Dear Parents,

This will be the last newsletter of the year.  Next week’s newsletter will just outline the important dates for 2021.  On behalf of all of the staff I would sincerely like to thank and congratulate all families for your efforts over 2020.  It has been a very challenging year on all fronts and we thank you for your cooperation, flexibility, assistance and support.  I hope that all families enjoy a wonderful Christmas and great holiday period. Let’s hope for a better 2021 with COVID-19 remaining under control.

I must take this opportunity to thank the staff for what they have done throughout 2020.  We are blessed to have such a committed, professional and dedicated staff here at St Pat’s who regularly go over and above to offer the very best opportunities they can to the students in their care.  A buzzword of 2020 has been people’s ability to ‘pivot’.   The ability of our staff to ‘pivot’ during remote learning was enormous.  Within a matter of days, the expectation was that we ‘pivot’ and totally alter the way that we work and commence remote learning.   It is an understatement to say that this was challenging for the staff but their willingness to take on the challenge in order to offer the very best they could to the students was highly commendable. Personally, I am very thankful.  I wish them a very relaxing and well-deserved break and hope that they come back recharged for 2021.

Congratulations Grade Six

Congratulations to all of our Grade Six students as they complete their primary school years.  It has been a pleasure getting to know these students and they have been wonderful role models for the rest of the school.  We thank them for their time at St Pat’s and wish them all the very best for secondary school and their futures beyond.  I hope they thoroughly enjoy their Graduation Day next Thursday.  Details of the Graduation have been sent to all Grade six families.  If you have any further questions please contact your child’s teacher.

Staff News

Congratulations to Emily Talbot on the birth of daughter Ivy last weekend.  Both Emily and Ivy are doing very well and we wish them all the very best for the future as they enjoy this special time together as a new family.

Classes for Next Year

Provided below is the list of who is teaching which grade next year.  The children will have a New Grade Transition on Monday the 14^th of December between 11.30-1.00pm where they will meet their new teacher, and their new class, in the learning space where they will be situated for next year.  Reports will also be distributed to families on Monday the 14^th of December which will contain the name of your child’s 2021 grade. 

The creation of grades is a huge job in schools and a lot of thought and process goes into the decisions.  Factors such as friends, an even academic spread, students requiring learning adjustments, dynamics of certain students together, behaviour and the teachers in depth knowledge of children are all taken into consideration.  I ask that parents please respect the process and understand that the staff here at St Pat’s work and plan very closely together to ensure consistency.  Therefore the students in all grades are offered the same learning opportunities.  

For all of the abovementioned reasons the grades are set and will not be changed.  There was a two-month window of opportunity provided for all parents to make any genuine requests. This was written about in the newsletter every week over that period.  It is too late to request now.

Prep – Ines Mintoff / Noleen Chalmers / Amali Fernando

One – Geraldine Wilmann / Jacki Taylor (2.5 days) & Lisa McDonald (2.5 days) / Dezlene Orchard (4 days) & Taline Apoyan (1 Day)

Two – Trish Gibson (3 days) & Angharad Doran (2 days)  / Janelle Van der Veer (4 days) & Taline Apoyan  (1 day)  / Katherine Gronek

Three – Rosa Mitchell / Eliza Silva / Rob Direen

Four – David Daly / Sarah McGill / Annette Tanner

Five – Tresa Andrews / Shiny Antony / Rebecca Schleeman 

Six – Erin Larkins / Belinda Couch / Lauren Rietschel

Specialist Teachers

Physical Education – Louise Breeden

ICT/STEM – Jacky Merrey (F-3) & Neesha Bateson (3-6)

Japanese – Liz Ashcroft

Music – Jane Baxter

Leadership Release – Taline Apoyan

Levelled Literacy Intervention – Andrea Richardson

Testing Release Term One – Emily McGibbon

2021 LEADERSHIP TEAM  

Principal – Simon

Deputy Principals – Meg Escalante: Learning Adjustment/Student Support & Anna Viney: School Operations

