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OLHC News Issue 30 Term 4 Week 6 - 11 November 2022

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,

Remembrance Day - Prayer for today:

God of Everlasting Peace
We bow to the sacred in all creation.
May our spirits fill the world with beauty and wonder.
May our minds seek truth with humility and openness.
May our hearts forgive without limit.
May our love for friend, enemy, and outcast be without measure.
May our needs be few and our living simple.
May our actions bear witness to the suffering of others.
May our hands never harm a living being.
May our steps stay on the journey of justice.
May our tongues speak for those who are poor, without fear of the powerful.
May our prayers rise with patient discontent until no child is hungry.
May our life's work be a passion for peace and nonviolence.
May our souls rejoice in the present moment.
May our imaginations overcome death and despair with new possibilities.
And may we risk reputation, comfort, and security to bring this hope to the world.

Amen. (Mary Lou Kownacki, OSB)

Today at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, our senior students led us through a short service for Remembrance Day. Chloe explained to us why we commemorate Remembrance Day and how we reflect on the tragedy of World War I and the sacrifice made by men and women in all wars that our country has been involved in. Navraj spoke about the significance of The Last Post and the poppy. The Last Post represents a final farewell to those who have honoured our freedom with their lives as well as signaling that they have been given into God's care. The sounding of The Last Post causes respect and silent reflection wherever it is heard around the world. The red poppy also has a strong history. Poppies were some of the first signs of regrowth on the battlefields in France and Belgium. Since then the poppy has become accepted around the world as the flower of remembrance. Its rich red colour symbolizes the sacrifice of human life. Its status as a living being represents salvation and freedom, and it stands tall with its head bowed, in gratefulness and appreciation.

Maeve read a reading from John’s gospel focusing on the greatest commandment in Catholic Tradition that you love one another, just as God has loved you. Giving us the message that this is the greatest gift we can portray in our lives today.

Following the reading, Sienna and Charlotte read the poem ‘In Flanders Field’. Wreath laying was led by Nihal and Eliza then Hunter read The Ode which is repeated below:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

The ceremony was completed with the whole school singing the National Anthem.

ThinkUknow - FREE SESSION

Ss. Michael and John’s Primary school in Horsham ( 7 McLachlan St, Horsham) is hosting a ThinkUKnow presentation on the 16th of November 2022 at 5:30 pm at Ss Michael and John's School and all parents and carers are encouraged to attend.

ThinkUKnow Australia is an evidence-based education program delivered nationally to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

ThinkUKnow Australia is a partnership between the Australian Federal Police, Microsoft Australia, Datacom, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

The presentation will be delivered by a local law enforcement member and an industry volunteer. The presentation is pro-technology and addresses topics including self-generated child abuse material, online grooming, image-based abuse, sexual extortion, and importantly encourages help-seeking behaviour.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about young people and the online environment, and how you can help them to be safe and responsible users of technology. Families with children in ALL grade levels are welcome.

A creche will be available at the school for children as the content presented may not be appropriate for young children.

If you wish to attend this free session with your child, please contact the school office with your name and the number of attendees. We need to inform Ss. Michael and John's of our numbers especially for the child care facilities.

For more information, you can visit www.thinkuknow.org.au or contact Cathy Grace

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.

Uniform reminder:

Just a friendly reminder that most students should be wearing summer uniforms. Below are the current uniform guides:

SUMMER UNIFORM - GIRLS
• Blue and White check dress; or Light blue polo shirt, with the school logo and navy shorts/skorts
• Optional Lightweight Cardigan or Lightweight Jumper, with embroidered school logo
• Provided Navy Sun hat with embroidered school logo.

SUMMER UNIFORM - BOYS

Grey shorts and a light blue polo shirt with the school logo
• Optional Lightweight Jumper, with embroidered school logo
• Provided Navy Sun hat with embroidered school logo.

General Uniform Information
Shoes - Brown, black, or navy sandals (summer) / black lace-up school shoes
or boots.
** SNEAKERS are sports requirements only and can be worn of Health/Physical Education days and when there are other sporting events. ** NOTE: Sandals and shoes with high heels are definitely not recommended for school wear, as they are detrimental to children’s growth.
Socks - Boys: plain grey, dark blue, or black. Girls: plain white or dark blue (or navy tights).

Hats are compulsory during the months of September to May.
Navy blue hats have been supplied for each student by Parents & Friends and are kept at school. Our Lady’s is a SunSmart school and as such has made a commitment to safeguarding the children’s skin and health. The Sunsmart rule states… “No hat, no play”.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday 23rd November - School Advisory Council AGM - 6 pm in the Senior classroom followed by a general SAC meeting.
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

REVERSE ADVENT BOXES

Our Lady Help of Christians school is taking part in the local Community Reverse Advent Box Project. This is a new Community initiative coordinated by the Horsham Sports and Community Club, aiming to assist local Murtoa families in need for Christmas and beyond. The project calls for donations of non-perishable groceries. Each classroom will be given a box to fill next week. We ask that each child bring an item or items to donate for the box that will be in their classroom. This is a great opportunity to clean out the pantry and bathroom cupboard before Christmas and help Murtoa families in need. All boxes from our school will be supporting Murtoa families only.

If you wish to know more about the reverse advent boxes please ask your child's teacher or give the school office a call.

CEP Performance Science Dome

Next Tuesday, 16th November, students will be attending the final CEP Performance for 2022 - Science Dome.

Date: Tuesday, 16th November 2022
Time: 10.30am Years 1/2/3
Time: 1.00pm Years 4/5/6
Venue: Murtoa College Stadium
Permission Form on SIMON
Cost: $7 per student
Transport: Walking

Fun Friday - Crazy Socks

On Friday, 18th November, students will be having a Fun Friday, wearing Crazy Socks to school.

No Cost, just come along to school wearing Crazy Socks!

What is happening in the Senior Room?

This week has seen the class learning about animal and plant adaptations, and how these help animals and plants survive and thrive. As part of our science (STEM) learning, we were given a task to design a tool that helps a factory collect different sizes seeds for birds with different-sized beaks. The photos show some of the members of our class busy designing and creating "beaks". We produced a great variety of beaks and were able to demonstrate the beak actions and discuss how successful we were.

Along with the usual Maths and English lessons, we have been working on learning the songs and lines for the school pageant, When the Angels Danced.

This is taking up much of our learning time, and we are thinking of ways to speak and learn our lines and actions for the songs. More news about this in coming weeks.

Designing and creating 'beaks'.

What is happening in the Junior Room?

On Tuesday the junior class had an excursion to Horsham. We started at AXIS Worx where Bill Schmidt explained to the children about how old electrical devices which would have at one stage gone to landfill is now broken down and recycled into new products. They were very excited to see that there is actually gold inside computers!
We then went to the Horsham Weir and were met by Cobba and Tracy from Wimmera CMA and Annie. We went for a walk around the wetlands. Cobba had come armed with a very tall pole which we found out was actually a camera which he was able to extend out to look at what was in the bird and bat boxes and the image was sent to the iPad that Tracy held. While we were listening to the frogs Annie was helping us identify them.
Then we headed off to McDonalds for lunch and a play. We wound up the day at the Aquatic Centre for a great play in the pool.
A big thank you to Mel Boschen for driving the bus today and joining us on our adventures.

Junior Excursion

Moving beyond cyber safety for happy, resilient digital kids

by Martine Oglethorpe

As digital devices become increasingly immersed in our lives, it is certainly clear they will continue to play a major role in the education, learning, entertainment and socialization of our children’s lives.

This can be a scary prospect for a parent today as we are saturated with news about predators, pornography, cyber-bullying and sexting. And certainly, these are real concerns, as is the safety of our children on these devices.

But these devices are not going anywhere and so we need to be smarter when it comes to helping our kids navigate this world. And for me, that means moving away from a fear-based approach, toward one that helps our kids get the skills, behaviours and thinking to become not only safe but happy and resilient users of digital technologies.

