From the Principal
Dear Lord,
Use my eyes to see new friends.
Open my ears to hear my teacher.
Open my mind to learn new things.
Let my heart remember you are near when I am afraid.
Help me to love others like you do.
I want to shine your light so brightly in my school.
Amen
How wonderfully exciting to have been able to welcome ALL of our children back on-site today. It has been over two months since we were last all together!! We pray that we may have experienced our last period of remote/online learning. I must, however, congratulate the students for the manner that they approached all seven lockdowns and remote learning phases. The resilience that has been shown has been commendable. We will now endeavour to pack as much fun and learning into the next seven weeks as possible.
Mask Wearing Mandated for Year 3-6 Students
As Victoria comes out of various lockdowns today we are reminded that we continue to see a high number of coronavirus cases across Victoria.
I want to reassure you, that St Patrick's School is doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our whole school community.
To keep our school safe and reduce students catching and spreading COVID-19, we have put a range of measures put in place based on health advice from the Australian and Victorian governments.
These measures include encouraging vaccination for eligible cohorts, ventilation of indoor spaces, and a range of COVIDSafe measures including cleaning, the regular use of hand sanitiser, increased use of outdoor spaces and the wearing of masks.
It is important that schools and the school community adhere to all of these COVIDSafe measures, not just the introduction of masks. When worn properly, masks can play an important role in reducing the transmission risks of COVID-19 that could happen from common activities in school.
We know COVID-19 can be transmitted amongst children, and between children and adults. When teachers, staff, and students consistently and correctly wear a mask, they help protect themselves and their friends, teachers and classmates from COVID-19.
St Patrick's School is required to follow the directions of the Victorian Chief Health Officer and our teachers and staff will be doing their utmost to ensure that masks are worn in school for Grade 3 and above, and to encourage mask-wearing for younger students.
The lawful exceptions for not wearing a mask are listed on the Victorian Government’s coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.
Thank you for supporting us to implement COVIDSafe measures to keep your children safe.
Chris Robarts
Our Catholic Education Ballarat Consultant, Mr Chris Robarts, finishes in his role today. Mr Robarts has been a great support of St Patrick's School over many years, including when he was Principal of Ss Michael and John's Primary School in Horsham during the 1990s and early 2000s. More recently he has worked closely with our School Advisory Council and was also assisting in the classroom in the latter part of 2019 when we were in the position of being short of both a Teacher and a Principal. Mr Robarts also led the staff through the process for our External School Review last term.
We thank Mr Robarts for his passion for Catholic Education, and in particular for his support of St Patrick's School. Best wishes, Chris!
Loud Shirt Day
To celebrate everyone being back at school, we will be having a Loud Shirt Day on Monday. Nationally, Loud Shirt Day is actually celebrated today to support Kids who are Deaf.
Students and staff are encouraged to wear their "loudest" and brightest shirt on Monday.
Assembly
We enjoyed an outdoors Assembly today and we were kept very busy awarding Reading Awards, Little Joey Awards and recognising birthdays that have been celebrated in the past two months. See the full list of Award recipients on the next page.
Student Free Day
There will be a Student Free Day on Monday 1 November to allow staff to catch up on some Professional Learning opportunities which they haven't been able to undertake during the remote learning. This day will allow teachers to continue their work with internationally renowned Education Consultant, Tom Hierck, Catholic Education Ballarat Teaching & Learning Consultant, Felicity Lane, and CEB Religion Consultant, Christine Bulger.
No classes will be running on that day.
School Closure Day - Melbourne Cup Day
St Patrick's School will be closed on Tuesday 2 November for Melbourne Cup Day. This Closure Day is in lieu of Nhill Show Day.
St Patrick's School Show Day
On Wednesday 3 November, St Patrick’s School will be holding our own Show Day. On this day we will be holding events that you might have seen at the Nhill Show in previous years. Students will be able to wear casual clothes and we will be having a ‘Fashions on the Field’ Parade, so we encourage students to dress in their best attire.
On the day, a Show Lunch - skinless franks in bread and a drink - will be provided. No lunch orders will be available on this day, however students can bring their own lunch if they don’t want what is being provided.
On the day we will be having some show categories that students might like to prepare at home and bring to school on Show morning to showcase. All entries will be featured in a tour hosted by the Senior Class and recorded for family viewing.
Children will be able to prepare items for the following categories:
- Lego creation
- Something with wheels
- Flowers in a saucer, arrangement or artwork made from flowers
- Artwork
- Cooking or decorated biscuits
- Favourite soft toy
- Artwork made from something recycled
- Something homemade
- Other (photographs, videos etc)
If children would like to bring a change of clothes from their fashions on the field outfit for the afternoon, they are more than welcome to. We will be playing a range of games and activities that will require them to move and run in the afternoon so suitable clothing for this is recommended.
School Improvement Plan
Following our School Review, three key priorities have been identified as being our foci for the next five years. These are:
- Developing and implementing core beliefs about learning, a Curriculum Plan, and evidence-based pedagogy across Awakenings and all Key Learning Areas of the Victorian Curriculum.
- Strengthening home/school partnerships to maximise student outcomes.
- Establishing a whole school approach to wellbeing and student engagement.
A copy of our School Improvement Plan 2022-2026 can be seen on our school website. The plan includes some possible strategies and actions, together with an implementation overview.
Sunday's Gospel: Mark 10:35-45
In Sunday’s Gospel, James and John asked to be given seats of honour when Jesus enters into his glory. Once again, the disciples seemed to be selective in what they heard Jesus say. They wanted to share Jesus’ glory, but did not appear to understand that his glory would be preceded by his suffering.
Sometimes we are very selfish and want to be first or the most important. At those times, we don't care about anybody else. Often we do this without thinking of how it will affect others or ourselves. James and John were like this. They hadn't heard Jesus when he tried to explain to them that to be a follower of Jesus doesn't always mean being in the first or best place. Following Jesus often means suffering.
Jesus took the opportunity to teach the disciples and to explain to them the importance of service and sacrifice in the life of a disciple.
How can we serve others as Jesus did?
St Brigid's Principal Visit
Mr Gerard Raven, Principal of St Brigid's College Horsham, will be visiting on Tuesday 26 October. Mr Raven is pleased to advise that St Brigid's College has received the first of their buses that they will use from the commencement of 2022 school year. There will be a bus departing Nhill each morning to take students to and from St Brigid's College. Anyone who would like to meet with Mr Raven to ask any questions about St Brigid's College or to discuss possible future enrolments, or regarding the bus option, will be able to do so from 3.30pm in St Patrick's Catholic Church.
Languages Survey
Thank you to all parents, students and staff who were able to respond to my survey regarding the study of Language at St Patrick's in 2022. Whilst we received an exemption from studying Language this year, we need to undertake study of a language again in 2022. I hope to be able to advise of the direction we will be taking in the near future.
Australian Parents Council Newsletter
Welcome to the latest edition of APC News.
It is a momentous time in education, with many thousands of kids returning to classrooms, many for the first time in months. It's apt that we are celebrating World Teachers' Day next week.
Catch up with all our latest views and news via the link here:
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.
"Now once more, let me entreat you to lovingly help one another on."
Mary MacKillop, 1881
Matildas v Brazil tonight, Australia V South Africa in T20 tomorrow night, WBBL matches over the weekend as well - my next two days are sorted! Just need some footy as well. I might have to tune in to the AFL Northern Territory to watch some of our local players in action up there. Looking forward to community sport recommencing soon!
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.