Our Lady Help of Christians School Murtoa eNewsletter

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.

Statement of Commitment

Principal Report

Dear Parents, carers, families, and parishioners,

It will definitely be a strange but wonderful way to begin Term 3. We welcome to Our Lady’s our new principal, Mr. Christopher McCumstie. This will be very exciting for everyone and we wish him and his family a safe journey to Victoria and a wonderful new beginning with our school and community. We also welcome Mrs. Mary Dalgleish to our school community. She is looking forward to working with our children as a Learning Support Officer and Librarian. We are very blessed to have Mr. Jordan Collie and Miss Jess Bedford to continue teaching in our classrooms and we welcome Mrs. Melissa Evans, who will be teaching the specialist subjects with our students. God bless them all as they continue to teach, nurture and support our students, your children. I hope they feel the warmth and welcoming of our school, as I know Our Lady’s is a truly beautiful and special school and community and feel very blessed for being part of it for the past 28 years. I am looking forward to my Long Service Leave and will always hold OLHC deep in my heart, and forever in my prayers.

Footy and Netball Colours Day For the last day of the term, 23^rd June, we all enjoyed ‘Footy and Netball Colours Day’ and, also, ‘YES Day’ or movie time, for some. For all the student’s hard work throughout the term, the students were given the opportunity to choose what they would like to do (within reason). This was a great way to celebrate the student’s efforts and many memorable moments. The staff, past and present, had a delicious morning tea to celebrate the end of Semester One.

On behalf of Our Lady’s school, we hope you have a wonderful holiday break. We have lots to be proud of from this term and look forward to seeing you all after the school holidays.

God bless you all and thank you.

Ms. Anne Newton

Student Led Conferences & Reports

Student Led Conferences were held on Monday, 19th and Tuesday, 20th June.

If you were unable to attend, please contact your child's teacher to arrange a time in Term 3.

All student’s reports have been released through SIMON.

Winter School Uniform

As you are all well aware, Winter is here! Winter uniform should be worn, not Summer uniform. Please ensure that your children come to school with a jumper, coat and if they need it scarf, beanie and gloves. It’s very cold outside during recess and lunch break. Please make sure all items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Our students understand and have embedded it into their practice that if they have muddy shoes, they take them off and leave them outside the classroom. Students can bring slippers to put on when inside the classroom and when going outside will put their school shoes on. Slippers can be left at school in student’s lockers over the winter season.

Important Upcoming Dates:

June:

23rd - End of Term 2 - school finishes at 2.15 pm
23rd - Footy/Netball Colours Day

July:

10th - Term 3 begins and Mr. Christopher McCumstie begins his Principalship at OLHC.
11th - Kinder visit
19th - Gifting Mass 12 noon at St. Mary's Church, Murtoa

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 25th June 2023 Livestreaming 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.

Church Bulletin

Calendar Dates

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

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/

School Holiday Activities

Horsham - ADHD & Demand Avoidance Seminar

Subject: Horsham - ADHD & Demand Avoidance Seminar - 23 July 2023

Hi Everyone,

The Strengthening Parent Support Program at Uniting Wimmera is excited to be hosting the Rebecca Challoner & Christine Keeble for a seminar educating us around ADHD and Demand Avoidance.

The seminar will be held on Sunday 23 July in Horsham and run from 10am - 3pm (Venue to be confirmed based on numbers).

This is a free event, however registration is required to attend. Registering ASAP would be appreciated if you plan to attend, please follow the link below (if you have already previously RSVP can you still please complete this link):

https://forms.office.com/r/PLTyexXVAJ

We would be grateful if you can promote this free event within your organisation in your upcoming newsletters and make contact with any parents/carers who may benefit.

Everyone is welcome to attend and we encourage any professional in the field to come along too!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.

Kate Janetzki | Strengthening Parent Support Program Coordinator