16 August 2024

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Hello St Patrick’s families, I hope this finds you happy and well. 

Family Life Lessons at St Patrick’s 

This week you should have received a letter from the classroom teacher regarding the upcoming ‘Family Life’ lessons that will take place in our classes in week 8 of the term (starting Monday 26^th August). These lessons are conducted as they are a part of the Australian School’s Curriculum. Each grade has an individual lesson that meets the requirements of the Australian curriculum and, as such, the information presented to the students increases in depth as the students get older and progress through the grades. The information that is presented in these lessons is age appropriate and supported by resources supplied to all Toowoomba Catholic School by our Head Office. If you do have any questions about the lesson your child will be taking part in, please contact your classroom teacher. 

Daniel Morcombe Child Protection Week 

In week 9 of the of this term (starting Monday 2^nd September), our school will be taking part in the Daniel Morcombe Child Protection Week program. This will involve the students taking part in lessons to teach them strategies that help them:

• Recognise – recognise situations where they or others may be in harm or at risk of harm. 
• React – react in a way that helps them stay safe. 
• Report – know how to report situations that have made them feel unsafe, as well as who they can report to and how. 

This curriculum has been in place in Qld schools for several years now and plays an important role in helping our young people develop the awareness and strategies required to keep themselves and others safe. If you do have any questions about the lesson your child will be taking part in, please contact your classroom teacher. 

Book Week Parade – Friday 23^rd August 

Next week is the national Children’s Book Council of Australia, Book Week. This is where we celebrate books and reading and the wonderful impact they have on our lives and imaginations. This week’s theme is ‘Reading is Magic!’, and to celebrate the students will be taking part in book week activities during their library lessons. We will also be bringing our Friday assembly forward to the morning session so the children can take part in our book week dress up as a part of this. Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite character from a book of their choice with a parade being held at the start of the day. It should be heaps of fun and all families are invited to come and watch. See you there! 

Parent Engagement Evening – Diocesan Approach to Reading – More to Come! 

This Wednesday night, 21^st August, Mrs. Chandler and Mrs. Colley are hosting their second school-based parent engagement evening at school. These evenings are aimed at making families aware of different initiatives taking place in the school and providing insight into ways families can engage with their child’s learning both at school and at home. 

Wednesday’s session will again focus on Toowoomba Catholic School’s ‘Diocesan Approach to Reading’, an initiative to boost the reading levels of students in Toowoomba Catholic school through research driven reading strategies. I know the first presentation of this was very much appreciated by those parents who attended and gave some great insight into ways they could support their child’s reading development at home. 

We will be hosting more of these nights in the future with focus points again on reading and a broad range of other school-based initiatives such as cognitive development in school aged children, early identification and support for learning difficulties and self-regulation of emotions through the Zones of Regulation. Please keep a look out for these sessions in the future, it would be great to see as many parents as possible coming along and joining in. 

Loving Our Community – Mr. Wren’s Office ‘Trucker Hat’ Collection 

My collection of St Pat’s community trucker caps is slowly continuing to grow. If you or an organisation you’re involved with have a unique cap of your own that you would be happy to share with me, please drop it in to the office and I’ll pop it on my office wall!  

Coming Up 

We have a lot of great opportunities coming up at school in the next few weeks. Please keep your eyes peeled for information regarding the feast day for Saint Mary MacKilllop, StoryFest, Father’s Day, Book Week and a visit from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Lots to look forward to! 

Looking Ahead 

Have a great weekend, 
Jim Wren
Principal

P & F News

Father’s Day Raffle

Please return your tickets to the school office by Friday 23^rd August.
The raffle will be drawn on Thursday 29^th August.

Thank you to our major sponsor Care Balonne.

PARENT PORTAL

Download & Use the App Now!

St Patrick’s Parent Portal is now up and running for 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

APRE News

This week celebrates Mary's Assumption into heaven. It is one of three feasts of Mary. The assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven has long been held as an important Catholic belief.

The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary's actions after the announcement of Jesus' birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is also expecting a baby. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God's plan for them. Mary responds to Elizabeth's greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both women recall and echo God's history of showing favour upon the people of Israel. Mary's Magnificat echoes the song of praise offered by Hannah, the mother of Samuel.

