Message From Our Principal

As we come to the end of another wonderful year at St Patrick’s, it’s a time to reflect on all the achievements, challenges, and moments of growth that have shaped 2024. From classroom successes and specialist showcases to sports days, community events, and everything in between, this year has been a testament to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of our students, staff, and families. We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the ongoing support that makes our school community so special.

On our recent curriculum day, the staff dedicated time to planning and preparing for a successful 2025 school year. This day provided an invaluable opportunity for teachers to collaborate, reflect on current practices, and develop strategies to enhance student learning and wellbeing. Through thoughtful discussions and targeted planning, we focused on curriculum improvements, professional development goals, and initiatives that will continue to support the growth and success of every student in our school community.

Our recent school-wide Orientation Day was a wonderful success, as students eagerly stepped into their 2025 classrooms and connected with their new teachers and classmates. It was particularly special to welcome our new Foundation students, who joined us with big smiles and excitement for the year ahead. The day was filled with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a sense of belonging, as all students embraced the opportunity to experience their new learning environments. We look forward to seeing our newest members of the St Patrick’s community grow and thrive next year.

The lucky winners of our Christmas raffle were:

1st Angelyn Stewart 

2nd Hargreaves family

3rd Kaye Diss 

A big thank you to everyone who brought tickets!!

Also a big thank you to the generous business' that donated to our amazing prizes:

-Wakiti Creek Resort

-Brady Electrical

-Echuca Engineering

What an amazing job our students did at the Tongala Carols! Their beautiful singing and enthusiastic performances truly lit up the evening and filled us all with pride. A huge thank you to all of our families for bringing their children along to be part of this special event—it was wonderful to see such strong support from our school community. A special thanks also goes to the staff who attended and helped make the night such a success. It was a fantastic way to celebrate the festive season together!

A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful parents who organised and implemented our annual Christmas lunch. Your hard work, time, and dedication created a special and memorable day for all of our students and staff. The delicious food and festive atmosphere brought so much joy and excitement, and it was truly a beautiful example of the community spirit that makes our school so special. We are incredibly grateful for your efforts and the magic you brought to this much-loved tradition!

Congratulations to our Grade 4 students for reaching their attendance goal for the term! This is a fantastic achievement and reflects their commitment to learning and being part of the school community each day. Consistent attendance is such an important part of success at school, and we are so proud of the effort and enthusiasm shown by our Grade 4s. Well done to all the students and their families for making this a priority – keep up the great work!

Congratulations to our very own Phoebe for being selected as one of the winners in Sam Birrell’s annual Christmas Card Competition! Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted by local primary school students, and this year Phoebe’s incredible artwork was chosen to feature on the Christmas card alongside Sienna from Yarrawonga College P-12. These cards are sent out far and wide, including one to the Prime Minister himself to sit proudly on his desk. What an amazing achievement, Phoebe – your beautiful drawing will brighten Christmas for so many people!

Our annual Gingerbread House fundraiser was a very successful event. Events like this wouldn’t be possible without our amazing donations we received from businesses and people in our community. A huge thank you to:

Coles and Woolworths 

Camel Milk Co Australia

Rickem Customs 

Tongala Pub

Their donations allowed us to raise more funds on the night to go towards special projects in our school. 

A big THANK YOU to the fundraising committee for organising such a wonderful event!

As we farewell Lauren Bennett, we reflect on the incredible impact she has had during her 5 years at St Patrick’s. Lauren has been a dedicated and passionate educator, teaching across Foundation to Year 2 and making a significant difference in the early years of our students' learning journeys. In addition to her work in the classroom, Lauren has led our Transition program with care and expertise, ensuring a smooth start for our youngest learners. Her role as Learning and Teaching Leader in 2025 further highlights her commitment to improving outcomes for all students and supporting her colleagues. We thank Lauren for her hard work, leadership, and kindness, and we wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career. She will be greatly missed!

As we farewell Stephanie Hayes, we celebrate the dedication and care she has brought to St Patrick’s over the past 4 years. Stephanie has been a committed and compassionate educator, teaching in Grades 1-2 and nurturing the growth of her students with patience and expertise. As Wellbeing Leader in 2022 and 2023, she worked tirelessly to support the emotional and social needs of our school community, ensuring all students felt valued and supported. In 2024, Stephanie stepped into the role of Learning and Teaching Leader, where she demonstrated strong leadership and a passion for improving learning outcomes. We are incredibly grateful for her contributions to our school and wish her every success in the future. She will be greatly missed by students, staff, and families alike.

As we farewell Lisa Corso, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her invaluable contributions over the past 4.5 years at St Patrick’s. Lisa has brought energy and enthusiasm to her role as our Italian teacher, inspiring students to embrace a new language and culture with excitement. In addition, she has provided vital support by offering release time for teachers in leadership positions, ensuring the smooth running of our school. Lisa’s flexibility, dedication, and care for both students and staff have made her a much-loved member of our school community. We wish her all the very best in the next chapter and thank her for everything she has done – she will be truly missed!

As we farewell Morgan, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the 18 months she has dedicated to St Patrick’s. Morgan has been a compassionate and caring Chaplain, offering support and guidance to both students and staff, always with kindness and understanding. Over the past 3 months, she has also shared her musical talents with the school, inspiring students through her music lessons. Morgan’s warmth and positivity have made a lasting impact on our school community, and while we will miss her greatly, we wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Thank you, Morgan, for all you have done!

Our class structure for 2025 is:

A message from School's Out:

We have received several inquiries about the possibility of offering a Before-School Care program at Tongala Primary School in 2025. If there is sufficient interest, we would be excited to provide this morning program, which includes breakfast and engaging activities for the children.

If you are interested, please email me your child's name at: kristy@schoolsout.net.au

School preparations for the bushfire season:

Each year, to prepare for bushfires and grassfires, schools complete a range of activities. Please read the attached document to see what we have done: