St Pat's News

Term 1 - February 5, 2021

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 - Olga Lyons

From the Principal

Welcome back to the 2021 school year. I am very excited to be here with you as Principal and I look forward to getting to know everyone over time. 

I hope everyone had a restful break over the holiday period. Staff and students have all settled in well and are looking forward to a year of new learning and great friendships.

Welcome

A special welcome our new Foundation students and their families to our school this year:

Violet Armstrong; Aurora Down; Mia Fry; Ayla Gramss; Nike Harris; Inala Hayes; Miranda Hutabarat; Gus MacKenzie; Hudson Malady; Annabelle McGuigan; Margot Oswin; Rebecca Parkinson; Thea Ploenges; Alex Porter; Lachlan Seath; Basil Sheehan; Max Simpson; Grayson Thomas; Joey Tregeagle; Marley van den Berg; Heidi Wagg; Malakai Wamoana; Jack Willoughby; Emma Winter.



We also welcome new students and their families in other classes:

Sawyer Hallam (Yr 1) & Mackenzie Hallam (Yr 4); Leah Mirtschin (Yr 2) & Benjamin Mirtschin (Yr 3); Perry Brown (Yr 2); Jett Savage (Yr 1).

Thank you to our Parents and Friends who organised the welcome morning tea in the hall on Monday morning and to those who supplied the food.  It was well attended and gave us a chance to get to know one another. 

This year we also welcome several new staff members:

Olga Lyons (Principal)

Daniel Lucardie (Year 3/4)

Eliza Dwyer (Year 3/4)

Stephanie Watson (Year 1/2)

Peita Cryer (Year 1/2 Boost Teacher)

Rebecca Greene (Foundation Boost Teacher & 3/4MG on Fridays)

Tess White (Trainee Learning Support Officer)

Ella Hasell (Trainee Learning Support Officer)

We hope that our new staff, students and families will find St Patrick’s a welcoming and supportive school community.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected student leaders for 2021:

School Captains: Tessa Phillips & Zac Allen

School Vice-Captains: Maeve Murphy & Charlie Murray

House Captains:

Winnen: Bethany Dyson

Mackillop: Aidan Dwyer

Polding: Hugh Allan

Samaritan: Jonah Killen

Mini Vinnies Leaders:  Sarah Macmillan & Chloe Dumsney

Sustainability Leaders: Andrew Gapes & Jorja Lowe

Staff Commissioning Mass

This Sunday the School Staff will participate in a Commissioning Ceremony at the Parish Mass at 9:00am.  

Thank you to the staff who have patiently answered my multitude of questions and who have been so welcoming of me as I begin my new role of Principal.  It will take some time to learn names so please be patient with me.  

Kind regards,

Olga Lyons, Principal

New Staff at St Pat's

OUR SCHOOL VISION & MISSION

To start the year we need to remind ourselves of our school Vision and Mission statement:

VISION

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



MISSION

We do this by:

Nurturing, developing and celebrating faith.

Welcoming, including and supporting each other.

Inspiring and challenging each other through excellent teaching, leading to high levels of learning and achievement for all.

Respecting the uniqueness of each person.

Enjoying life as part of a community.

Responding to the personal safety and developmental needs of our students to support their mental, spiritual and physical wellbeing, making our school a Child-Safe school.

As we move forward into the new school year, we pray and trust that each and every one of our children will have the opportunity to develop and grow to their full potential as part of our school community.

From The RE Leader - Annie Forrest

Wellbeing News - Antonia Balmer

Welcome

A big welcome to all our new families who have joined us here at St Patrick’s School.  At St Patrick’s we model our mantra is 'Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be a Learner'. This mantra has been developed by our school as a response to undertaking a School Wide Positive Behaviour Strategy. SWPBS encourages our staff and students to identify positive behaviours in all areas of our school. When demonstrated consistently students can be rewarded with a DOJO point. Dojo points are tallied individually and as class groupings. I look forward to sharing our DOJO success throughout the year. Year 5/6B have outlined what being respectful looks like in our school.

 ‘Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be A Learner’  

Focus this week is ‘Be safe when entering and exiting our school’

Staff will be watching children entering and exiting the school to see who is being respectful and safe. It would be wonderful if our older children could teach our younger children how to enter and exit our school safely.

What is SWPBS?

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support is:  A multi-tiered framework for establishing the social culture and behavioral supports needed for a school to achieve behavioral and academic outcomes for all students.

What are the features of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support 

  • Prevention of problem behaviour  

  • Define and teach positive social expectations  

  • Acknowledge positive behavior  

  • Arrange consistent consequences for problem behavior  

  • On-going collection and use of data for decision-making  

  • Continuum of intensive, individual intervention supports.  

