Principal News

Dear Parents, Staff and Students

This week I have gathered with my Principal colleagues and members of the TCSO Leadership team in the far west town of Quilpie with a population of 853 within the town and shire.  The theme of our Leadership Forum focused on ‘Schools that deliver’ which led to strategic planning sessions, TCSO Directorate updates and initiatives in the areas of Faith and Identity, Teaching and Learning, Information Services, Human Resources and Finance for 2021.  Believe me there was no time to relax throughout the workday, however, by night the locals certainly embraced us with a warm welcome and true outback hospitality was extended to us all.  The openness and genuine appreciation of our visit was evident each time a friendly local shared their knowledge and story of their beloved town Quilpie. 

We were fortunate to experience a private viewing of Eagle Gallery with resident artist Lyn Barnes, which was certainly a highlight for me as an amateur artist!  Today we ventured to Baldy Top Lookout utilizing the Quilpie environment as our learning place to engage in spiritual formation as Leaders of Catholic Schools within the Toowoomba Diocese.  The panoramic views took my breath away.  Another highlight of the week was getting to learn about the dinosaurs discovered in the Eromanga Area.  Was so incredible to hold ‘Tom’ the dinosaur toe which is 90 -95 million years old which took up to a year to excavate and weighed 4kgs.  Very keen to look into the possibilities of changing our Year 5 and 6 camps in the future to an outback camp rather than the beach. 

A great week of thinking and learning and a little bit of fun was had by all.  Thank you again, St Finbarr’s, and the Quilpie community for your extensive hospitality and warm welcome. Hope to visit again soon.

Thanks for reading.

Madonna Sleba