Newsletter Thursday 15th June, 2023

We the staff of St Patrick’s acknowledge the traditional owners, the Kulin nations, of the land on which we learn and play.

We pay respects to the Aboriginal Elders, past and present, who are our teachers.

We thank them for taking care of children and country for countless generations.

1LR Newsletter

Hello Everyone and welcome to 1LR’s newsletter.  

Writing

In Writing this term we have been learning how to write a procedure. Our favourite lesson was when we wrote the instructions for making Fairy Bread and then we got to make it!!

Inquiry

In Inquiry we have been learning about the weather. Did you know that there are different types of clouds? 

Thank you for reading our newsletter.

From the students of 1LR!

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

Welcome to week 9. Over this last semester, our teachers have been working very hard to upload student work onto their portfolios. We began this process last year as part of our ongoing assessment of student work. The pieces have been looked over by the teachers and have anecdotal notes to go with them.  Just as we send a report home at the end of each Semester, the portfolios are an important and key piece in your child/ren’s progress in school. I ask all parents, carers and guardians to please ensure you make time to look over the work that has been uploaded and discuss these pieces with your children.

If you are unsure of how to access the work, please see below for instructions on how to do so:

Accessing Portfolios

-  Sign into PAM

- Select the student profile by clicking on thier school photo

- Select 'Learning Tasks'

- You will see the folowwing image, click on the drop down arrow

- Here you will find the portoflios 

Early Finish

For the last day of Term 2 we will have an early finish. Next Friday the 23rd of June school will be finishing at 2:10pm.

PRIME drinks

These drinks are NOT to be brought to school under any circumstances. They will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Water is the only drink we would like to se be at school please. No Primas or fruit juice. Please help us to promote healthy drinking habits. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Building Project

You may have noticed that our B Block is coming along, however it will not be completed by the end of this term as originally thought. The building will be completed over the school holidays and the students will move in the first few weeks of term 3. We look forward to seeing our new building and being able to access the new facilities.

Donations

In order to support our P and F committee, I am asking if there are families and businesses out there who are able to donate items that can be used for future raffles and in particular for our fete that is being held later this year. Not only is this a sign of goodwill and enhance a sense of community, but it will also create great opportunities for your own business to be highlighted at St Patrick’s. If you would like to donate items, please contact the office on 5943 9000 or email office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

As always, we appreciate any help that is given to our beautiful school.

Social Media

Our school has started its own Facebook page where we highlight the amazing things out students do everyday at school. You can follow our page with the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087005542953

On the 22nd of June, Mrs Annette Tanner, one of St Patrick’s Grade 4 staff, will be leaving for Jerusalem and returning on the 10th of July.

Annette has spent many hours studying the Gospel of Mark in preparation for this journey and she will be staying in Jerusalem in a convent. Annette will have the opportunity to visit the many places where Jesus walked - Galilee, the Dead Sea, Bethlehem, The Garden of Gethsemane, place of the where Jesus’ crucifixion took place.

One of the highlights on her journey is when she will be visiting is the Western Wall - also known as the Wailing Wall.
The Western Wall is a part of the wall built by Herod over the place where the temples built by Solomon stood. This wall is, a very holy place where people believe that it is a place blessed by God.  People who visit - in addition to praying there - write their prayers on scraps of paper and
insert it into cracks in the wall. Twice a year, the prayers are removed and buried near the Mount of Olives.

Annette has spoken at length with our staff about this and she has invited the teachers to talk to their students about her trip and for them to write out a class prayer. This prayer does not need to be a prayer of petition, it could be an intercessory prayer, a prayer of praise, a prayer of sorrow - whatever the children want it to say. Annette is going to then place this prayer on the Western Wall2 Chronicles 15 - 16 set out what God said to Solomon:

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

We wish Annette a safe and wonderful journey to Jerusalem. We look forward to welcoming
her home in July and hearing of her adventures.

TERM DATES

PUPIL FREE DAYS:

These 3 Pupil Free days ensure that we can manage our commitment for all staff to continue to provide activities such as school camps for our students.

Please note, these dates are separate from our 8 Staff Professional Development days. Those 8 days are for our staff professional learning which will focus on Religious Education, Learning and Teaching and Student Wellbeing.

This term, the Year 2s have been learning about the Water Cycle in inquiry. We have learnt lots of new (and pretty big words) that explain to us how water continually moves around within the Earth and Atmosphere. We’ve learnt words like evaporation, condensation, perception and collection.

