God of Wisdom, we thank you for all the gifts you have given us throughout this school year. We praise you for giving us life, for saving us in Christ, and for choosing us to be your people.

As we come to the end of this school year, we voice our gratitude for the good things you have done in us, and we praise you for all who have shared in the work of our school.

We ask you to bless them in your love, and give them refreshment and peace. We praise you, God, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

Christmas Picnic

Our students have been invited to participate in the Christmas Picnic (Carols) at Jaypex Park on Saturday evening.

St Patrick’s School children are scheduled to present the final performance of the evening which will be at approximately 9pm. The evening commences at 7pm.

We would like our children to be dressed in their St Patrick’s School polo shirt for the performance and they can add Christmas decorations to their attire accordingly (eg Christmas hats, tinsel, reindeer antlers, etc).

We hope to see as many members of our school community there to support our children.

The Lions Club will be running a barbecue on the night which is free of charge. Food will be available from 6.30pm.

Remember to take a deck chair or blanket to sit on as well.

Activities Program

Next week our children will be participating in an Activities Program over the three days that they are at school. Details of the program were sent home yesterday. Parents are asked to please check the schedule and ensure that students are dressed appropriately and have the required items on each day.

Headstart

What a great week we have had this week as we welcomed our 2021 Foundation students each day and also got to meet Miss Ainslee Walker who will be teaching our Senior students next year.

The students have also had the opportunity to experience being in their new classes throughout this week, as all students were moved up to their 2021 Grades.

Reports indicate that the Year 6 students who attended Nhill College have also had a good week.

Graduation

Classes will finish for this year for all students on Wednesday at 3.15pm. We will then reassemble at the Church for our Graduation Mass at 6pm. Our Graduation and Awards Ceremony will also be held in the Church after Mass.

Due to the current coronavirus restrictions, the current limits will apply:

For families of students from Foundation to Year 5, only immediate family members to attend please
For families of students in Year 6, immediate and extended family members are invited

Families are welcome to stay and have a picnic style meal outside the Church afterwards. This will be an opportunity to mingle, enjoy each other's company, celebrate the completed school year and to reflect on all that has occurred throughout 2020.

Please bring food (picnic/basket/finger food) for your family
BYO drinks (strictly no alcohol)
BYO chairs

Students may wear neat casual clothes for the Graduation.

Student Reports

Students' end of year reports will be sent home today, together with a letter from Tom Sexton, Director of Catholic Education, Ballarat, advising of the different look to reports due to the remote/online learning phase during Term 3.

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 2021

Term Dates for 2021 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 Thursday 28th January.

Christmas Mass Timetable

Tuesday 22nd December

Horsham: 7pm - Advent Reconciliation Service

Hymns, Readings Prayers, Examination of Conscience, Fr John and Fr Peter will give Individual Absolutions.

Thursday 24th December

Horsham: - Family Mass 7pm (no children’s story)

- Mass with Choir 10.15pm

Murtoa: 5pm

Nhill: 5pm

Dimboola: 7pm

Christmas Day Friday 25th December

Horsham: 9am

Individual Confession Times:

after 9.30am Mass this Thursday

after 10am Mass on Saturday

and after 9.30am Mass on Wednesday 23rd

Our Schools can have Graduation Masses

Tuesday 15th, 6pm - OLHC in St Marys Church Murtoa

Wednesday 16th, 12noon in SMJ Church Horsham

Wednesday 16th, 6pm in St Patrick’s Church Nhill

ADVENT

Sunday Readings Yr B, Weekday Readings Year 1

Fr John will celebrate his final Horsham Masses this weekend. There will be a cuppa after each Mass to thank Fr John and to say farewell to him. Farewell Cuppa after 10.30 Mass in Murtoa next Sunday December 20th.

Fr Peter’s Farewell Horsham Masses are next weekend December 19/20. There will be a cuppa after each Mass to thank Fr Peter and to say farewell to him.

Fr Peter will celebrate Horsham Masses on December 26/27, and then he retires.

Fr Peter will live in a private Unit in Nazareth House, Ballarat.

Christmas Hampers

Thank you to everyone who was able to contribute to the Christmas Hampers. Many shopping bags and boxes of groceries, as well as cash donations, were collected yesterday and taken to West Wimmera Health Service for distribution as needed. Your generosity and spirit of assisting the needy in our society is greatly appreciated.

The photo below shows the unpacked groceries in a store cupboard at the hospital.

Hindmarsh Shire Youth Strategy for 2020-2024

Children aged 12+ are encouraged to complete this survey to assist the Shire to develop its Youth Strategy for 2020-2024. It is an electronic survey and should only take 4-7 minutes to complete. Please follow this link

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.

"Never be ashamed of work done for God, and for God's poor." Mary MacKillop, 1874

Merry Christmas

This has been an interesting, challenging and yet most rewarding year. I wish to thank everyone for their support of St Patrick's School throughout the year and the confidence being shown for our future together.

On behalf of everyone at St Patrick's School, I wish you all are very happy, safe, and Holy Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

God Bless you all.

Kingsley Dalgleish

Principal

Community Information

Uniting Wimmera

Pre-Christmas Holiday Program (Virtual)