Newsletter 2023/32 ~ 3 November 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
Yesterday was the Feast of All Souls, a commemoration of all the faithful departed. For Christian believers, death is not the end, but the beginning of new life. In death, we are brought into the fullness of the mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the tradition of the Catholic Church to pray to God for those called into eternal life with the Risen Christ.
In Jesus’ name we remember all the faithful departed.
God of Life,
You are the source of all life and we believe in you.
May all our departed loved ones know your presence, peace and joy.
May we who remember them and mourn their loss,
find comfort in our faith in you,
through your Son Jesus,
who is the resurrection and the life.
Amen.
CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS
Forward to Foundation
There were a few more students at school today as we welcomed our 2024 Foundation students for their first official visit since enrolling at St Patrick’s School. The children joined the F-1 class for Buffy Harrison’s visit this morning. Buffy introduced the children to Auslan which they will begin learning next year. The Kinder children continued to work with the current Foundation students and Miss Williams before concluding their first visit at 11.00am.
The children will return again next Friday until lunchtime and then again the following week for a full day visit.
My New Gallery
F-2 Fun Sports
Our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students had an enjoyable afternoon at Nhill Lutheran School on Wednesday as the three local schools combined for our annual F-2 Sports Carnival. The children participated in various activities as they moved through the rotations. These activities included playing dodge ball, doing dancing, and playing tunnel ball, as well as various other activities.
The afternoon ran well and it was great to see so many of our parents there to offer their support as well. Thank you to Mrs Bell, Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Woods for accompanying the children.
Building Program Update
As we await news on our application for Federal and State grants to upgrade and extend our buildings and facilities, we have received confirmation from Catholic Education Ballarat that we will be receiving a relocatable building in the new year.
The new acquisition will be coming from our partner school, Our Lady Help of Christians School, Murtoa. OLHC and DOBCEL have been in discussions for some time and the building is surplus to their current needs. With the recent growth in our numbers, DOBCEL have acknowledged this growth and supported our request for more learning spaces.
Meanwhile, we are hopeful of finding out about our Federal grant application within the next few weeks.
Auslan
It was great to have another visit from Buffy Harrison today as she spent time with each of the classes as part of our Auslan program. During today’s sessions, Buffy taught the children a range of new signs and then played an Auslan version of Simon Says.
Lions Peace Posters
Our Senior students recently entered the Lions Peace Poster competition.
Every poster entered will be on display at the Nhill Gallery Central from Monday November 6. I encourage you all to visit the gallery to see the art work and marvel at the many ways the theme "Dare to Dream" has been interpreted by the students.
The winning posters, one from each school, will be displayed at the Lions District Convention in Geelong during the weekend of November 10-12th.
Congratulations to Georgia who is our school’s winner for 2023.
The entries by Ma Thay Thay, K’lu Doh Soe and Riley were highly commended by the judging panel as well.
Congratulations to all who participated and particularly to Georgia.
ADF Christmas Letters
We have again partnered with Lowan Lodge 107 and the Nhill RSL to create Christmas parcels for the Australian Defence Force. Our children have been invited to write letters and these will be included with the parcels which will be sent to serving Defence Force members abroad. Letters will be sent off in the next couple of weeks.
Little Angler Kits
The Victorian Government is investing $1.5 million from the Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Fund to provide up to 95,000 Little Angler Kits to primary school aged children (Year 5) in Victoria.
The free kits provide a wonderful school holiday activity for children with their families and help ease the cost of living, providing a fun activity close to home.
Year 5 students at all Victorian schools, including ours, will be offered the opportunity to receive a FREE Little Angler Kit. Year 5 students have been selected based on the Victorian Curriculum focus, movement and motor development, and safety considerations.
The program is entirely voluntary. Schools were provided with the option to opt out of the program. Our school has opted to stay in the program so that parents can decide whether they want their child(ren) to receive a free fishing kit.
Parents of Year 5 students can advise the school if they do not wish their child(ren) to participate for any reason whatsoever. We support parents in making decisions that align with their family values and beliefs.
The roll out of kits will occur through the second half of 2023 (16 October - 4 December) so that all participating children will have a kit in time for the summer school holidays.
The kits include a rod, reel with line, tackle tray, some tackle and information on how to use them to catch a fish. Please note that the tackle tray includes fishing hooks. The tackle tray will be wrapped in cardboard and placed inside a pocket inside the fishing kit bag, which will be sealed with a cable tie to discourage students from opening their kits until they are with a parent or carer.
Parents of our Year 5 students can call in to the school office to collect your child’s kit. Students are not to open the kits until they are safely at home with a parent or carer.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority will create a Little Angler hub on their website, which will be live when the kits start being distributed. It will have useful information, instructional videos and online resources about where and how to fish linking to existing resources from Fishcare and new resources to be produced just for the Little Angler Kits program.
