29 May 2024 — Week 7, Term 2
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, will be explored in each class this week by myself through the lens of my experiences in an Indigenous Immersion Program in Central Australia during July of 2023.
The inspiration for this education opportunity stemmed from my days in secondary school, some forty years ago. The only aboriginal boy in the whole school of 900 boys was a student called Waverley Stanley. Waverley Stanley is a legend in the circles of Indigenous education. Together with his wife Llew, they established Yalari (2005) which is committed to the education of Indigenous students in Australia. Since 2005, Yalari has been providing Indigenous children from regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to receive a full boarding school scholarship for their entire secondary education. Yalari believes education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for Indigenous Australians and for our nation. Yalari is deeply committed to the ongoing success of our national program of scholarships, student support and post-school opportunities.
Like us all from the late 1970’s, Waverley faced the harsh realities of a boarding school coming from a small town called Murgon. Waverley received a scholarship to attend secondary school only through the diligence and hard work of his Year 7 teacher, Mrs Bishop, who advocated for Waverley’s integrity, intelligence and leadership capabilities. The twelve aged men you see below still support Waverley in some capacity as an Indigenous educator. These experiences in Central Australia will form the basis of my conversation around Reconciliation Week.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
St Patrick's P&F Association - Family Fun Day
Our congratulations must be conveyed to the members of the St Patrick’s P&F for their organisation of another superb day of golf, bowls, face painting and mini golf. We have also been reliably informed that the wooden spoon has found a new home in TCSO which is much to the celebration of a certain member of staff. The school also needs to ackowledge the generosity of Ty Gardner Concreting who not only won the golf competition, but donated a significant portion of their prize money back to the school.
It was great to witness the many new families to St Patrick’s School who attended the day and by all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed the event. Word on the street suggests there may have been a ‘man flu’ epidemic due to the fellowship and swapping of stories which gained momentum throughout the night.
General Information
Tuckshop
This is just a reminder about ordering Tuckshop online via the Flexischools app/website for Amy's Cafe. Families were able to place orders up until 5:30am on Friday morning and they were promptly delivered to school in time for lunch at 10:45am. Families will have the ongoing option of ordering tuckshop for their child via Flexischools each Friday of term.
If you have any feedback in regard to Tuckshop please let either Kathryn Hoey (P&F) or Keith Blaikie (Principal) know. This feedback will be given to Amy's Cafe to either steamline or improve the delivery of Tuckshop to our school community.
Teaching and Learning
Talgai students showing how it's done!!
Mrs Henderson from TCSO was keen to observe our exceptional learners in action. She observed an explicit UFLI Foundations phonics lesson where the staff and students modelled best practice in the teaching of reading and spelling. Video footage of the lesson will also be shared with teachers from our western schools. Well done Talgai!
Kids in Space - update (Priseis - Year 6)
On Wednesday of Week 6, Dalrymple and Glengallan students got the chance to present their Science displays that they have been working on for the past 3 months. St Patrick's also warmly welcomed four esteemed judges. They included Mr Savage (TCSO), Professor Jonti Horner (UniSQ), Mark Baker (Assumption College) and David Felstead (Assumption College).
Projects had to include some form of space technology and had to help people in space or in Allora. The projects ranged from pollution, to mental health in space, drought and making showers so the astronauts were clean and healthy. Students in Glengallan and Dalrymple found that in general, ‘Kids in Space’ program was great because it strengthened teamwork skills, developed understanding about space and the technologies they need to use. Another positive included spending time using technology and ‘Maker Empire’.
Everyone’s projects were great but only three groups will get a chance to continue to Toowoomba. The winners were Poppy, Grace, Edward, and Dimity from Dalrymple. There were two groups from Glengallan that included Max, Katelyn and Toby and the other group was Mahailia and Priseis. These groups will be going to St Mary’s College in Toowoomba on the 7 June. If they win in Toowoomba they get to go to Adelaide and challenge other groups across the whole nation.
