Last Friday (13th) the school participated in Sock-it-to-Poverty fundraiser where children from every class tried to score five goals using four soccer balls and one Socktober ball (made from recycled materials) that each class had the opportunity to make. After they scored their goals, they ran over to us (Maci and Ayla the Mission Leaders) and told us how many goals they got out of five and what house colour they were in. At the end of the day we added up the scores and announced the house that had the most. Congratulations to Green House for winning.

We would also like to mention the help that we got from the Minnie Vinnies team who helped make the Socktober balls and thanks to the Sport Captains for helping set up. Special mention to Layla and Gemma for demonstrating and packing up and teachers for helping the kids score and defend the goals and especially Layla Trembath for bringing the kindergartens over who did not know their house colour. At the end of the day it did not matter who won because we all had fun and raised $742.00 and this is one of highest amounts of money that the school has ever raised. This money that we have raised will go to the Arrupe Centre in Cambodia, which will help people like Dara and other kids with injuries or disabilities.

Our thought on the Socktober soccer shootout:

We think it was an amazing way to show what it was like to make their own toys and sport balls to play with.

We also think it was a great way to raise money online and at school, thanking all the kind people who donated online. Now thanks to everyone’s kind donations towards Socktober soccer kick off we will be able to help kids at the Arrupe centre to have a better education.

Maci and Ayla, Leaders of Mission.

A NEAR MISS ON CALDWELL STREET

This morning a student was riding to school on the footpath down Park Avenue. Just as a driver was exiting Caldwell Street onto Park Avenue, the student crossed Caldwell Street in front of the driver, without checking for traffic. If the driver had been a few metres further forward, the student would have been hit by the car.

If your child is unable to observe simple precautions while riding their bike, they are not ready to ride on streets unsupervised. Simple reminders will not work . . . It is the responsibility of parents and carers to teach their children how to ride safely.

WELCOME TO PITHA

Next year, a new student – Pitha – will be enrolling in Year 2 in 2021. Pitha is moving up from Sydney with his family, and he is very much looking forward to making new friends at St Patrick’s. Pitha will spend a day with Year 1 tomorrow to get to know his new friends.

UPDATE ON COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

We have received an update on COVID-19 restrictions. In summary, the main points to note are as follows:

1. Students and staff must not attend school if they are unwell. This includes even minor flu-like symptoms.
2. Parents and carers are allowed on the school site during school hours for the following purposes only:

• Essential parent and carer meetings with teachers.
• Parents and carers who are picking up their child if they are unwell.
• Parents and carers who need to be on-site for canteen and uniform shop duties or to help their children to try on uniforms.
• Parent or carer volunteers working as volunteers for reading groups and other classroom-based activities.

3. P&F meetings can proceed on the school site after school hours.

4. Students should continue to bring water bottles from home to fill at water bubblers rather than drink directly from the bubbler.

5. School playgroups can be run if there is a COVID-19 safety plan in place. Go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/form/covid-safety-plan/general.

6. Whole school assemblies may recommence, but parents and carers are not permitted to attend school assemblies.

7. School staff are not to attend non-school-organised school formals. The organisers will need to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan. Go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/school-formals

8. We will have to proceed with our end-of-year awards ceremony without parents on site, as we are unable to adhere to the strict conditions on space. The ceremony will be held in the school hall on Tuesday 8th December from 1.30pm to 2.50pm with all children and staff in attendance only. We will live stream the entire ceremony to our Facebook page for you to enjoy from home or work.

2021 School Fees

Yesterday you should have received an alert on Compass from the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) with information about the fee schedule for 2021. The CSO has set the tuition fee for K-6 at $1293.00 per child and the Building Levy at $1344.00 per family. To combat the increase in both of these fees they have increased the sibling discount rates.

For your information and forward planning, please see below the full fee structure for St Patrick's in 2021.

Canteen Roster

CONGRATULATIONS JAGGer

Last Friday, Jagger attended the regional Catholic schools basketball and, following the trial, he has been selected to attend the Diocesan basketball trials on 27th November. Congratulations Jagger . . . we are very proud of you. Good luck on the 27th.

OUR 2014 BOYS!

Last week I received an email from Anna Hennessy, the mother of Ike and Charlie who are former students of St Patrick’s. Anna sent me a photo of the five “last men standing” from the 2014 Year 6 class of St Patrick’s. The photo shows the five boys - (left to right) Jacob Race, Josh Paulley, Ike Hennessy, Isaac Stace and Kohban Haydon – at their Year 12 formal. In her email, Anna reflected on the “amazing resilience and determination” that this cohort of students has shown throughout this year of COVID, and in particular in the way they have dealt with the recent death of their teacher, Mr Doug Pitt, whose daughter is also a St Mary’s Year 12 graduate this year. In her email, Anna says that “their time at St Patrick’s taught them the foundations of faith, the importance of community and instilled a love of learning.”

It is always so exciting to hear about how our former students are doing after they leave St Patrick’s. Thank you, Anna, for your update. I wish these five gentlemen – indeed, all of our 2014 graduating class - all the very best as they make important decisions about their futures.

Footnote: Anna’s final comment was that all five boys look very handsome. Whilst I think that Anna might be somewhat biased, I would have to agree with her.

- Peter Green

Focus on Positive Behaviour for Learning

P&F AGM via ZOOM

The Annual General Meeting of the P&F will take place on Wednesday evening next week (25th November). The meeting will take place via Zoom, beginning at 6.30pm. It has been scheduled to run for 1½ hours. Meeting via Zoom will enable you to contribute your ideas without leaving home.

At this meeting, those present will be asked to vote for the following executive roles on the P&F:

• President
• 2 x Vice Presidents
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• 2 x Federation Delegates
• Canteen manager
• Canteen roster coordinator
• Uniform shop coordinator and attendees

If you plan to attend this meeting:

1. Make sure you have downloaded Zoom to your device.
2. Use this link or copy it into your search bar: https://mncatholic.zoom.us/j/93268480239
3. Click on ‘Open Zoom meetings’.
4. Click on ‘Join with computer audio’.
5. Click on ‘Start video’.
6. If you are prompted to type a password, the password is 148412.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

LAKE MAC AWARDS

It’s time to give Lake Macquarie’s sporting greats, young citizen stars, accomplished artists, environmental warriors and volunteers recognition for their achievements and for making a positive difference to our community by nominating them for a 2021 Lake Mac Award. Nominate a person or group that has demonstrated excellence in their endeavours by Friday 11 December 2020 - lakemac.com.au/lakemacawards

HELP REQUIRED

As a caring community we would like to continue to offer our support to the Santamaria family after the loss of their dearly loved father and husband. If you can help to maintain their lawns for the rest of the year, it would be greatly appreciated. Please click on the link below where you will be taken to a lawn mowing roster, where you can volunteer to help on a particular Saturday.

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