Term 3 Week 8

From the Principal

Dear Families,

As we come to the end of Term 3, I would like to thank all our students, staff, and families for the energy, effort, and support you have shown throughout the term. It has been a busy and rewarding time, with many highlights, and it has been wonderful to see our students growing in confidence and learning together.

I would like to wish all those playing in Football, Netball and/or Hockey finals over the weekend all the best. 

One of the stand-out moments was our Father’s Day Breakfast—what a wonderful morning it was! It was so pleasing to see so many dads, grandfathers, and special friends join us. The smiles, conversations, and shared time together really captured the strong sense of community we are so proud of at St Patrick’s.

A special reminder that our school musical will be held on Thursday, 18th September—we can’t wait to celebrate the talents of our students on stage.

The following day, Friday, 19th September, will be a School Closure Day.

Please also note the next Closure Day on Monday, 6th October, at the beginning of Term 4.

Thank you again for your ongoing support and involvement in the life of our school. I wish all families a safe and restful holiday break, and I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for another exciting term ahead.

Warm regards,

Trinity

School Closure Days

A reminder that the last day of Term 3, Friday September 19th, and the first day of Term 4, Monday October 6th are SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS. 

Students are not required at school on these days. Staff will be attending Professional Development on both days.

Upcoming Events

School Musical

🎭 Get Ready... Oliver With a Twist Is Almost Here!

Excitement is in the air! Our school musical, Oliver With a Twist, is nearly ready to hit the stage—and we can't wait to share it with you!

Our amazing students have been working so hard, learning lines, singing songs, and practicing their dance moves. The story is full of fun, adventure, and a few surprises too—it's a twist on the classic Oliver Twist, and it’s packed with energy, laughs, and lots of heart.

From colorful costumes to catchy tunes, this is a show the whole family will enjoy. You’ll be cheering, laughing, and maybe even singing along!

🗓 Save the Date: Thursday September 18th 
     Location: St Arnaud Town Hall
     Time: 12pm matinee show & 6pm evening show

🎟 Gold coin donation

Let’s give a big round of applause to all our brilliant performers, backstage helpers, and teachers who are making this show extra special. We’re so proud of everyone involved.

See you there for a twist you won’t forget!

Father's Day Breakfast

Happy Father’s Day!

Last Friday we celebrated all the amazing dads, grandfathers, and special male figures in our school community.

Your love, support, and guidance make a world of difference in the lives of our students. 

Thank you for being role models, mentors, and everyday heroes. 

We appreciate you today and every day.

We hope you enjoyed your special day — you’ve earned it!

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To view more photos from our Father's Day Breakfast clink the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/stpatricksstarnaud

School Camps 2025

We’re thrilled to share that our upcoming school camps for Grades 5 & 6 and Grades 3 & 4 are just around the corner!

The Grade 5 & 6 Camp Packs were sent home last Friday, August 29th. Please make sure you read the contents and complete the permission and medical forms. These forms need to be returned to school by Friday September 5th to confirm numbers.

Grades 5 & 6 will venture down to PGL Campaspe at Tylden, near the Macedon Ranges, from Tuesday October 14th to Friday October 17th.  A list of what students will need was included in the Camp Packs. If you have any queries, please contact the school.

Grades 3 & 4  will head north to the Billabong Ranch at Echuca from Wednesday December 3rd to Friday December 5th.

These camps are a fantastic opportunity for students to build friendships, develop independence, and take part in a range of fun and educational activities outside the classroom.

Each camp has been carefully planned to ensure a safe, engaging, and memorable experience for all students.

We’re looking forward to exciting adventures and can’t wait to share more with you shortly!

*Stars of the Week *

Black Ranges Athletics

Well done to all our students who competed in the Black Ranges Athletics today in Stawell!

You should all be incredibly proud of your efforts, determination, and sportsmanship.

Congratulations on representing our school with pride!

Thanks to Mrs. Wright and Tanya for taking them! 

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Wright Direction - Wellbeing News

R U OK Day?

Dear Families,

Thursday 11th September is R U OK? Day

Students have learnt about the 4 Steps of an R U OK? conversation and identifying the things they can and can't control when it comes to being a good friend.

Classes continue to visit Coates Hostel and Kara Court - which students enjoy interacting with the residents and the residents love having students visit. During these visits students read picture story books, play card games and other games, colour and talk to the residents.

This is a great opportunity for students to participate in conversations and learn to be patient and considerate towards others.

The end of term is approaching very quickly. Please take the time to do some fun activities with your child - read, play games and enjoy the nicer weather.

Regards

Tammy

CDF Community Fund

CDF is here to help put faith into action.
We do this through the delivery of financial solutions that balance margin and mission, for the common good. 

Since 1956, CDF has been supporting communities and continually improving an approach that allows us to provide a unique level of support across our footprint of Catholic primary and secondary schools, parishes and more recently aged care, healthcare and social service providers. 

CDF's primary role is to support the work of Catholic organisations.

While this work is increasingly complex and the demand for services grows, the needs of Catholic organisations can’t always be met by the traditional banking sector. However, our values-based approach to lending, backed by our rigour and professionalism as a financial organisation, allows CDF to give Catholic organisations every possible chance to put their faith into action. 

Our Lending Principles

Our lending is based on a unique set of criteria when compared to other financial organisations:

• We are guided by Catholic Social Teaching, that provide a set of principles for building a society based on love, respect and human dignity.
• We are committed to the common-good, and the fact that we are a Development Fund, and not a bank, means we have the freedom to support Catholic organisations who otherwise may not be eligible for support from the traditional banking sector. In over 65 years of work devoted to the common-good, CDF has never registered a bad debt. 
• Funding from within means Catholic endeavours and enterprises can be relatively self-sufficient, rather than relying on a banking system exposed to unpredictable and volatile market influences.

Investment as Faith in Action

Investments with us, both from organisations and everyday people, continue to grow our social mission and demonstrate, through faith in action, the fundamental values of the Church and its very real contribution to a fair, cohesive and productive society.

School TV - R U OK? DAY

SPECIAL REPORT: R U OK? DAY

Dates for 2025

Community Notices

Child Safe Standards

Child Safe Standard 8

Child Safe Standard 8 – Staff and Volunteers are Equipped with the Knowledge, Skills and Awareness to Keep Children and Young People Safe

At St Patrick’s, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, respected, and supported at school. Child Safe Standard 8 reminds us that the responsibility of keeping children safe is shared by all adults in our community.

To meet this standard, our staff and volunteers regularly take part in training and professional learning to strengthen their knowledge of child safety, wellbeing, and the rights of children. This includes understanding how to identify risks, respond to concerns, and create environments where children feel comfortable to speak up.

By equipping our teachers, support staff, and volunteers with the right skills, we are building a culture where child safety is not just a policy, but a daily practice. Our priority is always to protect and empower the young people in our care.

If you have any concerns or questions related to child safety, our Child Safety Officer, Trinity Johns, is available to support students, families, and staff.

At St. Pat’s, every child belongs.