Dear Parents and Friends,
To all the wonder Mums in the school, I hope that you have a very special day on Sunday.
A Mother’s Love
Of all the special joys in life,
The big ones and the small,
A mother’s love and tenderness
Is the greatest of them all.
Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback that we have received following the recent renovations in the school. I know that the children are loving the new learning centers and the chance to work with students across all the grade.
We still have some fixing up to be done and we will be having a working bee very shortly to help clean out some spaces, clean up some spaces and generally tidy up the school. School Council will be determining the date shortly and I have set the ambitious but achievable target of getting 100 people here for 2 ½ hours followed by a massive sausage sizzle for workers. Keep eye of the time and date.
Attached to the newsletter is a letter from Rob Unsworth (Principal) and Leah Wiseman (School Board Chair). I ask that you do read this letter and if possible respond positively to it. The old saying “ Many hands make light work.”
Diocesan Cross Country
We were very proud of our students as they travelled to Holbrook to compete in the Diocesan Cross Country. Thanks to all the parents who supported them and to Mrs Cresser and Mr Holman who supervised. In the teams event we came in Second in Division 1. Individually the following students have been selected to represent the Wagga Diocese at the MacKillop Trials in Sydney: 8/9 Boys: Harrison Carty (5th), 10 Boys: Aiden Hill (3rd), 12 Boys: Bailey Westmoreland (9th) 8/9 Girls: Chloe Knight (8th), 10 Girls: Sadie Wiseman (6th), 11 Girls: Elisha Wild (10th) 12 Girls: Ashleigh Carty (2nd). Congratulations to everyone.
Smiles on Site. We have arrange for a visit by mobile dental service to do a check up on the children, should the parents give permission for this to happen. Bulk - Billed assessment and treatment to students who qualify for Medicare CDBS program; this includes a dental check-up, cleaning & fluoride treatments, sealants, X-rays and fillings. If students are not eligible for Medicare CDBS Scheme they offer the student a prevention package, all claimable through your health fund.
Smiles Onsite is successfully operating a fleet of mobile dental clinics. Smiles Onsite Dental will offer our school state-of-the-art, on-site oral health care services, including checkups and basic dental care to school.
They also come to the school for two visits to talk the individual grades about dental and oral hygiene. We will be sending lots more information, however if you wish to have a look at the website: https://www.smilesonsite.com.au/
NAPLAN
Commencing next Tuesday for 3 days the Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit the annual NAPLAN Test. I urge parents to discuss with the children that unlike most of the tests that they have ever done, you cannot pass or fail NAPLAN. All you want them to do and all the school wants them to do is to the best that they can. Please encourage and remind children that in life we all have times when we feel worried or anxious but what is important is to keep going forward and to have the experience. We will supply pencils and rubbers for the test.
Message for Parents of Year 5 and 6 Girls.
Please make sure that you have seen the letter from Mrs Robertson about the Health talk she will be having with the girls on Friday Morning.
Kindergarten 2019 - Sibling Enrolments
If you have a child who is starting Kindergarten in 2019, could you please make sure that you have completed an enrolment form. We are closing fast on our target and I don’t want anyone with siblings to miss out.
Welcome to our new students and their families, Andy Nguyen (5S), Will Clarke (4FH), Grace Clarke (1WJ), Lily Hemopo (1WJ), Amity Hall (1B), Lina Nguyen (KHR) and Olivia Opdam (6G). We hope your time at St. Pat's is enjoyable and rewarding.
Have a great week. God bless,
Rob
R E NEWS
The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord
Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. The children (and maybe some of us), might think of the Ascension as Jesus boarding a rocket ship and blasting off to heaven. The problem with this image is that Jesus did not go anywhere – he remained with us, but in a different way. Ascension does not mark the end of Jesus’ presence. It simply marks the change in how he is present and how he acts. Jesus taught us that where he is, so shall we be, that he was going to prepare a place for us and that, in and through him, we will have life and have it to the full.
The feast of the Ascension is the day, each year, where we remember and we celebrate that, just as Jesus was welcomed to God's right hand, so, too, shall we be welcomed to the right hand of Jesus. This is his promise, this is our faith and this is the hope we are called to proclaim to the world. And let's be clear about the invitation. There is nothing we have ever done, are doing, or will do, that will get our name removed from the invitation list to the feast of Christ's kingdom. The challenge is accepting that we have a standing invitation and living lives worthy of the love that places our name on the list. The feast of the Ascension announces that Jesus will faithfully accompany us no matter how far we lose our way and that by our fidelity to Christ we accept or reject the standing offer.
Thoughts from Richard Leonard and Dianne Bergant
First Eucharist Meeting
Thank you to all the parents and Year 3 children who attended our First Eucharist Meeting last Wednesday evening. It was wonderful to see the parents sharing their memories and impressions of their own First Communion Day with their children. Please pray for these children and their families as they prepare together for the children to receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, 27th May.
First Eucharist Happenings
Year 3 families are invited to come together to share a meal with Fr Joel on Wednesday, 16th May in the Mercy Hall COLA from 5.45pm-7.00pm. A separate note with more details will be coming home soon.
The First Communion candidates will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, 23rd May in the Church at 7.00pm.
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