OLHC News Issue 27 Term 3 Week 9 - 9 September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II21 April 1926 - 8 September 2022

We were very saddened to hear of the death of our Queen Elizabeth II this morning.  The death of Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned in Britain and around the world. The country’s longest-reigning monarch died Thursday at age 96.

Today we put our flag at half mast in honour of such a beautiful lady and incredible leader of our Commonwealth.  Our sincere sympathies, condolescences, prayers and thoughts are with the Royal family and all people of the many countries which she served. 

Treasured memories last forever and her legacy will continue to live on.  An impeccable woman who will never be forgotten.  May you rest in peace your majesty!

WELCOME TO COUNTRY...

Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School acknowledges that God has been walking with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, making God's presence known through a continuous living culture over many thousands of years. We pray in thanksgiving for these ancient peoples who have enriched and sustained our continent over all that time. In particular, we praise God for the people who nurtured the lands where our schools are built and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who continue to support Catholic schools.

As partners in Catholic Education and open to God’s presence, we pursue the fullness of life for all.  Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School is committed to the safety and well-being of all students.

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples. This newsletter comes to you from the lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagalk Nations.

Principal Report

Dear Parents, carers, families, and parishioners,

Staffing 2023

Early next week I will be advertising for one full-time classroom teacher (Mrs. Bush's position) and one part-time teacher (Ms. Kirby's position).  Please, if you know of any teachers that are looking for a vacancy or a change, please let them know about our great school.  The teaching positions will be advertised in the local papers of our surrounding districts, online websites, specifically our school website, and Teachers on Net - https://www.teachers.on.net 

TERM 3 FINISHES FOR STUDENTS ON WEDNESDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER AT 3.15 PM

Footy Colour Day and lunch - next Wednesday 14th September, all staff and students are to wear their favourite footy team clothes.  This is the last day of term for our students, so a special lunch will be provided of pies, party pies, or hot dogs with a fruit box.  

On Thursday 15th and Friday 16th of September (the last two days of this term), staff will be having professional learning in Halls Gap.  There will be no school for students on these days.  The professional learning will be focused on our Catholic Identity and Faith formation.  The two days will be facilitated by consultants from the Catholic Education Office, Ballarat.  Staff from St Patrick's school in Nhill will also be participating in these two days.  This will be a great opportunity for us to finally have some face-to-face professional learning in Religious Education as this has been a challenge for us the last two years due to the pandemic.  Please mark these two dates in your diary.  Therefore the last day for students this term will be Wednesday 14th September.  Students will finish at the normal time of 3.15 pm on this day.

Uniform Price Increase

Thank you to Tania for the amazing work she has done in reviewing the current prices of our school uniform items.  Due to an increase in prices from suppliers, postage, and embroidery, uniform prices have increased.  All uniform orders will be suspended until after the holidays as we need to give Joan time to update order forms with the new prices.  The first newsletter back after the holidays we will issue the new uniform order form.

Parents and Friends- Upcoming Events

• Murtoa Big Weekend - Saturday 1st October and Sunday 2nd October.  This is the 150-year celebration for Murtoa so there is a lot happening in the town over this weekend.  Our school will be open on Saturday from 1 pm to 2.30 pm.  

• Fashions on the Field - Murtoa Cup, Saturday, 1st October: OLHC Parents and Friends Group are hosting the Fashions on the Field.  Thank you to Sophie for contacting past sponsors from the list provided and following up on any new potential sponsors.  If any OLHC family has a business or knows of a business that would like to be involved, please speak to Sophie.   

• Pie Drive - Pre Harvest.  Date for actual Delivery/pick up, end of October

Family night on Friday 28th October at Murtoa Mechanics Hall.  This is a music family trivia night with a Halloween theme.  Please mark the date in your diary as it will be great to have every family represented plus extended family, friends, and community people. The cost is $10 per ticket (Child and Adult).  This cost will cover the hall rental, the Trivia company costs, decorations, and prizes. All OLHC Families are asked, if you can, to provide one or more of the following:
• Slices and/or Sandwiches and/or Sausage Rolls/Party Pies and/or bag of lollies. These can be dropped off at the school office the week of 24th October.

