"That they may all be one, as you Father, are in me and I am in you"
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- Class Newsletter - 3RS
- Birthdays
- Principal's Newsletter
- Mother's Day Stall
- Mother's Day celebration
- DATES TO REMEMBER
- Artists of the week
- Camp Australia
- ANZAC Day
- Book Club
- PAM and SIMON Everywhere
- Contact, Media Consent and Medical Details - Copy
- SIMON Everywhere
- School Fees and Concessions
- Sacrament Dates
- Positive Partnerships - Free Workshop
- CDF Pay by Flexischools
- D'Vine kids
3RS Newsletter
ANZAC Day
Last Friday we celebrated ANZAC Day on the 25th of April. ANZAC day is the day we respect the soldiers that went to war. We use poppies to represent the soldiers who died in war and sacrificed themselves for our freedom. Poppies are used to represent the soldiers because they grew in the fields where soldiers died during war. On ANZAC day we can also make ANZAC cookies, to remember what the soldiers were sent by families to eat during the war. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Student writing - students were given the choice of writing a short informative piece about what ANZAC day is or a short story from the perspective of someone in war.
Jal - One ANZAC day, I was at an ANZAC service when I suddenly heard a voice. It sounded a bit like my Dad’s voice but deeper.
After the service I told my Dad. He said it might have been my grandfather. He passed away during the war when he was a little boy. I was stunned.
Chan - ANZAC day is a day we remember the soldiers who died in the war. For ANZAC day we can get ANZAC cookies. Also we make or wear poppies and bow down to the soldiers who died in the war. Families were sent letters to let them know that their soldiers had died in the war. The soldiers fought for us so we can have freedom.
Mercy - ANZAC day is about thanking and remembering the people who went out to fight the war to save our country. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
On the battlefield ANZAC cookies were sent to soldiers because they would not go mouldy while being transported.
Zara - A long long long time ago there were soldiers that saved our country.. There was a soldier who promised his family that he would be okay. He said he was brave, he was strong and good at fighting. He won some days but then he got shot by a soldier from a different country. That is why ANZAC day is celebrated because it is for different soldiers who were loved and didn’t come home.
Democracy
What is democracy? Democracy is about making group decisions by voting on different options. Everyone has their opinion and we need to choose the right one as a group. Everyone gets a say in a democracy.
How do we make decisions? In a democracy people vote for the option they like the most. We might not always like all the options but we choose the best one. When making a decision it becomes a case of majority rules. We need to make our own decisions and not follow what everyone else is doing. We don’t want to copy what others vote for unless you agree with them.
Class Monster -
We created a monster as a class by voting on body shape, eyes, mouth, legs, arms and horns. Next we had to vote on whether the monster would be coloured warm or cool colours. The last step was to vote on the name of our Monster.
We had to close our eyes so we couldn’t see what everyone voted for and then raised our hands the options we were choosing from. We opened our eyes and saw which option had the most votes - this was then the winning choice.
From this BOB was born.
Here is Bob —
HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!
Beauty 4MR, Tegan 3RS, Daniel 4MR, Hniang 2WJ, Scarlett 3RS
Thursday 1st May 2025
Gospel of the Week
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me?
Jesus said to Thomas:
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’
Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’ ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him ‘and you still do not know me?
‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father?”
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it.’
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,
This week the Gospel tells us our faith tells us to choose the ways of the Lord. He also said that he is the way, and the truth and the life. This assures us that in the midst of our uncertainties; we can rely and cling on Him. God introduced himself to us so that we will not be confused and preoccupied.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Everything that you are looking for can be found in him. All of your questions can be answered by him. Don't look to the world for the answers you seek. Turn to him while he may be found. Whatever it takes, turn to God while you still have an opportunity.
To know Christ is to know ''the way, and the truth, and the life'' (John 14:6). The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus should give Christians’ confidence to trust that He will make good on His promises. Among those are His guarantee that He is preparing to come for us, so we can be where He is.
An ENORMOUS Thankyou to the parent community for your tremendous support in keeping your children home last Monday so the staff of St Patrick’s could attend the funeral of Annette Tanner.
Out of 318 students, we only had 21 students here. This meant that any staff who needed to attend the funeral and then remain with family and friends for the day could do so. I was so genuinely touched by parent’s support as they approached staff and offered their condolences. I had flowers and plants also given and for that I am so grateful.
The school uniform for this term will be the Winter, however for the first 3 weeks, I am happy for students to move between the Summer and Winter as we continue to experience the warm weather. Please note, you must wear either the FULL Winter or FULL SUMMER and not a mixture of both. Hats need to be worn up until the end of Week 2 only (Wednesday 30th April).
Last Friday the 25th of April, ANZAC Day, I had the privilege of laying a wreath alongside our 3 school captains at the Dawn Service. It was a very emotional moment, and I am so proud of the captains as they took on this special task. They showed respect and understanding of this solemn occasion. The captains have written some of their experiences below.
