2025 Term 3 Week 6
- Vision & Mission Statement
- Principal's Reflection
- School Start Time ~ 8:50am
- Teacher Emails
- Formal Uniform
- Religious Education
- PB4L
- Father's Day Celebrations
- Year 3
- Year 4
- Year 5
- Year 6
- Year 6 Fundraiser + RUOK? Day
- Kindergarten 2026 ~ Playgroup Fun!
- Awards
- Library News
- National Science Week
- Creative Arts Corner
- Anxiety & Young People
- Community Notices
Vision & Mission Statement
Principal's Reflection
Tomorrow all staff at St Patrick’s will be engaging in a spiritual formation retreat. Our retreat is being facilitated by Johnathon McCallum from the Religious Education and Spirituality team at the Catholic Schools office. Our theme this year is “One Call, One Mission, Pilgrim’s of hope.” We have chosen this formation as this year is a Jubilee Year with the theme being Pilgrim’s of Hope.
A Jubilee Year, or Holy Year, is traditionally proclaimed every 25 years as a time of grace, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. It invites the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, seek repentance, forgive others, and deepen their relationship with God. The 2025 Jubilee year began on December 24th 2024. A significant feature of the Jubilee Year is the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. It was opened on the Feast of the Epiphany this year and will close on the Feast of the Epiphany in 2026 (6th January).
Upon proclaiming the Jubilee year Pope Francis His Holiness Pope Francis expressed "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision." During the Jubilee Year, the Pope invites every one of us to embark on a pilgrimage of hope, so that, "Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it."
Our formation tomorrow aims to inspire and strengthen us by fostering a spirit of Hope and Trust in the future. Our program will explore the importance of perseverance and faith, even in challenging times. We will also explore the mission of Catholic schools to foster growth in the Gospel spirit and embrace all seeking faith-based education. I am very much looking forward to journeying through the day with our staff, taking time to spend together in dialogue and spiritual nourishment.
As always, we aim to use all our own experiences to have a positive impact on our students and nurture their faith formation. A key element will also be following our formation experience exploring how we (the staff) can be signs of hope for your children and how pour students can be signs of hope for us.
I hope you enjoy your long weekend with your children.
May God’s blessing be upon you all,
Petrina
School Start Time ~ 8:50am
Unfortunately, there continues to be a large number of students late to school each day. This means that these students are missing the introduction to key literacy lessons and this causes disruption to the entire class. Additionally, office staff are spending valuable time recording late arrivals. School begins at 8:50am. Please make any adjustments necessary to ensure your children arrive prior to this time. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Teacher Emails
Staff have noticed that at times a parent email ends up in our “Junk Mail” folder. This would be a result of the filtering system attached to our outlook. Once we have emailed your email address the issue seems to be rectified. If by chance you email a staff member and after a couple of days you have not heard from them, please phone the school office and ask that it be mentioned to the staff member that you had sent an email. This way the staff member will know you are trying to be in touch and if they cannot locate your email will be able to give you a call. Also, I acknowledge school days get very busy and all our families are important to us but at times things can slip people’s minds. A gentle prompt can also remind a staff member of the email or message they have not got back to. Many thanks for your support always, and apologies to those who were affected by this in the last couple of weeks.
Formal Uniform
The sun shining is a welcome sight for us all at the moment! Fingers crossed it stays, and we can start to feel some spring weather on the way soon. We are coming to the time of year where we move into all students wearing Summer Uniform. From next Monday students can begin to transition from Winter Uniforms to Summer. This means next week they can choose, however, on any given day they must be in FULL winter or FULL summer uniform not a combination, naturally, a jacket with the summer uniform is fine.
Our official start of Summer Uniform is the Monday after Father’s Day. So, this year all students will be expected to be in full summer uniform from MONDAY 8th SEPTEMBER. With sport uniform Monday and Fridays.
Religious Education
Parish Mass Visits
To continue nurturing the strong connection between our Parish and School, primary students and their teachers will attend Wednesday morning Mass at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Cumberland Street, Cessnock, on scheduled weeks throughout the term.
Mass will begin at 9:00am, and we kindly ask that students be dropped off at the Church from 8:25am. Staff will be on-site to supervise students from this time. Families are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the Eucharist together.
If this drop-off arrangement is not suitable for your family, please contact your child’s classroom teacher to discuss alternative options.
