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Dear Parents and Carers,
A big thank you to a great group of parent volunteers for organising and manning the Community Council food stall at the Southern Region Athletics Carnival on Monday. We especially recognise coordinators Mark and Zoe Philipzen, and Tracy and Ian Gowing, Hayley Jessop and Tamara Whiting.
And, I would like to add my thanks to the parents who gave their time and talents last Friday on our NAIDOC celebration and learning day: Dennis Scott, Dillon Aldridge and Dana Taylor. We sincerely appreciate your sharing and support to make the day a great success.
In thh 2nd week of the school holidays Remmi represented St Patrick's in equestrian events at nationals in Sydney. Remmi did really well and was awarded 1st place in her primary working hunter, and 8th in her rider class and led. She then was placed in her primary 60cm jumping (over 3 days), receiving a 3rd, and 2x 6th place. She recieved 6th place overall. Remmi represented St Patrick’s on her own, but did the school proud with judges commenting on what a well mannered and beautiful rider she is. Well done Remmi!
"Every minute counts for learning."
At the start of term it is a great time for a reminder that St. Pat's, we believe that every moment in the school day is an opportunity to grow, discover, and deepen our understanding of the world and our faith. As we settle into Term 3, our school-wide priority—Every minute counts for learning—reminds us of the importance of being present, prepared, and purposeful in all that we do. Whether it's a quiet moment of reflection, a lively classroom discussion, or a rigorous English or Maths direct instruction lesson, each minute contributes to the rich learning that shapes our students' minds and hearts.
We encourage families to support this focus by helping students arrive on time, ready to engage, and by reinforcing the value of learning at home. Thank you for prioritising daily home reading. Our teachers are committed to making every lesson count, and students are rising to the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication. Together, we continue to build a culture where learning is treasured, time is respected, and growth is celebrated. Let’s continue to make every minute matter—for every learner, every day.
Blessings
Jo
Building Positive Relationships Through Empathy and Connection
Positive relationships are the foundation of a successful school experience. This week, we’re aligning our social-emotional learning focus with The Resilience Project by helping students build respectful, supportive friendships through the pillars of Empathy, Gratitude, and Mindfulness.
Teachers are using role-play, storytelling, and group activities to explore how empathy strengthens friendships, how gratitude fosters appreciation for others, and how mindfulness helps students stay present and calm during social challenges. When students feel connected to their peers and teachers, they are more engaged and motivated to learn. These skills not only support academic success but also build emotional resilience for life.
Parent Tip: Talk with your child about what makes a good friend, how to show empathy, and ways to stay calm during disagreements.
Resource: Kids Helpline – Friendship Tips
Learn More: The Resilience Project
Emma Grant
Dates for your Calendar
Feast of Mary MacKillop Liturgy- Friday 8th August 9:15am (Families welcome) After Liturgy, we will be announcing the 2025 recipient of the Noa Jessop award.
Feast of the Assumption Mass- Friday 15th August 9:15 am (Families welcome)
SAVE THE DATE
Father's Day breakfast- Friday 5th September
Kicking Off a New Year with the Sudsy Challenge!
This August, we're stepping up once again to support Orange Sky, an incredible organisation providing free laundry, warm showers, and heartfelt conversations to those experiencing homelessness.
From September 3rd to 5th, we'll be proudly hosting the St Pat's Sudsy Challenge. For three days, we’ll hit pause on changing our clothes to spark change and raise vital funds and awareness.
Orange Sky now offers children's-sized Sudsy shirts when you reach your first fundraising milestone!
Ready to make a difference with us? Click the link below to join our fundraising team—the St Pat's Sudsy Challengers—and be part of something truly impactful.
https://www.thesudsychallenge.com.au/fundraisers/stpatssudsychallengers2025
Gardening Club
Our students love helping out in the garden with Mrs Tomlinson. There are always many happy willing helpers.
I had the privilege of talking with students from 1/2G this week. They have been learning about making choices. They are learning that there are kind and unkind choices, and learning how to make strong and kind decisions each day at school. In English they are learning about the 'bossy e'. The 'bossy e' makes a vowel sound in a word longer such as ‘bake’. In Maths they are multiplying and dividing like they are year 3's! (Well, that is my opinion!). Push and Pull are forces is the focus in science. They've also started investigating magnetic pull forces. Aaron said he loves learning about forces and push and pull.
Bella
Southern Region Athletics Carnival – A Day to Remember
On Monday, we were blessed with a stunning winter’s day—perfect conditions for our Southern Region Athletics Carnival. Forty-six enthusiastic students from St Pat’s joined over 200 peers from across our region, creating a vibrant, competitive atmosphere. Our students gave it their all, with many achieving personal bests and others learning valuable lessons through the ups and downs of competition. We’re incredibly proud to announce that nineteen of our students have qualified to represent the Southern Region at the upcoming Archdiocesan Carnival in Canberra—a fantastic achievement for our small school!
A special congratulations to our Age Champions whose determination and sportsmanship truly stood out:
- Archie Sly – Senior Boy Champion
- Indie Taylor – Junior Girl Champion
The following students will be moving on to the next level:
Archie, Aly, Remmi, Indie, Jayden, Aidan, Toby, Conor, Henry, Gwen, Thea, Charlie, Tommy, Matthew, Mia D, Mia G, Ava, Liam, and Austin.
Well done to each of you, and congratulations to everyone who participated and earned ribbons on the day.
The overall winning school was Batehaven, a much larger school that traditionally performs strongly at our carnivals.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed—whether it was setting up, transporting gear, cooking, or helping in the canteen. These events are a big undertaking, and your support makes all the difference.
Term 3, 2025 School Fees
School fee statements for Term 3, 2025 have been emailed to families. Payment is due by 15 August 2025, unless you are on an approved instalment plan.
We strongly encourage all families to set up a weekly or fortnightly BPAY payment plan through your bank. BPAY details can be found on your fee statement.
If you are making payments by instalments and your fees will not be paid in full by the due date, please ensure this arrangement is discussed and approved by the school.
If your family is experiencing financial hardship or requires additional support, we invite you to contact the school to arrange a confidential meeting with our Principal, Jo Scott-Pegum, to explore how we can assist.
For any questions or further discussion, please contact our Office Manager, Cathy Smith, on 6492 5500 or via email at cathy.smith@cg.catholic.edu.au.