7 February 2024 — Week 3, Term 1
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
If you were to ask any of our students or staff about the start of the school, it would be a massive tick of approval in the success column. Our students have been focused and attentive. Wondering up and down the hallway reveals abundant small group, focused work, explicit teaching and positive engagement. The students of Talgai in particular, need a massive pat on the back. Whilst Week 2 was a full week, each child made it through to the end of the week and was able to maintain a positive mindset. Given their age and the warm conditions, this is no mean feat.
As you would be aware, student leadership is central to our core values at St Patrick’s School. The students of Glengallan have assumed this leadership role with ease and diligence. In particular, the bond that is beginning to form with their prep buddies is extremely strong and gentle. The Year 6 leaders will be formally inducted into their roles as part of the school’s Induction and Opening School Mass on Tuesday 13 February at 9.30am in the Church. This celebration is a special one, as the Year 6 students will ask God to bless and guide them, as they journey through 2024 as School Leaders of St Patrick’s School, Allora. Together as a community, we look forward to the challenges and rewards that 2024 has in store for us all and the personal and academic growth we will all share. As school leaders, may they always display a positive attitude in what they do and in their relationships with others, and may they persevere in actions to do what is right and just. In other words… “How can we be the best part of someone’s day?”
Keith Blaikie—Principal
General information
School Bus Services update
As part of a St Patrick’s School Board initiative in 2023, we have investigated the local school bus services to establish if there is any potential for the extension of these services to increase potential enrolments. Having made contact with Mathew and Tracey Heslin, we have in fact discovered that the current bus routes are not being used as readily as they would like to be. The future of our school bus services from our conversations in the area are very concerning, as the numbers have dropped dramatically over the past few years. Please see below an extract from the Department of Transport and Main Roads on their policy on the introduction and administration of subsidised school bus services (January 2015). As a school community, we need to support our bus routes or we run the risk of losing this vital service.
The minimum number of eligible students required to institute a subsidised school bus service is seven (7). Eligible students must come from a minimum of three (3) different families, in order to institute a subsidised school bus service. It should also be noted that these seven (7) students must reside more than 16km from the nearest state school and more than 16km from the nearest approved bus service which can transport students to school. Consideration must also be given to the number of students who would benefit in subsequent years (2015, p. 4).
Marketing update
To further enhance and communicate the school’s educational exploits, we moved the school into the modern world of Instagram, which is unlike me who is very much stuck in the Facebook generation. St Patrick’s School will begin communications on Instagram from Week 5, Term 1. Under the stewardship of Ms Hickey, the school aims to promote its educational exploits with regularly scheduled posts. Whilst the school will use existing parental media consents, if you have any concerns or reservations about your child being part of Instagram posts, please contact Mr Blaikie so I can update the current media consent permissions. To follow our Instagram page click here.
Date Claimer: P&F Meet and Greet
Wednesday – 14 February from 5:00pm until 7:00pm
As a school community, we are committed to building an atmosphere and culture of mutual trust and respect where, everyone belongs, feels valued and can succeed. Where having common goals for students, staff and families and for welfare of the broader community are underpinned by our Catholic values; enabling us to achieve great things together!
Please join us on the grass near the staffroom for a shared BBQ provided the St Patrick’s P&F. Please bring a picnic blanket and BYO drinks. We ask that no glass be brought on to school grounds. In a change from previous years, there will be no formal staff presentations. With an influx of new families in 2024, we think it is important to provide a child and parent friendly event where new friendships may be forged in a low-key atmosphere. There will be a brief address by the principal where the school’s Master Plan and bus transport will be discussed.
Open Classroom Q&A
In order to provide an avenue for parents to meet with your child’s teacher, all classrooms will be open after school during Week 5. This will not be a formal information session but rather a forum for questions or queries. Please see the following timetable for Week 5:
- Tuesday – 20 February from 3:00pm to 3:30pm – Talgai
- Wednesday – 21 February from 3:00pm to 4:00pm – Cunningham
- Wednesday – 21 February from 3:00pm to 4:00pm – Dalrymple
- Wednesday – 21 February from 3:00pm to 4:00pm – Glengallan.
Teaching and learning
School Sharing Hub
Whilst the students of St Patrick’s have started the year with enthusiasm and have engaged with their learning in a positive manner, the staff are continually trying to update their practice in order to improve student outcomes. Some vacant wall space near the staffroom has seen the birth of the St Patrick’s School Sharing Hub. The main aim of this hub is for staff to share current best practice in a wide range of subject disciplines. From the use of the Frayer Model for defining concepts in Maths, to graphics that outline the benefits of STEM and finally, to the explanation of Scarborough’s Rope which provides a roadmap for reading where language comprehension and word comprehension are the key threads to success. We look forward to this Sharing Hub becoming an integral part of teaching and learning best practice at St Patrick’s School.
