fee Assistance Scheme operates across all DOBCEL Catholic Primary Schools. Families who qualify for the scheme will pay $520 ($10 per week) for Primary School Tuition Fees.  Tuition fee discounts are available to holders of a means tested Health Care Card, Pension Card or Veterans Card and must be eligible for the education maintenance allowance.  Eligible families can present their cards to the office and complete an application form.  Forms and information can be downloaded from the link below. If circumstances change at any time the office need to be informed. 

Conveyance Allowance

To be eligible for conveyance allowance you must be travelling more than 4.8km to school or a bus. If you would like more information or a Conveyance Form, please contact the office.

Absences from school

In line with Catholic Education Office requirements, parents will now be contacted on the day if their child is absent from school and we have not received any communication regarding this. We would ask that parents notify us of their child’s absence as early as possible on the day (or earlier if the absence is planned). Our preferred method of notification is through PAM (Parent Access Module) or by ringing the office after 8.30am. Text message are sent to parents if notification of absence has not been received by 10am.

Canteen

The P & F's first canteen day for Term 1 is Friday February 10. All orders are to be done with CDFpay.

Have you filled in the following Google Forms?

Parent Volunteer Jobs

There are many ways you can help around the school, some of these jobs are eligible to volunteer levy rebates. If you are interested in helping in some way please click on the link above.

Working Bees

Working Bees are great way of helping the school and working off your volunteer levy points. We would appreciate it if each family could commit to one of the two working bees will being having this year, Saturday February 11 & Saturday July 22.

Each working bee is worth 15 volunteer points per person (5 points = 1 hour/$25).

Please click on the link above to select a date.

PAM 

Have you logged in to your new account, verified your email address and updated your child's medical information & checked that your contact details are up to date?

If any details are incorrect such as your child's emergency contact and your address are correct. If any changes are needed please email Janine jmoloney001@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au

Schoolzine

Schoolzine is a new platform that St Patrick's is now using. Our Website (not yet ready for the public!), Newsletter, Sporting Schools Form and lots more will now be through Schoolzine. Schoolzine will replace Skoolbag. At this time during transition we are still using Skoolbag for the Sporting Schools for but you can also use Schoolzine. You will find the Sporting Schools Form in Forms & Documents.

To download Schoolzine click on the link below. The passcode to get access to this App is 8137

PE News - Tommy Greene

The students have been working hard in their PE lessons to prepare for next Wednesday’s school athletics competition at the Port Fairy Showgrounds.  They are very keen to do their best for their House and many are also hoping to gain selection for the school athletics team.  We look forward to seeing as many parents/grandparents etc, that can make it along to support and encourage our children.  Hopefully the weather plays it’s part and we can have a great day.

Athletics Sports Day is for Years 1 - 6 on Wednesday February 15 10.00am - 2.30pm.  

Please remember to give your child permission to attend this event via your PAM account.

Future Term 1 Sporting Events are:

Moyne Tennis - February 24

Foundation Athletics - February 28

Division Swimming - March 2

Division Tennis - March 9

Regional Swimming - March 14

St Pat's Cross Country - March 24

Foundation Athletic Sports

In the past, we have found the Term 1 whole school Athletic Sports overwhelming and tiring for our Foundation students. Last year we scheduled an alternative morning for Foundation Athletic Sports activities and it was very successful.  Families are welcome to come to the school oval on Tuesday February 28 at 9.15 for this event.  

Sustainability News - Benson Steere

This year we will be taking part in our annual Clean Up Australia Day. Mr Steere and Tom will be taking a group of sustainability students, as well as our sustainability leaders Jye and Charlie down to South Beach here in Port Fairy. We will be doing our best to help clean up our community. We have provided a link for you to donate to the Clean Up Australia Day Foundation. Any donation helps to ensure we are keeping our environment as clean as possible.

Weekly Class News - 5/6S

This week in 5/6S we have been busy setting up routines and looking at what a day in the life of a Year 5/6 student looks like. All Year 5/6s have settled in well and are adapting to the new learning space we are fortunate to have.

We have already had our beginning of school mass, where our Year 6 students walked their Foundation Buddy to the church and sat with them during the service. They all did an amazing job.

We had some of the Geelong Cats players come in and take a clinic for us. Some students were happier than others with the team selection, although everyone seemed to enjoy the afternoon.

In 5/6S we were lucky enough to run the first school assembly. It is safe to say all the students did a great job, as we welcomed parents as well as our new staff and students to our school community.

Class, Art & Give Yourself to Goodness Awards

Sporting Schools

Sporting Schools has commenced this week. The program will run for 7 weeks, with the final session being on Wednesday March 22. The program days for Term 1 are Tuesday and Wednesday.  You must sign up

St Patrick's has a new platform, Schoolzine. Schoolzine is an app you can download. See details above on how to do this. 

The Sporting Schools Form will still be available on Skoolbag during our transition to Schoolzine but please have a go at downloading the app and using the new form which can found in Forms and Documents tile on the home page.

Parish Masses

Port Fairy St Patrick's & Koroit Infant Jesus Mass Times

Saturday Vigil Mass - 6.30pm at Koroit

Sunday Mass - 9am @ Port Fairy

Parents and Friends News

Community News