  • Implementation of the systems that support effective practices

Why are we implementing this at St Patrick’s

  • Reduces problem behaviour

  • Builds a consistent approach to behaviour in the school environment

  • Builds on teacher /student rapport

  • Specifically targets bullying behaviour

  • Increase the well being of students and teachers

  • Improves social /emotional competence 

What are we aiming for?

  • Common purpose and approach to discipline

  • Clear set of positive expectations and behaviours

  • Procedures for teaching expected behaviour

  • Continuum of procedures for encouraging expected behaviour

  • Continuum of procedures for discouraging inappropriate behaviour

  • Procedures for data collection, ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

OUR SCHOOL MANTRA is Be: respectful, safe, a learner

We will be guided to be respectful, be safe, be a learner in all areas of our school both inside and outside.

Welcome

Congratulations to Louise Burris and Daniel McLean on the birth of their twin sons, James and John (Jack), brothers to Isla (Yr 2), Grace (Yr1), Millie, Georgia and Ruby.

Congratulations to our staff member Monique McCartney and her husband Sam, on the arrival of their daughter Hazel Rose Frances.

Sympathy

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Brittain-Watts family on the recent death of Sarah's mother.

From The Office - Janine Moloney & Bec Amor

Office Updates

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. 

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.

Website login

Our newsletters and many forms can be located and downloaded from our school website. The website also contains a calendar of current events. Login details can be found in this newsletter. We also try to post updates and information on our school Facebook page and via the Skoolbag app. Details on how to download the app are included in this Newsletter.

Canteen

Canteen will begin Thursday February 18th. Canteen is available most Thursdays and Fridays and a menu has been emailed to parents. The menu is also available on the Skoolbag app and the school website. 

All Canteen orders are to be made by CDFpay, please click on the link to access the directions, CDFpay. Each student must have a reusable container with their name and class clearly marked on it. The Canteen Menu was emailed to you yesterday and can also be accessed from our Website and the Skoolbag App. All prices are in CDFpay.

Canteen Menu Link - Parent Information Page on the Website

DOBCEL Family Assistance Scheme Information Documents

Download

Camps, Sports and Excursions Information Documents

Download

HAVE YOU?

Filled in our Volunteer Jobs google form?  

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.

Filled in the 2020 Working Bee google form?

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 working bee for the year.

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

Working Bees are held on the first Saturday of each term from 9am-12pm.

Please click on the link above to select a date.

PAM - Updated your child's medical information & checked that your contact details are up to date?

Please login to your PAM account and check that your child's medical profile and amend as necessary. You also need to check your contact details, your child's emergency contact and your address are correct. If any changes are needed please email Janine jmoloney001@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au


School Advisory Council

School Advisory Council Meeting

The School Advisory Council (SAC) had their first meeting for 2021 on Tuesday evening.  The Council members revised the SAC Constitution, signed the DOBCEL Child Code of Conduct and A Fit and Proper Persons Declaration.   

SAC Members include:

Chairperson: Matt Porter    Deputy Chairperson: Andrew Prosser

Secretary: Bec Greene

Principal: Olga Lyons  Deputy Principal: Peter Sanderson

Parish Priest: Fr. John Corrigan 

Staff Rep: Anne Robertson      P & F Rep: Lucy Lehne

Parents Elect: Clare Leddin, Jo Mackenzie, Jess Condon

SAC Elected Members

Absence from SAC group picture

School News

Upcoming Events

Saturday February 6

Working Bee @ 9am-12pm

Sunday February 7

Staff Commissioning Mass @ 9am

St Patrick's Church

Monday February 8

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Wednesday February 10

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Monday February 15

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Tuesday February 16

Parents & Friends AGM @ 7.30pm

Wednesday February 17

Ash Wednesday

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Thursday February 18

Moyne District Tennis

Monday February 22

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Wednesday February 24

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Friday February 26

School Sports Day @ Braueranda - TBC

Monday March 1

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Tuesday March 2

SAC Meeting @ 7.30pm

Wednesday March 3

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

Friday March 5

Pupil Free Day - Staff PD

Monday March 8

Sporting Schools @ 3.20pm-4.30pm

5/6B Class News

Eating Breaks, Food and Rubbish

All classes have a fruit break at 10.00am and it is expected that every child will bring a piece of fresh fruit to eat during this time. The first main eating break is at 11.30am after first play, and it is at this time that children eat their sandwich. Canteen orders will be provided during this time on Thursdays & Fridays.

A reminder also that as part of our requirements for accreditation as a sustainable school, we ask that children bring rubbish free lunches every day. Children are encouraged to bring their sandwiches and other food in reusable containers or take their rubbish home with them.

Class Representatives

Thank you to the parents who have so far offered to be a Class Rep this year. This role entails contacting other parents to contribute to the food bank, organising morning teas and social activities, liaising with the class teacher, filling in forms for head lice checks, doing odd jobs for the class teacher and attending 4 P & F meetings throughout the year. We are still looking for reps for Yrs 1/2CR, 3/4MG, 3/4D and 5/6B. Please let the office know if you are able to fill these roles. This role is worth 40 volunteer points which is a full rebate on your volunteer levy.

