Diary DatesFriday 30th JuneLast Day of Term 2

Monday 17th JulyTerm 3 commences

Sport Days Term 3Kindergarten - Wednesday & FridayYear 1 - Wednesday & FridayYear 2 - TuesdayYear 3 - TuesdayYear 4 - WednesdayStage 3 - Wednesday & Friday

Thursday 20th JulyAthletics Carnival

Thursday 27th July10.00am Grandparents Mass and Morning Tea

Tuesday 1st AugustICAS Testing - English

Tuesday 8th AugustSt Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Wednesday 9th AugustYear 6 Voice of Youth Cluster Final

St Patrick’s Bulletin51-59 Allawah Street Blacktown NSW 2148 Phone: 9621 4122 Fax: 9671 4903Email: StPatsBlacktown@parra.catholic.edu.auwww.stpatsblacktown.catholic.edu.au

We acknowledge the Darug people, the traditional custodians on whose land we learn & worship.

Bulletin No: 10 Date: 30th June 2017

From the PrincipalLearning for Life at St Patrick’s; a school in the Mercy tradition where we welcome, love & forgive everyone

In our St Patrick’s school community, parents, staff and students are joined by a common set of beliefs and purposes, striving together for the ‘common good’ of everyone. Parents are invited to be acquainted with and support the school’s goals, core values and the learning. When working together, parents and teachers have a strong influence on student learning and the entire school community.

It was wonderful to observe the partnership being fostered through the conversations about student learning at our Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews this week.

Parents and teachers are partners in preparing your child for their future. The relationship between parent and teacher is critical to a positive learning experience. A good relationship with your child’s teacher will make it easier for you to stay informed about your child’s progress.

It is important to keep an open mind to the teacher’s feedback about what your child has achieved this semester and what the next learning will involve. The teachers at St Patrick’s are educators who engage in ongoing learning in order to more effectively meet the needs of each student. Just as importantly, the teachers have a great respect for the parents/carers who have special knowledge of their child to share with the teacher.

On behalf of the teachers and staff of St Patrick’s, I extend my thanks to you for your support of our shared mission in Catholic education.

God Bless Mrs Anne Marrins Principal

Faith CommunityLast Friday, we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a Liturgy of the Word, led by Stage 2 students. Once again our students showed us how reverent they are when they enter a prayer space and pray. Traditionally, this feast was linked to a Mass for the poor. Winter is always a tougher time for those less fortunate than ourselves, especially those out on the street. Unfortunately, age has no barrier for poverty. I wish to thank you for your continued generosity in giving. As the St. Patrick’s community, we overfilled thirteen baskets for St. Vincent de Paul to distribute to those in need. Our Mini-Vinnies team did a great job of reminding the students and teachers to contribute. Thank you!We now celebrate the weeks and Sundays in Ordinary Time. For the Church and ourselves it is a time to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures in life such as the colours and some nakedness of our winter trees; the simplicity of the beaches and the power of the waves and the fog as it rolls down the mountainside. Ordinary time is a time to smell, see and feel the beauty of God’s creation. In these past few weeks there has been a business in completing things, celebrations to honour a colleague, our first communicants and a number of solemnities honouring God. Now it is Ordinary Time a time to breathe, to take stock of what has been and to look forward to what is to come.I wish you all God’s blessings for a safe and happy holiday with your children. Allow them to lead prayer in your home and help them to strengthen their relationship with God. May God bless you.Silvana MurphyReligious Education Coordinator

Teaching & LearningLibrary Excursion\Sport BagNext term, the office will be selling library bags for $10. They are a lightweight, drawstring backpack with adjustable shoulder straps. These bags can also be used as an alternative to the school bag during school excursions and sporting events.

Borrowing Term 3Throughout this year, teachers have been reinforcing the importance of using a library bag and have encouraged students to bring in a thick plastic bag or alternative. From Term 3 it will be compulsory for students to have a library bag when borrowing books from the library.

