OLHC News Week 9 Term 1 2022

Principal Report

Dear Parents, Friends, and Carers,

This week we welcomed David Anderson to our school.  David has been employed as an Education Support Officer for the last 3 weeks of this term.  He is replacing Mrs. Sarah Maher who is currently on 3 weeks of Long Service Leave.

Tuesday next week I will be on sick leave until the beginning of Term 2.  In my absence, Mrs. Bush will be in charge.  If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Heather during school hours.

P&F Meeting  reminder:

Next Wednesday 30th March at 6.30 pm at the Railway Hotel, Murtoa there will be a P&F Meeting.  Everyone is welcome - let's come together, kids most welcome, and have a meal and reconnect.  

Important Dates for your diary:

• Working Bee - Sunday 27th March - 10 am start.
• School Athletic Sports - Friday 1st April at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.  Our school is hosting the Sports this year so we will be asking our Parents and Friends to run the Canteen
  

Until next week                                                                                                                                                                      Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

Working Bee

This Sunday 27th March is our annual working bee.   The working bee will start at 10 am and be for 2 hours.  Lunch (finger food) and soft drinks will be provided.  

JOBS

• Weeding across the front of the school (Munro st)
• Trim Agapanthas across Collins st fence
• Trim plants around the basketball court
• Raking leaves from under stairwells.

Equipment needed:

•  Secateurs
• Rakes
• wheelbarrows
• Trailer
• Shovels
• chainsaw
• Leaf blower

School Sports

The Dunmunkle Cluster School Athletics will be held next Friday 1st April at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.  Students need to arrive at the oval by 9 am. The sports will officially begin at approximately 9.15 am.  Our school is the host school and will be running the Canteen.  

The Athletics program will be sent home early next week.  The Sports format will be similar to last year - Sprints & Hurdles first, followed by field events, 800 metres for 10, 11 & 12-year-olds, and relays after the lunch break.   Presentations and closing ceremony will conclude the day.  The day should be completed by approximately 2 pm or soon after.  

Students need to wear their school sports uniform.  Teachers will bring the students hats and sunscreen to use on the day.  All students need to have a cut lunch and a drink bottle with water.  During the running of events, students are not to be going to the Canteen.  Students may visit the Canteen accompanied by their parent/carer during the lunch break.  Parents are welcome to purchase items from the canteen and take them to their child at an event.

Further explicit information is outlined in the Athletics Program - so please take the time to read this when your child brings it home.  Please remember to bring your program to the sports as there will not be copies available on the day.

Child Safety at Our Lady Help of Christians

The Governing Authority has ratified the policies and procedures for Child Safety.  Please click on the link below to access these policies which address each of the Child Safety Standards.

https://olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au/child-safe

Lent - Fourth Week

Fourth Week of Lent 
(Week beginning Monday 28th March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Rosalie, who lives with her husband and seven children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Forced to join the army when she was just 15-years-old, Rosalie experienced significant trauma and hardship during her years in the military. After she was demobilised from the army, Rosalie, like other ex-combatants, was left to fend for herself in the community.

With your generous support and through Caritas Australia's partners, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and Caritas Bukavu, Rosalie was able to connect with other members of her community and participate in business skills training to help her to reintegrate into society.

She joined a savings group which helped her with a loan to start her own small business selling second-hand shoes and natural remedies.

“I can eat, dress, maintain my health and help others. My children study and manage to eat twice a day. I have learnt to work hand-in-hand with other members of the community. Really, there is more joy in sharing with others.” - Rosalie

Watch a short film about Rosalie’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

FREE Parent session - The Resilience Project

On Wednesday 6th April, there is a free Parent and Carer Webinar with Hugh van Cuylenburg (the founder of The Resilience Project) from 6.30 pm-8.00 pm (90 minutes) AEDT.

During this presentation, Hugh will share his experiences and combine them with practical strategies that can be implemented every day to improve our overall well-being.

Parents will need to register using the following registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KAyQq0s-TjiuXOVAuBa1JQ

**Upon registration, registrants will receive a link to attend the webinar, along with a reminder the day prior.

Please note that the webinar will include parents and carers from our Partnership Schools. 

If you need any further information about The Resilience Project or our team, details can be found on our website: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/about/

Positive Start

The Victorian Government has provided information on the Positive Start in 2022 initiative, which offers students in all low-fee Catholic schools a chance to reconnect with peers and enjoy the kinds of activities that many missed out on over the past two years.

With Positive Start, Victorian students will be more active, reconnect with friends, and find inspiration in new and exciting places.

Holiday camps

Eligible parents and/or carers can book a free holiday camp for their child who is in Year 3 or above.

Holiday camps give children a positive and fun experience away from the regular holiday routine.

Whether a single overnight experience or spending several nights away, taking part in a school holiday camp program is a great way for your child to try new things, make new friends and enjoy active time in the great outdoors.

If students wish to go to a holiday camp, parents and carers will need to book. Schools do not organise these camps for students.

To be eligible for free holiday camps, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• attend a school that experienced closures of five days or more due to COVID-19 in 2021
• have an approved Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) application for 2022
• have a parent who holds a valid means-tested concession card
• are Indigenous students
• reside in out-of-home care (temporary or permanent)
• are from a refugee background
• are students with a disability.

All of our students would qualify based on the first dot point listed above.  Some will meet several of the criteria listed.

