St Patrick's Primary School Cessnock eNewsletter

Vision & Mission Statement

Principal's Reflection

While all the chocolates might have been munched and our Church services, barbeques, and holidays may be over—the Easter Season continues. We return to school with the sense of joy and hope that the Easter Season gives us. The season of Easter begins with the Holy Triduum we spoke about last term and ends at Pentecost—often known as the birthday of the Church. This year Pentecost falls on Sunday 8^th June.

As Easter people we are called to take up the challenge before us to say yes to being disciples, yes to making a difference in our communities. If we say yes, then for this yes to be true and sincere, we must live like Easter makes a difference in our lives and ultimately the lives of others. To meet this challenge, we don’t need a complete upheaval of our entire universe, we simply need to let the Lord guide us as we love, care for and forgive others in all we do. Let us take up the challenge at St Patrick’s to truly BE Easter people.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our beautiful Mother’s Day Celebrations this morning. There was a lot of love and community spirit within our playground which was beautiful to be a part of. Our Liturgy presided by Fr Solomon and led by Year 1 was moving and of course very cute. Thank you to everyone – the staff, students and community members who helped in preparations and this morning to ensure all our Mums, Grandmas Nans, Omas, Aunts and mother figures in our lives were truly celebrated. A very Happy Mother’s Day from St Patrick’s – we hope you enjoy your day on Sunday!

Sporting Representatives

Last term Cadence Harriden, Gracie Lennard and Lexie Hindmarsh travelled to Maitland to compete in the Lower Hunter Regional Netball Trials. The girls play at a high level in their Netball competitions, and they all played very well on the day. Congratulations on your effort girls!

Religious Education

Students Journey Through Holy Week with Reflective Prayer Spaces

As we moved through the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, our students embarked on a powerful and reflective journey through Holy Week, engaging in activities that deepened their understanding of the events leading up to Easter. With our Catholic identity guiding each step, the school community came together in prayer, contemplation, and reverence.

Holy Week, the final week of Lent, marks the culmination of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, leading to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It is the most significant period in the liturgical calendar, ending in the joyful celebration of Easter Sunday—the cornerstone of our faith, signifying Christ’s victory over death and the promise of new life.

To help students enter more fully into the mysteries of Holy Week, a series of prayer stations were thoughtfully set up in a designated sacred space within the school. These stations were designed to reflect the key moments of each day: from Palm Sunday’s jubilant entry into Jerusalem to Holy Thursday’s Last Supper, Good Friday’s solemn crucifixion, and Holy Saturday’s quiet anticipation.

Each day, the prayer space evolved to mirror the liturgical narrative. On Palm Sunday, students encountered a station reflecting Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem, encouraging them to consider the ways we can prepare our hearts for the week ahead. By Holy Thursday, the space included symbols of the Eucharist and a hand-washing practice, highlighting Christ’s humility and service. Good Friday’s station invited students into the sorrow of the crucifixion with visual representations of the cross and silent reflection.

Break times also became a sacred opportunity for students to engage in these spaces. Activities included scripture reflections, guided meditations, writing personal prayers, lighting candles, and quiet journaling—mindful practices designed to support spiritual growth and personal connection to the Passion narrative. Teachers were on hand throughout students journeys to gently guide and encourage reflective engagement.

It was deeply moving to witness the respect and reverence with which students participated. Many chose to return throughout the week, bringing friends or simply sitting in stillness. Their sincere curiosity and openness to explore their faith was evident in the thoughtful prayers left at each station and the silence that often filled the space.

As a way to carry the experience beyond the school walls, students were invited to take home a small symbol of their learning journey—such as a palm cross, prayer card, decorated pebble with symbols of hope. These items served as prompts for further reflection and discussion with their families, helping to extend the sacred experience into the home and encouraging faith-sharing within the wider community.

The prayer journey culminated in a joyful anticipation of Easter, reminding all of us that through Christ’s sacrifice, we are invited into a new and eternal life. This Holy Week experience not only deepened students’ understanding of the liturgical season but also provided a meaningful way to encounter God personally.

As we now celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, we carry with us the stillness, reverence, and hope nurtured during this sacred journey. May it continue to shape our hearts and guide our steps as we move forward in faith.

On Friday morning, the St Patrick’s school community came together to honour and celebrate the special women in our lives through our annual Mother’s Day Muffins with Mum Breakfast, followed by a heartfelt liturgy and community gathering. The theme for this year’s celebration, “The Heart of a Mother,” was beautifully reflected in every aspect of the morning—from the warm smiles over breakfast to the moving moments shared during the liturgy.

Families gathered early to enjoy a delicious breakfast, where muffins, laughter, and meaningful conversations were shared. The joy of reconnecting and celebrating together was evident in every corner, reinforcing the strong sense of community that defines us at St Patrick’s.

