St Patrick's School

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

In the last newsletter, I wrote about the LLL survey. I ask that all parents take the opportunity to complete this questionnaire. It is an anonymous survey and only takes between 3-5 minutes to complete yet the results help us in writing our Annual Improvement Plan for the following year. The surveys can be accessed via: www.NSIPartnerships.com.au and the password is SPSLLLP. 

Thank you to the parents who have returned their 2024 Expression of interest forms informing us of the students who are returning to St Patrick’s in 2024. This is important information as it helps us to determine the staffing needed. The forms were due back last Friday so it is now a matter of urgency that they are returned this week. 

Catholic Schools Open Week is next week. I hope you have time to check out the bus shelter on Hanson Road near the Grand Junction Road intersection and the billboard on West Lakes Boulevard for some familiar faces advertising St Patrick’s School. 

 Week 5 is also Book Week. The theme for Book Week is “Read, Grow. Inspire.” We will be having a parade on Friday morning (25th August at 9am) and invite parents and friends to come along to join our celebration. Students are encouraged to come dressed as a favorite book character. 

 Are you aware that St Patrick’s School has a Facebook page as well as an Instagram page. We enjoy sharing all the wonderful things that are happening at our school on these two social media sites. Please check these sites out. 

 Students and families are reminded to be wary of approaches from strangers, especially when they are unaccompanied or travelling to and from school. If they are approached students should not respond and should not accept offers of rides or gifts. Students should seek the assistance of other nearby adults if they feel unsafe and should report the event to a trusted adult (parent or school staff member) as soon as possible. SAPOL advises that taking out a mobile phone and calling police can deter the offender and they recommend the student making a formal report to their closest police station. Students walking home without adult supervision are encouraged to leave the school grounds as soon as the bell rings and not hang around chatting to friends.  

 In all things love 

 Barbara Ahern & Anne Marie Platten

The Leadership Team

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day 

A lot of fun was had by all last Tuesday on the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. We began with a Whole School Mass to celebrate the special Church Feast led by Fr Sam followed by our annual Feast Day Mission Markets after recess.  

There was a variety of activities and stalls offered, many of which were organised by the students themselves. I’d like to congratulate all involved for their creative and enjoyable fund raising activities and on the success of the funds raised. As a school we raised $1194 which will be donated to the Mary MacKillop Today organisation https://www.marymackilloptoday.org.au/.  The organization helps to provide opportunities for people in need to gain skills and education to help them live a healthy and happy life. They continue the work that Mary MacKillop began.  

A big thank you to all staff for their support and organisation on the day, to the parents who came along to help and enjoy the markets with us, and for the generous donations of our families.  

Confirmation and First Communion Practices 

Last week St Patrick’s School hosted a workshop for children involved in this year’s Sacramental Program. We were pleased to share our great facilities with students from Whitefriars’, St Margaret Mary’s and from other schools. All worked hard to make posters and banners for the celebrations along with learning more deeply about the sacraments they are about to receive. 

Feast of the Assumption of Mary 

At Whole School Prayer on Monday we prayed through the Feast of the Assumption of Mary which is celebrated on August 15. Mother Mary was the first disciple and we highlighted what it meant to live as a disciple of Jesus. We have many people who are examples of this, especially St Mary MacKillop.  As we learn of and follow their examples, we are helping to make the world a better place.   

Family Mass at St Patrick’s Church 

On the second Sunday of every month St Patrick’s Church celebrates Family Mass. The parish invites students and staff from our school to be involved in the Mass and celebrate with the parishioners. Sunday 13th was a lovey Mass and I’d like to thank Giao, Duyen, Ramon, Ali, Louis, Ashley and Margarita for helping during the Mass with reading and the Offertory procession. Several parishioners commented on what a lovely job they did.  

The next Family Mass will be on 10th September and all are invited to come along. 

Have a lovely week.  

Anne-Marie Platten 

This year in STEM we have focussed on integrating skills in the classroom for older students and developing new skills in our younger students.

 A highlight was participating in a new online topic via Makers Empire 3D design where the subject integrated seamlessly into the Natural Disasters topic with Mr Faulks in the Year 5 classroom. After submitting our designs online as completion to the unit, we were delighted to be one of three schools mentioned on their national website for outstanding completion of the task. This is another example where STEM, integrated in the everyday curriculum, enhances student understandings by designing solutions to a problem. 

Another achievement was the Year 3/ 4 students producing their own short videos for entry to a National STEM MAD (Make A Difference) student learning topic on sustainability and waste collection run by Ms Johnson and Ms Hartley. All students were taught filming and editing skills via imovie on ipads. Our student lead entries were submitted at the end of last term. We are proud to announce that one of our entries has made it to the MAD showcase in mid August. A great achievement. Well done everyone.

Jane Edwards - STEM Teacher

We are pleased to inform our school families that there will be no increase in school fees for the 2024 school year.

Catholic Education SA has announced it will freeze tuition fees at its 84 Diocesan schools for the 2024 school year.

 “We recognise that cost-of-living increases are putting significant pressure on families,” says Dr Neil McGoran, Executive Director, Catholic Education SA.

 “Growth in enrolments across the State in our 101 Catholic Schools, together with prudent financial management, puts us in a position where we are able to hold tuition fees at this year’s level.”

 Dr McGoran said the fee-freeze will not impact the quality of education.

 “We’re committed to keeping school fees as low as possible and ensuring a Catholic education is affordable and accessible to all.”

 Since 2019, Catholic Education SA has been implementing the Making Catholic Education More Affordable Initiative to ensure Catholic schools are accessible to any family who wants their child to have a Catholic education.

In addition to the fee-freeze, further fee remissions are available to any family who is struggling to pay school fees due to financial difficulties. Families should contact Christine Lavender on 8303 4500 for more information.