13 November 2024 — Week 7, Term 4

Welcome from the Principal

Dear Families

Remembrance Day like ANZAC Day are two very special occasions where we can reflect on the self-sacrifice and mateship of the men and women of Australia’s Defence Forces. Cunningham’s reflective liturgy last Friday reminded me of the importance of mateship, as it was this trait that motivated our soldiers because they did not want to let their mates down. I would like to share with you a short reflection about Trooper John Rynne, 11^th Australian Light Horse Regiment, whose name is remembered with great affection during our inter-house sporting competitions. I shared this reflection with the whole school last Friday.

Trooper John Rynne was killed in action before dawn on the morning of 25 September 1918. He died in the saddle as they charged in attack towards the village of Samakh on the southern shore of Galilee. The horsemen, swords drawn, at the order “Charge the guns”, spurred their horses and charged the Turkish defences. They then cleared the town on foot with rifles and bayonets. It was the costliest cavalry action of the offensive. Three officers and sixteen of Jack’s mates died in the attack. The dead included Trooper Roy Pledger who also enlisted from Allora. This was the last major operation for the 11^th Light Horse Regiment with the Turks surrendering on 30 October 1918.

Frank and Johanna Rynne received letters of sympathy from members of the 11^th Light Horse Regiment. These words sum up their son’s character: “He was quiet unassuming and gentlemanly in every sense of the word; in action, cool, determined and absolutely fearless. When we found him some time afterwards he had a smile of satisfaction over his face…”(Source - Keeping Their Memory Alive, Allora and District Historical Society Inc).

Trooper John Michael Rynne, 11^th Australian Light Horse Regiment.

You will always be remembered – Lest we Forget.

Have a lovely fortnight. 

Keith Blaikie—Principal

Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au

My New Gallery

General Information

St Patrick's School Allora - Strategic Plan 2024 to 2027

It is with much pride and excitement that as a school, we officially launch the St Patrick's School Allora - Strategic Plan 2024 to 2027. This strategic plan provides a clear pathway forward over the next four years. Our thanks must go to Mr Marty Savage TCSO for his thoughtful guidance through this procedure together with the invaluable input provided by the school's staff, Parents and Friends Association and School Advisory Council (Board). A copy of the Strategic Plan is below and please click here to see the website version. We have also included a brief outline below of the preamble of the school's new Strategic Plan. 

St Patrick’s School, with its rich tradition of delivering high-quality education to the Allora district, is dedicated to fostering a distinctively Catholic environment in an ever-changing and dynamic world. Our strategic plan is centred around our students, prioritising their academic, social and spiritual development. As committed teaching and learning professionals, we aim to provide authentic, innovative and rigorous learning experiences that enable all children to succeed and grow. Through the lens of our Catholic faith, we strive to nurture compassionate global citizens, embracing an inclusive Christian identity. Our distinctiveness as a Catholic institution is reflected in our treatment of one another, ensuring that every student, staff member, and parent feels a sense of belonging, value, and potential for success.

Staff and Class Structure for 2025

As 2025 is starting to loom larger on the horizon, the school is excited to announce our two new staff members together with our class structure for 2025. As a school community, we would like to welcome Mr Reilly Young who has accepted the 12 month fixed term appointment as Mrs Hentschel's replacement and Mrs Amanda Bowe who has accepted the 6 hour per week role in Cunningham as Miss Preston's release. Mrs Kirkland who previously supported Cunningham will move to Glengallan and cover two days vacated by Mrs Shooter has moved to a flexible work arrangement and will teach for only three days per week. 

Reilly Young is currently teaching Year 2 at Sacred Heart Primary School in Toowoomba. He resides in Warwick and is very excited about his role at St Patrick's School next year. Reilly graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Latrobe University, Bendigo) in 2015. As Reilly outlined during his interview "I value precision in pedagogy and believe strongly in delivering excellent teaching and learning. I pride myself on creating a calm and connected learning environment where students feel safe, comfortable and cared for whilst always striving for academic excellence". 

As many of you be aware, Amanda Bowe is currently employed by St Patrick's School as a relief teacher. She also facilitates the St Patrick's School Playgroup. Amanda provides a wealth of experience from her 20 year teaching career in Education Queensland where she attained Experienced Senior Teacher status. As Amanda outlined in her interview "In my previous roles, I have successfully implemented innovative lesson plans that cater to diverse learning styles, fostering a love of learning while promoting critical thinking and collaboration. I believe in nurturing students' strengths and guiding them to develop their own unique qualities". 

We welcome both Reilly and Amanda to the St Patrick's School Community and we look forward with much anticipation, to a very successful 2025. 

 In terms of classroom structure for 2025, the school will retain its current four class structure. The school has a confirmed enrolment of 84 students. The confirmed classroom structure for 2025 includes:

• Talgai: Prep and Year 1 (Reilly Young and Kathryn Lucas)
• Cunningham: Year 2 (Karine Preston and Amanda Bowe)
• Dalrymple: Year 3 and 4 (Katie Hickey)
• Glengallan: Year 5 and 6 (Mrs Shooter and Mrs Kirkland).

Date Claimer - Early Years Information Session 2025
All parents who have children in Prep to Year 2 in 2025 are cordially invited to attend an Early Years Information Session on Thursday 14 November commencing at 4:30pm in the school library. The main aim of this session is to announce and introduce in person our new staff members for 2025, explain the organisational and logistical plans associated with our Early Years students and provide a Q&A forum for any questions. 

Religious Life of the School

Twenty-Six Acts of Kindness - Max K (Year 5)

For the final 26 days of school, Glengallan has come together and constructed a calendar containing twenty-six Acts of Kindness. The Acts of Kindness cover the five days of the school week as well as the weekends. They could be as simple as saying good morning to everyone, or a weekend thing like, do any type of household chore. A copy of this calendar will be hung in every classroom and in the mornings, staff will remind us of the Act of Kindness for the day. We hope that everyone enjoys the twenty-six Acts of Kindness leading up to the end of school. 

Crazy Sock Day is planned for Wednesday, 20 November with all money raised going to Catholic Missions.  

Upcoming events - November

• Wednesday 13 November - Newsletter
• Thursday 14 November - Early Years 2025 Information Session commencing at 4:30pm until 5:00pm 
• Thursday 14 November - School Advisory Council (Board) Meeting commencing at 6:00pm
• Friday 15 November - Talgai Grandparents to visit
• Friday 15 November - Swimming (Lesson # 2) 
• Saturday 16 November - St Patrick's P&F Care and Concern home visits from 9:00am
• Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November - Parent Teacher Interviews
• Wednesday 20 November - Prep Transition 2025 # 3 from 8:30am to 11:00am
• Wednesday 20 November - Crazy Sock Day
• Friday 22 November - Swimming (Lesson # 3)
• Friday 22 November - Whole School Assembly commencing at 2:15pm
• Friday 29 November - Interhouse Swimming Carnival from 9:00am until 1:00pm
• Tuesday 3 December - End of Year Whole School Mass commencing at 9:30am
• Thursday 5 December - Year 6 and Whole School Awards Ceremony commencing at 6:00pm
• Friday 6 December - Christmas Concert commencing at 10:30am

See the Sentral calendar for more information.

Reminders

Uniform Days

Summer Uniform 

 Formal - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Sports - Wednesday, Friday

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