Newsletter 2025/27~ 19 September 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
Today brings us to the end of the shortest term of the school year. Whilst it has ‘only’ been nine weeks long, it has been another busy one for students and staff. It has also seen a lot of action taking place on our building site.
I hope all families have a restful break before returning for the final term of 2025. For our Year 6 students, it will be their last term of Primary School before they move into the next stage of their educational journeys.
Enjoy the warmer weather and good luck to Nhill Tigers Under 14s in tomorrow’s Grand Final.
RECENT & CURRENT EVENTS
Athletics results
Twelve of our students competed in the Little Desert Athletics recently. These students qualified through their efforts at the Nhill Sports and the West Wimmera Sports carnivals.
Congratulations to the following placegetters:
- Daniel Bee - 1st Triple Jump; 3rd 100m
- Ben Cannell - 2nd Shot Put
- Marnie Toet - 3rd 100m; 3rd Discus
- Jack McEldrew - 3rd 100m; 3rd Long Jump
- Claire McEldrew - 4th 200m; 4th Triple Jump
- 9/10 Boys - 4th Relay
Daniel and Ben have now qualified to compete in the Greater Western Region Championships in Ballarat on the first Friday of Term 4.
Building update
The plumbers have laid pipes and the footing holes have been drilled and supports put in place. We expect the cement slab to be poured in the next few weeks as the project continues to take shape.
Lockdown drill yesterday
Students and staff were involved in an Emergency Management Plan drill yesterday. The scenario this time was a lockdown situation with ‘an intruder’ on site. Everyone worked through the drill extremely well. We hope that we only ever have to do this as a drill.
OLHC Murtoa
Our thoughts are with our friends at Our Lady Help of Christians School, Murtoa, as they received the devastating news last week that their school will be closing at the end of this school year. OLHC was opened in 1963 and has provided Catholic education to the Murtoa and surrounding communities for the past 62 years. Unfortunately, their numbers have been in decline in recent years and DOBCEL spoke to staff and families last Thursday to advise that they had made the difficult decision to close the school at the end of 2025. We hold the OLHC community in our prayers as the staff look for employment opportunities beyond this year and the families consider the educational options for their children.
St Patrick’s staff are in Murtoa today for a shared learning day around Structured Literacy and we will continue to work with OLHC in our shared network throughout Term 4.
Hockey
Congratulations to Daniel B, Ben and Nile who played in the premiership winning Leopards team last Saturday. Also to Miss Dickinson who was a member of Yanac’s Women’s team who also won their premiership.
Work Experience Student
This week we welcomed past student Riley Philip. Riley is a current student at Nhill College and he joined us for a week of Work Experience. Riley interacted with staff and students exceptionally well as he joined each of our classes throughout the week.
Grievance Policy
Our Complaints Management and Grievance Policy has recently been reviewed.
St Patrick’s School is committed to promoting a respectful, safe and supportive learning environment characterised by tolerance and support; and one which also respects the principle of right relationship where people have a healthy respect for the dignity of each other.
Part of this commitment involves ensuring the school community has access to processes that allow for grievances to be managed appropriately, promptly, respectfully and fairly.
You can read our updated Grievance Policy by following this link. It is on the Policies, Procedures and Documentation page on our website.
UPCOMING EVENTS
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be marked on 4th/5th October. Pope Leo has provided the following commentary in relation to this day.
The 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees offers us an opportunity to reflect on the connections between hope, migration and mission. The current global context is sadly marked by wars, violence, injustice and extreme weather events, which force millions of people to leave their homelands in search of refuge elsewhere.
Many migrants, refugees and displaced persons are privileged witnesses of hope. Indeed, they demonstrate this daily through their resilience and trust in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible.
In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope.
Dental Health Van
The Dental Health van will be visiting our school on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 October (first two days of Term 4).
Middles’ Camp
The Year 2-3s will be heading to Naracoorte for their camp on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 October (Week 2 of Term 4). We were hoping to have information forms released before the end of term but are still awaiting confirmation of some of the details. Please expect this as soon as possible.
Show Day
Thursday 16 October is Nhill Show Day. There will be no school on this day.
F-2 Sports Afternoon
The Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students will have an afternoon of sports activities on Friday 17 October on our school oval. Students from Nhill College and Wimmera Lutheran College (Nhill) will be joining us on the day. Parents are welcome to attend as well. More details in week one next term.
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 3:13-17
In this passage, Jesus explains that He was sent from heaven to bring life and hope to the world. Just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the desert to heal the people, Jesus would be lifted up on the cross so that all who believe in Him may be saved. This shows us how deeply God loves us.
John reminds us that God’s plan is not about punishment, but about love. God sent His Son into the world not to condemn it, but to bring healing, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is a gift of love for every person, no matter who they are.