Student Spotlight – Glengallan
Charlee P
Charlee is a Year 5 student at St Patrick's School. She is a merry and excited girl who loves to talk and play games. She also likes to play, jump and do flips on the trampoline. Some people think she is a great friend. Charlee is a new student and is so excited because she loves new and exciting things. Charlee lives on a farm with her grandparents and her family. Her family is building a big timber house. She is going to have four siblings soon. Her favourite books are 'Harry Potter' and the 'My Story' books.
Alby M
I'd like to introduce you to Alby who is a young boy who attends school at St Patrick's School. Alby enjoys soccer, checkers and loves to draw. Alby also plays handball at school with his friends and classmates. His favourite subject in school is Maths and Science. He enjoys Science because of all the experiments he gets to do. Alby likes Maths because of all the thinking in his head and all the different strategies he can use to solve a problem. Chess is also a passion of Alby's because of all the thinking ahead and calculating your next move. Alby likes going to trampoline parks and playing dodgeball. He is learning new flips and skills on the trampoline. His favorite food is spaghetti and he also likes stir fry. Alby’s favourite movies are samurai movies and racing movies such as ‘The Fast and the Furious'.
Michelle B
There are lots of great kids at this school and one of them is a girl named Michelle. Michelle is loving, kind and always makes time for her friends. When she is alone she plays by herself. You need to be careful around her because she sometimes snaps but most of the time she is filled with smiles and happiness. Michelle has big thoughts and is very artistic and loves God's furry creatures. Michelle loves Maths, Art and tries her best every day. You can find her in Glengallan.
Read with me – parent/ carer resource
The staff of St Patrick’s School are extremely excited to promote the resource – Read with me. This video has been produced by TCSO and is designed to support parents as it promotes best practice when reading at home with our students. The following link will direct you to the TCS YouTube channel where the video is stored Read with me – parent/carer resource. The adoption of a consistent approach when reading between the home and school can only improve the educational outcomes for our students.
This week's reading tips are:
Religious life of the school
Lent: A time for the Corporal Works of Mercy
As move towards another Ash Wednesday on 14 February, it is important to revisit the importance and significance of Lent. If you mention Lent, most probably, the first image that pops into your head centres around the notion of giving up something or paying something forward. In terms of our Catholic Faith, Lent is far more than this notion of self but rather moves into the realm of the seven Corporal Works of Mercy. These seven works of mercy include feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and bury the dead. It is important as Catholics that our Lenten promises centre on these Corporal Works of Mercy.
In terms of our student population, the challenge for us as educators is to provide a concrete link to these corporal works of mercy that our students will understand. This is where the leadership ideas of our Glengallan students bubble to the top. Whilst he school’s Lenten initiatives will be primarily driven by our older students, we hope each class will find their own avenue to explore Caritas and Project Compassion to hopefully identify a particular service learning opportunity. At the end of the day, social justice is about exploring the causes of injustice rather than just donating a charitable gold coin.
In regard to the school’s liturgical calendar, on Tuesday 13 February, Mass will be celebrated to acknowledge the new school year, welcome our new students and induct our Year 6 leaders for 2024. Mass will commence at 9:30am in the St Patrick’s Church. Morning tea will be provided after Mass for all families. All are welcome to attend!
As Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent, St Patrick’s School will join with members of the wider local parish to acknowledge this very important event. Mass will commence at 10:00am in the St Patrick's Church. As always, everyone is most welcome to attend.
And finally, as you would be aware, Project Compassion will be the school’s major focus for the remainder of the term. To help and encourage the entire family to focus on Project Compassion, the school will send home with the eldest child, a Project Compassion donation box on 14 February. Your participation as a family in Project Compassion is not compulsory but just provides an avenue to help those less fortunate in our world today.
Upcoming events - February
- Wednesday 7 February - P&F Meeting at 6.00pm in the library or via Zoom
- Friday 9 February - Allora Show Holiday –please note that school is closed
- Tuesday 13 February - Leaders’ Induction Mass at 9:30am in Church followed by morning tea (All are welcome!)
- Wednesday 14 February - Ash Wednesday Mass at 10:00am in the Church (All are welcome!)
- Wednesday 14 February - St Patrick’s P&F Meet and Greet from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
- Thursday 15 February - Central Downs Swimming (Allora Pool)
- Thursday 15 February - St Patrick’s School Advisory Council AGM
- Friday 16 February - Whole school assembly at 2:15pm in Church
- Saturday 17 February - St Patrick’s Care and Concern home visits from 9:00am until 11:00am
- Wednesday 21 February - St Patrick’s P&F AGM at 6:00pm in the library or via Zoom
- Wednesday 21 February - St Patrick's Playgroup from 9:00am until 10:30am in the sand pit
- Friday 23 February - Tuckshop
- Friday 23 February - Central Downs Sports Trials (Glengallan students only)
See the Sentral calendar for more information about these events.
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