After Mass, students will enjoy a short fruit break at Bridges Hill Park before walking back to school with their teachers to continue their regular learning day. Students should bring their school bags to the Church—these will be safely stored during the service.
Week 8 Wednesday 10th September – Year 5
Week 9 Wednesday 17th September – Year 6
Week 10 Wednesday 24th September – Year 4
We are delighted that Father Solomon will continue his Friday visits to our classrooms this term. During these visits, he takes time to engage with students in their learning, sharing stories of faith and his own life experiences. These moments offer a meaningful opportunity for students to see how faith connects with everyday life in a real and personal way.
Sacramental Program
Congratulations to our students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday evening. We are incredibly proud of each of you during this significant milestone in your faith journey.
As a school community, we continue to hold you in our prayers. May God bless each of you abundantly and fill your hearts with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. May you always walk closely with Jesus as you grow in faith, hope, and love.
We pray for:
Trance O’Neill Zara Brandobur Sinclare Tozeland Noah Attewell Zoe Rowlands Payton O’Neill Henry O’Connor | Anthany Sakarajage Pedro Gillan Suarez Quinton Borg Elsbeth McNab Parkar Cremona James Anton |
Families who wish to enrol their child in the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation are still welcome to do so. To register, please contact the Parish Office directly.
All communication and enrolment details are being coordinated by Monique Mesina, who will also manage enrolment forms and payments. You can reach her via email at monique.mesina@mn.catholic.org.au or by calling the Parish Office on
(02) 4990 1551.
We encourage families to take this opportunity to support their child’s continued journey in faith.
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 5 and 6 was: Justice & Compassion
- Report inappropriate behaviour or damage to an adult
- Keep toilets clean
Our PB4L focus for Weeks 7 and 8 is: Respect
- Use appropriate language
- Greet teachers and visitors appropriately
Father's Day Celebrations
Year 3
Year 3 Gold Update
Over the past few weeks, Year 3 Gold have been working incredibly hard and showing wonderful enthusiasm in all areas of learning. Each Monday, we’ve been taking part in the exciting MAT program, where students have been fully engaged and already gained so much new knowledge.
In Mathematics, we’ve been exploring arrays to deepen our understanding of multiplication and learning how to turn these into division facts—such clever thinking happening in our classroom!
In English, we’ve been diving into the novel Rowan of Rin. The students have brought the story to life by acting out scenes and exploring how authors build characters through their writing. It’s been fantastic to see their creativity and comprehension shine.
In Religion, we’ve been learning about the importance of forgiveness. A special highlight was attending Mass at St Joseph’s, which gave us a meaningful opportunity to reflect and connect with our faith.
Year 3 Emerald
Chase, Purnota, Alexia and Bobby represented Year 3 Emerald at the Stage 2 Speech Finals that were held on Tuesday.
In Year 3 Emerald, we have been working on STEM activities in class.
Year 4
Dear Parents and Carers,
We’re already halfway through Term 3, and Year 4 has been buzzing with energy, learning, and creativity! Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to and what’s still to come.
Book Week Celebrations
Book Week was a huge success! Students embraced the theme with enthusiasm, dressing up as their favourite book characters and sharing stories that sparked imagination and joy. Our classroom was filled with laughter, colour, and a love for reading. Thank you to all families for supporting the dress-up day and encouraging a lifelong love of books.
Martial Arts Program
Our Martial Arts sessions have been a highlight this term. Students have been learning discipline, focus, and self-confidence through fun and engaging activities. It’s been wonderful to see their skills develop and their enthusiasm grow each week.
Science Day with Mrs Moloney
Science Day was a blast! Mrs Moloney led an exciting day of hands-on experiments and investigations. Students explored chemical reactions and forces! Their curiosity and teamwork were on full display, making it a memorable learning experience. Thank you, Mrs Moloney!
Aspire Show at Civic Theatre Newcastle
Year 4 had the opportunity to attend the Aspire Show at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle. The performance was inspiring and showcased incredible local talent. It was a fantastic cultural experience that sparked lots of creative conversations back in the classroom.
Brainstorm Production – Anti-Bullying & Resilience
We recently welcomed the Brainstorm Productions team for a powerful show focusing on anti-bullying and resilience. The performance helped students understand the importance of kindness, standing up for others, and building emotional strength. These messages are being reinforced in our classroom discussions and wellbeing activities.
