God of the neighbour,

God of the stranger,

how many times have we left the house

and passed the homes of those

we barely know?

Yet you have known them.

And you know the people across the globe,

The stranger is our neighbour

in this little world we’ve made.

May we no longer estrange our neighbour

in the world we build together.

Amen.

There are wonderful sounds flowing from the classrooms, the hallway and the playground today. With the start of spring we expect to hear the beautiful singing of the birds as they celebrate the change of seasons from winter to the warmer days, as we head towards the summer months. Today, however, the singing and chirping is the voices of our F-2 children rejoicing in being back at school, being with their teachers, and being with their friends again. There is a real breath of fresh air in the school yard and the classrooms today. We now await the full return of ALL of our students.

Thank you again to all parents and carers for the wonderful support you have provided during the latest lockdown and remote learning period.

Parents who are deemed to be authorised workers, as per Government guidelines, may request that their children attend school on days when parents are required to work and neither parent is able to supervise their child. Please use the following links to request for your child to be able to come to school.

On-site attendance form

https://forms.gle/NE2ByNd3wmNDU4BK9

Permitted Worker Permit

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-permit

School Review

This week we welcomed, via Google Meet, Mary Lovelock, Chris Robarts and Suzie McManus, who formed the external panel to conduct our School Review. The Review included reflecting on our journey over the previous five years and establishing key priorities for our next five years.

I wish to thank the parents, students and staff members who contributed to our review in any of the many ways - whether by being interviewed by panel members, completing Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) surveys or InsightSRC surveys, completion of student surveys, or through anecdotal feedback to staff members which was able to be relayed to the panel.

We received great positive feedback from the panel as well as identifying some opportunities and challenges for us as a school community.

Staff have been working through the Review process for over 12 months and submitted extensive review documentation for the panel members to peruse prior to this week's formal Review. It has been an interesting process to go through and it was pleasing to hear that the panel, after having read through our documents, interviewed school community members, and conducted the whole process, arrived at the same key priorities as those established by the staff.

The panel will now formalise their report and, once it is ratified by the Executive Director of Catholic Education Ballarat, it will be presented to us and will guide us as a school over the next five years. I will share the key priorities with our school community once the report has been ratified.

Catholic School Parents Victoria Newsletter

The CSPV Parent Connection News Term 3 Newsletter has been released. In this issue you will find relevant information for parents and schools with articles, videos and links to resources.

CSPV share information about parent leadership and parent engagement for parents of children in Catholic schools in Victoria.

Visit the link below to view your newsletter:

Sunday's Gospel: Mark 7: 31-37

In Sunday’s Gospel, a man has his hearing and his power to speak restored. It would be interesting to know what this man heard and what words he would have exclaimed. Just as we are delighting in hearing the beautiful sounds in the classrooms again today, the sounds the man heard that day would have filled him with delight as well. Given that prior to being healed by Jesus he would have been unable to enjoy the sounds around him, it is likely that he took the time to listen to and help those less fortunate than himself. Such is the power of the miracles that Jesus performed; he provided an opportunity for those who had been excluded to take up his message and become his disciples in a very visible way. Now is the time for us to reflect on what we choose not to hear and what things we choose to ignore in our world. How do we allow the Spirit of God to work through us in response to the needs of others? How often does our lack of faith render us deaf to the truth and lacking the courage to speak out about issues of concern? Many people in our families, our schools, our workplaces and our world need our ears opened and our voices to speak up about injustices. We need to do more than just hear, we need to listen.

Season of Creation - September 1 to October 4

This year’s theme is, ’A Home for All? Renewing the oikos of God’. (One of the meanings for the ancient Greek word ‘oikos’ is home.) Oikos is a home for all, but our common home, the Earth, is now in danger because of people’s greed, exploitation, disrespect, disconnection and systematic degradation. God often shows his wonderful presence in nature - from the crisp mountain air, the rolling waves, to crops and flowers in our own gardens. This spring, let us act and pray for the preservation and care of our one and only planet.

Uniform Reminder

If your child is missing a size 8 (fairly new) school jumper, it is here at school (having gone home with another child).

This is an opportune time to remind parents to put names on all of your child's school clothes (jumpers, hats).

Operation Christmas Child

Families are encouraged to join in supporting children in vulnerable situations through Operation Christmas Child.

What is Operation Christmas Child?

Operation Christmas Child is a hands-on way for you to bless children in need across the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and fun gifts. Boxes are collected and distributed in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in vulnerable situations. See the video below.

Please check the website for further information and for details on how to pack a shoebox. There is also an option to make a $30 donation and have a box packed and sent on your behalf.

Boxes delivered to school will be collected in early Term 4.

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.

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.

"Have courage, no matter what your crosses are."

Mary MacKillop, 1890

One more sleep!! It is going to be a huge night at the Adelaide Oval tomorrow night, and there may be just as much energy and excitement in my lounge room as well as I cheer the Power to victory in the Preliminary final against the Doggies. I look forward to previewing the Grand Final in next week's newsletter - otherwise it may well be an early start to the cricket season! I'm hoping there's another couple of weeks in the Power season yet!! Go Port!!!

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal

Our Vision

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.

St. Patrick’s School is a Child-Safe School.

Our Mission

Therefore, inspired by the Gospels, our community will:

Build on the traditions of our Catholic faith.
Offer engaging, contemporary education aligned with Catholic tradition.
Provide a safe and inclusive environment to support and nurture the development of all.
Provide and maintain a supportive environment that effectively utilises resources.
Promote caring and responsible relationships between the school, family, and wider community to enhance student learning.

School Advisory Council