Newsletter 2024/33 ~ 1 November 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

Today is The Solemnity of All Saints. In the Catholic Tradition this is a very important day on the Liturgical Calendar. It is a day when Catholic Christians remember the whole Communion of Saints. What does this mean? Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI explains:

I believe in the communion of saints! This is a dogma of our creed upon which we too seldom reflect. What does it mean to believe in a communion of saints? Simply stated, it means that, as Christians, we believe that we are still in communion with those who have died. Among other things, this says that we can relate to them, speak to them and be spoken to by them. The bond of love and of family still exists between those who have died and ourselves. We can still be present to each other and influence each others’ lives.

Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI 

https://ronrolheiser.com/the-communion-of-saints-an-untapped-doctrine/

Invitation to Prayer…..

God of Communion

Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on.
Cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never be more than a thought apart,
For as long as there is memory, they’ll live on in the heart.

May we always pray for them.

May they always pray for us. 

Amen.

Adapted from The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference

https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2020/10/27/in-november-we-remember-2/

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Kinder Visit

By all accounts this morning’s visit was enjoyed by our 2025 Foundation students, as evidenced by these photos. Mrs Kupper has written a little bit about what their morning involved. We are looking forward to next week’s visit.

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75 Years Celebrations

Last week we celebrated 75 Years of St Patrick’s School.  There was a wonderful turnout of current and past students, staff and families present.  In excess of 100 people attended Mass and then the celebrations in the school hall before wandering through the school to look at the displays.  Afternoon tea and a sausage sizzle were provided at no cost, however a donations box collected money to support Catholic Mission month.

Monsignor Glynn Murphy represented both the Parish and DOBCEL as he acknowledged the school’s milestone. Mons Glynn spoke of the significance of the Josephites in establishing a Catholic school in Nhill and their nurturing manner which ensured the school has been able to continue to deliver Catholic education to the local community for the past seven and a half decades.

Ewen Cameron of Nhill, and his sister Margaret Rowe, Stawell, who were part of the original group of 32 students who enrolled for the school's first day of opening in February 1949, were present for the celebrations.  Three generations of the Cameron family have attended our school and were also in attendance last weekend. 

Ann Munro, Helen Cannell and son Ben cut a celebratory cake which had been decorated by April Bedford.

Ann started at St Patrick’s as a student in 1957 and returned as a staff member in the 1990s and continued to work here for more than 30 years.  Ann’s daughter Helen also attended St Pat’s as a student and continues her connection to the school as a parent to Ben who is in Year 5.  Helen has also been a long-time servant on the School Advisory Council.

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World Teachers’ Day

Last Friday marked World Teachers’ Day.

We say thank you to our teachers who continue to make a difference today - and every day - to children and young people's lives.

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St Brigid’s College visit

Our Year 5s, together with the Year 6 students who will be attending St Brigid’s College in 2025, attended an immersive Experience Day at the school on Monday! Students from St Patrick’s, Ss Michael & John’s (Horsham) and Our Lady Help of Christians (Murtoa) rotated through three engaging sessions in the Science, Textiles, and Food Technology areas, giving them an exciting glimpse into secondary school life and some hands-on experience with the facilities. Thank you to Ms Farnham for accompanying the students.

Fr Sajan visit

Assistant Parish Priest, Fr Sajan Mathew, visited our school yesterday afternoon and was able to address those gathered for our assembly.  It was a nice opportunity to finally welcome Fr Sajan to St Patrick’s School and we look forward to him visiting regularly in the future.

Aurora Project

Ten remote Catholic primary schools across the Diocese of Ballarat will benefit from additional support to implement a structured literacy approach in 2025 thanks to a $100k grant from the Bertalli Family Foundation.

The ‘Aurora Project’ will deliver 12 months of professional development and coaching led by Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education (DOBCEL), in partnership with La Trobe University, for more than 60 teachers across the ten schools, directly enhancing literacy instruction for 400-500 students.

St Patrick's School is very pleased to have been invited to be one of the ten schools who will be beneficiaries of the Aurora Project, as we prepare to embark on a new structured literacy program.  This extra coaching for our teaching staff will certainly benefit the learning of all of our students.

On Tuesday, Ms Farnham and myself were given the opportunity to present to members of DOBCEL, LaTrobe University and Mr Neville Bertalli of the Bertalli Family Foundation, and express our excitement about being involved in the Aurora Project.

Lost property

A large amount of unnamed property (including clothing, lunch boxes and water bottles) continues to be added to our lost property bin, despite repeated reminders for all items to be clearly labelled. Please call at the office to see if any of these items belong to your child. At the end of the year any unnamed items will be added to our second-hand stock and given away to others, or put in the rubbish bin.

