16 July 2025 — Week 1, Term 3
Welcome from the Principal
Dear Families
Welcome back to Term 3 after some well deserved holidays. I still get a buzz with the commencement of Term 3, with the impending celebration of Catholic Education Week in Week 3. From my perspective, Catholic Education Week provides a beautiful link to our Catholic faith, where we as educators reinforce the notion to our community that we are all part of something bigger.
Catholic education plays a vital role in shaping the hearts and minds of students, fostering a holistic approach that integrates faith, academics and character development.
Faith remains at the core of Catholic education. It is not merely a set of doctrines or rituals; rather, it is a living relationship with God. Students learn to embrace faith through prayer, scripture, sacraments, and the example of dedicated educators.
Hope bridges gaps and unites diverse perspectives. In a world often marked by uncertainty, Catholic education instils hope by pointing students towards a better future. Whether it is the adoption of a positive mindset, the resilience to face challenges, or the anticipation of a better future, hope propels us forward. We also foster hope by encouraging critical thinking, promoting social justice and emphasising the dignity of every person.
Love is not a mere sentiment; it is a self-giving commitment. Catholic educators exemplify love by caring for each student as a unique individual. Love manifests in acts of kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.
As we celebrate Catholic Education Week in 2025, let us remember that education is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about forming hearts. Faith, hope and love intertwine, shaping resilient individuals who contribute positively to society. In our Catholic schools, these values are not relics of the past but living realities that empower students to embrace their purpose and make a difference.
As a school community, we are also extremely proud to announce Mrs Kathryn Lucas on her nomination as a finalist for Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence in teaching and learning award. Mrs Lucas is a highly experienced early years educator and has led the way for not only St Patrick's School but across the diocese, with the implementation of a literacy program from the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). UFLI is an explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading. All the best Mrs Lucas when you attend the TCS Excellence Awards on Thursday, 31 July in Toowoomba.
As you would be aware, our Year 3 and 5 students completed their annual NAPLAN assessments in Term 1. The results have now been released. On Monday, 14 July during our Pupil Free Day, teachers explored the results and looked for patterns of growth or stagnation. Where we could, NAPLAN data was compared to other assessment tasks from Semester 1. On the whole, we are extremely excited about the results achieved in 2025. Parents of students in Years 3 and 5 will receive a copy of the Student Report 2025 (National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy), which will be sent home on Friday, 18 July. Individual student results will be displayed, together with proficiency levels, national average and the range of achievement for the middle 60% of students. We will provide further in-depth analysis of the school's NAPLAN results in our Week 3 Newsletter.
As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please contact the school.
Keith Blaikie—Principal
Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
General Information
Shaping our future - perception survey
Coming soon: Your chance to help shape our schools' futures
Every two years, families from our school communities share their views through the Shaping our future – perception survey. It’s a valuable way for us to reflect on how each of our schools are living out Toowoomba Catholic Schools shared purpose: enabling full and flourishing lives.
This year’s survey will be sent via Sentral on Monday, 21 July.
Please keep an eye out for it – your feedback helps shape the future of all 32 Toowoomba Catholic schools.
We will also be asking Years 5 to 12 students from across the diocese to complete a student version of the survey during Catholic Education Week at St Patrick's School.
For more information, please email: Keith.Blaikie@twb.catholic.edu.au
Parents and Friends Association
Next Meeting - Wednesday 16 July commencing at 6:00pm
The next St Patrick's P&F Meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 July commencing at 6:00pm. Parents may attend either in person or online and everyone is welcome to attend. Please note that the St Patrick's Parish and School Fete Meeting will be held at 6:45pm directly after the conclusion of the St Patrick's P&F Meeting. As per our normal practice, the St Patrick's P&F minutes from our last meeting will attached to the newsletter email.
As always, if you have any questions or queries, please contact the school or the St Patrick's P&F directly via email at stpatspnf@gmail.com.
Update - Pacific Seeds 88 to Educate Charity Camp Draft
Teaching and Learning
NAIDOC Celebrations - Week 10, Term 2
In a change from previous years, teachers selected the authentic text, Cooee Mittigar: A story on Darug Songlines which was written and illustrated by Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson as a basis for NAIDOC Week. The text was used as stimulus to drive a series of different literacy based activities. The book centres on Darug Country and the people who have lived in the greater Sydney basin for thousands of years. Darug Country stretches far - reaching our Kuringgai neighbours in the north east, our Darkinjung neighbours to the north, our Wiradjui neighbours to the west and our Gandangara neighbours in the south.
Whilst students were thoroughly engaged and enjoyed the activities, they were exposed to First Nations language and the care exhibited to both the flora and fauna of the times in terms of land use.
NAIDOC Week 2025
Book Week 2025
Book Week will be here in Week 7 of this term! 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 is 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.
Liturgical Life of the School
Sacramental Program
The Catholic sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist hold profound significance in the spiritual development of our students, marking key milestones in their journey of faith and belonging within the Church community. Confirmation and First Eucharist deepen their understanding and commitment, helping them to grow in grace and spiritual maturity. Confirmation, typically strengthens the grace received at Baptism and seals the child with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This sacrament is not merely symbolic; it empowers children to live out their faith actively, to make moral decisions guided by the Spirit, and to become witnesses of Christ in their everyday lives.
First Eucharist is equally transformative. It is the first time a child receives Holy Communion, participating fully in the central act of Catholic worship—the Mass. For children, this sacrament fosters a sense of unity with the Church and with fellow believers. It teaches gratitude, reverence, and the importance of community.
Both sacraments are celebrated within the parish and school communities, emphasising the communal nature of faith. Ultimately, Confirmation and First Eucharist are not isolated events but foundational steps in a lifelong journey of faith. They provide children with spiritual tools and a sense of identity that can guide them through adolescence and beyond, shaping their values, choices, and relationships. In a world that often challenges religious belief, these sacraments offer children a firm grounding in their faith and a community that supports them.
At this very special time in the faith development of our young people, please keep the following students in your thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks. We acknowledge Aiden H, Noah H, Bryce H, Leo H, Oliver J, Rose K, Georgia L, Cormac M, Edward M, Charlee P, Oceania P, Leo W and Lachlan S who will embark upon their sacramental journey this Friday night with Bishop Ken and Father Salvador.
Upcoming events
- Wednesday 16 July - St Patrick's P&F Meeting commencing at 6:00pm in the library or online followed by St Patrick's Parish and School Fete meeting at 6:45pm. All are welcome to attend!
- Friday 18 July - Confirmation (Sacramental Program) with Bishop Ken/ Fr Salvador commencing at 6:00pm in the Church - All are welcome to attend!
- Wednesday 23 July - Central Downs Athletics Day 1 at Allora P-10 State School (9 to 12 years only)
- Wednesday 23 July - St Patrick's Playgroup from 9:00am to 10:30am
- Thursday 24 July - Whole School Assembly commencing at 2:15pm in the Church
- Friday 25 July - Central Downs Athletics Day 2 at Allora P-10 State School (5 to 12 years)
- Monday 28 July to 1 August - Catholic Education Week
- Tuesday 29 July - Catholic Education Week Mass commencing at 9:30am in the Church
- Wednesday 30 July - 100 Days of Prep Celebration
- Wednesday 30 July - Newsletter
- Thursday 31 July - TCS Netball and Touch Football Carnival (Glengallan only)
- Friday 1 August - PUPIL FREE Day - Bishop's Inservice Day (Toowoomba)
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 - 9am 2nd and 3rd Sunday – 5.30pm
4th & 5th Sunday Liturgy of the Word with Communion - 9am