The class rep will be given a list of family contacts for each class. Please notify the office if you do not wish your details to be included in this list.

SUNSMART

All students and teachers must wear a school hat each day from the beginning of September until the end of April.

Our policy is ‘no hat – no play’. Each classroom has sunscreen and the children are reminded to put some on before each break.

Sports News

Our school sports this year will be held on Friday February 26th at Brauerander Park from 10.00am - 2.30pm. All children will be competing in a variety of athletic events on this day and families are very welcome.

The Moyne School Athletics will be held on Wednesday March 24th.

Sporting Schools Program

The Sporting Schools program will this year run on Monday and Wednesday afternoons after school from 3.20pm - 4.30pm starting next week. This program runs for 7 weeks each term. Tom Sell, one of our Learning Support Officers, will be coordinating the program this year, along with our trainees.

Attendance forms are located on the Skoolbag App. Attendance slips must be filled out by 10am for each day your child is attending Sporting Schools. Any child without an attendance form will not be permitted to attend. 

Please use the Skoolbag App for each session your child is going to attend.

If you do not have the Skoolbag App, click on the link for instructions.

https://www.moqproducts.com.au/skoolbag/installation-instructions/

Working Bee

Our first working bee for this year will be held this coming Saturday from 9:00am-12:00pm. Please bring any tools you think we may need.

Tasks to be completed:

Sandpit on the oval - removing overgrown grass and levelling ready for new sand.

Pressure Cleaning the portable ramp.

Clean up Library Courtyard.

1/2 Courtyards - weeded and power washed - seat timber needs replacing or removed.

Weeding in Adventure playground and side area near chook pen.

Weeding in the chook pen.

Attach Playground Rules sign to the fence - drill and screws needed.

Bark in Adventure playground to be spread.

Replace display tension wires in 3/4 classrooms.

The parents who have nominated for this working bee as the one that they will attend are: Ally Robinson, Mark Gramss, Adrian Hallam ,  Scott Elliott , Ruth Everitt, Adam Brian, Jamie & Vicki Hetherington, Mandy van den Berg , Sylvia Inamora, Jenny McNeil, Caroline McGowan & Grant Belleville, Luke Malady, Kristen & Adam Sheehan, Jo Keane.

Assembly

Assembly is held every second Friday (on the even term weeks for Term 1) at 2.45pm in the hall. At this stage we regret that parents are not able to join us for whole school events.  If this changes we will let you know,  We will take a video of children receiving badges and provide a copy to the relevant parents. 

Supervision of Students

Playground supervision will be provided before school from 8.40am and after school until 3.30pm and no formal supervision of the playground occurs outside those hours. You are requested to ensure children are not dropped off earlier or collected later than this.

Bus students will be supervised while getting off the bus in the morning and while waiting to get on the bus in the afternoon.

Student Safety/Late Attendance

The side entrance door near the hall is locked from 8.55am, once the bell goes. Anyone arriving after this time, or visiting the school during the day, will need to enter via the front entrance. Any student arriving after 8.55am will need their parent/carer to fill in a late absence on the iPad located at the office.

Pedestrian Safety

With so many cars out the front of the school both before and after school it is very important that you use the school crossing if you park on the opposite side of William St, to ensure that both pedestrians and drivers remain safe. Parents are also asked not to use the staff car park, including the grassed area behind the hall, when dropping off or picking up children, as there are safety concerns for children with cars going in and out of the car park and children walking to/from school buses. The grassed area behind the hall and the staff car park is required for staff parking. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Bikes

Children riding bikes must walk their bikes the full length of the footpath before riding them.  Helmets must always be worn while riding. 

CatholicCare Chaplaincy Program

Once again  we are able to offer a counselling service at St. Patrick's School.  Melissa Lesu is our School Chaplain who works with children on a referral basis.  If you think your child needs to be referred to Melissa please contact the office for a referral form. 

CatholicCare Letter

Download

School Rosters

Canteen

Canteen will commence on Thursday February 18. Canteen days will be Thursday and Friday. If you would like to volunteer to assist in the canteen please fill in the Canteen Volunteer google form. 

Library Reshelving - this can be done at anytime during the week of:

We are looking for volunteers to assist in the Library a couple of times a term for 30-60 minutes putting our library books back on the shelves. If you are able to assist please fill out the Parent Helper google form.

Sickbay Linen - the linen will be sent home with your child the Friday you are rostered on.

Friday February 12 - Rhea Thomas

Friday February 26 - Jenny McNeil

Friday March 12 - Michelle Verhoef

SCHOOL TIMES

The office is open from 8.30am - 4.00pm each day.

