Newsletter Thursday 17th October

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.

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

This week the Gospel tells us James and John see the signs that Jesus' kingdom is imminent, and they want to make sure their seats are reserved. Mark 10:35–45 describes the arrogant request of James and John to have positions of power and authority in Jesus' coming kingdom.

James and John request privileged places of authority in seats at Jesus’ right and left. In doing so, the sons of Zebedee appear to have missed everything Jesus has said and done. What they see instead is that glorification awaits Jesus and the authority he has exhibited in his ministry will lead to something big, perhaps to a royal rule, and they conspire to capitalize on that.

When Jesus does remind them about the ignorance of being in a position of power is not necessarily all glorification and power. He speaks about “the cup” he must drink and “the baptism” he must undergo, he reiterates that violence and death await him in Jerusalem. Jesus is a King, but ironically, he is always questioned and not believed and ultimately, he will die as an utterly despised and powerless “king.” Mark’s Gospel emphasizes that such rejection and death are inevitable and required, because of who Jesus is.

How much does having a sense of power influence our day to day lives? Is it the status, the money? Or is for the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives? And if the job and the power that comes with it dangerous; how much are we willing to risk our own lives for this?

This weekend, our Year 6 students celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. We wish them all the very best as they enter this wonderful phase of their decision to stay and pronounce themselves as Catholic. I ask you all to please join me in praying for the young people of St Clare’s, St Patrick’s and the state schools in and around Pakenham and Officer. 

- Declan                               - Healey                               - Nathan                              - Owen

- Reid                                   - Lachlan                             - Thomas                             - Mason

- Alexander                         - Grace                                 - Riley                                  - Zyjhan

- Harmony                           - Elizabeth                           - Archie                                - Dylan

- Andre                                - Alofa                                  - Georgia                             - Jacob

- Julius                                - Paramie                             - Delbridge                          - Chayse

- Lucas

I am asking please that all students, in particular our senior school, to be wearing our proper School Uniform this final term. It is important that we still maintain a high standard of uniform and not use Term 4 as an excuse to become complacent about what we wear to school.

I will continue to ask all students to be wearing proper school shoes and uniform right up until the end of the year. I understand that students are growing constantly, however they will continue to grow for many more years and so I cannot always accept this as an excuse. We must remember that many students are adhering to the correct standards of school uniform and therefore, it is important that the students and their families please respect this. Secondary schools do not accept poor uniform standards.

If finance is a concern when it comes to uniform, please speak to your classroom teacher. St Patrick’s has a very good second hand uniform shop that you can top up your child’s uniform with. It is a third of the price you would pay at the normal uniform shop, and the money goes straight back to the school.

God Bless

Meg

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.

The Year 6 Jumpers for 2025 can now be ordered on CDF-Pay. All orders must be completed by 1st November.

We have sample sizes in the office if you would like your child to come by and try them on before purchasing.

News from the Wellbeing Room

Welcome back to Term 4!

The Wellbeing room and sensory garden will be in full swing again this term. It is open before and after school for pop in chats. We also run sessions at recess and lunch Monday to Wednesdays. 

We have a number of different mindful activities available for students. The room also serves as a space where we chat through problems or issues. Feeling connected and valued is the key to being a wellbeing, and we really place high importance on this at St Patrick's.

If you can help, I am looking for thick balls of wool to be donated this term. We are learning to hand knit, a powerful mindfulness skill. I’d be grateful for any donation.

Have a wonderful term, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need too. 

With gratitude,

Kelly Wilson.

Exciting News from the Junior Building

Starting this week, some students will begin participating in a new program- a two-hour play-based session each week called Investigations. These sessions are designed to foster important qualities such as resilience, self-esteem, strength of character and mental wellbeing. Through play-based learning, we aim to nurture these traits, which in turn help students develop into independent and confident individuals. 

Resilience plays a key role in helping children set and achieve realistic goals while also equipping them to handle challenges that may arise. Each Investigation session will include formal instruction in literacy, numeracy, and other learning areas, ensuring that learning is both engaging and educational. 

During the sessions, students will take on specific roles, such as focus students, reporters, and photographers, enhancing their engagement and responsibility within the learning process.  All Investigations sessions will be led by a fully qualified teacher who specialises in play-based learning, ensuring that the program is guided by best practices and expertise. A special Investigations room has been created for this experience.

This initiative will greatly benefit the students, helping them thrive both academically and personally. We look forward to this terrific program.

The Junior School Team.

Last week the students who made their First Communion celebrated by receiving a badge, a bookmark and a special cookie in the shape of a chalice.

The Scholastic Book Club catalogue has been sent home with students last week. If you would like to purchase anything from this catalogue please do so before Friday 1st November. All orders must be made through LOOP, you can find the log in link below.

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

SPECIAL REPORT: The Cost of Living Crisis

In our ever-changing economic landscape, parents and caregivers are increasingly faced with the task of broaching the subject of growing expenses with their children. While the instinct may be to shield young people from life’s challenges, there's a growing belief that addressing real-world issues, including financial uncertainties, can actually foster resilience and understanding. Striking a balance between protection and education is crucial for those looking to empower their children.

To effectively introduce the topic of finances, we need to be mindful of the timing and setting of the conversation. Using straightforward, age-appropriate language helps maintain transparency, and openly discussing adjustments to the family budget can carry significant weight. By encouraging children to participate in finding creative ways to save and make thoughtful spending choices, parents can nurture a sense of responsibility.

This Special Report offers a valuable opportunity to enhance children's financial literacy, equipping them with the resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://stppakenham.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-cost-living-crisis-au

The P&F will be running Popcorn Wednesday's for a few more weeks this term, starting on Wednesday 23rd October. Please note that the orders must be finalised before each Tuesday at 10:00am.

Each bag of popcorn is $2, and you can use the link below to access CDF Pay.

https://stppakenham.cdfpay.org.au  

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. 

SiMON Everywhere is an 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.