There will be no borrowing during Week 1, due to new software upgrade that will be implemented that week. This will also allow library staff to collect all the books and follow-up any overdue items.

Premier’s Reading Challenge & School Holiday ActivitiesBlacktown Library has a huge selection of PRC books and they also have a range of free fun activities happening over the upcoming school holidays. Everything from beading, storytime, movies, lyric workshops and craft! For more information and registration visit http://www.libraries.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Whats_On/Events/Max_Webber_Library

Learning in Year 4BThis term, Year 4B has been learning about the natural vegetations and animals native to the Australian environments. The students in 4B decided to research the Australian deserts. We researched lots of interesting facts and presented the information in the form of a PowerPoint. We then shared our information with the rest of Stage Two. Once we had completed our research, we wanted to show our understanding of what deserts look like and what kind of animals and plants you can find there. So we decided to create dioramas of the desert. This is just some of the fantastic and creative work we did on our dioramas.

The Great Aussie Bush CampOn 18th May Stage 3 went to the Great Aussie Bush Camp located in Kincumber. This marvellous camp was our home for two days and one night. We had an action packed adventure and we completed death-defying obstacles such as High Ropes, Lost Island and a mud run. Stage 3 conquered their fear of heights and deep, dark muddy waters by jumping off a nine metre wooden pole and canoeing. We had delicious food at camp and at night we had cookies and chocolate milk while listening to an adventurous story. This was by far the best days of our Stage 3 lives. - Dilka and Youwen.

Camp 2017……..where do we begin! From the adventurous high treetops to the crazy obstacles in the mud world of Lost Island, everything just kept getting better and better. Stage 3 had an amazing time! Team building activities strengthened our friendships. We all pushed our boundaries and tried new things. It was a life changing experience as we got to do things that we had never dreamed of. The night activity was a bonding and fun time. We got to do crazy, fun and unusual things but we would laugh our heads off while doing them. Overall, Kincumber Camp on the 18th of May was an experience we will definitely never forget. - Bronte and Mercy

On the way to the Great Aussie Bush Camp we all had smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts. We knew camp would be a fun, wild but crazy adventure and sure enough we were right. The activities were better than we could ever imagine. The whole day we were jumping off poles, swimming in mud and conquering our fears. The next day when it was home time we all had sad faces and never wanted to leave. We were extremely grateful that we got to hang out with our friends, cooking marshmallows by the campfire and getting dirty. - Marko and Antony

Mathematics

This term students have been focusing on developing efficient strategies in multiplication and division. They have been developing their knowledge of known facts and learning about the relationship between these two operations.

Below are some work samples from Kindergarten and Year One. Students have been working on recording number sentences to represent their groups and arrays. They are able to record their thinking in many different ways including groups of, rows of, doubles and repeated addition. Through these learning experiences students are already developing their knowledge of times tables to apply in problem solving situations.

Alisi Aho Kindergarten

Alexander De Castro

From The Assistant PrincipalMaths OlympiadMaths Olympiad 2 was completed last week. Congratulations to the following students who achieved 3,4 and 5 out of 5.Nicole Zhang 5 out of 5Youssef Tannous 5 out of 5Joshua Sebastian 4 out of 5Bryan Sto Domingo 4 out of 5Pryiesh Chand 4 out of 5Marco Anic 4 out of 5Adrienne Arellano 3 out of 5Bogdan Danylevych 3 out of 5Jacob Quinn 3 out of 5Aadi Kumbhat 3 out of 5John Mathew 3 out of 5 Josep Sergio 3 out of 5 Max Zhao 3 out of 5

PartnershipStaffIt is with regret that I announce that Mr Joe Longo, Groundsman and Maintenance, has advised of his decision to retire from this position at the end of the term. Mr Longo has been a valued member of St Patrick’s school community for over twelve years. He will be greatly missed for his expertise in gardening and maintenance of the school grounds. Visitors to our school always commend us on our beautiful playgrounds and gardens. We have had the privilege of benefitting from his generosity with his time and willingness to prepare the school for special occasions. Our best wishes are extended to Mr Longo as he commences a new phase in his life and the opportunity to pursue his love of fishing.

