Newsletter 2022/04 ~ 25 February 2022

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.

St. Patrick’s School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples. 

This newsletter comes to you from the lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk Nations.

From the Principal

In the coming week we will change seasons, moving gradually from the harshness and heat of the Aussie summer to the refreshing coolness of Autumn.  Along with the change of season we will see changes around us, such as our trees' leaves changing colour and eventually falling to the ground.  

In this coming week we will also enter the season of Lent, a season in which we prepare for the mystery of Easter.  This is a special time in which we joyfully embrace a conversion of heart.  A new heart and a new spirit, these are God’s gifts during Lent.  Our Lenten call is ‘Repent and believe the Good News!’

Lent is a time of self-discipline, generous concern for those in need, and prayerful reflection. 

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

The theme of Project Compassion 2022 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues.  You are encouraged to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Families will receive a Project Compassion box for donations (to be returned to school at the end of the term) or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at lent.caritas.org.au

Recent Events

Swimming Program and Carnival

Our Swimming and Water Awareness program came to an end yesterday with our Swimming Carnival at the Nhill Pool.  Thank you to Mrs Dickinson, Mrs Bell and Miss Williams for getting in the pool each day to run our program.  It was good to see all of the children having a go at trying to improve their abilities in the pool and their safety awareness around water.

Yesterday was a sea of colour at our carnival as our new Houses were unveiled for the first time.  Our Houses have drawn upon the history of our school as follows:

Patrick (Green) named after St Patrick, our Patron Saint.

MacKillop (Blue) named after Saint Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Josephite Sisters, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, who started our school.

Joseph (Yellow) named after St Joseph, the Patron Saint of the Josephite Sisters.

Thank you to the parents who were able to come along and support the children.  It was a great school community event!

It was announced yesterday that the scores were very close and following the final points being tallied last night, we can now announce that the winning House was Patrick with 82 points, Joseph was close behind on 78 points and  MacKillop were third on 75 points.  A very close result with only seven points separating the three Houses.  I look forward to watching the House spirit develop over the coming years.

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Hockey Clinics

We welcomed Amy and Carol from Wimmera Hockey Association on Tuesday as they led our students through hockey clinics.  The children showed a willingness to learn and had a lot of fun as they tried to control the hockey ball at the end of their hockey stick.

Judging by their enthusiasm, I think we may see a few more of our students playing hockey with the WHA this season.

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School Advisory Council Meeting

The School Advisory Council held their first meeting for the  year on Wednesday night.  We are excited to welcome Emily Gladdis and Nathan Wheeler to our group, to assist with advising the direction of the school for the 2022 school year.  

Subjects discussed were - new Child Safe Standards that will take effect from 1 July; update on future building plans; Year Book; Community Engagement and Fundraising projects, including the upcoming Bingo Night, and student involvement in local events such as Christmas in the Park; relinquishment of drumMUSTER management; and school uniform review.

The Working Group members were appointed - Community Engagement and Fundraising - Helen Cannell, Emily Gladdis and Zanny McEldrew; Grounds & Maintenance - Nathan Wheeler; and Karen Liaison - Moo Khu James.  If you have any suggestions/questions for the School Advisory Council, please make contact with a parent representative.

Our next meeting will be in the second week of Term 2.

Emergency Management Drill

On Monday, we had our first whole school Emergency Management Drill. The scenario was a fire in the front administration area which necessitated evacuating the children and staff from the building.  Everyone responded promptly to this ‘Code Red’ incident and moved to the evacuation area in front of the church.  There will be  similar drills with varying scenarios each term.

Upcoming Events

Get to Know You Meetings - Monday, 28 February

Get to Know You meetings are taking place on Monday evening.  Weather permitting, these meetings will take place outside so as to avoid everyone having to go through the sign in procedures when entering school buildings.  We will have directions at the front of the school advising where the meetings are taking place.  Please be on time as each meeting is limited to 8 minutes to allow for as many parents as possible to meet with their child’s teacher.  If you require more time, please arrange with the teacher to meet on another occasion.

If you haven’t already booked a time, please follow the link on the Parent Access Module (PAM).

Lent

Lent commences next week and many of us will be considering what we will give up for the 40 days before Christmas.  In the past I have gone without coffee, or chocolate, or soft drink, or take-away food.  But as the article (from CathNews, Tuesday 22 February 2022) below highlights, going without these things hasn’t helped me to develop a greater connection with God nor have I found it spiritually rewarding. In recent times, I have made it more of a focus to grow that spiritual connection and to think more about helping others, rather than focusing on what I am giving up (the giving up still happens too).

Auslan

On Monday we will commence our Auslan program.  All students and staff will join in with the 15 minute sessions immediately after lunch each day.  I will include some updates on our progress in future editions of the newsletter.

