Newsletter 2022/06 ~ 11 March 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

O Lord God, 

you led your people through the wilderness 

and brought them to the Promised Land. 

Guide us now, so that, following your Son, 

we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world 

toward the life you alone can give, 

through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, 

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and forever. 

Amen.

In many ways, it feels like we have only just started the school year. In other ways it seems like we have been back for longer than we actually have. In either case, we now find ourselves at the end of Week 7. We have squeezed quite a bit into those weeks. There has been STOMP Dance, the introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing by parents, Hockey clinics, the Swimming Program, our Swimming Carnival, our Opening Mass and Ash Wednesday Mass, the introduction of Auslan, and Get to Know You meetings.  It certainly has been a busy period and one that we are grateful for.  It is so much nicer than the interrupted start to the year that we experienced in the previous two years with COVID related lockdowns.  

Next week our Foundation students will start attending school on Wednesdays and we look forward to them joining us on a daily basis from now onwards.

RECENT EVENTS

Staff Professional Development

Staff have been actively involved in Professional Development in recent weeks.

Mrs Dickinson attended an online webinar for Mathematics on Mastering Multiplication.  Ms Murphy spent two days at a Religious Education Leaders Conference last week and Mrs Creek, Miss Williams and myself went to Mildura last Friday for a Scaffolding Literacy Workshop.  Mrs Creek also attended an online Learning Diversity Leaders Network meeting today.

Next Thursday and Friday I will be attending a Diocesan Leadership gathering in Horsham along with Catholic Education Ballarat Executive and the other 63 Catholic school Principals from across our Diocese. 

International Women’s Day

This week we recognised International Women’s Day - a day to recognise, respect, and uplift the women around us.

I am most fortunate to be able to work with the wonderful women on staff at St Patrick’s School.  It is not something that I acknowledge on just one day a year, but hopefully is displayed each and every day. 

Thank you also to all of our mothers, I hope you feel recognised, respected and uplifted on a daily basis for the most valuable role you play within your own family and in our society generally.

UPCOMING EVENTS

School Closure Day - TOMORROW Friday, 11 March

A reminder that staff will be updating their First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis training on Friday 11 March, so no students are to come to school tomorrow.

Vaccination clinics for 5-11 year olds

There are two upcoming opportunities to have your 5-11 year old children vaccinated for COVID-19:-

Wimmera Health Care Group are running a 5-11 year old covid-19 vaccination clinic at 20 McLachlan Street, Horsham this Friday 11 March.

Bookings can be made via phone 1800 675 398, or online COVID-19 vaccines | Coronavirus Victoria

and

West Wimmera Health Service - clinics in Nhill on 21, 22 and 23 March.  Refer to flyer at the end of the newsletter for booking details.

St Patrick's Day

Next Thursday we will be celebrating the Feast Day of our patron Saint, St Patrick.  Children are encouraged to come to school dressed in green next Thursday in recognition of Patrick’s Irish heritage.

Patrick was born off the coast of Britain around 390, into a family of Christians—his grandfather was a priest, and his father was a deacon. When Patrick was sixteen, he was captured by a band of Irish pirates, and carried off to Ireland where he was forced to work as a shepherd. After six years in captivity, Patrick escaped and caught a ship back to Britain, where he entered into holy orders and eventually became a Bishop.

At some point after his return, Patrick had a vision of an Irishman named Victoricus, who beckoned him to "come back and walk among us.” Patrick took this as a sign from God that he was to return to Ireland—this time not as a slave, but as a missionary, preaching the Gospel to the very people who had enslaved him.

Ireland was entirely pagan at that time, and Patrick ran into significant hostility and life-threatening encounters. Nonetheless, he is said to have baptised thousands, ordained priests to establish new churches, and converted the sons of kings.

On Thursday we will have classes as normal until recess time.  There will be Irish related activities for the children to join in between recess and lunch.  After lunch we will have a Liturgy in lieu of the usual Thursday afternoon assembly.  Parents are invited to come along for the Liturgy which will be held in the hall at 2.45pm.

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

TreadLightly

St Patrick’s School will be participating in TreadLightly’s Recycling Shoe Drive in the week 21 - 27 March. 

TreadLightly is an organisation collecting old, unwanted sports and active lifestyle shoes and recycles them in an effort to reduce global waste.  This ties in nicely with the work our students have been doing recently regarding recycling as well.

The footwear is sent to a recycling plant here in Australia for sorting, breakdown and processing. Reusable components are extracted, including rubber, leather and fibres and the reclaimed materials are used to manufacture new products such as gym mats, floors and playgrounds.

There will be a collection box in the school hall for donations to be dropped off in the mornings between 8.45 and 9.00am.

Project Compassion

We begin our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Anatercia, a 12-year-old girl living in a small village in southern Mozambique. She began to take on more and more adult responsibilities as her mother has chronic health issues. She did most of the household chores and had to travel up to five hours every day to collect clean water. Water scarcity also meant that harvests were poor and there was never enough to eat.

