OLHC News Issue 29 Term 4 Week 2 - 14 October 2022
- WELCOME TO COUNTRY...
- Principal Report
- Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere
- CEP Performance Stretch, Balance & Spin
- Enrolment 2023: Beginning 2023 - Tuition Fees are not charged for your child’s first year of school (Prep/Foundation).
- Operation Christmas Child
- What is happening in the Senior Room?
- What's happening in the Junior Classroom?
- Child Safe Standards - Commitment Statement
- Mass Times & Parish Information
- SunSmart
- Calendar Dates
- UPDATED COVID-19 information
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,
Important Dates for your diary for Term 4
- Pie Drive - Pre Harvest. Date for actual Delivery/pick up, end of October
- Friday 28th October - OLHC P&F Family Trivia Night
- Saturday 29th October: Jung Market - 8:30 am-12 pm; 4 parent volunteers are needed to sell tickets at the Jung Market. 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 have been sent home with kids to sell to their families, friends, and neighbours. Please return with the money by 27th October.
- 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. Donations are very welocme for the hamper. Items can be dropped off to the General Office at school. Below is a list of possible items for families to donate. 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, Gift Card, Sprinklers, Hose fittings, Watering Heads and hoses.
- Monday 31st October - Pupil Free Day: Staff Professional learning on SWPBS (School Wide Positive Behaviour Support)
- Thursday 8th December - School Christmas Concert - 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.
- Wednesday 14th December - Graduation Mass at St Mary's Church, Murtoa at 6 pm
- Friday 16th December - Last day of school for students
Kind regards
Mrs. Cathy Grace
Friday 28th October at Murtoa Mechanics Hall a music family trivia night with a Halloween theme will be held. 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 Our Lady's families are asked 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 General 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 General Office at school.
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)
Australian Parents Council Newsletter
The latest edition of the Australian Parents Council Schoolzine eNewsletter is now available at the below link.
In this issue:-
- From the President's desk
- Introducing MyKidsCareer
- Disability Standards for Education Toolkit
- NAPLAN News for 2023
- Exam tips for parents
- Upcoming webinar
Parent Access Module PAM / SIMON Everywhere
We strongly encourage parents to use the Parent Access Module PAM (SIMON Everywhere) to inform us of student absences. These notes can be set in advance (if, for example, you know that your child will be absent a week in the future). Absent notes need to be directed to the General Office.
Please speak with Joan in the office if you have any questions about PAM.
The Simon Everywhere app delivers instant notifications to parents' mobile phones, delivering the functionality of PAM (SIMON Parent Access Module) in an easy-to-navigate app.
We request that all parents please download the Simon Everywhere app, add Our Lady Help of Christians Primary school, Murtoa, and login using your existing PAM credentials.
We will use Simon Everywhere for all important notifications.
You will be able to manage all your day-to-day school needs from the Simon Everywhere app - notify us of absences, view the lunch orders menu, read the newsletter ...
Please contact the General Office with any questions.
CEP Performance Stretch, Balance & Spin
Date: Tuesday 18th October
Venue: Rupanyup Town Hall
Time: 9.30am
Transport: Bus
Permission Form: Please complete on SIMON by Monday, 17th October
Cost: $7 per student
Whole School
Enrolment 2023: Beginning 2023 - Tuition Fees are not charged for your child’s first year of school (Prep/Foundation).
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.
11MILLION 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 were sent home before the school holidays.
Please returned filled boxes to the school so we can send them off to the Operation Christmas Child Project.
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?
Welcome to the Senior class, week 2 term 4.
It has been a very busy week!
Monday saw us outside searching for insects with our bug catches. We found and collected many caterpillars, centipedes, millipedes, slaters and grubs of all sorts. Over the next two days we researched a particular insect and found facts about them and recorded their life cycles.
On Thursday we combined with Rupanyup Primary School for an art lesson with artists from Horsham. We created 3D models. It was messy and lots of fun. We are now waiting for these creations to dry to paint them.
We are spending a lot of time inside, so we have created the game, “Keepie Ups”, based on volleyball. The competition takes place in the corridor. This game keeps us entertained and motivated, and we need fast reflexes and the balloon to stay in the air.
We met with Buffy on Friday afternoon, to practice our Auslan signing. It was great to experience signing to a person who is fluent in Auslan.
What's happening in the Junior Classroom?
The Junior Classroom has been very busy once again.
We have continued studying the morals of the wolf in the new version of the "3 Little Pigs." The students have written letters to the police to have him arrested. We have been writing invitations to ourselves in R.E, listing our best qualities.
There has been a focus on fractions and equal shares in Maths.
It was great to welcome the P-3 students from Rup to join in an art activity. We all produced plaster sculptures and when they finally dry out we will paint them next week.
It was fun to work online with Buffy, who was very impressed with our signing.
We all hope Mrs. Newton is enjoying her well earned break.
Cheers, Sue Tyler.
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..
Mass Times & Parish Information
Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 16th September Mass 8.30am
SunSmart
Just a reminder that our SunSmart Policy is now active. Therefore everyone needs to wear a hat whilst outside - 'no hat, no play'.
Any child who doesn't have a hat on will need to stay on the verandah in the shade.
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
The Victorian Government, in step with the National Cabinet, announced changes to isolation rules for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Those changes come into effect today, Friday 9 September 2022. CECV is working with the Department of Education to ensure alignment in communications and any amendment to the School Operations Guide; we will share the updated advice with schools as soon as it is available.
In the interim, schools can refer to the updated resource https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/, which notes:
Report your result and isolate for at least 5 days.
If you tested positive using a rapid antigen test, you must report your result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398. You don’t need to report your result if you tested positive from a PCR test.
Your isolation period begins on the day you took your positive test.
How long your isolation period goes for depends on whether you have symptoms, which include a fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must isolate for at least 5 days from the date you took your rapid antigen test or PCR test. For example, if you took your test on Monday, you can leave isolation on Saturday if you have no symptoms.
You must isolate whether you have COVID-19 symptoms or not.
When you may leave isolation.
If you are in your 6th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.
If you have no symptoms on the 6th day of isolation, you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation. For example, if you tested positive on a Monday, you may leave isolation any time the following Saturday.
If you are in your 7th day of isolation and you have symptoms – no matter how mild – then you must continue to isolate. If you have a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath, you may still be infectious and you may infect others with COVID-19.
If you have no symptoms on the 7th day you are free to leave isolation on that same day. You do not need to take a test to leave isolation. For example, if you tested positive on a Monday, you can leave isolation any time the following Sunday.
If you leave isolation after 5 days, there are important rules you must follow for those two days:
- you cannot visit a hospital or aged care facility
- you cannot attend work at a hospital, residential aged care facility, disability care facility and in-home care premises (including disability and aged care in the home).
For more information about isolation rules for COVID cases click here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checklist-cases
Thank you for your support as we continue to make these adjustments.