Newsletter - 16 October 2024

Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 4 at Allora P-10 State School.

Our students in Years 5-10 have started the term by participating in the Unleashing Your Personal Potential Programs. These programs are evidence based, age appropriate and interactive; teaching students strategies in engaging, relevant, challenging, practical and inspiring ways. The goal of UPP is to ‘facilitate exceptional wellbeing and leadership workshops that empower students to thrive as they learn, live and lead'. This year the UPP team will have bookings for close to 65000 students across the country.  

• The Year 9 and 10 students participated in the Equip Leadership workshop. This is high energy, high impact training, and it calls upon every student to contribute through their influence, strengths, teamwork and actions.
• Our Year 7 and 8 students participated in Step Up. This program has been designed to help students become their best. Our students were enabled to build a solid foundation for their success. This process seeks to help students develop an understanding of growth mindsets and neuroplasticity, use evidence-based practices for setting goals and, establish and nurture healthy relationships.
• Our Year 6 class participated in the Positive Peer Relationships Workshop. This is about building personal and social skills to enhance the quantity and quality of our interpersonal interactions. Topics discussed included the power of empathy, active listening, connection, bullying and the science of kindness, conflict resolution, teamwork and the power of lifting others up.
• Our Year 5 students attended the Aspire Higher session which allowed students to reflect on themselves and their peers as leaders and team players. This workshop took students through three sessions: Leading With Or Without The Badge through example, influence and kindness; The Epic Race – an outdoor, fast-paced team event (using the A.S.P.I.R.E. framework) with multiple challenges to be completed; Knowing Me, Growing Me - understanding students’ individual strengths and those of others.

All students and staff involved commented on the positive ways in which the presenters had all students involved and the topics were relevant to each year level. Having the incursion in Term 4 helps all of our students to finish strong in 2024.

Last week Chappy Bernard and his helpers provided the students and staff with a sausage sizzle breakfast which was a very special treat for all! Chappy and the Chaplaincy Committee provide Breakfast Club each Tuesday and Thursday to all students.

The sea of green and gold on Friday 4 October was a sight to behold! We loved welcoming Matt Denny home and congratulating him on his achievement at the Paris Olympics. A huge congratulations to the students who entered the poster competition and to Karlee who was the overall winner.

We are welcoming the Warwick Rodeo Queen entrants to the school on Thursday 24 October. Students will be invited to wear themed free dress on this day- yeehah!

Megan

Sausage Sizzle

Matt Denny Welcome Home

Tuckshop - Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers every day tuckshop operates. PLEASE HELP US OUT!  We currently have NO volunteers to help Karissa out at the tuckshop.

Please consider volunteering some time to help our school out.

Tuckshop currently operates on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the school year. Karissa would certainly appreciate some help between 9am and 11am on these days. 

Calendar of Events

Student of the Week

Students were awarded certificates on assembly for demonstrating our school motto, “Always our Best”. Also, each week teachers nominate a student who has displayed our school values to go in the draw for a $5 tuckshop voucher (the golden ticket). Congratulations students!

Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) - Canberra Excursion

Students from our school have recently undertaken an educational tour of the national capital. Students were given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government has contributed funding to our school in the amount of $135 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Students enjoyed their trip to the Nation's capital, with some highlights being their time spent at the Australian War Memorial where they participated in the Last Post Ceremony, Parliament House tour, Mt Ainslie Lookout and the Australian Institute of Sport. The students thank Mrs Rauchle and Mrs Beveridge for taking time out of their busy schedules to accompany them on this excursion.

Prep Open Mornings

2025 Prep students and their parents are invited to our Prep open mornings in November. See details below for more information. If you are intending to enrol in 2025 and haven't yet completed your enrolment forms, this is an ideal time to get them in to the school.

Celebrating 50 Years of Early Years Education at Allora

On Wednesday 11 September, we welcomed former and current staff, students and community members to celebrate 50 years of Early Childhood Education at Allora P-10 SS; a significant milestone to celebrate.

In 1974, long serving teacher-in-charge, Mrs Joyce Gibson oversaw the establishment of the Preschool Centre, one of the first to open in Queensland. Preschool education was a new concept not only for Allora but for all of Queensland. The first class was accepted on 9 September 1974. Some of that cohort were present at the celebration including Frank Strachotta, Carol Halton (nee Fredericks), Paul and Tanya Gordon (nee Sparksman) and Garry Shooter. The inaugural class of 1974 included grandparents and relatives of current students and staff.

When the Preschool first opened, it was separated from the rest of the school by a white picket fence and operated independently as a stand-alone unit. It was mostly play-based education because play was recognised and valued as a means by which young children learn about themselves and the world.  It was never intended to be preparation for school. Nowadays, the fences have been removed, and Preschool has evolved into Prep. There is now a rigorous academic program to prepare students for the next phase of learning across 8 learning areas as students move into Year 1 and then Year 2 as a part of our Early Childhood Education. Year 3 is no longer a part of the Early Years program.

We acknowledge many teachers and teacher aides who have contributed to our very successful Early Childhood Education at Allora P-10 State School across P–3 over the past 50 years and know that this success will continue well into the future.