Thank you and God Bless,
Meg
PLEASE TAKE NOTE-CHANGES TO THE AVENUE CAR PARK
There will be major changes to the carpark in the coming weeks. I ask all parents to please be patient as we change the operation of this carpark to make it a safer place for all. I will be asking all parents to please be familiar with the new format and to follow the rules.
The main changes taking place are as follows:
- All car parks will be angle parking. NO reverse parking is allowed.
- The car park will be a ONE WAY only now.
- There will be a Safety Crossing for anyone who has parked and are walking their children into school. This crossing MUST be observed. Please do not cross anywhere else or be prepared to be spoken to by staff.
RESCHEDULED SCHOOL PHOTO DAY
Our new school Photo Day will be on Thursday 29th May. Please place this on your calendars. Forms have been sent home already.
Year 4 and 5 Camp Information Nights
Year 4 camp information will be held on Wednesday 28th May at 6pm in the Welcome Room which is located in the B Block.
Year 5 camp information will be held on Wednesday 4th June at 5.30pm in the Year 5 classrooms which are located in the B Block.
Mother’s Day Stall and Mother’s Day Celebration
The stall will be held on Thursday the 8th May, and all gifts will be purchased via CDF pay app.
Only 1 token per student can be purchased which will represent 1 gift valued at $5.00. An additional token can be purchased that can be passed onto a Mum that may miss out on a gift on Mothers Day. This is classed as a donation token.
We are also holding a Mothers Day raffle. Tickets will be $1.00 each or 10 Tickets for $8.00.
On Friday the 9th May, we welcome all Mums to come into the school stadium from 8.30am onwards and enjoy a celebration of motherhood. There will be coffee and tea available. The official celebration will begin at 8.40am and will go for approximately 15 mins. We hope to see as many mums as possible.
Future Enrolments
This term, once again, we have had multiple inquiries for school tours, in particular for 2026.
With this in mind, can I please ask for any existing families who have younger siblings coming to St Patrick’s in the next few years, to please make sure they fill in their enrolment forms early as possible. St Patrick’s is looking to manage a high demand of places within the school community and places may become limited.
Thank you.
St Francis Xavier College, Officer school tours
If you are looking to enrol your child into St Francis Xavier, Officer, please note these important dates in your calendar.
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 2026 Transition Day – Monday
8 December all day
Mobile Device Policy and Smartwatch Guidelines-
Please see below 2 new Guidelines St Patrick’s has introduced that will be added on to our website shortly. I would like to ask all parents/carers and guardians to take the time to read as this as it is certainly an issue that will continue to grow in its impact the more we rely on Mobile/Digital devices.
The Mother's Day stall will be held on Thursday the 8th May, and all gifts will be purchased via CDF pay app. All purchases are to made by Tuesday 6th May 2025.
Only 1 token per student can be purchased which will represent 1 gift valued at $5.00. An additional token can be purchased that can be passed onto a Mum that may miss out on a gift on Mothers Day. This is classed as a donation token.
As we do every year, we are holding a Mother's Day raffle. Tickets will be $1.00 each or 10 Tickets for $8.00.
If you would like to donate an item for the raffle, ie a hand cream please feel free to drop them off at the front office.
| DATE | ACTIVITY |
| 25/04/2025 | ANZAC DAY - No School |
| 28/04/2025 | Mrs Tanner's Funeral |
| 7/05/2025 | Pakenham & District Cross Country Carnival |
| 19/05/2025 | Year 4 SFX Fitness & Sport Excursion |
| 20/05/2025 | Year 4 SFX Fitness & Sport Excursion |
| 26/05/2025 | Year 5 SFX Taster Excursion |
| 28/05/2025 | Year 4 Camp Information night 6pm |
| 29/05/2025 | School Photos |
| 6/06/2026 | Pupil Free Day |
| 09/06/2025 | King's Birthday Public Holiday - No School |
| 11/06 to 13/06 | Year 4 Phillip Island Camp |
| 16/06 to 18/06 | Year 5 City Camp |
| 04/07/2025 | Last Day of Term 2 |
Year Level Camp/ Fun Day Dates:
| DATE | YEAR LEVEL | ACTIVITY & LOCATION |
| TBC | 3 | Fun Day - St Patrick's Primary |
| 11/06/2025 - 13/06/2025 | 4 | Camp - Phillip Island |
| 04/06/2025 | 5 | Camp Information Night - 5.30pm Start |
| 16/06/2025 - 18/06/2025 | 5 | Camp - City |
| 25/11/2025 - 28/11/2025 | 6 | Camp - Coonawarra Farm Resort |
TERM DATES 2025
| First Day | Last Day | |
| Term 1 | 30st January | 4th April |
| Term 2 | 22nd April | 4th July |
| Term 3 | 21st July | 19th September |
| Term 4 | 6th October | 16th December |
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.
| 07/03/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 06/06/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 21/08/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 22/08/2025 | TIL |
| 31/10/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 03/11/2025 | TIL |
| 17/12/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 18/12/2025 | Pupil Free Day |
| 19/12/2025 | TIL |
Please enjoy some artwork from our talented St Patricks Artists!
