From the Principal

It has been wonderful to be greeted each day with news of another 'Double Donuts' day as the state has registered no new cases of coronavirus and no deaths resulting from the virus in the preceding 24 hours.  We are being able to enjoy more liberties as a result, however we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent.  We all need to be vigilant and continue to ensure that we are doing the right thing by ourselves and for our community.  This includes washing our hands, using hand sanitisers, wearing face masks, abiding by the regulations still in place and staying away from school or work if we feel unwell.  I wish to thank all parents who have continued to be diligent in this regard and have been considerate of us all.  

For those of us who have not been able to catch up with family members and friends due to the Melbourne lockdown or border restrictions, we look forward to the further easing of restrictions as we head towards the Christmas period.

School Hours

A reminder to parents that, "children should not arrive at school before 8.40am and should be collected at 3.15pm.  There is no supervision before and after those times." (Parent Handbook).

We have had quite a few children arriving around 8.30am at which time there is no supervision of the School Crossing (the crossing flags are placed out at 8.40am) and no staff member is on duty at that time.

Remembrance Day

Our Senior students lead us in our Remembrance Day Ceremony on Wednesday as we paid respect to all service men and women who have served, or continue to serve our country in conflict or peace time operations.

Students observed a minute silence and the playing of the Last Post at 11am and then joined in with the ceremony later in the day as we reflected on the significance of Remembrance Day and the symbols that represent the day.

I thank all our students for the reverence they demonstrated during our ceremony.  

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun,

And in the morning,

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

NAIDOC Week

This year, the NAIDOC Week theme is Always Was, Always Will Be.  

This theme recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.  Australia has the world’s oldest oral stories. The First Peoples engraved the world’s first maps, made the earliest paintings of ceremony and invented unique technologies. 

Always Was, Always Will Be. acknowledges that hundreds of Nations and their cultures covered this continent.  All were managing the land - the biggest estate on earth - to sustainably provide for their future.

NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact, whether in 1770 or 1606 - with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula.  The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples. 

NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.

National Bullying Prevention Week

Bullying impacts over two million Australians every year: whether its young people at school; employees in the workplace or all ages online, many face the challenging impacts of becoming targets of bullying behaviours.  According to statistics, 1 in 4 young people and up to 1 in 9 employees experience bullying.  For this reason, the inaugural National Bullying Prevention Week will be held from 16th to 20th November.

The National Bullying Prevention Week will serve as an important platform to raise awareness of bullying and its impact on individuals and communities.  Bullying has a long lasting effect on those who experience and witness it.  But by channelling our collective power, through shared efforts and shared ambitions, we can reduce bullying together. From parents and carers, to employees and employers, to the media and politicians, to children and young people, we all have a part to play in coming together to make a difference.

We’re all a piece in the puzzle, and together, we’re united against bullying.

Staff First Aid

Yesterday our staff completed a First Aid update with Gemma Cramer from Casey Kosch First Aid Training.  The theory and practical assessments covered areas including CPR, Medical Emergencies, Shock, Burns, Asthma, and Anaphylaxis.

We look forward to never have to put this knowledge into practice!!

Senior Camp 

Our Senior students are looking forward to their camp next week.  The students will be going to Little Desert Nature Lodge on Wednesday and Thursday.  Students will participate in a number of activities at the site as well as attending Nhill Skate Park and Dimboola Pool.  I thank Miss Webb for her organisation of the camp, as well as herself and Mrs Pilgrim for making themselves available to attend.  It is pleasing that Fr Peter will also be joining us for the two days.  

Parents are asked to ensure that all permission forms have been completed and submitted.  

Whole School Excursion

All students will be going to Halls Gap for an excursion next Friday.  Parents are asked to ensure that all permission forms have been completed and submitted.  Students will need to be at school by 7.45am on Friday.  Students will return to school at approximately 5.30pm.

Teacher Interviews

Today we conducted interviews to find a replacement teacher for Siobhan Webb who is leaving us at the end of the year.  I hope to be able to announce an appointment next week.

School photos

We hope you were happy with the school photos that went home with your children earlier this week.   If you wish to order more/other photos (e.g. whole school group), please contact the office.

Coronavirus - Message from the Victorian Chief Health Officer

Sunday's Gospel - Matthew 25: 1-13

In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus told the parable of the 10 Bridesmaids and the Wedding Feast. Five bridesmaids were sensible and five were foolish.  The sensible bridesmaids had lamps and oil, whereas those who were foolish had lamps but not sufficient oil.  At the hour that the delayed bridegroom arrived, those with oil were prepared to meet him.  The bridesmaids without the oil needed to go out and seek more from sellers and missed the bridegroom who had already locked the door by the time they returned.  

In this parable we are being reminded of our need to be prepared for the hour when Jesus arrives.  In this parable, he also makes it clear that there is a time for repentance and a time when repentance will be too late.  When the bridegroom comes, it will be too late to borrow oil—too late to ask for help—too late to pray—too late to get ready.  When the door closes, it will be too late to plead for mercy. 

Jesus closes by summarising his point—that we must maintain constant readiness for his coming again, because we “do not know either the day or the hour”.

Reminders - on-site learning

Coronavirus restrictions remain in place.  This means that:

• All unwell students must stay home.  Parents will be called to collect any students who experience symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat.
• Students must bring their own water bottles to school for use (and refilling).
• We will continue to provide routine environmental cleaning, including progressive cleaning throughout the day, as well as easy access for hand hygiene (hand washing and sanitiser).
• Parents/carers are asked to observe physical distancing measures before and after school by not congregating in areas inside or around the school, including at the main entrance.
• Parents/carers can attend the school office if necessary.
• Face masks do not need to be worn at school by primary school children, but children over the age of 12 must wear masks when not at school.

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.

"May God grant you courage and true wisdom in all you do and say." Mary MacKillop, 1875

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal