Newsletter 2024/01 ~ 2 February 2024
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
It has been wonderful to welcome all students to school this week - whether returning or joining us for the first time. At the same time, we extend warm welcomes to all families who are joining the St Patrick’s School community.
For the second successive year we welcomed 13 new students on our first day of the school year. A special welcome to Rahitya, Kyan, Alexus, Noah, George, Eliza, Valentino, April, Srishti, Zoe, Shalom, Katherine and Douglas.
We look forward to working in partnership with all families as we nurture your child’s future.
These new enrolments have taken our enrolment to 65 students for the start of the school year.
Together with new enrolments, we also have two new staff members. We welcome F-1 teacher, Mrs Mel Kupper, and 4-5-6 teacher, Ms Kate Farnham. We trust that you will find great enjoyment teaching at St Patrick’s School and that you will develop strong, professional relationships with your students.
Almighty God
We give you our school.
We give you all the teachers and staff who work here,
We give you all the children who study here.
We pray our school will continue to be a place of great discovery, adventure and creativity.
May it continue to be a place where we love to learn and where we learn to love,
A place where everyone is respected and all are deeply valued.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
CURRENT & RECENT EVENTS
New Building
In January, we took possession of our new portable building which has been placed between the hall and the playground. The building arrived in two halves on the back of two trucks and each section was lifted into place by crane. There is some work to be done on the building before we receive a certificate of occupancy, however we anticipate being able to use the room in the near future.
Houses
House lists for 2024 are as follows:
Congratulations!
Hearty congratulations to the Gladdis family on the recent arrival of little Lara Ruth.
Employment Opportunity
We have a need for a cleaner - 5 hours per week (2x 2.5 hour shifts on Monday and Thursday). If you are, or know of anybody who might be interested in this role, please contact me on 0419929271 or by email principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au for more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Welcoming Evening
Next Friday evening we will be holding a Welcoming Evening for parents. This will be an opportunity to meet other families and to hear about various aspects regarding our school and school community. The evening will commence at 6pm and be held in the hall.
More information will be sent home early next week.
Iona Visits
Our senior class students will commence their regular visits to Iona next Wednesday. This program of intergenerational sessions began in Term 4 last year and was seen as beneficial by the residents and students alike.
Notes will be sent out via PAM next week.
Swimming
Sports
All Year 3-6 students have been invited to join with Nhill College for their swimming carnival on Tuesday 13 February. The College is conducting their House Swim Sports and our students will participate as the ‘fourth House’. Mrs Bell has entered our 3-6 students into events for the day and parents are also welcome to attend.
Notes will be sent out via PAM next week.
Program
Our own swimming program will commence two days later on Thursday 15 February and continue on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for the following two weeks. Lunch will be taken early on those days and students will travel by bus at 1pm and return to school at 3pm in readiness for afternoon dismissal. Parents will be welcome to attend our own House carnival on Thursday 29 February.
Once again, details and permission notes will be sent to parents via PAM.
PAT Testing
All students will be undertaking PAT assessments for Reading and Maths next week. These Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) are conducted online during class time and will allow teachers to ascertain where each student currently lies in these subjects. These ‘adaptive’ tests allow staff to develop learning plans that are relevant for each child.
Upcoming Dates
Please note the following upcoming events:
Fri 9 Feb - Welcome Evening
Tues 13 Feb - Years 3-6 Swimming Sports
Wed 14 Feb - Ash Wednesday Mass 11.30am
Tues 20 Feb - SAC Meeting 7pm
Mon 26 Feb - Student Free Day
Mon 4 / Tue 5 March - Get to Know You meetings 3.15 - 5.00pm
Mon 11 Mar - Public Holiday
Fri 15 Mar - St Patrick’s Day Mass 12pm
25-27 Mar - Grades 4,5,6 Camp - Melbourne
28 Mar - Last Day of Term 1
Sacramental Programs
Any families wishing for their child(ren) to be involved in the Sacramental programs of Confirmation or Reconciliation and First Communion this year, are encouraged to complete an enrolment form and submit to the Parish Office in Horsham by Friday 9 February.
