Newsletter 2023/38 ~ 15 December 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

Whenever we gaze into a crib this Christmas season

May new hope and joy flood our spirit

Whenever we watch babies and young children playing

May a new energy delight our hearts

Whenever we are tantalised by the aroma of a BBQ

May we unwind, relax and enjoy time off

Whenever the crush of family and friends overwhelms us

May the hospitality of our hearts expand

Whenever we provide a meal or bed over the holidays

May we experience love and appreciation

Whenever we spy our reflection in the mirror or the pool

May we find ourselves to be images of God

Whenever we put our feet up for leisure

May the humble presence of the Incarnate One companion us

Whenever we feel our distance from each other around the world

May the Christ child draw us into unity.

Amen.

CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS

Junior Class Excursion

The Foundation and Year 1 children had a great day in Horsham last Friday as they went 10-pin bowling and swimming.  After a long day they returned to school for a movie and popcorn.  Thank you to Miss Williams for organising such a fun day.

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SSV Golf Championships

Congratulations to Jonas who travelled to Melbourne to compete in the State Finals of the School Sport Victoria Primary Schools’ Golf Championships.  In trying conditions (play had to be abandoned due to lightning) Jonas did very well to finish 93rd overall.  As a bottom-age competitor (most players were in Grade 6), it is an outstanding achievement to place in the top 100 for the state.  Jonas assures me he is going to practice even more with a view to returning to the state finals again in 2024.

Graduation

Thank you to Fr Matt for leading us in our Graduation Mass yesterday afternoon.  It was lovely to see many of our families able to join us for the occasion.

Last night we conducted our Graduation Awards evening.  Again it was great to see the hall filled with families and sharing in fellowship afterwards.  

To our graduating Grade 6 students Ma Thay Thay, Kaw Mu and Sienna: We thank you for all the memories that you have generated here at St Patrick’s School – memories that will not only go with you, but will also stay with us.  Thank you for what you have contributed to our school and our lives and remember that you will always be a part of our St Patrick’s family.

We also acknowledged the Merrett, Min and Philip families who are leaving us at the end of this school year. Thank you for your contributions to our school community during your time with us.

And we bid farewell to two staff members as well.  Mrs Helen Wills joined us mid-year as our Grade 2,3,4 teacher.  Transitioning from secondary teaching to primary teaching is not an easy task, however Helen showed her professionalism and was able to adjust extremely well.  I know she has thoroughly enjoyed her time with us and I’m sure we will see her back on occasions in the new year.

Miss Kate Williams joined the St Patrick’s School community in July 2020.  As well as being a much loved classroom teacher, Kate has also been my go-to person over the past few years.  Kate has been my delegate on the days when I have not been on site.  She has also been our Curriculum Coordinator, our Teaching & Learning team coordinator, and has also tried to keep control of the two pesky elves who get up to mischief in the Junior classroom each night!  Kate will take up a 12 month contract position at St Alipius Primary School in Ballarat and we hope to see her return for 2025.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

Lions Club of Nhill ‘Spirit of Lions’ Awards

• Junior - Liberty 
• Middle - Moe Tha Zin 
• Senior - Jonas 

Principal’s Award

• Sienna

Yearbook

We are seeking expressions of interest for the production of a school Yearbook. Cost - approximately $20. Please complete the following form by next Tuesday, 19th December, if you wish to purchase a Yearbook. We will only proceed if there is enough interest.

Activities Week - Visit to Avonlea

Our children attended Avonlea on Monday to sing carols to the residents there.  It was pleasing to see the smiles of appreciation on the faces of the elderly with some even joining in with the singing.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nhill Town Committee Carols

Tomorrow night, the Nhill Town Committee will be hosting the annual carols at Jaypex Park from 6.30pm.

Students are asked to meet me to the left of the stage at that time.  I have asked the children to wear the school uniform but may accessorise with santa hats or reindeer antlers, etc

We will also be selling cans of soft drink and bottled water tomorrow night.

I look forward to seeing you all there and enjoying the festive occasion.

Start of 2024

All children will commence on Wednesday 31 January.

The school office will be open from Monday 29 January.

There will be a welcoming evening for all families on Friday 9 February.

Technology - laptops for sale

We have a number of old laptops for sale for $50.

Please express your interest in purchasing a laptop by completing the below form.

A Christmas Message

Fr Matt has shared a message with our school community.

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.

“May our good God grant you all a holy and truly happy Christmas. We can all meet together in spirit at the Crib of our loving infant and pray for one another.  I wish you every grace and blessing of this holy time with fondest love.”  Mary MacKillop, 1881

By the Numbers

81 - The number of prayers said in the Rosary each night.

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, 20 February 2024, 7pm
  

Dates and Reminders

School Calendar

2024 January

Mon 29 - Staff first day

Wed 31 - Students' first day (Foundation students short day (finish at 1pm))

February

Wed 7 - Foundation Students Rest Day

Fri 9 - Welcome Evening

Wed 14 - Foundation Students Rest Day

Tue 20 - SAC Meeting 7pm

Wed 21 - Foundation Students Rest Day

Mon 26 - Student Free Day - staff PD

Wed 28 - Foundation Students Rest Day

March

Mon 4 - "Get To Know You" meetings

Wed 6 - Foundation Students Rest Day

Mon 11 - Labour Day Public Holiday

M-W 25-27 - Senior Camp

Thu 28 - Last Day Term 1

St Patrick's Nhill

Church Times

Mass is held every Sunday at 11.00am

Our Mission

Child Safe Standards

eSafety News

Keeping children safe online during summer holidays

During the summer break, children often spend more time online. Help them to have fun and keep them safe from online risks like inappropriate contact, online grooming and sexual extortion. Here’s how: 

1. Stay involved – regularly check their online activities and connect with them by playing online games together.  
2. Set family rules together – decide which devices and apps are okay and when to use them.  
3. Teach consent – Use holiday photos to discuss why asking people before taking or sharing their picture is important. These everyday opportunities to talk about consent can make it easier to say no to an online request that makes them feel uncomfortable. 
4. Stay informed – A new joint resource with Crime Stoppers NSW and the ACCE includes tips on signs to look out for and ways to protect your child online. eSafety also has several resources for parents on how to keep your child safe online.  
5. Know where to get help – If your child is under 18, the best way to get help on inappropriate contact is to report it to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation. For reporting to eSafety, learn what you can report and how to report. 

Keep your child safe online and enjoy the holidays!

Looking for safe tech gifts? Explore the eSafety Gift Guide

The latest technology can make great gifts for children and young people, but it’s important to be aware of the risks that come along with these gadgets. 

The eSafety Gift Guide offers advice on what to consider when giving children gifts like gaming consoles, wearables and drones, as well as whether a device is age appropriate and what parental controls are available. 

Remember, the gadgets we choose do more than entertain; they can influence personal safety and the wellbeing of our families.

Kick off the new year with a family tech agreement

A family tech agreement is a set of rules about how devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs and gaming consoles, are used in your home. 

Download a tech agreement template and get working on a set of rules that will work for your family.

Reminders

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).

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 (SIMON Everywhere app).

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.

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