All is in readiness for an amazing time in the Nhill Community Centre later tonight where 30 of our senior students will be participating in the Nhill College Presentation Ball.  Students have been busily rehearsing throughout the term, while parents have been just as busy in the background doing all those things that parents do to create positive experiences for their children.  Doors open at approximately 8.00pm.  Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the door for a seat upstairs.  I look forward to seeing everyone there!

After spending the majority of Term 1 at Nhill College as a Casual Relief Teacher, Mrs Hendy has agreed to join us on a short term contract - at least until the middle of the year.  We are extremely pleased that Mrs Hendy has joined our staff for Term 2, as she brings a wealth of experience and already has a strong knowledge and understanding of both our school and our students.  We know our students are very happy with this arrangement - as can be seen by the attached picture from the Easter parade that Mrs Hendy helped organise for them today.

The Nhill RSL Sub Branch would like to invite any interested children - with their parents - to partake in placing flags in the lawn cemetery on Wednesday 16th April at 5pm in preparation for Anzac Day.

• Friday 4th April: Nhill College Presentation Ball
• Tuesday 22nd April: Term 2 commences
• Thursday 24th April: Yr 3-12 House Athletics
• Friday 25th April: ANZAC Day
• Monday 28th April: Yr7/10 Vaccinations
• Wednesday 7th May: Staff Curriculum Day -  Student Free Day
• Monday 19th May: School Photo Day

The much-anticipated Nhill College Presentation Ball is finally here! Tonight, at the Nhill Community Centre, 30 of our talented Year 10, 11, and 12 students will take to the dance floor after weeks of dedicated practice with our incredible dance trainer, Janeth.

But this magical evening is more than just dancing—it’s a true community celebration! Parents and volunteers have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, from stage design to supper preparations, ensuring an unforgettable night for everyone.

Don’t miss out! This year, upstairs tickets include supper and can still be purchased at the door. Bring along family and friends for a spectacular evening!

A heads-up: Due to the number of participants requiring family photos, doors will be opening at approx 8:00 PM for family and friends to be seated.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Last Tuesday, 25th March, our VM students cooked up a storm, preparing Indonesia’s famous fried rice dish, Nasi Goreng. Year 10-12 students and teachers were treated to this delicious and flavoursome specialty.

 Not only was it a fantastic culinary experience, but it was also for a great cause! The profits from the event will be donated to an orphanage to support children in need.

 A huge congratulations to Nan Myint Thu Soe, Khing San Win and Paw Ree Moo for organizing such a meaningful and successful project!

At the Cross Country event on Friday, 28th March, our VM students fired up the BBQ for a great cause, hosting a BarbeCURE® to raise funds for ground-breaking cancer research!

Students cooked up a feast, serving sausages, hamburgers, and vegan burgers, with staff, students, and families also able to support the cause through donations. Together, their efforts will contribute to crucial research across all cancer types, making a lasting impact.

Rylan, Mardi, Deegan, Bronti, Jobe and Jye did an amazing job—well done! Compliments to the chefs!

School preparations for the bushfire season

Each year, we undertake a range of activities to ensure the safety of our school and to prepare for bushfires and grassfires.

An important part of this process is communicating to parents what will happen when certain fire danger ratings are issued to help ensure the safety of students and staff.

Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 4 school.

Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in the Wimmera fire district.

Closure of the school due to a Catastrophic fire danger rating will be enacted when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and related public safety messaging are confirmed. Due to uncertainties in the forecast, the timing of this confirmation may vary. Information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you by Compass. 

It is also important to be aware that:

• No one will be on site on days where the school is closed due to a forecast Catastrophic day.
• Out-of-school-hours care will also be cancelled on these days.
• All bus routes that travel through the Catastrophic area will be cancelled.
• School camps will be cancelled if a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast for the fire weather district in which the camp is located, or if the travel involves passing through areas that have Catastrophic fire danger.

As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and cleared our facility’s grounds and gutters.

What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?

• Ensure we have your current contact details, including your mobile phone numbers. 
• Keep in touch with us by reading our Compass posts and newsletters, checking our website [https://www.nhillcollege.vic.edu.au/], by talking to your child’s teacher or any other member of the teaching staff about our emergency management plan.
• Make sure your family’s bushfire survival plan is up-to-date and includes alternative care arrangements if our school is closed due to Catastrophic fire danger. Further information can be found on the CFA’s website.
• Action your family’s bushfire survival plan if your own triggers are met. Our school community may be spread out across many areas and some families may be at higher risk than others. Your family’s safety is critical, so please let us know if you are actioning your bushfire survival plan and if your children will be absent on these days.
• If your child is old enough, talk to them about bushfires and your family’s bushfire survival plan.