The liturgy that followed was a true celebration of love, gratitude, and the nurturing spirit of mothers and caregivers. We were honoured to welcome Father Soloman, who presided over the liturgy and shared thoughtful reflections that resonated deeply with all in attendance.

Our talented Year 1 students shone brightly throughout the celebration. They showcased their gifts through expressive dance, confident reading, and engaging participation during the liturgy. Their enthusiasm and creativity brought energy and joy to the event.

A special highlight was the moving artwork created by our gifted young artists—Kynan and Baxter. Their piece, a tribute to Mary, our Mother, captured the reverence and gratitude of the occasion and was received with admiration by the congregation.

The celebration concluded with an unforgettable performance of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” delivered with charm and heartfelt enthusiasm by our Year 1 students. Their spirited rendition left the audience smiling, teary-eyed, and feeling truly appreciated.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for this special event. The presence of so many families enriched the occasion and reminded us that our community is truly the heart of St Patrick’s. To all the mothers, grandmothers, and special caregivers—thank you for the love you share so generously. We hope you left with full hearts, just as we did.

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

Upcoming Liturgies Term 2

3RD JUNE: Catholic Schools Week and Open classrooms with a picnic lunch 10am. More details to come.

1st JULY: Naidoc Week Celebrations (Time to be confirmed)

Athletics Carnival

Our Athletics Carnival will be held next Friday, 16th May at Turner Park, Aberdare from 9:00am to 2:30pm.

The carnival will incorporate events and activities for the whole school.

On the day of the carnival, parents are asked to drop children at Turner Park Aberdare by no later than 8:45am so that rolls can be completed by teachers and the carnival can be in progress by 9:20am with our Welcome.

Those children who must come to school first as they arrive on buses and cannot be dropped off at Turner Park will walk to and from the carnival with supervising teachers. Teachers will organize the children at school and walk them to Turner Park. Children unable to be picked up from Turner Park at the end of the day will be walked back to school in time for normal afternoon pick up and buses.

Teachers will be present at the ground to supervise from 8:25am.

On leaving the carnival, children also must have their name marked off by their age group supervising teacher.

The carnival should be finished by 2:30pm.

Children are to come in their sports uniform or their sports house colours – Eucalypts Green, Wattles Yellow, Waratahs Red and Bluebells Blue. Coloured t-shirts, hats, socks and accessories are allowed.

In the event of a wet or inclement weather, parents will be informed via a Compass alert if the carnival is to be postponed. School would continue as usual. Please note our back up date for the carnival is Monday 26 May.

Canteen Open at Athletics Carnival – Pre-Order Now!

To keep everyone fueled throughout the event, the canteen will be open, offering a variety of food and drinks.

Pre-Ordering: Students and families can pre-order their lunch via Quickcliq. All pre-orders must be placed by 12:30pm on Thursday 15 May, so be sure to get your orders in on time!

Counter Service & Special Treats: In addition to pre-orders, counter service will be available at the canteen on the day for hot food, water, soft drink and extra snacks. Plus, there will be snow cones for $5 and delicious coffee from the coffee van—perfect for spectators and supporters!

Weather Contingency: If the carnival is postponed due to bad weather, all pre-ordered lunches will be held over until the new carnival date.

We can’t wait to see everyone there, ready to cheer, compete, and enjoy a fantastic day together!

PB4L

At St. Patrick’s our PB4L is based around our five Catholic Values that underpin everything we do at our school – Respect, Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness and Justice.

Our PB4L focus is highlighted each fortnight. Children work hard to display our focus positive behaviours both inside the classroom and on the playground.

Our PB4L focus for Weeks 1 and 2 was: Justice (Fairness)

Following the rules in games and play fairly
Reports concerns to a teacher
Show good sportsmanship

Our PB4L focus for Weeks 3 and 4 is: Kindness

Include others in games
Share equipment and share spaces
Use each space as intended

Social Clubs

Mother's Day Stall

Thank you for your generosity in donating gifts for the Mother's Day stall and raffle. Thank you also to the lovely ladies that volunteered to both set up the stall and to work on it. Jess, Taylah, Hannah I, Pauline, Renae, Hannah D. The children all had a fabulous time choosing the perfect gift for their mums, grandmas and other special people in their lives.

Thank you to our students who participated in this year’s ANZAC Day March in Cessnock, representing St Patrick's with respect and pride. Many wore war medals from family members, acknowledging the service and sacrifice of past generations.

The march was well-organized, and students carried themselves with dignity, demonstrating their understanding of the occasion's significance. Following the march, the ANZAC service provided an opportunity for reflection, featuring speeches, wreath-laying, and the Last Post.

Thank you to all students who took part. Their involvement helped uphold the important tradition of remembering and honoring Australian service personnel.

