Diary Dates

Monday 1st August Pupil Free Day (Staff learning Day)

Tuesday 2nd AugustICAS English

Friday 5th AugustParent Coffee Morning

Monday 8th AugustSt Mary of the Cross McKillop Liturgy

Thursday 11th AugustKindergarten Incursion

Monday 15th AugustFeast of the Assumption of Mary12:30pm Mass and Mercy Cross Ceremony

Tuesday 16th AugustZone Athletics CarnivalStage 1 Excursion

Thursday 18th AugustStudent Prayer Workshops with Andrew Chin

Friday 19th AugustS3 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: 11 Date: 29th July 2016

From the Principal

Unlocking Potential at Patrick’s; as a place of Mercy where we welcome, love and forgive everyone’.

I hope you were able to enjoy precious time with family and friends during the holidays. On our return to school the cold and windy days remind us that it is very much the season of winter.

Teachers enjoy the ‘downtime’ that school holidays provide so that they can renew and refresh for the next term. However, as most of you would know, or perhaps even expect, teachers spend a great deal of their holiday time engaged in their work of preparation and professional learning, either at home or at school.

Teaching is a very complex activity and in recent years this complexity has increased. Schools were established in an industrial age to prepare young people for manual labour. The learning was a ‘one size fits all’ model. Today we live in a ‘knowledge age’ where technologies link people together in very different ways. Our challenge in the 21st century is to personalise the learning for each student. One size no longer fits everyone.

The teachers at St Patrick’s spend a great deal of time outside school hours reflecting on their teaching, undertaking professional learning and reading about current educational research. The reason these activities are so important is that teachers are committed to enhancing their practice to improve the learning outcomes for each student.

God Bless Mrs Anne Marrins Principal

Faith CommunityThis week we continue to look at the background of our traditional prayers. The Hail Holy Queen was written nearly 1,000 years ago by a man who certainly knew of “mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.” An 11th-century Benedictine monk, his name was Blessed Herman the Cripple.Born deformed and practically helpless from birth, Herman was cared for from childhood by the monks of the Reichenau Abbey of Germany. He was professed as a monk there at age 20. Even though he was bedridden and a speech impediment made him nearly impossible to understand, Herman was gifted as a mathematician and astronomer, and he made astronomical and musical instruments as well.When he eventually became blind, Herman began writing hymns. His “Salve Regina,” or “Hail Holy Queen,” is the best known. Its name comes from the Latin version.Although Herman was so deformed and never able to stand, however, his beautiful prayer continues to be a comfort to many, and is traditionally recited at the conclusion of the Rosary. Blessed Herman died at the age of 40 in 1054. His September 25 feast day is observed in some Benedictine monasteriesGrandparents Day MassIt is a wonderful tradition at St Patrick’s of acknowledging grandparents around the feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, (26th July) Jesus’ grandparents. On Thursday 28th July the students delighted in welcoming their grandparents, or a special adult in their life, into the classrooms to showcase their learning. Then a special mass was celebrated by Father Peter Confeggi, Parish Priest. This was followed by a morning tea of delicious scones, jam and cream. We thank God for the gift of grandparents.

St Mary MacKillop of the CrossOn Monday 8th August, the anniversary of her death, we celebrate the feast day of Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross, Australia’s first saint, with a special liturgy at 9:00am in the shelter area. Mary MacKillop laid the foundations for Catholic schools as they exist in Australia today with the formation of her Sisters of St. Joseph. Mary’s legacy continues to be lived out by her Sisters, who work with those in need in Australia and other countries, and by the lay staff in our Catholic schools who are inspired by her vision.Silvana MurphyReligious Education Coordinator

Teaching & LearningFrom the Assistant PrincipalICAS resultsCongratulations to the following children who have received distinctions and credits in the ICAS Digital Technologies and Science competitions.Digital Technologies:

Distinction: Arjun Pillay (Yr3)Credit: Tanisha Prasad (Stage 3)Science: Credit: Arjun Pillay (Yr3), Priyesh Chand (Yr4), Nicole Zhang (Stage 3)

Maths Olympiad:Maths Olympiad 3 takes place this week at school. Congratulations to Adrienne Arellano who has scored 4 out of 5 and 2 out of 5 in the first two Olympiads.Mr Crowley’s Problem for the NewsletterWhat is the value of the following?9 +91 +18 + 82 + 27 + 73 + 36 + 64 + 45 + 55

Last newsletter’s problem wasRoni starts with the numbers 5 and counts by 8s. This results in the sequence 5,13,21,29, 37 and so on. What is the 20th number in the sequence?The answer to last newsletter’s problem was 157

Good luck MathematiciansTom Crowley Assistant Principal

Personal GrowthWorld Youth DayOn 23rd July Miss Casten wrote:Hello everyone!!Just sending my greetings from Hong Kong while we wait to board our flight. We are currently on our way to Poland after such an incredible week.We were extremely fortunate to have been allocated to a high school in a remote area in Bohol, called Cortes, in the Philippines. We were treated like rock stars from the word go. It was such a humbling experience to have been in their presence. The staff and students became our best friends. We painted and rendered walls and fences. We even got the opportunity to teach the students Australian songs and games. We ended the week on such an emotional note. It’s hard to believe that in such a short time, 2 groups united and built such a great connection. We felt so much love and we continue our journey to Poland on such a high.

