Our Lady Help of Christians School Murtoa eNewsletter

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,

Transition - Forward to Foundation

In the lead-up to the State-wide Orientation Day on Tuesday, 13^th December, we are inviting the kinder children who are enrolled, intending to enroll or still deciding to enroll at Our Lady’s for 2023, for some transition mornings. The purpose of these mornings is to let the child become familiar with the school routine, the process of getting to school, playing with the other children, learning the layout of the school, as well as meeting the teachers

The dates for these transition mornings are below. The school day begins at 9.00 a.m., Recess is at 11.00 a.m., Fruit break is 10.00 a.m., Lunch time is 1.30 p.m. with pick-up time at 1.45 p.m. On the longer day, the children are invited to eat lunch with the school children before they go home, or they can be picked up at 1.30 p.m.

(The school has a "play before lunch" policy. The children stop for the lunch time break at 1.00 p.m. and go straight out to play. The bell rings at 1.30 p.m. for everyone to come in to eat their lunch. We have found that letting the children play before they eat stops food being wasted, lets them run off a bit of steam after being cooped up inside and helps them settle for the afternoon session. The fruit break at 10.00 am keeps them going until 11.00 a.m.)

Transition Dates are:

Monday, 14^th November, 9.00 a.m. -11.30am.
Tuesday, 22^nd November, 9.00am – 11.30am.
Monday, 28^th November, 9.00am – 1.45pm (can be picked up at 1.30pm and eat lunch at home)
Tuesday, 13^th December, 9.00 a.m. - 3.15 p.m. (State-wide Orientation day for all students.)

Kinder children need to bring a hat, snack for Recess, fruit (for fruit break) and lunch (if they are eating lunch at school).

The Uniform Coordinator will have samples of the school uniform on display on 28^th November for parents to view and possibly order.

If you have any questions about the transition days, please ring the General Office on 5385 2526.

We look forward to meeting you and your child/children as we begin your child’s primary school education. This is the beginning of a wonderful partnership to enhance your child’s learning.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday 7th December to Friday 9th December: Year 5/6 Camp to Creswick. More information when it comes to hand.
School Christmas Concert - NEW DATE: Wednesday 30th November.
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

All Saints and All Souls...

November is the month when the Church especially remembers those who have died. As Christians, we live in the hope that we will live in the joy of the resurrection. Tuesday, (November 1) was the celebration of the Feast of All Saints, a time for remembering all of the Saints who have gone before us having performed many great and charitable works in their lifetimes. Wednesday, (November 2) was the Feast of All Souls when we remember the members of our families, our ancestors, our friends, community members and pioneers, all people who have died; and we pray that they will come to know the joys of life in heaven with the Risen Jesus.
This week take the time to remember your loved ones who have passed away. Share some good
memories of them, look at photos and laugh about good times you had with them, visit their grave
if you are able to, light a candle for them and say a prayer for them: Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord. May perpetual life shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

During the week we spent time exploring Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) which originated in Mexico and Central America. It aligns with 'All Saints' and 'All Souls' Day celebrations. Five facts we discovered:

1. It’s not the same as Halloween

While Halloween is celebrated Oct. 31, Día de los Muertos is celebrated right after, on Nov. 2. Many communities that celebrate Día de los Muertos also celebrate Halloween.

2. It originated in Mexico and Central America

Día de los Muertos originated in ancient Mesoamerica (Mexico and northern Central America) where indigenous groups, including Aztec, Maya and Toltec, had specific times when they commemorated their loved ones who had passed away.

After the arrival of the Spanish, this ritual of commemorating the dead was intertwined with two Spanish holidays: All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and All Soul’s Day (Nov. 2). Día de los Muertos is often celebrated on Nov. 1 as a day to remember children who have passed away, and on Nov. 2 to honor adults.

Today, Día de los Muertos is celebrated mostly in Mexico and some parts of Central and South America.