Upcoming Student Free Days

A reminder that staff will be involved in professional learning days on the next two Fridays and so they will be Student Free Days. 

No students are to come to school on

Friday 4 March and Friday 11 March.

• Friday 4 March - Teaching staff will be attending a Scaffolding Literacy session in Mildura
• Friday 11 March - All staff will be updating their First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis training

Ash Wednesday Mass

Fr Anthony will be joining us on Wednesday for a 10am Mass for Ash Wednesday.  Parents and Parishioners are invited to join us in St Patrick’s Church for this special day on the Liturgical Calendar.

 St Patrick’s Music Bingo Night

St Patrick’s Day is fast approaching which means….

St Patrick’s School Music Bingo Night!!!!!

Friday, 18th March 2022 at 7.30pm

at St. Patrick's Community Hall

Tables of eight. $10 per person! There are capacity limits so book in now!!!! Those who were there last year can vouch for it being a night of great fun and laughs.

Don't miss out! Get a group of friends organised and book now! 

To book a table contact Helen on 0419 829 272

School Photos Day

School Photos Day is Wednesday, 23 March.  Order envelopes were sent home with students last week.  If Family Photos are to be ordered, please contact the office to collect a Family Package envelope.  Spare  individual envelopes are also available at the office.

Individual portraits are taken of every student, even if individual photos are not being ordered.  Therefore, each Individual (Traditional) Package envelope must be returned to school.

Please return order envelopes by Wednesday, 16 March.

Reminders

From the office

Various notes have been sent home this week.

Please remember to -

• Complete student details verification in PAM (or paper copy)
• Return fees and digital technology notes by the end of next week
• Return completed school photos order envelopes with payment

Label clothing

Please put your child's name on all their clothing and belongings, including swimming gear.

Uniforms, Jewellery, Make Up

A reminder to everyone of our school rules in relation to uniform.  

If a child is not in correct uniform, a short note of explanation should be provided.  Students can bring or wear suitable sports footwear on Wednesdays for their PE class otherwise school shoes as identified on our uniform list are to be worn.

Coloured nail polish, jewellery and make-up should not be worn to school.  A watch may be worn. Sleepers or studs are the only earrings deemed appropriate for school.  

Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back or up at all times.

Parent Access Module (PAM)

We strongly encourage parents to use the Parent Access Module PAM (SIMON Everywhere) to inform us of student absences. These notes can be set in advance (if, for example, you know that your child will be absent a week in the future). Notes written in the diary are for communicating with teachers. Absent notes need to be directed to the office.

Please speak with office staff if you have any questions about PAM.

Simon Everywhere

The Simon Everywhere app delivers instant notifications to parents' mobile phones, delivering the functionality of PAM (SIMON Parent Access Module) in an easy to navigate app.  

We request that all parents please download the Simon Everywhere app, add St Patrick's School, Nhill and login using your existing PAM credentials.  

We will use Simon Everywhere for all important notifications.  

You will be able to manage all your day-to-day school needs from the Simon Everywhere app - notify us of absences, view the lunch orders menu, read the newsletter ...

Please contact the office with any questions.

Bus notes

Parents of bus travelling students please note that Nhill College has requested that any changes to travel arrangements (e.g. if you are picking up your child after school) be notified before 3.00pm on that day.  You can do this by -

• calling our school office 53911575
• sending an email to principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au or krintoule@spnhill.catholic.edu.au
• use the Bus Change Notification Form on their website - this is a quick and easy process on your mobile phone (hint: add this as a quick link on your phone's home screen)

Remember to follow us on Facebook

Those who are on Facebook are encouraged to follow our page at St Patrick's School, Nhill.  'Like' our page, enjoy our posts, and share them with your friends.  Stay connected through our Social Media page.

Coronavirus Information

Rapid Antigen Tests

Rapid Antigen Test kits have been made available to all families.  A reminder that you are asked to complete a test on Monday and Thursday mornings and to notify me immediately on 0419929271 if there is a positive result.

Facemasks / Facemask requirements on school buses

All students in Year 3 and above MUST wear a properly fitting mask at all times when inside school buildings.  Facemasks are also recommended for children in Years Foundation to Year 2.  

Similarly, ALL PARENTS / VISITORS MUST wear a properly fitting facemask when inside school buildings.

Students (aged 8 and over) MUST wear a properly fitting facemask while travelling to and from school on school buses.

Vaccination

All parents must also have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine and be able to produce an original copy of their vaccination certificate.  Parents cannot enter school buildings if not double vaccinated.  More information (Visitors) is provided below.

