13 October 2023

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you have your running shoes on because the sprint to the end has started!

Every Day Counts!

I might have mentioned sprints in my introduction just before but, learning is a lot more like a marathon than a sprint. It takes guidance, modelling, trial & error, reflection, repetition, and transference to take knowledge and skills and embed them in our brains to the point where we can say, “I’ve learned that!” And knowing that learning is a journey that takes time, it is so important that our learners are at school every day possible, so that they have the time to learn to the best of their ability. Research has shown us that absenteeism is one of the leading factors in declining student outcomes, with a consistent attendance record of less than 90% being the tipping point for students to start having difficulties at school. 90 % is only one day a fortnight! But when you start to add it all up, one day a fortnight totals to one week a term, which totals to four weeks a year. And when you look at it in that light, it’s easy to see how missing four weeks of school could impact your child’s learning. A lot happens in a classroom in four weeks!

And yes, there will always be times when it is appropriate for children to stay at home – sickness, family events, appointments, etc. – but at all other times it is important to remember that every day at school counts! And that applies for late arrivals and early finishers as well. Once again, there will be times when these are unavoidable but, every minute of the day counts too! The morning is a great time to learn as the children are generally fresh and switched on so being in class and ready to go at 8.30am is paramount – it’s the best start to a great day!

If your child is going to be away or late, please ensure that you have contacted either the office or the classroom teacher to let them know. And if you are having trouble getting your child to school, also touch base with your teacher to make them aware; they may be able to give some insight or ideas on ways you can work together to support your child.

Every day counts!

Fete

Our Fete is soon approaching, and it is all happening at school and in the parish to get it organised.

Mega draw tickets – Soon it’s going to be time to SELL SELL SELL those tickets! I’ve seen some of the prizes coming in for this year’s mega draw and they are great! The mega draw is a key part to the fundraising efforts of the fete so make sure you’re canvasing the neighbourhood and selling those tickets.

And if you are available to help sell mega draw tickets on a Friday night or Saturday morning before the fete, please contact Amelia Sevil on 0429 207 030 to let her know and she will add you to the roster.

Donations for the Sweets Stall, Cake Stall, Container Stall & Plant Stall – donations are now being sought for the Sweets Stall, Cake Stall, Container Stall & Plant Stall and keep your eyes peeled for more notices and please donate kindly!

SUNDAY PACKUP – The Sunday after the fete is always a busy one with the pack-up and clear away of all the events and activities. There is lots to do on this day but, many hands make light work, so please find some time to come down and help.

Calendar Keepers Coming Up

School Calendar Dates – Term 4, 2023

That’s all from me for now. Stay safe and have a great weekend,

Jim Wren

FETE News

Container Stall

We thought we would give families a little time in advance to find those small goodies that are ideal for our container stall. In week 3 (next week) containers will be going home to be filled and raffled off at the Parish Fete in November. The students will receive 4 containers to fill. Examples of goodies to put in the containers are packets of lollies or small chips, crayons, coloured pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, small toys or anything that is suitable for a child’s raffle item.

Sweet Stall

Plant Stall

Once again, we are asking for plant donations for the Parish Fete. Please add a tag to each plant with the type of plant and the bloom colour it produces. You can drop your plants in on the day of the fete at 4pm or call Sarah Sheedy 0428 548 183.

Balonne Public Speaking

This week, three of our students participated in the Balonne Public Speaking Competition which was held at the State Primary school.

All students spoke exceptionally well and should be commended on how their speeches were presented. Well done!

Congratulations to our very own Stella Acton who was the overall winner of the Balonne Public Speaking Competition!

SKOOLBAG APP

Dear Parents/Carers

Our school uses the Skoolbag app for iPhone and Android, to help us communicate more effectively with our Parent community. We are asking parents to search for and install the Skoolbag app.

Once you have installed the Skoolbag app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store just search for our school’s name St Patrick's Primary School St George.
For Windows users search for Skoolbag in the Windows Store, install the app, and then find our school. Please note it must be a Windows 8.1 or 10 device.

Please check the flyer below for instructions.

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.

Acting APRE News

Students of the Week

Week 2: Evie Bradfield.