We thought it would be fitting if we went to the Seaford/Edithvale Wetlands so we could see what the water cycle was really all about. Arriving to school in the morning, the weather really did scream WETlands… but, fortunately, the rain quickly cleared so we could enjoy a day of sunshine.

When we arrived, we split into two groups and explored the wetlands. One group staying inside the education centre for an interactive lesson, while the other went for a stroll to the local bird hyde. We used binoculars to search for wildlife in the wetlands, while the other group completed puzzles, watched water experiments and saw a huge model of Melbourne.

We learnt about how it’s important to look after God’s Creation through picking up rubbish and making sure it doesn’t get into our storm drains. Especially dog poop… You don’t want that in your water!

We ended the day with a much needed play at Braeside Park. We saw lots of wildlife and enjoyed spending time with our friends.

Please enjoy some writing pieces and photos from our trip.

Disclaimer: no students were harmed in the making of these photos. (Student only appears to be falling into the wetlands).

First Holy Communion

Confirmation

Reconciliation

There are two pairs of glasses that have been found, a blue and mauve pair. They are up at the office, please come by to pick them up if they belong to you.

SPECIAL REPORT: Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today's fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.

However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.

It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Click on this link to view the Special Report https://stppakenham.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-influencers-au

Have you logged into your PAM account yet! 

We have been using PAM as our main form of communication.  All emails, Student Attendance, Sick Bay notes, School Reports, commonly used forms, excursion/camp permission notes and Family Learning conversations, will all be communicated via PAM.  

Access PAM via this link   Link to PAM 

PAM - Parent Access Module

PAM (Parent Access Module) is our Parent to School communication platform.   PAM will provide real time access to keep parents updated with their children’s progress, important dates and messages. Relevant resources – calendar events, student reports, parent notified absences, absence data and sick bay notes will all be accessed via PAM.

Parents will be able to easily book Parent Teacher interviews through PAM, and access teacher email addresses. 

PAM accounts are linked via your email address that we have in our systems. 

If you have recently changed your email,  please call or email us on office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Click on the 'forget password' link to set your password and then verify your email address.  (Email addresses must be verified for PAM to work properly).  Once your email is verified, your email can be used as the username for your account.

Once you have successfully logged in, you can save PAM to your homescreen on your device.

If you have any issues or need help with PAM please contact the school via email, office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

PAM Instructions

Parent Notified Absences via PAM

Once you have PAM set up and saved to your home screen you can easily send in Parent Notified absences.   Please use this platform going forward as this automatically syncs with the class roll.   This will fix the issues of receiving SMS notifications even though you had already notified the school. 

Please remember to update your contact details and any relevant medical details for your child.  

Most medical profiles have now been updated. Please remember to keep them up to date and upload any asthma/allergy plans that may be relevant 

To update any contact details please contact the school office. 

SCHOOL FEES

The School Fee statements for Term 2 have been sent out via email.   If you require another copy please contact the school office.  Our preferred method of payment is via Direct Debit, please download the attached form and return to the school office.  Alternatively a hard copy can be picked up from the office.

CSEF 

CSEF forms are still being accepted, however there is a deadline of 30th June! 

To be eligible for the CSEF all you need is a valid Health Care Card.  Contact the school office for more information. 

Holders of a valid Health Care Card are also eligible for a reduction in the school fees. Please contact the school office.  

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sports programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. Schools can receive applications from families over terms one and two.

Families can list more than one student in the one application form if they are attending the same school.

Eligible means-tested cards

Means-tested concession cards must now be valid on either:

• the first day of Term 1 (Monday 30 January 2023)
• the first day of Term 2 (Tuesday 24 April 2023)

CSEF application form   (also available in the knowledge bank section in PAM)

Conveyance allowance

The conveyance allowance is a State Government allowance that may be available to students attending government or non-government schools.

If you live more than 4.8km from your closest school you can apply for the conveyance allowance and:

• travelling by public transport or by private car, motorbike, bicycle or bus, and
• whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus provided under the School Bus Program

The conveyance allowance is a State Government contribution towards transport costs and is not intended to cover the full cost of transporting children to and from school.

 Application for private car travel  (also available in the knowledge bank section in PAM)

 Application for public transport travel    (also available in the knowledge bank section in PAM)