From the Principal

As we return from another period of lockdown and remote/online learning, I offer the following reflection from Tom Sexton, the Executive Director of Catholic Education, Ballarat.

From the Executive Director of Catholic Education, Tom Sexton

Having spoken with some principals this morning (Wednesday when students returned to school), the simple joy of students coming back to school and reconnecting with their classmates has been a delight to see as we resume onsite learning today. I understand and have great empathy for our students, staff and families switching from remote learning and then back to on-site learning in our schools yet again. For some there will be a natural inclination to try and catch up on the “missed learning”; for me, as I have said when coming out of previous lockdowns:

Recently, a number of news articles have appeared expressing concern about academic performance of students and how they may have fallen behind during remote learning.

I believe in the resilience of our students, their families and our staff.

I believe during a pandemic, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing should be our priority, and indeed if we don’t attend to these basic human requirements very little learning can take place. So let us remember that for our precious students to flourish, safety, love, hope and mental wellbeing are foundational to any academic growth.

On-site Restrictions

Sadly, we cannot have parents or visitors on-site during the current restrictions.  We look forward to welcoming parents back to our assemblies and class activities in the near future.

School Olympic Games 

On Tuesday we will be celebrating St Patrick's Olympics.  This day will be a Casual Clothes Day and we are encouraging students to wear either the colours of the Australian Olympic Team (Green & Gold), or the sporting attire of an event from the Olympics.

Lunch will be taken 15 minutes earlier on Tuesday and our Olympics will commence with the Opening Ceremony at 1.30pm, including the Olympic Torch Relay and lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

Each class has designed their own Class Flag which they will march behind as well.

All students will be participating in running events and relays, and each class will play a sport in a round robin format.

Medal presentations will take place at 3.00pm when we will also have the Closing Ceremony.

Once again, we are disappointed that parents are unable to join us for this afternoon of fun and excitement.

Olympic Fever

Our students have been enjoying following the Olympics over the past week.  They have kept tallies on the number of medals won by various countries, they have written letters of support to Olympians and we watched Lucy Stephan row her way to a Gold Medal on Tuesday.

Youth Strategy Creative Competition

Congratulations to Tia, Ma Thay Thay, and Riley W on their achievements in the recent Hindmarsh Shire Youth Strategy Creative Competition.  These three students received awards as Runners-Up in the competition and were rewarded with a letter of congratulations and a cheque to the value of $20 each.

Waste not want not

When they were satisfied, Jesus told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’  John 6:12

In a world where we produce enough food to feed everyone, up to 811 million people — more than 10% of the world's population — still go to bed hungry each night. 272 million people are already or are at risk of becoming acutely food-insecure due to the aggravating effect of the COVID-19 crisis. 

While there are many fronts on which this battle is faced, Sunday’s gospel reading highlights a Western issue that can be easily avoided, wastefulness. Wasting food is the equivalent of depriving others of the food they need to survive. “Wasted food is food taken away from others,” Aloysius John, Caritas Internationalis’ secretary general noted.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, each year Australians waste around 7.3 million tonnes of food – this wastage equals about 300kg per person or one in five bags of groceries. Food waste accounts for more than 5% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

The World Wildlife Federation suggest the following simple ways each of us can reduce food waste

1. Check the fridge before you shop and only buy what you need.
2. Plan your meals. It saves time, money and reduces food waste.
3. Check date labels and know the difference between:
   • ‘Use by’ - food has to go.
   • ‘Best before’ - food is at its best and can be eaten after this date as long as it has been stored correctly.
   • ‘Display until’ - a stock control message for retailers.
4. Use leftovers and be creative with your next meal.
5. Ask for smaller portions or a ‘family bag’ when eating out.

These can be our simple “loaves and fishes” that can ensure that nothing may be lost.

St Brigid's College Bus

As announced previously, St Brigid's College will have a bus running from Nhill to Horsham each day from the start of the 2022 school year.  This will provide an opportunity for students to be able to continue their Catholic education beyond Primary school.  Students are able to enter a competition to help name the new 12-seater bus that has been purchased by St Brigid's - please see details below.

Bread Tags

Thank you to everyone who continues to collect and donate their plastic bread tags. These are 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. A far better solution to recycle a waste product which might otherwise have ended up in landfill.

Watch the following clip regarding the process and the charity it supports.

https://www.facebook.com/abcperth/posts/4588784324487825

School Advisory Council

Further on in this newsletter you will find a report from our School Advisory Council meeting which was held last Wednesday.  Please take note of the collections that are being undertaken to support various causes. These include the collection of non-perishable food items to donate to West Wimmera Health Service and local services; and the collection of warm jackets as part of the 'Heat the Homeless' campaign.

There is also news of a new cover for the sand-pit, a new fence for the Church Street boundary of the school, updates on policies, and the upcoming School Review.

Thank you to all members of the SAC for the ongoing work that they do to support our school.

Sunday's Gospel: John 6: 24-35

Sunday's Gospel follows on from Jesus feeding the crowd of 5000.  The crowd has followed Jesus and he points out to them that they have followed because he fed them.  They should, however, be following him because he can offer them eternal life.  The crowd then asks for a sign to show that Jesus is truly from God as they fail to see what is immediately before them.  Jesus tells them that just as God fulfilled their ancestors’ needs in the desert, so God has provided them with food for eternal life. In the bread that they received from Jesus, they have received physical nourishment and also spiritual nourishment.  The crowd again asks for what Jesus has just told them they have found: “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus answers plainly that he himself is the Bread of Life they seek.  Jesus himself is the Bread of Life who will satisfy every hunger and thirst.

Jolly Soles Socks for sale

There are only 6 pairs of size XS socks remaining from last year's socks fundraiser.  We are selling these at a reduced price of $5.  Please contact the office by Monday morning with your order and money.  Any socks remaining after the end of July will be donated to charity.

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.

"Are not God's ways wonderful?"  Mary MacKillop, 1873

Update:  What a great win by the Power last night over the GWS, to consolidate our position in the top 4.  Looking forward to Showdown 50 against that other SA based team!

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.