2025 Term 2 Week 8
- Vision & Mission Statement
- Principal's Reflection
- Religious Education News
- PB4L
- Thompson's Bakery School Fundraiser
- Library News
- Creative Arts Corner
- Aboriginal Education
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Athletics Carnival
- Awards
- School TV: Celebrating NAIDOC Week
- Good for Kids Good for Life
- Swap It
- Community Notices
Vision & Mission Statement
Principal's Reflection
This Sunday, the Church commemorates the solemnity of the Corpus Christi, in Latin this means the Body of Christ. The body of Christ is the living bread from heaven which Jesus first gave his Disciples at the Last Supper. When we eat this bread, we proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection until he comes again. The promise of Jesus to us is that if we live our lives following God’s example and receive Jesus as our bread of life, we will have a place in God’s Kingdom.
The Feast of Corpus Christi is a celebration of Jesus’ hospitality. As we listen to this Gospel, we encounter the welcome of Jesus who prepares a feast for us all. While we concentrate on the fact that Jesus is the Bread of Life, we also proclaim that Jesus lives within each one of us who are baptised into His Body, the Church. At Mass we celebrate the Eucharist as a community of faith, hope and love. Receiving the Eucharist at Mass allows us to be nourished by God to go out and spread the Good News, to live by Jesus’ example and serving others.
Jesus’ presence does make a difference in our lives when Christ becomes the center and focus of our thoughts and actions. Jesus offers us the gift of himself to lead, guide, and protect us in our journey of faith. What a precious gift we have and a gift we can share with our children.
Last week I had the pleasure of presenting awards of significance to two of our teaching staff here at St Patrick’s. Both awards mark significant points in their career as a Catholic Educator.
Congratulations to Mr Cameron Dilley for receiving his 25 Years of Service to Catholic Education Award and Miss Larsen for achieving accreditation at Proficient Teacher level from the National Educational Standards Authority (NESA). You are both a gift to St Patrick’s, we are very proud of you. Congratulations!
Next week, Year 6 will be travelling to the Nation’s Capital on Wednesday-Friday for what is always a significant excursion for students in Primary school. The students will be learning about why Canberra was built where it is today and visiting places of cultural, democratic and national significance. The cost of this excursion is subsidised by the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) rebate of $30 per student. Having taken many groups to Canberra I know this excursion becomes a highlight of their Primary Schooling and memories are created which are kept for years to come. Thank you to Mrs Sylvester, Mr Dilley, Mrs Ryman and Mrs Greenup who have spent significant time preparing to take Year 6 away and organising their own families to allow them to be away from home. I know the children appreciate your commitment. Many thanks.
We cannot wait to hear all about your adventures,Year 6!
As previously mentioned, there is an opportunity for parents and carers to have a parent teacher interview with your child’s/children’s teacher/s to discuss academic progress in 2025. Last Friday, you received a COMPASS notification allowing you to book a 10-minute timeslot. These meetings are occurring throughout Week 10. Please access COMPASS to book a time if you wish to meet with a teacher.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
St Patrick’s will be celebrating NAIDOC Week on Tuesday 1st July. Our Celebrations will begin with a smoking ceremony and prayer service followed by a variety of activities which all students will rotate through. Thank you to Mrs Caroline Kennedy for her leadership as our Aboriginal Education Teacher and organisation of what will be a great day for our students filled with many cultural experiences. Additionally, thank you to our volunteers; Jessica Hodge, Simone Brown and the dancers from Mt View High School for their time and support of our celebrations.
See details of the day below:
To conclude NAIDOC Week and our school term Year 6 are hosting a fundraising school disco on FRIDAY 4th July, this will take place during the school day for all students. Students are to wear their normal sports uniform.
Year 6 will be selling ice blocks and lolly bags for 50c and $1 during the Disco so please send some money with your child/children for a little treat!
We have enjoyed having Mrs Emilly Shaw back with us following her maternity leave teaching Year 3 Gold with Mrs Simpson. From this week Mrs Shaw will be teaching Year 3 Gold 3 days per week (Monday-Wednesday) and Mrs Simpson will be teaching Year 3 Gold 2 days (Thursdays and Fridays)
Religious Education News
Sacraments
Please see Compass for details relating to upcoming Sacraments of Initiation offerings at our Vineyard Parish. These have also been sent home as a hard copy this week to Catholic students. Please contact the Cessnock Presbytery to enrol your child/ren for one or more of the Sacraments. Monique: Ph. 49901551
We pray for our St Patrick’s students enrolled and preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Nixon Attewell
Kynan Cook
Hudson Cook
Parkar Cremona
Bobby Schrader
Kai Jones
Parish Mass
To continue to support our Parish and School partnership, and for students to experience Mass at the Church, Primary teachers and students will be attending the Wednesday morning Parish Mass at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Cumberland St, Cessnock over the next few weeks.