Athletics CarnivalOn Thursday 30th June our Athletics Carnival was held at Charlie Bali Reserve, Doonside. It was a cold day but the rain held off and the sun was doing it’s best to shine on us. The students were very well behaved and everyone seemed to have a great day.

Library

This term, we have lots of fun things planned to get the students excited about reading. Alongside all these activities, will be many opportunities for the students to purchase books to take home and share with their family.

Book Club went home in Week 1. Orders must be completed online by Wednesday 3 August 2016. We also have the Book Fair coming to our school for Book Week with hundreds of books and some merchandise for sale. The following week, during National Literacy and Numeracy Week, we will have a special visit from author, DC Green. We will also have copies of his books available for anyone interested in purchasing signed copies.

Below is a link to the Kids and Family Reading Report. It was released earlier this year and is one of many documents that highlight the value of family reading time. It also contains many insights and statistics. http://www.scholastic.com.au/schools/ReadingLeaders/KFRR/assets/pdf/KFRR_AUS.pdf Happy reading! Natalie Coghlan

PartnershipParent Coffee MorningYou are invited to an informal chat and a cup of coffee with the Principal, Assistant Principal and other staff. It is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss ideas, offer feedback and to enjoy the company of other parents. There is no set agenda. Everyone is welcome

Friday 5th August 9:15am – 10:00am St Patrick’s School Library

Staff Learning Day (No students attend)Our Staff Learning Day this term is on Monday 1st August 2016. Students do not attend school on this day. The teachers will be extending their learning in the teaching of English and Mathematics

Kindergarten 2017The second round of enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2017 is taking place over the next three weeks of Term 3. There are limited places for late applications to be accepted by Friday 12th August 2016.

Parent Representative CouncilThe Parent Representative Council (PRC) is the diocesan parent body that represents and supports parents and guardians of students enrolled in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Parramatta. The PRC works in collaboration with the Bishop, the Catholic Education Office, priests and school leaders, in providing students support throughout their education.The PRC works collaboratively with schools and parents, to provide additional opportunities for parents to become involved in their child’s school community and learning journey. With access to information and educational opportunities via parent forums and guest speakers, parents can become active participants in their child’s schooling.On Monday 22 August 2016 at 7pm there will be a general meeting held at Nagle College Blacktown. The presentation at this meeting will be ‘Helping your child manage anxiety’All Parents are welcome to attend

OfficeWorking With Children Check

Volunteers and the Working With Children Check (WWCC)Parents or close relatives of a child who volunteer:• with the child’s school/COSHC • with a team, program or other activity in which the child usually participates or is a team member DO NOT NEED A WWCC EXCEPT WHERE• the volunteer work is part of a formal mentoring program (eg, Post School Options) or • volunteering involves intimate personal care of children with a disability. Fact Sheets and resources are available from www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/check.A WWCC is required by volunteers who are not parents or close relatives unless they have an exemption. See Exemptions [www.nswkidsguardian.nsw.gov.au]

Sunday night 31st July from 6.00pm is a local celebration of World Youth Day includingstreaming from the crowd and Pope Francis at the huge Mass in Krakow. Bishop Vincent will lead us in a WYD Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace, Old Prospect Rd, Greystanes, at 6.00pm, from where we will process to the continuing event there onsite in the hall.There will be hot food, a talented band,testimony from the bishop and the story from past pilgrims, pieces of international video from our pilgrims speaking to the Greystanes gathering, celebration, a special reflective moment, socialising and live cross-over for parts of the Krakow Mass.Your young people and all who are keen to link to the WYD experience are warmlywelcome.

If you would like to attend please RSVP toFr Paul RobertsVicar for Evangelisationconnect@ifm.org.au

A word from Alison …

In 1984 over 300,000young people from around the world responded to the invitation of Pope John Paul II for an International Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square. At this gathering the Holy Father entrusted to the youth of the world with what is now known as the World Youth Day Cross, to be carried throughout the world as a symbol of the love of Christ for all humanity. But that was just the beginning!In 1985 the Pope announced the institution of“World Days of Youth” and now, every Palm Sunday, the Church celebrates World Youth Day, with local events in our diocese. But some years are celebrated as International World Youth Days. There have been 12 of these celebrations, all around the world!This year we are heading to Krakow Poland as we continue to answer the invitation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and join with him and over 2 million other young Catholics from around the world! Right now, I am on pilgrimage, in the footsteps of St John Paul II through Poland, with about 350 young people from the Parramatta Diocese and I feel so blessed to be journeying with other young people (a number from our parish and schools) to experience this amazing gathering of our universal Church. I ask that you keep us all in your prayers during our time on pilgrimage to the City of Mercy! Please be assured that I will be praying for you all too. AlisonYouth Minister

Books for South SudanWe are still collecting books and school uniforms to send to South Sudan. If you have any books or uniforms that are still in good condition please bring them into theschool office.