From the Principal

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for understanding.

Amen.

World Teachers' Day - Australia

Today is World Teachers' Day in Australia.  World Teachers’ Day is held internationally in early October, however it falls during the school holidays for many parts of Australia, so it is celebrated here on the last Friday in October.

Teachers, together with Learning Support Officers and Admin staff (and with support from parents and carers), have ensured education has continued across the country this year, despite major challenges. It has reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families, and communities.

Today, as with every day, I wish to acknowledge the staff of our school for the wonderful role that they play in the ongoing guidance and growth of the children entrusted to our care. 

Changes to restrictions from 1 November

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.

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.

School Advisory Council

The last meeting of the current SAC for the year took place on Wednesday.  A number of positions are now available to be filled prior to the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 1 December.  

Our SAC can have up to six (6) parent representatives.  Three of our current members will be in the second year of their two-year terms next year.  Therefore there are three positions (two-year terms) available.  Nominations for these positions are due by 4.00pm on Tuesday 16 November.  

We encourage you to consider if you would like to be a part of the SAC, or perhaps nominate someone else.  Our SAC meets once or twice a term.  Meetings generally last no longer than 90 minutes.

If you have any questions about the role of SAC members, please contact the school office or a current Council member (listed elsewhere in the newsletter).

Download/print these forms

(if viewing on a mobile phone, click the three-dot array top right of screen and select Print Layout)

Information for parents

Nomination form

or collect the information from the office.

SAC Reminders

Food Drive

Last Christmas, our school donated non-perishable food items, gift cards and monetary contributions to help families in need in the lead up to Christmas. WWHS and local services were astounded by our generosity and again welcome our assistance in this area. We are asking St Patrick’s families, if they are able to do so, to contribute items to make up hampers for local families. 

Non-perishable food items, IGA gift cards or monetary contributions can be sent to school and/or monetary or gift cards contributions made at the office. 

Winter Jackets for the Homeless

Also as a part of our 2021 Community Engagement projects, SAC have been collecting warm winter jackets as part of the ‘Heat the Homeless’ campaign, which has donated over 20,000 jackets to Melbourne’s homeless over the last five years. Our School Advisory Council has arranged for our school’s collection to be sent to Melbourne and then the jackets will be distributed to the various charities who help those living on the streets. Jackets should be in a good, clean condition and ideally waterproof or thick/warm, however others may also be donated.  Should you like to know more about this initiative, please check out https://xtm.com.au/heat-the-homeless.  

We would like to receive donated jackets by Friday 12 November.

Language Studies 2022

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.  

I received responses from 17 families and 4 staff members.  I also surveyed the Year 3-5 students in class.

Based on the responses above, I have spoken with CEB Education Officer for Languages, Lauren Gould, and am looking to introduce Auslan across all year levels from the start of 2022.  

I will be attending an observation day at St Brigid’s Primary School, Ballan, on Monday 8 November to see the Auslan teaching program in action in the classroom.

e-Safety Commissioner advice re Squid Game

It has come to our attention that a number of children have been exposed to a TV show called Squid Game.  Shows such as Squid Game are intended for older audiences and contain scenes with strong themes and violence not suitable for younger people. Being exposed to this kind of content both directly through the streaming service - and indirectly through social media apps, games and pop-ups - can be distressing for children and young people.

Please follow the link to eSafety’s newest blog Squid Game shows the need to check what your child is watching.  This advice is for parents and carers whose child may have accidentally - or deliberately – encountered this age-inappropriate content.

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 Monday.

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.

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.  

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.

Breadtags

Thank you to everyone who has collected and donated their plastic bread tags over recent years. These have been donated to a plastic recycling organisation based in Robe, who recycle the plastic to produce bowls and other goods which are then sold to raise funds to assist with providing wheelchairs for the needy through Aussie Breadtags for Wheelchairs. Unfortunately, we are unable to keep collecting these breadtags and will be delivering our final collection in the next few weeks.  If you have breadtags to donate, please ensure that they are delivered to school by Friday 12 November.  

Sunday's Gospel.  Mark 10: 46-52

In Sunday's Gospel, Mark shares the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar sitting by the road. Hearing that Jesus was passing by, he cried out for help, but the crowd shushed him. Surely a Holy man like Jesus had better things to do than care for such a “sinner”! But Bartimaeus trusted that as “the Son of David,” Jesus would not reject him. And so “he kept calling out” until his voice overcame the disapproving crowd (Mark 10:48).  And he was right! In fact, Jesus even commended his faith and healed him (Mark 10:52). He made it clear that God hadn’t rejected Bartimaeus. He was just as worthy of God’s love and healing grace as everyone else.

This is the beauty of the gospel. Jesus has broken down every dividing wall that separates us from his heavenly Father. He welcomes everyone, no matter their situation. That includes all of us. Today we may feel the way Bartimaeus felt every day, hoping for just a scrap of mercy and tenderness. But that’s not how Jesus sees you. In a world that often focuses on excluding the “unworthy,” he stands before you right now with open arms, eager to say, “Your faith has saved you” (Mark 10:52).

“Jesus, teach me to see the world through your eyes of love.”

Reflection by Fr Peter Hudson

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.

"Find happiness in making others happy."   

Mary MacKillop, 1899

As suggested last week, it was going to be a great weekend for sport - and it was! The Matildas beat Brazil 2-1, our cricketers defeated South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup, and Liverpool defeated Manchester United 5-0!!!

This weekend we start a big week of horse racing.  If you are in a Cup Sweep on Tuesday - Good Luck.  That's the best I can offer!

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.