3. It’s a celebration of life, not death

Ancient Mesoamericans believed that death was part of the journey of life. Rather than death ending life, they believed that new life came from death. This cycle is often associated with the cyclical nature of agriculture, whereby crops grow from the ground where the last crop lies buried.

Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Like any other celebration, Día de los Muertos is filled with music and dancing.

4. The ofrenda is a central component

The ofrenda is often the most recognized symbol of Día de los Muertos. This temporary altar is a way for families to honor their loved ones and provide them with what they need on their journey. They place down pictures of the deceased, along with items that belonged to them and objects that serve as a reminder of their lives.

5. Flowers, butterflies, and skulls are typically used as symbols

The cempasúchil, a type of marigold flower native to Mexico, is often placed on ofrendas and around graves. With their strong scent and vibrant color, the petals are used to make a path that leads the spirits from the cemetery to their families’ homes.

Monarch butterflies play a role in Día de los Muertos because they are believed to hold the spirits of the departed. This belief stems from the fact that the first monarchs arrive in Mexico for the winter each fall on Nov. 1, which coincides with Día de los Muertos.

Calaveritas de azucar, or sugar skulls, along with toys, are left on the altars for children who have passed. The skull is used not as a morbid symbol but rather as a whimsical reminder of the cyclicality of life, which is why they are brightly decorated.

In Catholic tradition, The Butterfly represents and symbolizes the Resurrection. We know that the butterfly has three phases during its life:

The caterpillar - The caterpillar which just eats symbolises normal earthly life where people are preoccupied with taking care of their physical needs.
The chrysalis or cocoon - The chrysalis or cocoon resembles the tomb.
The butterfly - The butterfly represents the resurrection into a glorious new life free of material restrictions.

In recognition of how important the butterflies are used in various celebrations, our students designed butterflies and placed them in our special prayer garden to remember loved ones who have passed away.

Our Butterflies in our Memorial Garden

Music Bingo Night

Congratulations to our Parents & Friend's group, especially Carling Trotter for co-ordinating a family Hallowe’en Music Bingo night. It was an absolute huge success with loads of fun - dancing, singing, and laughing! It certainly was one of the best social nights….great costumes too. A huge thank you to all the local businesses in Murtoa, Rupanyup, and surrounding districts for assisting with prizes for the night.

For more fun photos please see our Facebook post - https://www.facebook.com/olhcmurtoa

Music Bingo Gallery

by Michael Grose

It can be tempting to allow children to continue to behave badly or to perform chores, homework or sports practice poorly when they argue or resist feedback. Parents need to be part coach, teacher and counsellor so that kids learn how to behave well, develop healthy attitudes to learning and know how to get the best out of themselves. Feedback is one of the most effective tools we have to achieve this. Give it poorly and it will at best be ignored and at worst, rupture relationships and damage self-worth. If you provide feedback effectively, you’ll see improvement in behaviour, attitudes and learning, even among feedback-resistant teens.

Here’s how to deliver feedback to make sure it sticks.

Make it specific

It’s absolutely essential to give feedback about one behaviour, skill or attitude at a time, if you want improvement. “Jai, if you make eye contact with your brother when you talk to him, he’s more likely to listen to you.” The feedback needs to be specific rather generalised so that a child or teen knows exactly how to do better. It also needs to be delivered in a non-judgemental way.

Ensure it’s descriptive

“That’s not the way to behave inside” doesn’t help much. “Use your quiet voice when you play inside the house” cues a child into how to behave. Use phrases and terms that have real meaning for kids rather than vague, non-descriptive language such as ‘be a good girl’, so kids not only know what’s expected but they understand how to meet your expectations.

It’s got to be timely

Providing feedback to a toddler half an hour after they’ve thrown a tantrum in public will ensure there’s no impact. On the other hand, providing behavioural feedback when a teenager is angry will ensure one thing – you’ll have an argument on your hands. Feedback needs to be fairly immediate for young children and if possible, provided before an event or activity. “When you set the table put the fork on this side and the knife on the other.” Choose the time and place to provide feedback to older children, remembering that angry tweens and teens generally don’t listen.