We need some helpers after school to meet at the hall to set up a few decorations. Black table cloths and some decorations will be done by the children and help is needed to set up the supper table. Supper will be served at intermission, which will be approximately 45mins after the trivia starts.
Payments for tickets can be directly deposited to P&F Account with the first initial & Last name as the reference.  Names can also be registered and paid for at the School office.

Details of the Trivia Night in a nutshell:

• Friday, 28th October at Murtoa Hall
• Doors open: 6pm, Start time: 6:30pm
• Cost: $10 per person
• Prizes for Best Costume: Child, Adult & Teacher
• Supper provided
• No Alcohol (Family friendly event)
• BYO soft drinks and any extra snacks for your table
• Please call Carling to book your spot on 0429 001 415.  Table reservations are welcomed (8-10 people)

• Jung Market - booked in for 29th October from 8:30 am-12 pm; 4 parent volunteers are needed to sell tickets at the table.  The Times of the two shifts are 8.30 am (set up) to 10 am and 10 am to 12 pm (pack up).  The raffle will be drawn at 12 pm.  Raffle tickets will be sent home with kids to sell to their families, friends, and neighbours. Tickets will also be for sale at Foodworks Supermarket & the Murtoa Newsagent.  If there is somewhere you would like to take a raffle book, please let us know.  The prize for the raffle will be a Spring Garden Hamper.  Beginning next term, we will be collecting items by donation for a hamper.  Below is a list of possible items for families to donate.  Items can be dropped into the school office for collection. 

Items we are looking for, but not limited to Bag of Soil/Compost, Trowel/Hand Spade, Watering Can, Seeds/Seedlings, Sunscreen, bug spray, Gloves, Secateurs/Snips, Kneeling Pad, Fertiliser/Seasol,  Hand Sprayer, Wheelbarrow, Bunnings    Gift Card, Sprinklers,   Hose fittings,  Watering Heads and hoses.

School Christmas Pageant - Thursday 8th December at 6:00 pm BYO picnic tea for a 6:30 pm start.  The concert is called ‘The Night the Angels Danced’.  This will be held at school in the Multi-purpose room.

School End of Year Mass - Wednesday 16th December 2022 at St Mary's Church, Murtoa at 6 pm

This is the last newsletter for this term so until next term, have a great weekend and a restful holiday break.  Please travel safely if you are on the roads.               

Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

End of Term Blessing

We thank you, Lord, for this term. For our challenges, our successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith. Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, and to give time and effort to help others. To be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun. Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents, and a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.

Amen

Black Ranges Athletic Sports

Last Friday six students from Our Lady's participated in the Black Ranges Athletics in Stawell. Congratulations to Navraj, Chloe, Maeve, Sienna, Kaden, and Charlotte for representing our school and Dunmunkle at the Black Ranges Athletic Sports.  You all did an amazing job and we are very proud of all your efforts and achievements.

 A huge thank you to our parent helpers, Sophie, Carlos, and Olivia for helping out all day with marshalling students to events and being a starter on events.  Thank you to parents for transporting their children to and from the athletics.  A huge thank you to Sue Tyler for her expertise and professionalism on the day supporting all our Dunmunkle students.

The following is a text message I received from Sue which made me proud and I really wanted to share it with you all.

"Hi Cathy, I just wanted to thank you for employing me on Friday to work at the sports.  As you know Sport is my 'thing' so I had a wonderful, if not fffreezing day.  You ended up having 3 parent helpers - Carlos, Sophie, and Olivia who did an outstanding job starting, timing, and marshalling.  You may want to pass on to the other Principals that the students from all schools were exceptionally well behaved all day.  They were excited, keen to do their best, and very vocal in their support of the Dunmunkle competitors from all schools.   I was easy for me to escort them to their events as they were constantly checking in to see where they needed to be next.  For such a small group they brought home an amazing number of ribbons, but better than this, they were exposed to competition on another level, and they all came out winners in this regard.  I have washed the singlets and I will drop the tub back to you before the end of term.  Once again, thanks for a great day, Regards Sue."

Black Ranges - Dunmunkle Athletes

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 10

Next

Enrolment 2023: Beginning 2023 - Tuition Fees are not charged for your child’s first year of school (Prep/Foundation).

Thank you for giving...

On Tuesday 6th September at 2 pm, our school welcomed Fr Matt Restall to our Parish and together celebrated a 'Gifting Mass' with us at St Mary's Church, Murtoa.  The focus of this Mass was to reflect and pray for community members who need assistance in a wide range of situations. As a school community, we offered up a variety of supplies of food and toiletry items that were generously collected and donated by our students, staff and families over the weeks leading up to the Mass.  The generosity and kindness of our community can be felt through seeing our students presenting baskets to the church altar, giving people access to much-needed food and items for everyday living.
Margaret Howison from St Vincent de Paul celebrated Mass with us and spoke to us about how our prayers and supplies help those in need.  Margaret accepted the baskets of supplies on behalf of St Vinnies and the Christian Emergency Food Centre.  Margaret praised our students for their behaviour, attitude, understanding, and reverence towards making our world a better place.  

In our learning, we have been collectively and collaboratively being proactive in helping the less fortunate. In working with St Vincent de Paul we know we will definitely make a difference to many people’s lives and make our world a better place - “We are called to live in justice. We are called to love tenderly & walk humbly in all we do!”  An amazing team school community effort - thank you, everyone!

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse. It is a hands-on way for you to bless children in need across the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and fun gifts. The boxes will be collected and distributed in the name of Jesus Christ to children living in vulnerable situations.

The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

11

MILLION SHOEBOXES PACKED AROUND THE WORLD

Shoeboxes are packed by people globally, and they are sent to children in over 100 countries.

Our school has decided to help make a difference in the lives of many children (and, for many, this will be the only gift they will get in their life time), for the ‘Common Good of all’. Information on how to pack your SHOEBOX gift and the shoeboxes will be sent home before the school holidays.

Acts 20:35
^" In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive."

What is happening in the Senior Room?

This term has flown past and the learning keeps happening.

We planted wheat under different coloured lights to see what might happen!
We discovered what wheat grows well under and what it doesn't grow under.  We also know that wheat needs plenty of water to grow and sunlight.

We compared how our wheat was growing to wheat samples in our classroom and talked about how the wheat develops into the plant it becomes that produces the seeds.

We also learned about the different types of agricultural practices we have in Australia. 

Some people researched pigs, others poultry. Some chose exotic animals like Llamas. We will be presenting our reports to the class over the next few days. 

What's happening in the Junior Classroom?

The Years one and two children have been focusing on the story called ‘All Through the Year’ by Jane Godwin. The children have been writing their own book titles ‘All Through the Year’ and writing about what they do in each month. Their art activity is also focused on this book.

Child Safe Standards - Commitment Statement

Below is a link/file attachment that is the updated Statement of Commitment to Child Safety from the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV). This statement has been updated in light of the revised Child Safe Standards that came into effect on July 1st.
Please take the time to read the updated statement.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further
strengthen our child safety policies, procedures, and practices.
If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions, please contact Cathy via phone or email.. 

Murtoa Show

136th Annual Murtoa Show will be held  on the Big Weekend on Friday, 30th September 2022.

Students have been preparing entries during various lessons at school.  The school will enter student's work into the show to represent OLHC.

Children are welcome to enter other sections as a Murtoa resident.  If they have time during the school holidays, they might like to create an entry and follow the directions in the show schedule below to enter into the particular category. Detailed instructions, including entry information, are contained in the flyer below.  Click on the 'Murtoa Show Categories for Entries' link below for further information.

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 11th  September LLA 9.00am

Calendar Dates

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

UPDATED COVID-19 information

Change to COVID-19 Isolation Rules Effective 9 September 2022

Thank you for your support as we continue to make these adjustments.