Principal LeaveI wish to advise you that I will be on long service leave next term from Monday 17th July to Friday 4th August 2017. Mr Thomas Crowley will be Acting Principal during this time. Mr Crowley and the Leadership Team, Mrs Silvana Murphy, Religious Education Coordinator, Mrs Jodi Jefferson, Instructional Leader, and Mrs Charmain Floody, Coordinator, will be available to assist you. I look forward to returning for Term 3 on Monday 7th August 2017.

100%attendanceCongratulations to the following students who have achieved 100% attendance rate at St. Patricks for Terms 1 and 2.

Kindergarten- Aarav Vassandani, Wadee Zahour, Valentina Maturo, Jay Refalo, Nessie Almani, Aker Shol, Manyah Shah, Charanpreet Singh

Year 1- Yuiel Abusalah, Eashan Ahuja, Mercy Andrea, Jasper Dela Rosa, Caitlyn Arellano, Alexander Castro, Gelove DelaPena, Kush Pandey, Emily Zhang, Chad Leslie, Georgina Razon, Kris Alimo,

Year 2- Mercy Almani, James Andrea, Mangok Deng, Jiya Pandey, Ekaam Randhawa, Cailyn Paras, Angela Tako, Ayisha Dela Cruz, Siyara Gauchan, Dia Vassandani, Beau Zammit, Nyanlwak Shol,

Year 3- James Caraig, Simone Chishaya, Hannah and Mackayla Cooper, Clariz Dela Rosa, Riddhi Ranade, Max Zhao

Year 4- Katherinia Alimo, Sal Disano, Brodie Howley, Lana Barrameda, Aguak Deng , Daniel Koko,

Stage 3-Viviana Abusalah, David Angelo, Janet Angolo, Carl Balagat, Joshua Dela Rosa, Rovick Guerrero, Kyan Ilencik, Patrick Iskander, Mary Kody, Maryoma Kody, Venus Koko, John Lukudu, Dilka Mataramba ,John Mathew, Rigel Rivamonte, Awal

Shol, Richard Tako, Youssef Tannous, Alexander Vitetta, Adam Zungua

Student Absences:As you are aware it is a requirement by law that all student absences be explained via a written note. Over the past period of time we have had a number of students return to school after being absent with no written explanation. I urge every parent/ caregiver to write a note explaining their child’s absence if they have been away.

Best wishesTom CrowleyAssistant Principal

Personal GrowthSchool Uniform Congratulations to our students for their outstanding presentation in their school winter uniform for Term 2. The wearing of St Patrick’s school uniform gives our students a sense of identity and pride in their school. Children in primary school need their parents to assist them to follow the guidelines:• Boys wear a pale blue shirt with the school crest (and neatly tucked in) • Boys need a navy blue /light blue striped tie• Girls wear a blue check tab tie (available from the school office)• Shoes need to be black leather and regularly cleaned and polished. • Sports shoes should be predominately white and should have white shoe laces. White sport socks are to be worn with the sports uniform. The schools holidays is a good opportunity to purchase a tie for those boys still needing one.

Parenting CourseThe Catholic Education Office Diocese of Parramatta together with St Michael’s Primary, Blacktown South, are pleased to offer parents in our Diocese, the 123 Magic and Emotion Coaching course. This week a note has gone home outlining the details, dates and times the course will be running. The cost is $10 per parent. Registration can be made by calling St Michael’s office on 9622 9910

Office2018 Kindergarten EnrolmentsApplications for Kindergarten 2018 are currently being accepted. If your child is turning five (5) before 31st July 2018 please collect an enrolment pack from the office or alternatively dowload an application form from our website www.stpatricksblacktown.catholic.edu.au. All applications need to be returned by the end of July 2017. Interviews will take place in July.