Dear Parent, Guardians and Carers,

This week I received a letter from the Australian Government, Department of Education. The letter stated:

Dear Mr Brayshaw,

I am writing to confirm that the delegate of the Minister for Education under the Australian Education Act 2013 has approved an Australian Government Capital Grant of $3,600,000 to assist your school with the demolition of multipurpose spaces and administration. The construction of two storey facility, including multipurpose space, staff facilities, a lift, a reception, offices and meeting rooms, general learning areas, a deck, break out spaces and student amenities. The refurbishment of student amenities.

This Australian Government Capital Grant is a huge boost for St Patrick’s and will support the increasing student and staff numbers at the school. We have been working with Crosier Scott Architects to design the new building, which will suit the school’s needs. Pictured above and below, the proposed new building will feature a new administration area, staffroom and multipurpose room on the ground floor, with four new classrooms, a collaborative learning space and break out spaces
on the first floor. The new building will be situated along Merrick Street and run down to the Dixon Street corner, with the current multipurpose/Year 6 classroom needing to be demolished.

It is proposed that the building project will go out to tender early in the new year, with building works planned to begin by the Term 1 school holidays. It is expected that the building works will take 12 to 14 months to complete.
This proposed new build has been a work in progress for several years and has involved current and past principals, staff and advisory committee members. I would like to thank them all for their contribution to the successful grant application and am excited to add this amazing building to the school.

Graduating Class of 2024

On Monday evening, our Year 6 students will celebrate their Graduation. Once again, our Year 6 students have stepped up and become great leaders of our school this year. I would like to congratulate all our Year 6 students on successfully completing primary school and wish them all the best as they venture off to high school.

Our Year 6 Graduating Class of 2024 is:

 Tyce Arndt
 Kate Bartlett
 Paygen Bates
 Luke Bennett
 Alicia Cable
 Lillian Dean
 Matilda Dower
 Tenesha Fieldsend
 Paige Fischer
 Peace-Lilly Fitton
 Chloe Halligan
 Emerson Harper
 Jenson Kerton
 Cooper Marsden
 Joshua Morton
 Sonny Pendrick

Jaxon Rawson
Amber Rigby
Luke Rowley
 Kobi Scicluna
 Bruce Sears
 Isobelle Venables

We also have several families that are finishing their association with St Patrick’s as parents. I would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution that they have made to the school community over many years. Our leaving families are:

 Bennett – Ben and Mel 
 Cable – Patrick and Sukanya 
 Dean – Prue and Bradley
 Fitton – Anthony and Nittaya
 Halligan – Ben and Hayley
 Kerton -  (Gleeson)  Julie
 Pendrick – Trevor and Zoe
 Rowley – Jonathan and Amanda
 Sears – David and Casey
 Venables – Charlene and Tracie and Charles

Christmas Nativity Presentation and Final Assembly

On Wednesday 18th December we will be having our whole school Christmas Nativity Presentation.
Our Foundation students will be the stars of the show, with the other classes playing a supporting role by singing a Christmas Carol. The Christmas Nativity Presentation will be held in the shade of the peppercorn trees on the school oval. All families are invited to attend. The school gates will open at 1.00pm for an approximately 1:15pm start.
Following the Christmas Nativity Presentation we will have our final school assembly for 2024.  At this assembly we will wrap things up for the year, farewell our graduating Year 6 students and draw the Christmas raffle.

2025 Pupil Free Days and School Closure Days

In 2025, St Patrick’s will have 8 pupil free days and 2 school closure days. The pupil free days provide opportunities for the staff of St Patrick’s to undertake professional development focused on the school’s improvement agenda, whilst the school closure days allow for the acquittal and banking of Time in Lieu (TIL) accrued through after school activities.

Our 2025 pupil free and school closure days are:

 Tuesday, 28th January
 Wednesday, 29th January
 Friday, 7th March

 Term 1 or 2 date – TBC
 Term 1 or 2 date - TBC

 Friday, 6th June
 Monday, 18th August
 Monday, 3rd November
 Thursday, 18th December
 Friday, 19th December

Thank you and Merry Christmas

I would like to thank you all for the support of your child and for your contribution to St Patrick’s this year. St Patrick’s is a wonderful school community that strives to create a positive environment for all, and it is an amazing place that allows all the students to grow, develop and learn. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a safe and restful holiday break.

I hope to see you all at our Christmas Nativity Play on Wednesday.

Kind regards,

Joel