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St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School
ABN 66 789 035 993
Royston Parade, Asquith, 2077
Phone: 9477 3800 Fax: 9476 3944
All correspondence to:
Post Office Box 3021, Asquith 2077
Website: www.stpat.nsw.edu.au
Email: spa@dbb.catholic.edu.au
NEWSLETTER NO 36 — 19 November 2014
We acknowledge the Guringi and Dharug people - the first custodians of this place.
KU-RING-GAI CHASE
CATHOLIC PARISH
Parish Clergy
Fr Jinto Pallathukuzhiyil HGN
Administrator of Ku-Ring-Gai Chase
Parish
Fr Thomas Alackakunnel VC
Assistant Priest of the Parish
Deacon Kevin Hale
WEEKEND MASS TIMES
St Patrick’s Asquith:
Saturday Vigil – 6.00 pm
Sunday – 8 am, 10 am, 6 pm
St Bernard’s Berowra Heights:
Saturday Vigil—5.30 pm
Sunday—9 am
Peat Island Chapel:
Chapel Lane, Mooney Mooney
Diary Dates
NOVEMBER
1721
Well-Being Week
22
Parish Mass & BBQ and St
Patrick’s 6pm
24
Staff Development Day—
Pupil free Day
27
Parent Prayer Morning 9am
in the School Hall
27
School Disco—K-2 5.00pm,
Years 3-6 7pm
28
Kinder 2015 Orientation
morning 2
28
Assembly—2.00pm 6 Gold
28
P&F Barefoot Bowls Evening
30
First Sunday of Advent
4
8.15am Band Breakfast
(Mufti)
Dear Parents and Carers
This Sunday we celebrate a special feast of Jesus, the Feast of Christ the King. Jesus was a
different kind of king:
He was born in a little village, the child of a peasant woman.
He learned to be a carpenter, and worked in his
father's carpentry business until he was thirty years old.
Then he spent three years as an itinerant preacher,
telling people about God and God's love.
He never wrote any book. He never held any office.
He never went to a university.
He never had a family or a house of his own.
He never travelled more than 200 miles from the place he was born.
He never commanded a great army and never won
any wars - for he opposed violence.
Since then, many centuries have come and gone...
All armies ever to have marched,
all ships ever to have sailed the seas,
all parliaments that ever sat,
all kings that ever reigned,
... have not had such a profound influence on the
people of this planet as did this carpenter's life.
This Saturday evening the school has been given the responsibilities of many ministries at
the 6pm Mass. I hope to see you there and I hope you can stay for the BBQ afterwards.
Following this, at 8pm, there will be an auction of Father Pat McMaugh’s belongings in the
hall.
Well-being Week
This week is our Well-being week. There is no formal homework and there is no staff
meeting this week. I hope that you are able to spend some quality time with your children
in the place of usual homework.
Staffing 2015
Of the many roles that comes with being Principal, is the complex task of staffing and
employing staff. It requires careful planning, and a job that I take very seriously.
This year we have had a number of temporary staff, due to permanent teachers being on
Maternity Leave, and other forms of Leave as well. These teachers have made great
contributions to our community and I am thankful to them for this. However, as some
positions here are only temporary, these teachers have been applying for jobs elsewhere.
Katelyn Eves (teacher of 4 Gold) will be leaving us as she has a position at St Bernard’s at
Berowra. Similarly, Melissa Mackenzie (teacher of 2 Gold) has also acquired a position at St
Bernard’s at Berowra. Rebecca Raso (teacher of Year 5 Green) has been successful in
acquiring a position at St Kevin’s at Dee Why.
As more staffing decisions are made I will keep you informed.
© St Patrick’s School, Asquith. Material in the newsletter is not to be reproduced without the permission of the school principal.
Science and Technology
Next Monday is a Pupil Free Day where the teachers will look at the new Science and Technology syllabus and its
implementation in 2015. Thank you for your understanding in this matter as I know Pupil Free Days are sometimes
inconvenient for families.