Students aged 5 and above can now be vaccinated

The Victorian Government has announced that all students in Victoria, aged 12 years and above, are eligible to book and receive their COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Victorian Government is encouraging everyone aged 5 and above to get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

COVID-19 vaccines are an essential protection against serious illness.  Vaccination is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged, except where your medical practitioner advises you otherwise. 

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine or covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility to book an appointment. 

Visitors to school

All visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.  

"If a person must provide verification of their vaccination status and they refuse or do not  meet the vaccination/exemption requirements, that person should be asked to leave site. This is a reasonable request and enables us to maintain our COVIDSafe processes and safeguard the health and wellbeing of the school community." CECV School Operations Guide.

QR code check-in

The following people must use the hardcopy Visitor Register and QR Code when entering the school (and therefore must enter through the office, not the side entrance):

• All visitors, including contractors and CEB staff
• All parents who enter school buildings

Parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up, but do not enter buildings are not required to use the QR Code.

Summary, when entering the school building please:

• wear a mask
• sign in using QR Code and Visitor Register
• provide verification of vaccination status
• use hand sanitiser.

RATs

Next issue of RATs will be sent home with your children today.

Sunday's Gospel Reflection 

LUKE 6:27-38

Last Sunday’s Gospel continued the theme of the Beatitudes of the previous week. In Sunday’s Gospel we are challenged to be forgiving, compassionate and generous to others. Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them.  Jesus wants to portray God as someone with unbound compassion and abundant generosity.  We are called to ‘Treat others as you would like them to treat you.’  Whilst we may find it easy to display kindness and compassion to those who we like, it can be a challenge to display these same traits to those who we may dislike.    

Jesus' words challenge those who would follow him to be more like God. God loves us beyond our expectations, beyond anything we can possibly imagine. In response to God's love, we are to love as God loves, beyond expectations and with a depth beyond imagining.

The question raised by this gospel is what will each of us do to ‘love our enemies as ourselves’ in the days and weeks ahead?  It doesn’t have to cost us a lot of money or time, but simply the willingness to think of others before ourselves.

Sunday’s Gospel is particularly relevant in light of what has transpired in Europe yesterday with Russia’s attack on Ukraine. We pray that our God of peace can help bring a cessation to the fighting in Europe and in all other conflicts around the world, including Myanmar where fighting between the military and people’s defence forces has again intensified.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Karen Rintoule who has been awarded Life Membership of the Nhill & District Sporting Club.

Karen joined NDSC in 1988 and has been an outstanding contributor to the club for the past 30+ years, including the past 12 years as a member of the Executive.

Bestowing Life Membership of the NDSC upon Karen is a just reward and recognition for her service to the organisation.  Congratulations from our St Patrick’s community, Karen!

Catholic School Parents Victoria

CSPV invite the parents and carers of children in Catholic schools each year to contribute their voice to various topics in education. This enables them to create and share topical and relevant resources, present webinars, events and other projects based on the needs of Catholic school parents.

You are invited to complete the following survey to share what is most important to you now your children are back at school. Please click on the following link to access the survey. 

Our Josephite Heritage

The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the "Josephites" or "Brown Joeys", were founded in Penola, South Australia, in 1866 by Mary MacKillop and the Rev. Julian Tenison Woods. In 1949, three Josephite sisters arrived in Nhill to open St Patrick’s School. In 1978, the Sisters of St Joseph informed the Nhill Parish that they would no longer be able to maintain their role within the school.

We endeavour to honour our Josephite heritage through the regular presentation of the Little Joey awards at our assemblies. In support of this we also include a reflection from Mary MacKillop on our newsletter each week.

Not a great day of cricket for me last Sunday!  And then, when I picked up my copy of the Nhill Free Press newspaper on Wednesday, I saw the front page just gently reminding me of the result!  (Thanks, Emily!)

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal

Classroom News and Student Awards

Junior Class - Mrs Creek

One of the most famous authors is Eric Carle. His story titled The Very Hungry Caterpillar is our shared story focus for this week. It has been great to join in the chorus, ‘but he was still hungry’!

In the Library this week, we looked at information books about insects and discussed how they are different from story books.

Just a big thankyou from our class for our wonderful swimming instructors, Mrs Dickinson and Mrs Bell. Even though some have been a little hesitant, by the end of each session their skills are improving. On our bus drives to the pool, we have been searching for shapes within our environment.

Middle Class - Miss Williams

This week we have had some wonderful success in our swimming. It has been great to see some of the kids who lacked confidence in the pool last week, blossom and gain so much confidence in the pool. All 2’s and 3’s can now jump into the deep pool and get back to the edge safely. We encourage you to keep taking them to the pool or even try and enrol them in swimming lessons to keep this newly found confidence up!

We have also had some fun with the hockey clinic on Tuesday morning. It was great to see the skill of our students during our session.

