Padbury CPS Newsletter

Be thoughtful, warm and respectful in all you do and say

A copy of our Bushfire Plan can be found here on our website - https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/formsandprocedures

A copy of our Snake Season Policy can be found here on our website

https://shorturl.at/gFVFR

Please check the PCPS community calendar for upcoming and future dates as the calendar is regularly updated https://www.padcath.wa.edu.au/community-calendar

After two terms of Long Service Leave, I am delighted to be back at Padbury CPS for the final term of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, travel and recharge. However, I have genuinely missed the joy and energy of our students and the wonderful sense of community that makes our school so special. It has been lovely reconnecting with students, staff and families, and I am looking forward to sharing a busy and exciting term together.

I would also like to thank Mr Baker and Mr Fontaine for their leadership during my absence, along with Ms Callisto, Mrs Bonny and all staff, for their dedication and commitment in supporting our students and maintaining the day-to-day operations of the school over the past two terms.

As many families are aware, this will be my final term as Principal before retiring at the end of the year. I feel incredibly grateful for the privilege of serving the Padbury community over the past 8 years and 43 years in Catholic Education WA. I look forward to sharing many special moments and celebrations with our students and families throughout the term.

This Wednesday evening, our Year Three students celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Our Lady of the Missions Church.

This important sacrament helps children understand God's love, forgiveness and mercy while encouraging them to strengthen their relationships with others through forgiveness and reconciliation. It was wonderful to see our students participate so reverently and confidently.

Many thanks to Mrs Quaid and Mr Darby for preparing the children so well, and to Father Cyprian for leading such a meaningful celebration for our students and their families.

This Friday morning at 9am we will gather together as a school community to celebrate an All Saints day mass. This celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the lives of the saints and the example they continue to provide through their faith, courage and devotion to God. We are reminded that we too are called to live lives of kindness, compassion and service as disciples of Jesus.

Please save the date for our annual Our Lady of the Missions Parish Carols by Candlelight on Thursday 3 December from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Padbury Catholic Primary School, Whitford Catholic Primary School and Our Lady of the Missions Parish will once again

come together for an evening of Christmas carols, community spirit and festive celebration on the oval beside the church. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic rug and enjoy this special community event. Further information will be shared via Seesaw closer to the day.

Catholic Education Western Australia has determined there will no longer be an Annual Community Meeting (ACM). As a result, my Annual Report will be shared with the community through a future newsletter rather than presented at an ACM.

There will also be no Advisory Council elections this year, as all appointed Council members are continuing their current terms of office.

Thank you to our P&F Executive and the many parents and volunteers who have generously given their time and energy throughout the year. Your support, dedication and willingness to help make a real difference to our school community. We are deeply grateful for all that you do to enrich the experiences of our students and help make Padbury Catholic Primary School such a welcoming and connected place

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to sincerely thank our outgoing P&F Executive members, Cathy Farrell, Megan Hunt, Severine Gibson and Sara Da Rui, for their outstanding dedication and service to our school community. Their collaborative spirit, energy, commitment and countless hours of work have contributed significantly to the many successful initiatives and events enjoyed by our families. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership and support.

As these Executive members conclude their terms at the end of this year, nominations are now being called for the vacant P&F Executive positions.

Nominations are now open for P&F Executive positions and will close on 6 November. Parents and caregivers wishing to nominate are invited to complete the Nomination form Catholic School Parents & Friends (P&F) Association Nomination Form – Fill out form

If more than one nomination is received for a role, voting will take place electronically. Further information about the available roles and responsibilities can be found here P&F Job Descriptions

We encourage anyone interested in becoming more involved in our school community to consider nominating.

The P&F continues to be a hive of activity, with many exciting initiatives and events planned for the remainder of the year. We are grateful for the dedication of the committee and volunteers who make these opportunities possible.

As the weather begins to warm up, students will be enjoying the return of Icy Pole Days. Thank you to Nicole Cornwall for coordinating this popular initiative.

The annual Book Fair will commence in November. A special thank you to Melissa Kelly for coordinating this event, which always generates great excitement amongst our budding readers.

Students are already looking forward to our Foam Party on 20 November, which promises to be a fun and exciting day for everyone. Many thanks to Tess Prunty for organising this fun event for our children.

It has been wonderful to see the School Business Directory continue to grow, with an increasing number of businesses from our school community joining the directory. Many thanks to Sophie Roberts and Cait Oxlade for co ordinating this great initiative.

This year, we are delighted to celebrate two valued members of our school community who have been recognised by Catholic Education Western Australia for their significant milestones of service in Catholic education.

Congratulations to Ms Callisto on 40 years of service and Mrs Poggioli on 30 years of service.

Throughout their careers, both Ms Callisto and Mrs Poggioli have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, commitment and care, making a lasting difference in the lives of countless students, families and colleagues. Their passion for Catholic education and unwavering commitment to nurturing young people have enriched the communities they have served and inspired those around them.

We are incredibly grateful for their years of faithful service and the many contributions they continue to make to our school community. Their achievements are a testament to the profound impact that dedicated educators have on the lives of others.