Kindergarten have had a wonderful start to Term 2, and we are so impressed at their eagerness to learn! We have kicked off Term 2 by continuing group work in the morning, allowing the students to explore a range of literacy, numeracy and fine motor skills. There have been many special days which have become a focus of these groups including Easter, Anzac Day and of course Mother’s Day this week. The students have loved sharing what they know about these important days and what they did to celebrate.

In our Mathematics learning, we have explored many different mathematical concepts this year. The end of Term 1 saw Kindergarten learning about measurement; length, volume and capacity. The students loved putting on their thinking caps to measure the amount of sand in different sized containers, and using playdough to create animals of different lengths.

Our Literacy component has focused on the letters m, s, a, t and this week we have introduced p. Both classes have been very immersed in their learning and are trying very hard when beginning to blend these sounds together when spelling words. Keep working hard Kindergarten, you are doing so well!

What a wonderful and busy start to the term we’ve had in Year 1! Our classrooms have been filled with exciting learning opportunities, spiritual growth, and some fantastic activities. Here’s a little peek into the fun and learning we’ve been doing!

Learning about Holy Week and Easter

We've been exploring the special events of Holy Week, and what a meaningful journey it has been! We learned all about the significant days leading up to Easter, including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Our class took part in Holy Week activities, from creating beautiful crafts to engaging in prayer that helped us understand the true meaning of this sacred time. We also reflected on the resurrection of Jesus and the joy of Easter, celebrating with special activities that helped us embrace the Easter spirit.

Mathematics Fun – Exploring Equivalence

In maths, we’ve been working on equivalence. Our Year 1 mathematicians have been busy comparing numbers, figuring out how different numbers can be equal, and solving problems in fun ways. We’ve worked in small groups to solve puzzles and play games, discovering how numbers can be represented in various ways. It’s been a fun and interactive way to strengthen our understanding of numbers and their relationships!

Martial Arts with Sensei Darius

One of the highlights of our term so far has been the exciting start to the MAT program! With the incredible Sensei Darius, we’ve been learning martial arts skills that help us focus, regulate our emotions, and build both our physical and mental strength. Through each session, we’ve been practicing discipline, balance, and respect—skills that are just as important for our minds as they are for our bodies. We can’t wait for more!

Leading the Mother’s Day Liturgy

This week, we have had the honour of leading the Mother’s Day liturgy in our school community. It was such a special moment for all of Year 1 to come together and share in prayer, song, and dance to celebrate all the wonderful mothers and mother figures in our lives. The children’s enthusiasm and creativity really shone through, and it was a beautiful way to express our gratitude and love for our mums.

We have had such a busy start to the term and we can’t wait for all the exciting learning opportunities and activities still to come.

Year 2 Gold

Year 2 Gold have been learning about adjectives, prepositions, noun groups and personification and we are trying to use some of these techniques in our writing. We have really enjoyed improving our descriptive language to compliment the illustrations in our current text.

In Maths we loved using 2D triangles to create new shapes by joining and partitioning them.

Aboriginal Education

Year 1 students recently explored the importance of kinship in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, learning how family relationships shape identity and community. Through storytelling and activities, they gained insight into Indigenous traditions and the deep connections that define Aboriginal and TSI communities.

Library News

Book Club

Issue 3 of Book Club is now available.

Orders close on 15 May 2025.

Please place your order via LOOP.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure your child's Year, Class and Teacher details are up to date in LOOP to ensure correct delivery of your order.

Thank you.

Premier's Reading Challenge

Congratulations to Claire from Year 5, Archie from Year 1, and Elsbeth from Year 4 for completing their reading challenge for 2025. Claire is now on track to earn her platinum certificate at the end of Year 6. I have been busily contacting parents via email with their children's updated logon details as the DET changed their passwords for security reasons earlier this year. I only have to contact the parents of some Year 5 and 6 students to complete this job. Thank you to the parents who have contacted me for help in order to upload books for their children. Over the past week, I have uploaded a number of books for children mainly in the Infants' classes. These are books the children have been reading in class with their teachers. We still have until September to reach the target of 30 books for Infants and 20 books for Years 3-6.

Hint: When uploading books whose titles begin with the definite article 'the', go to the second word. For example, 'The Very Hungry Bear': instead of typing in the whole title 'The Very Hungry Bear', simply type in "Very Hungry Bear". This should help you to find and upload titles in less time.

Happy Reading!

Poetry in the Library

As part of the Stage 3 English program, Year 6 students have been enjoying poetry in the library this term. This week, we looked at the history and structure of haikus. These types of poems originated in Japan and focus on nature. The poem is made up of three lines, with the first and third lines consisting of 5 syllables, and the second line of 7 syllables. After being given some time to plan, our Year 6 students produced the following.