Give from a place of calm

Angry parents generally deliver feedback poorly to kids. Regardless of how well you choose your words and how accurate your feedback may be, feedback delivered angrily will prompt the flight/fight response from a child or young person. They will ignore you or start an argument, but they won’t take your message on board when you’re mad at them.

Give sparingly

When children require approval for every scribble, homework problem and picture they draw, it’s probably because they have always been offered feedback on every scribble, homework problem and picture they draw. It’s vital that children develop their own internal sense of validation and honest self-assessment, because as they grow up and face hardship, they need to be able to look to themselves for strength and approval. If they can’t, they will be much more vulnerable to superficial external approval that comes their way in the form of peer pressure, bullying and the usual social jostling. As you wean them off of your feedback, turn their “Mummy, is this picture good?” or “Dad, did I do a good job?” back on them, and ask them how they feel about their work.

Feedback is a wonderful parenting tool that requires attention to detail, sensitivity and a willingness to respect the dignity of the child or young person who is receiving it. It’s also most effective when given sparingly, rather than like a nervous tic, which keeps kids anchored to you for approval.

More information can be found at https://www.parentingideas.com.au/blog/how-to-give-kids-feedback-for-improvement

What is happening in the Junior Room?

We began the week on Tuesday with Melbourne Cup Day. The children had a great day with lots of Melbourne Cup activities and made racing caps.

In RE, the children are learning about ‘The Ten Best Ways to Live’. These are the Ten Commandments.

Each day the students have been part of a whole school prayer service celebrating All Souls and All Saints day.

The children have also listened and worked with the storybook called ‘Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat’, written by Stephen Michael King.

Junior Room

Child Safe Standards - What are they?

Child Safe Standards - what are they?

From Kid’s Health Information at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

As you are all aware there are a lot of mosquitoes around since all the rain. Below is important information to consider for your child's health.

Insect repellents – guidelines for safe use

Using an insect repellent can be helpful in preventing insect bites, and most repellents now use one of two main active ingredients – DEET or picaridin.

DEET (diethyltoluamide) is a commonly used broad-spectrum ingredient that is effective against mosquitoes, biting flies, fleas and ticks. In most situations, an insect repellent with up to 10 per cent DEET will prevent mosquito bites. In higher-risk areas (where malaria, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and dengue fever occur), products with 15–30 per cent DEET should be used.

DEET can be safely applied to cotton, wool and nylon, but may damage spandex, rayon, acetate and pigmented leather. DEET can dissolve plastic and vinyl (e.g. sunglasses frames or watch bands).

Picaridin is a newer insect-repellent ingredient and is odourless and less sticky when compared to DEET. It may be more pleasant to use and does not dissolve plastic. Studies have found picaridin to be as effective as DEET; however, it is not as long-lasting and will need to be reapplied more often. Products containing 10 per cent picaridin will prevent mosquito bites in most situations.

Using insect repellents safely with children

Read the entire label before use – look carefully at the level of DEET or picaridin in the product (see tables below), and use the repellent only as directed by the manufacturer.

Roll-on preparations are preferable to sprays.
Apply sparingly to exposed skin.
Do not use on cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Do not apply to areas around the eyes or mouth.
Do not apply to the hands or fingers of young children.
When returning indoors, wash repellent off skin with soap and water.
Store repellents out of the reach of children.
If you need to apply both sunscreen and repellent, apply the sunscreen first. Products combining sunscreen and insect repellent are not recommended, as sunscreen generally needs to be reapplied more often than insect repellent.