This week we have been reading the book The Hidden Forest by Jeanie Baker. It is a wonderful story and we have been mesmerised by the wonderful artwork in the book. Ask your child where the hidden forest is located, it might surprise you. 

In writing we have been creating some narrative stories and have been working on including some wonderful vocabulary that creates an image in our minds. 

This week in maths we have shifted our focus to shape and have been creating shape monsters and identifying the shapes and features of the shapes that we have been using.

In Religion we have been discussing lent and how we can build relationships with others during lent through showing kindness to others. We have also begun to create our own kindness challenge to complete during the time of lent that begins next Wednesday.

Senior Class - Ms Murphy

It’s been a whirlwind of fun and hard work in the Senior class yet again over the past week. It really has been pleasing to see students encouraging and helping one another out, both in the classroom and during our fabulous swimming program. Whilst participating in Integrated Studies over the past two weeks, we have consolidated our understanding around communities and the way democracy works. We will delve deeper into learning about the law and how it is established in our country and why it is important even at a community level. With some extra time on our hands this week we extended our writing sessions. We call this a Boost and it is when we really think hard about our writing and what we can do to improve, it is a very challenging skill to learn,  tremendous effort to you all! Well done to everyone on your participation in the Swimming Carnival, a top show of colours. Now we look towards the lenten season!

Some of the work we produced can be viewed here!

An email from Jonas 

Dear Ms Murphy, 

Re: Hockey clinic by Jonas

On Tuesday we participated in a Hooked into Hockey clinic at school. Hockey is a fun game and I started playing when I was five after I did a clinic. I remember being very nervous in my first game, but I got through it and really love it. Hockey is a game suitable for different ages and is for everyone no matter what your ability is. 

Crazy clay critter

By Sophie

In the senior room we are making crazy clay critters. Most of us have designed them and the next step is to make them. The clay that we will be using is air dry clay because we don’t have a kiln at school. I am looking forward to making my air dry clay lolly jar clay critter.

Little Joey Awards

This week we continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Claire with a Little Joey award.

Our Little Joeys receive a certificate, sticker and a voucher/goods donated by a local business.  We are very grateful for the contributions from our local businesses. 

F-1 STOMP DANCE REPORTS

Dates & Reminders

School Advisory Council

Parent Representatives

Helen Cannell

Moo Khu James

Zanther McEldrew

Emily Gladdis

Nathan Wheeler

Appointed Representatives

Ann Munro - Parish

Ex Officio

Mons. Glynn Murphy - Parish Priest

Kingsley Dalgleish - Principal

Next Meeting

Wednesday, 4 May 2022, 7.30pm

Our Mission

Community News

Showgrounds Testing Clinic

The new West Wimmera Health Service clinic replaces the Nhill Trailer Exchange clinic, which ceased at the end of January.

Location - Nhill Showgrounds (A & P Society Young Farmers' Pavilion), 91-95 Victoria Street, Nhill

Hours of operation - Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm

Bookings are required - call (03)53632201 during business hours to book a test

Historic Engineering Expo at Nhill Aerodrome

Saturday, 19th March, 10am-4pm

Vinnies food van

Do you know Australia produces enough food for 75 MILLION PEOPLE*? So why can’t we feed everyone?

Our goal is to raise $150,000 TO FEED 6,000 HUNGRY VICTORIANS with our Vinnies Soup Vans. 

Will you help us FILL THE VAN?

WHAT WE DO

Vinnies Soup Vans provide nutritious meals, hampers and support to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Throughout the pandemic, our Soup Van volunteers have also been a consistent and friendly presence on the streets building social connections that people in our community so desperately need.

WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED

Last year, our Vinnies Soup Van services provided more than 561,390 meals to people in need. Your support can feed hungry Victorians by helping us fill the van.

Since the pandemic, we have seen demand for these services DOUBLE.

• $25 feeds one person
• $50 feeds two people
• $125 feeds an entire family
• $500 funds the van for a night

Thank you in advance, you are helping Vinnies Victoria stock our Soup Vans full of fresh fruit, vegetables and other essential groceries that we will put into the hands of adults and children who desperately need them this week.

Thank you,

The Vinnies Victoria Team 

P.S. Check out our new TikTok account @VinniesVictoria, see what amazing things our community is achieving.

* Australian Food and Grocery Council

Strengthening Parent Support Program

The Strengthening Parent Support Program encourages the families and carers of a child with a disability or developmental delay to build support networks with other families in their local area.  We provide parents with the opportunity to meet other local families in a supportive, relaxed setting where they can socialise, share information or take part in training programs to support them in their caring role.  The child is not required to have a formal diagnosis for parents and carers to attend.  We generally meet for an informal lunch (which is provided by our program) once a month but also run many other activities/events in the region which everyone can attend.