Newsletter 2022/28 ~ 14 September 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.

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 we find ourselves at the end of the term for the students.  Once again we have enjoyed a busy and exciting term.  The children have been very productive in their classes and in the extra-curricula opportunities that have been available to them.

Our children have enjoyed the Meerkat Productions visit, Grandparents Day, Father’s Day, Interschool sports including athletics and soccer, golf clinics, Book Week, Science Week and so much more.

As this term comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our wonderful staff for everything they do for our students and our school.

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Thank You

During Ms Murphy’s absence this term we have been very fortunate to have been able to call on the services of Mrs Joy Quarrell to work with our senior students.  Her dedication and commitment to ensuring the implementation of a work program for our Year 4-6 class and that they have been able to experience continuity of learning has been greatly appreciated by us all.  Mrs Quarrell has been so much more than simply a relief teacher and I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude for the work ethic she has displayed over the past nine weeks.

F-2 Sports Afternoon

On Monday afternoon we welcomed the F-2 students from Nhill College and Nhill Lutheran School to join with our F-2 students for an afternoon of sporting activities.

The children had a lot of fun moving through each of the seven rotations that they participated in.  Thank you to Mrs Dickinson for coordinating the afternoon and to our senior students for their assistance with each of the events.

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Footy Colours Day

As the AFL football finals head into their last two weeks and the Wimmera League Grand Final is being played on Saturday, today we celebrated with our Footy Colours Day.

There seems to be a strong representation of Collingwood supporters this year.  They were a lot quieter at this time of year twelve months ago when they finished second last.

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Science Displays

Thank you to Mrs Bell and the senior class for their wonderful science displays today.  The seniors had been planning their displays and demonstrations over recent weeks to coincide with Science Week and its theme of Glass: More than meets the eye.  Today they welcomed the other two classes into the hall to be active learners as the seniors explained each of their displays.  The Juniors and Middles each got to look at onion cells through the microscope;, to see the manner in which light is refracted as it passes through different media including perspex, oil and water; they investigated how kaleidoscopes work as well as optic fibres. 

It was great to see a number of parents able to join us for the displays as well.

Well done to everyone involved!

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School Wide Positive Behaviour 

During play times, staff have been monitoring for students demonstrating aspects of Respect, Responsibility and Safety within the school yard.  Names are collated and shared during our weekly assemblies.  Names are drawn randomly for each category and that student’s House receives a token for their House jar.  The House with the most tokens later in the year will be rewarded.

Congratulations to all children who were recognised for their actions around the school over the past term.   The House leader board looks like this - 

Joseph - 11

Patrick - 6

MacKillop - 6

UPCOMING EVENTS

Dental Health Van Visit

Thank you to all those who have returned the Dental Health forms ahead of the Dental Health visit in Week One of Term 4.  If you have not yet returned the form, they can be brought to school at the start of next term.

Fire Danger Ratings / Schools on the BARR

Fire danger ratings (FDR) describe the potential level of danger should a bushfire start. They are important because they provide people with information so that they can take action to protect themselves and others from the potentially dangerous impacts of bushfires. They do not indicate the chance of a fire occurring, although this is a common misconception.

From 1 September 2022, all jurisdictions across Australia will implement the new Australian Fire Danger Rating System, delivering a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings which is based on the latest scientific research resulting in more accurate predictions for fire danger as well as clearer, simplified messaging for communities.

All Nhill schools and the Early Learning Centre are listed on the Bushfire (Grassfire) At Risk Register.  As such, the school will  be closed on any determined Catastrophic FDR day and nobody is to be on site that day.  No school bus services will operate to or from a school closed on a determined Catastrophic FDR day. Before every Catastrophic FDR day the school will notify staff, parents/carers and all other site users that the school will close and nobody is to be on-site that day, and notify bus travellers/parents of potential and confirmed cancellation of buses.

Sunday’s Gospel Reflection

Luke 15:1-10

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them—what do you do? You leave the other 99 sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbours together and say to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’ In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 respectable people who do not need to repent.”

In Sunday’s Gospel, even though it was only one sheep, it was still very important and valuable to the person who had lost it. In the same way as in the stories, all people are valuable to God, nothing in creation is more important or precious than another. We are all different and special. God cares for us and loves us. 

Our aim is to do what is right and share God’s love for everyone with all the people we meet, particularly those people who seem lonely or sad.

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

When I reflect on the last week of Term 3, I consider how all our learning opportunities will enable us to hit the beginning of Term 4 running! In other words, we are ready for new experiences and those teachable moments where concepts throughout the curriculum become consolidated. A fun Monday afternoon for the F-2 interschool sports was enjoyed by all. Following this today, we got to see The Senior’s Science Projects.

So have a great family time over the holidays.

Middle Class

Miss Williams

As we make it to the end of another term we have finished up the week with lots of fun.