Step into Stories - Mrs Tindall
This week sees the Step into Stories program happening across the Darling Downs. Supported by QSLA (Queensland School Libraries Association) and organized through TCS (Toowoomba Catholic Schools), the program brings authors and illustrators into classrooms via virtual teams meetings and face to face visits. This year, Glengallan and Dalrymple are having a virtual visit with Jess Racklyeft, who illustrated the 2022 Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year, Iceberg. Talgai and Cunningham are having a virtual visit with Renee Treml, an author and illustrator of many favourite picture books, such as Sleep Tight, Platypup, One very tired Wombat and So she Did: the story of May Wirth.
I am attaching the links to these authors websites if you would like to discuss the visits with your child/ren, or find a title to add your home library! Speaking with an author has many benefits for our students, including discovering the details of the creation process and being able to ask thoughtful questions related to this. Discovering high level vocabulary and how to weave truth into a story are also bonus things to ponder on!
Religious Life of the School
A minutes reflection—Lee ann Weekes (TCSO)
Have fun! How often do we say this to each other, and what do we mean? When so many pressing needs call us to be reliable and responsible, having fun can feel a bit frivolous. In her book ‘The Power of Fun’, science journalist Catherine Price describes fun as an essential part of everyday life. Doing something for the sake of it, feeling connected through shared experiences and being so engrossed in something that you lose track of time are crucial elements and can occur both at work and play.
Wellbeing experts believe a sense of fun helps develop a more positive mindset and better mental health. However, Scripture has long encouraged us to have fun as a counterbalance to our work. We are told ‘there is nothing better than eating and drinking and finding enjoyment as we work, as these are God’s gifts to us’ (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 8:15).
Jesus was quite partial to having fun. He took any opportunity he could to eat and drink with his friends, including disciples and the marginalised he met on his journeys. While containing a serious message, his parables and stories usually end with great rejoicing. He would have elicited quite a few laughs when he exaggerates the plight of a rich man getting into heaven by comparing him with a camel passing through the eye of a needle. No matter how tired he was, he always found time to play with the children.
As 2024 rushes to a frenetic end and we feel overwhelmed with tasks and obligations, find the fun moments that bring you joy. Joan Chittister reminds us that ‘life is a blessing to be celebrated’. Learning to celebrate joy is one of the great practices of spiritual life, as it recognises the mercy and love of God.
Cuddle the puppy, tell the joke, bake the cake (share it with a colleague), sing loudly, take a walk along the river, and brew a pot of tea. Remember, ‘this is the day that Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24).
Upcoming events - May/ June
- Wednesday 29 May - Newsletter
- Saturday 1 June - P&F Care and Concern home visits from 9:00am until 11:00am
- Monday 3 June - Line marking for athletics from 3:00pm (Parent volunteers required)
- Wednesday 5 June - Athletics Training from 7:30am to 8:20am
- Wednesday 5 June - Prep 2025 'Come and Try' from 9:00am until 10:30am
- Thursday 6 June - Whole School Assembly from 2:15pm in the Church (Learning Showcase - Cunningham)
- Friday 7 June - 'Kids in Space' State competition at St Mary's College in Toowoomba
- Friday 7 June - Central Downs Gala Day Sports #2
- Friday 7 June - Under 8's Day in Clifton (Talgai and Cunningham students only)
- Tuesday 11 June - 9 to 12 years 800m and 200m athletic events at Allora P-10 State School
- Wednesday 12 June - P&F Meeting from 6:00pm in the libary or via ZOOM
- Friday 14 June - Combined Interhouse Athletics with St Francis de Sale in Allora
See the Sentral calendar for more information.
Reminders
Uniform Days
Sports
Wednesday, Friday
Formal
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Please remember that we are a...
‘Nut Aware’ School.
Times for Mass at St Patrick's Church are as follows:
1st Sunday - 9am 2nd and 3rd Sunday – 5.30pm
4th & 5th Sunday Liturgy of the Word with Communion - 9am
