Newsletter 2025/28~ 10 October 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
Welcome to Term 4.
I hope that all families had an enjoyable and safe school holiday break. It was pleasing to see the excitement and enthusiasm of the students on Monday morning as they returned to school.
Loving God,
at the beginning of this new school term,
we ask you to bless us,
the students and staff of St Patrick’s School,
that we may continue to grow in faith, hope and love
as we learn from you and each other
how to follow your Son, Jesus.
Give us a generous spirit
to be enthusiastic with our learning
and courage to accept new opportunities.
Jesus, inspire us to be faith filled,
respectful and resilient learners
and be the best that we can be.
Amen
RECENT & CURRENT EVENTS
Dental Van
It was pleasing to see the Dental Health van arrive on Monday, particularly after their no-show last year. Many of our students visited the dental van for check-ups and the dental staff provided us with positive feedback about the students’ behaviour and manners (and their dental hygiene).
Emma Dickinson - Life Membership
Congratulations to Mrs Emma Dickinson on receiving a Club Life Membership of the Nhill & District Sporting Club at their recent Presentation Night. Having previously received a Player Life Membership, Emma has now received a Club Life Membership for her tireless commitment to the club.
Building Update
Whilst the staff and students were enjoying the holiday break, the builders continued working on the school site. New pipes have been laid and preparations have been made in readiness for cement to be poured in the next couple of weeks. And there is now a verandah for weather protection over the student toilets.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Middles Camp
Our Years 2 and 3 students will be heading off on camp next Tuesday. The students, together with Miss Attard, Mrs Bell and Mr McCumstie (Principal of OLHC, Murtoa), will have two days in Naracoorte, SA, visiting the world-renowned caves and other sites. We trust that they will have a great experience and return on Wednesday afternoon with lots of fun memories.
Nhill Show
Next Thursday will be a School Closure Day for the Nhill Show.
All children have been involved in producing items for the Show and so I encourage all families to go along and see your children’s work as well as enjoying other aspects of the Show.
Students are invited to participate in the Grand Parade at 4pm. We will have our school banner there and members of our school community including students, siblings, parents, friends are invited to join in the parade. Please meet Mrs Emily Gladdis for the parade at 3.45pm at the Secretary Office (number 7 on the show map below).
The Show will be held at the Nhill Showgrounds.
Assembly
Given that next Thursday will be a school closure day, our assembly will be held at 9.15am on Friday 17 October.
F-2 Sports Afternoon
We will be hosting the F-2 Sports afternoon next Friday from 1.30pm. Students from Nhill and Wimmera Lutheran Colleges will be joining our students for Round-Robin activities. Parents of F-2 students are invited to attend the afternoon.
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
Luke 17:5-10
The Lord answered, “If you had faith as big as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Pull yourself up by the roots and plant yourself in the sea!’ and it would obey you.
A mustard seed is really tiny. Jesus is saying that even if we only have a small amount of faith we can do amazing things.
This reading gives us hope – that even if we just have a tiny little bit of faith, with God’s help, we can make real changes to the world around us. If we have more than we need, we can share what we have with others.
By the Numbers
147 - The highest break possible in snooker, under normal circumstances. (A higher score is possible if the opponent fouls before any reds are potted, and leaves the incoming player snookered on all 15 reds. The incoming player can then nominate a coloured ball as a red).
After the beautiful warm weather of last weekend, the mornings have turned very cold again. Let’s hope that Spring arrives soon and brings that warmer weather with it. The seasons are a bit silly at the moment.
Speaking of silly seasons, it’s definitely the silly season in the AFL where everyone’s ability and footballing value is either over-rated or under-rated based on whether you are being traded out or in.
Anyway, it’s cricket season now! Have a great weekend.
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
Classroom and Student News
Middle Class News
Welcome back for Term 4. I hope everyone has had a relaxing holiday. The Middles have jumped straight back into learning with lots of Literacy, Maths and Science. We’ve also been completing a few assessments to check students’ progress - spelling and comprehension assessments in Literacy, and a pre-assessment in Maths to prepare for our upcoming Fractions unit.
We’ve got two big events coming up next week that the Middles have been excited about and preparing for. Firstly, we will be heading off on Camp to Naracoorte Caves next Tuesday. Everyone’s very excited, especially the Grade 2s, for whom this is their first school camp. Before we head off next week, we will be learning a little bit about the Caves and talk about what to expect on school camp.
The other big event next week is the Nhill Show. We have had some extra Art lessons this week to get all of our entries finalised and entered. The students have shown some great creativity in creating their craft entries. We’re also pleased to be able to display some of our artwork from earlier in the year.
Wishing everyone a restful weekend, and see you next week.
Warm Regards,
Miss Attard
Little Joey Awards
We continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Oscar with a Little Joey award.
