From the Principal

Apparently there is only a week of winter to go and so the days should start to feel a little warmer.  I don't believe that this news has filtered through to my office yet!  We seem to be getting mixed messages lately.  We either get cold, foggy mornings which lead into pleasant afternoons, or it's the direct opposite - we've had some very nice mornings only to be followed by wet and cold afternoons.  

I am keen to hear from parents about how you are finding the online/remote learning this time around.  How are your children coping with the workload?  Have you been able to communicate with your child's teacher as necessary?  I would love to hear from you if you have time to send me an email at principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au or give me a call at school.

Transformations around the School

There have been some interesting changes to the look of the school taking place over the past week.  On the weekend Nathan Ruge erected our new banners at the front of the school.  I'm sure you'll agree that they look fantastic.  Thanks for your efforts Nathan.

Our staff have also been busy thinking about ways in which we can add to the presentation of our school grounds and areas where the children can be involved in active play.  This week they have started on some of the suggested projects.  Some of the garden beds are in the process of undergoing transformations.  Rocks have been moved to new locations.  New garden beds are being established and murals are being drawn up.  Thank you to Mrs Pilgrim and Mrs Dickinson for their leadership on these tasks and also to the students who have been on site and have been actively involved in the process.

Gardening and Maintenance Tender

The following advert appeared in Wednesday's edition of the Nhill Free Press.  We are calling for tenders for the provision of Gardening and Maintenance services of the school grounds for the next two years.  Please feel free to share this notice with anyone you think may be interested in filling this important role for our school.

Temperature Checks

As outlined in my letter to parents last week, we are now compelled to undertake temperature checks of all children before they enter the school grounds.  Because of this, we have closed the side gate between the school building and the Community Hall.  This is to ensure that children enter through the front entrance only.  Similarly the gates beside the tennis court (hardcourt) and the back gate beside the oval are also closed.  No students or parents are to enter via these gates please.

Dancing With the Stars

We have had our own version of this reality TV show this week with Miss Webb and Miss Williams performing a routine, of their own choreography, to the Disney hit Hakuna Matata from The Lion King.  The challenge has been sent out for the children to produce their own video clips and send in to their teachers.  If the whole family wants to get involved, go for it!  

Enrolments for Foundation 2021

This week we delivered information packs to the Early Learning Centre for distribution to all the Kinder families.  If you are aware of any families who have a child entering Foundation level at school next year and they haven't received an info pack, please ask them to contact us here at school and we'll arrange for them to be able to collect one.

Anyone who wishes to have a chat with me about enrolling their child at St Patrick's School for 2021 can give me a call on 53911575 or email me at principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au.

Sunday's Gospel

In Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28), Jesus is begged by the Canaanite woman to help save her daughter from torment by a devil.  Jesus responds to the woman, saying that he, "Was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel."  When the woman continues to beg for Jesus' help, he replied, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the house-dogs." Jesus suggests that the sheep are 'his children' and intimates that the woman's people are 'the dogs.'  Still the woman pleads for Jesus to save her daughter and Jesus is impressed by the woman's great faith and he heals her daughter.

During this time of the pandemic that is affecting the whole world, we are reminded to be like the Canaanite woman and not lose faith. We continue to ask God to guide us through these pandemic times and to heal our communities both locally and globally.

God of Compassion,

Help us during this time of isolation, fear and uncertainty.

Give us the courage to remain faithful and strong.

Guide us to the people and tasks neglected by our busyness.

Allow this time, gifted to us by staying home, to be used to form stronger relationships and connections with our families, friends, communities and the Earth.

Through our physical distance may we find new ways to act in love, solidarity and unity as we journey onwards together in hope and faith.  Amen.

(Mercy Partners)

Around the school this week

Online Learning

Please note the following information regarding students' online contact times.

Senior Class

• The Senior Students have a roll call at 9am every morning, if they are unable to make it please email Miss Webb.
• On Mondays the students meet in their year levels to discuss and engage in some group learning.
• Years 3 and 4 students have a Google Meet catch up with their peers at 9:30am on Mondays.
• Year 5 students have their Google Meet at 10:30am on Mondays.
• Year 6 students meet at 11:30am on Mondays.
• On Wednesdays, Miss Webb is catching up with each senior student individually to check in and support their learning. The time for these individual catch ups has been emailed to each student. If your child hasn’t received an email with a time, this is because Miss Webb will be catching up with them at school.
• On Friday afternoons the Seniors also have a whole class Google Meet at 2:00pm until 2:30pm.  This provides an opportunity for students to catch up and have a bit of fun to finish off the week.

Junior Class

• All Junior students receive their notifications via SeeSaw.  Junior students have a group roll call each morning at 9.30am via Google Meet.  Miss Williams has advised families of arrangements for individual check in times.

A reminder that students are asked to be in school uniform when they are online in the group sessions and roll calls please.

On Wednesday mornings, there is a 9.05 attendance and Google Meet fitness session for the whole school.  Each Wednesday will also have a distinct theme as part of our Wellbeing Wednesdays.

COVID-19 Declaration & On-site Attendance Form

A reminder that if you require your child to be at school over the next few weeks, a COVID-19 Declaration & On-site Attendance Form is required to be completed and submitted prior to the day.  Unless prior arrangements have been made with myself, children are only to be at school if parents are required to work and there is no alternative child care available.

The COVID-19 Declaration & On-site Attendance Form is obtainable by clicking either of these buttons:

Family Fee Assistance

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have had a marked financial impact on many families. St Patrick's School, like all Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat, are committed to ensuring that Catholic education will continue to be available to all families irrespective of the financial demands imposed on families at this time. 

Fees are an integral source of income for schools to ensure that staffing, utilities and other operational costs are met. These costs continue, irrespective of whether on-site or remote learning and teaching is undertaken. The Family Fee Assistance Scheme is available for families who hold a means tested Health Care Card, Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Affairs Pensioner Card.  If you are eligible for one of these cards you qualify automatically for the scheme and pay a discounted fee of $520 per annum ($10 per week) for primary school tuition fees. If you would like more information about this scheme, please contact me at school. 

If you are not eligible for the Family Fee Assistance discount yet are experiencing financial difficulty at this time, please contact me so that confidential financial support arrangements can be explored to assist you.

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.

"I hope that you have more charity and that you do not judge by appearance" Mary MacKillop, 1873

Thank you ...

Nathan Ruge for installing the new entrance banners, Ash Dickinson for the supply of tyres for our garden beds, and Azza's Tyres for replacing the school's wheelbarrow tyre free of charge.

Happy Birthday ... Marnie

2020 Term Dates

Term 3 13 July to 18 September

Term 4 5 October to 18 December

School Calendar

**to be confirmed due to coronavirus restrictions

St Patrick's Church Services

Cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions until further notice

School Advisory Council

Parent representatives

Helen Cannell (Chair)

Zanther McEldrew

Melissa Polkinghorne

Nathan Ruge

Antoinette Toet

Ex officio

Fr. Peter Hudson

Kingsley Dalgleish

Ann Munro

Karen Rintoule

Next Meeting

Wednesday 14 October 2020 at 7.00pm

God Bless you all,

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal