Newsletter Thursday 20th June

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.

Year Level Camp/ Fun Day Dates:

TERM DATES 2024

2024 PUPIL FREE DAYS AND SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS:

The 4 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.

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

This week in the gospel, we listen to the Gospel of Jesus calming the sea and wind by a simple command. I wonder how life would be if we were able to stop all the wind and turmoil that our lives seem to be involved in on a daily basis. When I read the Gospel, I think of the many challenging days we have here at school and the challenges we know our families face every day. The simple tasks of putting petrol in cars, food on the table, paying the electricity and gas bills. For many it is an enormous struggle. If we stop to reflect on the turmoil that Jesus also faced; the talk behind his back, people’s lack of belief in him and the opportunity to put him down at every chance they could get. Can we think about how a simple man, calmed the wind and sea? Can we hope that if we open our hearts and minds to the Lord, that part of our troubles can also be calmed.

Our Family Learning Conversations (FLCs) are being held next week. Please make sure to book your appointment for these. This is an important opportunity to discuss with your child/ren’s classroom teacher about their Semester One report. Please see below for instructions on how to do so. Do not hesitate to contact the office on 5943 9000 or office@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au for assistance. Your child/ren’s school report will be released on Friday 21^st June onto the PAM app.

Next week there will be some staff from St Francis Xavier College, Officer Campus, who will be coming in to speak with any families looking to send their child/ren to SFX. They will be present at the Book Fair, so please make the time to speak with them in person and ask as many questions as you need. Please see below of the names of the staff and the times they will be attending

Tuesday 25^th June:

4.00pm-6.00pm Lyndall Lord and Rachael Pearson

6.00pm-8.00pm Lesley Billingham

4.00pm-8.00pm Jen sellers

4.00pm -6.00pm Jacinta Sheridan (Deputy Principal, Head of Campus)

Wednesday 26^th June:

4.00pm-6.00pm Sue-Anne Lewis

4.00pm-6.00pm Jen Sellers

4.00pm -6.00pm Jacqui Franks

Next week during the Family Learning Conversations, we will also be holding our annual Book Fair. The Book Fair is a great opportunity to pick up some wonderful books at fair and reasonable prices for your children and the money goes directly back to the school! In this day and age of digital technology, let us remind the students of the fabulous benefits of reading and burying themselves in a book and to visit the incredible places it can take us with the many varied characters we meet along the way.

Term 2 finishes NEXT FRIDAY the 28^th June for 2 weeks. Term 3 begins on Monday 15^th July.

Take care and God Bless,

Meg

You can now book in on PAM for an FLC with your child's classroom teacher. These sessions are 15 minutes long with a bell signalling the end of each session. If you require more time you can arrange another meeting time with the teacher.

When: 

Tuesday 25th June

Wednesday 26th June

Where:

Your child's classroom

Our Semester 1 school reports will be available on PAM for you to review. Below are the instructions on accessing them

1. Select your child profile by clicking on their image

2. From the drop down menu select Assessment Reports

Our book fair is back this year and is running in the next week

Where: St Patrick's School Library

When: Monday 24th June - 8:30am - 9:00am and 3:00pm - 4:15pm

           Tuesday 25th June - 8:30am - 9:00am and 3:00pm - 6:00pm

           Wednesday 26th June - 8:30am - 9:00am and 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Cash and EFTPOS is available

All students must be accompanied by an adult

If you have any questions please stop by the library to see Nadine King or Sharon Blackwood

SPECIAL REPORT: Smokeless Tobacco Products

The evolving nicotine landscape requires parents and caregivers to stay informed to protect young people from these emerging threats. Snus and nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among young people as smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. Both products are discreetly placed under the upper lip, allowing nicotine absorption through the gums.

Health authorities are urging proactive measures to curb this growing trend and calling on regulators to implement controls before these products become as widespread as vapes. The high nicotine levels in these products pose serious health risks, including nicotine addiction, cardiovascular disease, gum disease, tooth decay, and even nicotine poisoning. Researchers highlight the detrimental effects of nicotine on developing brains, linking its use to depression, anxiety, ADHD symptoms, and an increased risk of addiction to other drugs.

The marketing of snus and nicotine pouches targets young audiences through social media influencers, raising concerns about their increasing popularity among school students. And like vapes, they come in various flavours and strengths, with unregulated nicotine levels leading to inconsistent and misleading labelling.  It is clear that SLT products contain not only nicotine, but also other chemicals with unknown long-term effects.

This Special Report will help you become aware of the potential risks of smokeless tobacco products and guide you in age-appropriate discussions with your child.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://stppakenham.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-smokeless-tobacco-products-au

SiMON Everywhere is the new app our school uses to acces PAM and CDF Pay. We will be sending reminders through this app, as such please download and sign in. There is a guide below for your reference. If you are having any issues please contact Alex Taylor in the school office ataylor@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Have you logged into your PAM account yet! 

We use 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. 

CSEF Applications are now due! 

If you have a current Health Care Card you may be eligible for the school fees concession program. 

The applicant must be one of the following:

1. a parent/carer (of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school) who is:
   • on the first day of Term 1 (29 January 2024), or the first day of Term 2 (15 April 2024)  a holder of one or more of the eligible financially-means tested cards (Centrelink Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card), or
   • a temporary foster parent

The parent/carer must submit an application to the school by 23 June 2024.

If anyone has any questions or would like to discuss their school fee account, please contact the school office. 

Please download and fill in both forms below if you qualify.

If there are any changes from last year, this includes a new child starting at the school or any child who has now left the school, there is an additional form that needs to be filled out. Please come by the school office to collect it.