29 January 2025 — Week 1, Term 1
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
Welcome back to another school year. As I have said to staff on a regular basis over the past weeks, where has the time gone?
I have reminded the students at St Patrick's School on a very frequent basis, that I have won the lottery! The response from the students is in invariably linked to some degree of monetary value. How much money did you win Mr Blaikie? My answer is always linked heavily to Australia Day and to the values that our free democracy provides for us all. Being granted citizenship of Australia in 1988 has been my prize. Australia welcomed my family with open arms on 12 May 1968. Being child number three of Scottish migrants, as a family, we have not looked back. My father often reflected on my mother’s reaction upon reaching Marburg which is roughly halfway between Toowoomba and Brisbane, when she stated “take me back to the airport if this is Toowoomba, I want to go back to Scotland.” But in those days access to plane travel was very expensive and my parents had no option other than to knuckle down and work hard. I have been back to my country of birth on numerous occasions and always, when I leave, I thank my parents wholeheartedly for their vision to find a new life in Australia.
Our Welcome Assembly which was held on Wednesday 29 January is another highlight for me. Whilst some of our new 14 prep students were quite nervous, we also need to acknowledge the stress of many parents as they bid farewell to their children as they start their educational journey. Teaching is such a sacred occupation and its importance is never far from our minds. Our thanks must also go to members of the St Patrick’s P&F who welcomed our new families with some morning tea. It has been a great start top the term and we look forward to the school year with much enthusiasm.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
My New Gallery
NAPLAN results 2024
Towards the end of Term 4, St Patrick's School Allora was mentioned in a newspaper article published in the Courier Mail on 4 December. This article outlined the top performing primary schools in the Southern Downs region with the recently published NAPLAN 2024 scores. It was with a massive sense of pride that St Patrick's School Allora was named as the second best performing primary school in the southern region. This result is extremely exciting for our small rural school and pays testament to the strong educational partnerships that exist between our students, staff and parents. Please access the following website for more information - https://www.myschool.edu.au/home.
Please find below a press release provided by St Patrick's School Allora to local media outlets in December 2024.
As a school community, we are justifiably proud of our 2024 NAPLAN results. NAPLAN is one way we monitor and measure student learning progress during the year. We are privileged to have an expert staff who are determined to see every child experience success. Classroom teaching practices are informed by student need and feedback and work towards students gradually taking responsibility for their own learning. The teaching approach across all year levels is direct instruction where learning is developmental and personalised. The school has the strong support of parents who accept their role as critical partners in reinforcing a positive disposition towards learning in their children. We look forward to 2025 with much anticipation.
General Information
St Patrick's Parents and Friends Association
From a community and school aspect, our St Patrick's Parents and Friends Association is a highly motivated and committed group of parents. But like all volunteer organisations, the P&F are always looking for more volunteers and helpers. Please save the date for the St Patrick's P&F Annual General Meeting which will be held on Wednesday 12 February commencing at 6:00pm in the library. There will be an online link provided if you are unable to meet in person.
The annual P&F 'Meet and Greet' will be held on Thursday 6 February from 4:00pm until 6:00pm. This event is a very low key informal event with meeting new people as its primary aim. Everyone is invited to attend. For catering purposes please fill in your details in the following link - https://forms.office.com/r/1y0QsTq5dz
Reminders - School Routines
To provide updated information regarding the basic routines of St Patrick’s School for both new and continuing families, the following information is provided.
Normal School Day
- School commences at 8:40am and finishes at 2:55pm.
- Students who arrive before 8:10am will sit quietly on the benches outside the front door.
- Students may enter the school from 8:10am. Students will then place their bag in the space provided outside their classroom and proceed to the library. Reading material is provided for all students.
- Students will be supervised from 8:20am until 8:40am by a member of staff in the playground.
- The school day is divided into three sessions:
- Session 1 – 8:40am to 10:45am
- Lunch – 10:45am to 11:25am
- Session 2 – 11:25am to 1:30pm
- Late Lunch – 1:30pm to 1:50pm
- Session 3 – 1:50pm to 2:55pm.
- Parents and Caregivers are encouraged to meet inside the school grounds prior to the 2:55pm bell.
- Students will only be released to the designated pick-up person when visual contact can be made by the classroom teacher. Please inform the office if there are any changes to student’s end of school routine.
- All students must leave the school grounds via the front gates on Arnold Street.
- Please note that students need to be signed in at the school office by a parent if they arrive after 8:40am or signed out at the school office if they need to leave early. Office staff will collect individual students from their classroom. Please ring the office desk bell if unattended.
Pick-up Parking
- The school recommends that parents park in the angle parking provided on the school side of Arnold Street.
- Due to the lack of a designated Pedestrian Crossing, students need to be escorted by a responsible adult when crossing Arnold Street at the end of school.
- Staff will no longer be parking directly outside school, which will free up car spaces for families.
Student Absences
- If your child is sick or will be absent from school, please notify the school by either.
- Parent Portal (Preferred method)
- Email: allora@twb.catholic.edu.au
- Phone: 07 4666 3551
- Notifications of student absences would be appreciated in advance whenever possible.
Student Medications
- If medications need to be administered at school, please collect an appropriate form from the office. The school requires written permission from parents and supporting medical plans from a GP.
- All student medications need to be labelled from the pharmacy with the student’s name and the required dosage.
Student Lunches
- We encourage all families to send enough nutritious food for two eating breaks which are provided throughout the day. Extra fruit is also encouraged as ‘Fruit Breaks’ are used regularly in each session, particularly with the early years students.
- Children are not allowed to share food with other students!!
- Please remember that we are a ‘Nut Aware’. The school has one student who is allergic to dairy products and requires an anaphylaxis management plan.
- To access the Australian Guidelines for healthy eating, please follow the link below:
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating | Eat For Health
- Tuckshop is available every Friday during term time.
- Orders are placed via Amy’s Country Café.
- Order Tuckshop online via the Flexischools app/website for Amy's Cafe. (How To enclosed)
- Place orders by 5:30pm on Thursday evening and they will be promptly delivered to school in time for lunch at 10:45am.
Upcoming events
- Tuesday 4 February - Central Downs Swimming (Allora Pool)
- Wednesday 5 February - St Patrick's Playgroup commencing at 9:00am at sand pit
- Thursday 6 February - Whole School Assembly in the Church commencing at 2:15pm
- Thursday 6 February - St Patrick's P&F Meet and Greet
- Friday 7 February - Allora Show Holiday (School closed)
- Wednesday 12 February - Newsletter
- Wednesday 12 February - St Patrick's P&F Annual General Meeting commencing at 6:00pm in the library/ or via Zoom
- Tuesday 18 February - Leaders' Induction Mass commencing at 9:30am in the Church
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
