4 June 2025 — Week 7, Term 2
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
Welcome back to another Newsletter. It is hard to believe that we have reached Week 7. Whilst the cancellation due to the rain of the annual Under 8's Day in Clifton and the Central Downs 2nd Gala Day on Friday 30 May was rather challenging, a silver lining to the drama was certainly the tangible example that could be linked to a word called 'resilience'. Both staff and students exhibited wonderful resilience to adapt to a normal routine driven Friday. Photos from the Talgai Under 8's Day St Patrick's style would suggest the students were none the wiser. Please see the photo gallery below for more smiling faces.
On Friday, we also welcomed TCSO Executive Director Dr. Pat Coughlan and the newly appointed TCSO Finance Director Mrs. Alyssa Egerton to St Patrick's School. It is always a pleasure to welcome Dr. Coughlan to Allora, as it provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to showcase our vibrant and enthusiastic school community.
With the annual cold and flu season well upon us, we have included a publication from Queensland Health. This poster provides Queensland public health recommendations about a number of infectious conditions that may require exclusion of children from school. This timely reminder is all about keeping your child and other children healthy. If you have any queries or questions, please contact the office.
Whilst illness will invariably result in student absence from time to time, it is important to highlight the necessity for students to attend school. As has been stated in previous Newsletters, our goal is 90% minimum attendance for all students. Anything less than 90% attendance then our students are not receiving the necessary education to maintain appropriate academic growth.
As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please contact the school.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
Under 8's Day - St Patrick's style
General Information
Gala Day Uniforms
St Patrick's School Allora, Parents and Friends Association
St Patrick's School - Gala Day Uniforms
It was with much excitement that the new Gala Day uniforms finally arrived on Friday 30 May. The purchase of these new uniforms has been an ongoing project with the St Patrick's P&F Association since 2023. The uniforms cost $4184.40 which included 60 pairs of socks together with rugby league, netball and soccer shirts/ jerseys. We are so thankful to have such an engaging and enthusiastic Parents and Friends Association. Thank You!!
Next Meeting - Wednesday 18 June
The next St Patrick's P&F Meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 June commencing at 6:00pm. Parents may attend either in person or online and everyone is welcome to attend. Please note that the St Patrick's Parish and School Fete will be held at 6:45pm directly after the conclusion of the St Patrick's P&F Meeting. Please find the attached to the Newsletter email, the St Patrick's P&F Meeting Minutes from Tuesday 27 May for your information.
Social Events - Term 2
The following social events have been confirmed for Term 2:
- Friday 20 June - St Patrick's P&F Family Get-Together at 3:00pm at the Railway Hotel.
As always, if you have any questions or queries, please contact the school or the St Patrick's P&F directly via email at stpatspnf@gmail.com.
Pacific Seeds 88 to Educate Charity Campdraft
The Pacific Seeds 88 to Educate Charity Campdraft will be held on the 23 and 24 August at the Allora Showgrounds.
Why a campdraft you ask?
Campdrafting is currently the fastest growing horse sport across Australia. Allora showgrounds offers outstanding, purpose-built facilities for horse events, and within our school community, we have some very competitive horse and rider combinations, who have the experience and contacts necessary to run this type of event. Not to mention, we have the ability to tap into the very generous support of our wider community, raising significant funds for our facilities upgrade to cater for growing school enrolments.
But don’t worry, if you’re not a horse enthusiast, there will be plenty on offer for you too:
- Campdrafting action all weekend
- Hobby horse gymkhana and novelty events on Saturday afternoon – No horse? No worries!
- Top Paddock Catering roast meal Saturday night.
- Raffles and auctions, with something on offer for everyone
- Moo Poo Lottery
- Colouring in competition
- Live music
- Mounted gymkhana – Sunday morning.
*** Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details and ways that you can participate ***
We are set to raise a lot of money for our school from this event, but with that, comes a lot of work. We need your hands. Canteen workers, pencillers, time keepers, general legend spirit and vibe bringers!
If you can help out, email us at: stpatrickscampdraft@gmail.com and/or rosters will be available at school for you to put your name down soon.
More information to follow in upcoming newsletters and on our socials.
For now:
- Save the date: 23 and 24 August 2025
- Follow the Facebook page: 88 to Educate Charity Campdraft
- Put your name down on the roster
- Get excited!