In Reading we have discussed what memories are through our book Wilfred Gordan Macdonald Partridge. We have had a lot of discussions around the memories we will have of this term.

In Writing we have been imagining our dream holiday and have been creating descriptions of what these places might be like.

We have been using our multiplication skills to complete colour-ins and determine what the picture actually is. We have had a lot of debate about what exactly some of them are.

And finally we have had lots of fun with the F-2 sports and fun and games for everyone in the class at different times.

Senior Class

This short week we have been finishing off our RE projects on “comparing different faiths”. We presented them to the class as either a poster or Google Slide.  We have also been finishing our explanatory writing on friendship. 

On Monday some of the seniors helped with the F-2 sports fun day. Jody helped with egg-and-spoon, Sophie with the sack race, Jack with rob-the-nest, Lexi with basketball shootout, Tom with bobs and statues,  Jet with the equestrian and Stella with the hurdles. The students found this very fun but an exhausting experience. Their help was muchly appreciated, as it made the day run very smoothly.

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 Kaw Mu 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 this week for their reading achievements:

100 nights - Max

150 nights - Xavier

175 nights - Claire

Important Dates and Reminders

Term Dates

Term 4   3 October to 20 December

School Calendar

OCTOBER

Monday 3

First day Term 4

Tuesday 4

School Advisory Council Meeting 7.30pm

Thursday 13

Local public holiday - Nhill Show

Reminders

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.

Wimmera Bakery has advised that they have recently reviewed their prices, and the price of some items will increase in the near future.  We will provide an updated price list when this happens.

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 - Term 3 update

Rapid antigen testing

• The Victorian Government is providing further deliveries of rapid antigen tests in Term 4 to schools.
• It is recommended that rapid antigen tests are used by students and staff when symptomatic.
• If staff or students receive a positive test result at any time, they must report this through the Department of Health system (link below)) or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398, and isolate for at least 5 days or up to 7 days. You don’t need to report your result if you tested positive from a PCR test.
• Students (or their parents) must also report a positive result to their school by phone or written notification; this is so the school can support them, record that they will be absent while in 5-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.
• Your isolation period begins on the day you took your positive test.
• How long your isolation period goes for depends on whether you have symptoms, which include a fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath.
• If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for at least 5 days from the date you took your rapid antigen test or PCR test. 
• You must isolate whether you have COVID-19 symptoms or not.
• If you are in your 6th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.
• If you have no symptoms on the 6th day of isolation, you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation.
• If you are in your 7th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.
• If you have no symptoms on the 7th day you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation.
• If you leave isolation after 5 days, there are important rules you must follow for those two days:
• Household contacts are required to test negative using a rapid antigen test on at least 5 out of 7 days if they are attending or working at a school onsite. 
• If you have recovered from COVID-19, you aren’t required to get tested or isolate if you are re-exposed to a case within 4 weeks of ending your isolation period.
  

Face masks

• Current advice from the Victorian Government on the wearing of face masks is available (see the link provided below)
• Wearing a face mask can help protect you and those around you. Face masks stop droplets spreading when you talk, cough, sneeze and laugh, which lowers your chance of spreading or catching the virus.
• The advice also strongly recommends the wearing of face masks in indoor settings (noting that exceptions to the recommendation apply to teaching circumstances when clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential).  Further, the Victorian Government is recommending that, through to the end of winter, students aged 8 and over and staff will wear masks when in class.
• Household contacts attending school who are over 8 years of age are required to wear face masks indoors unless they have a valid exception. 
• Everyone including students aged 8 years and above must wear a face mask when travelling on school buses, public transport, taxis or rideshare vehicles.
• If face masks are required, they should be worn for up to four hours and replaced after this time.

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.

Stay home if unwell

• 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

Tuesday, 4 October at 7.30pm

Our Mission

Community News

Your Help Is Needed! Primary Basketball Coordinator

The Nhill Basketball Association is on the hunt for a Primary Basketball Coordinator to assist for the 2022/23 season.

• No basketball experience necessary – just need to be organised!
• Support, training and templates provided by Committee and past Coordinators
• Flexible around work and other commitments

Primary Basketball can be hosted on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday nights (Secondary will be Wednesday) from mid-October to early March (with a break over Christmas Holidays) and negotiable.

This is a great opportunity for someone who would like to take on a volunteer role but can’t commit to a 12 month program or would like an introduction to sport administration – you don’t have to be a parent, but it would be great to have parents involvement to ensure the Primary Competition continues.

If you would like to discuss the Coordinator role in more detail please contact Kat Colbert on 0409 527 041 or nhillbasketball@gmail.com.

School Holidays Activities

Free Animals & Kids First Aid Session

Operation 19:14 - Free Family Fun Day - Treasure Hunt

Sunday 9th October, 1-4pm

Five drive-thru locations, for families to collect delicious free food and drinks, games, DVDs, crafts and vouchers.

www.operation1914.org

Facebook: Operation 19:14