Newsletter 2023/31 ~ 27 October 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

Welcome to this week’s newsletter.  Given the Nhill Show last Thursday and our excursion to Horsham on Friday, we did not publish a newsletter last week.

Congratulations to all the students who submitted items for Nhill Show and particularly to those who received awards for their submissions.

It was also good to see a number of our students walking behind the school banner as part of the Show Parade.  Thank you to all who were involved and assisted.

Today we celebrate World Teachers Day in Australia.  I wish to thank our wonderful teachers for all they do for our school and, particularly, for our students.  I thank you all every day but today the world thanks you as well!!

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Staffing

Following interviews last week, two Learning Support Officers commenced with us this week. Mrs Rebecca Woods and Miss Charlotte Dickinson will provide assistance to teaching staff and students in the Senior classroom each day, as well as the Junior classroom on Fridays.  We welcome Mrs Woods and Miss Dickinson accordingly.

Condolences

We offer our condolences to the Carew family (Tegan and Declan) following the recent passing of their Great Grandmother.

Road Safety & Parking Reminder

A reminder to parents to observe parking restrictions at the front of the school at all times of the day. The safety of our pedestrians (students, staff and other adults) is the highest priority. The start and end of the school day is particularly busy, and it is important that cars do not park in the restricted crossing zone that is clearly sign-posted between 8:45-9:15am and 3:15-3:45pm.

First Aid Information - Snake Bite Management

Our staff First Aid training last term covered snake bite management. As it’s coming up to the season where snakes are becoming more active, our First Aid Training Provider has put together the following information to assist with treating snake bite. The most important point is to call 000 immediately.

School preparations for the bushfire season

Each year, to prepare for bushfires and grassfires, schools and early childhood services complete a range of activities.

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 and Category 4 list will 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 nine 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 continue to maintain our grounds.

What does this mean for our school?

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 4 school.

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in the Wimmera fire district.

What is the department’s policy?

The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 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.

When will our school be closed due to Catastrophic fire danger?

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in the 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 that school day. 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. 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.
• Out-of-school-hours care will also be cancelled on these days.
• 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 the fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

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 our website [https://spnhill.catholic.edu.au/], 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 relocated, undertaking learning from home and/or closed 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

UPCOMING EVENTS

F-2 Fun Sports Afternoon

Students in Years Foundation, 1 and 2 from the three Nhill Primary Schools will combine for a fun sports afternoon on Wednesday, 1 November. Parents are welcome to attend and support our students. 

Consent forms have been distributed via PAM and are required to be completed by Monday, please.

Forward to Foundation

The transition program for kinder children will commence next Friday.  

The 2024 Foundation students are invited to join our Forward to Foundation Transition Program on Friday 3 November at 8.55am until recess (11.00am). 

Session dates and times are as follows:

• Friday 3 November 8.55am to 11.00am
• Friday 10 November 8.55am to 1.00pm
• Friday 17 November 8.55am to 3.00pm

Any further sessions will be confirmed before the third session.

A notice has been sent to all Kinder children with detailed information about the Forward to Foundation transition program.

Student-Free Day

A reminder that we will have a Student-Free Day on Monday 6 November as staff will be having Professional Learning in Horsham.

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

74 - The number years ago that the Josephite Sisters started teaching at St Patrick's School.

Classroom and Student News

Middle Class Report

Hello Everyone,

This week as part of Reading and Writing, Middles have begun working on some performances.  Students are working in their year level groups for this task. Year 4s are doing Sydney Harbour Bridge, Year 3s are doing The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Year 2s are doing Let’s Go Camping.

In Science we are examining Solids, Liquids and Gases.  This week we looked at if you add heat to a particular solid it will change from a solid to a liquid.  The solids we examined were a piece of ice and a chocolate drop.

Our bean and sunflower plants are continuing to grow in the school garden, with students regularly watering them and helping to weed the garden beds when necessary.

In Maths we have just finished up with Fractions - determining which fraction is larger and finding a fraction of a collection.  Our next topic is Probability - just in time for the  Melbourne Cup.

After being very busy preparing entries for the Nhill Show, we are starting Macrame today.

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 Gu Thay Paw, William and Julian 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 Daniel P 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:

75 nights - Matthew, Daniel P, Fabian, William, Jesinta

100 nights - Bethany

125 nights - Xavier, Amity, Hannah G, Tessa, Meena, Charlotte M

175 nights - Destiny, Liberty

200 nights - Tyler

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

• Annual Meeting - Monday 4 December 2023, 7.00pm

Dates and Reminders

School Calendar

November

Wed 1 - F-2 Fun Sports Afternoon

Mon 6 - Student Free Day for Staff Professional Development

Wed 8  - Senior RE Class Iona Visit 10-11am

Thu 16 - Incursion: Beats N Pieces Performance

Sun 19 - SAC Book Fair at Nhill Market

Wed 22  - Senior RE Class Iona Visit 10-11am

December

Mon 4 - SAC Annual Meeting 7pm

Wed 6  - Senior RE Class Iona Visit 10-11am

Thu 14 - 12pm Graduation Mass

Fri 15 - Last day for students (dismissal time to be confirmed)

St Patrick's Nhill

Church Times

Mass is held every Sunday at 11.00am

Our Mission

Reminders

Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere

The Parent Access Module PAM (SIMON Everywhere) 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.

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.

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