Kids Helpline Session – Building Friendships
Next Monday, Year 4 will participate in a special wellbeing session with Kids Helpline. The focus will be on building and maintaining positive friendships. This interactive session will help students develop empathy, communication skills, and strategies for resolving conflict in a respectful way.
Year 5
🌟 Year 5 Gold Newsletter – Celebrating Learning, Friendship & Fun! 🌟
Dear Parents and Families,
What an exciting few weeks it has been for our Year 5 students! We've been busy making memories, learning new things, and connecting with our community—and we’re thrilled to share some highlights with you.
🙏 Mary MacKillop Feast Day Celebration
We had a beautiful celebration for Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day. It was a day filled with reflection, joy, and gratitude as we honoured Australia’s first saint. We participated in activities that reminded us of Mary’s message: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
🏡 Visit to Jacaranda Nursing Home
Our visit to Jacaranda Nursing Home was truly heartwarming. Year 5 Gold students spent time chatting with the residents, playing games, and sharing stories. It was a wonderful opportunity to build connections and bring smiles to many faces.
📚 Book Week Parade
Last week, creativity took centre stage at our annual Book Week Parade! Our students amazed us with their imaginative costumes inspired by their favourite books. From wizards to wild animals, the playground was transformed into a literary wonderland. It was fantastic to see everyone embracing the joy of reading and storytelling.
🔬 Science Day with Ms Moloney
Science Day was a blast—literally! Ms Moloney led us through a series of exciting experiments that had everyone wide-eyed with wonder. We explored:
- The egg in a bottle trick
- The magic travelling flame
- The density of salt water
- And even built a battery-powered motor
It was a hands-on day of discovery that sparked curiosity and lots of "wow" moments!
👫 Meeting Our Kindergarten Buddies
On Thursday, some of our students met their Kindergarten buddies for the first time. It was a special morning, and we’re looking forward to building strong friendships and being great role models throughout this year and next.
🌲 Great Aussie Bush Camp – Coming Soon!
And the excitement continues! In just a few weeks, we’ll be heading off to the Great Aussie Bush Camp. It promises to be an unforgettable adventure filled with teamwork, outdoor challenges, and plenty of fun.
Year 5 is truly buzzing with energy, learning, and joy. Thank you for your continued support—we can’t wait to see what the rest of the term brings!
Warm regards,
Miss Archer and Year 5 Gold students
Year 6
Year Six Students Explore Credibility, Authority and Argument in English.
As part of their English curriculum, Year Six students have been diving into the world of FAKE NEWS, online research and digital literacy. This term, they’ve been learning how to critically evaluate texts and online sources—asking important questions like: Is this website trustworthy? Who is the author? What makes this information credible? What arguments can be made?
Through guided lessons and hands-on activities, students developed skills in assessing the authority and reliability of texts found on the internet. They explored various websites, comparing facts and identifying bias, all while building their understanding of how to be responsible digital citizens.
To put their learning into practice, students were tasked with creating a news article about one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks—the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This writing task required them to research historical facts, architectural features, and cultural significance of the bridge.
Each student produced a multimodal text that included:
• Written content with accurate and engaging information
• Captions to support their visuals
• Voiceovers to bring their articles to life
The final products were terrific blend of research, creativity, and digital skills. Online platforms such as Canva and PowerPoint were used by the students.
Examples from Year 6 Gold students Amity Sams, Isabella Teasdale and Elijah Barber are provided.
Year 6 Fundraiser + RUOK? Day
On Thursday, September 11, our school will be supporting RUOK? Day—a national initiative that encourages us all to check in with those around us and ask the simple but powerful question: “R U OK?” To mark the occasion, our Year 6 students will be holding a pizza fundraiser to raise money for a special gift to be donated to the school. Pizzas will be available in three delicious flavours. It’s the perfect chance to enjoy a slice, and have a meaningful conversation with a friend. Let’s come together to promote connection and kindness in our community.
Sita's Pizza food truck will be joining us on the day, serving up their freshly made, delicious pizzas right on site!
Look out for order forms which will be sent home with students next week.
Kindergarten 2026 ~ Playgroup Fun!
Over the past few weeks, our Kinder 2026 students have been enjoying delightful playgroup sessions at St Patrick’s. These gatherings have been filled with laughter, exploration, and joyful connections as our youngest learners settle into their new environment.