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:
50 nights - Paweh
100 nights - April
125 nights - Marina, Xavier H
200 nights - Shalom, 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
Next meeting date
- Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 5:30pm
Dates and Reminders
Term Dates
2025
Term 4 6 October to 19 December
2026
Term 1 27 January (staff) 28 January (students) to 2 April
Term 2 20 April to 26 June
Term 3 13 July to 18 September
Term 4 5 October to 18 December
See dates on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
October
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
Bushfire and asthma season
School Preparations for the Bushfire Season
Each year, the Department of Education runs an annual fire risk assessment of schools and early childhood services. They are allocated a category of risk (categories 0 to 4) and are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR).
All schools and early childhood services listed on the BARR list will also close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district.
When the Bureau of Meteorology provides public fire danger rating forecasts or fire weather warnings, they use fire weather district areas. In Victoria, there are 9 fire weather districts, which are based on Local Government Area boundaries. Our school is in the Wimmera fire weather district.
As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and have conducted other relevant preparedness actions, such as reprioritised any maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our facility’s grounds and gutters.
What does this mean for our school?
Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is listed on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR).
The school is not a neighbourhood safer place. The neighbourhood safer place in Nhill is Davis Park Recreation Reserve, South East Quarter of the Oval (Bounded by Davis Avenue, Park Street, King Street and Fraser Street, Nhill. Entry off Davis Avenue.)
DOBCEL, in accordance with the department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy, requires our schools on the BARR list to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.
Our school will close on any day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in Wimmera fire district.
Closure of the school due to a forecast Catastrophic day will be confirmed on the day prior and we will provide you with advice before the end of the school day when possible. Any information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you by PAM.
Once confirmed, the decision to close will not change, even if the weather forecast changes. This is to avoid confusion and help your family plan alternative care arrangements for your child/ren. It is also important to be aware that:
- No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
- All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
- School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.
In addition, families are encouraged to action their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.
For those of us living in a bushfire prone area, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) advises that when Catastrophic days are forecast, the safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day.
What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?
- Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.
- Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters, checking PAM, and by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
- Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is learning from home due to elevated fire danger or closed due to a Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
- Action your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are actioning your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
- If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.
You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:
- VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
- VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226)
- Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
- Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)
- ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters
Thunderstorm asthma
St. Patrick’s School reminds our wider community that grass pollen season brings an increased risk of asthma and hay fever.
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 (typically between October and end December). It can result in people wheezing, feeling short of breath, and tight in the chest with coughing. This can be sudden, serious, and even life threatening.
Anyone can be affected, even if they don’t have a history of asthma.
If your child has current, past or undiagnosed asthma or seasonal hay fever they are at risk of thunderstorm asthma. Don't ignore symptoms like wheezing or shortness of breath.
St. Patrick’s School encourages families to communicate any updated asthma action plans with staff. Our staff will monitor the Vic Emergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify a greater level of risk.
Protect your family this pollen season
For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who wheeze and sneeze during spring, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.
There are things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and those in your care:
It’s important for everyone in the community to know the four steps of asthma first aid so they know what to do if they or someone is having an asthma attack.
Avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October through December – especially in the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. Turn off any air conditioner that brings outside air in (e.g. evaporative air conditioners).
If your child has ever had asthma – talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating their asthma action plan. Remember, taking an asthma preventer as prescribed is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
If your child has ever had hay fever – see your GP to make sure they don’t also have asthma and discuss how to stay safe during grass pollen season.
Asthma reliever medication is available over the counter at pharmacies. Ideally, this should be used with a spacer, for both children and adults. If your child is needing to use their reliever medication more than usual, this may mean that their asthma management plan needs updating – see your GP and make sure that you communicate updated asthma action plans with your child’s school.
Monitor the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the Vic Emergency thunderstorm asthma forecast webpage or download the VicEmergency app (App Store or Google Play) – you can set up a 'watch zone' for your location to receive advice and warnings about potential epidemic thunderstorm asthma events during the grass pollen season.
Protect yourself and those in your care this pollen season – preventing and managing asthma matters. There are a range of videos for caregivers on the Asthma Australia website https://asthma.org.au/resources/videos
Translated resources can be accessed at:
School TV
SPECIAL REPORT: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is marked every year on 10 October as a reminder of the importance of mental health to our overall wellbeing. It is a day that encourages families, schools, workplaces and communities across the globe to start conversations, reduce stigma and highlight the support available for those who may be struggling.
Mental health challenges can affect anyone: children, teens, and adults alike. Recognising this helps us create more compassionate and supportive environments.
Parents and caregivers play a central role in shaping the mental health of their children. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the pressures young people face in today's world and how we can best support them. Whether it's helping children find balance between school, technology, and rest; encouraging open conversations about feelings; or modelling healthy coping strategies ourselves - small steps at home can make a big difference.
By engaging with resources and discussions on this day, families can strengthen their understanding of mental health and contribute to a culture where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
This Special Report highlights the importance of World Mental Health Day and offers practical suggestions for how your family can acknowledge and support it together.
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.
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.