Principal’s Message
Dear Parents & Carers,
Another school year is drawing to a close and we give thanks for the wonderful year it has been. School routines have resumed to near “normal” and it has been such a blessing to welcome visitors back on site and for the children to participate in external activities.
Congratulations to the Year 6 students and their teachers on a fantastic performance of “What’s the Crime Mr Wolf?” The back drops were amazing and we certainly have some talented performers.
Our Graduation Assembly and Mass were wonderful celebrations and a lovely opportunity to acknowledge and farewell our Year 6 students. We thank them for sharing their gifts with us and adding to the spirit of our school. As they leave behind all that has become familiar, we give thanks for the friendships made and wish them well as they move into a new stage in their life journey. We ask for God’s blessings upon them and may they continue to strive to be the best version of themselves. View photos on our galleries page.
Congratulations to the following students who received the following awards at the assembly:
Citizenship ~ Ruby Hilton
Academic ~ Alexander Graham
Sportsperson ~ Rafferty Wiseman
Founders ~ Oscar Cameron
Endeavour ~ Pepper Larkin
Class Academic Awards: English ~ Jacob Robinson, Mathematics ~ Blake Royal & Jack Hogan, Human Society & Its Environment ~ Charles Donkin, Creative Arts ~ Dexter Horne, Religious Education ~ Lydia Clancy, Science & Technology ~ Joshua Sandral.
We also farewell a number of families whose children have completed their education at St Patrick’s. We thank you for all your contributions to our community and wish you all the best.
I would like to congratulate our Student Council Members for 2023.
Captains: Busby Wraith-Quinn & Evie Wilson
Vice Captains: Ben Bocquet & Isla James
Councillors: Maeve Dwyer, Jack Bennett, Charlie Byrne, Sophia Graham, Saoirse Kahlefeldt & Jake Meagher.
We will be conducting our Maths Assessment Interviews (MAI) for children in Grades 1 – 6 at the commencement of the new school year. Bookings will need to be made through Compass online for the 30th and 31st of January. Details of how to complete this task will be sent out on Monday 2nd January via Compass. Best Start interviews for Kinder 2023 will also be available through Compass from this date also.
Congratulations to our students who completed the Premiers Reading Challenge. There is a list further in the newsletter. A fantastic effort.
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to our St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. If you haven’t yet donated, we invite you to send any presents for children or hamper items to the office. We ask that the children’s presents not be wrapped and the food items are not out of date. Tomorrow (Thursday) we will have a “touch of Christmas” coloured clothes day, with this fundraiser in mind.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our Parent School Council please complete the attached “Expression of Interest” form and return via email.
Staffing 2023:
We have three staff members leaving us at the end of the year. Congratulations to Rebecca Art who was successful in gaining the position of Assistant Principal at St Mary’s Corowa. This is a wonderful opportunity for her and we know that she will be an asset to their community. Our loss is certainly their gain. Congratulations to Mrs Lily Cant who is expecting her second child and best wishes to Georgia Campbell who is taking some time off to travel abroad. We thank these teachers for their commitment and all that they have contributed to our community.
As a result of these departures, we welcome Miss Lauren Clarke and Mrs Rachael Miller who have been regular casual teachers here at St Pat’s this year. Due to Mrs Art’s appointment only being recent, we have a vacant position and are currently advertising for a Year 1 teacher.
Kinder: Mrs Whitfield, Mrs Davis, Miss Gallagher
Year 1: Mrs Wheatley (3 days)/Miss Turner (2days), Mrs Dent and a teacher TBC
Year 2: Mrs Hibberson, Mrs Lodge (4 days)/Mrs Gittoes (1day), Mrs Brooks (3 days)/Mrs Holt (2 days)
Year 3: Mrs McKenzie, Mr Brooks, Mrs Seckold
Year 4: Mrs Moore, Mr Miller, Miss Clarke
Year 5: Mrs Duck, Mrs Goss (3 days)/Mrs Wild (2 days), Mrs Good (4 days)/Mrs Hilton(1 day)
Year 6: Mr Shanahan and Mrs Miller
Admin staff: Di Matsinos, Cath Sheridan, Teneal Jones
Canteen: Liz Ball
Teacher Assistants: Nicky Wright, Tarn Crawshaw, Louise Romanis, Christine McDonald, Georgia Jeffery and Maria Bourdis
Learning Support (IDLT): Lea Scammell
Additional staffing (K-6): Helen Ryan: 3 days a week
Chaplain: Rhonda McCormack
EMU/EALD: Adrienne Musarra
Reading Recovery: Trish Harrison and Jane Fawcett
Learning Support: (MSL): Kylie James: 3 days
Music: Margy Brown
Health: Fiona Robertson
PE: Kirby Hilton
Literacy Instructional Teacher: Elecia Turner: 3 days
Maths Instructional Teacher: Marlo Wild: 3 days
Religious Education Coordinator/ATSI: Mercedes Goss: 2 days
Assistant Principal: Michelle Gittoes: 4 days
Prayer for the Third Sunday of Lent:
As we draw near to you, Lord God, keep us aware of your presence in all we do.
Come with power to enlighten us by your grace, that we may live in praise and peace all our days. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen
Thank you all for your support throughout the year.
May your Christmas and New Year be filled with the love of family and friends, and the blessing of God’s peace.
Kind regards, Liz
