OLHC News Issue 36 Term 4 Week 9 - 2 December 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,

Senior Camp

Senior camp (Year 5/6) will take place next week from the 7th to the 9th of December.  All camp documentation has been sent home.  Please read all sections and return any requested forms by Monday (if you haven't already done so).  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Bush for further information.  We hope that our senior students and Mrs. Bush have a great time and that they all have safe travels.  We look forward to the updates and a gallery of photos upon their return.

Break up Day:

On Monday 12th December, the whole school is having a 'break-up day' excursion to Horsham.  We will leave school at about 9.30 am, visit May Park and then travel to Holy Trinity Church Hall to watch the performance of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.'  The performance show is approximately 2.5 hours in duration with a 15-minute interval.  Following the stage show, we will head to McDonald's restaurant where each student will receive a happy meal.  This is a FREE excursion for the students as a fun day to say thank you for their commitment and hard work to learning over the year.  Please keep your eye on PAM (Simon) for a permission form to sign for this excursion.  Mrs. Lane-Storey will upload this later next week.

Transition  - Forward to Foundation

The final transition day is Tuesday, 13^th December, 9.00 a.m. - 3.15 p.m. (State-wide Orientation day for all students).  Our 2023 foundation students will be here for the whole day.

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

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.
  

• Monday 12th December - whole school excursion to Horsham to May Park, followed by the stage production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  We will conclude the excursion with a stop-off at Mcdonald's Restaurant for lunch.  (students will be provided with a happy meal) - This is a FREE excursion.

• Wednesday 14th December - Graduation Mass at St Mary's Church, Murtoa at 6 pm

• Thursday 15th December - Swimming Session at Murtoa Pool.  (1.30 pm - back at school by 3 pm)

• Friday 16th December - Last day of school for students - normal 3.15 pm dismissal.  Swimming Session at Murtoa Pool.  (1.30 pm - back at school by 3 pm)

Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

Christmas Concert

I hope you all enjoyed the hard work the students and staff have put into making this production possible.

This year, we took a different path and decided to do a Christmas pageant and the results speak for themselves. 

Thank you to:

• Anne Newton, Heather Bush & Georgia Kirby for Production and directing of the play.
• Tim Hobbs who provided the Audio Equipment.
• Sarah Maher, David Anderson, and Bridie Curran , for the many behind-the-scenes work and organizational tasks that were completed to bring this production together. 
• And finally, to our students, thank you, thank you, and thank you!  Wow what an incredible performance you gave the audience.  All your hard work and practice were evident in the final performance on the night. You were all outstanding! I hope you are proud of your performance.  Your engagement and enthusiasm in co-creating the production and making it yours demonstrated ownership and commitment to achieving the Performing Arts standards of the Victorian Curriculum. Watching our students perform on stage really showed what fun they were having dramatising a very important story - "The Night the Angels Danced."

Please take the time to look at the photo gallery below.

The Night the Angels Danced

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 has a box to fill. 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.  

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 4th December Mass at 8.30am

Australian Parents Council Newsletter...

Welcome to the latest edition of our Schoolzine eNewsletter!

Visit the link below to view your newsletter:
https://austparents.schoolzineplus.com/news?nid=33

In this issue:-

• "How are we doing?" check-in
• NAPLAN News
• Teacher gift help
• e-Safety Case studies
• Help for school leavers
• Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots is back

Calendar Dates

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

Murtoa Pool Membership

Murtoa Pool Memberships 2022-23

*Family $130 Single $70

Single Day pass $5 Family Day Pass $20 Family week Pass $50

Payment can be made at the Pool, online, or at Chezzies Hand Made on Tuesdays & Fridays (10am-2pm). Payment Plans by arrangement.

*If you have your season family ticket paid in full by Christmas Eve you will go into the draw to win 4 tickets for the Geelong Adventure Park

www.adventurepark.com.au

Pool Membership – the perfect Christmas gift for yourself and your loved ones!

Free Green Waste Extended Until The End Of Year.

Yarriambiack Shire Council’s free green waste period has been extended until the end of the year. Following a wet spring, council transfer stations will now be accepting all household green waste at no charge until Saturday 31 December 2022. Council encourages residents to use this is an opportunity to continue property maintenance and tidy-up as part of the preparations in the lead up to the fire season.

To view the Transfer Station operating hours Transfer Stations - Yarriambiack Shire Council 

Christmas Rubbish Colletion

As Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, there will be NO CHANGE to the normal collection schedule.  Everything will happen on the day that it normally does.
 
Excess recycling, such as cardboard, plastic bottles and glass can be delivered to all transfer stations at no cost during opening hours. Transfer Station Opening Hours can be found on Council's website. 

Plastic pollution harms our health, wildlife, and the environment

From 1 February 2023, problematic single-use plastics will be banned from sale or supply in Victoria.

The ban applies to single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers and cotton bud sticks made from conventional, degradable, and compostable plastics. The ban also applies to food service items and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene. People who need single-use plastic drinking straws due to a disability or for a medical need can still purchase and use these items.

The Victorian Government has engaged the National Retail Association to assist businesses and organisations understand and preparing for the upcoming ban. The NRA will visit 3000 businesses across Victoria, develop resources, hold information sessions, and provide a toll-free hotline and mailbox. Click here to find out more.

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito-borne disease

Warm and wet weather can mean more mosquito biting and breeding, including the ones that can carry diseases that make you sick.

• Your only protection against mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry is to avoid mozzie bites.  
• Mozzies can bite through tight clothing. Cover up - wear long, loose-fitting clothing.
• Use mosquito repellents containing picardin or DEET on all exposed skin.
• Limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are about.
• Remove stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around your home or campsite.
• On holidays make sure your accommodation is fitted with mosquito netting or screens.
• Use ’knockdown’ fly spray, mosquito coils or plug-in repellent where you gather to sit or eat outdoors.
• Don’t forget the kids – always check the insect repellent label. On babies, you might need to spray or rub repellent on their clothes instead of their skin. Avoid applying repellent to the hands of babies or young children.

Click here for a checklist to protect your house from mosquitos.