14 August 2025 — Week 5, Term 3
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
St Patrick's School is proud to acknowledge the Josephite sisters and their influence on the Allora district since 1916. As a school community, we acknowledged the Feast of Saint Mary MacKillop on Tuesday, 12 August. It was also wonderful to welcome Father Warren back from his well earned holiday who presided over Mass. We would also like to acknowledge the Allora Josephite Companions who delivered an informative presentation linked to the teachings of Mary Mackillop. This liturgical experience was wonderful for our Dalrymple students, who led the school with pride and reverence.
The first Josephite school, originally in a disused stable in Penola, South Australia, is a symbol of the simple
lifestyle that is associated with Mary MacKillop and her sisters. They shared the life of the poor by being poor themselves. Many of the Sisters were uneducated and were drawn from poorer families. Nevertheless, as a group, they provided outstanding education and service to those in need. Mary was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary dream. Her dream was to give families and children who lived in poverty an education and safe shelter by opening schools. Mary taught everyone—regardless of gender, race, faith, or wealth— while serving with love and compassion. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. They gave up everything to live and teach amongst the people they served.
As Pope John Paul II (Sydney, January 1995) stated..."Mary MacKillop embodied all that is best in your nation and its people:
- Genuine openness to others,
- Hospitality to strangers,
- Generosity to the needy,
- Justice to those unfairly treated,
- Perseverance in the face of adversity, and
- Kindness and support to the suffering.
Think of Mother Mary MacKillop and learn from her to be a gift of love and compassion for one another, for all Australians and for the world."
Let us remember the example of St Mary of the Cross and the Sisters of St Joseph who lived and worked in schools such as ours. She believed that God would look after her and provide her with the things she needed to help others. Mary didn’t worry because she was a person of hope and courage. Let us be people of hope and courage.
In other news, we need to dispel any rumours that the sports oval at St. Patrick's has been overrun with cattle. Some eyewitness accounts suggest that three wayward cows were causing major havoc, but thanks to some excellent horse work, the cows were successfully subdued. Our thanks go to Katrina Ryan, Joh Maher and Rose Maher, along with Zoie Keys, who provided some wonderful explanations on the intricacies of campdraft rules. Thankfully, a local vet was able to stop the spread of 'Mad Principal Disease,' which appeared to raise its ugly head during the campdraft demonstration.
As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please contact the school.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
Campdraft Demonstration
Parents and Friends Association
Pacific Seeds 88 To Educate Charity Campdraft
The Pacific Seeds Charity Campdraft is certainly looming larger on the horizon as we are just under two weeks away from the event. Please see the latest information below in regard to the Saturday afternoon program, Moo Poo Lotto and Charity Auction for your convenience.
Just to CLARIFY!!
- Admission to the grounds is free
- Campdrafting action is free to watch
- The sausage sizzle is free
- The barefoot gymkhana is free
- The night time entertainment is also free
- Cut off for meal tickets is this Friday, 15th August. Order by accessing - http://bit.ly/4lCppNW
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Rosters are still available for both the canteen and bar over the weekend of 23 to 24 August. Volunteers are required. Please see the rosters in the office and just add your name.
General Information
St Patrick's School Musical
“The nation is divided as you will plainly see,
The rich in all their riches, the poor in poverty.
King Richard has gone to a faraway land.
And justice is left in a brave outlaw’s hands.”
So, sets the scene for our 2025 school musical, “Hoodwinked.”
Parents, Grandparents, uncles, aunts, neighbours and Alloraites, are cordially invited to attend our school musical production on Friday 12 September commencing at 6:00pm. The gold coin donation entry fee will, once again, support the Allora St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal. We look forward to seeing you there.
Catholic Education Week - Netball and Touch Football Carnivals
On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, Glengallan students, Poppy, Skye, Bethany, Violet, Dimity, Charlee, James, Michelle and Katelyn all participated in the mixed non-competitive netball carnival for Catholic Education Week. With a great 4 out of 5 wins, by the end we were all sweaty and tired. There were many highlights, such as playing together as a great team and snuggling up in the tent with the tarp protecting us from the cold weather. Even with our one game loss, we were still persistent and kept on going. We were playing against three Goondiwindi 12 year old Rep players and two Darling Downs Rep players.
Firstly, we would like to say thank you to Mr Blaikie and the St Patrick's P&F for giving us an opportunity to go and represent our school in our new gala day uniforms at Nell E Robinson Park, Toowoomba. We would also like to give many thanks to Mrs. Kirkland and Mrs. Peters for helping us and arranging us on the day. Lastly, we would like to thank Mrs Shooter for helping us in training to get us ready for the carnival. (Charlee P, Glengallan)
Our congratulations must also go to our Junior and Senior mixed touch football teams. The Junior team experienced great success on the day winning 3 matches, only experiencing 1 draw and 1 loss. Congratulations to Hunter R who was voted Players' Player by his team mates. Whilst the Senior team experienced little success in terms of victories, the improvement displayed throughout the day was a joy to behold. In their last game of the day, they narrowly lost to St Mary's College Toowoomba Gold by 4 tries to 2. Congratulations must go to Alby M who was voted Players' Player. Our thanks must also go to Mr. Ryan who generously donated his time to manage the Junior team. A special shout-out to the very generous parents who supplied both teams with hot chips and chicken nuggets.
Book Week 2025 - Get those costumes ready!!
