Thursday 6th March 2025

Gospel of the Week

Luke 4:1-13

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Spirit through the wilderness where he was tempted.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time, he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.’

Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, ‘I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then, and it shall all be yours.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says:

You must worship the Lord your God,

and serve him alone.’

Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’, he said to him ‘throw yourself down from here, for scripture says:

He will put his angels in charge of you

to guard you,

and again:

They will hold you up on their hands

in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’

But Jesus answered him, ‘It has been said:

You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Having exhausted all these ways of tempting him, the devil left him, to return at the appointed time.

  

Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

The Gospel this week tells us Luke 4:1–13 describes Jesus' temptation by Satan. During forty days of fasting, the Devil entices Him using offers of comfort, power, and prestige. In each case, Jesus responds with Scripture and a commitment to God's will. So, Luke tells us that Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit – the angel Gabriel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her. The Holy Spirit descends on him at his baptism. It is the Holy Spirit who leads him out into the wilderness and strengthens him against the temptations he faces there. Once again, Luke points out that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. Luke also makes clear that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Like God allows the accuser to test Job, the Spirit allows the devil's persistent tempting of Jesus over his forty days of solitude and fasting.

Through parables, he teaches us how to treat one another and live in the world with kindness and humility. In Luke, we also learn about what Jesus holds in high regard. That he has love for the afflicted and the sinners and we become amazed at the miraculous power of Christ to perform healing.

Thank you to Tresa Andrews for the preparation of our Ash Wednesday Mass yesterday. I was so proud of the students for the reverence and respect showed during mass. I want to thank all my wonderful staff who dedicate themselves to looking after our students during these times. Many parishioners commented on their excellent behaviour and their wonderful singing! Thank you also to Jo Peterson and Amali Fernando for working with our wonderful choir! I hope as a community, we can all take the time as we begin the season of Lent, to stop and reflect and to think of the sacrifices our Lord Jesus made for us; and what we can do to give back to our own community and to try and erase any feelings of anger and resentment.

On Wednesday March 26^th, we will be holding our Maths Open Night. The Open Night will begin at 3.30pm and go through till 6pm. During this time, parents and their children are invited to come in and for the students to showcase the work they have been doing in their Maths classes. We look forward to welcoming you to our school!

Just a reminder that the school will be closed tomorrow, Friday the 7^th of March. On this day, the staff of St Patrick’s will be participating in professional development around our School Review which will be undertaken in June of this year. Monday 10^th March is Labour Day Public Holiday so the school will also be closed.

The students will resume on Tuesday the 11^{th of} March.

God Bless

 

Meg

 

NAPLAN-Begins next week

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. As students’ progress through their school years, it is important to check how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and numeracy. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national proficiency standards. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with more information about students’ educational progress. NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working, and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

Wed 12th Mar ~ 9:00am-10:00am (Writing)

Thurs 13th Mar ~ 10:00am-11:00am (Reading)

Friday 14th Mar ~ 9:00-10:00am (Conventions of Language) AND 

11:30am-12:30am (Numeracy)

SEMPER DENTAL VISITS

We are pleased to advise you that our school has engaged Semper Dental to provide your children with the opportunity of visiting the Semper Dental treatment team at school commencing on Wednesday March 19th. Semper Dental is a well-respected catholic family business and is a significant provider of oral hygiene education and dental treatment services with programs running in more than 80 schools in greater Melbourne.

The program is available to participating students from all year levels at the school. The basis of this offer will be fully explained in the Semper Dental parent consent forms and in the Semper Dental information flyer.

Semper Dental provides a preventative treatment program involving an oral examination and treatments such as scale, cleaning, fluoride application and fissure seals where necessary. Semper Dental will then provide you with a treatment plan for your child following the visit and will inform you if your child requires additional dental care. Forms need to be returned to the school by Thursday March 14th.

St Francis Xavier College school tours

If you are looking to enrol your child into St Francis Xavier, please note these important dates in your calendar.

SFX College Open Day – Saturday 22 March 10.00am – 2.00pm 

Officer Campus Talk & Tour – 09.30am – 10.45am 

Tuesday 13 May

Tuesday 24 June

Tuesday 12 August

Tuesday 09 September

Tuesday 14 October

Wednesday 12 November

Year 7 2026 Enrolment Interviews

Wednesday 4 June

Wednesday 29 October

Year 7 2027 Enrolment Interviews

Wednesday 2 July

Year 7 2027 Parent Information Evening

Wednesday 7 May 7.00pm

Year 7 2026 Transition Day – Monday 8 December all day

Parent Helpers-Term 2

We will be running an induction for any parents who wish to help in the classroom early in Term 2. Please note, any parents wishing to assist in the classroom must have a Working with Children Check. It only needs to be a Volunteer one to assist in the classroom. The school will require a copy of this to keep in our files. We will notify parents of the date once we have finalised it.

 

ATTENTION PARENTS: School Uniform

I am asking please that all students, to be wearing our proper school uniform. It is important that we maintain a high standard of uniform throughout the school year and to wear it with pride.

I will continue to ask all students to be wearing proper school shoes and uniform right up until the end of the year. Runners are NOT school shoes. Please see pictures below. 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 unform 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.

 This is an example of a school shoe to be worn every day, except on sport days/events:

This is a runner and NOT a school shoe

PE Uniform and illness/injury

It is important that students wear the correct uniform and footwear on the day that they have PE. The school polo shirt and sports shorts are the expected clothing along with sneakers with either laces or velcro straps. NO SLIP ON SHOES are permitted due to safety reasons. 

