From the Principal
Return to School
Next week marks another milestone for this school year as our Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students return to school on Tuesday.
It has been good to follow their progress as they have been completing their work on SeeSaw and Maths Online. There have been many wonderful pieces of art shared online as well as some fantastic writing and videos. The children have certainly been engaged with the online tasks as there have been in excess of 400 posts on the SeeSaw page, as well as their Maths tasks.
Remember, Monday 25th May is a student free day.
Other reminders:
- All unwell students must stay home. Parents will be called to collect any students who experience symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.
- Limited access for parents to school grounds and buildings (see next paragraph).
- All staff and students will undertake regular hand hygiene. Routine environmental cleaning will be undertaken throughout the day.
- Students must bring their own water bottles to school. Shared bubblers have been made unavailable. No sharing of water bottles or food.
Parent Access to School Grounds
Parents are reminded that, until further notice, you are not enter the school grounds at the start and end of the day when dropping off or collecting your children.
In the mornings children are to make their own way to the lunch shelter entrance to the school building.
At the end of the day, students are to be met by parents outside the front of the school grounds.
Please only enter the school grounds when essential to do so and visit the office only. Contact the school by phone or email where appropriate instead.
A reminder also of the need for adults to be complying with social-distancing regulations whilst collecting your children.
If your child is ill or is feeling unwell, they must not attend school. They must remain home and seek medical advice.
We appreciate your understanding and compliance with these regulations.
National Volunteers Week
This week is National Volunteers Week and this seems a most appropriate time to thank all who volunteer their time, talents and energy for the betterment of our school. Your contributions are valued, greatly appreciated, and certainly do not go unnoticed. Thank you all.
Laudato Si' Week 16-24 May
Early in 2020 Pope Francis called for a week-long celebration and call to action for the fifth anniversary of his encyclical Laudato Si’ on care for our common home. The theme for Laudato Si’ Week 2020 is “Everything is Connected”. The theme is taken from the encyclical itself which states: “When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected.” (Laudato Si’, 117)
In his video message Pope Francis asked “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who will come after us, to children who are growing up?”
We are all asked to consider the different ways we can respond to Pope Francis’ call to “hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (Laudato Si’, 49)
Pope Francis invites all to participate in this week which launches a year-long journey of transformation, as we grow through the crisis of the current moment by praying, reflecting, and preparing together for a better world to come tomorrow.
“I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our
planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all."
Pope Francis
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 will bring about what God sees best." Mary MacKillop, 1882
God Bless you all,
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal