Newsletter 2022/07 ~ 18 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

Prayer for peace and justice in Ukraine

God of peace and justice, who change the hardened heart and break the power of violence, we entrust the people of Ukraine to you.

Protect them in this time of peril; let them know not death but life, not slavery but freedom. 

You are Father of all; we are brothers and sisters.

Give us the strength to live that truth in love, choosing peace not war.

 Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

RECENT EVENTS

Staff First Aid

Staff successfully completed the First Aid update last Friday. The course, which also involved the staff of Our Lady Help of Christians, Murtoa, also included an update of CPR and responding to asthma and anaphylaxis.  Thank you to Gemma Cramer for her tuition on the day and to Casey Kosch First Aid Training.

Soccer Clinics

The first of our soccer clinics was held on Wednesday.  Jason Spirovski from Football Victoria guided our students through some of the skills associated with “the World Game”.  Clinics will continue over the next three Wednesdays.  Anyone interested in playing soccer should contact the Horsham Falcons Soccer Club.

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St Patrick's Day

Thank you to Ann Munro for preparing our St Patrick’s Day Liturgy yesterday and to those who were able to join us for the occasion.  Whilst I was unable to be present, it was great to see the photos from the day and the amount of green items families were able to find to help dress the children up for the day.

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National Day of Action

Planning for a safe and supportive school community

Today we are participating in the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). The NDA is Australia’s key bullying prevention initiative, connecting schools and communities to find workable solutions to prevent bullying.

The theme for the 2022 NDA is Kindness Culture. At St Patrick’s School we demonstrate Kindness Culture by promoting inclusiveness, respect and community belonging for all students.

Planning for a safe and supportive school community requires a whole-school community approach. Whole-school responses to bullying prevention build positive and supportive school environments by incorporating strategies for intervention at all levels, inclusive of students, teachers, parents and carers.

Three key characteristics outlined in the national definition of bullying distinguish bullying behaviours from other forms of peer aggression behaviours which do not constitute bullying. The key characteristics of bullying include:

• power imbalance,
• deliberate intent to cause harm, and
• ongoing and repeated behaviour.

While the following behaviours of peer aggression do not constitute bullying, these behaviours may still be serious and require intervention at home and at school:

• arguments and disagreements (where there is no power imbalance),
• single acts of social rejection or meanness, or
• isolated incidents of aggression, intimidation or violence.

It is important for our entire school community, including our staff, parents, carers and students to have a clear understanding of the definition of bullying to be able to distinguish these behaviours from peer aggression, and correctly identify and respond to incidents of bullying.

The full national definition can be read here.

Knowing the types of bullying behaviour can also help you identify if the incident is bullying, or peer aggression. While neither of these behaviours are tolerated at St Patrick’s School, they do require different management strategies, and the first step for responding is to correctly identify the behaviour. You can read our Student Behaviour Policy here.

If you have concerns that your child is being bullied, please contact the classroom teacher in the first instance.  

For more information, please visit the Bullying. No Way! website for additional resources.

Diocesan Leadership 

I have spent the last two days at a Diocesan Leadership Gathering in Horsham with the other Principals from across our diocese. We have discussed many issues related to future directions, stewardship of our schools, policies, marketing and promotion, operational updates, Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, and more.  It was a good opportunity to gather with my peers for the first time in the past twelve months and share our thoughts on issues that are relevant to each of us.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Bingo Night

I am looking forward to this evening’s fun and frivolity at our St Patrick’s Music Bingo Night.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend last year but only heard positive feedback about the night.  Tim O’Donnell led a night of great entertainment, and I am assured that tonight will be just as entertaining.  Get your green clothes on and I’ll see you tonight for a few songs and lots of laughter!

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.

School Photos

A reminder that we will be having our school photos taken next Wednesday morning.  Photos will commence at 9am so it is imperative that your child is not late to school on that day.

All children will be photographed on the day regardless of whether you are ordering photos or not.  Please ensure that photo envelopes are returned before the day.

Positive Start Camps

The Victorian Government has provided information on the Positive Start in 2022 initiative, which offers students in all low-fee Catholic schools a chance to reconnect with peers and enjoy the kinds of activities that many missed out on over the past two years.

With Positive Start, Victorian students will be more active, reconnect with friends, and find inspiration in new and exciting places.

Holiday camps

Eligible parents and/or carers can book a free holiday camp for their child who is in Year 3 or above.

Holiday camps give children a positive and fun experience away from the regular holiday routine.

Whether a single overnight experience or spending several nights away, taking part in a school holiday camp program is a great way for your child to try new things, make new friends and enjoy active time in the great outdoors.

If students wish to go to a holiday camp, parents and carers will need to book. Schools do not organise these camps for students.

To be eligible for free holiday camps, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• attend a school that experienced closures of five days or more due to COVID-19 in 2021
• have an approved Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) application for 2022
• have a parent who holds a valid means-tested concession card
• are Indigenous students
• reside in out-of-home care (temporary or permanent)
• are from a refugee background
• are students with a disability.

All of our students would qualify based on the first dot point listed above.  Some will meet several of the criteria listed.

More information about this initiative can be found here.

An expression of interest letter has previously been emailed to all families.  The letter outlines how families can express an interest in their child attending a free holiday camp.

Families must register their interest by Friday 25 March 2022 to be considered.

Project Compassion

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.

Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family.

Watch a short film about Biru’s story here.

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

Phone outage

Thursday's power outage has put our phone system out of order. If you need to contact us please use the school mobile 0419929271, or email principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au.

Calls to the school's landline 53911575 will be redirected to voicemail. Please leave a message so that we can return your call.

Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Next issue of RAT kits were sent home with your children yesterday.

Sunday's Gospel Reflection 

Luke 9:28-36

On the second Sunday of Lent, we move from Jesus' retreat to the desert and temptation by the devil to the glory shown in Jesus' Transfiguration. On the first Sunday of Lent, our Gospel always tells the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert. On the second Sunday, we always hear the story of Jesus' Transfiguration.

In our newsletter two weeks ago, I shared news of the caterpillars at school that were demonstrating metamorphosis by forming chrysalids and eventually emerging as butterflies.  The caterpillars undergo a complete transformation and come out radically different.  

Luke’s Gospel from last Sunday shares a similar transformation as Jesus metamorphosed into something different.  It is called the Transfiguration of Jesus.  “As he (Jesus) prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning”.  Jesus prayed so deeply that he shone with God’s glory - was glorified and changed from a mere mortal into a glorified, heavenly state.  

The Transfiguration was a special event in which God allowed Jesus’ disciples Peter, John, and James to experience His divine glory in a profound way, and it strengthened their faith.

We experience God’s presence in many ways - whether it be through nature, the kindness shown by others, or through prayer.  In such times we too are like Jesus’ disciples - we too are being called to live out His message, to open up our hearts to those in need, to lend a helping hand, and to be good neighbours. 

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

Junior Class

Mrs Creek

I had some tired students coming back to school on Tuesday after the holiday weekend. But I enjoyed listening to their stories of family fun. Our shared story this week is called, The Hungry Giant’s Lunch by Joy Cowley. We all proceeded to make some cover predictions without showing the title. We all thought this person looked very big and seemed like he was starving. He looked very, very hungry. Once we revealed the title, it was clear to see this was a giant. As we read the story throughout the week, the giant had a huge appetite. Tessa helped us to create a fun rhyming song for the end of the story.

Our soccer training involving skills and games on Wednesday was fun. Lots of students demonstrated great footwork.

St. Patrick’s Day was full of colour, activities and gospel reflections.

Foundation students are improving counting by 1’s to 10 and beyond. Use of the ten frames for number recognition is improving. Year 1 students are making judgements about numbers from 1-100 by using charts, number lines and MAB blocks.

Middle Class

Miss Williams

Another short week for us and just as exciting. Tuesday had lots of stories of what families and students got up to over their long weekend, Wednesday saw us participating in soccer clinics which we all loved and showed some wonderful skills already. Thursday saw the celebration of St Patrick’s Day with fun activities and a liturgy to celebrate our patron saint. 

In Reading we are reading Bree Becomes a Butterfly. We have been reading this book about the life cycle of a butterfly and have related this to our butterflies that have hatched and released; in Writing we have been finishing off our wonderful narrative stories, and have been editing them to begin to write our good copies; and in Maths we have been continuing to focus on place value and have had a focus on odd and even and identifying numbers on number lines.

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
  

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.

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.

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

The Wizard of Oz Pantomime coming to Nhill

Piggery Lane Players' (Nhill Drama Group)

Nhill Community Centre ~ Friday 25th and Saturday 26th March

NetSetGO! and Auskick Come & Try Night

Thursday, 7th April, 4.00pm at Davis Park

New families welcome!

Wheatlands Warracknabeal Agricultural Machinery Museum - 53rd Annual Easter Vintage Machinery Rally

16th & 17th April

After having to cancel our Vintage Machinery Rally for the last two years, we are at last having an Easter Rally, and will again hold a Colouring Competition.  In the past we have had wonderful displays of work from students all over the Wimmera.

This year’s rally will feature Case tractors, American engines, and 101 years of Lanz Bulldog tractors - the subject of the colouring competition.

Competition sections are - 6 years and under; 7 & 8 years; 9 & 10 years; 11 years and older.  First and second prizes are awarded in each section.

• Print the colouring page at the below link (or ask for a hardcopy at the school office).  
• Post your completed entries to Vintage Rally Colouring Competition, P.O. Box 355, Warracknabeal 3393 by Saturday, 9th April.  
• Please include a contact phone number on your entry so that you can be contacted if you have won a prize.

COVID-19 Children's Vaccination Clinic in Nhill