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our St Patrick’s families had a wonderful September break. Before I jump in with the busyness that is Term 4 news from the Acting APRE, I wanted to take a moment to share some of my holiday experiences with our school community.  I was fortunate enough over the holidays to spend some time in the Holy Land on a pilgrimage with several other staff across the Toowoomba Catholic Schools network. Having heard stories about Jesus’ life since I was a little girl, the concept of the Holy Land has always been fascinating to me and to finally have the opportunity to walk in the places where Jesus walked and be in the places where the stories, I have heard so many times played out was quite a special experience.

Over the course of the two-week pilgrimage, we visited sites of significance in Jesus’ life in both Jordan and Israel, which really gave me a new understanding and appreciation for those stories that are so familiar. We visited places including the Baptismal Site on the River Jordan, Mary’s house in Nazareth, the site of Jesus birth in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, thought to be the site of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

Growing up in rural Queensland, I listened to and understood these stories through a very Australian lens and was very taken aback by the harsh conditions in the Holy Land. I always thought of the river Jordan as this lush, green space; to which it could not be more opposite. The road to Jericho where the parable of the Good Samaritan takes places was always a nice little path sheltered by trees and some greenery … when in reality it is totally barren and quite literally surrounded by desert. While the landscape was very different to what I had imagined, the sacredness of these special places was very much present; most likely through the shared experience and understanding of those stories so dear to the Christian population.

I have so many stories and reflections I could share, but I will keep it brief and just share a few happy travel snaps! I think it’s especially important considering recent events in the Holy Land to share these stories and experiences and keep those places close to our hearts and in the forefront of our prayers.

Now on to the business of Term 4!

This term we have many special celebrations that are part of the Religious Life of our School.

World Teachers’ Day

While Australia celebrates World Teachers’ Day on the last Friday in October, this year at St Patrick’s School we will be celebrating our wonderful teachers on Thursday, October 26^th. Mrs McCosker and Prep M will lead a special World Teachers’ Day Prayer Celebration in the St Patrick’s Church from 8:45am on Thursday. This is a great chance to reflect on the amazing teachers we have here at St Patrick’s and to thank them for all that they do for our school community.

Day for Daniel

Each year, schools across Australia celebrate the Day for Daniel on the last Friday in October. This year, Day for Daniel falls on Friday, October 27^th. Students are encouraged to wear red on this day to show their support for both the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the wonderful work they do and to raise awareness of the all too important topic of child safety.

Grandparents Day

This year, St Patrick’s School will celebrate Grandparents Day on Wednesday, November 1^st. Miss Daly and 1D will lead the school in a Prayer Celebration at the St Patrick’s Church from 10:00am. Grandparents (and those like grandparents to us) are then welcome to come on over and visit classrooms with their grandchildren. Grandparents are also welcome to join their grandchildren for morning tea at 10:45am, with our morning finishing at 11:00am. We ask that grandparents bring a yummy treat to share for morning tea with their grandchildren.

Remembrance Day

Later this term, we will celebrate Remembrance Day on Monday, November 13^th. Miss Rathie, Mrs McDonnell and our 4/5/6 children will be leading this celebration from 8:45am in the St Patrick’s Church.

Have a great week.
God bless,

Miss Kristin Byrne
(Acting Assistant Principal Religious Education)

MASS TIMES

St George-Dirranbandi Parish

Priest Administrator: Fr Anthony 0409 278 968 Email: balonneparish@bigpond.com

CLASS News

Peeking into PrepM

Students of the Week

Week 2: Millie Harrison, Rikku McNamara.

Dear Parents, 

Welcome back to our busiest term of the year! Please ensure you have taken the time to check the dates on my weekly news or the school calendar as there is a lot happening. 

In week 4 we will celebrate ‘World Teachers Day’ with a liturgy led by the Prep students. Please keep an eye out in the student's KIT books for more information regarding the liturgy and student participation. Family and friends are most welcome to attend this celebration which will commence at 8.45am in the Church. 

Our ‘Show and Share’ calendar went out last week as we focus on our speaking and listening skills in class. Show and Share is just one of the small ways that we are going to practice our skills. Your support in ensuring students know what week they have been allocated and finding an item is greatly appreciated.  

