Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Last Monday and Thursday we had our St Patrick’s Open Days. On these days we welcomed new and existing families into our school to hear about and see what St Patrick’s has to offer their child. We had a really positive response from families with large numbers attending both days. The Open Days started with a parent information session, where parents were informed about our school priorities, how we approach teaching and learning, the Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Support, our Catholic Identity and the day-to-day happenings at the school.

Our Year 6 leaders then took individual families on a tour of the school, where they visited classrooms and learnt more about the school. Providing the school tours is something that our Year 6 students look forward to and take very seriously. The Year 6’s did an amazing job, and I had many comments from the parents on how informative their tour was and how well the children spoke about St Patrick’s.

This Monday and Tuesday, I held enrolment interviews with those families interested in their child attending St Patrick’s in 2025. These enrolment interviews help me learn more about each of the children and their families and most importantly, why they would like to attend St Patrick’s and their hopes for their child’s primary education. These enrolment interviews went really well, and we have received a lot of enrolment applications.

Over the coming weeks, myself, the leadership team and DOSCEL staff will plan for the 2025 school year and determine how many enrolment applications we can accept. This is a challenging process, as we would like to offer all families a place at St Patrick’s, however we need to ensure that we have the facilities and resources to be able to cater for them all.

Peace Mass

Last Friday, we attended the Peace Mass, where we joined St Thomas’ and St Mary’s Sale, St Mary’s Maffra, St Michael’s Heyfield, St Mary’s Yarram and Catholic College Sale to pray for Peace. In all, nearly 2000 students and staff attended the mass, which was celebrated by Bishop Greg and Father Francis. The Peace Mass was an initiative brought about following the Bali bombings in 2002. The Peace Mass has been celebrated most of the years following, with COVID meaning that a couple of masses were cancelled.

National Reconciliation Week

This week we have celebrated National Reconciliation Week at St Patrick’s. The students have learnt about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and have explored how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Pupil Free Day and King’s Birthday Public Holiday

Just a reminder that next Friday 7^th June is a pupil free day. All St Patrick’s staff will be involved in a professional development day, where we will learn more about the Gunnai Kurnai people, their history and stories and Stratford’s significance. Monday 10^th June is also a school closure day for the King’s Birthday Public Holiday.

I hope that you are all able to enjoy the four-day weekend together as a family.

Kind regards,

Joel