OLHC News Issue 18 Term 2 Week 10 - 21st June 2024

Our Lady Help of Christians is a Child Safe School and is committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Japagulk peoples as the traditional custodians of the land upon which our school was built. 

Principal Report

Dear Parents and Friends of Our Lady's, 

The 60th anniversary of Our Lady's School was a great occasion and there are so many people to thank. To all the past teachers, students, parents and friends who joined us for the day- thank you. It is a great blessing to be able to spend time with those who came before us, sharing memories, stories and history. The speeches by Mons Glynn, our parish priest, and Sr Jacinta Rice, an old friend of the school and a Brigidine nun, were memorable. OLHC is, like Mons said, the mustard seed that has grown. To all those who have contributed to that growth, in small ways and big: thank you!

Thanks also to our current staff and students. The work that went into preparing the afternoon, with cooking, gardening, other grounds work, hanging photographs, compiling the magazine, presenting student work and a myriad of other things, was immense. Well done to all the staff and to the students for their efforts.

We all have our part to play in the life of our school today. The 60th was a great occasion to reminisce and has given us impetus for positive change and further growth. May the next 60 years at Our Lady's School be as fruitful, joyful, and memorable, as the first! And I pray that God will give us the grace and sight to play our part well, for the children of Murtoa and surrounds.

All the very best,

Chris McCumstie

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

Our Lady's 60th Anniversary Celebration

Some photos from the 60th anniversary. Please also note the link to the magazine compiled for the occasion. It is the updated history of our school, from its inception in the 50s and 60s, to its founding in 1963, right through to our current times.

Outback Showcase

The children have been working hard on their outback learning, investigating many aspects of Australian history and culture. On the final day of term, parents, friends, grandparents, other relatives and the community, are invited to a showcase of the children's learning. This is a great opportunity to finish the term on high, celebrating all the hard work, creativity and passion of our students.

Costumes have been organised  at school. These will be sent home for the students to come to school on Friday, dressed as their character.

Friday, 28th  June,  9-10:30am. All welcome!

Notes for Last day of Term 2

• NO Lunch Orders
• Outback Showcase 9.00am to 10.30am. All welcome
  
• Lunch - sausage sizzle and drink will be provided
  
• Early finish 2.15pm

Premier's Reading Challenge

Students have been reading books for the Premier's Reading Challenge and have received awards for the number of books they have completed. Charlotte has finished the Challenge reaching a total of 30 books! Well done to all students for their effort. 

Winter

Two items in relation to the onset of Winter.

Firstly, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately in the winter school uniform. Requests for new or second-hand uniforms can come through the General Office.

Boys: school polo, navy track pants or grey pants, school fleece jumper or vest.

Girls: school polo or navy skivy, navy pants or navy track pants, or pinafore with school polo underneath it, school fleece jumper, vest or cardigan  and navy tights.

Appropriate footwear (black school shoes or runners) for both boys and girls. We also allow the use of gumboots in our wet and muddy grounds, and slippers in our classrooms if the children would like to bring these in. 

Secondly, it is also cold and flu season, so please ensure you are monitoring your child for contagious symptoms. We have had a lot of children presenting at school when they should probably be kept at home. It is a courtesy to staff and students alike to keep sick children home.

Child Safety

Our Lady Help of Christians is a Child Safe School. We implement the 11 Child Safe Standards, and work to embed these in our school culture. Our newsletter is just one place among a number where we educate our community about Child Safety. Below is a concise and helpful guide to the Child Safe Standards. The Child Safety Officer at OLHC is Chris McCumstie, and he can be contacted for information at any time.

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

Child Safe Standard 1:

OLHC welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and seeks to support them in all aspects of schooling. All children have a right to their cultural beliefs and to enjoy the freedom to express these at school. We are active in promoting inclusion in our school and making that inclusion visible and authentic.

School TV

As part of the SchoolTV initiative at Our Lady Help of Christians School, we want to highlight topics that may be especially helpful to our parent group. Parenting is not easy, and there are complex issues which parents have to navigate every day. By offering SchoolTV we hope to aid all caregivers in our community by giving practical strategies to overcome the challenges our young people face.

ONLINE GAMING

Young people might have a lot of fun playing online games, but parents and carers need to make sure they empower their child to make wise decisions and help them manage the risks. Numerous games can help your child become more coordinated, adept at problem-solving and multitasking, and help them develop social skills through online interaction with other players. However, it's also critical to comprehend what may go wrong and what might be harmful to your child. Carers need to play an active role in understanding and being aware of what their young person is playing online and who they are interacting with.

Find out more at the link below:

https://olhcmurtoa.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Or, explore the wide range of topics at SchoolTV by clicking on the link below.

Important Upcoming Dates:

June:

• Friday 28th June - Outback Showcase 9.00 - 10.30am
• Friday 28th June - NO lunch orders. Lunch (sausage sizzle and drink provided)
• Friday 28th June - Last Day Term 2  Early finish 2.15pm

Mass Times & Parish Information

Sunday 23rd  June Livestream at 9.00am at St. Mary's Murtoa.

St Paul VI Parish Sacramental Preparation

~ First Holy Communion ~
Parents of those children who have celebrated their, First Reconciliation sacrament earlier this year will be notified by email in early June of an Information Session date, where resources for First Holy Communion preparation will be distributed. Initial guidance will be given at the Information Session along with the resources and two further meeting dates will follow, to complete the necessary requirements before the sacrament is received.
Celebration of First Holy Communion will occur in Sunday Masses on set dates across the parish, most
likely over August/September.

~ Confirmation ~
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place with a similar structure (home preparation
and consolidation discussions in different churches) on a slightly later date scale.
Confirmation will be celebrated with Bishop Paul attending/visiting the parish as part of our Diocese 150th Year jubilee. Currently that timing is set for November.
All parishioners are invited to keep these children and their families in our prayers over the coming
months. May the grace of God touch their hearts and souls with the privilege of sacramental life shared with our Risen Christ.  May Christ, the Good Shepherd, lead their preparation.

Parish Bulletin

Calendar Dates

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