SAC Fundraising - Tea Towels orders are due

Please get your tea towel orders and payment to school as soon as possible.

If you are making payment by EFT please assist office staff by emailing a copy of the transaction to admin@spnhill.catholic.edu.au.

If you have any questions please contact our SAC Fundraising Working Group coordinator Emily Gladdis.

Building Project Update

Our Building Project continues to progress and this week adverts were placed calling for Expressions of Interest from Building Companies for our upcoming extensions and internal refurbishments.  Works are anticipated to commence at the end of Term One 2025.

Thunderstorm Asthma

Grass pollen season brings an increase in asthma and hay fever. It also brings the chance of thunderstorm asthma.

Thunderstorm asthma is thought to be triggered by a unique combination of high amounts of grass pollen in the air and a certain type of thunderstorm. For people who have asthma or hay fever this can trigger severe asthma symptoms.

If you have current, past or undiagnosed asthma or seasonal hay fever you are at risk of thunderstorm asthma. Even if you don't think you have asthma or hay fever, don't ignore symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath.

Thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

Know the risks. Get prepared. Stay safe.

Learn more at https://www.bhs.org.au/services-and-clinics/grampians-public-health-unit/thunderstorm-asthma/

School Saving Bonus

In late August the Victorian Premier announced the School Saving Bonus fund and we published details in our newsletter around that time.

We are repeating this information for our families. 

In summary,

• Non-government school students who are receiving the means-tested Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) are eligible for the School Saving Bonus.
• Eligible parents/guardians/carers do not need to apply, the bonus will be paid directly to the school from late November 2024.
• The SSB is in addition to CSEF.

Funds received by the school will be allocated to corresponding accounts as a fee credit.

WWHS Wimmera Healthy Schools Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS

Lions International Peace Poster 2024-25 Competition

Local judging of the Peace Poster competition has now been completed and our school’s winning entry was by Douglas, whose poster will go to the next round of judging. All entries will be on display for public viewing at the Nhill Gallery from next Tuesday.

F-2 Fun Sports, Friday 8 November

Students in Years Foundation, 1 and 2 from the three Nhill Primary Schools will combine for a fun sports afternoon at Nhill College (Primary Oval). Parents are welcome to attend and support our students. We will depart from school at 1:15pm. Students will eat their lunch before departure. Returning to school by 3:00pm - students may be dismissed from the activity if a parent is present.

Please login to your PAM account for more information and provide consent.

Transition Program Dates

Year 6 2024 to Year 7 2025

• St Brigid’s College Orientation Day Tuesday 3 December
• Nhill College Headstart Week Monday 9 to Friday 13 December

Kinder 2024 to Foundation 2025

• Friday 1 November 8:55am to 11:00am
• Friday 8 November 8:55am to 1:00pm
• Friday 15 November 8:55am to 3:15pm
• Friday 22 November 8:55am to 3:15pm

School Advisory Council Annual Meeting

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. 

Our SAC can have up to six (6) parent representatives. This year we had six parent representatives. Our SAC meets once or twice a term. Meetings generally last no longer than 90 minutes.

We encourage you to consider if you would like to be a part of the SAC, or perhaps nominate someone else. 

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).

Visit our website >School Community (link below) for information about joining SAC and a nomination form, or obtain an information pack from the school office.

Doxa Youth Foundation Holiday Camps

Doxa Youth Foundation will be running holiday camps for children from 10 to 12 years old during the 2025 summer school holidays.

Doxa will be providing these camps FREE of charge for children from less affluent families. We are all about children having fun, learning, and creating special memories. 

City Camp, January 13th – 17th 2025, (5 days and 4 overnight) 

Located in the heart of the CBD, our city camp will offer participants the opportunity to discover all the things that our vibrant city has to offer.  From seeing Melbourne’s iconic attractions such as the Eureka Skydeck and Melbourne Zoo, to attending major Australian sporting events such as The Australian Open or even swimming at Melbourne’s famous beaches, the experience they will have will be like no other. 

Malmsbury Camp, January 20th – 24th 2025, (5 days and 4 overnight) 

Our Malmsbury Camp is located in an idyllic bush setting in Central Victoria where campers will have exciting outdoor adventures. Onsite there are all sorts of facilities including a giant swing, climbing wall, archery and spaces including the Loddon River with lots of local native wildlife. During this program participants will also visit the local swimming pool and canoe in local areas. 

For further information or to book email info@doxa.org.au, phone our team on (03) 9046 8200 or follow the below links.