The Mass will begin at 9am, and parents/carers are asked if possible, to drop off their child at the Church from 8.25am. Teachers will be there to supervise at this time. Parents/family members are most welcome and encouraged to attend the Mass as well. If this arrangement is unattainable for your family, please email your child's classroom teacher.
Following fruit break in Bridge's Hill Park, students will walk back to school with their teachers and continue a normal day of learning. Student's will take their school bag with them to the Church, and these will be kept secure during the Mass.
Over the past two weeks, the Year 5 & 6 students have attended the Parish Mass at St Joseph’s. It has been wonderful for them to experience and be part of the Parish community. We thank the parents and carers of our students for organising to drop their child at the Church. Please if this is ever an issue, contact your child classroom teacher prior to the day and we can organise an alternative arrangement.
Enjoying some time reflecting at Bridges Hill Park in the sunshine has also been appreciated by students.
Father Soloman has continued to visit our classrooms on a Friday afternoon. The students have enjoyed him facilitating and supporting the RE curriculum in classrooms alongside classroom teachers.
Beanies for Brain Cancer
St Patrick’s hosted our annual Beanie for Brain Cancer fundraising day on Friday 13th June, 2025. It was wonderful to see students rugged up in their beanies on such a chilly day for such a worthy cause.
The winner of our Jelly Beanie guessing competition was Harper Olsen, guessing very closely to 361 jellybeans.
We are very grateful for the support of our families and the creativity of our students at St Patrick’s in our Design a Beanie competition! The standard was set very high, and we congratulate our overall class winners.
Our Major Prize Winner of a $30 gift card was Layla Baker from Year 1. Well done, Layla
We thank you for your continued support of this valuable community initiative. This year we raised $450 for the Mark Hughes Foundation.
Upcoming liturgies
- Tuesday 1st July 10.15am (change of time) - Naidoc Week
Students can wear out of uniform in Indigenous colours on this day.
Please ensure the students wear joggers for physical activities.
- Friday 25th July at 9:15am - Grandparents Day & 100 Days of Kindergarten / 100 Days of Primary School Remaining for Year 6
We will be asking Kinder and Year 6 students to dress up as 'grandparents' on this day, if you'd like to start organising early.
RE In The Classroom
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 7 and 8 was: Compassion
- Help others
- Take turns
- Include others in your games
- Be aware of students who are by themselves
Our PB4L focus for Weeks 9 and 10 is: Compassion & Kindness
- Be mindful of others playing near you
- Encourage and support others
Thompson's Bakery School Fundraiser
As the winter season is upon us, it’s the perfect time to fill your fridges and freezers with delicious bakery treats!
Order Form and Payment Due:
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Payment can be made by cash or EFTPOS at the office. Cash is preferred.
All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards enhancing technology resources for our school.
Library News
Book Fair
Our annual Book Fair will take place in Week One, Term Three from Monday 21 July and will run through to Friday 25 July, culminating in our Grandparents Liturgy. This event is a very successful fundraiser for our library, so we would love for you to visit. We will be open before school, throughout the day, and after school. EFTPOS is also available. Please check the poster for more information and the link below about the importance of reading. A Message to Parents about Scholastic Bookfairs available from YouTube https://youtu.be/AfHJ98jVAgM?si=a7aLZjcH5vJkgZLy
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Michael, Kay, & Gabrielle
Years 3, 4 & 5 in the Library
Years 3 to 5 have been receiving library lessons with a focus on comprehension. Year 4 recently completed a text entitled Our Charter of Rights. The first task was to write into a graphic organiser sheet what they knew about their rights. We discussed the Universal Declaration of the Rights of a Child and they were surprised to learn that they had certain guaranteed rights like the right to an education, the right to feel safe, and the right to food, water, and shelter. They were also surprised to learn that they had the right to go to the toilet when necessary. The children were then formed into groups and were asked to construct a list of their rights on a poster. They were also reminded that having certain rights meant that they also had certain responsibilities. One point that was driven home was the responsibility of being respectful and safe around others and learning in the classroom.