There is no supervision for students before 8.40am. Teachers use the time prior to the doors opening for setting up for the day, therefore they are not available to supervise students. Students who arrive at school prior to 8.40am need to wait at the side door near the hall until the doors are opened.

The bell for the start of the day rings at 8.55am, any student arriving after this time needs to be signed in using the iPad at the office.

There is no school for Foundation students on Wednesdays during Term 1.

The bell for the end of the day rings at 3.20pm. If for any reason you are going to be later than 3.30pm to collect your child/children, please contact the school office.

PAM - Parent Access Module

PAM is used for excursions/activities, absences, medical profile, emailing parents, learning conversations, literacy/numeracy bookings and school reports.

All absences, excursion permissions, medical information will be accessed through PAM (Parent Access Module). PAM is where you have been accessing your child's reports and making bookings for interviews.

You will use the same login and password that you were given at the end of last year. If you have forgotten your login please contact me. If you have forgotten your password you can reset it from the login page.

When you log in, there may be a warning at the top that asks you to verify your email address - please do this.

PAM Information

Instructions on how to complete a student absence and how to give permission for your child to go on a school excursion/activity.
Download

Communication Guidelines for Parents

These guidelines have been developed to outline the processes of effective and efficient communication to and from parents and between staff members.
Download

Complaints and Grievances Policy

St Patrick's Parish Primary School is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment. From time to time, students and parents can sometimes feel aggrieved about something that is happening at the school that they believe requires attention, further investigation or change in procedures or a resolution.
Download

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy sets out how St Patrick’s manages personal information provided to or collected by it.
Download

School Website

Website Login Details - www.spportfairy.catholic.edu.au

 Login – parents                        Password – parents

What you will find there:

  • Information about the school

  • Login for our Parent Access Module (PAM)

  • School calendar of events

  • Newsletters

  • Enrolment form

  • Excursion form

  • Absence form

  • Sporting School slips and enrolment forms

  • Reminders

  • Bus travel form

  • School Requisites list

  • Medication form

  • Uniform order form

  • Canteen menu & roster

  • Direct debit for school fees form

Parents & Friends

Parents & Friends AGM

 We really do value the wonderful parental involvement and assistance we receive here at St Patrick’s and I thank you in anticipation. 

The Parents & Friends committee is looking for some new and enthusiastic members to support their work.  The more involved the better and it's a great way to meet people in the school community.  

An AGM will be held on Tuesday February 16th at 7.30pm to elect the Executive Committee for 2021.  I'd like to thank the current Executive Committee for their dedication during such a difficult year in 2021.  

Please feel free to contact me at any stage if you have any concerns or queries throughout the year. 

We look forward to an exciting and productive year ahead.

Canteen

Canteen will commence on Thursday February 18. Canteen Days are Thursday & Friday, except the last day of terms 1, 2 & 3 and the last week of term 4. At times we may need to close the canteen, those days will be advertised in the newsletter.

All Canteen orders are to be made by CDFpay, please click on the link to access the instructions for CDFpay. Each student must have a reusable container with their name and class clearly marked on it. The Canteen Menu will be emailed to you prior to Canteen resuming, this information can also be accessed from our Website and the Skoolbag App. All prices are in CDFpay.

Canteen Menu Link - Parent Information Page on the Website

ICT News - Hannah Williams

Free to a good home

We have a large collection of iPads which are no longer functional in our classrooms. 

There are 8 iPad 4th Generations and 25 iPad 3rd Generations.

These iPads have very limited capabilities and will not support the latest updates required for most apps and upgrades. It is an understanding that they may have a limited life span and taking them is at your own peril. If you would be interested in one please get in contact with Hannah via email hwilliams@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au

PAM - Parent Access Module

https://pam.spportfairy.catholic.edu.au
This button takes you directly to PAM for Absences, School Activities, Reports, Learning Conversations, Numeracy & Literacy Interviews

Parent Information - St Patrick's Parish Primary School Port Fairy

http://www.spportfairy.catholic.edu.au/parent-information.html
St Patrick's Parish Primary School Port Fairy

Calendar - St Patrick's Parish Primary School Port Fairy

http://www.spportfairy.catholic.edu.au/calendar.html
St Patrick's Parish Primary School Port Fairy

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St Patrick's Parish Primary School

Give Yourself to Goodness

Parish Masses

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

Saturday Vigil Mass - 6.30pm at Koroit

Sunday Mass - 9am @ Port Fairy

Community News

Drama Club

DRAMA CLUB RETURNS

After School Drama Club will return on next Thursday February 11 for Term 1 from 3.30pm - 4.30pm.  If your child would be interested in participating in an hour of fun filled Drama games and activities please contact Tommy Greene on 04000627499 or via tgreene@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au.  It is for students in  Years 1-6 only and will be each Thursday until the remainder of term.  The cost is $110 per term.