P&F AGM
Last week we had a well-attended P&F AGM and I thank the parents who were able to attend. I am grateful that a number of
parents are able to stay on the committee. However, a number of parents on the P&F Executive are stepping down at the end
of this year and I am thankful for their generosity. The retiring members are: Amy Gill and Clare Haymen (Vice-Presidents),
Luisa Musumeci (Secretary) Shelley Miller and Simone Tobin (Class parents), Gill McGregor (Diocesan Parent Council), Mandy
Fayers and Sheridan Old (Canteen)
New members for 2015 include Peter Cleary (Vice President), Karen Price (Secretary), Veronica Hall and Jen Starling (Class
Parents coordinators)
At this stage we do not have a volunteer to look after the canteen. If you are interested please contact David Massa
(President), or myself, about the role. If we do not have someone to take on this role, we will not be able to run a canteen
next year.
Year 6 Studies of Government
Early this morning our Year 6 children accompanied by their teachers left for their trip to Canberra. This excursion fits in well
with the children’s study of Government. Please pray that they have a great trip and return safely on Friday afternoon.
I am thankful to Steve Russell, the Mayor of Hornsby Shire, who came to school on Monday and spoke with the children about
Local Government.
End of 2014 School Year
As the year draws to a close, please find below a list of dates that you may want to note in your calendar.
The last day of school for the children in Wednesday, 17 December. The last day for the staff is Thursday 18 December. If you
are taking your children out of school earlier than the 17 December, can you please let the school know?
Saturday 22 November – 6pm - Parish/School Mass and Barbecue
Monday 24 November – Pupil Free Day
Thursday 27 November – 9am - Parent Prayer
Friday 28 November – 9am – 2015 Kindergarten Orientation
Friday 28 November – 6pm – Barefoot Bowls
Thursday 4 December – 6pm – Christmas Concert
Thursday 11 December – 9am - Volunteer Thank you Morning Tea
Monday 15 December – 7pm Year 6 Liturgy
Tuesday 16 December – 9am End of Year Mass and Last Day for Year 6 Students
2015 Commencement Date
At the beginning of next year, we will begin the 2015 school year by conducting Mathematical Assessment Interviews (MAI)
for the children. The information gained from conducting these interviews is invaluable and allows the class teacher to gain a
detailed insight into the student’s mathematical understanding. Having this insight informs the teacher’s teaching so the
students are taught at their exact “point of need”. We will have two days of Interviews on the 28 and 29 January for children
in Years 1-6. Therefore, all children from Years 1-6 will commence school on Friday 30 January. Children in Kindergarten 2015
will commence with half days to 12 noon the week commencing 2 February 2015, with full days commencing Monday 9
February. They will do the Best Start Programme for 2 hours by appointment on 28, 29 and 30 January. We will send home
shortly information about the online booking system so that parents with children in Years 1-6 MAI can book a time on the 28
or 29 January.
Leaving Students
If your family is planning to leave St Patrick’s at the end of 2014, can you please write to me letting me know of your
intention? We always have families interested in coming to St Patrick’s so I need to know if there are any vacancies.
Parent Prayer
Next Thursday morning, November 27, commencing at 9am, we will again meet for a reflection morning that will
be facilitated by Virginia Ryan from the Catholic Schools Office. It is a few hours of time for you to relax and
unwind, a morning of reflection and meditation. If you have pre-schoolers, there will be qualified child-minding
available. If you are able, I’m sure it will be time that you find worthwhile. Going home today is a separate note
regarding this with a return section so will have an idea of numbers.
4 December 2015
On Thursday 4 December, at 6pm, we will have our End of Year Christmas gathering. Each class will be performing an
item, which will tell the story of Christmas. It will also be a time to acknowledge staff and families who will be leaving
our School Community. If there is a reason that your child will not be there, can you please let me know. There is a
note going home today regarding the Barbeque starting at 5pm before we start the concert at 6pm.
Bernard Cumming
Principal
Assistant Principal News
STUDENT ABSENCE
A reminder to all parents and caregivers that the recording of student attendance and absence is a legal
requirement and notifications about student absence is essential. If an absence note comes home about
a previous absence could you please fill it in and return it to the classroom teacher as soon as possible so
that our records are accurate and up to date.
You can send notification by email to spa@dbb.catholic.edu.au or download the absence form on the
school newsletter. Thank you for your co-operation.