Teaching and Learning
Reporting: Semester 1 - 2025
As the semester draws to its conclusion in late June, reporting on student progress becomes very important. Reporting refers to multiple ways of communicating information informally and formally on what students know, understand and can do at a point in time and may include recommendations for their future learning.
The purpose of reporting student achievement and progress is to improve student learning. It provides an opportunity for parents/legal guardians to engage meaningfully in the learning journey of their child. The report communicates more broadly on all aspects impacting on performance, including school attendance, effort and participation, learning attributes and school priorities.
We have also included for your information, our reporting requirements together with the language associated with the A to E achievement scale definitions that will be used to update the current report card format used at St Patrick's School, Allora. This information is located in the newly launched TCSO Teaching and Learning in Toowoomba Catholic Schools framework. Some major changes to St Patrick's School's current report cards include:
- There will be no English, Maths or Religious Education comments provided this semester. Teachers usually spend an extra 30 to 40 hours above their current teaching and learning workload to produce these comments for student reports. This will allow teachers to concentrate on their core business of effective teaching and learning.
- General Report Card comments will provide an in-depth summary of the holistic progress of individual students together with specific goals for Semester 2.
- Parent Teacher Interviews will now become mandatory in Term 1 and Term 4. Feedback from staff and parents suggest this face to face format is far more effective when talking about the academic development of individual students.
- The language associated with Teaching and Learning in Toowoomba Catholic Schools framework will be used as much as possible in the school's report cards. The added advantage of this change will be an increased level of consistency across TCSO schools.
National Simultaneous Storytime
National Simultaneous Storytime is in its 25th year. Across our country, schools, childcare centres and kindergartens all read the chosen story at 12pm. This year, the book was The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell. More than 2 million students listened, in more than 16 000 locations. We are now looking forward to next year!
Religious Life of the School
Mary, Help of Christians
On Tuesday, 3 June, the school celebrated the special feast of the patron of Australia, Mary, Help of Christians. Each country of the world has a patron saint, that is someone who is special to the people of that country.
From a historical perspective, Pope Pius VII established the feast in honour of Our Lady Help of Christians in 1815. After being imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte, he established the feast in thanksgiving for his release. Australia, a new colony at that time, had no Catholic priests and therefore no Mass available. The faithful recited and relied on the Rosary to sustain the Catholic community.
We as the faithful, do not worship Mary but invite her to intercede on our behalf, to her Son, Jesus. We consider her as a true witness of what it is to follow and trust God, understanding that she has a unique relationship with God, is full of grace and shares in the genetic makeup of Christ! Throughout history, during times of uncertainty and difficulty, Mary continually intercedes for her children and protects us as a loving, compassionate mother.
We also need to acknowledge the students from the St Patrick's Sacramental Program who led the whole school in their celebration of Mary, Help of Christians.
Upcoming events
- Wednesday 4 June - Newsletter
- Friday 6 June - Tuckshop delivered to St Patrick's School at 10:45am
- Friday 6 June - Athletics training for Dalrymple and Glengallan students from 7:45am (Focus - High jump, Shot put and Discus)
- Sunday 8 June - Pentecost Sunday
- Tuesday 10 June - Prep 2026 Interviews commence
- Wednesday 11 June - St Patrick's Playgroup from 9:00am until 10:30am
- Friday 13 June - Athletics training for Dalrymple and Glengallan students from 7:45am (Focus - High jump, Shot put and Discus)
- Friday 13 June - Tuckshop delivered to St Patrick's School at 10:45am
- Friday 13 June - Whole School Assembly in the Church commencing at 2:15pm
- Saturday 14 June - St Patrick's P&F Care and Concern home visits from 9:00am until 11:00am.
- Wednesday 18 June - Athletics training for Dalrymple and Glengallan students from 7:45am (Focus - High jump and Discus)
- Wednesday 18 June - 200m and 800m events for Dalrymple and Glengallan students at Allora P to 10 State School commencing at 9:00am. St Patrick's School 9 to 12 Years High Jump competition will take place from 11:30am at St Patrick's School.
- Wednesday 18 June - St Patrick's P&F Meeting commencing at 6:00pm in the library or online followed by St Patrick's Parish and School Fete Meeting at 6:45pm
- Wednesday 18 June - Newsletter
- Friday 20 June - Combined Interhouse Athletics with St Francis de Sales in Clifton from 9:30am until 2:00pm
See the Sentral calendar for more information.
Reminders
Uniform Days
Winter Uniform (commences Tuesday 6 May 2025)
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