School fees
All families should have received a school fees pack in the mail after the end of last year. A reminder that Election Forms and other paperwork should be returned to the office by Friday 16 February.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if at any time payment of fees is an issue and we can discuss suitable payment arrangements.
Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere app
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.
In particular, at the beginning of the year we request updated information and completion of some Connect Fields (Surveys).
We request your close attention to these as soon as possible.
If there are any changes to your details/circumstances, such as change to residential address, please advise office staff 53911575 or admin@spnhill.catholic.edu.au.
Lunch Orders
Lunch orders are available on Wednesdays starting next week. The menu is below, and you can find it on the Parent Access Module PAM/SIMON Everywhere app, in School Links. A hardcopy is available from the office on request.
Students should bring their orders (written on an envelope with correct money inside) to the office at the beginning of the day.
Book Club has arrived!
Look out for your copy of Book Club (Issue 1) coming home in your child's schoolbag! It's packed with hundreds of books from just $3 to help you on your child's reading journey.
Did you know that every purchase you make on Book Club earns our school 15% of the order value in Scholastic Rewards? We use these to purchase more books and educational resources for the school. It all helps!
Safe to school
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 are clearly sign-posted between 8:45-9:15am and 3:15-3:45pm.
Student-free Days
Student-free days are days where students do not attend school within the gazetted attendance period but are designated for staff professional development, school professional development activities, planning and/or report-writing. Each year, the first day of Term 1 and the last day of Term 4 will be a student-free day in all DOBCEL schools. In exceptional circumstances, the Executive Director of Catholic Education Ballarat or delegate can approve days beyond the normal six student-free days.
Please note the following student-free days in your calendars:
- Monday 26 February
- Monday 15 July
- Term 3 Week 7 - date to be confirmed
- Friday 20 December
All school dates are updated on the SIMON (PAM/SIMON Everywhere) Calendar.
Get Back to School Ready with the School Student Broadband Initiative!
Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities.
With broadband internet access your family will be able to access fast internet at home, which supports children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and participate in a world that is more dependent on digital technology. +
With the recent program extension there is now more time to sign up for the School Student Broadband Initiative, with the new school year starting - this is a great time sign up for this offer or refer a family:
- For any new families signing up now, this offer means free internet until 31 December 2025.
- For families who have already connected with SSBI, their free internet will automatically be rolled over until 31 December 2025.
Check your eligibility for free nbn broadband until the end of 2025 now:
Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT) or by visiting www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.
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.
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
82 - The number of years since the movie ‘Casablanca’ was released.
What a summer - the Aussie Men’s team defeated Pakistan convincingly before losing their final Test match against the West Indies; the Aussie Women are leading their series against South Africa; Djokovic got knocked out of the Australian Open by Jannik Sinner (coached by Darren Cahill, the son of Port Adelaide Football Club legend, Jack); and my Horsham Saints C Grade returned to the field after a six week break with a win last Saturday! And, I think I caught a whiff of football in the air too - footy will be back soon!!
Enjoy the year ahead!
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal
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
Term Dates 2024
Term 1 29 Jan (Staff) 31 Jan (Students) to 28 Mar
Term 2 15 Apr to 28 Jun
Term 3 15 Jul to 20 Sep
Term 4 7 Oct to 20 Dec
All calendar dates are available on PAM (SIMON Everywhere)
School Calendar
February
Wed 7 - Foundation Students Rest Day
Fri 9 - Welcome Evening, 6pm
Tue 13 - Yrs 3-6 Swimming Carnival
Wed 14 - Foundation Students Rest Day
Wed 14 - Ash Wednesday Mass 11.30am
Thu 15 - Swimming Program commences
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 3.15-5.00pm
Tue 5 - "Get To Know You" meetings 3.15-5.00pm
Wed 6 - Foundation Students Rest Day
Mon 11 - Labour Day Public Holiday
Fri 15 - St Patrick's Day Mass 12.00pm
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
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
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