In line with previous commemorations for the opening of the Preschool Centre and its 25-year anniversary, former students from 1974 planted a tree to mark the 50-year milestone.

Former student and school captain Carla Wheatley (nee Frizzell), who cut the 25-year cake in 1999, and Mrs Joyce Gibson cut the 50^th celebration cake that was kindly donated by former Teacher Aide and Administration Officer, Mrs Jo Stevens from Westside Bakery in Warwick.

Sports Report

Welcome back to Term 4. Swimming has begun for some of our classes, including Prep, Year 3 and Year 4. If you do not have a season pass, pool entry is $4.00.

Five of our secondary students attended the Clifton Benchrest Shooting Competition on Friday 11 October. They all enjoyed this experience. Well done, Charli, Jackson, Will, Alex and Will.

Congratulations to Blake who competed at the State Athletics Championships last week. Blake performed quite well in his event and enjoyed the experience of higher-level competition.

Will participated in the Darling Downs Cricket Trials in Toowoomba on Monday. He had a great day in the field and did well batting. He said it was a good experience.

Year 7 Transition Day

A Note from the Library

Welcome back to another school term.  Borrowing will continue as normal and your student’s borrowing days are as follows:

• Tremendous Tuesday                  Year 2 and Year 3
• Wonderful Wednesday                Year 1, Year 4 and Year 6
• Thabulous Thursday                    Prep and Year 5

Please remember to send along a library bag with your student so they can borrow a book.  A reminder also that SORA is available to access on your student’s devices.

Issue 7 of Book Club has now been handed out.  We would prefer you order Book Club through our LOOP orders online at scholastic.com.au, but if dropping your order in to school, orders were due on Monday 14 October.

DID YOU KNOW that the most poisonous metal in the world is arsenic?  It was made into flypaper for killing flies, but it killed some people too.  (Thank goodness times have changed).

Have a great week.

LEA-ANN WEIER

School Dental Van

Junior ATSIAP Regional Challenge

In Term 3, a junior team of three students, Cammii, Fletcher and Rikaya, competed in the Junior ATISAP (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Aspiration Program) for the Darling Downs South-West region.  The team had to collaboratively complete three challenges including an Art, Poetry and Persuasive Text challenge. They won the regional Persuasive Text challenge and placed 3^rd in the Poetry challenge which placed them 3^rd overall in a highly competitive field.  The team will now contest the State ATSIAP challenge and will attend the Grand Final in Brisbane later this term.  Mrs Natalie Docherty, Community Partnerships Officer First Nations Partnerships and Programs from Darling Downs South-West Regional office presented the team and their mentor, Mrs Sharman, with their medallions and certificates. Congratulations to the team and best wishes for the State Challenge!       

Clean Containers Desperately Needed

We desperately need clean containers for Home Ec. - ice cream containers, take away containers etc are all welcome. Please send them into the office.

Thank you,
LINDA SHARMAN-BOWMAN

Matty Denny Street Parade

On Friday 4 October, along with the rest of the Allora Community, our school gathered along Warwick Street, to celebrate the homecoming of our very own Olympian, Matthew Denny. Students enthusiastically cheered and honoured Matthew as he was driven by. Students had pictures of Matt, along with posters coloured in green and gold. Thank you to all who participated in this Welcome Home event for Matty and to those who organised it.

Chaplaincy News

Scripture Union Australia, who support our local chaplains in schools, is running a raffle. Scan the code to purchase a ticket, or if you wish to just make a donation, scan that code. Information is listed below. See our next newsletter for more information on chaplains in schools.

Classroom News

Community News

2025 Citizen of the Year Awards

It’s time to celebrate the extraordinary community champions who make Southern Downs shine, and Southern Downs Regional Council is calling for nominations to honour these inspirational individuals whose dedication, service and community spirit deserves recognition.

In a refreshed format, the 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards will be celebrated on Australia Day as a unified event that reflects the inclusive spirit of the Southern Downs community. Additionally, a Junior Cultural Citizen of the Year category has been introduced, bringing cultural recognition into alignment with the existing sports categories that distinguish between junior and adult achievers.

The 2025 Citizen of the Year Award categories include:

• Citizen of the Year Award
• Junior Citizen of the Year Award
• Sportsperson or Sports Administrator of the Year Award
• Junior Sportsperson of the Year
• Cultural Citizen of the Year Award
• Junior Cultural Citizen of the Year Award
• Community Event of the Year Award

Nominations close at 5pm Sunday 1 December 2024. Forms and guidelines are available on Council’s website at sdrc.qld.gov.au/our-region/explore-southern-downs/events-and-festivals/southern-downs-citizen-of-the-year-awards-2025.

CARBAL MEDICAL SERVICES

Carbal Health in Warwick are celebrating the launch of their 715-shirt design and extend an invitation to all First Nation families to a launch day that includes a BBQ, activities and games at:

• Warwick Carbal Medical Services, 30 October from 9am – 3pm (55 Wood Street, Warwick)
• Toowoomba Carbal Medical Services 5 November from 9am – 3pm (125 Russell Street, Toowoomba)

ALLORA RSL are calling all interested stall holders for their Christmas Market (see details below). To book your spot, contact Ray at email saundersrah@gmail.com or phone 0477 967 823