Newsletter 2025/10 ~ 1 May 2025
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
Prayer for Pope Francis
God of All Creation,
We thank you for the life of Pope Francis, for his love and care for all people, especially the poor, the sick, refugees, and those in need.
He showed us how to be kind, gentle, and loving.
We pray that he is now with You, resting in Your peace.
Please help us remember his example and act in a way like he showed us to do.
We ask this through Jesus
Amen.
RECENT & CURRENT EVENTS
Athletics
Last Thursday, our Year 3-6 students participated in the Nhill College Athletics Sports. Given that it was a student-free day for our students, it was very pleasing that 80% of our students were present on the day. I am aware that some were still away with families and some were unwell on the day. Thank you to Nhill College for inviting us to be part of the day.
Competing as the ‘fourth House’ at the sports, our students won the overall points score:
- St Patrick’s 649
- Bond 265
- Batson 255
- MacPherson 219
St Patrick’s Students came away with many ribbons from the day as well as several being named Age Champions.
- 5 Age Champions:
- 9yr male Jack
- 9yr female Hannah G
- 10yr female Tessa
- 12yr male Daniel B
- 12yr female Marnie
- 9 New Records:
- Daniel B: 200m, 100m, Long Jump, Triple Jump
- Jack: 75m, Triple Jump
- Marnie: Discus
- Nile: 100m
- Hannah G: Discus
ANZAC Day
Last Friday we gathered with our local community to remember the brave and courageous sacrifice of our fallen heroes who fought for our freedom and peace.
School Captains, Marnie and Daniel B, laid a wreath on behalf of our school community.
We give thanks to those who served and those who continue to serve. We reflect on their values of mateship, loyalty, selflessness, and service. Let us endeavour to display these same values in our own lives on a daily basis.
Lest we forget.
Building Update
I am pleased to be able to finally announce that tenders for the building project have been submitted and evaluated, and a builder has been appointed.
4Front Construction of Buninyong has been appointed for the project.
During the holidays and on Tuesday last week, staff moved most of the furniture and resources out of the library and the second and third classrooms. Thank you to Courtney Taylor for attending the working bee in the holidays. The senior class and library are now situated in the hall. The Middles’ will move into the hall in the near future as well.
4Front Construction will arrive on-site next Tuesday to start setting up temporary accommodation for office area and toilets.
We will continue to provide rolling updates as progress occurs.
The project is expected to take approximately nine months to complete.
Thursday Assembly change of venue
Until further notice our Thursday assemblies will be held at 2.45pm in the church.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Circus Challenge
On Tuesday we will have a visit from Circus Challenge. This is a fun, engaging, and hands-on experience for the students. It is not a traditional circus with clowns and animals, instead it focuses on performing arts and team building. Students will be interactive in the performance.
Following the presentation, the Middles and Seniors will engage in a Workshop where they will learn a range of skills.
Next SAC Meeting
- 5:30pm on Tuesday, 6 May.
No buses next Wednesday
Please note that there will be no buses running on Wednesday, 7 May due to a student-free day at Nhill College. Parents will need to make alternative arrangements to get your child/ren to and from school on that day.
Freestyle Dance Ministry
We have enjoyed several visits from Freestyle Dance Ministry over the past few years. The students have eagerly joined in with learning dance moves from Justin Seidel and his travelling workshops. Justin will again visit us next Thursday and will teach the students a complete dance routine during their one hour session with him.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is on Sunday week.
Next Thursday afternoon, mothers are invited to visit their children in the classroom after lunch (from 2pm) and then join us in the church for assembly.
Student-free day
Wednesday 14 May will be a Student-Free Day as all staff will be attending a DOBCEL presentation in Horsham. DOBCEL have launched their Strategy 2035 which will guide Catholic Education within our Diocese for the next ten years and this is being presented to staff in all Catholic schools.
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.
Sunday’s Gospel Reflection
John 20: 19-31
After Jesus rose from the dead, His friends were hiding in a room. They were scared and didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you!” He showed them His hands and side so they would know it was really Him. The friends were full of joy—Jesus was alive!
But one friend, Thomas, wasn’t there. When the others told him about seeing Jesus, Thomas said, “I won’t believe it unless I see Him myself.” A week later, Jesus came again. This time, Thomas was there. Jesus said, “Look at my hands. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas believed and said, “My Lord and my God!”
The Gospel reminds us that although it is sometimes hard to believe what we can’t see, Jesus understands. He helped Thomas believe with love and kindness.
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and still believe.” That means us! We haven’t seen Jesus with our eyes, but we can still believe in Him with our hearts.
Let’s remember: Jesus is alive, He brings us peace, and He is always with us—even when we can’t see Him.