Sunday’s Gospel

Mark 10:46-52

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus heals Bartimaeus, a blind man who calls out to Him as He passes by. Despite being rebuked by the crowd, Bartimaeus persistently cries out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stops and calls Bartimaeus over, asking him what he wants. Bartimaeus responds, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus tells him his faith has healed him, and immediately, Bartimaeus gains his sight and follows Jesus on the road.

This passage highlights faith, persistence, and the compassionate response of Jesus to those who genuinely seek Him. Bartimaeus’ faith was not only in his words but in his actions, refusing to be silenced. Jesus' willingness to stop shows His attentiveness to individuals, regardless of their status. For us, Bartimaeus’ story encourages a faith that seeks Jesus sincerely and persistently, and it reminds us that Jesus hears and values every cry for mercy.

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

114 - The Quran is divided into 114 surahs (chapters), and 6,236 ayahs (verses).

Classroom and Student News

Middle Class News - from Week 3

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the end of Week 3 of our final term already. The Middles have had an action packed start to the term. We’ve jumped straight back into spelling and reading and have been working on monitoring - checking that we understand what we’re reading. In Maths we’ve been learning all about fractions and shapes. 

Our theme in Religion this term is family. We had lots of fun creating family portraits and sharing stories with each other about who makes up our families. 

Last week was short but busy as we worked hard to finish off artwork for the Nhill Show, and it was wonderful to see everyone’s hard work on display at the show.

The Nhill Show was everyone’s favourite part of the week, but coming in a close second was our excursion to Horsham to see ‘You are a Doughnut’ - a science themed play all about the digestive system. We learnt all about the journey food takes to travel through the human body, and also got to laugh at lots of silly jokes.

Have a great weekend everyone and see you all next week!

Junior Class News - Week 4

We’ve had a productive and engaging week in our Junior classrooms! Here’s what we have been working on:

Literacy Learning

In Literacy, the Green Group has been revisiting all their learned sounds, including digraphs, and have started reading and spelling CVCC words (consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant words like milk and fast). The Blue Group have continued to work with tricky words, learning the prefix "un-" and understanding its meaning. They’ve also practiced breaking down longer words into syllables and improving their reading fluency—great skills for budding readers!

Maths Exploration

Our Foundation students have focused on counting skills, with a particular emphasis on using ten frames to understand concepts of "more" and "less." Meanwhile, our Year 1s have dived into fractions! They’ve explored the roles of the numerator and denominator and started working on representing fractions on a number line—a great challenge that they’re handling well.

Religious Education

In Religious Education, the Junior class explored stories of families in the Bible. This week, they listened to a story about Mary, Jesus' mother, during her pregnancy. Students discussed what families might experience when expecting a new baby, such as feelings of excitement, plans for the future, and preparations for a new life.

Kinder Visitors!

We also had a special visit from our Kinder friends today! They joined us for a morning of stories and activities, giving our junior students a chance to connect and play together. We’re looking forward to having them visit again next Friday!

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend with your loved ones.

Warm regards, 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. Students who were randomly drawn from the nominations for Respect, Responsibility and Safety, and have added tokens to their respective Houses' tallies, were (last week) Ben, Tyler and Jesinta and this week, Daniel B, Kyan and Jody.

Little Joey Awards

We continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Georgia and K'Lu Doh Soe (last week) and Valentino, Nile and Riley  with Little Joey awards.

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 - Isabella

125 nights - Matthew, Julian, Brodyn, Nile, Fabian, William

150 nights - Katherine, Charlotte M

250 nights - Valentino

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

Nominations for SAC are due by 4:00pm on Monday, 18 November.

Dates and Reminders

School Calendar

November

Fri 1 - 8:55-11:00am Kinder to Foundation Transition Visit

Fri 8 - 8:55am-1:00pm Kinder to Foundation Transition Visit

Fri 8 - 1:30pm F-2 Sports Afternoon

Fri 15 - 8:55am-3:15pm Kinder to Foundation Transition Visit

Mon 18 - 4:00pm Nominations for SAC due

Fri 22 - 8:55am-3:15pm Kinder to Foundation Transition Visit

December

Mon 2 - SAC Annual Meeting 6:30pm

Tue 3 - St Brigid's College Year 7 2025 Orientation Day

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

SPECIAL REPORT: Navigating AI Relationships

In today's world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, including relationships.

Research highlights potential risks associated with AI companions, including the normalisation of inappropriate conversations and the possibility of grooming.

As AI technology continues to shape social dynamics, it's important for us all to stay informed and involved.

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

Community News