24 January 2024 — Week 1, Term 1
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
On behalf of the community of St Patrick’s School, we would like to extend a warm and heart felt welcome to all of our new students and families. It was truly humbling to observe the many happy faces at our ‘Welcome Assembly’. As teachers, it is easy to lose sight of the importance of our role as educators within the busyness of school life. Teachers teach because they want to make a genuine difference to the lives of our students. We are humbled to have 17 new Prep students commence their educational journey with St Patrick’s School this year together with another 5 students in the older year levels. It was also wonderful to observe many new parents venture to ‘Katie's Cafe’ with some existing parents to have a conversation over a cup of coffee.
At the start of each year, staff usually choose a specific quote from St Mary of the Cross Mackillop which will be used as a theme to guide their work for 2024. In a deviation from this normal practice, staff have chosen the quote… “How can I be the best part of someone’s day?” Apart from being easier to understand from a student perspective, the quote provides an avenue to understand a larger world view rather than just thinking about themselves. We look forward to unpacking this quote throughout the year.
Once again, welcome back to another school year and we look forward to another successful year as a school community. Being part of a community goes hand in hand with being human. It is that sense of comradery, the ability to come together to achieve a set of goals or to take responsibility for the welfare of all community members which are traits synonymous with a community like St Patrick’s School. Being distinctively Catholic boils down to how we treat people and each other. If we are truly distinctive then all students, staff and parents feel a sense that they belong, are valued and are successful.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Teaching and learning
Student Attendance
School attendance remains one of our major goals for 2024. Whilst 2023 displayed some improvement, as a school community, we need to aim for greater consistency across the entire year. It was wonderful to see 97% of our students attend school on 23 January. Congratulations!
As you would be aware, teacher quality is the single most important in-school factor influencing student achievement (Hattie, 2009). However, the relationship between teacher quality and student achievement is mediated by the amount of time students spend in the classroom. Irrespective of the reasons for absences, non-attendance affects student outcomes. Students need to be at school learning from their expert teacher.
Almost a quarter of students miss at least a month of school per year. Most Australian students attend school regularly, with 75% of Year 1-10 students attending at least 90% of school days in 2018. However, a closer look at this data also indicates something concerning. If 75% of students attend at least 90% of the time then the reverse suggests that 25% (1 in 4) Australian students were absent for more than 10% of school time, or 20 or more days. These students are missing at least a month of school over the schooling year. Once again, every minute in front of that expert teacher counts. This is certainly food for thought.
Find out more here.
Mr Gaggi working with Walter W.
Staff Update
During Week 0, all staff participated in relevant and informative professional development in order to prepare for 2024. From staff feedback, a clear highlight was the initial development of the school’s new strategic plan. Under the facilitation of the school’s Senior Education Leader Mr Marty Savage, all staff which included teaching and non-teaching, unpacked the School Renewal and Improvement report from 2023. Dedicating the time to read the report and being able to identify the celebrations and possible improvement strategies proved invaluable as a teambuilding activity as all staff need to be included in the strategic direction of the school. At the conclusion of this session, the school had a clear strategic direction for the next four years. This document will now be unpacked with both the St Patrick’s P&F Association and School Advisory Council (Board).
In other staff news, we welcome Mr Paul Gaggi to St Patrick’s School who will support the learning of our Cunningham students in the role of School Officer. As has been the school’s clear strategic direction in recent years of resourcing our early years program, this appointment of Mr Gaggi will ensure the stability of curriculum delivery and support of student learning is attained. Mr Gaggi originates from North Queensland and prior to undertaking his teaching career, he spent a considerable amount of time as an instructing clerk in the District and Supreme Courts of Queensland. Mr Gaggi has an early years background in teaching and has taught in the Toowoomba Diocese and local state system since 2005. We welcome Mr Gaggi to St Patrick’s School. His life experience, coupled with his passion for education, will prove invaluable for both our staff and students. Welcome Mr Gaggi!!
Social Media
The use of social media within our modern society is widespread and is often seen as a necessity to function in our normal everyday lives. As you may not be aware, there are a number of families at St Patrick’s School who have requested that their children not be included in any material published via the school’s Facebook account. These families have formally declined permission to the school for their children to be included in our Facebook posts.
We encourage parents and friends of St Patrick’s School students to also take this into consideration when posting photographs on Facebook and other social media avenues. Please be reminded that if you take any images that contain student/s other than your own children you should ask for parental permission before posting on social media applications. As a school, we need to respect the wishes of all parents.
Uniform Policy Reminders
At St Patrick’s School, we believe that our presentation displays respect for our school and one another, in addition to displaying our readiness to learn. Developing a sense of pride in our work includes presentation of one’s self and wearing our school uniform with pride.
Please find a copy of our full uniform policy here.
Upcoming events - February (see Sentral calendar for more information)
- Tuckshop - Friday 2 and 23 February
- St Patrick’s Playgroup – Wednesday 7 and 21 February (in sand pit)
- P&F Meeting - Wednesday 7 February at 6.00pm in the library
- Allora Show Holiday – Friday 9 February - please note that school closed
- Whole school assembly – Friday 2 and 16 February at 2:15pm in Church
- Leaders’ Induction Mass – Tuesday 13 February at 9:30am in Church
- St Patrick’s P&F Meet and Greet – Wednesday 14 February from 5:00pm
- Central Downs Swimming (Allora Pool) - Thursday 15 February
- St Patrick’s School Advisory Council AGM – Thursday 15 February at 6:00pm
- St Patrick’s Care and Concern home visits - Saturday 17 February from 9:00am until 11:00am
- St Patrick’s P&F AGM – Wednesday 21 February at 6:00pm in the library
- P&F Golf and Bowls Day – Saturday 24 February from 12:00pm to 7:00pm (Allora Golf Club)
Religious life of the school
On Friday, 19 January under the facilitation of Mrs Hentschel and as part of the school’s Week 0 program, staff from both St Patrick’s School, Allora and St Maria Goretti School, Inglewood explored the concept of Service Learning within the faith dimension of the Josephite charism. The ultimate aim of Service Learning is to create a ‘culture’ of service and justice within the community and for this culture to be ‘educational’, leading to true ‘learning’ and liberation of the individual.
Some activities of what we do will be strictly speaking, Service Learning or Community Engagement. Activities will focus on active engagement in service and reflecting on the experience. Other activities will grow an awareness in students while other curriculum responses will be teaching critical thinking. All of this and more will lead to an education that is truly liberating and will result in a ‘better world for all’.
First day of school photos
Prep students and their Year 6 buddies
Reminders
Uniform Days
Sports
Wednesday, Friday
Formal
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
Please remember that we are a...
‘Nut Aware’ School.
Times for Masses are as follows:
1st Sunday - 9am 2nd and 3rd Sunday – 5.30pm
4th & 5th Sunday Liturgy of the Word with Communion - 9am
