Dear Families,

This week students and staff have engaged in learning and conversation about child safety and protection.  Today we have acknowledged the Day for Daniel which is a national day of action to raise awareness of this important issue.  To support this we ask families to to talk to your child/ren about what was learnt or discussed in class.  More information is available for interested families at the Day for Daniel website.

Fr. Peter Bickley was thrilled to inform us of further easing of restrictions for Parish Masses.  We are hoping this will also lead us being able to recommence class masses before the end of the year.  The presence of Fr. Peter and the celebration of the mass  has been missed this year at St. Patrick's.  As a Catholic school the mass is an important ritual that confirms and celebrates our identity, while offering children (and adults) the time and space to pray.  In recent weeks it has been fantatsic for a couple of our classes to 'zoom in' with Fr. Peter, and despite his disappointment about the Cats getting beaten on the weekend, he shared some powerful words with the students involved.  

Yesterday we were greeted with an array of colourful characters thanks to the dress up  day.  Despite being unable to hold a parade for the whole school and families, the children still revelled in the chance to dress up for bookweek.  A thank-you to the SRC who initiated this event and Sharon Carroll who organised some activities for classes over the last couple of weeks.

The Avon Bridge project is moving along at a rapid rate and Regional Rail Victoria reconnected with the students on Wednesday to give us an update.  Next week we expect to receive entry information for a competition they will be running to celebrate the completion of the project, with particular emphasis on the new pump track and playground.  Please keep an eye out for this as their are some great prizes on offer. 

We are approaching the mid point for Term 4 and planning for 2021 is well underway.  To support this process we are asking any family who is leaving at the end of the year to make contact with me in the next couple of weeks.  

Have a wonderful long weekend.

Nick