Whenever we gaze into a crib this Christmas season

May new hope and joy flood our spirit

Whenever we watch babies and young children playing

May a new energy delight our hearts

Whenever we are tantalised by the aroma of a BBQ

May we unwind, relax and enjoy time off

Whenever the crush of family and friends overwhelms us

May the hospitality of our hearts expand

Whenever we provide a meal or bed over the holidays

May we experience love and appreciation

Whenever we spy our reflection in the mirror or the pool

May we find ourselves to be images of God

Whenever we put our feet up for leisure

May the humble presence of the Incarnate One companion us

Whenever we feel our distance from each other around the world

May the Christ child draw us into unity.

Amen.

Activities Program

As our students close out the 2021 school year, they will be participating in various activities in these final three days of schooling. Some photos of today's activities are included on the Classroom News page.

Graduation Ceremony

We look forward to welcoming parents to our Graduation Ceremony which will be held in the school Hall from 6.00pm on Tuesday 14 December. Our Year 6 students will be recognised as they complete their Primary education. Some awards will be presented to various students from across the year levels and there will also be presentations by the graduating Year 6 students.

As this is a school event, QR codes will apply and all attendees aged over 12 years and 2 months will need to be double vaccinated.

Graduation Mass

Our students will end the school year with their Graduation Mass at 1.30pm on Wednesday 15th December. Fr Anthony from Robinvale will be joining us for this special occasion. Fr Anthony will be working closely with our school in 2022 as well, so we welcome him to our St Patrick's community.

Parents are invited to join us for the Mass, however please note that everyone over the age of 12 years and 2 months needs to QR code in and provide original evidence of being double vaccinated against COVID-19.

Facemasks and Vaccinations

All students in Year 3 and above MUST wear a properly fitting mask at all times when inside school buildings. Facemasks are also recommended for children in Years Foundation to Year 2.

Similarly, ALL PARENTS / VISITORS MUST wear a properly fitting facemask when inside school buildings.

All parents must also have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine and be able to produce an original copy of their vaccination certificate. Parents cannot enter school buildings if not double vaccinated.

More information is provided below.

Students aged 12 and above can now be vaccinated

The Victorian Government has announced that all students in Victoria, aged 12 years and above, are eligible to book and receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

The Victorian Government is encouraging everyone aged 12 and above to get vaccinated as soon as possible and to receive at least one vaccine dose by the end of the school year.

COVID-19 vaccines are an essential protection against serious illness. Vaccination is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged, except where your medical practitioner advises you otherwise.

Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine or covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility to book an appointment.

Visitors to school

All visitors to school grounds must comply with vaccination requirements, density limits, face mask requirements, QR code check-ins and practise respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene.

"If a person must provide verification of their vaccination status and they refuse or do not meet the vaccination/exemption requirements, that person should be asked to leave site. This is a reasonable request and enables us to maintain our COVIDSafe processes and safeguard the health and wellbeing of the school community." CECV School Operations Guide.

QR code check-in

The following people must use the hardcopy Visitor Register and QR Code when entering the school (and therefore must enter through the office, not the side entrance):

All visitors, including contractors and CEB staff
All parents who enter school buildings

Parents who come onto school grounds for drop off or pick up, but do not enter buildings are not required to use the QR Code.

Summary, when entering the school building please:

wear a mask
sign in using QR Code and Visitor Register
provide verification of vaccination status (2nd dose)
use hand sanitiser.

Nhill Parish Christmas Mass

Nhill Catholic Church

Christmas Day

8.30am

Headstart

Last week our Year 6 students visited their Secondary schools as part of their orientation programs in readiness for Year 7 in 2022. From what I have heard, the students had a great time and now look forward to moving into the next phase of their education journey.

Similarly, we had a visit from most of our 2022 Foundation students last Tuesday. For several of them it was a long day, as it was the first time they had spent a full day at school.

We are keen for them to join us from the beginning of the new school year as they start their own educational journeys.

Meerkat Productions

On Thursday we finally had a visit from Meerkat Productions. We missed their visit in 2020 due to restrictions and instead had an online viewing of their production. This year we were scheduled to have them in July and then this got postponed until August, then September, then November, and finally to December. It was great to finally be able to see them perform live, as Luke and Jemima presented their interpretation of Maggie Hutchings' book, "Your Birthday was the Best!"

Children and staff enjoyed the presentation and asked some very good questions of the actors at the completion of the presentation.

Student Reports

Students' end of year reports will be distributed at tomorrow evening's Graduation Ceremony.

If you have any questions regarding your child's report and wish to speak to their teacher, please contact the school to arrange a time that is convenient for both yourself and the teacher.

School Dates 2022

Term Dates for 2022 can be found in the School Calendar section of this newsletter, however I wish to point out that the start date for students in 2021 will be Tuesday 1st February.

Please note in your calendars that there will be Student Free days on Wednesday 16 February and Friday 4 March as staff will be involved in Professional Learning on those two days.

SAC News - WWHS Food Drive

Thank you to our families for your generous donations towards the SAC's West Wimmera Health Service Food Drive. The Social Work department of WWHS will make good use of the several hundred dollars worth of groceries and $175 cash which was converted into fuel vouchers.

Sunday's Gospel - Luke 3:10-18

Sunday's Gospel told us more about the preaching of John the Baptist. John knew that people were eager for the coming of the Messiah. They wanted the joy of knowing that God was near to them and ready to help them.

But John did not want people to just sit back and wait. They needed to change the way they lived. John helped them understand what it means to become holy and to live each day as children of a holy God.

What are we doing during Advent in order to follow Jesus more faithfully?

Bus notes

Parents of bus travelling students please note that Nhill College has requested that any changes to travel arrangements (e.g. if you are picking up your child after school) be notified before 3.00pm on that day. You can do this by -

calling our school office 53911575
sending an email to principal@spnhill.catholic.edu.au or krintoule@spnhill.catholic.edu.au
use the Bus Change Notification Form on their website - this is a quick and easy process on your mobile phone (hint: add this as a quick link on your phone's home screen)

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.

"We can all meet together in spirit at the Crib of our loving Infant and pray for one another. I wish you every grace and blessing of this holy time with fondest love."

Mary MacKillop, 1881

By the Numbers:

5 - The number of children enrolled in Grade 1 when St Patrick's School opened in 1949.

A win for my team on Saturday (albeit by forfeit) and a convincing win by the Aussies as well on Saturday made it a great weekend for cricket. The only problem with a four day Test match is that there was no cricket to watch yesterday! Bring on the Day/Night Test in Adelaide from Thursday night. It's going to be another great summer of cricket, tennis and AFLW. See you next year!

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.

School Advisory Council

Members

Next Meeting

2021 Annual Report