From the Principal

Prayer For Our Community

Loving God, 

you fill all things with a fullness and hope 

that we can never comprehend. 

Thank you for leading us into a time 

where more of reality is being unveiled 

for us all to see. 

We pray that you will take away 

our natural temptation for cynicism, 

denial, fear and despair. 

Help us have the courage 

to awaken to greater truth, 

greater humility, and greater care 

for one another. 

May we place our hope in what matters 

and what lasts, 

trusting in your eternal presence and love. 

Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing 

of our suffering world. 

Knowing, good God, 

you are hearing us better than we are speaking, 

we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. 

Amen.

As we complete the first week of the current lockdown, I wish to thank all members of our St Patrick's School community for the manner in which you have accepted the position we are all in and have rolled up your collective sleeves and got on with ensuring that there is continuity of learning for our children.  We look forward to the easing of regulations and the return of all students in the near future.

Please reach out to myself or your child's teacher if you are having any concerns with the online learning program or any other wellbeing aspect for your child.

Book Week 

Despite not being able to be together on-site this week, it was great to see so many children join in the fun of Book Week with our online dress-up day on Wednesday.  There were some wonderful interpretations of this year's theme, "Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds."

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.

Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor

The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021-22: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, affirms that “we human beings need a change of heart, mind, and behaviour”. It draws from Scripture, from the theological tradition, from Catholic Social Teaching, and from the wisdom of the world, including the insights of the First Nations.

The Social Justice Statement 2021-22 provides theological foundations to ground and inspire efforts to care for creation while responding to the needs of the disadvantaged and excluded. The Statement reflects on creation in and through the Trinity; the sacramentality of all created things; the wonder and beauty available to the contemplative eye; and the need for conversion and change of life.

In the Statement, the Bishops invite the whole Catholic community to join them in taking up Pope Francis’ invitation to a seven-year journey towards total ecological sustainability, guided by seven Laudato Si’ Goals. These Goals are: response to the cry of the earth; response to the cry of the poor; ecological economics; sustainable lifestyles; ecological spirituality; ecological education; and community engagement and participatory action.

The Statement especially encourages Catholic families, communities and organisations to: listen to the First Nations; reflect on the theological foundations offered in Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor; and plan their next steps towards the Laudato Si’ Goals.

Please watch the video below to hear from representatives of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Book Club Issue 6 is Online

Book Club is open and home delivery is available!

In response to the current lockdowns, Scholastic have added the temporary option for all parents to have their orders sent directly to their homes. This option will enable them to place and receive orders while their children are undertaking schooling at home. 

• When parents place their Issue 6 Book Club orders, they'll have the option to select home delivery or school delivery if you have Book Club opened–if not, the default will be home delivery.
• The home delivery option will automatically be added to schools in the lockdown area.
• The home delivery option can be selected by parents at the time of ordering for $7.50
• Your school will still earn 10% in Scholastic Rewards on home delivery orders.
• Any school deliveries will still be sent to the school once you submit your school order.

Hats

A reminder that students and staff are required to wear hats when outside during school time.  All students must have their school hats with them when at school between now and the end of April.  Parents are asked to check that your child's name is clearly labelled on their hat. 

Australian Parents Council Newsletter

The latest edition of the Australian Parents Council Newsletter has been released.  Whilst it includes several articles aimed at parents of secondary school students, there are also articles related to parent support for vaccines for students, parent webinars and more.

Click the link to view the newsletter.

Sunday's Gospel John 6:60-69

In last Sunday’s gospel from John, Jesus’ followers were faced with a decision; to either follow his teachings or to stop being followers of God.  Many decided that what Jesus was asking them to do was too hard and involved too many difficult choices.  They didn’t necessarily want to love their neighbours as themselves, or to constantly forgive those who had wronged them.  

Jesus did not promise us that our lives would be easy if we follow his teachings, but he did promise us eternal life if we believe  and trust in him.  There are many occasions when it is tempting to turn away from the challenge of real Christian living but there is much to be gained from living as God has called us to live.  We are called to be more like Peter who ‘hung in with Jesus’ and who holds onto his faith when many of Jesus’ followers were deserting him.

No longer collecting plastic lids

Please do not send any more plastic lids to school.  We have collected enough to finalise our project.  Thank you for your support over the past few terms.

**We are still collecting breadtags.

SAC Reminders

Food Drive

Last Christmas, our school donated non-perishable food items, gift cards and monetary contributions to help families in need in the lead up to Christmas. WWHS and local services were astounded by our generosity and again welcome our assistance in this area. We are asking St Patrick’s families, if they are able to do so, to contribute items to make up hampers for local families. Non-perishable food items, IGA gift cards or monetary contributions can be sent to school and/or monetary or gift cards contributions made at the office. 

Winter Jacket for the Homeless

Also as a part of our 2021 Community Engagement projects, SAC are looking to collect warm winter jackets as part of the ‘Heat the Homeless’ campaign, which has donated over 20,000 jackets to Melbourne’s homeless over the last five years. Our School Advisory Council will arrange for our school’s collection to then be sent to Melbourne which will then be distributed to the various charities who help those living on the streets. Jackets should be in a good, clean condition and ideally waterproof or thick/warm, however others may also be donated.  Should you like to know more about this initiative, please check out https://xtm.com.au/heat-the-homeless.

Enrolments

Catholic children living in the community of Nhill will ordinarily have a right to a place at our school providing there is one available.  We also welcome the enrolment of all students and families who share our vision and education philosophy. 

Applications are currently open for all year levels at our school.

The Enrolment Process

To ensure an equitable enrolment process of students at St. Patrick’s School, the following procedure will be followed for all new expression of interest and formal enrolments.

Prospective parents are encouraged to view our website content and check out our Facebook page St Patrick’s School, Nhill  facebook.com/stpatricksnhill

Kinder enrolments

We will provide all kinder families with an information pack, which includes enrolment forms, at the time of the organised kinder visits.

Interested parents should contact the school to arrange a suitable time for a school tour and a meeting with myself (depending upon Government regulations at the time).

Ideally, completed enrolment forms are required to be provided to the school by the end of Term 3 (Friday, 17 September). 

Parents and prospective students will be invited to return to the school for an interview, following which l will be in a position to confirm or deny the enrolment. 

Please note that a completed enrolment form is a prerequisite to admission, but not a guarantee of admission.

The planned Kinder visits to each of the three schools have been cancelled due to ongoing Government restrictions on visits to schools.

Each school will now be hosting online information sessions instead.  Our information session will be via Google Meet at 6.30pm on Thursday 2 September and can be accessed via this link.  It is hoped that we will be able to conduct visits early in Term 4.

Other year level enrolments

We are happy to accept enrolment enquiries for all year levels at any time of the year.

Please contact the school by telephone, or call into the school office, to make arrangements.

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.

"How truly wonderful are God's ways..."  Mary MacKillop, 1874

Now that the Home & Away season has finished, the real season can start.  Looking forward to watching Port knock off the cats again in a repeat of last year's Qualifying Final. In other matches I'm tipping Melbourne, Sydney and Essendon to upset the doggies even more!  Most importantly though, 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.