This week brought an extra special moment—some of the Kinders were lucky enough to meet their Year 5 buddies! Together, they engaged in creative craft activities, building friendships and sharing smiles under the beautiful sunshine. It was heartwarming to see students of different ages come together, supporting and learning from one another.
More Kinder 2026 students will have the opportunity to meet their buddies next week, continuing this wonderful tradition of connection and community. We’re so proud of how our future Kinders are growing and embracing these experiences with enthusiasm and joy.
Awards
Week 5
CLASS CAPTAINS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Van Capararo | Adelaide Sullivan |
Kindergarten – Gold | Cooper Taranto | Georgia Kutek |
Year 1 – Emerald | Kiani Wetini | Lewis Webster |
Year 1 – Gold | Harriet Sellars | Lennox Connelly |
Year 2 – Emerald | Charlotte Ingram | Tommy Davis |
Year 2 – Gold | Annie Livermore | Odin Magid |
Year 3 – Emerald | Lydia Manktelow | Zeke Harker |
Year 3 – Gold | Beau Shearer | Ben Taggart |
Year 4 – Emerald | Sophia Olsen | Mathias Wetini |
Year 4 – Gold | James Anton | Evie Clarke |
Year 5 – Emerald | Beoc Dsilva | Amelia Hodge |
Year 5 – Gold | Preston Edwards | Ethan Luow Cruces |
Year 6 – Emerald | Havanah Grant | Jackson Lewis |
Year 6 – Gold | Arhya Tietie | Tallon Southworth |
MERIT AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Alfie Desmond | Annie Dever |
Kindergarten – Gold | Indy Riddock | Remi Bacchiella |
Year 1 – Emerald | Layla Baker | Archie Johns |
Year 1 – Gold | Thomas Jones | Cali Kroek |
Year 2 – Emerald | * | Vinny Grant |
Year 2 – Gold | Spencer Walker | Ava Brandobur |
Year 3 – Emerald | Vincent Woodbury | Loxlee O’Leary |
Year 3 – Gold | Edith Hanson | Tate Harker |
Year 4 – Emerald | Zara Brandobur | Malachi Thoma |
Year 4 – Gold | Charlotte Lynch | Lochie Pearce |
Year 5 – Emerald | Gracie Lennard | Evander Sams |
Year 5 – Gold | Meila Bice | Henry O’Connor |
Year 6 – Emerald | Mathew Metz | Lilly Evans |
Year 6 – Gold | Sophia Barber | Leo Magid |
Mrs Kennedy | Loxlee O’Leary | Ivy Jack |
Miss Vassel | ES1- Maisie Tozeland S1 - Ellie Jory | S2- Skyla Cory S3 - Kye Stuckey / Sinclare Tozeland |
Mr McKenzie | ES1 Tom Horner S1 Maisie Tozeland | S2 Mason Crump S3 Arhya Tietie |
PRINCIPAL’S AWARDS
Kindergarten – Emerald | Willow McKenzie |
Kindergarten – Gold | Jagger Thomas |
Year 1 – Emerald | Anderson Kennedy |
Year 1 – Gold | Colby Leary |
Year 2 – Emerald | Talan Fereti |
Year 2 – Gold | Morgan Fulham |
Year 3 – Emerald | * |
Year 3 – Gold | Marlie Maamaloa |
Year 4 – Emerald | Yvan Rodriguez |
Year 4 – Gold | Serena Steele |
Year 5 – Emerald | Kye Stuckey |
Year 5 – Gold | Adi Santhoshkumar |
Year 6 – Emerald | Aurora Whitbread |
Year 6 – Gold | Gabriella Elliott |
Library News
Book Week Parade
Last Thursday, our school was transformed into a vibrant world of stories and wonder as we celebrated Book Week with this year’s theme: "Book an Adventure!" And what an adventure it was!
Students and staff arrived in costumes that spanned galaxies and eras — from cheeky Minions and roaring dinosaurs to brave astronauts and even entire spaceships! The creativity on display was spectacular.
Events like these remind us that books don’t just teach — they transport us to new worlds, spark curiosity, and inspire dreams.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated, helped organize, and cheered from the sidelines. Your enthusiasm made this year’s Book Week Parade a wonderful experience for all.
Here’s to many more adventures between the pages!