This year is the 80th Anniversary of the CBCA Book Week. The theme is Book an Adventure. The Dress Up Parade will be on Monday 18 August commencing at 9:00am. Students are able to dress as their favourite book character and stay in costume all day. Grown ups are very welcome to attend the parade and there are always lots of photo opportunities. Students must wear closed in shoes during the school day but may wear costume footwear during the parade. Our friends from Headstart and Allora C&K will also be invited to participate in our Dress Up Parade.
Our Book Fair is being held in Term 4 this year. More details will be provided at a later date. Please feel free to contact me via email at mandie.tindall@twb.catholic.edu.au or via the school if you have any questions.
Teaching and Learning
NAPLAN 2025 - Results are in!!
As a school community it is time to share some good news in relation to our students in Years 3 and 5. From the recently received results from the National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), the students and staff of St Patrick's School should be very proud of their achievements. The data provided in the tables below refer to NAPLAN scaled scores.
Our Year 3 students have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, consistently exceeding benchmarks across multiple domains. In the areas of Writing, Spelling, Numeracy, and Grammar/Punctuation, student outcomes are significantly above national, state, Diocesan, and Similar Schools (SSSG) averages.
Our Year 5 students have achieved exceptional academic results, surpassing benchmarks at the national, state, Diocesan, and Similar Schools (SSSG) levels in Writing, Spelling, and Grammar/Punctuation. This is a truly remarkable accomplishment that reflects both the strength of our teaching practices and the commitment of our learners.
FYI - Definitions
What is SSSG?
SSSG stands for Statistically Similar Schools Grouping. This mean score shows how your school is performing against similar schools within the Catholic Education Network. The key value used to determine your SSSG is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA). ICSEA is a measure used to assess the socio-educational backgrounds of students in a school. It provides a numerical value that reflects the level of educational advantage or disadvantage that students bring to their academic studies.
What is a scaled score?
Scaled score is a type of score that has been transformed from a raw score to fit a common scale, making it easier to compare results across different versions of a test or assessment. It is widely used in standardised testing, psychometrics and educational statistics.
Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
As a small rural community, we are immensely proud of our students’ performance in the 2025 NAPLAN assessments. Their results reflect not only academic excellence but also the strength of our school culture and the unwavering commitment of our staff. Our students have exceeded expectations, and this success is a testament to the exceptional work of our teachers and school officers, whose dedication, expertise, and care continue to shape meaningful learning experiences every day.
While we celebrate these achievements, we also remain focused on continuous improvement. Over the next three weeks, our teaching team will be engaging in a deep dive into the school’s reading data, which has shown signs of plateauing. This reflective process will help us identify strategies to reignite growth in reading outcomes and ensure every student continues to thrive.
In support of this focus, we’ve included an article highlighting the benefits of reading to your children at every opportunity. Research consistently shows that regular shared reading not only enhances literacy development but also fosters a strong emotional bond between home and school. It is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to your child’s academic success and nurture a lifelong love of learning.
Together, we celebrate our progress and embrace the journey ahead with optimism and purpose.
The Power of Reading to Young Minds
Unlocking Language
Reading aloud to primary school children isn’t just a cozy bedtime ritual—it’s a powerful tool for building their language skills and boosting their ability to communicate. Research consistently shows that children who are read to regularly develop stronger vocabularies and more confident spoken communication.
Vocabulary Growth
Books expose children to a rich variety of words they might not encounter in everyday conversation. From whimsical adjectives to complex sentence structures, stories stretch their linguistic muscles. This exposure helps children understand word meanings in context, making it easier for them to use new vocabulary in their own speech.
Improved Spoken Conversation
Listening to stories helps children grasp the rhythm and structure of spoken language. They learn how to express ideas clearly, ask questions, and engage in dialogue. Over time, this translates into more articulate conversations with peers and adults alike.
Listening and Comprehension Skills
Reading aloud also sharpens listening skills. Children learn to follow narratives, anticipate outcomes, and interpret tone and emotion—all essential for effective communication.
In short, reading to children isn’t just about the story—it’s about giving them the words and confidence to tell their own. So grab a book, share a tale, and watch their language blossom.
Upcoming events
- Thursday 14 August - School Advisory Council (Board) Meeting commencing at 6:00pm in the library
- Friday 15 August - Author visit (Gregg Dreise)
- Saturday 16 August - St Patrick's P&F Care and Concern home visits from 9:00am to 11:00am
- Monday 19 August - Book Week Parade commencing at 9:00am in the multi-purpose shed - All are welcome to attend!
- Wednesday 20 August - St Patrick's Playgroup 9:00am - 10:30am
- Friday 22 August - Whole School Assembly commencing at 2:15pm in the Church
- Saturday 23 August and Sunday 24 August - Pacific Seeds 88 to Educate Charity Campdraft at Allora Showgrounds
- Tuesday 26 August - "Homework Help" Early Years Parent Q&A - commencing at 3:00pm to 3:20pm in Talgai classroom
- Wednesday 27 August - Newsletter
- Thursday 28 August - Prep Vision Screening
- Tuesday 2 September - Father's Day Mass commencing at 9:30am followed by morning tea
- Friday 5 September - Pupil Free day (Professional Development for School Staff)
- Friday 12 September - School Musical, 'Hoodwinked', 6:00pm in the multi-purpose shed - All are welcome to attend!
- Friday 19 September - Last day of Term 3
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 - 9:00am 2nd and 3rd Sunday – 5:30pm
4th & 5th Sunday Liturgy of the Word with Communion - 9:00am