With your support, Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Regional Chokwe, was able to help Anatercia’s family to irrigate their farm to improve their food security. They also improved water access for households in the village, delivered sustainable farming training, and provided Anatercia with essential school supplies.

Anatercia’s health, education and quality of life have improved, along with the outlook of her whole community for all future generations.

Watch a short film about Anatercia’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Scholastic Book Club Issue 2 is out now

Book Club will help your school kick-start reading!

The first term is the best time to encourage and kick-start reading at school and at home.

Book Club is open and ready to help you in any way we can build a school-to-home reading connection.

Visitors to school - Assembly

We love that we are once again able to host visitors at our weekly assembly on Thursday afternoons.  It's so great to be able to share our school and classroom happenings and celebrations with our families after all the closures, restrictions and frustrations of the last two  years.  Families are very welcome to join us in the hall for assembly at 2.45 each Thursday.

A reminder, though, that the School Operations Guide (coronavirus restrictions) requires that visitors must -

• wear a mask;
• sign in to the school (in the foyer); and
• be able to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.
  

Please remember to bring your mobile phone with you!

A detailed list of all coronavirus restrictions/requirements is set out later in the newsletter.

Sunday's Gospel Reflection 

Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptation of Jesus

There are two competing storylines underlying the conversation between the devil and Jesus in Sunday’s Gospel. The devil offers a storyline of self-indulgence (make yourself bread from this stone), self-glorification (worship me and you can have it all), and self-serving religious identity (if you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here (from the top of the temple) and let God’s angels save you). Meanwhile, Jesus responds with quotations drawn from the Old Testament that show awareness of the true source of life and identity (he knows that life is more than food), his reliance on God (the one worthy of true worship and service), and his understanding of God’s character (not one to be tested). Jesus’ responses are rooted in an underlying narrative that he is dependent on God, rather than self, for life, glory, and identity.

Each temptation that Jesus faces offers insight into the spirituality we hope to develop as we keep the forty days of the Season of Lent. We can trust God to provide for our material needs. We worship God because God alone has dominion over us and our world. We can trust God to be faithful to his promises.

Jesus' responses to the temptations of the devil teach us how we can respond to temptation. As we start our journey through Lent, Sunday's Gospel calls us to adopt the same confidence that Jesus had in the face of temptation: God's word alone will suffice, God's promise of protection can be trusted, and God alone is God.

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.

Classroom and Student News

Auslan

Students have found our Auslan lessons to be engaging. It has been good to see them signing to each other in the yard, as well as signing “Good morning” with me as they arrive at school. 

This week we have been learning some greetings and “how are you?”

Junior students learning Auslan

Junior Class

Mrs Creek

This week our shared story has been The Grumpy Elephant. We made cover predictions as to why we thought he might be grumpy. As we read the story, it soon emerged that he was going to stay very grumpy despite the efforts of his jungle friends. It was only an accident at the end that caused the elephant to laugh. It was fun to join in the rhythm of the story on each page. We have nearly covered all the letters of the alphabet and the Foundation students are learning how to write in cursive letters. The Year 1 students are leading the way by creating different sentence beginnings.

It was with great pride that during our writing PD in Mildura last week we got to showcase our students’ work from 2021 to this year.

Our Mathematics focus continues with number recognition, counting, concepts of one more and place value.

In Religion we have read and discussed our bible story in Luke about Zaccheaus wanting to not miss out on listening to Jesus. At St. Patrick’s we encourage students to draw and reflect on the gospel scriptures.

Middle Class

Miss Williams

This week our shared story was The Great Chase, a story of caring for others and for animals that links in wonderfully with our Religion unit on relationships. The story is about a frog who is being chased by a lizard, who is chased by a girl, who is being chased by a rhino, being chased by a sabre-toothed tiger who is then finally chased by fire. They all end up in a pond where the fire passes over them and they survive. The girl then tells her family to leave the animals and not kill them for food as they are her brothers who were all scared of the fire and took shelter with her. 

Last Friday at the Literacy PD in Mildura, I was able to showcase some of our work from 2021 and our scaffolding literacy process from last week. The presenter was very impressed with our work and a few other schools wanted to be able to look more closely at our planning and the results that we have gathered.  In class this week we have been using some of the knowledge from last Friday to create some great story starters.

In Maths we have revisited place value, and are working on extending and furthering our knowledge on this topic, particularly in using number lines, 100 and 10 more or less, and odd and even numbers.

In Religion we have discussed, listened and watched the parable from Luke’s Gospel about Zaccheaus the tax collector. We related this to how we make, form and have different kinds of relationships with each other. We also discussed the importance of forgiving others for what they have done. This week we also furthered our discussion on Lent and created an Easter Tree which contains eggs with our Lenten promises, those of which are mostly to help people with dishes or washing at home!