For us today, the message is clear: we are called to trust in Jesus, to accept His love, and to live as people of hope. God’s love is stronger than fear, sin, or death—it is life-giving and eternal.
By the Numbers
146 - Chinese-style Mahjong sets typically contain 146 tiles - 144 unique tiles along with 2 additional tiles like jokers or blank tiles.
Thank you Hawthorn!! I don't really care what happens in the AFL finals now.
Good luck to the Nhill Under 14s and the seven Horsham Saints teams in Grand Finals tomorrow.
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
Classroom and Student News
Senior Class News
And so Term Three comes to a close. What an exciting term we have had and no doubt many of us are looking forward to the break. It’s been a short term and Term Four promises to be just as jam-packed as the rest of the year.
This week has been a short one as well, with yesterday being the last day of school for our students. The Senior Class has been focused on finalising a number of projects and pieces of work. In English they have been working on completing their Roll an Adventure story and their The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Chapter Summaries. In Maths, we have been completing the topics of Multiplication and Division and looking forward to the topic of Fractions that we will be dealing with in Term Four. We have also completed our Water Heroes “Together as One” water posters to be submitted for the GWM Water Poster Competition and have also been working really hard to complete the Lion’s Club Peace Posters, and deciding on what crafts they will complete for submission to the Nhill Show.
Yesterday the students celebrated their final day of Term Three with a day of Show Crafts preparation, board games and lego and watching a movie. The theme of the day was decided by the Joseph House, who had won the SWPBS draw last week. We all dressed in pyjamas or comfortable clothes and in the afternoon, we finished off our show crafts, the movie and we played several games of Dodge Ball, Line Tiggy and All the Horses Run. All in all, we had a beautiful day that was really enjoyed by both staff and students.
We also said goodbye to Riley Philip who was our Work Experience student who was with us all week. Riley was based with us in the Senior class but helped out across all the classes throughout the week. He had a great time and the students will miss him.
Hoping you have a safe, restful and relaxing break and looking forward to seeing everyone next term.
Warm regards,
Ms Farnham
Community News
School Holidays at Wimmera Libraries
Looking for fun (and free!) ways to keep the kids entertained these school holidays? Your local library has you covered with an exciting lineup of activities, from creative workshops to epic gaming sessions—there’s something for everyone!
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM - HORSHAM REGIONAL ART GALLERY
From Whimsical dream catchers to hands-on creative adventures, our Spring School Holiday Program is bursting with colour, imagination, and fun for kids of all ages.
Week 1
Running from 10:30am – 12:30pm, these workshops have our artists creating a fairy dream catcher with flowers and fabric to be used as propping in the Horsham Botanical Gardens for A Midsummer Night’s Dream by SmartArtz Theatre.
Week 2
Come along to the gallery and create artwork inspired by our current exhibitions. Be inspired by the National Gallery of Australia colonial landscapes, abstracts of the Mallee, local indigenous artwork and the gallery collection.
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
Next meeting date
- Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 5:30pm
Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
2025
Term 3 21 July to 19 September (students finish 18 September)
Term 4 6 October to 19 December
See dates on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
October
Mon 6 - First Day Term 4
Mon 6 Tue 7 - Dental Heath Van
Fri 10 - GWR Athletics Ballarat
T-W 14-15 - Middles Camp, Naracoorte
Thu 16 - Local public holiday Nhill Show
Fri 17 - F-2 Sports Afternoon
Tue 21 - 5:30pm SAC Meeting
November
Wed 12 - Student-free day (staff professional development)
W-F 19-21 - Senior Camp, Sovereign Hill
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
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.
From the office of the eSafety Commissioner
Talking to your child about the age restrictions
As we approach 10 December, when the new Social Media Minimum Age law comes into effect, it’s important for families to start preparing for the changes.
If you have children under 16 who currently use age-restricted social media platforms, they will be directly impacted by the new law.
To support your children through this transition, it’s helpful to:
- Talk openly about the new age restrictions and why they’re being introduced.
- Understand how your child currently uses social media and explore how these changes might affect them.
- Reassure them that these changes are about safety and wellbeing, not punishment.
To help guide these conversations, eSafety has developed practical tips for parents and carers to start these conversations to support you in starting and managing discussions in a calm and constructive way.
Free webinars for parents and carers
Helping families stay safer online
Do you want to feel more confident in supporting your children to have safer online experiences? eSafety's live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to help understand and navigate the online world.
Past attendees have found these webinars incredibly helpful:
“Loved it. Gave me the much-needed knowledge on algorithms for my kids.”
“It was terrific, very practical and positive.”
“Useful information to help parents understand teens and technology.”
See our schedule of upcoming live webinars:
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.
If the office is unattended, please use the QR code on the door (which will open the Passtab iPad in your phone).
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.