OLHC News Issue 8 Term 1 Week 9 - 24th March 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,

Camp

Next Monday 26th March, our Year 4 students will be attending Camp at Cave Hill Creek in Beaufort.  Mr. Collie and I will be attending camp for three days.  The students need to be at Murtoa College by 8 am on Monday.  They need to bring all items on the packing list that was sent home earlier. Please make sure all items are clearly named.  Everyone needs a cut lunch for the first day and a full drink bottle packed in their day backpack.  Please have any medications that your child needs, clearly labeled and give these to Mrs. Grace on Monday morning. Please remember to pack a torch in your child's bag, an extra pair of shoes, a plastic bag for wet clothes, and a sleeping bag.  

Mrs. Joy Quarrell will be teaching the Year 5/6 class while Mr. Collie is on camp.

NAPLAN

This week Years 3 & 5 students completed the Language Conventions (spelling, grammar & punctuation) and Numeracy tests online. Any students who have been absent on any of the days undertook catch-up tests as well.   All our students were very engaged when completing their tests and I was impressed with each of them for their continued perseverance throughout each test and applying their learning.  

Free Parent Session - The Resilience Project (TRP)

Last night, Thursday 23rd March from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (90 minutes) AEDT, Martin and the TRP Team presented a free online Parent & Carer presentation (with other schools).  Martin and the team were very delighted that many parents linked in for the session.
Through emotionally engaging stories and practical strategies, this session helped parents and carers understand the benefits of letting go of shame, perfection, ego, and control. It combined powerful research with candid storytelling, along with a few laughs to help support what is arguably the toughest job in the world... being a parent or carer.

Here is the link to the recording for distribution to those who couldn't make the live session, or would like to watch the presentation again. Please note that this link will expire on the 8th of April 2023.

Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

Important Upcoming Dates:

March

• 27th - 29th:  Year  4 Camp to Cave Hill Creek, Beaufort:  Mr. Collie attending with Year 4s.  Mrs. Joy Quarrell will be teaching Year 5/6 on these three days.

April

• 4th - Mr. Joe McCracken (MP) visiting our school to talk about Civics and Citizenship.
• 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 2.15 pm

July:

• 10th - Term 3 begins

September:

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

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.

Media Team News...

This week we had Harmony Day on Tuesday. Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity (people from different cultures). A day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home. Harmony day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial discrimination.

 NAPLAN has finally finished for the Years 5s and 3s. On Monday they had a Language Conventions test (spelling, punctuation, and grammar) and then a NAPLAN Maths test the following day.

In about two weeks' time, a member of parliament, Joe McCracken will be coming to our school to talk about civics and citizenship.  The Senior class have been learning about Civics and Citzenship this term.

by Hunter and Charlotte

Harmony Week 2023 -"Everyone Belongs"

21st  March - All day.

The theme for Harmony Week 2023 is: “Everyone belongs”.

Harmony Week was first celebrated in 1999, to help celebrate Australia’s diversity and promote a sense of acceptance and inclusivity. 

Australia has an incredible history of multiculturalism. There are many different Indigenous Australian languages spoken across Australia today. However, many people still face racism. Whilst Harmony Week is a celebratory event, it also serves to campaign against discrimination.

It’s a day for us to come together and celebrate all of our differences and diversity in Australia as well as across the world. Australia has a rich and varied culture, but we can’t ignore the racism and cultural discrimination that is part of our history.

On Harmony Day, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in particular are a focus point for discussions and celebration.  

Harmony Day is a great opportunity to educate others on the value and importance of other cultures such as these. The event as a whole encourages us to continue to build bridges between the many wonderful cultures and ethnicities that make Australia what it is today.

Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect, and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Held every year on 21 March.

Our school celebrated this special day by working together, showing that we work in harmony, we belong and we respect each other.  This is actually a big part of our vision in pursuing fullness of life for all (no matter what culture or linguistic background a person has).  

The image below is what our students created.  Each child was given a part of the picture to complete, then all the parts were put together to complete the Harmony Day puzzle.  

CEP Performance - Fizzics Education

Our first CEP Performance for 2023 is a science performance called Fizzics Education and it will be held on Monday, 3rd April 2023. Details below - 

• Date - Monday 3rd April 2023
• Time - 11.00 am to 12.00 pm
• Venue - Warracknabeal Town Hall
• Transport - travel by bus to and from Warracknabeal
• Cost - $10 per student (No cost for CSEF receipients) 
• Permission note will be on Simon, please read and give your consent for your child to attend

Mass Times & Parish Information

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 26th March Livestreaming 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.

To give parents, teachers, catechists and children time to discuss, absorb, and appreciate the fundamental truths and gifts of each Sacrament offered to us from God, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be encountered in the Year 4 (and above) age group. Then, in the Years 6 & 7 age groups (primary & secondary) the Sacrament ‘confirming’ our place in faith (Confirmation) will be offered. This time line allows better opportunity for families to make the faith journey across these important Sacraments.

Preparation sessions begin mid April for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Registration forms for the Sacramental Programs are available at the Parish Office, as well as the front office of all Catholic schools within the Parish. Forms will also be available at each Information Session. Please return your completed form to your local school, the Parish office, or Parish Clergy by 3rd April 2023.

Information Sessions have recently been held at Nhill, Murtoa, Warracknabeal and Horsham.

The last of the Information Sessions will be held at Hopetoun on Sunday, 26th march after 11.00am Mass.

Catholic School Parents Victoria Update March 2023

Below is the link to the document 'Catholic School Parents Victoria Update March 2023.'  This document is a very valuable resource for parents.  In this edition, there is information on:

• Catholic School Parent Survey
• Parent Engagement Webinar
• Catholic Education Week
• Technology in schools
• Premiers Reading Challenge and
• opportunities for parents to have a voice.

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/

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻

Yarriambiack Shire Council and ROSS Planning will be hosting a Community Consultation Session for the Rabl Park Masterplan next Wednesday 15th March from 6 pm-7 pm at Rabl Park and you’re invited to attend.

Come along and have your say on the development of the area including the toddler playground, skate park, pump track, and landscaping.

If you would like your voice to be heard and are unable to attend, you can still have your say by submitting a response to the survey - please click on the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Rabl_Park_Master_Plan