Newsletter 2024/23 ~ 2 August 2024
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.
St. Patrick's School is a child safe school.
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
Whilst I have been away all week with my State Team commitments at School Sport Australia Games on the Gold Coast, I have stayed in touch with the happenings at St Pat’s.
It was obviously a great celebration yesterday for the first 100 days of school for our Foundation students. They have all grown and learnt so much in their short time at school and they are definitely ‘100 Days Brighter’!
Well done to our Hockey team yesterday who did so well at the Hockey 7s competition in Dimboola. Thank you to Helen Cannell for coaching the team.
The Olympics are resulting in some tired eyes across the nation but our Olympians are doing us all so proud. I’m sure the messages that our senior students sent to the Olympic Village last term have been posted around the Aussies' rooms and are helping to inspire our athletes. They will also be boosted by the whole of Australia dressing in Green & Gold today. St Patrick’s students are doing their bit to help bring home more Gold!
We look forward to Nhill’s Lucy Stephan bringing home another medal too. Go Lucy!
CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS
It's not too late for Dental Consent Forms
There's still time. If you haven't already done so, please return Dental Consent Forms by the end of today. They will be forwarded to Australian Dental Health early next week.
The free Dental Van will be visiting school during Week 1 of Term 4.
100 Days of School
Yesterday the Junior Class celebrated 100 days brighter! They had a fun filled day which included creating crowns, making a one hundred necklace with 100 Cherios, and creating a beautiful 100 days of school rainbow, which will be displayed at school.
Hockey 7s
The Hockey 7s team returned with much excitement during yesterday's assembly. Here are a few photos taken on the day, but we will suspend your excitement for the report until next week's edition.
Green & Gold Day
Students showed their support for the Australian Olympics Team with a “Green & Gold” dress up day and the mini-Olympics events this afternoon.
We’ll include photos in next week’s newsletter.
Nhill College Year 7 Transition Program
Year 6 students who will be attending Nhill College next year have been given an enrolment forms package today. Please note that completed forms are to be returned to Nhill College by Wednesday, 7th August.
Information about future information sessions and the HeadStart transition program will be provided at a later date.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Iona Visit
The next visit to Iona for the Senior Class is scheduled for 10am on Wednesday, 14 August. Students will be walking to and from Iona. As the venue for this activity is within the Nhill town boundaries, consent is not required as it is covered by the Local Excursions Consent provided by parents/guardians earlier in the year. The activity can be viewed in PAM (SIMON Everywhere) Calendar.
WWSSA Athletics
Mrs Bell is busy preparing our athletics team for the WWSSA level of athletics competition on Wednesday, 21 August. Permission notes will be distributed by PAM next week.
Book Fair at Nhill Market
SAC will be running a stall at the September Nhill Market with books from our upcoming Book Fair. Please keep your eyes out for a request for volunteers in coming weeks. Shifts of 2 hours is all that will be requested.
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.
By the Numbers
104 is an even composite number composed of two prime numbers multiplied together:
2 x 2 x 2 x 13 = 104
A great win by the Power over the blues last Friday night, now to back it up with a win over the swans tomorrow night. C’arn Port! And c’arn the Aussies!
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
Classroom and Student News
Senior Class News
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi! As you can all appreciate, the Paris Olympics have arrived and we have been excited to investigate many different elements. After the lead in with Mr Dalgleish’s Olympic Torch Relay Presentation last week and the promise of the Opening Ceremony over the weekend, the students arrived at school on Monday chock-full of Olympic trivia and curiosity.
The theme for most of our work this week has been Olympics based. The students investigated many different elements regarding the Olympics, including the origins of them; what the ancient Olympics were like in comparison to today’s modern version; who were some of the more famous Olympians; what were some of the new additions to Olympic events and an in-depth study of the host nation, France. They collated all this information into an impressive looking dodecahedron (12 sided 3D shape) that now hangs proudly from the classroom ceiling.
Students have also been hard at work practising their command terms and multiplication strategies in various situations and against different criteria. They have also been demonstrating their teamwork and cooperative skills as the Senior Class requested to run a mini-Olympics event for the whole school Friday afternoon. This will be held after lunch - from 2pm onwards if you would like to come and cheer for your child. It is also the Green and Gold Day on Friday to celebrate the Olympics.
Additionally, twelve of the Senior Class were selected to be participants at the Hockey 7s with Mrs Bell and Mrs Cannell yesterday. These students were Sophie, Jonas, Olive, AJ, Douglas, Declan, Riley, Jody and Daniel B, Caleb, Ben and K’Lu Doh Soe.
School Wide Positive Behaviour Support SWPBS
Throughout the day, staff monitor for students demonstrating aspects of Respect, Responsibility
and Safety within our school. Students are issued a ticket to place in their classroom container. During assemblies, a draw takes place and those who have their ticket drawn out are invited to place a marble in their House container. The House with the most marbles at the end of each term will be rewarded.
