S T P A T R I C K ' S S C H O O L Newsletter 28th February, 2017. NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL info@spgordon.catholic.edu.au www.spgordon.catholic.edu.au Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent - the 40 days leading up to Easter - was traditionally a time of fasting and on Shrove Tuesday, Anglo-Saxon Christians went to confession and were "shriven" (absolved from their sins). Mardi Gras, meaning Fat Tuesday is another name for Shrove Tuesday. Fatty foods are now eaten, before the self- denial of Lent. Mardi Gras can be a flamboyant occasion, with a carnival procession and other colourful events. The idea is to have a great time before quietening down and doing penance. On Shrove Tuesday you can; Reflect on the fact that Summer is concluding and Autumn is almost here, Think about ways to help others without seeking gratitude daily. Think about ways to show kindness to others. Have a meal with friends or family, including pancakes of course! Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 40 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel." Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God. Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance. Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass. As we begin this season of Lent today, we know that we are not always people of peace and we struggle with the choices we make. Our hearts are broken and sometimes we break others too. We need to allow ourselves to be helped, to be loved by God who loves us always. The ashes placed on our foreheads today remind us that God heals the broken hearted and brings new life where before we could see none. Please join us for Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:00 noon at St. Patrick s Church Lenten Prayer Loving God, who is full of mercy and kindness, be with us in a special way during this time of Lent so that we can become a people of love and forgiveness reaching out to others with compassion and understanding. Amen Weekend Mass Times Dunnstown Saturday 6.30 pm Gordon Sunday 8.45 am Ballan Sunday 10.30 am Parent Information Evening for 2017 Thank you to all families who were able to attend our Information evening last week. This was a wonderful opportunity to hear from our staff about some new teaching and learning opportunities offered at St. Patrick s in 2017. As educators, we know that children learn best when they are feel supported and valued by all. With this in mind, we encourage teachers and families to work in partnership together to promote positive learning opportunities and ensure their children achieve success. At St. Patrick s school, we value these partnerships and aim to nurture and promote positive home / school relationships throughout your child s learning journey with us. We look forward to your continued support throughout 2017. Please read the newsletter thoroughly as you will continue to see exciting events happening over the coming weeks! Have a great week! Kind regards, Bambi Afford
Technology upgrades for 2017 We are excited to announce the purchase of two new screens for our F -2 and Year 3/4 Classrooms. With the introduction of new learning programs to St. Patrick s School, we are conscious that to enable our students access to the curriculum, new, reliable technology was required. Teacher and students alike are excited about the new screens and their endless possibilities to support and enhance our learning opportunities. Working Bee Thank you, thank you, thank you to our school parents who have done an amazing job restoring our sensory garden. It looks fabulous! Bulldogs Read We made the paper!!!! Twilight Sports Twilight Sports Friday 3 rd March 4:30pm 8:00pm at St. Patrick s School. Children will stay on after school and families are invited to join us at 4:30 pm. Please bring along a picnic for your family to share, rugs, chairs and any refreshments you may require. A Coffee Van will be in attendance from 4:00 6:00pm. This is a great social evening. Ballan Autumn Festival The Ballan Autumn Festival is an annual celebration of local culture, creativity and community. It s one of the largest events in the Moorabool Shire; 2015 attendance was over 8,000 visitors. This year St. Patrick s School is excited to be participating in this local event. This event will be held on 19 March 2017, in the main street of Ballan (Inglis Street). The festival will have a full entertainment line-up, and the highlight of the festival is the grand parade and float competition: celebrating local community groups, schools and organisations that make up our local community. This year s theme is Our Pioneering Days. Please indicate on the attached attendance slip if you and your children are able to attend on the day. This will enable us organize costumes and organisation on the day. FAMILY NAME. Children Attending We will/will not be attending the BALLAN AUTUMN FESTIVAL (Please circle whichever is applicable)
Athletics Day on Friday March 10th at Mason s Lane Bacchus Marsh. Our Interschool Athletics day which will be held at Mason s Lane Reserve in Bacchus Marsh on Friday 10th March. This has traditionally been a fantastic family day where parents join their children for with a picnic rug, camping chairs and lunch to support children in their athletic endeavours. We hope many parents will be able to come along and catch up with each other as you enjoy the events throughout the day. Children participate in age groups with schools from around the district. The day commences at around 9.15 am and concludes around 3pm. Training will occur during our Phys Ed lessons each week. Begonia Festival ~ Make a Pet Competition Our school is very excited to be a part of the Begonia Festival make a pet competition. Each class will enter one pet sculpture made out of recycled materials. The pet needs to be weather resistant and no bigger that 40cm X 40cm X 40cm. This week the Grade 3/4 class will begin making their sculpture for the Begonia Festival. If you have any of the following items at home, could you please bring them in to school. Small old metal tool box.- Bottle caps Old skateboard wheels - Chains Springs - Old letter boxes Door handles - Scrap metal Old binoculars - String Plastic bottles - An old tyre Thank you, Mrs Stott. UPCOMING EVENTS TODAY - Tuesday 28th February - Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day TOMORROW - Wednesday 1 st March - Ash Wednesday Mass at St Patrick s Church at midday. THIS COMING Friday 3rd March - Twilight Sports 4:30 pm - 8 pm at St Patrick s School. A lovely social evening for all families and children. Tuesday 7th March - Parents and Friends informal meeting at 9am. Please join us. All ideas welcome. 8th March - Story Time for pre schoolers at St. Patrick s School Library from 9am - 10 am. This will be held every 2nd Wednesday. SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB ORDERS DUE BACK ON THE 9th March Friday 10th March - District School Sports at Mason s Reserve, Bacchus Marsh. Friday 17 th March - Tabloid Sports program & celebrations in the morning, St. Patrick s Day Mass at midday and BBQ lunch on return to school. Please join with us. Sunday 19th March - BALLAN AUTUMN FESTIVAL - (SAVE THE DATE) Theme - Our pioneering days. Inglis Street, Ballan. Friday 31st March - School Photos for all children and staff. The Foundation Students will have all Wednesday s at home in Term 1. TERM 1 DATES - Thursday 2nd February to Friday 31st March. School Holidays 3rd April - 17th April. School resumes on Tuesday 18th April. PUBLIC HOLIDAY - Tuesday 25th April ICY POLES AVAILABLE IN TERM 1 ON A FRIDAY FOR 50 cents Scholastic Book Fair will be held at St Patrick s School on 24th and the 26th April. ZUMBA Classes have resumed every Monday of school term in St Patrick s School Hall - 9:30-10:15am. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER TO COVER SOME LIBRARY BOOKS, PLEASE SPEAK TO AMANDA LABBETT, THANK YOU.
News from the Rooms. Year F/1/2 The term is already whizzing by! Well done to everyone for doing so well with your nightly reading - keep up the great effort! Spelling is all ready to go and will be sent home on Monday night with the expectation that it will be returned on Friday. Children will be tested either Monday or Friday.This week in Foundation we are looking at the letters a, o,c,e. This week marks the start of Lent (Ash Wednesday) During this period of time children will be encouraged to do an act of kindness each day and expect nothing in return. STUDENT OF THE WEEK Dylan Van Egmond for doing so well with his recount weekend on Monday! Year 3/4 PANCAKES - BBQ PANCAKES: amazing, scrumptious, perfect, soft, fluffy and puffy. Fun to make, but I ve had better. They were yum, filled to perfection, best ever, lightest, delicious and awesome. Let s do it again! Year 3/4 Class Year 5/6 In the Year 5/6 class we have been working improve our writing. We have focused on punctuation and writing with more detail and description. STUDENT OF THE WEEK Mia Fitchie for working very well and for asking great questions to assist her learning. to Gordon Community Fair!!! Four of our local community groups are joining together to put on a key social event for the Gordon Community. It will be the major fundraiser for all 4 community groups for 2017. The organisational responsibilities will be equally shared between these four groups to provide a spectacular social event for 2017 in Gordon! The 4 groups involved are, Gordon CWA, Gordon CFA, Gordon Primary School, and of course St. Patricks Primary School. The representatives from St Pat s that are on the community fair committee are Jamie Turner and Sarah Sawicki. As this is our school s major fundraiser for the year we are calling for volunteers to assist us in forming a sub-committee for the major town event. At this stage the event is likely to take place in the main street in November (more details to follow). BRAIN TEASER QUESTION What occurs once in every minute, twice in every moment, yet never in a thousand years? (Answer on Back page)
Our Foundation students enjoy time in the playground - Dylan, Eva, Jez and Jobe. SHROVE TUESDAY Please join us next Wednesday Open Mornings for 2018 enrolments Our Open mor nings have commenced and we are excited to showcase our school and promote new enrolments for 2018.
BRAIN QUIZ ANSWER The Letter M