A Slithering Start to Term 2

On Tuesday 29 April, which was the first day back for students, St. Patrick's had a reptilian visitor in the form of a green tree python. The local snake catchers were called and they soon apprehended the unwelcome visitor. As the snake catchers were leaving, they were invited into the library for a quick 'Show and Tell' session with kindergarten who just happened to be having their library lesson at that time. The children were totally engaged with the talk and the snake, which was very well behaved. They learned from the experts that snakes are deaf, and that this particular species of snake was non-venomous. Check the photographs.

Gardening Club

Thank you to Aubree from kindergarten, Harlow from Year One, and Matilda, Lydia, and Loxlee from Year Three, who all helped with Garden Club this week. We planted another nandina and a hawthorn to fill in a few gaps. Both plants are hardy and drought tolerant, so lets hope these two can survive. Over the holidays, we passed the 61 000 mark for recycling drink containers, so that's a monumental effort. The money we raise goes to our Garden Club, Lego Club and library. If you throw your drink containers in your yellow bins for recycling, pleased consider dropping them into school to help our fundraising. Our Lego Club is in high demand at the moment; the faster I buy them, the quicker they build them.

High Performing & Gift Education

CogAT 2025

This term students in Years 2 and 4 will participate in the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Year 4’s CogAT will take place on Thursday May 15.

Year 2’s CogAT will take place on the mornings of May 27, 28 and 29. This test evaluates students' reasoning abilities in three key areas essential for success in school:

Verbal Battery: Assesses students' ability to reason with words and concepts, crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, and verbal learning tasks.
Quantitative Battery: Measures students' ability to reason with quantitative symbols and concepts, which are vital for problem-solving in mathematics and other disciplines.
Nonverbal Battery: Evaluates students' ability to reason with geometric shapes and figures, requiring them to implement strategies for solving novel problems.

These batteries provide a comprehensive view of each student's learned reasoning abilities, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. CogAT aims to support differentiated practice in education by helping teachers adapt instruction to meet the unique needs and abilities of each student.

It's important to note that CogAT scores are not integrated into report grades or other conventional measures of school achievement. The focus is on tailoring instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive learning environment based on each child's ability.

If you have any concerns or questions about your child's academic progress or specific educational needs, please schedule a meeting with your child's teacher. They will discuss your child's strengths and areas for growth based on various assessments. Additionally, you can contact our Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) Shayne Coxon (shayne.coxon@mn.catholic.edu.au), or Education Officer - Gifted Education, Maree Karaka (maree.karaka@mn.catholic.edu.au) for further assistance.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring the best educational outcomes for our students.

Shayne Coxon

Free Parent / Carer Webinars

Upcoming information sessions and webinars for parents and carers

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. To assist you in this important role, a list of upcoming webinars provided by reputable providers, free of charge, has been compiled and is available on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage.

A snapshot of Term 2 webinars featured on the webpage is included below.

Online safety-focused sessions:

Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
eSafety 101, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know, hosted by the eSafety Commissioner
The Social Media Guide: What Every Parent Needs to Know in 2025, hosted by The Cyber Safety Project

Mental health-focused sessions:

Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents, hosted by Learning Links
Teen Mental Health Matters, hosted by The BlackDog Institute

Parenting sessions

What kids need now, before the teenage years, hosted by CCSP NSW/ACT and Michelle Mitchell

More information about these webinars, including registration links, can be found on the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Catholic Schools webpage www.mn.catholic.edu.au/our-community/supporting-parents-and-carers/upcoming-parent-and-carer-information-sessions/

Please note that the webpage will be updated regularly with news of additional webinars, and you can visit the site at any time.

School TV

SPECIAL REPORT: Shaping Healthy Masculinity

In today's fast-moving world, many boys are struggling to find direction. Even well-meaning online searches about fitness, confidence or relationships can lead them to content that promotes rigid or unhealthy ideas about masculinity. The critically acclaimed TV show 'Adolescence' has brought fresh attention to this issue, highlighting how boys are often exposed to messages that glorify toughness and dominance, while dismissing empathy and emotional openness.

These outdated beliefs can limit emotional growth and impact how boys relate to others - with real consequences in schools, homes and communities. That's why it's more important than ever to guide boys with care, clarity and connection.

By offering healthier role models, safe spaces to talk, and encouraging respectful friendships - especially across genders - we can help boys develop the confidence, empathy and relationship skills they need to thrive.

This special report calls for a cultural shift and advocates for curiosity-driven dialogue that builds trust and critical thinking. The goal is to raise boys who are not just resistant to harmful influences, but actively capable of questioning and rejecting them.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://cessnock.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-shaping-healthy-masculinity-au

16 May	Athletics Carnival All day

20 May	Dio Cross Country All day

23 May	Kindergarten 2026: Applications Close (First Round) All day

28 May	Dio Rugby Union All day

2 Jun	Catholic School's Week 02 Jun 2025 - 06 Jun 2025

9 Jun	Public Holiday (King's Birthday) All day

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2025 Term 2 Week 2