Congratulations to all children who were recognised for their positive actions around the school. This week Jayden, Nile and Declan were randomly drawn from the nominations for Respect, Responsibility and Safety, and have added tokens to their respective Houses' tallies.
Little Joey Awards
We continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Xavier 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.
Reading Achievements
The following students were recognised for their reading achievements:
75 nights - Meena, Samual, Oscar, William, Fabian, Srishti
100 nights - Katherine, Charlotte M, George
125 nights - Valentino
150 nights - Valentino
175 nights - Tegan, Declan
School Advisory Council
Parent Representatives
- Rebecca Curtis
- Emily Gladdis
- Moo Khu James
- Michaela Koop
- Zanther McEldrew
- Ashleigh Meyer
Ex Officio
- Mons. Glynn Murphy - Parish Priest
- Kingsley Dalgleish - Principal
Meeting Dates
- July meeting rescheduled to Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 5.30pm
- Tuesday, 15 October 2024, 7:30pm
Dates and Reminders
Term Dates 2024
Term 3 15 Jul to 20 Sep
Term 4 7 Oct to 20 Dec
See dates on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
August
Fri 2 - Green & Gold dress up day and Mini-Olympics after lunch
Tue 13 - SAC Meeting 5.30pm
Wed 14 - 10am Senior Class Iona Visit (tbc)
Wed 21 - WWSSA Athletics Warracknabeal
September
Thu 12 - Little Desert Athletics Stawell
Fri 20 - Last Day Term 3 - dismissal time 2:15pm
St Patrick's Nhill
Church Times
11:00am Mass each Sunday
Our Mission
Child Safe Standards
All students enrolled at St Patrick’s School have the right to feel safe and be safe. The safety and wellbeing of children in the school’s care will always be our first priority and the school will not tolerate child abuse. The school will create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety. Particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with a disability, children who are unable to live at home, international students, and LGBTQIA+ students. The full policy can be accessed via our school’s website: https://spnhill.catholic.edu.au/policies-procedures
The school’s Child Safety Officer is the Principal, Mr Kingsley Dalgleish.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and well-being and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further strengthen our child safety policies, procedures, and practices. If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact the Principal either by phone or email principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au
SchoolTV
30 July is the International Day of Friendship
The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.
“The ability to obtain, maintain and retain friendships is, according to all the childhood psychologists in the whole wide world, the greatest predictor of wellbeing. Having a rich repertoire of friends is a true indicator of whether your child is travelling ok.” Dr Michael Carr-Gregg
Loyal friendships are built upon teaching your child to be a good friend and the traits necessary to maintain friendships.
Reminders
Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere app
The Parent Access Module PAM (SIMON Everywhere app) is our "go-to" for all parent information. Download the SIMON Everywhere app from the app store on your mobile phone and login using your PAM credentials.
Simon Everywhere delivers instant notifications to parents' mobile phones, delivering the functionality of PAM in an easy to navigate app. We will use Simon Everywhere for all important notifications.
You will be able to manage all your day-to-day school needs from Simon Everywhere, including:
- notify us of absences;
- view the school calendar;
- provide permission for student activities;
- update medical/contact information;
- view the lunch orders menu;
- read the newsletter.
Please contact the office with any questions.
Student late arrival, early departure, temporary absence procedures
All student late arrivals, early departures or temporary absences must be recorded in the Passtab iPad located in the foyer. Please ask office staff for assistance.
Lunch Orders
Lunch orders should be written onto an envelope with correct money sealed inside. Please don’t use plastic bags or waxed bags. The writing wipes off these and the staff at the bakery find it hard to read.
You can find the lunch orders menu in SIMON Everywhere: - >Home, scroll down to >School Links
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 -
- use the Bus Change Notification Form on their website (link below) - this is a quick and easy process on your mobile phone (hint: add this as a quick link on your phone's home screen)
- we have put this link onto PAM (Simon Everywhere) >Home, scroll down to >Parent Links
- calling our school office 53911575
- sending an email to principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au or krintoule@spnhill.catholic.edu.au
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.
What you need to know about COVID-19 in Victoria
Please visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website (link below) for all up-to-date information about the response to COVID-19.
- All staff, students and visitors to schools should undertake regular hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet.
- Hand sanitiser will continue to be available for staff, students and visitors.
- The most important action school communities can take to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is to ensure that any unwell staff, parents/carers and students do not attend school sites, even with the mildest of symptoms, and get tested.
*Six simple steps to protect yourself and those most at risk
- Wear a face mask
- Take a test
- Stay at home
- Meet outdoors
- Talk to your GP about COVID medications
- Get vaccinated
*coronavirus.vic.gov.au