St Pat's News

Term 4 - October 7, 2021

St Patrick's Parish Primary School

Principal: Olga Lyons

Deputy Principal: Peter Sanderson

Parish Priest: Fr. John Corrigan

Phone: 55681371

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

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome back to Term 4, once again a term like no other. As always, I am thankful and inspired by the ongoing flexibility of our staff in managing the learning and wellbeing of the students in these ever-changing circumstances. I would also like to thank all of those adults at home for their ongoing support for their children during remote learning.  We are almost at the end. 

We are looking forward to welcoming our 3-4 & 5-6 classes back onsite for 2 days each next week.

Kind regards,

Olga Lyons, Principal

Our School Vision & Mission

The attached file contains our current School Vision & Mission document.  This year we are scheduled to review these documents with the Staff and School Advisory Council.
Download

From The RE Leader - Eliza Dwyer

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

The Mini Vinnies Leaders, Chloe and Sarah, initiated and promoted our Winter Appeal throughout term 3. Thank you to everyone who donated blankets and warm clothing.  The items were taken to the Warrnambool St. Vincent de Paul shop.  Well done girls and Miss Dwyer for your work towards supporting those in need. 

The work of the Mini Vinnies Leaders aligns with the Catholic Social Teaching of "The Common Good" which in turn is reflected in our school motto - "Give Yourself to Goodness!"  Well done girls.  

Leadership & Stewardship

Parish News

From October 1st the Parishes of St. Patrick's Port Fairy, St. Patrick's Koroit, St. John's Dennington, St. Joseph's Warrnambool and St. Pius X West Warrnambool will combine to become Star of the Sea Parish - Southwest Coast. 

Reasons for this decision include the sustainability of the smaller parishes, the benefits of economy of scale, the difficulty of attracting volunteers and the diminishing availability of Priests to serve our Diocese. 

The new parish will encompass St. John's Dennington, St. Patrick's Port Fairy, St. Patrick's Koroit, St. Pius X West Warrnambool, St. Joseph's Warrnambool and Emmanuel College schools.  These schools will retain their individual names. 

Fr. John Fitzgerald and Fr. John Corrigan will continue to serve the new Star of the Sea Parish and provide Pastoral service to the schools.  

Return To School Plan

St. Patrick's Return to School Plan

Week 1 

  • All F-2 Classes will be onsite
  • 3-6 will continue Remote Learning each day. 
  • Category A & B students are permitted to attend. 
  • 3-6 Wellness Wednesday via the Remote Learning Portal supervised by Mr. Greene, Mrs. Robertson and Miss Williams
  • Swimming on Friday for F-2 classes only

Weeks 2 & 3 

  • All F-2 Classes will be onsite
  • 3-4 attend onsite Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
  • 3/4 Specialist Day will be Thursday via Remote Learning Portal 
  • 5-6  will attend on Thursdays & Fridays 
  • 5/6 Specialist Day will be Wednesdays via Remote Learning Portal
  • Swimming on Fridays for F-2 classes only.

Week 4

ALL CLASSES ONSITE!

  • Swimming on Fridays for F-5 classes

Student Face Masks

For school settings, the Victorian Chief Health Officer recommends children under 12 years of age and students at primary school wear face masks when at school, attending OSHC program, or when travelling to or from school using public transport.

School Advisory Council AGM

Our 2021 School Advisory Council Annual General Meeting was scheduled for Tuesday November 2nd, however, this is Melbourne Cup Day.  It will now be Tuesday November 9th at 7:30pm. 

2022 Classroom Structure

There will be no change to the current classroom structure for 2022.  Teacher allocation is still being finalised.  We use a software package called Class Creator to build class groupings. Teachers complete a survey on academic, social and behavioural information for each child to determine starting points for class groupings.

1 x Foundation class

3 X 1/2 

3 X 3/4

3 X 5/6

Wellbeing News - Antonia Balmer

What to do if you are a close contact of a COVID-19 case

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact
Advice on what to do if you are a close contact of a person who has received a positive COVID-19 test result.

Learning and Teaching

Term 4 Swimming Program

Our Swimming Program will be running in term 4 on Fridays.  The F-2 classes will begin in week 1 while the 3-5 program will begin in week 4 when they are all back onsite full-time.  