YEAR 6 CANBERRA EXCURSION
We headed off early this morning for three days in our nation’s capital. You can follow our trip, comment
and see photos as they happen by logging on to: http://www.offexploring.com/markfawk We will be
uploading regularly throughout the day and look forward to hearing from family and friends. Just click on
the message tab and leave a message and we will relay it to the students. Click on the photo tab to view
photos of where we have been, and you can also leave a comment here.
This blog is open to all the St Patrick’s community so don’t think that just because you don’t have a child in
Year 6 you can’t comment – we welcome all comments!
Offexploring is also a free app for your mobile device.
CREATIVE WRITER REQUIRED
I am looking for a willing community member who has approximately 10 spare minutes a week to take over
the changing of the sign out the front of the school. Training will be provided! A distinctive way with words
will help! Please contact Mark if you are interested.
DIFFERENTIATING USING BLOOM’S TAXONOMY
Last week we looked at an overview of Bloom’s taxonomy as a way of developing higher order thinking.
This week we will unpack the first two levels.
Remembering: recalling information
At this level students could be asked to:
Recognize
list
describe
Name
locate
find
Label
recall
cite
identify
give example
sort
Understanding: explaining ideas or concepts
At this level students could be asked to:
Interpret
summarise
infer
Classify
compare
explain
Outline
review
identify main idea
paraphrase
estimate
define
As you can see as we go up the taxonomy the thinking is developed and moves beyond the ‘how, when,
where, why and what’.
More levels next week along with a review of our Canberra journey.
Cheers
Mark Fawkner
REC News
Whole School Family Mass – This Saturday 22 November
This Saturday 22 November our whole school community Years K – 6 and their families are invited to attend 6pm Mass to celebrate
with the Parish community. All the children will be participating in various ministries during the Mass and we hope you can all
come along and celebrate with us and enjoy a sausage sandwich after Mass.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal – ‘Do Something About It’
We are in our last few days of bringing in items to support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. A big thank you to all those
who have been bringing in items our baskets of food, toys and gifts look amazing!
We will be presenting our items for the Appeal at our Whole School Family Mass on Saturday 22 November. We ask that all items
be sent into school to your child’s class by Friday 21 November to allow hampers to be made up and picked up by St Vincent de
Paul.
Below are some suggestions for items which you might like to send in to help make up our Christmas Hampers:
* Tins of ham
* Rice
* Christmas cake/puddings
* tea/coffee
* Christmas treats (pretzels, Christmas candy)
* milo/hot chocolate
* Tins of fruit
* pasta
* Tins of vegetables (carrots, peas, corn & potatoes)
* Biscuits
* Soft drinks/fruit juice
* Gravox
* Lollies
* Chips
* Gifts for any age – infant to adult/ male or female (please do not wrap gifts as we need to be able to see what the gift is to
distribute the item to where it is most needed)
Thank you for your generosity in helping to make this festive season a special time for families in need this Christmas.
Parent Prayer Session- Next Thursday 27 November
Next Thursday 27 November we will be holding our second Parent Prayer Morning. It will be facilitated by Mrs Virginia Ryan and
Father John Frauenfelder. We would like to extend an invitation to all the members of our St Patrick’s Community to join us on this
morning.
St Patrick’s Christmas Concert – The Christmas Star
On Thursday 4 December the children of St Patrick’s will be taking us on the journey of ‘The Christmas Star’. We look forward to
seeing all or families on the evening.
*******WE NEED YOUR HELP******
We need some assistance with making some simple props for the evening. If we have any talented
Mums or Dads out there we would love your help. We would especially love some help from any handy
Dads who might be able to build us a simple backdrop for the evening. If you are able to assist please
contact Miss Nadine Smith. Thank you
Term 4 Dates For Your Diary




Week 7 Saturday 22 November – Whole School Parish Mass and BBQ - 6:00pm
Week 9 Thursday 4 December Whole School Christmas Celebration - 6:00pm
Week 11 Monday 15 December - Year 6 Graduation - 7:00pm
Week 11 Tuesday 16 December – Whole School End of Year Mass - 9:00am
Well Being Week Reflection
Blessed is the child who is believed and challenged.