Our kids are getting pretty good at keeping their passwords safe, not sharing private information, and thinking about talking to strangers online. All important lessons we need to continue to teach.

But being immersed in this world requires skills and behaviours well beyond safety measures. It needs to be an ongoing lesson in critical thinking, resilience, self-esteem, empathy and the promotion of good habits that they can carry with them throughout life.

Digital Resilience

The online world opens us up to comments, judgements and even abuse from people known and unknown, all coming from different backgrounds and situations, all with different beliefs, and all with a little extra keyboard courage or anonymity. Whilst we would like to be promoting kindness and respect online, this is not always the reality. We need our kids to be able to recognize and move on from the people whose opinions do not matter. The greater audience and the permanence of the online world also mean the effects of mistakes are magnified. They need to be able to withstand the very permanent and public nature of this world. There may always be a party they are not invited to, or a sleepover they were excluded from, so how will they deal with the constant flow of images appearing in their social media feeds?

Self-esteem away from the screens

There will always be comparisons online. With access to so much and so many, there will always be someone prettier, smarter, skinnier, with more friends, more likes or more followers. We need to be constantly working on the self-esteem of our kids, both online and off. Conversations about our self-worth, where that comes from, whose opinion matters, and what success and happiness really look like. These all need to form part of the equation, not just how many likes you get on your latest selfie.

Digital skills

Our kids need skills to know how to handle different situations that arise online. Do they know how to abort a conversation that is going badly? How do they speak up in a group chat when someone is being excluded or spoken about in a nasty way? How do they deal with unwanted attention online? Do they have the words to respond to a nasty comment? Should they respond? As so much of their social life and connection to others will be based around online conversations, these are just some of the skills our kids need to have in order to keep those interactions positive.

Good habits

The earlier we start with good habits, the greater chance we have of them becoming behaviours they adopt throughout adolescents and beyond. So start out with your own rules to ensure these habits are formed. Maybe it is no devices an hour before bed, no devices in the bedroom, no devices at the dinner table, and asking permission before sharing pictures of others. Making sure there is plenty of time for friends, extra curricula activities, outside play, chores, homework and good sleep. These all help us be in charge of our time management and the control we have over our devices, so they don’t end up controlling us.

Critical thinking

There is so much content online, so our kids need to be really good at determining which is real, fake, relevant, helpful and worthwhile. This can be a difficult task (even for adults), but a crucial skill. Critical thinking must be an ongoing process every time they watch a video, look at a photo, read an article or connect with someone. Why was this written or produced? Is the language biased? Are they trying to sell me something? Is there research to back up their claims? Would this video have a warning if it was on TV? Is this worth my time? These are just some of the critical thinking questions kids need to be asking themselves every time they consume content online.

So whilst keeping our kids safe and giving them the skills to do this is of utmost importance, there is so much more to cyber safety than avoiding predators. The emotional and social well-being of our kids and the ability for them to be in the best position possible to learn, grow and thrive are imperative and will help them become resilient and happy both online and off.

Martine Oglethorpe is a mother to 5 boys with a background in secondary education and a Masters in Counselling. To learn more about Martine and our team of experts, click here

Child Safe Standards - What are they?

Child Safe Standards - what are they?

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 13th November LLA at 9.00am

SunCOrd33.pdf

Calendar Dates

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

School Calendar

Rising COVID cases...

The Department of Health has reached out to DOBCEL (Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Ltd) and our schools to indicate that they are seeing rising trends in presentations of COVID cases across the health systems.

Members of our school communities are reminded that if you are experiencing symptoms please stay home. Please continue to encourage students to optimize social distancing when possible and practice good hand hygiene.

Every student has been given another box of RAT tests. If you need more RAT tests please contact the General Office know and we will endeavour to get more to you. We encourage anyone within our community who would like to wear a mask to do so, to continue to support the medically vulnerable.

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.

Murtoa Basketball