The school is providing a qualified Life Saver and teachers will also supervise pool side during lessons.  Parent helpers are limited at this stage. 

Swimming Abilities 

Belfast Aquatics have requested information in regards to your child's/children's swimming abilities for Foundation to Year 5 students. A Google form was sent out this week for parents to complete. If you have not yet completed the form please do so as soon as possible.

Swimming Abilities Google Form

Learning Diversity

Positive Partnerships have a couple of free webinars for families

Returning to School Webinar (Primary Focus) 

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, we are once again preparing for students to return. For students on the autism spectrum, returning to school again may present challenges and opportunities. 

If you are interested click on one of the links below to register for the webinar.

Monday 11th October 7-8pm 

Thursday 14th October 10-11am

Sensory Processing  

An interactive webinar over two sessions where you will have the opportunity to listen, share and learn with parents/carers, teachers and others who support individuals on the autism spectrum. If you are interested click on the links below to register for the webinars.

Session One:

Thursday 4th November 12-1pm

Tuesday 9th November 7-8pm

Session Two:

Monday 15th November 12-1pm

Wednesday 24th November 7-8pm

School News

Student Drop off and Pick Up

St Patrick's is asking parents to remain in their cars during the drop off and pick up of your children at school and to not congregate with other parents outside the school. With the outbreak of COVID in Warrnambool we feel that it is important to minimise contact with people outside of your family. We look forward to when we can all gather again without restrictions.

Sporting Schools - Term 4

Sporting Schools for Term 4 will commence on Wednesday October 27 and finish on Thursday December 9. 

Sporting Schools will run on a Wednesday and Thursday. The sports will be gymnastics and minor games.

Summer Uniform - Term 4

All student are to be in their summer uniform for Term 4.

If you require any uniform items they can be ordered through CDFpay.

Term 4 Working Bee - Saturday October 9, 9am-12pm

We have our 4th and final working bee for the year this coming Saturday.  Hopefully the weather will hold for us.  There is a Powercor Interruption to our electricity supply scheduled for Saturday.  We will have a generator available. If you have any battery operated power tools, please bring them along.

Tasks:

1. Replacing the ropes on the north playground pathway.

2. Demolishing the old chook house & relocate chook cage. 

4. Varnishing the St. Patrick's statue.

5. Varnishing the playground wooden posts.

6. Sand picnic table tops and seats

7. Replace fence palings.

8. Weed courtyards in 1/2 classes - attach blackboard to wall

Parents who have nominated to attend:

Wendy KellyMatt PorterShane & Gareth AllenClinton McCrohan
Anne RobertsonAbby LeeDan & Megan MyersJessica Lambert
Bruce DempseyPauline BlomAnthony & Clare LeddinAbigail Gapes
Gavin MackenzieGeorgina DumesnyJo & Liam MurphyJulia Gibbons
Michael PickettTatiana Resk WilsonStacey & John van de CampJanette Lowe
Scott ElliottDonella MulraneyKristen & Adam SheehanRenee Killen
Sarah & Shane Savage

Upcoming Events

Saturday October 9 - Working Bee 9am-12pm

Sunday November 7 - P & F Wellness Day

Friday November 12 - Mini Spring Fair

Tuesday November 9 - SAC AGM

Monday November 22 - Pupil Free Day for Report Writing (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)

Canteen - NO CANTEEN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

We have decided that with visitor restrictions in schools, the canteen will not be open at this stage. If we can open that canteen at a later date, we will let all families know.

P & F Dates for your Diary

Sunday November 7 - Wellness Day

Friday November 12 - Mini Spring Fair

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

Instantly translate this newsletter to 100+ languages

With our Google Translation integration, your community can access your newsletter in ANY language. Simply scroll to the bottom of the newsletter preview to give it a try.

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

Port Fairy Theatre Group - Festival of Short Plays for Children

The Port Fairy Theatre Group are hoping to run their children's program in Term 4. Children from St Pat's and the Consolidated School will be invited to take part in the production of a short plays. This will of course will only go ahead if COVID restrictions allow. More details to come next term.