On behalf of our entire school community, we congratulate Ms Callisto and Mrs Poggioli on this remarkable achievement and thank them for their outstanding service to Catholic education.

Mrs Margaret Williamson

Principal

A statement from Bishop of Broome Tim Norton:

Condolences go to the Henwood family (Adam Yr6) on the recent loss of their mother/grandmother.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time.

"A mother's love is never forgotten

- may her warmth surround you forever"

This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and homelessness with the cost of living. Our support of the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal will not only provide much needed relief to so many who are currently burdened by a daily struggle of survival, comfort and dignity, but will also be a gift of joy and hope this holiday season.

These food items will be collected on Monday 30th November by St Vincent de Paul volunteers. We ask that all food items are bought into school by no later than Friday 27 November.

There will be baskets/boxes placed in each classroom from Monday 2 November and items can be added to these.

Below is a list of items that St Vincent de Paul have requested for the food hampers that will be distributed to families experiencing hardship.

It is important to remember that the hampers must contain food items that have a long expiry date and are non-perishable. Please do not include any chocolate items, as St Vincent de Paul do not have refrigeration facilities.

Thank you and God Bless

At the end of last term, our wonderful Year 6 students worked tirelessly to organise their fete stalls. The day of the fete was a huge success and a total of $5283.70 was raised between the cake stall and the Mercy Fete.

This is an outstanding result and the students and staff are to be commended for their amazing efforts.

The funds raised will be forwarded to Mercy Works which is a development arm of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea. They work in partnership with vulnerable communities and local organisations to build capacity, dignity and self-reliance. Thank you to all our school community for your support.

Fun was had by all as our new Maths Club started in the library this week. This is a great opportunity for children of all ages and abilities to come together to play fun, interactive and educational maths games...they're learning without even knowing it!

Maths Club will take place every Wednesday lunchtime for the rest of the term. All welcome!

Mrs Gerber

Enrolments and interviews are now underway for Pre‑Kindy 2027 and Kindergarten for 2028.

Please note that Kindergarten 2027 is already full.

A reminder to all families to ensure siblings are enrolled early, as some families have unfortunately missed out in previous years. If you have a baby or toddler, please enrol them now to secure a place for future years.

There are plenty of exciting P&F events coming up over the next few weeks, so be sure to keep an eye on the P&F Facebook page and the school newsletter for the latest updates, volunteer opportunities and event information.

Kids End of year Celebration – Foam Party (Free Event)

• 20th Nov from 4-5.30pm

Reserve your spot by booking tickets here - https://www.trybooking.com/DPLCP

Get ready for an afternoon of colour, foam and loads of fun as we celebrate the end of another fantastic year at PCPS.

Our PCPS Colour Foam Party will transform the school oval into a colourful, foam-filled wonderland for our kids to enjoy with their friends. With mountains of bubbles and foam, plenty of colour and music adding to the atmosphere, it’s all about laughing, dancing, getting a little messy and having lots of fun!

Expect lots of foam, lots of colour and plenty of smiles!

If you register for this event you will be sent a copy of the recording.

Keen to advertise your business in our upcoming School Business Directory? We still have limited spots available, so now is the time to lock yours in! We’ll confirm the booking cut-off shortly to allow time for printing, but don’t wait for the deadline—get in touch today to secure your place.

We are offering 3 different advertising size options:

• Full A5 Page (1700 x 2430px) = $200
• Half A5 Page (1700 x 1215px) = $100
• QTR A5 Page (850 x 1215px) = $50

Subject to sufficient interest, the directory will be distributed to every PCPS family as a printed copy in Term 4 2026, with a digital copy also available on the school website.

This is a great opportunity to promote your business within our school community. You’re also welcome to include an exclusive discount or special offer for PCPS families.

Don’t leave it until the last minute—secure your spot today! To book your advertisement or find out more, contact Sophie Roberts (sophie-green@live.com.au) or Cait Oxlade (caitoxlade88@gmail.com).

Thank you from the P&C

Our next Parents & Friends Meeting will be held:

• Wednesday 11th Nov @ 6.30pm – (2027 Planner & Budget endorsed)

We warmly invite all parents and carers to join us. It’s a great opportunity to hear what’s planned for the year ahead, share ideas, provide input (including feedback from recent events), and connect with other families in our community.

Whether you’re a regular attendee or joining for the first time, you are very welcome.

We’d love to see you there!

Get ready for a fantastic night of fun, food and entertainment as the PCPS community comes together for our Family Fun Night!

Don't forget to support our Containers for Change program!

If you're collecting eligible cans and bottles at home, we'd love you to consider donating your refund to the PCPS P&F. Every container helps raise funds for projects that benefit our school while also making a positive impact on the environment.

Simply use our Scheme ID: C11483224 when you return your containers.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make a difference for our school community and our planet—one container at a time!

As one of our valued Entertainment Members, you have the opportunity to share the savings by gifting an Access All Areas Entertainment Membership for just $60! Enjoy a full year of dining, travel, family fun and everyday savings.

Mrs Cathy Farrell

P&F Chair