Wishing you a wonderful week! 

Nichole & Courtney

Peeking into Prep & Year 1H

Students of the Week

Week 2: Emmett McCulloch, Mia Kennedy, Hallie Cross.

Welcome to Week 2 of Term 4!  We have had a very busy start to the term in Prep/1. 

In maths, we began to look at subtraction and how it is the opposite of addition.  The students are looking at different strategies they can use to help them when completing subtraction sums.  We have also been looking at and identifying 3D shapes in our environment.  Our shapes also decided to go missing on Thursday night so on Friday the students created ‘wanted posters’ of a chosen shape in the hope that they will be found.  

In English, this semester we are looking at how we write different text types.  The first text we are focusing on is recounts.  We have been using our knowledge of recounts and writing sentences to create a recount of something we did on the holidays. 

In HASS, we have been looking at our local community and how we care for it.  We have also been discussing what parts of our local community are natural, managed, or constructed environments.  The students have also been looking at why we have maps and symbols that can be used to represent different places on a map. 

During the week I sent home an email regarding a couple of events happening this term.  If you did not receive the email, could you please let me know.   

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Kind Regards,
Fiona & Kira

Year 1D

Students of the Week

Week 2: Will McIntosh, Barkley Hardie.

Hello, Year 1 families, 

I can’t believe we are already in Term 4; we have a very busy term ahead!

Below are some important dates for this term: 

Wear red for Day for Daniel – Friday 27^th October  
Grandparents Day – Wednesday 1^st of November. Our class is leading the celebration at the church, beginning at 10am. 
Fete Dance – Saturday 4^th November If you are aware that your child is not going to be at the fete, could you please let me know in advance. Please see the email I sent last week regarding costumes.   
Swim Block – Begins Monday 6^th November.
Last day of school – Wednesday 29^th November.

In Religion this term, we are exploring Jesus’ Mother Mary and the Hail Mary. We will be making rosary beads in class together.  

I have been so amazed by the growth that is evident in all students’ writing this term. Students are excited to write and are doing a fantastic job sounding out tricky words or recalling letter patterns.

Let me know if you have any questions regarding the upcoming events, more information will be sent home throughout the term. 

Kind Regards,
Miss Beth Daly

Year 2W

Students of the Week

Week 2: Oscar Acton, Karleigh Bella, Evie Bradfield, Ellie McCosker.

Good afternoon, Parents and Caregivers of Year 2W,

It has been a very productive first two weeks of the final term for the children in Year 2. We have written a fairy story, focussed on reading and reorganisation of information. We have practised number place value and clock times, and we are trying to really get our head around multiplication and 2 digits plus 2 digits with regrouping. We have also discussed some healthy practices in health.

Homework has been set up for the term now. So please continue to monitor homework and return weekly for marking.

Fete dance practice has been occurring. Just a reminder students will wear a Christmas shirt and white, red, or green shorts and skirts. Everyone will need a Santa hat please.

Kind regards
Christina Wardle

Year 3C

Students of the Week

Week 2: Amelia O’Toole, Kai Satchell, Ethan Lambert.

Welcome to the final term for 2023.

In Math, this term, Year 3 is learning all about money. We have looked at where our money comes from and how it is made. We have also learned that different countries have different money systems and even our money has changed over time. During our rotation time we have been playing games that require us to match money to its values and make money amounts in different ways.

In the coming weeks, we will be solving problems with money and working out the amount of change we need when we buy something. This will all come together when we use the knowledge, we have built to plan a class party with a given budget. Year 3 are really enjoying the hands-on approach in this unit where they get to manipulate play money as well real money.

So, look out parents our Year 3s are becoming miniature entrepreneurs and magnificent money manipulators. 

Kind regards
Annette Colley

Year 4/5

Students of the Week

Week 2: Alastair North, Karlie Alderman.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Term 4! Wow! Where has the year gone?