Senior Class

Ms Murphy

With a busy week in the classroom we find ourselves hurtling toward the end of the term. Well done to all students on the effort they have put in around their narrative writing over the past week. We have had a lot of time to work on these and some of them are already published and ready to read - they read and look fantastic!

Seniors enjoyed our shared reading this week, the novel The Bugalugs Bum Thief, by Tim Winton, our focus text. There has been much humour in the classroom about the potential ‘bum thief’ and students were really engaged with the humour of the text.

While Mr Dalgleish, Mrs Creek and Miss Williams were busy learning in Mildura last week, I was busy learning in Halls Gap, having the opportunity to develop my skills in the role of Religious Education Leader at our school with other leaders from around the diocese. This was a truly wonderful experience and I look forward to bringing lots of energy and passion into this role at our school and within the community.

The Senior class hosted our assembly today, and showcased their Auslan conversation skills (see photos)

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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 K'Lu Doh Soe and Ben 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 this week for their reading achievements:

25 nights - Sophie, Tessa, Olive, Claire, Riley, AJ.

(pictured - Lexi also received an award from last week)

Important Dates and Reminders

Term Dates

Term 1

28 January (staff) 1 February (students) to 8 April

Term 2

26 April to 24 June

Term 3

11 July to 16 September

Term 4

3 October to 20 December

School Calendar

MARCH

APRIL

Reminders

From the office

Please remember to -

• Return fees and digital technology notes
• Return completed school photos order envelopes with payment

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

COVIDSafe requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work

• The third dose vaccination requirement applies to any visitor or volunteer performing work on school sites.
• Visitors and volunteers must adhere to COVIDSafe requirements – including vaccination, physical distancing, face mask requirements, respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.

COVIDSafe requirements for visitors (not performing work)

• In Victorian Catholic schools, parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must be able to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.
• Proof of vaccination can be checked by a COVID-19 digital certificate (Service Victoria app or smartphone wallet) or printed copy of a digital certificate or immunisation history statement.

Rapid antigen testing 

• Free rapid antigen tests will be made available for all staff and students in Victorian schools throughout Term 1 2022. Rapid antigen testing will be voluntary for all primary school students and staff.
• Students should continue to conduct the tests at home and must report any positive test results to -
• the Department of Health system (Rapid antigen tests | Coronavirus Victoria) or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398, and
• the school by phone or written notification.
• Tests should be conducted twice weekly, and we encourage this to be done on Monday and Thursday

If a student tests positive through a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), but don’t have symptoms or have not been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 it is recommended that they get a PCR test within 48 hours and stay isolated until they receive their result.  

If the PCR test is negative, the student or staff member can return to school.

Face masks

For all school settings: 

• School staff will be required to always wear masks indoors.  There is an exemption from this requirement if they are actively teaching and clear enunciation or visibility of their mouth is essential.
• Students in Grade 3 and above must wear a face mask indoors at school, unless a lawful exception applies. Students must wear face masks even if vaccinated. Students are not required to wear masks outside, however they are strongly recommended if physical distance cannot be maintained, even outdoors, when students are not undertaking physical exercise (for example: masks are strongly recommended when classes are held outside).
• For composite classes that include students in and above Grade 3 and below Grade 3, those below Grade 3 are strongly encouraged to wear masks (Year 2 students).
• Students in Prep to Grade 2 are strongly recommended to wear a face mask indoors at school.
• Everyone over eight years old must wear a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport, taxis or rideshare vehicles.
• Visitors to schools aged eight and above must wear a face mask in all indoor spaces, unless a lawful exception applies.
• Use single-use mask, or reusable cloth mask made from 100 per cent cotton, for increased breathability.
• A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves or bandanas do not meet these requirements.

Service Victoria QR Code Check-in 

• is no longer required at schools.  
• Routine school visitor record keeping arrangements continue to apply.  
• All visitors to school must report to the school office to sign in.

Practise good hygiene

• 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 is available at entry points to classrooms.
• Sharing of food is not permitted.

Vaccination clinics

Vaccination clinics for 5-11 year olds

There are two upcoming opportunities to have your 5-11 year old children vaccinated for COVID-19:-

Wimmera Health Care Group are running a 5-11 year old covid-19 vaccination clinic at 20 McLachlan Street, Horsham this Friday 11 March.

Bookings can be made via phone 1800 675 398, or online COVID-19 vaccines | Coronavirus Victoria

and

West Wimmera Health Service - clinics in Nhill on 21, 22 and 23 March.  Refer to flyer at the end of the newsletter for booking details.

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.

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

NetSetGO! and Auskick Come & Try Night

Thursday, 7th April, 4.00pm at Davis Park

New families welcome!

COVID-19 Children's Vaccination Clinic in Nhill

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.