Families are encouraged to action their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days in their district. The safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.

You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:

• VicEmergency app – that can be downloaded on your android and iOS mobile devices
• VicEmergency Hotline (1800 226 226) 
• Website https://emergency.vic.gov.au

• Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency)
• Twitter (https://twitter.com/vicemergency)
• ABC local radio, Sky News and other emergency broadcasters

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the department’s policy?

The Department of Education annually assesses the fire risk of all schools and early childhood services with the support of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). They are allocated a category of risk (categories 0 to 6). Schools and services that are Categories 0-3 are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR). Schools at some risk of bushfire and grassfire are published on the Category 4 List.

The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 List to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.

The policy also requires that schools at the highest risk of bushfire (those in Categories 0, 1 and 2 of the Bushfire At-Risk Register) enact pre-emptive action plans based on the fire danger forecast for their Local Government Area (LGA).

Who issues fire danger forecasts?

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) provides public fire danger rating forecasts each day of the fire danger period using fire weather district areas. In Victoria, there are 9 fire weather districts, which are based on Local Government Area boundaries.

The department uses these forecasts when supporting schools to enact their pre-emptive bushfire actions plans. 

West Wimmera Health Service’s after school care program will commence Term 1 2025. 

After school care will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays, after school until 5:15pm at the new Outside School Hours Care building at 35 Queen Street, Nhill.

The school bus service transports children from Nhill schools to after school care.

Fruit and light snacks are provided.

To enrol your children in after school care, please complete the online enrolment form found at https://www.wwhs.net.au/oshc and select the after school care days you would like to book.

The daily fee for after school care is $36. Child Care Subsidy is available for eligible families.

If you have any queries, please email: oshc@wwhs.net.au

Research shows that the academic and social development of students is affected each day they are absent, and that going to school every day is the single most important part of your child's education.  Following the potential disruptions to the social and academic progress of students caused due to COVID-19, it is more important than ever for children to be at school. 

If your child is unwell or absolutely cannot attend school for some reason, it is important to let the school know of their absence and the reason why prior to the day if planned or at the start of the day if the absence is not planned.  The easiest way to do this is via Compass.  Alternatively, you can contact the office at school on 5391 2111.

If your child is absent and we have not been notified, you will receive a text message asking you to contact the school with an explanation.  If we do not receive a reply to our text message, we will be following up with a phone call.

Students are reminded of the requirement for them to wear a broad brimmed hat in the yard during recess and lunch times on days when the UV rating reaches 3 or above.  Nhill College parents are now able to use the school's website to find out when it is predicted that UV index levels will reach 3 or more, which generally occurs between mid-August and April.  The Sunsmart App - which can also be downloaded onto your mobile devices - tells parents the maximum UV index levels predicted for the day as well as the hours when sunscreen measures are recommended.  This link has been attached to the front page of our website (https://www.nhillcollege.vic.edu.au/), so please visit often and keep your children safe.

Now that we are entering into that time of year when UV levels are likely to reach 3 or above, it is an appropriate time to remind everyone to ensure that students have remembered to bring their broad brimmed hats to school.  Very affordable options are available in the Uniform Store if required.  

Nhill College now has a Facebook page to help us promote school events and activities with the wider community.  We will continue to use Compass, our web page and the weekly newsletter to keep families associated with the school up to date with all of the events and activities that occur in and around the school each week.  However, our Facebook page has allowed us to broaden exposure to the school and reach a number of people who may not have otherwise had access to our formal communication channels.  Our Facebook page will continue to be purely for promotion, publicity and to inform everyone of the upcoming events and happenings within the College.  All notes, questions, concerns or communication to staff regarding students still need to be directed to the College via Compass or on (03) 5391 2111.  To find our Facebook page, simply follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/nhillcollege/ or type Nhill College in the search function on Facebook. (Please be aware there is also an unofficial Nhill College facebook page that does not show the Nhill College logo).

Please like/follow the page and then you will be kept up-to-date with all of our posts.