Blessed is the child who can share problems - unafraid.
Blessed is the child whose school is a haven of happiness.
Blessed is the child to whom life is a book of knowledge.
Blessed is the child who is allowed to pursue curiosity into every
worthwhile field of information.
REC News (Con’t)
Blessed is the child who has someone who understands that
childhood griefs are real and call for understanding and sympathy.
Blessed is the child who is led gently by the hand along the
pathway of life by someone who is guide, companion and inspiration.
Blessed is the child whose efforts to achieve have found encouragement.
Blessed is the child who has learned freedom from selfishness
through responsibility and cooperation.
Blessed is the school, which sees in the child the hope of the
future and dedicates itself to the realisation of that hope.
Miss Nadine Smith
Religious Education Coordinator
Office News
2014 School Fee accounts are now overdue. Please ensure your final payment is received by us by 28 November 2014.
All late accounts will be referred to the Catholic Schools Office for collection. If you are experiencing any difficulties
please contact Mr Cumming or Mrs Taylor in the Office as a matter of urgency.
Honour Awards
Congratulations to the following children who
received an award for Week 6, Term 4:
K Gold
Anopa C, Heidi N
K Green
Mason S, Tatiana D
1 Gold
Cassidy S, Lennox L
1 Green
Holly S, Harper H
2 Gold
Noah M, Chloe R
2 Green
Principal Awards
Well done and congratulations to the
following children who received have
Principal Award for Term 4:
Rhys H
1 Gold
Arielle S
1 Gold
Sofia T
1 Gold
Sofia S
1 Green
Ariella R
1 Green
Anna S, Eve S
Aaron R
2 Gold
3 Gold
Amelia B, Tony R
Audrey L
2 Green
3 Green
Siobhan W, Marco S
Julian G
4 Gold
4 Gold
James M, Casey G
Shane J
4 Gold
4 Green
Dolla J, Sarah G
Sam V
4 Gold
5 Gold
Yumina P, Pedro R
Isabella T
5 Gold
Charlie C
6 Gold
5 Green
Erin O, James A
Mila D
6 Gold
6 Gold
Lucy H, Jordan B
Chelsea M
6 Gold
6 Green
Ambrose H, Ben G
Priscilla R
6 Green
Band
Olivia N—Alto Saxophone 2 Green
Aaron M—Alto Saxophone 2 Green
Amelia B—Clarinet 3 Gold
Nick H
6 Green
Ryan J
6 Green
Principal Awards (Con’t)
Well done and congratulations to the following children who
have received their 100 stamp Principal Award for Term 4:
Aidan D
Kinder Gold
Joel F
Kinder Green
Veronica D
Kinder Green
Rebecca P
1 Gold
Sophia G
1 Green
Abbey B
2 Green
Rhea D
3 Green
Edie T
3 Green
Jasmine P
4 Green
Jemma D
4 Green
Jaydan R
4 Green
Sarah W
4 Green
Georgie W
6 Green
Eliana S
6 Green
A huge congratulations to the following
children who have received their 150 stamp
Principal Award for Term 4:
Uniform Shop News
We have been busy with next years Kindergarten
children, having packed over 35 starter packs.
These are ready for collection at the end of the
2nd Orientation Day on Friday 28 November
2014.
The Uniform Shop will be business as usual for
the remainder of term 4, opening on Tuesday
mornings from 8.45 - 9.15.
We will also be open at the end of the school
holidays, on Wednesday 28 January 2015 from
9.00 AM - 11.00 AM, for all the children who
have grown over the Christmas break. This is
also a Mathematics Interview Day.
We would like to thank you for your support
during 2014 and wish everyone a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year.
Claire, Helen and Debbi
Canteen News
Sheridan S
Kinder Gold
Augustine J
Kinder Gold
Olivia S
Kinder Gold
Annah F
Kinder Gold
Volunteers are asked to arrive at around
12.45 pm and report to the School Office to
sign the Visitor’s Register and collect the key
to the canteen, etc.
