From the Principal

In readiness for the commencement of Lent, we pray the Prayer for this year's Project Compassion 

God of all peoples and nations,

As you accompany us on our 

Lenten journey,

May our fasting strengthen our 

commitment to live in solidarity,

Our almsgiving be an act of justice, and

Our prayers anchor us in love and 

compassion.

Through living simply and loving 

generously,

May we care for our global family 

and our common home, as we

“Aspire not to have more, but to be more”.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Student Free Day - Friday 12th February

A reminder that tomorrow is a Student Free Day as all staff will be undertaking Professional Learning in relation to Enhancing Catholic School Identity.  This day constitutes part of the preparation for our School Review which will take place later this year.

No students are to come to school tomorrow.

School procedures for the bushfire season

Fire Danger Ratings and warnings are used in Victoria to provide clear direction on the safest options for preserving life.

Schools and children's services listed on the DET Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR) and those at risk of grassfire (Category 4) will be closed when a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined in their Bureau of Meteorology district.  Our school has been identified as being one of those at high grassfire risk. 

Where possible, three (3) days’ notice of a planned closure will be provided.  However, experience indicates that a Code Red fire danger rating day may be forecast at short notice.  Parents and guardians should expect that in some instances less than three days’ notice may be provided.  Once the final decision to close is confirmed at 12 noon the day prior, this decision will not change – regardless of any changes in the weather forecast.  This will help limit confusion and help families plan for how their children will be cared for when their school is closed.

When a school is closed in response to bushfire risk, no one, including staff, contractors and other users, will be permitted on site.

It is also important to note that:

• School camps will be cancelled if a Code Red fire danger rating day is determined for the Bureau of Meteorology district in which the camp is located.
• All bus routes that travel through the Code Red area will be cancelled.

On these Code Red Fire Danger Rating days, families are encouraged to enact their Bushfire Survival Plan – on such days children should never be left at home alone or unsupervised or in the care of older children.

As part of preparing our school for potential hazards such as fire, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan, [reprioritised any maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our facility’s grounds and gutters].  In the event of an emergency we will communicate with your via SMS.

What can parents do?

• Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements in the event that our school is closed.
• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers.  Keep in touch with us by reading our newsletters and any messages sent home, by checking our website http://www.spnhill.catholic.edu.au or SIMON PAM (Simon Everywhere app), by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
• Most importantly at this time of year, if you’re planning a holiday or short stay in the bush or in a coastal area, you should check warnings in advance of travel and remain vigilant during your stay.
• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.
• You can access more information about children’s services closures on the Department of Education and Training website – see http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/pages/closures.aspx

For up-to-date information on this year’s fire season, visit the VicEmergency website at emergency.vic.gov.au or call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226. 

Ash Wednesday - Our Lenten Journey

Next week we commence our Lenten journey as we look forward towards Easter.  

On Tuesday we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday with pancakes at school.  Our senior students will be cooking pancakes which everyone can enjoy eating at recess time.  Parents are welcome to join us for a pancake in the hall at 11am.

Ash Wednesday will be marked with Mass in the Church at 2pm on Wednesday.  Monsignor Glynn Murphy will join us for our Mass.  Due to the pandemic, ashes cannot be placed on our foreheads this year and instead will be sprinkled upon us.  Once again, parents are invited to join us for the Ash Wednesday Mass.

Project Compassion

Next week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au 

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

Swimming Program

Our swimming program will commence on Monday 22nd February.  Please watch for notices being sent home next week.  We are planning to run a mini-carnival with novelty events on the last day of the program (Tuesday 2nd March).  Further information will be on next week's newsletter.

Get To Know You Meetings

Our Get To Know Youmeetings will be held on Tuesday 23rd February from 3.30 - 6.30pm.  Parents may book an interview time via the Parent Access Module (PAM).  A link to Parent-Teacher Interviews appears on the homepage and you will be able to select the teacher you wish to meet with and the preferred time.  For those who are new at St Patrick's School in 2021, your PAM login details are on the back page of the SIMON information flyer that was given to you at the start of the year.  

If you experience difficulties logging on via PAM, please feel free to contact the school to arrange a meeting time.

Uniforms, Jewellery, Make Up

A reminder to everyone of our school rules in relation to uniform.  

If a child is not in correct uniform, a short note of explanation should be provided.  Students can bring or wear suitable sports footwear on Tuesdays for the PE class otherwise school shoes as identified on our uniform list are to be worn.

Coloured nail polish, jewellery and make-up should not be worn to school.  A watch may be worn. Sleepers or studs are the only earrings deemed appropriate for school.  

Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back or up at all times.

Data Projector & PA System

Parents who were able to join us for our Assembly would have noticed the new data projector and PA system that has been installed in St Patrick's Hall.  This new addition allows for improved presentations during assemblies, parent gatherings, meetings, external presenters, and for classes that may be held in the hall.

Our thanks to Jeff Allen of Chisholm HiFi, Horsham, for his assistance with the supply of components for the project and to Brad Williams and Tyler Newcombe of Western Electrical Solutions for the installation of the system.

Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia

Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.

First Catholic school

The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. 

Celebrating the legacy

Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school-age students attending a Catholic school.

This represents some 768,000 students in 1,751 schools across the country and employing 98,000 teachers and staff.

Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.

The formal celebrations were due to be held from October 2020 to October 2021. However, due to pandemic restrictions, the celebrations will now be held during the 2021 school year. 

The official launch of the celebrations will be held in the week commencing 22 – 26 February 2021 and will involve local state, territory and diocesan events. 

A National Mass will also be celebrated in every state, territory and diocese on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on 24 May 2021. 

Additional events and activities will be added to our calendars throughout the year. 

Reminders - on-site learning

Following the Governments announcements last weekend there have been a number of changes to restrictions across Victoria.  As a school we are still unpacking what some of those changes mean for us as part of the St Patrick's School community.

 The following coronavirus restrictions, however, still remain in place:

• 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.

"Pray ever to be ready for God's will even when it takes you by surprise."  Mary MacKillop, 1880

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal