Newsletter 2024/31 ~ 11 October 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

Welcome to Term 4!  I trust that everyone enjoyed the holiday break and that students and staff have returned energised for the final term.  The Year 6 students are now in their final term of their primary schooling years and will commence their secondary school transition experiences over the next few weeks.  In coming weeks we will also welcome our Kinder children who will undertake their own introduction to primary school.

There is much excitement amongst the children as they look forward to the Nhill Show next Thursday and the excursion to Horsham on Friday.  Then on Sunday 20 October we will be celebrating 75 Years of St Patrick’s School.

We may be leading up to the end of the school year but there is much to still occur before we close the book on 2024.

Loving God,

At the beginning of this new school term, 

we ask you to bless us, 

the students, staff and families of St Patrick’s School, 

that we may continue to grow in faith, 

hope and love 

as we learn from you 

and each other how to follow your Son, Jesus.

Amen.

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Building Update

Our architect was on-site to meet with us again on Tuesday as we finalise plans in readiness to go to tender on our building project.  Expressions of interest to tender will close at the end of the month.  Exciting times ahead!!

Aths in Ballarat

Daniel B and AJ are today competing in the Greater Western Region Athletics in Ballarat.  This follows their success at the Little Desert and West Wimmera Championships last term.

School Advisory Council News

The SAC met on Tuesday afternoon, the final meeting for the year before the annual meeting.

A Tea Towel Fundraiser will be promoted to round out the year. Students will be invited to help create a gorgeous customised tea towel for a keepsake or Christmas gift. An order form will be sent home with your children.

The Annual Meeting has been set for Monday, 2 December at 6:30pm. Four of our members will have finished their two-year terms and their positions will become vacant. They are entitled to nominate for a further two-year term, as is anyone from our family community. Information about what the SAC does will be included in newsletters in October and we will be requesting nominations at the beginning of November. 

Our SAC can have up to six (6) parent representatives.  This year we had six parent representatives.  We encourage you to consider if you would like to be a part of the SAC, or perhaps nominate someone else.  Our SAC meets once or twice a term.  Meetings generally last no longer than 90 minutes.

If you have any questions about the role of SAC members, please contact the school office or a current Council member (listed elsewhere in the newsletter).

School Uniform

A new polo has been introduced to the uniform list. The old polo can still be worn but is not available for purchase. 

Visit our website for complete information about our school uniform. Please note that our uniform guidelines specify BLACK shoes only. When you are next purchasing your child’s school shoes, please ensure that they are black, with no colourful stripes/markings/branding.

Thunderstorm Asthma

Concussion - important information

If your child has experienced concussion, it is important that you follow recommended medical advice. Returning to school can be a gradual approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sport. It is always important to check with your doctor and seek medical treatment after a child sustains a concussion.

It is important to inform the school if your child has sustained a concussion outside of the school setting so we can monitor for ongoing symptoms and adapt activities if required.

This factsheet link below from the Royal Children’s Hospital is valuable to read and understand.

There is also a great evidence-based app from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute that walks you through what to do in the event of a concussion.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Transition Programs - Year 6 to Year 7 and Kinder to Foundation

Nhill College

Year 6 students who have enrolled at Nhill College for 2025 will be participating in secondary school introductory lessons on the next two Wednesday mornings, 16 and 23 October. 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.

Nhill College Headstart Week is 9-13 December.

St Brigid’s College, Horsham

Year 6 students who have enrolled at St Brigid’s College, Horsham will be participating in secondary school introductory lessons (with Year 5 students) on Monday, 28 October, and an orientation day on Thursday, 12 December.

Kinder to Foundation

Kinder students who have enrolled at St Patrick’s School for Foundation in 2025 will attend four orientation sessions in November:

• Friday, 1st -8:55-11:00am
• Friday, 8th - 8:55am-1:00pm
• Friday, 15th - full day 8:55am-3:15pm
• Friday, 22nd - full day 8:55am-3:15pm.

Nhill Show - Local Public Holiday

All students have been finalising their items for submission into next Thursday’s Nhill Show. There has been plenty of art and craft in the classrooms this week and entries are being delivered to the Show committee on Tuesday. A reminder that next Thursday is a School Closure Day.

Students may participate in the Grand Parade on the day.  Meet Emily Gladdis at 3.45pm near the Secretary’s Office. Please note that school staff will not be accompanying the students and so parents will need to be present if your child is participating.

Horsham Town Hall - SPARK Performance – You are a Doughnut

All students will be travelling to Horsham next Friday to attend a performance at Horsham Town Hall.  Students will attend a performance of “You are a Doughnut.”  The performance is described as an utterly brilliant all-singing, all-dancing (and all-clowning!) exploration of every twisting tube and remarkable organ in our digestive tract— with sketches, songs, and sensational science.  The buses will depart school at 9am and return by 3pm.

Please consent to this activity by next Tuesday.

75 Year Anniversary

Sunday’s Gospel

Mark 2:16

In Sunday’s Gospel, we heard how Jesus was criticised by religious leaders for eating with sinners and tax collectors. They couldn’t understand why Jesus would spend time with people who were considered bad or unpopular. But Jesus explains that He came to help those who need it the most, saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”

This teaches us something very important: Jesus loves everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. He doesn’t turn away from people who make mistakes. Instead, He offers them love, forgiveness, and a chance to change.

What can we take from this? For us, this means we should follow Jesus’ example by being kind and welcoming to everyone, even if they’re different or have made mistakes. We all need help and forgiveness sometimes. Jesus reminds us that no one is too far from God’s love, and we should always show kindness and compassion to others.

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

The Emergency Services contact from a mobile phone. (And also Port’s winning margin over Sydney in Round 21 this year).

Classroom and Student News

Junior Class News

Welcome back to our final term for 2024!

We hope everyone had a fantastic break! It’s been wonderful hearing all about the exciting adventures our students and families experienced during the holidays. It’s great to see everyone back, energised, and ready for an exciting term ahead!

This week, our F/1 students were introduced to the concept of mass, exploring the differences between heavy and light objects. They’ve been comparing objects through indirect comparison (hefting) and using scales for direct measurements—what a fun way to learn!

In Literacy, the Green Group has been focusing on the digraphs ‘wh’, ‘th’, and ‘oo’ along with tricky words ‘what’ and ‘where’. Meanwhile, the Blue Group has been learning when the letter ‘c’ makes the /s/ sound and when the letter ‘g’ makes the /j/ sound. Across all groups, students are working on sentence writing, word recognition, and reading skills, and they’ve begun diving into non-fiction texts. They’re starting to understand how non-fiction books inform readers and are structured differently from fiction.

This term, our Junior students are focusing on the concept of ‘Family’ in Religious Education. Defining what makes a family isn’t always straightforward, as everyone’s experience and understanding of family can vary greatly. In Australia, how we define family and decide who belongs to our kinship circles is influenced by culture, personal life experiences, and circumstances. People may have multiple definitions of family, grouping them into different categories, such as ‘birth family,’ ‘in-laws,’ or ‘chosen family.’ When describing family, individuals often include children, siblings, parents, partners, and even pets! Families may be seen as immediate or extended, depending on how they are experienced. Our F/1 students will be exploring how people find meaning in their lives and how different cultures express their encounters with the sacred in unique ways.

As the weather warms up, please make sure your child’s jumpers and jackets are clearly labelled, as they’re likely to come on and off throughout the day.

Wishing you a fantastic weekend full of sunshine!

Cheers,

Mel Kupper.

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 April, Jody and Katherine 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 Tyler 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:

25 nights - Marnie, Noah

50 nights - Max

75 nights - Jonas

100 nights - Freddie

125 nights - Harlow, Tessa

150 nights - George, Charlotte K

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

Dates

• Annual Meeting - Monday, 2 December 2024, 6:30pm

Dates and Reminders

School Calendar

October

Wed 16 - Year 6 visit to Nhill College

Thu 17 - Nhill Show Day (local public holiday)

Fri 18 - Excursion to Horsham Town Hall (F-6)

Sun 20 - 75 Year Anniversary, starting with Mass at 11am

Wed 23 - Year 6 visit to Nhill College

Mon 28 - Years 5 & 6 visit to St Brigid’s College

November

Fri 8 - F-2 Sports Afternoon

December

Mon 2 - SAC Annual Meeting 6:30pm

M-F 9-13 - Nhill College Year 7 2025 Headstart program

Wed 18 Dec - Last day for students (dismissal time 3:15pm)

St Patrick's Nhill

Church Times

11:00am Mass each Sunday

Our Mission

Child Safe Standards

The Child Safe Standards began in Victoria in 2016.  The 11 Child Safe Standards are designed to help keep children safe from abuse and harm.  Organisations working with children must comply with these Standards.

The Commission for Children and Young People have produced a plain language guide for the Standards which will be shared through our newsletter.

SchoolTV

World Mental Health Day

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day. This year's theme is  “Mental Health at Work"

This World Mental Health Day, WHO is uniting with partners to highlight the vital connection between mental health and work. Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Unhealthy conditions including stigma, discrimination, and exposure to risks like harassment and other poor working conditions, can pose significant risks, affecting mental health, overall quality of life and consequently participation or productivity at work. With 60% of the global population in work, urgent action is needed to ensure work prevents risks to mental health and protects and supports mental health at work.

Children and Young People's Mental Health in the Digital Age

Almost half of the world is connected to the internet. For children and young people today, being online and using social media have become an integral part of their lives. In 2015, a typical 15-year-old had been using the internet since age 10 and spent more than two hours every weekday online after school, and more than three hours on a weekend day. This reliance on digital technology has fuelled concerns from parents, teachers, governments and young people themselves.

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

1. Wear a face mask
2. Take a test
3. Stay at home
4. Meet outdoors
5. Talk to your GP about COVID medications
6. Get vaccinated

*coronavirus.vic.gov.au

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