Newsletter 2023/26 ~ 1 September 2023

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

Father’s Day

I am looking forward to seeing many of our Fathers and Father-figures joining us this afternoon as we celebrate Father’s Day at school.  I know the children have been anticipating our games of tee-ball and other activities - almost as much as they have been looking forward to the hot dogs!!

To all Dads, we hope you have a very happy Father’s Day on Sunday.

Pope Francis has some beautiful words to all father-figures in our life: 

Nothing could better express the pride and emotion a father feels when he understands that he has handed down to his child what really matters in life, that is, a wise heart. This father does not say: "I am proud of you because you are the same as me, because you repeat the things I say and do." No, he does not say anything so simple to him. He says something much more important, which we can understand in this way: "I will be happy every time I see you act with wisdom, and I will be moved every time that I hear you speak with decency. This is what I wanted to leave to you, that this one thing become yours: the attitude to feel and act, to speak and judge with wisdom and decency."

Pope Francis June 15th 2020.

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

This week is Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation week to celebrate education support staff for their role in helping students learn and succeed.

Our Learning Support Officers help foster positive relationships between students and their education. They work hard to engage students in curriculum, prepare resources, supervise study support sessions and a variety of other roles.

Thank you to Mrs Dickinson, Mrs Hamilton, Mrs Pilgrim and Mr Keller for the important roles they play in the lives of our children and for the support they provide for our teachers.

Coastrek

We wish parents Emily Gladdis and Holly Beattie well as they participate in Coastrek this weekend. Coastrek is Australia’s most iconic hiking challenge, proudly supporting the Heart Foundation.  

If you wish to sponsor the team in their 35km walk, you can do so by clicking on the link.

Season of Creation

Today marks the start of the Season of Creation which runs from 1 September through to 4 October.  Pope Francis’ Season of Creation sets out to awaken our respect for creation. It invites us to see the world, not as something apart from us, but as a delicate and interlocking set of relationships of which we are part.

You can read more about the Season of Creation at the following link.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Pre-Service Teacher

On Monday we will welcome a Pre-Service Teacher, Millicent Hockey, who will be working with us for the coming week as part of her studies to become a teacher.  Miss Hockey will be predominantly in the Junior classroom with Miss Williams but will also visit other classes during her time with us.

Little Desert Athletics

We wish Sienna, Sophie, AJ, Daniel and Ben well for next Thursday when they will be heading to Stawell to compete at the next level of athletics.  Following their performances at the recent West Wimmera School Sports Association championships in Warracknabeal, the five students have progressed to the Little Desert Championships.

End of Term Mass

Fr Matt Restall will be celebrating Mass with us in the Church on Friday 15 September at 12.30pm.  This is the last day of Term 3.  Parents and friends are welcome to attend the Mass.

Students will be dismissed at 2.15pm on that day, however students will be permitted to leave with their parents if they are attending the Mass and wish to take them at the conclusion of the service.

Free Vision Testing

The Lions Eye Health Program is offering Free Vision Screening for children at St Patrick’s School on Friday 15 September.  Children of all year levels will be able to have their vision tested at school on that morning.  

Attached is an information flyer.  Parents need to complete a permission form for each child in order for them to be tested.  These forms need to be returned to the front office by Tuesday 12 September.

Australian Catholics Schools Edition Spring 2023 Edition - Out Now

Child Safe 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.

All parents and volunteers that are onsite when students are onsite, or attend school events, are required to hold a Working with Children Check (WWCC) and sign the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct. If we do not have a current copy of your WWCC, please present your card to the office for photocopying. We will endeavour to get all families to sign the code of conduct in the very near future.

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

Sunday’s Gospel

Matthew 16: 13-20

Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ 

‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’

Peter responded with what others had said, but Jesus asked, “Who do YOU say I am?” The question is asking us all who Jesus is for each of us individually.

Who is Jesus for us?  Where is Jesus in our lives?

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.

By the Numbers

69 - The number of years since Port Adelaide won the first of its six Premierships in a row (and 20th overall). (Hoping we can add our 38th flag this year!)

Classroom and Student News

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support SWPBS

Throughout the day, staff monitor for students demonstrating aspects of Respect, Responsibility
and Safety within our school. Students are issued a ticket to place in their classroom container. During assemblies, a draw takes place and those who have their ticket drawn out are invited to place a marble in their House container. The House with the most marbles at the end of each term will be rewarded.

Congratulations to all children who were recognised for their positive actions around the school. This week Harlow, Tyler and Daniel B were randomly drawn from the nominations for Respect, Responsibility and Safety, and have added tokens to their respective Houses' tallies. 

Little Joey Awards

We continue to acknowledge the significant role of the "Brown Joeys" in the establishment of St Patrick's School, and recognised Sophie 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:

25 nights - Matthew, Daniel P

50 nights - Daniel P

100 nights - Xavier

Important Dates and Reminders

School Calendar

September

Thu 7 - Little Desert Division Athletics

Tue 12 - Vision screening forms due

Fri 15 - Vision Screening

Fri 15 - End of term Mass 12.30pm

Fri 15 - Last Day Term 3 - Dismissal time 2.15pm

October

Mon 2 - First Day Term 4

Tue 10 - School Advisory Council Meeting 7.30pm

Thu 19 - Local Public Holiday - Nhill Show

St Patrick's Nhill Church Times

Mass is held every Sunday at 11.00am

Reminders

Student late arrival, early departure, temporary absence procedures

A reminder to parents that any student late arrival, early departure or temporary absence must be recorded in the Passtab iPad located in the foyer.  Please ask office staff for assistance.

Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere

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.

The Simon Everywhere app 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 PAM (Simon Everywhere) - notify us of absences, provide permission for student activities, update medical/contact information, view the lunch orders menu, read the newsletter ...

Please contact the office with any questions.

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 PAM (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.

What you need to know about COVID-19 in Victoria

Please visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website (link below) for all up-to-date information about the response to COVID-19.

• 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 will continue to be available for staff, students and visitors.
• 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.
  

*Six simple steps to protect yourself and those most at risk

1. Wear a face mask
2. Take a test
3. Stay at home
4. Meet outdoors
5. Talk to your GP about COVID medications
6. Get vaccinated

*coronavirus.vic.gov.au

School Advisory Council

Parent Representatives

• Rebecca Curtis
• Emily Gladdis
• Moo Khu James
• Michaela Koop
• Zanther McEldrew
• Nathan Wheeler

Ex Officio

• Mons. Glynn Murphy - Parish Priest
• Kingsley Dalgleish - Principal

Next Meeting

• Tuesday 10 October 2023, 7.30pm

Our Mission

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