From the Principal

Return to School

What excitement we had on Tuesday as our Junior class returned to school.  It was absolutely fantastic to see the beaming smiles on the children's faces as they walked back into school full of confidence and anticipation at being reunited with their friends and the staff here at St Patrick's.  They all seem to have grown a little bit since we last saw them. There are also less teeth for some!  I think the Tooth Fairy may have been kept busy.

It has certainly been a pleasure to hear their chirpiness and engagement within the classroom over the past few days.  I now look forward to having our Senior students joining us on the 9th June.

National Simultaneous Story Time

On Wednesday we joined with schools and libraries across the nation for the National Simultaneous Storytime.  This year, we all combined to read Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas.  Mrs Dickinson read the book to our Junior students while the Senior class joined in by watching via Google Meet.  This was the first time since last term that the Juniors and Seniors had all combined either physically or online and it was beautiful to see the excitement on the faces of the children when they were able to see and chat with each other again.

National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

Observed annually on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.  National Reconciliation Week runs from Wednesday 27th May until Wednesday 3rd June.

Fr Peter's Anniversary of Ordination

Congratulations to our School Governor, Fr Peter, who on Friday celebrated 49 years of Ordination. Fr Peter entered the Seminary in 1964 and was Ordained a Priest on 22nd May 1971. During the past 49 years, Fr Peter has served the communities of Swan Hill, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Ballarat and Terang before moving to the Wimmera.

Some facts about Fr Peter that you may not be aware of:

• Fr Peter is one of 8 children in his family
• He grew up in Ararat before the family moved to Sunshine
• He was a handy ruckman during his footy playing days
• Fr Peter is a very passionate St Kilda supporter in the AFL
• He has completed several marathons including the New York Marathon on multiple occasions

Ms Murphy

As advised in yesterday's letter to parents, it is with great sadness that we have been advised of Ms Murphy's resignation at the end of this term.  Ms Murphy will be missed by us all however we pray that we will find a worthy replacement for her Junior class.

As a school we thank Ms Murphy for her contribution to our school community and particularly to the learning of the children in her class.  Fortunately we still have her at St Patrick's School for another four weeks before we say farewell to her.

Wedding Bells

Saturday is a special day for Mrs Creek and her family as her son is getting married in Adelaide.  Sadly, due to interstate travel restrictions, Mrs Creek and her husband are not able to physically attend the wedding but will join in online instead (in a similar manner to the online learning that we have been a part of this term).  We join with Mrs Creek and her family in wishing Adrian and Bonnie God's blessings as they are united in marriage.

Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 28: 16-20)

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” 

Jesus’ commissioning of the Disciples in Matthew’s account of the Ascension is a beautiful reminder to us that we share in that command to pursue God’s mission in the world.  We are commanded to be fearless in our mission. We are all asked to teach what Jesus taught, or “commanded,” of his Disciples. The confidence that they needed, and that we need, to engage in this mission is the assurance that the risen Christ is with us to the end of time. In the first chapter of Matthew, an angel announces that the child to be born will be called Emmanuel, God-with-us. The last verse of the gospel invites us once more to ponder that mystery and to commit ourselves to a life-giving gospel mission.

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.

"God be praised, for indeed God's ways are wonderful!" Mary MacKillop, 1898

God Bless you all,

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal