OLHC News Issue 4 Term 1 Week 5- 24th February 2023

Statement of Commitment to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples...

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,

Beginning of Year Mass

This week we celebrated our beginning of the year Mass at St Mary's Catholic Church in Murtoa. Fr Matt Restall (Parish Priest)  celebrated Mass with us. This was an excellent opportunity to welcome our new students and families to our school community.  Our 2023 school leaders were announced at the end of the Mass after Fr Matt blessed the badges. 

Our student leaders have earned their positions through hard work and dedication. They are chosen for demonstrating good behavior, striving for excellent academic performance, and leadership qualities. They stand for the Christian ethos of our school and continually promote the importance being the best they can be.  These students are role models for their peers and set a good example for the entire school. They always strive to bring out the best in each other and lift up those who need help. They show us how to be kind, gracious, and thoughtful while helping others in any way they can.

Our Leadership positions for 2023 are two school captains and two media representatives. These leaders are nominated and elected by their fellow students and staff to represent all students in the school. The leaders are committed to working with the students and staff to represent the student body in school decision-making and organize ways for students to participate in school life.

These students have already begun to demonstrate their leadership skills through hard work, dedication and the ability to lead by example. It is my pleasure to introduce you to your new school leaders for this academic year.

Our school is fortunate to have such great and inspiring students as our student leaders. Congratulations to all our leaders!

Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

OLHC School Leaders 2023

School Advisory Council (SAC)

On Wednesday 22nd February the first School Advisory Council meeting for 2023 was held.  We were fortunate to have Mrs. Janet Claassen from Catholic Education Ballarat facilitate an induction session with us all.  Janet explained the purpose of the SAC and reiterated the importance of parent voice in our schools through SAC.

We also officially welcomed three new members to the SAC - Katie Holmes (Addison's mum), Michael Allan (Ruby and Harrison's dad), and Lauren Oram (Harriett's mum).  Rosalyn Donasco and Scott Finnigan are completing their final term on SAC this year.  I am looking forward to working with all SAC members on school improvement in 2023.

Items discussed at the meeting:

• Building Project update - as most of you are aware, I was successful last year in obtaining a $ 2 million Capital Grant Fund to build a new main wing for our school.  This will comprise of two new classrooms, toilets, an administration area, the Principal's office, and a sick bay.  Next week, I am meeting with two DOBCEL (Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Ltd)  Capital Project Officers to begin the next phase of the project.  Most of the work from now on will be guided by Catholic Education Ballarat Advisers.  This is great support for the ongoing work of the Capital Project.
• Pupil Free Days - these were listed and SAC members were informed of the purpose of each of the days.  The list of the confirmed pupil-free days are listed below in the newsletter and are on the school calendar also.
• Tree Removal - Nelson Tree Services from Edenhope will be at school on Monday 20th March to remove trees that are damaging the basketball court and basketball fence.  They will also be lopping the big tree near the fort and making a clear path between the outside of the basketball court fence and the garden.  This will help maintain the shrubs so they don't become overgrown and unmanageable.  
  
• Child Safety Standards - The SAC members were informed of the Child Safety Student workshop which three of our leaders attended earlier in the week.  The students spent the day unpacking the 11 child safety standards and putting them in Child-Friendly language.  These are outlined below in the Child Safety section of this newsletter.
• Dates of the remaining SAC meetings for the year have been set.  These are all Wednesdays:  10th May, 9th August, and 22nd November.  We have decided to reduce the number of meetings to at least one per term.  The DOBCEL Terms of Reference are currently being updated.  The two major updates are that SAC members DO NOT need to complete a fit and proper person declaration or a qualifications statement and SACs are no longer required to have AGMs.

Important Upcoming Dates:

March:

• 6th - Pupil Free Day - no school for students.  Staff PD 
• 8th - Foundation Rest Day
• 13th - School Closed - Labour Day Public Holiday
• 15th - Fr Matt visiting & NAPLAN begins for Years 3 and 5
• 16th - NAPLAN continues for Years 3 and 5
• 17th - NAPLAN continues for Years 3 and 5

April:

• 6th - End of term 1 - school finishes at 2.15 pm.
• 24th - Pupil Free Day - no school for students.  Staff PD
• 25th - ANZAC day - school closed - no school for staff or students
• 26th - First day of Term 2 for students

June:

• 12th - King's birthday - school closed - no school for staff or students.
• 23rd - End of Term 2 - school finishes at 2.15pm

July:

• 10th - Term 3 begins

September:

• 15th - End of term 3 - school finishes at 2.15pm

October:

• 2nd - Term 4 begins

November:

• 6th - Pupil Free Day - No school for students - Staff PD
• 7th - Melbourne Cup - school closed - public holiday.  No school for staff or students.

December:

• 15th - Last day for students.

Child Safe Standards: Child Safety & Wellbeing Commitments

All students enrolled at Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC) have the right to feel safe and be safe. The safety and wellbeing of children in the school’s care will always be OLHC's first priority and the
school will not tolerate child abuse. The school will create a child-safe and child-friendly environment where children are free to enjoy life to the full without any concern for their safety. Particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable children and young people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with a disability, children who are unable to live at home, international students, and LGBTQIA+ students. The full policy can be accessed via our school’s website:  https://www.olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au/child-safe

The school’s Child Safety Officer is the Principal, Mrs. Cathy Grace.
All parents and volunteers that are onsite when students are onsite, or attend school events, are required to hold a Working with Children Check (WWCC) and sign the school’s Child Safety Code of Conduct. If we do not have a current copy of your WWCC, please present your card to the office for photocopying. We will endeavour to get all families to sign the code of conduct in the very near future.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and well-being 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 Grace either by phone or email principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

Child Safety Standards - Child-Friendly version

Child Safe Standard 1 - Everyone is respected, no matter where you come from.  Aboriginal children and young people are treated equally.

