General Information

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School Profile

St. Patrick's School is a co-educational Catholic Primary School
encompassing the levels from prepartory to year 6. The school is situated in Mangan Street in the township of Tongala, offering education to children from Tongala and surrounding rural areas. The families of our students come from a variety of socio-economic background and family structures.
St. Patrick's has an experienced, caring and enthusiastic staff, who work well as a team and are strongly committed to the Catholic education and welfare of the students. The school is served by a Leadership Team, Administration Officer, 3 classroom and part-time teachers who work co-operativiely in area units, part-time Teacher Aide Librarian, Integration Aide and a Music Specialist.
St. Patrick's encourages the development of positive interpersonal relationships between students, teachers and parents. Programs offered beyond the classroom that further encourage these relationships include a buddy system and the active implementation of parental involvement in many key learning areas.
The Parish Priest is an integral part of school life, and is very appreciative and supportive of staff and readily affirms students, staff and school activities. There is a very active, supportive parent community involved in various aspects of the school, as well as a Parents and Friends' Association and a School Board.
School Board
The School Board is an advisory body to assist the Parish Priest and Principal in the running of the school. The Board is a representative group of parents, staff and clergy. An annual meeting, to which all parents are invited, takes place in October.

Parents & Friends Association

The Parent & Friends Association's objectives are:

  • To foster a spirit of friendship and co operation amongst the school community.
  • To promote St. Patrick's
  • To promote educational welfare of the children.
  • To organise and conduct functions, projects and efforts that will benefit the school community.
  • To make financial donations and render assistance to St. Patrick's School.
    P & F meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month.
    The sucessful operation of both the School Board and the Parents & Friends is dependant on active support from the total parent community. This school has a history of tremendous parental support and it is each parent's respossibility to ensure that this continues.
School Fees/Finance

The school is financed

  • by recurrent Govrnment Funding - State and Federal based on the number of children.
  • School fees
  • Paris Contributions
  • Funds raised by the Parents & Friends Association
    Grants many and school feess assist in providing staff salaries, maintenance, administration, class materials. However, it is necessary to supplement finance in any way possible. The P & F continue to do excellent work in this area.

    School fees are subject to review annually by the Parish Priest and School Board after receiving advice from the Catholic Education Office.

    Fees per family for 2006 are
    $575.00 per year
    $165.00 student levy:

    School Fees Policy
    In times of financial hardship special arrangementss can be made between the Principal and parents in regard to the payment of school fees and levies. Any such arrangement would be totally confidential.
Uniform

BOYS
Summer
Gold Polo Shirt
Grey Shorts
Brown Sandals or black shoes
Green School Hat

Winter
Long Grey Trousers
Gold skivvy/polo shirt
Bottle hreen jumper with red and gold band
Bottle green windcheater with school logo
Grey socks
Black shoes

GIRLS
Summer
School dresses: Green and white open check
Brown sandals
Green school hat
Bottle green shorts
Gold polo shirt

Winter
Bottle green winter pinafore
Bottle green pants
Gold skivvy/polo shirt
Bottle green jumper with red and gold band
Bottle green windcheater with school logo
White socks or bottle green tights
Black shoes

Sports Uniform - Boys and Girls
School tracksuit (green)
Gold school emblem polo shirt
Bottle green football shorts - boys
Bottle green netball skirt - girls
White sports socks
Runners

Most uniform items are available from the school.
Children are expeted to wear sports uniform on their class sports daysUsually summer uniform would be worn until the end of Term 1.
If hair ribbons are worn they should be in school colours.

Hats and Sunscreen
During Terms 1 and 4 all children are required to wear school hats at play and lunch. Sunscreen is provided by Parents & Friends.

Parents are stronly urged to name all children's clothing and footwear.
School Lunch Orders
School lunch orders are available from Tongala Central Cafe. Lunch orders are placed in the basket before school, with details of name, grade, order etc. written on an envelope. Menus and price lists are published in the newsletter. Lunches are delivered by 1.00 pm each day.

Parent - Teacher Interviews
These are normally held on two occasions during the year to report on pupil progress.

Written reports on student progress are issued in June and December.

We urge all to attend these interviews so that we can work in close co-operation with you, for the good of our children. A Parent's interest can be reflected in a positive attitude by the child. We encourage the children to be involved in the Parent/Teacher intervies.

Interviews are available at any time to suit the individual.

Pupil Free Days
Four Professional Development days are held each year to enable teachers to engage in Professional Development. Parents will be notified well in advance that children will not attend school on these days. One day per year is taken for report writing.

Student Health
Pupils Becoming Ill
a sick child may be placed in the sick bay. The school will then endeavour to get in touch with a parennt,or person nominated on the emergency card. For this reason, it is vital that the information on your child's card is kept up to date and that you name one or more emergency contactsin case you cannot be contacted. It must be realised that sick bay is only temporary accommodation. Unti such time as a parent arrives, teachers will periodically check the sick child, and if necessary, have another child sit with them. Teachers usually treat minor cuts and illnesses.
If a child is ill in the morning, we recommend that he/she is not sent to school.

Administration of Medication
Some children attending school require medication to control illness. Our Medicines Policy requires that student medications be stored in the General Office and administered from there by the office staff. If this applies to your child, please inform the school in writing of the name of the tablets/medicine your child is taking, the required dosage and the time of the day the medication is to be given to your child. All tablets/medicines must be clearly labelled container.