Year 6 In the Library
Year 6 students have been reading and writing poetry this term. Our last effort was to compose a poem based on the Charles Causley poem I am the Song. It begins with the following line: I am the song that sings the bird. What the poet has done is swap the nouns around. This was Year 6's inspiration to compose a poem of their own.
Premier's Reading Challenge
We now have 17 students validated on the Premier's Reading Challenge, with the latest being Declan from Year One Gold, so well done, Declan. The Challenge continues through to Friday September 26, which just so happens to be Week 10, Term Three, so there's still plenty of time. If you would like a Power Point Slideshow that explains what the PRC is all about, let me know and I'll send you a copy. All our new recently arrived students are now on the Challenge and will be contacted. Happy Reading!
Creative Arts Corner
Celebrate Choirs at the Civic
It has been an exciting time for our choir! Last week, the students travelled by bus to the Civic Theatre in Newcastle for their technical rehearsal. They were absolutely blown away by the grandeur of the venue. The staff were wonderful, answering all the interesting questions the students had about the theatre.
The students then made their way back to the Civic Theatre for the Celebrate Choirs at the Civic evening performance. We received rave reviews from our ever-supportive parents, and I honestly believe we had the best audience support of the night! The students' behaviour was excellent, and they represented our school with pride and enthusiasm.
I am so impressed with the dedication of this group of students. They’ve given up countless recesses to be part of this choir, and their hard work shows that when we all work together toward a common goal, amazing things can happen.
There were plenty of nerves on the night and during the rehearsal, but the unwavering support from their teachers and friends helped these young performers overcome their fears and deliver a stellar performance. Seeing the pure joy on their faces while they were performing just fills my heart with joy. It was a beautiful snapshot of our students' God given talents, and a beautiful way to share them with the community. Lots of students were actually disappointed when I told them they could have recess off practice this week!!
There was also a professional photographer at the event, so stay tuned! As more details emerge, I’ll be sure to share the photos with everyone concerned. For now, I’ve got a few backstage and rehearsal shots to share with you.
I’d like to thank all the teachers and staff for their unending support and help with supervision and for caring for our students throughout the event. A huge thanks to Brooke Vassel who just couldn’t keep away and came and supported us even though she was on maternity leave.
We are already looking forward to our next performance. We had new sign-ups today, but more are most welcome. Our next big event will be competing at the Abermain Eisteddfod. This was cancelled last year so we are really looking forward to competing this year.
Thanking you for the ongoing support of your children and The Arts at St Patrick's.
Shayne Coxon
Dancefest 2025
Five of our students from Year 6 were lucky enough to attend Dancefest 2025. From their responses it is very obvious they had a great time and enjoyed the experience. Students at St Patrick's are feeling very privileged to be able to access great Creative Arts experiences. Enjoy reading their reflections below.
Shayne Coxon
Aboriginal Education
Kindergarten Wattle
Year 3
Year 3 Emerald
Maths
It is evident that when children are learning new mathematical concepts, it's always a good idea to let them manipulate concrete resources to help them understand. Such was the case with Year 3 this week when they were challenged to construct some 3D objects using our library construction kits. The children were able to create a cube easily enough, a rectangular prism, and even a triangular prism, but they were also challenged to construct a square and triangular pyramid. If that wasn't challenging enough, early finishers were asked to create a cylinder and a cone. From the photographs, they looked very engaged with this activity and produced some quality constructions. After completion, the different groups were asked to come to the front of the class to discuss the properties of their various objects, including the number of faces, edges, and vertices (corners).
Science Experiment
Year 3 Gold
Mathematics
We have been having lots of fun in mathematics the last few weeks we have been learning to estimate, measure and compare capacities (internal volumes) using litres, millilitres and volumes using cubic centimetres. We used cups to estimate how much sand we had and used measuring cups to check our guesses. We created our own recipes for a cake using the correct language and shared them with the class.
English
In English we have been reading ‘Piano Fingers’ a story about a young girl who finds her rhythm and confidence through playing the piano. We have been using imagery, symbolisation and connotation in our writing. We also have demonstrated our fantastic ability to use personification.
Year 4
Dear Families,
We’re nearing the end of Term 2, and what a fantastic term it has been in Year 4! The students have been working incredibly hard, showing great enthusiasm and growth in all areas of learning.
English
This term, our English unit has focused on the mentor concept of imagery, symbol, and connotation, and the supporting concept of characterisation.
Using the mentor text Bindi by Kirli Saunders and the supporting text Fire by Jackie French, students have explored key narrative elements while building a deeper understanding of how authors use language to create vivid and emotional writing.