"The Protectors" Presented By Brainstorm Productions
Brainstorm Productions is an educational drama group that travels from school to school entertaining children with lively and engaging shows. The latest production has an anti-bullying message. The messages about anti-bullying were clear: if you're feeling worried or upset, tell an adult, don't be a bystander when someone is being bullied, and tell an adult if you've been bullied online. The two actors, Josie and Mitchell, performed two shows, firstly for the seniors (3-6) and the Infants (K-2), all before lunch. From teacher observations, it looked like the students were engaged and enjoyed the show. There was even a Question and Answer segment at the end of each show. Thanks to Miss Archer for organising this event for our school.
Premier's Reading Challenge
Time is quickly running out to upload your children's books to the Premier's Reading Challenge website. It will come to an end in Week Ten of this term. Meanwhile, three more students have been validated and will be receiving their certificates in November: Shreena from Year Three and Hugo and Charlotte from Year Five. If you need help logging in, please contact me for assistance. I have had trouble logging in recently, but I think it's been rectified. Happy reading, everyone.
Book Club
Issue 6 of Book Club is now available.
Orders close on Thursday 11 September 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.
Sora
Sora is an online platform that provides e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and comics for students to read online. It is endorsed by the CSO and is available for all students in the diocese. A Sora app is available to download from the Play Store for iPads and tablets. You will need the following details to install the app. Code: cenetauACEN MemberYour child's login details that they would use at school (Ensure you have clicked the Maitland/Newcastle Diocese)
You can get help at this address to learn more about this useful resource: https://soraapp.com
Here is a help link: https://help.soraapp.com/en-us/home.htm
National Science Week
Creative Arts Corner
ASPIRE
Ember and Arhya have been St Patrick's ASPIRE representatives this year. The girls attend regular Team's meetings to find out the latest ASPIRE news. They then relay this information to the staff and students at our school. The girls received their official badges this week and are doing a wonderful job in their role.
Mrs Coxon
ABERMAIN EISTEDDFOD
This week, a group of courageous and talented students proudly represented St Patrick’s at the 108th Abermain Eisteddfod. Stepping beyond their comfort zones, they competed in a range of categories including Prepared Speech, Bible Reading, and Impromptu Reading.
We are incredibly proud of their dedication, enthusiasm, and the pride they showed in representing our school. A heartfelt thank you to the parents and carers who supported them with preparation, transport, and encouragement—your involvement makes all the difference!
🏅 Individual Results:
- 🥇 Octavia Woodward –1st Place in Prepared Speech
- 🎖️ Sari Santoso – Highly Commended in Prepared Speech
- 🥇Indi Brown – 1st Place in Prepared Speech
- 🥇Isabella Teasdale – 1st Place in Impromptu Reading
- Lilly Evans – Unfortunately too sick to compete on the day
Our school choir also took to the stage and delivered a truly sensational performance. Their exceptional manners, polished presentation, and spirited sportsmanship did not go unnoticed. We needed to pull together an additional song just before going on stage which they handled marvelously. The adjudicator even made a special mention of how beautifully groomed and well-behaved our students were—a proud moment for our entire community.
🎼 Choir Achievements:
- School Choir – 🥈 Second Place in Hymn Singing and 🎖️ Highly Commended in own choice section.
A huge thank you to all the parents, grandparents, and friends who came along to cheer us on. Your support helped make this a memorable and successful experience for our students. I would also like to thank all the teachers for their constant support and flexibility,
Thanks Shayne Coxon
Anxiety & Young People
Anxiety is a natural and expected part of growing up. In fact, it plays an important role in helping young people prepare for challenges, stay alert to potential dangers and adapt to new situations. It can motivate them to study for a test, practise before a performance, or tread carefully in unfamiliar settings. However, for many children and adolescents today, anxiety can shift from being a helpful response to becoming intense, persistent and disruptive.
The world young people are growing up in is fast-paced and often demanding. Academic pressures, social expectations, family changes and the constant presence of digital media can all contribute to heightened stress and worry.
When anxiety is left unrecognised or unsupported, it can begin to affect a young person's wellbeing, learning, friendships and self-confidence. That's why it's so important for adult carers to understand how anxiety may present in children. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution.
This edition of SchoolTV raises awareness and provides families with practical strategies to help young people manage anxiety in healthy, constructive ways.
Here is the link to your Edition: http://cessnock.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/anxiety-young-people-au
Community Notices
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