The Gospel for this day reminds us Mary's Assumption into heaven is best understood with regard for the full spectrum of Catholic beliefs about the person of Christ and the person of Mary. Only Mary, who was born without stain of original sin—the Immaculate Conception—could give birth to Christ, who is fully God and fully human. This is called the Immaculate Conception. Because of Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, she does not suffer from the effects of sin, which are death and decay. Mary is the first to receive the fullness of the redemption that her son has won for all of humanity. The Church, therefore, recognizes Mary as the sign of the salvation promised to all.

Today's Gospel highlights Mary's faith. Mary's faith enabled her to recognise the work of God in her people's history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God's plan of salvation.

Jan Frans Beschey, Assumption of the Virgin, 1750-1767, oil on copper, Hermitage Museum.

Learning Support

Our new ReSet Space is up and running! We are so excited to start to offer students an opportunity to participate in a new Strength building program. This is in conjunction with Laura (OT) and Ava (OT student) from St George Allied Health Team. The ReSet Space has been sponsored by the Wellbeing Program Initiative offered through Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.

Audiology retesting will be happening in Week 8 this term. We look forward to welcoming Dendra Cole and Helen O’Shea to St George again to complete this testing.

Mrs Anna Chandler
(Assistant Principal Religious Education & Learning Support)

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

MLCC News

You may, or may not, have heard the term “explicit instruction” used when people talk about teaching. Your children might have mentioned working in class using “I do, we do, you do”. 

Explicit instruction is a systematic and success-oriented teaching approach. It is common knowledge that learning new information happens most effectively when teaching is clear, systematic and does not leave students to discover knowledge and skills without guidance. 

This teaching method involves breaking down the content of a learning area and provides explanations and step-by-step guidance until students are ready to demonstrate their learning independently. Progress is facilitated by a “gradual” release of support until students can show that they have mastered the concept and are ready to apply it to new situations. 

It works as follows: 

1. I do – the teacher introduces new content with clear instruction and demonstrations.
2. We do – the teacher works with students completing several repetitions. During this stage, students might also work with a partner or a small group for some extra guided practice.
3. You do – students work individually with varying amounts of support from the teacher to practice the content.

Explicit teaching optimises learning by helping students transfer information to their memory by providing opportunities to retrieve and retain that information and deepen understanding. 

Annette Colley 
Middle Leader/Curriculum Coordinator 

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Students of the Week 

Goondiwindi Eisteddfod 2024

Last week, 24 students from our school participated in the Goondiwindi Eisteddfod, in the Speech and Drama section, reciting poetry. The students should be very proud of themselves as their performances were of a very high standard. This was a result of many weeks, leading up to the Eisteddfod of practicing at home and school. The students’ commitment was evident by willingly giving up their lunch breaks, learning their words and always aspiring to improve. 

Thank you to our parents and other family members for the support and encouragement you gave to your child/children at home. Thank you to parents and grandparents for driving your child/ children to Goondiwindi. Your support is very much appreciated.

The Eisteddfod is always such a fun and very worthwhile event. The smiles and laughter during practices and seeing the children developing confidence in their own ability is very rewarding. It gives all our children a voice, and the ability to portray a range of emotions through speech and dramatic expression.
Congratulations to all our students. You are all winners! I am so very proud of you all.

Cheers,
Sharyn Davidson

Below are the placings of the children in the various categories:  

Verse Speaking Solo - Set Piece 

7-8yrs – 2nd - Ellie McCosker, 3rd - Xander King, HC - Andries Farmer.  

9-10yrs – 1st - Olivia Harch, 3rd - Amelia O’Toole.  

11-12 yrs – 1st - Alexa Farmer.  

Poem in Pairs  

7yrs – 1st - Evie Bradfield/Tilly Willoughby, HC - Belle Vickers/Jules North.  

8yrs – 1st - Ellie McCosker/Tilly Hyland, 2nd - Sophie Luck/Tori Lamb.                                                               

3rd - Abigail Tierney/Eleanor North, HC – Karleigh Bella Ivy Vickers.  

9yrs– 1st Amelia O’Toole/Hannah Nott. 

11-12yrs – 2nd - Amber Sting/Georgie Nott.  

Humorous Solo  

7 yrs – 2nd - Evie Bradfield, 3rd - Xander King. 

8yrs – 2nd - Andries Farmer, 3rd - Sophie Luck. HC - Ellie Mc Cosker.  

9yrs – 1st - Olivia Harch, 2nd - Amelia O’Toole. 3rd - Cohen Curtis.  

11-12yrs – 3rd - Alexa Farmer. HC - Amber Sting.  

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CLASS News

Health & Drama

Welcome to Week 6, Hope everyone is well and enjoying the wet weather this week. The last couple of weeks the students have been participating in the following Health and Music topics.  

Upper School

 The first part of their Assessment of healthy eating and lifestyle is to create a new canteen menu and morning fitness schedule for the school using the content covered this term. They will be required to submit the following tasks; 

• Create a menu: Healthy foods from the five food groups and foods to choose for a healthy lifestyle. 
• Advertisement for the new menu. 
• Physical Activity Schedule for morning fitness/movement breaks looking at the importance of physical activity for all. They must include types of activities/games that could be used in their daily activities. 

Middle School

Students use the Healthy Eating guidelines/five food groups and learning content this Term to create a poster advertising healthy eating in their school. The students have a checklist to include the benefits of healthy eating and examples of healthy choices, and they had to include a slogan that captures attention Health. The students used the Healthy Eating Poster drafting page to plan their poster and then create their final product on A4. They will use the following self-assessment checklist so the students can track their work and ensure they’ve included all required elements.  

1. A catchy health slogan  
2. A clear health message 
3. An action the reader can take to follow the message 
4. A problem that may occur if the action is not taken 
5. Images that relate to the message 
6. Appropriate colours 

Lower School

The students following the five food groups in The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating will be assessed on their knowledge. They will identify food categories and list their importance. Students designed and drew the food items from the Australian food guide into the Healthy lunchbox. In their 5 Star Lunchbox, the students had to colour in the lunchbox and choose at least five-star foods to paste inside it. They then wrote/told a sentence persuading people in their class to choose their lunchbox.   

We continued the weekly music lessons with Aural training - echo rhythm with clapping or singing activity, and then we play the instruments to repeat the pattern throughout the grades. In the upper school the students continued leaning about the drums and enjoyed following” In da house” drumming where they learnt how to play different parts of the drums to follow the beat. 

They upper school the students will commence the new song/lessons next week.  

• Calypso Dreaming - Year 5  

• Juggling learning the bass part - Year 6  

The middle school will be introduced to the following new songs this week   

• Robot Boys -Year 3  

• The Goose with an attitude -Year 4    

Lower school will be introduced to the following new songs this week   

• Charlie over the Ocean -Year 2     

• Kye Kye Kule- Year 1 and 

• Frere Jacques - Prep. 

We will also discuss the cultural background and importance of these songs.  

Enjoy your day! Keep Smiling! 
Mrs Jane Webster

Sport & Library News

LIBRARY

Borrowing

All classes will be borrowing on Thursdays.  Please ensure you child has a library bag for borrowing.  Book return day is Wednesday so the books can be processed before borrowing again on Thursday. 

Reading is Power and Knowledge.

Happy borrowing and reading,

Binnie Eley & Julie Pike
(St Patrick’s Library Staff)

COMMUNITY NEWS

St Ursula’s College Toowoomba Fun & Fitness – Come and Try Day 2024  

St Ursula’s College Toowoomba Fun & Fitness – Come and Try Day 2024 is on Thursday, 5 September. The event will run from 8:30am to 2:30pm, with morning tea and lunch provided and is open to current Year 5 & Year 6 students. This day offers your daughter the opportunity to meet other students, participate in fun-filled activities and experience what it is like to be an 'Ursie Girl'. Following this, we also extend the invite to families who would like to try out Boarding. Spend the night at our Boarding House, enjoy dinner with our fellow boarders, breakfast is included. Please email sucenrolment@twb.catholic.edu.au or call 07 4631 0870. 

OSHC News