OLHC News Issue 14 Term 2 Week 5 - 26th May 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
Copy Dear Parents, carers, families, and parishioners,
Firstly I'd like to wish Mrs. Grace all the best for her leave next semester, studies and new beginnings in 2024. We will always be thinking of her and thank her for her expertise and great leadership throughout these years.
It has been an amazing and busy week.
Concert - Andrew Chinn
As we were successful in obtaining Andrew Chinn to come to our school yesterday, Thursday 1st June, to perform workshops with the students, within just an hour of rehearsing, the students were ready to perform in their concert. All students were amazing and should be very proud of themselves. There was lots of laughter and enjoyment by everyone. The concert will provide many great memories for a very long time. Afterwards the students were filmed performing dance actions for Andrew's new song (which will be ready before the end of this term.) What a great experience for the children! Thank you Andrew Chinn for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, amazing concert and very successful day.
Dunmunkle Athletic sports
Well done to all our students for their participation and excellent efforts in the Dunmunkle Sports day.
Staffing update:
Welcome Mrs. Mary Dalgleish to our school community. Mary will replace Bridie from the beginning of Term 3. Next week Mary will visit our school for the week to work with Bridie and to learn her role as a Learning Support Officer, including teaching the intervention programs. Mary currently works at Horsham Municipal Library and, luckily, is ready to work in our library (as does Bridie).
Next Week:
Royal flying doctors Incursion
On Thursday 8th June, 2023, the Royal Flying Doctors will visit our school to run an education program. For more than 10 years, RFDS Victoria has run an education program for primary schools across the state.
This program consists of an exciting incursion, which sees our team bring a life-sized flight simulator into schools, and provide an engaging presentation alongside a hand-on learning experience.
Additionally, the program offers free learning resources to schools, which address areas of Geography, History and Health. The Education Program teaches students about the significant contribution the Royal Flying Doctor Service has made to Australia's history and educates them on the range of services the Flying Doctor provides to people living, working and traveling throughout Australia.
Fr. Matt:
Fr. Matt will be visiting our school next Wednesday, 7th june. He will go into each classroom and speak to the students about Forgiveness and Relationships. This will be a great topic as our students have been learning about forgiveness and being in 'Right Relationship' with others and our world.
Thank you and I look forward to these next few weeks. My door is always open to everyone (or phone and emails).
Ms. Anne Newton
"Let the words you speak always be full of Grace" (Col 4:6).
wonderful and greatly appreciated!
Celebrating Catholic Education
CEP Performance - "Hercules"
On Monday 25th May, we travelled to Warracknabeal and joined other schools in our Dunmunkle Cluster for an Alpha Performance of “Hercules”. This was held at the Warracknabeal Town Hall.
Hercules had a great theme. The story dealt with the isolation Hercules feels from his extra strength, which helped our children gain some compassion and connection with how many young people feel today. It followed Hercules's quest to become a hero and to rejoin his father Zeus in Olympus.
Whilst coming head to head with the nasty Hades, Hercules learned the best lesson – that strength of heart is far more important. A special sequence in the show allowed the students to connect in, with their inner hero and it was great for helping our students to step up into being more confident and certain they can accomplish their life’s purpose.
Hercules...
Dunmunkle Athletic Sports
The Dunmunkle Cluster School Athletics will be held next Friday 2nd June at Marnoo Recreation Reserve.
Students need to arrive at the oval by 9 am. The sports will officially begin at approximately 9.15 am. Marnoo Primary School is the host school and will be running the Canteen.
The Athletics program will be sent home next week. The Sports format will be similar to last year - Sprints & Hurdles first, followed by field events, 800 metres for 10, 11 & 12-year-olds, and relays after the lunch break. Presentations and closing ceremony will conclude the day. The day should be completed by approximately 2 pm or soon after.
Students need to wear their school sports uniform. All students need to have a cut lunch and a drink bottle with water. During the running of events, students are not to be going to the Canteen. Students may visit the Canteen accompanied by their parent/carer during the lunch break. Parents are welcome to purchase items from the canteen and take them to their child at an event.
Further explicit information is outlined in the Athletics Program - so please take the time to read this when your child brings it home. Please remember to bring your program to the sports as there will not be copies available on the day.
Important Upcoming Dates:
June:
- 1st - Andrew Chinn Student workshops (9 am) followed by School Concert (approximately 9.40 am).
- 2nd - Dunmunkle Athletic Sports to be held at Marnoo.
- 8th - Royal Flying Doctors Incursion at school.
- 12th - King's birthday - school closed - no school for staff or students.
- 19th/20th - Student Led Conferences 3.30 pm onwards
- 23rd - End of Term 2 - school finishes at 2.15 pm
July:
- 10th - Term 3 begins and Mr. Christopher McCumstie begins his Principalship at OLHC.
August:
- 11th - Pupil Free Day - Staff PD. NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS.
September:
- 15th - End of term 3 - school finishes at 2.15 pm
October:
- 2nd - Term 4 begins
- 6th - Murtoa Show: School Closure Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF OR STUDENTS
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.
Mass Times & Parish Information
Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 28th May 2023 Live Streaming at 9.00am
Sacramental Program 2023
St Paul VI Parish
St Paul VI Parish children have begun their sacramental program sessions as part of the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church. The Parish is offering this 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 children prepare for the Sacraments.
This program will 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. Below is a photo of Fr. Matt with Hunter, Eimer, and Riley.
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/