15 May 2025

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

 Hello St Patrick’s families, I hope you are all well! 

Mother’s Day 

On Monday, St. Patrick's School recognised the wonderful mothers and maternal figures in our community with a whole-school mass and morning tea. It was heartwarming to see so many mothers there, and they were able to enjoy a well-deserved cup of tea and scone together.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the students in our Year 1/2 class who read at the mass, as well as to their parents who generously provided baked goods for the event. The food was absolutely delicious and very much appreciated by all.

Parent Engagement Network – Expressions of Interest Being Taken Now! 

Our recent parent engagement survey has closed, and the results showed a 60%/40% preference for a Parent Engagement Network (PEN) model. With that in mind, I am pleased to announce that a PEN is being established for St Patrick's School. Thank you to our parent community for sharing your views during our consultation process, which led to this decision.

This week, a communication went out to all families regarding the PEN Executive roles and a call for expressions of interest to fill these positions. These key roles will work alongside me as principal to plan and lead the PEN, supported by other parents in working party coordinator roles.

I encourage all parents to consider taking on the Chair or Secretary roles for the PEN. As the conduit between families and the school, the PEN provides an important way for all our families to get involved and support this new endeavour. 

Before School Procedures 

Supervision at the school begins at 8:10 AM. Any students arriving before then must come to the undercover area and be seated. If you drop off your child before 8:10 AM, please remind them of this policy. Students should not be playing outside of classrooms, on the playground, or sitting in different areas around the school before 8:10 AM. If you arrive with your child(ren) prior to 8:10 AM, please ensure they are waiting with you and not playing around the school. The safety of all children is our top priority. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Parent Engagement Charter & Parent Code of Conduct 

In 2025, Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) updated its existing Parent Engagement Charter and created a new Parent Code of Conduct as a companion document.

The Parent Engagement Charter affirms the relationship between parents and staff, which works best when built on mutual respect and acknowledgement of each party's unique contribution to the students' educational experience. Positive, healthy relationships are a hallmark of a distinctly Catholic community.

The new Parent Code of Conduct defines the boundaries for the effective parent-school relationship. It makes clear and explicit what was previously assumed and unwritten - the essential and appropriate guidelines for schools to function at their best, according to most parents.

Both documents apply across the entire TCS community and are part of the Enrolment Agreement between parents/guardians and the school. Links to the documents are provided below for your reference.

TCS Parent Engagement Charter 
TCS Parent Code of Conduct 

The Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) Semester 1 Applications Closing Soon! 

The Non-State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) helps eligible families of children attending non-state schools cover the cost of school travel. Applications for Semester 1 2025 are now open online and will close on May 31st. For more information or to check your eligibility, please follow the links provided. Don't delay - submit your application before the May 31st deadline.

Check Your Eligibility | Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) (schooltransport.com.au) 
How to Apply | Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) (schooltransport.com.au) 

Looking Ahead 

Take care,
Have a great weekend, 
Jim Wren
Principal

NEWS FLASH!

Click on the link provided https://www.stgeorge.catholic.edu.au/

PARENT PORTAL

Download & Use the App Now!

St Patrick’s Parent Portal is the new platform for a more streamlined communication with parents. The transition took place on Monday 5^th February, so if you haven’t already, make sure you follow the instructions below on how to register. If you are having issues registering, please contact the school office so we can help with the process.

Warm Regards,
Jim Wren

TUCKSHOP

Please click the links below for our 2025 uniform price list and tuckshop menu. When ordering food on the Flexischools app please be mindful that the cutoff time is exactly 8:00am on Monday mornings (at 8:01am your order will not be accepted).

Regards
Hannah Gunn
(Tuckshop Convenor)

Guidance Counsellor News

Support for Families

Free Online Program

Families of children with a disability facing long wait times for diagnosis and support can now access Stepping Stones Triple P Online – a free, evidence-based parenting program funded by the Australian Government that offers immediate, practical strategies to help children thrive and boost parental wellbeing.

Families can sign up now for Stepping Stones Triple P Online at triplep-parenting.net.au  

Eleanor Blanch
(School Guidance Counsellor)

OUR PRAYERS…

Let us support each other in Prayer, especially for the Sick and the Deceased and those who are suffering Hardships, in our Parish and School.

MASS TIMES

St George-Dirranbandi Parish

Priest Fr John Fowles Email: balonneparish@bigpond.com

Contact Parish Secretary (Wed & Fri 9am-12.30pm)
 Leanne Brummell: 4625 3021- stgeorgeparish@twb.catholic.org.au

ML Curriculum News

Welcome to Week 4 of Term 2. As part of our Literacy Block this term, teachers are emphasizing fluency practice. Reading fluency encompasses three key elements: accuracy, rate, and expression. Contrary to common belief, fluency is not about reading quickly, but rather about reading accurately. Once accuracy is achieved, reading rate and expression can develop.

Our teachers are implementing various strategies to help learners become fluent readers. The four main strategies we will focus on are outlined below. These strategies have been carefully selected to suit the age and development of our readers. You may hear your child discussing reading and referencing one of these strategies.

Paired Fluency: Two students read the same text aloud, taking turns as the reader and the coach. They help each other and repeat the reading multiple times to build fluency.

Echo Reading: Students read short sections of a text after having it modeled by a teacher or peer. The key is that students are reading back the text, not just memorizing the words.