This initiative aims to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria by actively encouraging primary school aged children to learn how to fish, as well as learning more about marine life and the natural environment.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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.
Melbourne Cup Day
To avoid any confusion, even though the rest of the state has a public holiday on Tuesday for Melbourne Cup Day, we don’t ... as this day was swapped for Nhill Show Day on 19 October.
Students are to come to school next Tuesday, 7 November - it is a normal school day.
Remembrance Day - Saturday, 11 November
RSL Poppy Appeal poppies/badges are available from the office.
Maths Online - Offer for Parents
Supercharge your child's capabilities with MathsOnline.
Free Home Internet
The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.
The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.
How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child
Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities.
Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.
Eligibility
To be eligible, families must:
- have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023
- not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)
- live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection. NBN Co will check this for you after you apply
- register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility.
How the School Student Broadband Initiative works
If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.
Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does not include devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.
The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider. At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period.
How to apply
- Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form.
- Complete the consent form and return to the school.
- NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility.
- If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider. This will be provided to you by your school.
Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used.
Find out more
For more information about the School Student Broadband Initiative, visit https://www.infrastructure.gov.au
Sacramental Program 2024 Information Session
This year St Paul VI Parish has completed its first Sacramental Program involving over 50 children and their families. The Program has been engaging and enjoyable, as well as educational and inspiring.
Parents and their children re-discovered the richness of our faith, responding with their lives to the words of Jesus “ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Mt. 7:7)
Parents are the first teachers of the faith to their children. The fruit of parents playing an active part in helping their child prepare for the Sacraments this year has been evident, and therefore the Parish based Sacramental program will run according to this model in 2024 also. For those families who have a child in Year 4 and above who has not received the Sacrament Reconciliation or Holy Communion, or for children in Year 6 and above who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation – please feel welcome to attend an information session in the Church on Friday 24 November at 3.45pm.
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 22:34-40
When Jesus was asked, 'Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?' Jesus said, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.'
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
75 years - the anniversary St Patrick’s School will celebrate in 2024.
For those who have asked about the back page of The Weekly Advertiser this week:
- Yes, the ball was moving at close to 150km/h
- Yes, I was moving at close to the same speed
- No, I didn’t happen to just be falling over at the right time
- No, I didn’t have to replace the divot afterwards!
- And no, I’m not the replacement for Glenn Maxwell at the World Cup this weekend!
Have a great weekend everyone.
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
Classroom and Student News
Junior Class Report
On Wednesday 1st November, the Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students got on a bus at lunch time and headed to Nhill Lutheran School for the Fun Sports Day. The Grade 1 students have offered the following reflections on the afternoon away from school.
My name is Hannah E. I was feeling happy to have an afternoon away from school and get to do some sports .😉
The first activity I got to do was under and over. My second activity was throwing a bag in a hole. (Hannah G)
I was happy to have an afternoon away from school and get to do some sports (Hunter)
I won one of the games. I won poison ball. By Freddie
I enjoyed playing poison ball and musical statues (Daniel P)
I was feeling mad about having an afternoon away from School for the sports (Jack)
My name is Oscar. I enjoyed some of the sports, mainly Overs and Unders, and poison ball.
It was good to have an afternoon away from school for the sports (Tegan)
It was good to be able to play some sports away from school on Wednesday. (Xavier)
On Wednesday 1st November went to Horsham to get my eyes checked 😊and then I went home and got some food and stickers from the shops then I got home and picked up my sister from school and I went back home 🏡 (Liberty)
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, David and Tyler 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 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:
50 nights - Treesa
100 nights - Oscar
175 nights - Sophie
250 nights - Declan
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
Term Dates 2023
Term 4 2 Oct to 20 Dec
All calendar dates are available on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
November
Mon 6 - Student Free Day for Staff Professional Development
Tue 7 - Normal school day
Wed 8 - Senior RE Class Iona Visit 10-11am
Fri 10 - Kinder Visit 9am-1pm
Thu 16 - Incursion: Beats N Pieces Performance
Fri 17 - Kinder Visit 9am-3pm
Sun 19 - SAC Book Fair at Nhill Market
Wed 22 - Senior RE Class Iona Visit 10-11am
Fri 24 - 3.45pm 2024 Sacramental Program Information Session (in St Patrick's Church)
Thu 30 - Middles Camp
December
Fri 1 - Middles Camp
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
- Wear a face mask
- Take a test
- Stay at home
- Meet outdoors
- Talk to your GP about COVID medications
- Get vaccinated
*coronavirus.vic.gov.au