OLHC News Issue 21 Term 3 Week 2 - 26th July 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, 

Last Sunday we heard the following passage in the scriptures at Mass:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!"

I love this reading from Psalm 23, and it is a blessing that the Church reminds us of it often. The image of God as our Good Shepherd is moving. Shepherds know their sheep, feed and water them, heal their wounds, and guide and protect them from danger. Shepherds have such a relationship with their sheep, that the sheep will answer their call, follow them with trust, and allow themselves to be comforted and cared for throughout their life. 

We too, have a Good Shepherd in our loving God. At Our Lady's, we invite the children to grow in their relationship with the Good Shepherd through prayer, reflection, and RE lessons. This offer never goes away, and the timely reminder from the Church in the Sunday readings comes as an invitation to us all. 

All the very best for the week ahead and as always, please feel free to come and see me at any time.

Chris McCumstie

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

NCCD

Website Updated

The School’s Policy & Procedures webpage has been updated and I invite all to access the page, as it is here you will be able to access documents such as the OLHC Murtoa Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and the OLHC Murtoa Bullying Prevention (including Cyberbullying) Policy and Procedures. Parents can provide any feedback on these policies and may obtain hard copies of any policies and procedures upon request from the school office.

School Leadership- the SRC

We are so fortunate to have good school leaders at Our Lady's.

One role that is fulfilled by Hunter Stephenson is the President of the Junior School Council. 

Hunter's role as the SRC President is to take ideas and projects from the student body and communicate them to teachers and the principal. Hunter is the voice of the students in the direction our school takes, and he has assisted the school with ideas to improve the grounds, as well as ideas for future fundraising and enjoyable events for the students.

The children are reminded often at assembly to take their ideas to Hunter so that student voices can be heard at Our Lady's and that our school can be a place where the whole community is valued and can flourish

Great job Hunter! Keep it up.

School Mass - Date changed to Sunday 4th August 8.30am

We are part of the Paul VI Parish, Wimmera Mallee and as such we want to partner with our local parishioners at St Mary's Church, Murtoa.

School Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, 4th August at 8.30am at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Students will be reading scripture, bringing forth the gifts at the offertory, reading the prayers of the faithful, and singing hymns. We will prepare for these roles at school to ensure the celebration is reverent and joyful.

Morning tea to follow. All are welcome!

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 2:

OLHC prioritises Child Safety, and it is important at all levels of our organisation. It is clear to all who work or volunteer in our school that we take Child Safety seriously and have processes in place to find, avoid, and stop risks of child abuse and harm. OLHC works with DOBCEL to embed a culture of Child Safety at our school.

School TV

The SchoolTV initiative at Our Lady Help of Christians School aims to help parents to navigate the often complex issues they face in raising their children.

Expert advice, helpful tips, and other resources, are available to all our parents and caregivers. Explore the wide range of topics at SchoolTV by clicking on the link below. 

CEP Performance - 'Snow Queen' at Horsham Town Hall

Students and Staff will be attending 'Snow Queen' on Tuesday, 30th July 2024 

• Travel by bus 
• Cost $10 per student
• Wear school uniform
• Take lunch and water bottle
• Permission on Simon (on Monday)

Important Upcoming Dates:

July:

• Tuesday 30th July - CEP Performance  'Snow Queen' Horsham Town Hall

August:

• Sunday 4th August - School Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church 8.30am
  

September: 

• Thursday 5th September Black Ranges Athletics Stawell
• Friday 20th September - Last Day of Term 3 Early finish at 2.15pm

October:

• Friday 4th October - Murtoa Show Day
• Monday 7th October - Term 4 starts
• Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd October - Year 3/4 Camp

December:

• Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th December - Year 5/6 Camp Melbourne

Mass Times & Parish Information

Sunday 28th July Livestreaming at St. Mary's Murtoa at 10.30am.

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.