The following tables provide only a selection of the many suitable repellents available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Insect repellents suitable for use in children in low-risk areas

Brand and description	Active ingredient	Strength
Aeroguard Odourless Protection	Picaridin	9.5%
Black and Gold personal insect repellent	DEET	3%
RID Medicated Insect Repellent Kids + Antiseptic repellent	DEET	7%
RID Medicated Insect Repellent Low Irritant + Antiseptic repellent	DEET	10%

Insect repellents suitable for use in children in high-risk areas

Brand and description	Active ingredient	Strength
RID Medicated Insect Repellent Tropical Strength + Antiseptic repellent	DEET	19.5%
RID Medicated Insect Repellent Antiseptic + Chamomile + Vitamin E repellent	DEET	16%
Aeroguard Tropical Strength	DEET	19.1%

Avoiding mosquito bites

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours, so light-coloured clothes covering the wrists and ankles should be worn to reduce the possibility of being bitten, especially in areas where malaria is common. When travelling overseas to high-risk areas, it is a good idea to get expert medical advice before starting your trip.

Still water attracts mosquitoes, so keep away from dams, ponds and other sources of still water.

To reduce possible sources of mosquitoes around the home:

Cover any containers that store water (including swimming pools) so that mosquitoes can't lay eggs. Empty or drain containers when they are not being used.
Change water in bird baths and watering troughs at least once a week.
Seal and cover cesspools and septic tanks so that mosquitoes can't lay eggs.
Fill large holes in trees with sand or mortar.
Remove excess vegetation from garden ponds and stock with fish.
Do not over-water the garden.

Key points to remember

DEET and picaridin are the most effective insect-repellent ingredients.
Insect repellents with up to 10 per cent DEET or picaridin are suitable for most situations, but use strengths of 15–30 per cent in high-risk areas.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe use of insect repellents.

It is not recommended to use products with more than 30 percent DEET on children

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 6th November Mass at 8.30am

This Sunday, 6th November 10.30am, Mass in Horsham will be celebrated with our Wimmera Filipino-Australian Club Parishioners participating in the roles of readers, commentator, offertory procession, welcomers, collectors, projector and choir (Special Ministers will remain as rostered).

The club will also be providing a shared lunch after Mass at the Horsham Parish Hall, and all are welcome.

SunCOrd32.pdf

Calendar Dates

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

School Calendar

Changes to Pandemic Orders & Easing of Requirements.

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the pandemic declaration and associated pandemic orders. This change also saw an easing of masks and isolation requirements, becoming strong recommendations.

An updated CECV School Operations Guide is now available to schools. The School Operations Guide: Term 4, 2022 (17 October 2022) has been significantly reduced considering the end of the pandemic declaration and associated orders.

Included in the revised Ops Guide:

COVIDSafe measures for schools: continue to implement important practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission
COVIDSafe Plan: Schools must keep their COVIDSafe Plan in place, which should be regularly reviewed and updated as required.
Ventilation: continue to direct inquiries to airpurifier@macs.vic.edu.au.
Vaccinations: Vaccination is no longer mandatory, however staff and students are strongly recommended to keep up-to-date with all recommended and available COVID-19 vaccinations
Rapid Antigen Testing: It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff when symptomatic. Positive results for staff and students should be reported to the school.
Face Masks: Staff and students who wish to wear face masks should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students, and visitors. Face masks are strongly recommended for close contacts if leaving home and for 7 days after returning a positive test if leaving home.
Infection Prevention and Control: Continue to practice good hand hygiene, noting staff should direct or supervise young children where required.
Management of Suspected Cases of COVID-19 in Schools: Anyone who is symptomatic should be recommended to undergo testing. Schools should seek to have symptomatic students collected from school and kept at home until no longer symptomatic.
Management of Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in Schools: The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive to COVID-19 report the results to their employer, school, and household. Students and staff who test positive are strongly recommended to isolate for 5 days.
Students who may be Medically-At-Risk: Schools must ensure students with medical needs have an up-to-date Student Health Support Plan and accompanying condition-specific health management plan.

Dimbools_Riverfront_Twilight_Market.pdf

9 Dec	Snr (Year 5 & 6) Camp 09 Dec 2024 - 11 Dec 2024

20 Dec	Term 4 ends TBC All day

OLHC News Issue 30 Term 4 Week 5 - 4 November 2022