On Monday next week (17th May), Fire and Rescue NSW (the “Townies”) and the Rural Fire Service (the “Bushies”) will visit our school to teach the students about fire safety, as well as the important work undertaken by the Townies and the Bushies. They will bring their vehicles onto the site and they will demonstrate how to use some of the firefighting equipment. Thanks to Todd Koller who put us in touch with Fire and Rescue. Photos and news in next week’s newsletter.

2022 KINDER ENROLMENTS

Come in and collect an enrolment pack from the School Office or download one from the school website! And, don't forget to tell your friends!

WE ARE WALKING SAFELY TO SCHOOL

This Friday (14th May) we will hold our annual “Walk Safely To School” Day. The details of this event appeared in last week’s newsletter. We will leave from Reids Reserve, Lambton Parade, Swansea Heads at 8.00am, and we will walk down Lambton Parade and Northcote Avenue until we reach St Patrick’s School. This is a distance of 2.6 kilometres. We should arrive at the school a little after 8.30am. Any students who do not live in this vicinity might ask Mum or Dad to drop them at Reids Reserve so that they can join the walk.

Today the students will receive a “tattoo” to wear while they are walking on Friday. It can be washed off afterwards.

A few safety reminders

• At Swansea Heads, no students are to use the toilets without being accompanied by a buddy student.
• Students are required to walk on the footpath, and not to cross any roads unless instructed to do so by an adult.
• Ensure that asthmatic students bring their medication and that they carry it with them at all times.
• The students should bring a water bottle, and ensure that they drink plenty of fluid prior to and during the walk.
• The students must wear hats while walking.

See you at Swansea Heads this Friday morning!

YEAR 5/6 Camp Fees

Each student in Year 5 and 6 has been issued with a camp fee invoice today. Please check your child's bag. The Year 5/6 overnight camp is on Thurs 11 Nov to Fri 12 Nov 2021. Camp fees must be paid in full by the due date indicated on the invoice for a student to attend.

If paying your child's camp fees via BPAY - please be sure to advise the office when you have made a payment, so that the amount is correctly allocated to camp and not other fees.

SCHOOL FEES

As you are aware we have moved to an annual billing cycle.

School fee statements were sent out again (via email) in mid April, and we will continue to send monthly statements - so be sure to check your inbox!.

We remind you that fee payments should have commenced by now and if paying by instalment we ask that accounts are finalised by 30 November 2021. If paying in full please finalise prior to 30 June 2021.

Payments can be made via BPay, direct debit or credit card.

For families experiencing financial hardship, or wishing to discuss other payment arrangements please contact the Office.

OUR SACRED SPACE PAVERS

In 2014 we created an outdoor sacred space on the edge of Black Neds Bay as a means of bringing to life the history of our school, which was opened in 1952 by the Sisters of St Joseph. The paved area of our sacred space shows the names of many people who have had an association with our school, either as a student, as a parent, as a teacher or as a parishioner. Some of the people whose names appear on the pavers had a long association with the school. Others were with us for only a brief time. The paved area represents a tapestry of our school’s history. If you would like to order a paver showing your family’s name or your child’s name, please complete and return the order form which can be found by clicking the link below, or collected from the school office. The orders will close this Friday 14th May.

Canteen Roster

The Canteen is desperately in need of volunteers this term. If you are a registered volunteer and able to offer some of your time, please contact Belinda Newell.

IT’S TIME TO VOTE!

On 31st March, Cath Garrett-Jones, Family Engagement Officer at the Catholic Schools Office, addressed a small group of parents and carers about an alternative model of engaging parents and carers in the school. If you would like to read more about the two options available – P&F Association or PEG (Parent Engagement Group) – click here.

On Wednesday 19th May, you will have the opportunity to vote for your preferred model of parent engagement. The meeting is scheduled to run from 7.30pm to 8.15pm in the school library.

A letter was sent to all parents through Compass last Thursday, giving further details. If you have any queries about this process, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Peter Green.

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NAPLAN 2021

This week we will administer the NAPLAN assessments to the students of Years 3 and 5. As we will begin the assessments at 9.00am, it is important that every student arrives at school on time.

The schedule will be as follows:

• Today 11th May: Year 3 Writing & Year 5 Writing.
• Tomorrow 12th May: Year 3 Reading & Year 5 Reading. Year 3 Conventions of Language &
• Thursday 13th May: Year 3 Numeracy & Year 5 Numeracy. Year 5 Conventions of Language.

VOLUNTEER WEEK MOVIE EVENT

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