By the Numbers
129 - The first Olympics, in the modern era, were held in Greece 129 years ago.
Three wins on the trot - against Hawthorn, Sydney and North Melbourne. Tomorrow Port will play the dogs at Mars Stadium in Ballarat to make it four straight wins. C’arn Port, muzzle the doggies!
Meanwhile Nhill Tigers take on the Horsham Demons. Hopefully the undefeated start to the season continues.
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
Classroom and Student News
Senior Class News
Welcome back to an action packed Term Two! Although students officially returned this week, St Patrick’s has been well represented in the community in the last week of the holidays. On Thursday, the Year 3-6 students participated in the Athletics Day at Nhill College, and we were also well represented on ANZAC Day with the School Captains, Daniel Band Marnie laying the wreath at the town service and many other students in attendance.
The Senior class spent Monday helping to move materials and resources from the classrooms into the Hall and the Parish House in anticipation of the upcoming build. Students helped to set up the new-look classroom in the Hall as well as establishing the Library, also in the Hall.
This week has been an exciting start to the term and the new routine of the Thursday Assemblies being held in the Church now. The next few weeks are bound to be exciting and unpredictable with the upcoming building works and changes in the weather.
This is also a timely reminder that cooler weather is approaching and jumpers and jackets will soon be making an appearance if not already being used. Can you please make sure that all pieces of clothing are labelled for the winter months, as it is very difficult to give them back to the students if there are no names. This includes beanies, water bottles and any coats.
So, a warmest welcome back to all students and families and strap in for an exciting ride this term!
Regards,
Ms Farnham
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 Zion, Brodyn and Gu Thay Paw.
Little Joey Awards
We continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Rahitya and Caleb 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:
25 nights - Jesse
50 nights - Xavier M, Shalom, Valentino
75 nights - Tegan
School Advisory Council
Parent Representatives
- Clint Beattie
- Rebecca Curtis
- Emily Gladdis
- Bonnie McEldrew
- Zanther McEldrew
- Ashleigh Meyer
- Courtney Taylor
Ex Officio
- Mons. Glynn Murphy - Parish Priest
- Kingsley Dalgleish - Principal
Dates
- Meeting - Tuesday 6 May 2025, 5:30pm
Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
2025
Term 2 22 April (Staff), 28 April (Students) to 4 July
Term 3 21 July to 19 September
Term 4 6 October to 19 December
See dates on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
May
Tue 6 - Incursion: Circus Challenge
Tue 6 - SAC Meeting 5:30pm
Thu 8 - Incursion: Freestyle Dance Ministry
Thu 8 - 2pm Mother's Day activities
Thu 9 - 2:45pm Assembly in the church
Wed 14 - Student Free Day for staff professional development
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.
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
School TV
Our school has partnered with SchoolTV – a trusted resource that prioritises student mental health and wellbeing. Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, SchoolTV is now accessible through our school to help you navigate some of the more complex issues young people face. It provides practical strategies and trusted guidance to support your child.
Parenting is a learning journey, and with a little help from SchoolTV, you can engage in meaningful conversations with your child on topics that may sometimes feel awkward or difficult to address.
SchoolTV covers a vast range of topics, each featuring interviews with leading global experts and a carefully curated selection of resources from key organisations.
We encourage you to explore and utilise this platform, as it serves as a valuable tool in building relationships, fostering connections, and deepening understanding. By breaking down barriers, it helps pave the way towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people.
To stay informed about the latest topics, we also recommend signing up for ‘Get Alerts’. This feature ensures you receive updates as new content becomes available, and you can easily register through the link provided within each topic.
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in shaping a young person’s life, and SchoolTV is here to support you in nurturing confident and informed parenting. Explore SchoolTV today!
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in these editions of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact your child's teacher or the principal for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Reminders
School Office Hours
- M 8:45am - 4:15pm
- T 8:45am - 4:30pm
- W 8:45am - 4:30pm
- T 8:45am - 4:30pm
- F 8:45am - 1:00pm
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
Concussion Protocol
Concussion is a serious situation and children, like adults, need time to rest and recover after receiving a concussion. Schools have obligations for understanding if activities need to be adapted for students recovering from concussion sustained outside of school.
Given the requirement to rest, recover and adapt activities it is important schools are made aware when a student receives a concussion outside of the school setting.
Concussion – Important information to be aware of
If your child has experienced concussion outside of the school setting it is important that they rest for a period of 24 to 48 hours and then gradually return to activities after this time. Returning to school can be a graduated approach with the aim of increasing tolerance to a full day, the same situation could occur with sporting activities. 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 school; this is to ensure the school can monitor your child’s wellbeing and adapt activities as required.
Links:
- Factsheet 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 result of a concussion.
Community News
Horsham Youth