Religious Education Leader – Noleen Chalmers

Curriculum Leaders – Jacki Taylor & Lisa McDonald

ICT/ STEM Leaders – Neesha Bateson & Jacky Merrey

Level Coordinators – Ines Mintoff: Junior

                                      Rosa Mitchell: Middle

                                      Tresa Andrews: Senior

End of Year Procedures

• The exchanging of Christmas cards between children is an activity which brings much delight to both the child giving and the child receiving. We are pleased to be in a position to allow this to continue this year, however due to having to comply with COVID procedures, we would ask that children do not give out or share other trinkets or treats which commonly accompany these. To avoid any disappointment, we request that only Christmas Cards are to be shared and distributed by students.
• Parents have asked about whether they are able to pass on a gift at the end of the year to their child’s teacher. It is fine to do so if you desire.
• Drinking Fountains are now turned back on for students.
• The staggered pick up times (A-K: 2.55pm and L-Z: 3.10pm) and rules surrounding drop off in the morning (children dropped off from 8.40am and parents remaining in cars) will remain until the end of the year.
• The children will have a New Grade Transition on Monday the 14^th of December between 11.30-1.00pm.
• Reports will also be distributed to families on Monday the 14^th of December which will contain the name and class of your child’s 2021 grade. Parents of 4ET please note that your reports will be signed by Rosa Mitchell who is currently teaching the grade on behalf of Emily Talbot.
• Our End of Year Mass will be on Wednesday the 16^th at 11.30am.  To access the School Mass parents need to go to the parish website, https://stpatrickspakenham.com.au/  then click on the link to the school Mass tab.  This will take them to Youtube for the live stream.
  School Captain and House Captain voting will take place on Tuesday the 15^th and Wednesday the 16^th (the children will give a speech and be voted on by all students in grades four and five). There will be two School Captains, two Vice School Captains and two House Captains. We will also be having four Social Justice Leaders (two male & two female) that will be selected by the staff and announced at our 2021 Beginning of Year Mass.
• School concludes for all students on Thursday the 17^th at normal finish time (2.55pm A-K & 3.10pm L-Z).
• Thursday the 17^th will also be a fun Graduation Day for our Year 6 students concluding with a small ceremony that parents can attend at 5.30pm (details have been sent to all Year 6 families).
• Due to the pandemic and the effort that has been put in by all students and families we will not be handing out individual class awards at the end of this year. We believe that all students should be congratulated for their 2020 year and very proud of what they achieved.

2021 Foundation Transition / (Prep) Enrolments

Our final transition took place this morning. It was wonderful to have our new Foundation students with us and we look forward to them being full time members of the school community next year.

We still have positions available for 2021 Foundation enrolments.  If you need enrolment forms, or know of someone else who does, can you please request them at office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au or visit the school website.  Tours are available at all times with School Leadership.

Sunscreen

We ask that all families please apply sunscreen before your children come to school and your child brings a small sunscreen that they can re-apply if required.  Due to regulations we are not able to provide sunscreen at school.

Assembly

Our online Nativity Assembly is at 2.15pm tomorrow on the following link;

  meet.google.com/hqw-ggxk-tkh

2021 Dates

Please note the following School Closure Dates for 2021 for your diary.  A reminder that all students return to school on Friday the 29^th of January.

27/01- Staff planning for 2021

28/01- First Aid-all staff updates and some staff level 2.

01/04- Review- unpacking and working on Modules. 

27/04- RE spirituality Day

27/07- Learning adjustment Day -- workshops

04/10- Professional Practice day- Planning 

01/11- Professional Practice day - planning/report writing

17/12-Staff organisation and preparation for 2022

Uniform

After we returned onsite from lockdown we allowed families some grace with the uniform expectations, however, it is expected that all students will commence the New Year in full school uniform.

Have a great Christmas and a relaxing holiday period.  We look forward to working with you all again in the New Year.

Regards,

Simon

ADVENT ASSEMBLIES

 This week, our Advent assembly will be the Nativity Story which will be presented by 4SM.

Please use the link below on Friday at 2:20 pm to view the assembly. 

Please click on this link at 2:20pm to join.  

This week, Grade 4 SM will present the nativity story that reminds us of the account of the birth of Jesus.

We hope that you are able to join us for our Advent assembly.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2020

Due to the continuing COVID restrictions, there will be no celebration of the Sacraments in 2020.

The children in grade 6 have been prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation and would have received a request via Operoo to register there interest with the parish for March 2021.  Please check your Operoo profiles if you haven't received the email. 

The children in grade 4 are being prepared for the sacrament of First Eucharist and will receive First Communion next year. The children in grade 3 are being prepared for the sacrament of Reconciliation and will receive it early next year.

Hopefully we will be able to accommodate the extra numbers in 2021.

To prepare families for the upcoming holiday period, I am linking our headspace factsheet “Supporting your young person during the holidays”.

If any families are struggling at this time and would like to reach out for a chat or support please contact Meg Escalante, our Wellbeing officer, via email on mescalante@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au. 

You can also visit the Be You website which has contact numbers for you to call. 

Have you installed the new SZapp?   

Skoolbag is no longer being used, install SZapp now! 

 Follow the installation guide below to install the new app on your smart devices.  

Attention Grade 6 and Grade 5 classes!!

 Please check your Operoo profiles as there are messages that you need to respond to!   

Jumpers for Grade 6 2021 can only be ordered via Operoo!   Cut off date is Friday 11th December (tomorrow)! 

Please remember to update any details in Operoo, for example change of address or phone number,  this will send us a message that your details have changed and we are then able to update our database.

Don't forget to upload your child's hayfever letters including symptoms specific to your child!

Melbourne Metropolitan Stores are now open! 

We look forward to welcoming you in-store.

Beaconsfield Store

Beaconsfield Hub - Shop 4 , 52-62 Old Princes Hwy ,

Beaconsfield Vic 3807

Contact Details

Phone: 03 9769 9093

Fax: 03 9769 5345

Email: beaconsfield@noone.com.au

Trading Hours

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pm
Closed Sunday & Public Holidays

Click here for online shop