Students are developing their own writing, incorporating figurative language and free verse poetry. They are learning how to use language purposefully to evoke emotion, create imagery, and engage their readers through carefully chosen words and structure.
Mathematics
Over the next two weeks, students will be engaging in hands-on learning experiences in the areas of 3D space and measurement. They will:
- Compare and describe features of three-dimensional objects by making and exploring models, sketches, and diagrams.
- Construct models from given top, front, and side views using squared and isometric paper.
- Measure and compare capacities using formal units (litres and millilitres) with scaled instruments
- This unit will encourage students to apply spatial reasoning and measurement skills in both practical and visual ways.
Religion
In Religion, students have been reflecting on how the Holy Spirit strengthens us to be Christ for others and to live out the mission of Jesus.
We have explored how Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to act like Jesus and continue His work of witness and service. Students have considered how Jesus lived out the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—and how we can follow His example in our daily lives.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We are incredibly proud of the students and the progress they continue to make. We look forward to finishing the term with positivity and purpose.
Warm regards,
The Year 4 Team
Year 5
Year 5 Gold Shines Bright this Term!
Wow - Year 5 Gold has had an absolutely gold-star kind of term! From sprinting down the track at the athletics carnival to meeting Knights legend Fletcher Sharpe (what a moment!), they’ve been living their best lives both inside and outside the classroom.
Raising funds for Brain Cancer Research on Beanie Day shows real heart and compassion in action. And those Maths goals? Sounds like they’re calculating their way to greatness. We’re also beaming with pride for Adi, our incredible Maths and Spelling Bee champion—what a standout achievement!
Year 5 Gold has tapped into their creative side too, crafting thoughtful poetry inspired by young activist Solli Raphael—such a powerful voice for change. In Religion, they've been exploring prayer and dignity with care and curiosity, adding even more depth to their learning journey.
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent community for joining us during Catholic Schools Week and visiting our classrooms. Your support means the world and makes our learning environment even more special!
Year 6
As part of the PD/Health curriculum, Year 6 students have been learning about living a healthy, safe and active lifestyle. They have also been learning about inclusive celebrations, events and ways society must cater to all people.
As part of the program, Year 6 were required to complete a construction activity over several weeks at school.
Students needed to complete the following task.
TASK
Design and create a model of a safe, inclusive, active park / playground for your local community. The playground must cater for a diverse range of cultures, ages and abilities. Include a set of appropriate rules for the park (an expected set of behaviours to include all).
Here are some photos of the children working collaboratively on their projects. Everyone has found the activity educational, fun and rewarding.
Athletics Carnival
What a fantastic Athletics Carnival we had this year! After weeks of rainy weather, the sun finally came out to brighten the day. All our K-6 students participated with enthusiasm and great sportsmanship, making the event fun for everyone. The running races were exciting, with students sprinting their hearts out, while the shot put and long jump competitions showed great strength and skill. Everyone also enjoyed the novelty rotations, which added a fun and playful element to the day. It was wonderful to see the excellent marches, chants, mascots, and lively dance-offs adding extra excitement. A big thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped with timekeeping and in the canteen, as well as to everyone who contributed delicious treats for the bake sale. Your support made the day even more special!