It has been a wonderful start to the term in 4/5R. This term the students have started exploring:

• English: Poetry
• Maths: Angles, Chance, Estimation and Rounding
• Religion: How is the story of Mary's faith remembered through the prayers of the Church? 
• HASS: Needs and Wants/ Resources
• Science: Earth and Space Science
• Design and Tech: Food and Fibre Production

Thank you to all the students who have again participated in the Pink Day to raise awareness and support Breast Cancer Awareness.

The students have made a great start to their Fete Dance. I will reach out soon regarding what the students will need to be wearing for the Fete. I am thrilled to see the class participating with excitement.

Congratulations to 4/5R and their families for making an outstanding effort to raise funds for the Colour Fun Run. I know the P & F, the school, and I appreciate your efforts. Thank you to the P & F team for organising such a successful and fun event for the school.

Finally, please be aware that some important dates are coming up this term. More information will be provided closer to the time.

Book Fair – 17^th -19^th October
Day for Daniel – 27^th October
Grandparents Day – Wednesday 1^st November
St Patrick’s Fete – Saturday 2^nd November
Remembrance Day – This will be celebrated at school on 10^th November.

Other important days include Swim Block and Awards Night. Please start considering what your child will require for these events.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you.
Miss Alice Rathie

Year 5/6A

Students of the Week

Week 2: Nate McCulloch, Finlay Lockwood, Isabella Ballin.

Welcome back for Term 4! We are already at the end of week 2. We have a very busy term ahead with swimming block, swimming carnival, year 6 graduation and high school transitions.

The students have started to investigate poetry, in particular, narrative poetry. Students have looked at Limericks and created their own.

In Maths, we are calculating percentage discounts and starting to solve problems using angles.

In Design technology, we are going to be looking at food and fibre and be designing our own mini vegetable gardens.

Our Fete dance is also underway with the students getting their grooves on! We look forward to an action-packed term ahead.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mrs Claire McDonnell 

Sport & Library News

Eley Elite

Week 1: Levi McCulloch.

SPORT

Welcome to the last term and it’s going to be a busy one.  This term the lower school is learning about working together and playing fairly.  We are doing this through a series of tagging games.  The upper school is bush dancing and partaking in a team building unit of work called UNITE.  It challenges the children to solve movement problems in small and large groups.

Swim block will be held in week 6, term 4 from the 6^th - 10^th of November.  The St Pat’s Swimming Carnival will be held on the 24^th of November with the IM’s being the morning of the 23^rd of November.  More information to follow.

LIBRARY News

BOOK FAIR

Book fair is once again coming to our school in week 3 :17^th October – 20^th October.  Opening hours will be as follows:

Tuesday: 3.15pm – 4.00pm
Wednesday: 8.00am – 9.00am / 3.15pm – 4.00pm 
Thursday: 3.15pm – 4.00pm

Borrowing days are as follows, so please try to remember to send along library books:

Happy borrowing and reading! Reading is Power and Knowledge!
Binnie Eley & Julie Pike

P & F News

On Thursday afternoon in the last week of Term 3, we held our school colour fun run. What a successful & fun afternoon had by all. We want to let everyone know that a total of $18, 536 was raised. Well done & thank you to all those families for helping to raise such an exceptional amount of money. The class & teacher who raised the most money, was Year 4/5R. Well done to Miss Rathie & 4/5R. Prizes will be collated & delivered in the coming weeks. Money raised is going towards upgrading of the tank & plumbing for the rainwater bubblers at the MPC. We are hopeful this body of works will be starting very soon. 

In week 8, on the 23^rd of November the P&F are looking to hold a second-hand uniform stall. We are asking for any families, who have uniforms that are no longer needed & are happy to donate to please hand them in at the school office. These uniforms will be sold at reduced rate. We ask that uniforms are washed prior to donating. 

Upcoming Fete

The P&F once again are running the BBQ on the night. We are needing help from our families. If you are available to give 1hr of your time on the night please let one of our P&F (Candice, Lisa, Pip or Jade) know ASAP. Any amount of help is very much appreciated. 

Next P&F Meeting

2^nd November 2023, 5:15pm in the school Library. This will be our last meeting for the year.

Community News

St George Swimming Club

TRI – St George Inc. Qld

Artificial Intelligence in School and at Home