Child Safe Standard 2 - All people in our school always put children's safety of body and mind first.

Child Safety Standard 3 - Every child's voice needs to be taken seriously.  Every child will be given the information they need to be safe at all times.

Child Safety Standard 4 - Families take part in making sure their children are safe at school.

Child Safety Standard 5 - All of our policies make sure that every child gets what they need.

Child Safety Standard 6 - All people working in the school are suitable to keep children safe.

Child Safety Standard 7 - If people complain or are concerned about their child's safety, it will be looked into.

Child Safety Standard 8 - All staff at our school know how to properly keep children safe.

Child Safety Standard 9 - Make sure the classroom, the playground, and online are all safe and there is the least opportunity for anyone to be harmed.

Child Safety Standard 10 - Our school often reviews the standards to make them better.

Child Safety Standard 11 - Our school has documents on how we keep everyone safe.

(written by Sienna, Maeve & Charlotte)

Swimming - Water Safety & Awareness Program

This Wednesday, we started running our Water familiarisation program for students in years 2 to 6. 

The purpose of the swimming sessions is for Water Safety and Water Familiarisation. During each session, the students will participate in activities based on Water Safety & Confidence, Endurance, and Stroke.  Please remember that we do not specifically teach the students to swim. We aim to give the children skills and knowledge as to how to keep themselves safe in and around water. This year we plan to have 4 sessions during Term 1, and further sessions during Term 4. The sessions are below (dependent on the daily temperature – we only go swimming if it’s 25 degrees or over)

Remaining Swimming Awareness Sessions for Term 1 2023

Wednesday 1st March - 1.00pm to 2.00pm

Wednesday 8th March - 1.00pm to 2.00pm

Swimming Organisation

• Children must bring their bathers to school in a bag (NOT to be worn under school uniform).
• All students need to bring bathers, towel and a rashie / T-Shirt

(no rashie / no T-Shirt means no swim).

• All students will change at school before going to the pool.
• Sunscreen will be applied at school.
• Students will walk to the pool and if it’s too hot, students will be bused to and from the pool 
• Students  will be returned to school after each swimming session.
• If a student does not bring their swimming gear, they will remain at school to complete learning tasks.
• Costs: $2 per student per swim (if no pool membership)
• Permission Form on SIMON - thank you to all families who have given consent for their child to participate in the swimming program.

Lunch Heat Ups and Lunch Orders

Lunch Heat ups are only available during Term 2 and 3.  Please also a reminder that noodles e.g 2 minute noodles, requiring hot water/boiling water are not permitted at school due to safety reasons.

Lunch Orders are available on Fridays from Murtoa College Canteen.

To order your child's lunch on Fridays, send their order, written out on an envelope with correct money enclosed. The order needs to be placed in the lunch order basket  as soon as students arrive at school.

Media Team News...

This Tuesday our new leadership team was announced. This year's leaders are Maeve, Sienna, Hunter, and Charlotte. They were chosen on behalf of the senior students last Friday after hearing the speeches. The students then voted anonymously for who they wanted for the roles of School Captains and Media Representatives. At our Beginning of the Year  Mass, the badges were  presented to each leader. 

In Catholic Tradition, Tuesday was also Shrove Tuesday (otherwise known as Pancake Day).  On Shrove Tuesday, people used to go to confession to prepare themselves for Lent. Traditionally during Lent, Christians would give up rich, tasty foods such as butter, eggs, sugar, and fats.

The next day was Ash Wednesday. We were at Mass where we got ashes put on our foreheads in the shape of Jesus’ cross and were blessed by Monsignor Glynn (our priest). After that, we went swimming where four of our students treaded water for twenty-eight minutes and fifty-eight seconds straight, but we had to leave. Well done to Maeve, Kaden, Eimer, and Hunter for treading water for that time.

Today, Friday we had Buffy Harrison (Auslan Language Assistant) come to our school.  Buffy spent 1 hour with each class teaching us more Auslan and playing Auslan games with us to practice our learning.  One day we hope to sign a whole prayer using Auslan.

The rest of the week was a very normal O.L.H.C. week for us. We did work and play, a little bit of free time and that's all. We hope you enjoyed reading our article!

Hunter and Charlotte

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 26th February Livestreamed Mass at 9.00am.

Sacramental Program 2023

St Paul VI Parish

St Paul VI Parish is pleased to announce that over the course of 2023, children will be able to again choose to progress in being part of the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church. The Parish will offer a new program of preparation to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Parents are the first teachers of the faith to their children and are therefore encouraged to play an active part in helping their child prepare for the Sacraments.

Families are invited to attend an Information Session in one of the following locations, where further details will be provided, and any questions can be answered.

Calendar Dates

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

Bread Bags and Bread Tags Collection

Collect bread bags and earn sports equipment for your school!

We have registered our school for bread bag collection to help with recycling and to earn sports equipment from RHS Sports.

Help us collect bread bags which we can exchange for points to redeem for new sports equipment!

Bring you used, crumb free bread bags into school, and we will get busy collecting!

Further details are available on - https://wonder.com.au/wonder-recycling-rewards

Bread Tag Collection

Along with the bread bags we have decided to collect bread tags.

We will collect only plastic bread tags, not cardboard tags or N95 mask clips.

"Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs collect plastic bread tags nationally in Australia. The tags are recycled locally, raising funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people, mainly in South Africa"

Read their story on the following link - 

https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/

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.