Year 7 2022 Orientation Day and Welcome
November 12, 2021
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians of Year 7 2022 students,
Welcome to St Patrick’s College.
ORIENTATION DAY
On Tuesday, 30 November we welcome all new Year 7 students to the College for Orientation Day.
Students are welcome to arrive at the College from 8.40 am with Pastoral Care commencing at 8.50 am.
Parents are asked to drop their son at the College front gates and they will then make their way through Front Reception to their Pastoral Care room.
Staff and Senior students will welcome your son at the front gate and guide them to their Pastoral Care room.
On this day, your son will meet his Pastoral Care teacher and his classmates.
On this first day we would encourage all Year 7 students to come to school through the front gates and we will ensure staff and Student Council leaders are there to welcome them in Reception and guide them to their Pastoral Care room. We will also structure the day to ensure the Year 7 students are able to spend time with Year 12 students and learn their way around the school.
What to bring:
Students will need to bring a pen and exercise book.
Students are also to bring a packed lunch and drink bottle. Students will not be able to access the Canteen.
Students are to wear comfortable casual clothes.
PARENT INFORMATION SESSION
At the conclusion of the day all parents, carers and guardians are invited to a Parent Information Session at 1 pm in the College Gymnasium.
To register for the event please do so via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/BVOFP
Please note that all Visitors to the College are required to be double vaccinated and will need to show their Covid Vaccination Certificate.
Please enter the College via Wanliss Road and enter through the gates. Parking is available along Wanliss Road and the front of the College.
Please arrive at 12.45 pm to QR Check In and show your Vaccine Certificate to staff. The Parent Session will commence at 1 pm.
Please contact Caitlin Bennett at enrolments@stpats.vic.edu.au if you have any further queries.
The Information session will conclude at 2 pm.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
We will welcome Year 7 students and Year 12 students only back to school on Monday, 31 January. (Students in Years 8-11 will have their first day of school on Tuesday, 1 February).
Your son will also meet his teachers and classmates on this day and will be given a padlock for his locker.
As per a normal Orientation day, we advise all Year 7 students to ensure they bring their food and water bottle to school on this day as they will not have access to the canteen.
Students will be expected to wear full summer uniform for their first day at school.
UNIFORMS
In Term 1 and Term 4 students should wear a full summer uniform. In Term 2 and Term 3 they will wear a winter uniform.
Please click this link to learn about the uniform requirements.
School uniforms must be purchased through the College Shop which is located next to reception. We highly recommend you act now to purchase your son’s uniform. The College Shop is open from 8.15am to 3.45pm and will remain open until 8 December before re-opening on 17 January, 2022. The College Shop can be contacted by calling 5322 4313.
Staff will be in contact families to collect their uniforms when ready. For families that haven’t organised uniform as yet, please contact The College Shop for an appointment by emailing Michelle at mroberts@stpats.vic.edu.au or phone 5322 4313.
MUSIC – INSTRUMENTAL SELECTION SURVEY
Normally, on Orientation Day, your son would have been tested by the Music Department to determine which instrument best suits him. As this is not possible this year, we need all parents to fill out a brief survey at this link immediately. Note that to enable our Music Department to sort instruments for your son you must complete this survey by Friday 19, November 2021.
BOOKLIST
The Year 7 booklist is now available online at this link. All required books and stationery are included on this list. The College will supply some resources for certain subjects as needed.
IT DEVICES
Your son will be given his laptop on Monday, 31 January.
Further information relating to the purchase and insurance of your son’s laptop will be issued in the coming weeks.
BUS/CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE
For boys who will be travelling to school by bus in the areas listed below it will be necessary to advise the appropriate bus company of your son’s intention to travel for the 2022 school year.
Families who live in the Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh areas please make contact with the appropriate bus company listed below:
Christians Bus (Bacchus Marsh Coaches) Phone: 1800 775 295
Littles Coaches (Daylesford Area) Phone: 5339 6600
If you live in other country areas, you will need to contact the Ballarat Bus Co-ordinator to advise of your intention. Ballarat Bus Co-ordinator Phone: 5334 3579
For all other areas, you will need to contact CDC Bus Lines for information regarding bus / train routes. Phone 5331 7777.
School Student ID and Student Pass application forms are available at this link.
The College also strongly encourages parents to refer to the DEECD website to download the School Bus Program’s policy and procedures and eligibility brochure.
Further information regarding claiming conveyance allowance will be provided by the finance office at a later date. Should you have any further queries regarding bus travel please contact Mrs Maureen Ralton at the College at accountsreceivable@stpats.vic.edu.au
FEES
The College is set to finalise tuition fees and other charges in the coming days and further correspondence will follow once this process is complete.
Fee notices are generally issued towards the end of January for you to commence your payment plans.
PAM
The Parent Access Module (PAM) will become your key portal for ongoing communication with the College. This will be the place where you can upload and update crucial student information such as medical and dietary requirements (these are required prior to your son starting the school year). It will also be the place where you will provide permission for your son to attend excursions/camps etc. Should your son be absent from school you must use PAM to notify the College. Through PAM, you will also be able to monitor your son’s academic progress and contact his teachers. Your PAM login details will be emailed to you before your son commences school.
YEAR 7 CAMPS
Year 7 Camps in 2022 will be held between 7 February and 11 February 2022.
On allocated days, each class will spend one night at Log Cabin Camp (Creswick). Students should wear casual clothes/swimming gear to the day camp.
Further information will be communicated to families prior. Specific dates for classrooms will be communicated early next year.
CANTEEN
Parents, Carers and Guardians are invited to volunteer in the College Canteen for 2022. Please see the attached the Volunteer form if you would like to assist for recess or lunch. The Canteen is open each day of the week.
PARENT WELCOME EVENING
All parents of Year 7 students will be invited to attend a Parent Welcome evening on Monday, 31 January, meeting in the College Gym at 7pm.
At this event you will have the opportunity to hear from Principal Steven O’Connor before being able to spend some time in your son’s pastoral care room with his teacher. Students are not required to attend this evening. Further details will be sent in the coming weeks.
Once again we thank you for your patience and understanding as we negotiate different transition processes.
Should you have any questions about the orientation process or about your son’s requirements before his first day at school please contact the College Registrar Caitlin Bennett on 5322 4449 or at enrolments@stpats.vic.edu.au
We wish all in our community a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing holiday period.