Krystal 6TA
Hannah 4MR
Avreen 2JM
Hello I’m Emily, one of the school captains. I was honoured to be invited to lay the wreath on behalf of St Patrick’s Primary School on ANZAC day at the Pakenham War Memorial dawn service.I was so nervous at first when we were about to walk up to lay the wreath down but once we did it I knew it was a morning to remember. Everyone, communities, businesses and schools all layed down wreaths and paid respect to the ANZACs. The ceremony was beautiful and I loved everything about it. I loved seeing the soldiers and people wearing the ANZAC medals in honor of the soldiers that fought in the war.
This past week the Scholastic brochures were handed out in class. All orders are made online via Book Club LOOP. Please follow the link below to make your purchase.
All purchases must be made before Thursday 15th May.
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.
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
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/
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 have also received more information in regards to the School Saving Bonus which will be sent out soon.
Bus Travel and Conveyance allowance
Bus travel may be available to some families if they live more than 5klms distance from the school. Please see the information on the link below.
The Conveyance allowance is also a government initiative to help support parents with the cost transporting student to school. To be eligible you must live more than 4.8klms from school and St Patrick's must been your closest Catholic school. Please fill in the application form below if you think you may be eligible. These applications have a cut off date of 13th March, so please fill them in as soon as possible.
First Holy Communion
“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
Key Dates
|
Enrolment |
Tuesday 24th June 2025 – 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Friday 27th June 2025 – 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Tuesday 1st July 2025 – 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm Choice of enrolment dates and times: A fee of $20 will be paid on the day. |
|
Commitment Mass |
2nd and 3rd August all weekend Masses Saturday- 6pm, Sunday -9:00,10:30 and 5pm |
|
All students receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion will receive Reconciliation at 11.45 am on 10th September 2025.This will happen during school time.
|
|
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Blessing mass |
September 13th and 14th all weekend Masses Saturday- 6pm, Sunday -9:00 and10:30 |
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Parent Workshop- Fr Elio Capra |
Thursday 4th September 2025 at 7.00pm
PARENT WORKSHOP (ONLY PARENTS) IT IS AN EXPECTATION THAT ALL PARENTS OF CHILDREN RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION WILL ATTEND ON THIS NIGHT. |
|
Reflection Day |
Friday 10th October at school. (time TBC) |
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Celebration of the Sacrament |
October, Saturday 11th at 6 pm and Sunday 12th at 10:30am October, Saturday 18th at 6pm and Sunday 19th at 10:30am
|
Bookings for your preferred time and link will be shared in the coming weeks.
BE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (Act 2:1-5)
For students in Grade 6 and have received the sacrament of First holy communion
Key Dates
|
Enrolment mass |
Tuesday 13th May 2025 – 1.00pm – 2.00 pm Friday, 16th May 2025, 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm Tuesday 20th May 2025 – 6.30 pm – 7.30pm |
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Commitment mass |
14th & 15th June all weekend Masses Saturday- 6 pm, Sunday -9:00 and 10:30 |
|
Parent Workshop |
Thursday 21st August 2025, at 7.00 pm |
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PARENT WORKSHOP (ONLY PARENTS) IT IS AN EXPECTATION THAT ALL PARENTS OF CHILDREN RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION WILL ATTEND ON THIS NIGHT |
|
|
Blessing mass |
23rd and 24th of August, all weekend Masses Saturday at 6 pm and Sunday at 9:00 am and 10:30 am. |
|
Reflection Day at school |
Tuesday 26th August. Time TBC |
|
Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation |
Saturday 30th August,3 pm and 6 pm |
Bookings for your preferred time and link will be shared in the coming weeks.
For more information please contact:
Mary Tresa Andrews
mandrews@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au
Religious Education Leader, St Patrick’s Primary School.
St Patrick’s Primary School will now use a NEW form of CDFpay that is different to the one that we have used in the past. The NEW CDFpay is powered by Flexischools and is an App based system. This is a way of collecting money for any Fundraising, Events and paying for school lunchtime treats like Popcorn for your students.
Parents and Guardians will need to download the App and register. Instructions on how to register are as follows:
How to register for a CDFpay account
1. Search ‘CDFpay’ on the App Store (Apple) or Google Play store, download the app, then click ‘Sign up now’ or enter the following link in your web browser:
Look for this App Logo and Download
2. Enter and confirm your email address, then click ‘Sign up’.
3. Check your email inbox and follow the prompts to complete your account registration (check junk/spam if lost).
Have questions? Visit https://flexischools.zendesk.com/hc/en-au/ for detailed FAQs or chat to the Flexischools Digital Assistant. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please complete the online Contact Form and Flexischools will get back to you directly.
When you are set up on the App. you will be able to select the Event, Fundraiser or item to purchase for your student. The school will be notified when the payment is made.
School Fees will continued to be paid via the Direct Debit arrangement, BPay or via Card in the school office.