St Pat's News

In light of recent events involving a family in Warrnambool and the current reports regarding a Sri Lankan family from Biloela in Queensland, I thought I would share the following from the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office.

Welcome The StrangerAction and attitude                                                                                             

In the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord's commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves. Once we have the right attitude, our actions should reflect and consolidate this attitude. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) advocates for attitudes based on compassion, justice, mercy, acceptance and encounter. Actions based on these attitudes seek to comfort the afflicted, provide refuge for the persecuted and be a homeland for the exiled.

Let us pray: 

For Pope Francis, our Bishops, and all those who minister in the Church. That they may guide the Church with wisdom and holiness through the works of Faith, Hope and Charity. 

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer. 

For the Church. That in our deeds, we may be a witness of the sanctifying and sacrificial love of Christ. 

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer. 

For migrants, refugees, and international students. That we may work with them, attentive to their needs and promoting their innate dignity as children of God. 

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer. 

For our political leaders, legislators, and those in public office. May they enhance laws that welcome, protect, and promote the most vulnerable in our community. 

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer. 

For those who minister to migrants, refugees, and international students. That they may find strength and courage in the words of the Lord, who says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer. 

For those who have died. In particular those seeking safety and peace. May God’s merciful love shine on them and on their loved ones left behind. 

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our Prayer.

Our sympathy is extended to Jess, James, Sophie (Foundation) and Lucas Porter on the passing of Jess’ father last week.

National Child Protection Week

This week is Child Protection Week and an appropriate time to remind ourselves of what it means to be a “Child Safe” school. As a “Child Safe” school, the safety and wellbeing of all our students is of paramount importance. St Patrick’s subscribes to the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria’s Commitment Statement to Child Safety which states:

“Catholic schools have a moral, legal and mission-driven responsibility to create nurturing school environments where children and young people are respected, their voices are heard and where they are safe and feel safe.”

St Patrick’s Parish Primary School constantly maintains the seven Child Safe Standards through our administrative policies and procedures and our curriculum and wellbeing policies, programs and procedures.

Standard Seven of the Child Safe Standards speaks to the empowerment and involvement of children in talking about and planning for their own safety. Our students are developing a version of our Child Safety Policy written in child friendly language. This policy will be available to all children in the school and published on the school’s website when it is completed.

The Commitment Statement, along with our Child Safety Policy, Code of Conduct and other references and resources, is available to parents on the school website.

As part of Child Protection Week, Senior Constables John Keats and Rhiannon Everall from the Community Policing unit addressed our Year 5/6 students on Monday afternoon regarding cyber safety. A number of parents also took the opportunity to listen to this presentation. The main message for both children and parents was the importance of communication. If children feel comfortable communicating with their parents or trusted adults, then they are more likely to remain safe, particularly in the online sphere of their lives.

Some useful information websites for both parents and students include:

www.esafety.gov.au

www.acorn.gov.au

www.kidshelpline.com.au

Japan Study Tour

We wish safe travel and a wonderful experience to  Anne Robertson (Japanese teacher) who will join a group of 15 students and teachers from our Warrnambool Network Catholic Schools on the study tour to Kyoto in Japan, leaving on Friday. As part of the tour, they will attend Doshisha Elementary School, whose students have stayed with some of our families for the past few years.

Student Leaders Presentation Night

Our Student Leaders will present their leadership project at the School Leaders’ Presentation Night at the Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool next Monday evening. Our leaders assisted in organising our Wellbeing Day and initiated the Book Swap project. 

Book Week

We are celebrating Book Week next Tuesday with our annual book fair and  dress up day. Thanks to Mrs Brown for organising these activities.

Camp

Our Yr 3/4 classes had a wonderful time at Rose’s Gap for their overnight camp last week. It was wonderful to see the children having the confidence to attempt new activities and develop their independence and resilience. These experiences are not possible without staff giving up their own time, so I thank the staff sincerely for their willingness to do this.

Equestrian

Good luck to Sophie Gapes, Tilly Gapes and Bethany Dyson who will be competing in the Wise champs Interschool equestrian event on Sunday.

Kind regards,

Sue Paulka

Principal

F/ 1M 9.00 am, F/1P – 9.20 am, F /1D – 9.40 am, 2 CF – 10.00 am

3/4 MA – 10.20 am, 3/4 W- 10.40 am, 3/4 M/L – 11.30 am

5/6B – 11.50 am, 5/6 L – 12.10 pm, 5/6 F – 12.30 pm

Our annual Book Fair will be on Tuesday 10th September.  This is a great opportunity to purchase a book or poster and support our school library to add resources to our library collection.

A percentage of profits directly benefits our school library.

Our annual parade of BOOK WEEK COSTUMES will be after second break at 2.20 pm.  Puffin prize packages will be presented to a “Puffin” boy and girl from each year level during the parade, recognising their consistent book borrowing from our school library in 2019.

Students are welcome to dress as a book character or follow our theme for this year – READING IS MY SECRET POWER!!

The class raffles will be the main raffles at this year’s Spring Fair. There will be no Multidraw Raffle and therefore  NO tickets that you are expected to sell. As an alternative, we want to make the class raffles spectacular but for this to happen we need your help!!

The Pamper Raffle looks amazing, thank you to the families that contributed towards it. Drop into the office foyer where it is on display and buy a ticket.

The Fair Coordinators have allocated year levels for the other raffles. There will be containers in each area for your donations to go in. Please, if you have not yet donated, we would really appreciate it if you could donate to one of these class raffles. Thank you.

Port Fairy St Patrick's & Koroit Infant Jesus Mass Times

Saturday September 6 @ 6.30pm - Port Fairy

Sunday September 7 @ 10.30am - Koroit