Choral Reading: Students read aloud in unison as a whole class or group. This helps build fluency, self-confidence, and motivation.

Reader's Theatre: This is a performance-based reading strategy where each student has a role or part to read. They practice their part individually and then as a group before presenting their reading to an audience.

The common thread across these strategies is repeated reading, as each one requires the text to be read multiple times.

As a parent, you can:

• Foster a positive attitude towards reading by letting your child see you enjoying the process. This will encourage them to engage more with reading.
• Be a reading role model by letting your child observe you repeatedly reading a text.
• Read aloud together in unison with your child.
• Read a passage and have your child echo your reading, making sure they follow along with the words and read, not just memorize.
• Take turns reading - you read one page, then have your child read the next.
• Discuss the benefits of repeated reading practice. Explain that the more they read a text, the more fluent they will become.

Annette Colley 
(Middle Leader - Curriculum)

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Students of the Week 

Health & Music

Health

Welcome to Week 4

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the cooler weather.

Across the school, we have been gaining a better understanding of emotions, which is helping us develop more empathy for others. We discussed the importance of regulating our emotions by trying strategies to get back into a calm, happy state. Emotions are short-lived, like waves that come and go. Healthy emotions are crucial, and when we lead a balanced lifestyle, we are more likely to respond to people and situations in a positive manner. The four essential elements we need are relaxation, a balanced diet, exercise, and plenty of sleep.

Job Expo 2025 - Year 6

In Music, the students have continued practicing their songs using both untuned and tuned percussion instruments. They have also learned some notes on the keyboards/boomwackers to play along with their songs. We will continue with the current songs outlined in the Week 2 Newsletter until Week 5, before transitioning to the following songs in Week 6.

Prep

Echo Rhythm IV
Song -The Grandfather Clock- untuned percussion instruments
Connect – The Elephant and The Swan Song, The Saints go Marching.

Year 1- 1/2

Echo Rhythm Triple time
Song -Bingo – Tuned and untuned percussion instruments
Connect-Taiko Drumming- Japan, Funga Alafia- African musician

Year 2

Echo Rhythm Triple time
Song – Peg Leg Pirate Band
Composers- Symphony – The Gaelic, The Aquarium- French composer

Year 3

Roller coaster Singing 11
Song- Cheese Pizza – untuned and tuned percussion instruments.
Connect- Turtle Island String Quartet, Chariots of Fire

Year 4

Echo Rhythm 111
Song- Whack-a-boom
Connect Pitched and unpitched Ostinatos, French composers, Soweto Gospel Choir

Year 5

Drumming – Infinity 11
Connect-Flying Banner, Jake Shimabukoro

Year 6

Drumming- Electromatic 11
Connect- Violin concerto

Keep Smiling! 
Mrs Jane Webster

Library & Sports

SPORT NEWS

Balonne Cross Country

Congratulations to Hannah Acton, Roly Mace, Max Luck, Darcy Stower, Oscar Drynan, Hunter Mellifont, Abigail Tierney, Hannah Nott, Miller Hardie, and Charlie Harch on their selection to the Balonne Cross Country team. These student athletes will travel to Chinchilla next week to compete in the trials. Wishing them the best of luck!

Balonne Soccer

Last Friday, soccer trials were held for the Balonne District team. The following students were selected for the team: Olivia Harch, Roly Mace, and Noah Ballin. Additionally, Charlie Harch, Pippi Cott, Abbey Duffin, and Madison Emerson were chosen as alternates, or "shadows."

Balonne Touch Football

Touch football trials were held on Monday afternoon, and the following students were selected for the Balonne District team: Hunter Mellifont, Kayden Passman, Geoff Easterbrook, Max Luck, Jake Kingston, Roly Mace, Miller Hardie, Sophie Luck, Hannah Nott, Brooke Hams, Karlie Alderman, Pippi Cott, Hannah Acton, Abigail Tierney, and Abbey Duffin. Olivia Harch was selected as a shadow player. Best of luck to all these talented students!

This term, the focus of our teaching and learning will be on athletics, in preparation for the school's athletics carnival on Friday, June 13th. The 800m and 200m track events will be held on the morning of Thursday, June 12th, followed by ball game events starting at 11:30am during the first break.

All high jump events for students aged 9-12 years will take place on Monday, June 9th. The specific event times and age group details will be provided at a later date.

Procedures for Trial Forms:

Balonne district trial forms should be handed back to the front office, so the school can organise nomination and distribution to the trial convener.

South West trial forms need to be sighted and signed by the school, then returned to the student to take to the team manager they were selected for.

LIBRARY NEWS 

National Simultaneous Story Time will be held on Wednesday 21^st May.  This year’s book is ‘The Truck Cat’. Staff and children are invited to dress in their best ‘flannie’ or work shirt on the day.  They will also participate in various activities related to the story.  We have Mrs Mills and Mrs Lindores from the Hub, joining us at 11.30am for the whole school read.  Such a wonderful celebration of reading.

“Reading is Power and Knowledge”

Happy borrowing and reading,
St Patrick’s Library Staff

COMMUNITY NEWS

QCWA St. George Branch Centenary Health and Wellbeing Day.

Showcasing many health professionals and services.

Markets for some retail therapy.

Mega draw – lots of great prizes to win.

Food available at the Health and Well-being Centre.

PUT THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR.