OLHC News Issue 22 Term 3 Week 4 - 4th August 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 and Friends of Our Lady's,
We received a letter earlier in the week from the Food Bank. They thanked the children and families of OLHC for the generous donation of food that was gifted at Mass in Week 2. I know the students brought donations out of the kindness of their hearts, but it is nonetheless nice and encouraging to know that they have concretely helped those in need.
Fr Matt visited the classrooms on Wednesday and spoke with the children. It is an important part of Catholic education that we pass on the values we find in the gospel stories, and to have the leadership and cooperation of Fr Matt on a regular basis is a blessing. Fr Matt also works with a number of our students in the sacramental program, preparing them for their upcoming First Holy Communion. A small thing we can do to assist Fr and the children as that special day approaches is to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
As always, there is excellent teaching and learning occurring at our school. I was fortunate to spend a day with the junior class this week, and I observed lots of good routines, habits, and learning. An interesting addition to learning at OLHC is the way that AUSLAN is embedded into daily interactions. I had children greeting me, thanking me, and asking me questions in sign language. I can't pretend I understood all they were communicating just yet, but I can say I was impressed! Well done to Buffy, Miss Bedford, and the junior students for all your hard work.
Parents should have received an invitation to participate in the School Improvement Survey on behalf of OLHC and the Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL). This survey is designed to assist OLHC in gaining an understanding of parents' perceptions of their children’s experience of school. The results will benefit everyone within the school and will ensure we have the necessary feedback to best serve the community moving forward. Although you are strongly encouraged to participate, your participation is voluntary. If you have not received an invitation, please contact me or the school office.
As always, please come in and say hello if you have the opportunity. The school and the home are in a partnership, and all the interactions I have with parents and friends are helpful in building my understanding of our community.
All the very best,
Chris McCumstie
Book Fair
Book Fair is on in the General Office!
Students have been visiting, looking, reading and making a list of books they would like to purchase.
Parents, friends and family members are welcome to come in at any time to peruse and purchase the books on offer.
The Book Fair is open until 4.00pm Thursday 10th August.
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.
Student Media News
This week our Book Fair opened, we have a range of books, diaries, fidgets, pens, stationary. The Book Fair will finish next week so make sure to buy anything that you are interested in before it finishes!
“I loved the squishy that I got from the Book Fair!” - Sienna
Charlotte
Important Upcoming Dates:
August:
- Book Fair has begun
- 8th - Foundation Speech Screening
- 9th - SAC Meeting 6.30pm
- 11th - Pupil Free Day - Staff PD. NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
- 16th - Fr. Matt visiting
- 18th - Performance "Cinderella" 11.00am Horsham Town Hall
- 21st - Book Week - Theme - 'Read, Grow, Inspire' - Activities TBA
- 25th - Whole School AFL Clinic 10am
- 31st - Black Ranges Athletics
September:
- 1st - Buffy Auslan 9.00 - 10.00am
- 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
- 24th - CEP Performance - 'Music in My Suitcase'
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
Sunday 6th August 2023 Mass st St. Mary's Church at 8.30am.
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.
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/