Sophie R
Kinder Gold
The Canteen helpers for this week are:
Wow our first child for 2014 to receive a
200 stamp Principal Award for Term 4—
terrific effort by:
Alison D
Kinder Gold
Fri 21/11
Lana W, Erin B, Rosemary D
Mon 24/11
Allyson S, Rachel R
Wed 26/11
Trisha R, Michelle M
St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Asquith
STUDENT ABSENTEE NOTE
We are required by law to record all absences for children enrolled in our school with an accompanying note.
My child _______________________________________ of class _____ was absent from school on the
following date/s: _________________________________________________________
Please sign below to indicate that your permission was given for this/these days absent.
I, ____________________________________ verify that my child was absent from school with my permission on the dates
above.
Reason: ________________________________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________Date: _____________
NEWS from the
Sister Catherine McAuley Library
& Contemporary Learning Centre
(the “CLiC”)
The aim of the challenge is to encourage children to broaden their reading choices by borrowing and reading
books from the large selection at St Patrick’s…
While many children achieve new awards each week, we like to acknowledge and congratulate our BRONZE, SILVER & GOLD
award winners at Monday Assembly and in our newsletter:
BRONZE
Sarah M, Lauren L
DIY WORKSHOPS
Thankyou to Kaden & Matthew
for their well-liked DIY
on Minecraft.
DIY WORKSHOPS: TERM 4
Week
EVERY MONDAY IN THE CLiC
1:00 – 1:25
Who?
Class
Workshop
Mia & Annabelle G
Yr 3
How to make square Scoobies
9
(ON WEDNESDAY due to Pupil Free
Day on Monday)
Tea, Lily & Emily
Yr 5
How to decorate cupcakes
10
Stephanie, Jacinta & Amelia
Yr 3
How to make 3D animals
8
Parish News
'When words fail, music speaks.' Give your child the gift of music in a fun, supportive, group
environment in the parish Children's Choir. All children entering Year 3 in 2015 will be eligible to
join the Choir from the first Friday in February 2015. No qualifications are necessary, just a love of
singing. Children's Choir sings at 10am Mass every 2nd and 4th Sunday during school terms and
practises every Friday from 4 to 5pm except during school holidays. Enquiries: Patricia Smith 9482
7935
P&F News
P&F Presidents Report: 2014 – Year of Major Changes!
First and foremost a new principal and I would like to thank Bernard for a fabulous job he has done this year.
He has had a huge learning curve as well as stepping into the big shoes that Robert Peers left behind.
Bernard entered St Pat’s knowing that there will be a school review and also having to deal with a lot new
teachers. This meant he had very little time to settle in. Throw in water shortages and a few other
adventures, made for an interesting year. I remember chatting with Bernard at the start of term 2, and he
still felt he had only been at the school a couple of weeks. No doubt he will enjoy the Christmas break and
a chance to reflect on 2014.
Many of us have only known one Principal and have become very comfortable and confident with
Robert’s way of doing things. I would also like to thank the parent body for embracing Bernard in such an
open and encouraging way to make his job as easy as possible.
Personally, I would like to thank Bernard for making my job very easy, by being so reachable and open to
both new ideas and existing ways of doing things.
To Mark Fawkner who is stepping down from the Assistant Principal role. Thank-you for the time and effort
invested into that position. There is so much behind the scenes work the Mark does which makes the school
run so seamlessly.
Changes have not been limited to staff, but also to school activities including the Kindy Ball and School
Musical. The new formats have worked well and embraced by all. Again, I would like to thank the parent
body for both questioning and challenging the new formats and yet still participating and accepting the
new ideas.
On the P&F side the introduction of Men in the Morning has been successful and something that we will
continue to do again next year.
Old faithful’s such as the Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Grandparent’s Day continue to be expected
success and enjoyed by all.
Fete 2014
Another wonderfully successful event, both financially and importantly from a community point of view. It
was a little warm on the day and yet there was no shortage of smiles and sense of fun.
However, nothing like that happens without a lot of time and effort in planning and organising. Again I
would like to thank school, particularly the Office ladies, and Bernard and Mark for their time and support
for all things fete. Thanks to all the Stall Holders and those who volunteered on the day in whatever
capacity. And finally the Fete Committee for the hours they invested in making the day the success that it
was.
The funds will go towards the redoing of the playground equipment.
David Massa
Parish News
Community News