If your child is recovering from illness or is suffering from an injury, please advise me as early as possible prior to your child’s lesson day so that the activities can be modified or an alternative learning option can be arranged. 

If your child is suffering from a serious injury or recovering from such (eg: broken bone) please send a doctor’s certificate with a date confirming return to normal activity. This assists with maintaining the safety of students which is a priority at St Patrick’s. 

Contact can be made by sending along an old-fashioned, handwritten note with your child to give to me during lesson time, through the PAM app or by emailing me directly lbreeden@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

Year Level Camp/ Fun Day Dates:

TERM DATES 2025

2025 PUPIL FREE AND TIME IN LIEU DAYS:

The 3 Time in Lieu 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.

Hi everyone,

I hope you have had a wonderful week, and you are feeling happy and calm.

It has been great to catch up with so many students this week visiting me in the Wellbeing room. We have been busy creating a space of mindfulness, play and relaxation. There is an activity suited to everyone in here!

Please remember I am always here with my little mate Zahli the Therapy Dog should you need to pop in and talk through some big feelings. It’s always best to be brave and share our worries or problems. Zahli is a very good listener and ever better at cuddles and having fun.

This week we have been learning how to finger knit. One of our wonderful grade six students, Nem, is helping us learn and enjoy this fantastic activity. If you would like to be part of this, please come along to the Wellbeing Room at recess or lunch, Monday – Wednesday.

Next week we will continue with finger knitting, and we’ll be creating some rock buddies. Be kind to each other and yourselves this week and always.

Please remember, YOU matter, YOU are important and YOUR presence on this earth makes a difference.

Mrs Wilson.

You may have noticed that there is an increased interest in jump rope skipping this term. Students in Years 1-6 have launched into the JUMP ROPE NINJA Challenge. As part of our warm up and linking to our units based on locomotor skills and fitness, students jump rope to achieve coloured belts. They skip for friends who count their jumps for each Grade within a belt and then present their Ninja Passport to staff in PE lessons to count their jumps at the Grade 5 level. If successful, their passport is stamped and they can sign their name on the Ninja Masters sheet displayed in the stadium. Due to the time it takes to check grades, students can only attempt one belt per lesson. It has been encouraging to see and hear students working together on technique to help each other succeed. Shining through over the past few weeks have been our school values of RESILIENCE and COURAGE as students take on something new and persist when they are unsuccessful, finding new ways to attempt the challenge. Foundation students will begin the challenge later in the year.

“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Lk. 22:19

 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,”

Mark 14:22-25

For students who have received Baptism and Reconciliation and grade 4 onwards

Key Dates

Bookings for your preferred time and link will be shared in the coming weeks.

                                 BE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Please feel free to contact Mary Tresa Andrews, Religious Education Leader, via email at mandrews@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au 

Regards

Mary Tresa Andrews

Religious Education Leader, St Patrick’s School, Pakenham

School Fee Statements have been emailed out to most families.   Please check your junk/spam folder if you haven't received it.   As in previous years, all Fees are charged at the start of the year with the expectation that they will be paid by the end of the school year.   This can be done as one payment or instalments, via Direct Debit, Bpay, EFTPOS or cash.   You can find Direct Debit forms in the Knowledge bank section of PAM, or ask at the school office.   If paying by BPay please use the code on your statement to ensure the payment comes off your fees.   

2025 SCHOOL SAVINGS BONUS (SSB)

The School Savings Bonus is a State Government initiative designed to assist
families with cost-of-living pressures. Under this funding, each eligible student is
entitled to a $400 bonus for application towards activity levies and uniform purchases
from approved supplier. Within our school, all CSEF applicants are eligible to receive
this funding. All families who have a Centrelink Health Care Card and have not
applied for CSEF in the past are encouraged to contact the school office and initiate
an application this year. Please refer to the below link for more information:

https://www.vic.gov.au/receiving-school-saving-bonus#non-government-school-
information

Health Care Card and School Savings Bonus

For those families who have an eligible Health Care Card your fees are still being processed with the concession rate to be applied.   If you haven't filled in a CSEF (Camps, Sports, Excursion Funding) form please download the attached form or pick one up from the school office.   This needs to be done as soon as possible so we can receive the funding and apply your concession.   This year it will also affect the allocation of the School Saving Bonus ($400) that the government announced last year.   So the sooner these forms are in the better. 

We are pleased to advise you that our school has engaged Semper Dental to provide your
children with the opportunity of visiting the Semper Dental treatment team at school
commencing on Wednesday March 19 th.

Semper Dental is a well-respected catholic family business and is a significant provider of
oral hygiene education and dental treatment services with programs running in more than
80 schools in greater Melbourne.The program is available to participating students from all year levels at the school. The
basis of this offer will be fully explained in the Semper Dental parent consent forms and in
the Semper Dental information flyer.

Semper Dental provides a preventative treatment program involving an oral examination
and treatments such as scale, cleaning, fluoride application and fissure seals where
necessary. Semper Dental will then provide you with a treatment plan for your child following the visit
and will inform you if your child requires additional dental care.
Forms need to be returned to the school by Thursday March 14 th .

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 Megan McMenamin in the school office mmcmenamin@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, Media Consent Details and any relevant Medical Details for your child if they change.  

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. 

Parents who would like to have their children baptised are required to attend baptism preparation. Please enroll through the parish website https://stpatrickspakenham.com.au/

For further details and assistance please contact

Mary Tresa Andrews

Religious Education Coordinator

mandrews@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au