Awards
Week 7:
CLASS CAPTAINS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Emilee Johnston | Jhett-Reed McCluskey |
Kindergarten – Gold | Alula Whitbread | Darby Gore |
Year 1 – Emerald | Nixon Cook | Nelly Edwards |
Year 1 – Gold | Patrick Scanlon | Georgie Schrader |
Year 2 – Emerald | Eadie Moyle | Emmett Cassidy |
Year 2 – Gold | Ava Brandobur | Boston Barber |
Year 3 – Emerald | Asher Evans | Vincent Woodbury |
Year 3 – Gold | Michael Spiers | Maisey Schrader |
Year 4 – Emerald | Jordan Bisset-Woods | Sienna Capararo |
Year 4 – Gold | Mason Stamp | Charlotte Lynch |
Year 5 – Emerald | Eden Fischer | Alec Shannon |
Year 5 – Gold | Preston Edwards | Indi-Rose Olsen |
Year 6 – Emerald | Levi Hodge | Alexis Hindmarsh |
Year 6 – Gold | Savannah Lidbetter | Leo Magid |
MERIT AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Bailey Dunn | Willow Mckenzie |
Kindergarten – Gold | Sophie Eves | Julian Borines |
Year 1 – Emerald | Axl Smith | Leo Barber |
Year 1 – Gold | Amelia Siscan | Thomas Jones |
Year 2 – Emerald | Amelie Archer | Ella Dickson |
Year 2 – Gold | Sari Santoso | Zara Bailey |
Year 3 – Emerald | Nylah Robertson | Angus Steele |
Year 3 – Gold | William Collard | Skyla Cory |
Year 4 – Emerald | Alby Cunningham | Lyla Riddock |
Year 4 – Gold | James Anton | Kobi Swift |
Year 5 – Emerald | Sinclare Tozeland | Flynn Orr |
Year 5 – Gold | Kynan Cook | Matilda Heffernan |
Year 6 – Emerald | Ember Shipman | Liam Warrington |
Year 6 – Gold | Sophia Barber | William Shearer |
Mr McKenzie | Nixon Cook Remi Bacchiella | Claire Johns Wyatt Schrader |
PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Rosie Riddle |
Kindergarten – Gold | Remi Bacchiella |
Year 1 – Emerald | Ellie Jory |
Year 1 – Gold | Declan McNab |
Year 2 – Emerald | George O’Connor |
Year 2 – Gold | Parker Lee |
Year 3 – Emerald | Reigan Baker |
Year 3 – Gold | Edith Hanson |
Year 4 – Emerald | Rocco Grant |
Year 4 – Gold | Serena Steele |
Year 5 – Emerald | Ellie-Grace Hooker-Connell |
Year 5 – Gold | Parkar Cremona |
Year 6 – Emerald | Jackson lewis |
Year 6 – Gold | Lacey Johnstone |
Week 8:
CLASS CAPTAINS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Lyla Olsen | Benjamin Ingram |
Kindergarten – Gold | Tharun Mathew | Jessie-Roe Martin |
Year 1 – Emerald | Teddy Grant | Ellie Jory |
Year 1 – Gold | Evelyn Stokes | Huxley Crump |
Year 2 – Emerald | Bonny March | Daniel Mani |
Year 2 – Gold |
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Year 3 – Emerald | Angus Steele | Annabelle Russell |
Year 3 – Gold | Rylan Enright | Vivian Grieve |
Year 4 – Emerald | Ruby Dunn | Adam Lambert |
Year 4 – Gold | Jack Dickson | Trance O’Neill |
Year 5 – Emerald | Oliver Woodward | Nike Zani Pawhay |
Year 5 – Gold | Baxter Cleaves | Travis Williams |
Year 6 – Emerald | Molly Simpson | Aurora Whitbread |
Year 6 – Gold | Jai Capararo | Elsie Miller |
MERIT AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Brax Couch | Arlo Riddle |
Kindergarten – Gold | Audrey Ingle | Smith Gidley |
Year 1 – Emerald | Arabella Ceccato | Tom Horner |
Year 1 – Gold | Sullivan Starkey | Cali Kroek |
Year 2 – Emerald | George O’Connor | Crystal |
Year 2 – Gold |
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Year 3 – Emerald | Lydia Manktelow | Archie Gore |
Year 3 – Gold | Lealarni Smith | Kai Jones |
Year 4 – Emerald | Payton O’Neill | Kobi Daley |
Year 4 – Gold | Evie Clarke | Pedro G S |
Year 5 – Emerald | Estelle Horner | Nash Roberts |
Year 5 – Gold | Riley Holden | Alfie O’Brien |
Year 6 – Emerald | Ember Shipman | Lilly Evans |
Year 6 – Gold | Lacey Johnstone | Amity Sams |
Mr McKenzie | Emmett Cassidy Eli Van-Steen | Gracie Lennard Riley Holden |
PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Thea Orr |
Kindergarten – Gold | Harry Collins |
Year 1 – Emerald | Alula Whitbread |
Year 1 – Gold | Jack Fischer |
Year 2 – Emerald | Phoebe Short |
Year 2 – Gold |
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Year 3 – Emerald | Vincent Woodbury |
Year 3 – Gold | Lily Jurd |
Year 4 – Emerald | Sophia Olsen |
Year 4 – Gold | Teisi Tu'Ineau Hedrix Starkey |
Year 5 – Emerald | Alec Shannon |
Year 5 – Gold | Hugo Grant Riley Holden |
Year 6 – Emerald | Havanah Grant |
Year 6 – Gold | Elijah Barber |
School TV: Celebrating NAIDOC Week
SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of Indigenous communities.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.
NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities and is a great opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.
This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://cessnock.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week
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