Dear Parents, Guardians and Carers,

Parent/Teacher Interviews have been held this week. It has been great to see so many families take up the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss their start to the 2025 school year and how we can work together to best support your child. The partnership between family and school is very important in a child’s success at school. The following quote is one that I use quite regularly and highlight’s this important point.

"No matter how skilled professionals are, or how loving parents are, each cannot achieve alone what the two parties, working hand in hand, can accomplish together.”

(Peterson and Cooper, in Sheridan 2003).

If you were unable to attend a Parent/Teacher Interview for your child, please contact your child’s classroom to arrange a suitable time meet.

Commitment to Child Safety

St. Patrick’s Primary School is committed to creating and maintaining a safe school environment for all children by:

• Upholding the priority of the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Empowering families, children, young people and staff to have a voice and raise concerns.
• Implementing rigorous risk-management and employment practices.

Student Statement - Child Safety

We believe:

• That everyone has the right feel safe at school.
• Students’ have the right be listened to in a respectful manner.
• Our school should be inclusive and welcoming to everyone.

Dogs at school drop off and pick up

There are a few families that are bringing dogs to school at drop off and pick up times. Whilst this is okay, it is important that all dogs are on a lead and are being supervised by a parent. To ensure the safety of all students, staff, parents and other family’s dogs, please ensure that dogs are not taken into classrooms and out into the playground.

St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is coming up on Monday 17^th March. To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, we will be having a whole school excursion to the RAAF Cinema to watch a new movie titled ’10 Lives’. When at the movies, the students will receive a Prima, packet of chips and a small bag of lollies. Please contact your child’s teacher via Dojo if they are unable to have any of the special treats.

Following the movie, the students will return to St Patrick’s for a sausage sizzle. Students will be able to purchase sausages in bread ($2), Primas ($2) and Zooper Doopers ($1) via CDF Pay.

P&F Committee

The Parents and Friends Committee met for the first time in 2025 on Wednesday afternoon. At the meeting we discussed some school social and fundraising events planned for this year. The P&F do a fabulous job supporting these initiatives and it would be great to see some new parents join the group. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 19^th March at 2:30pm and it would be great to see some new faces. P&F supported events that are coming up are:

NAPLAN

Our Year 3 and 5 students will complete the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) between Wednesday 12^th and Monday 24^th March. During this time, they will complete assessments in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in Literacy and Numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.

Kind regards,

Joel