More information about this initiative can be found here, or by using the link button below.

An expression of interest letter will be emailed to all families next week.  The letter outlines how families can express an interest in their child attending a free holiday camp.

Families must register their interest by Friday 25 March 2022 to be considered.

Mass Details & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 27th March                                                                                                  10.30am Live streamed from Horsham                                                                             

Financial Assistance Information

Calendar Dates

Please click on the link below to take you directly to our School Calendar.

Crime Stoppers: Missing Child - Heidi

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing child Heidi, who is believed to be with a family member.

The 11-year-old was last seen with her parent Meduline in Dimboola, in western Victoria, on 27 January.

Heidi is described as approximately 152cm tall, of average build, with blue eyes, long light brown wavy hair and has pierced ears.

Meduline is described as 172cm tall, of medium build, olive complexion, short wavy hair and has a French accent.

They may be travelling in a white Hyundai Sante Fe with registration 1RO 4BF, which may have a white caravan trailer attached with registration L95934.

Police have released images of the two in the hope someone recognises them and can provide information on their whereabouts.

Anyone who sights them or has information on their whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

COVID-19 reminders...

Our school continues to monitor and abide by all COVID safe regulations and recommendations issued by the State Government and the Catholic Education Office.

Rapid Antigen Tests - RAT Tests have been handed out to families.  Thank you to the families that have tested their children and let the school know the result.  These tests are voluntary - It is suggested children are tested twice weekly (eg. mid-week and end of the week).  We will continue to distribute RAT tests to students when they arrive.

Face Masks - Students in Year 3 and above must wear a facemask indoors, unless a lawful exemption applies - Students are not required to wear a mask outside - School staff must wear a face mask in all indoor settings, except where removal of a mask is necessary for effective communication of teaching. All visitors to the school-aged 8 or above must wear a mask unless a lawful exemption applies. Students in Prep to Grade 2 a strongly encouraged to wear a mask indoors at school.   A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves, or bandanas do not meet these requirements. (Please see information above in the Principal report).

COVID Safe requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work on school site

Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 25 February 2022 if they became fully vaccinated on or before 25 October 2021. For those that became fully vaccinated after 25 October 2021, the deadline is 15 March 2022, or have a valid medical exception.

This requirement applies to:

• a person contracted to work at an education facility and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students, or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator including casual relief teachers, NDIS providers, and auditors (but does not include delivery personnel).
• the diocesan education office staff who attend an education facility (such as allied health personnel)
• the staff of any other entity who attends an education facility
• volunteers that attend an education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students, or staff (including parent helpers)
• students on placements at an education facility.

Schools must advise visitors and volunteers they must adhere to COVIDSafe requirements –
including vaccination, physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good
hand hygiene. 

Other visitors to schools (not performing work)
Service Victoria QR code check-in is not required at schools. Routine school visitor record
keeping arrangements will continue to apply.
In Victorian Catholic schools, parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must be able to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.
The following limited exceptions also apply:

• when attending to administer medical treatment to their own child when the treatment
  cannot be administered by the school
• when attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school
  building unaccompanied by their parent/carer
• when attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact
  with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project, collecting a
  packet of rapid antigen test or similar.
  

Proof of vaccination can be checked by a COVID-19 digital certificate (Service Victoria app or smartphone wallet) or printed copy of a digital certificate or immunisation history statement.

Community News

MINYIP MURTOA FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB

Hello NetSetGO families! Great news, our registrations for NSG are open! Please see the link below.NetSetGO is aimed at school-aged children between 5-10. Training will start the first Thursday of Term 2 on the 28th April. Kristy Davo will be taking on the SET/GO girls again and we have a few 15s girls eager to develop our NET group of girls. There’s a few changes this year, including the platform on which you register. It’s very simple but please be aware you will need to create a new user. Don’t try and use your old passwords to login! The information I have is that after you register, you will receive an email with a voucher to receive your NSG pack. So this is a little different too. Please if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact me. Can’t wait to see the girls on the court https://netball-registration.worldsportaction.com/userReg...

OLHC School TV - SPECIAL REPORT: The Conflict in Ukraine

Despite the peacekeeping attempts, the conflict in the Ukraine continues to escalate with many refugees fleeing the country to escape the violent attacks by Russian troops. People around the world are saddened and devastated by the events that are unfolding. Both adults and young people are feeling the stresses of war from afar as they experience fear, frustration, and helplessness.

Many children have questions about what is happening as they have most likely been exposed to upsetting images on the news or social media. There is strong evidence to suggest that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event can actually decrease distress. Therefore it is important for parents and caregivers to combat any misinformation and ensure they provide reliable information from reputable sources. Children need to know that they are taken seriously. So it is recommended that you don’t avoid the difficult questions. Ensure you address their questions honestly, sensitively and in a developmentally appropriate way.

Worry about the war in Ukraine is not all bad. It can mean that your child has empathy, which can even be productive. However, with less life experience than adults, young people may need help navigating news about the crisis. It is an opportunity for adults to model compassion towards others, regardless of distance or circumstance. Be guided by your child’s curiosity and conscious of not exposing them to the 24 hour news cycle.

The Special Report School TV link is:

://olhcmurtoa.catholic.schooltv.me/https://olhcmurtoa.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-conflict-ukraine-au