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 and Friends of Our Lady's,

On Thursday morning we celebrated Father's Day. Fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and other special friends of our students gathered for breakfast and a short performance. It is so important to acknowledge the significant role these members of our community play in the lives of our students. Every student in our school invited someone who is special to them, and it was heartwarming to see the children sharing a meal and conversation with their loved ones as we began our day. Well done to the students for their performance on the day and a big thank you to Mrs. Maher and Mrs. Dalgliesh for cooking and serving the breakfast. I wish all the families in our community well, in whatever way they choose to celebrate on Sunday.

Buffy joined us again for an in-person lesson on Friday. I will say again what I have said before- we are so blessed to have the gifts and talents that Buffy offers. She is a wonderful teacher and AUSLAN is now becoming embedded in our daily interactions. Just yesterday I opened a door for one of our students and they thanked me with sign language. I was so pleased to see the student practicing both respect and their second language in one interaction. I wonder if any of our parents have learned some AUSLAN from their children?

After dressing up and celebrating Book Week, as well as participating in the annual Scholastic Book Fair, I'm interested to know if students are reading more. We really want to encourage our students (and their families) to prioritise this key skill in the home. After a long day at school, it is important that students are given time in the afternoons and evenings to rest, play and have some down-time with their families. The one thing I would ask on top of this is for families to incorporate reading into the evening routine. This could be reading together as a family, reading aloud to children before bed, or having children read their readers or other books to an adult. It's wonderful to give heightened attention to books and reading at different times of the year, but it is more impactful to make reading and books a part of our daily lives. Making that effort now will help our students develop life-long habits of reading, will develop their interests and their knowledge base, and will broaden the lens through which they see the world. It's also just some of the best times you can spend with a child- to see them develop the skill of reading is extraordinary, and to see the delight good books can bring to a child is a reward in itself.

Finally, it is the Murtoa community's turn to celebrate First Holy Communion this Sunday, 3rd September at 8:30am. Fr. Matt and two of our students have been preparing for some time now and the moment has come. I wish Eimer and Hunter all the very best as they receive Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time. If the community is not able to attend the Mass on the 3rd, I invite them instead to remember our students in their thoughts and prayers on Sunday morning.

All the very best,

Chris McCumstie

Weekly School Tours

There’s so much happening at Our Lady Help of Christians school in Murtoa, and I’d love to show you around!

Every Thursday, between 2:00 – 4:30 I will be giving school tours. Prospective parents, interested locals, visitors to the region and old friends are all welcome to come and see the great work that happens at our school each day. No need to call ahead, just pop in on Thursday afternoons. I can answer any questions you may have about our school or about Catholic education in general.

Tours are still available outside these times, of course. You can make arrangements by calling the school office on 03 5385 2526.

Chris McCumstie

Principal OLHC Murtoa

School Wide Positive Behaviour

Education is not only about the intellectual or academic instruction we give to students. It is also about the cooperation between the home and the school in the formation of our students' character. Each week we would like to share with the parent body our school-wide behaviour focus, so that parents and caregivers know what we are working on at school and can make similar efforts in the home. We want to form well-rounded, polite, hard-working students who are filled with joy and who get the most out of their time at school. This requires positive reinforcement of good behaviours, and gentle correction or redirection when expected behaviours are not evident.

For the remainder of the term, our focus will be RESPECT.

Respect includes:

- using manners (pleases and thank yous)
- listening and looking at others when they speak
- giving others their own personal space
- following the instructions of teachers and parents straight away
- using appropriate language, including tone
- helping others in need

There will always be times when our students depart from these expectations, but so long as we are united in our efforts to build up the character of our students, we can hope to see progress and the formation of good habits.

Black Ranges Athletics

Eimer, Charlotte, Kaden, Maeve and Sienna travellled to North Park, Stawell to compete in the Black Ranges Athletics yesterday.

Representing Our Lady's School they took part in two individual events (either track or field). As part of the Dumnmunkle Cluster they all ran in their age group relays.

They did themselves proud, and did a great job representing our school. Thank you to the families who prepared their children with extra training, and who accompanied them on the day for support.

Results are as follows -

Eimer 100m Sprint - 5th, Triple Jump - 1st, Relay 2nd

Kaden - 100m Sprint - 5th, 200m - 3rd, Relay - 3rd

Charlotte - Long Jump - 5th, 100 m Sprint - 2nd, Relay - 5th

Maeve - Triple Jump - 2nd, Long Jump - 1st, Relay

Sienna - 100m Sprint - 2nd, Shot Put - 1st, Relay

First and second in individual events progress to the Greater Western Region Athletics in Ballarat on Friday, 6th October 2023. First place in the Dunmunkle Relays progress.

Father's Day Breakfast

Thanks to all who attended the Father's Day Breakfast. It was a great way to start the morning and to acknowledge the special people in our lives.

The students sang a song for their guests and thanked them for coming to celebrate.

This Thursday was the Black Ranges Athletic Sports Competition and Charlotte, Eimer, Maeve, Sienna, and Kaden all attended this sporting event. We do not know who have qualified for Regionals in Ballarat, but overall they all tried their best.

On Friday Buffy, (The schools Auslan teacher) came into the Senior class and did a lesson for the whole school for a whole hour.

We’re sure that everyone has learned something new or two. We played Buffys version of Pac-Man, and that was a lot of fun. Buffy also taught us a Father's Day song in Auslan.

Hunter

Murtoa Show

137th Annual Murtoa Show will be held on the Big Weekend, on Friday, 6th October 2022. (This day is the first Friday of Term 4, and is a Pupil Free Day, which gives families time to attend Murtoa Show.)

Students have been preparing entries during various lessons at school. The school will enter student's work into the show to represent OLHC.

Children are welcome to enter other sections as a Murtoa resident. If they have time during the school holidays, they might like to create an entry and follow the directions in the show schedule below to enter into the particular category. Detailed instructions, including entry information, are contained in the flyer below. Click on the 'Murtoa Show Schedule' link below for further information.

Murtoa Show Schedule

School Fee Accounts

School Fee accounts were sent home with students last week. Any questions, queries or difficulties, please come and see the Principal.

Important Upcoming Dates:

September:

3rd - First Holy Communion in St. Mary's Catholic Church, Murtoa 8.30am
5th - Murtoa Kindergarten visit
6th - Fr Matt visit
8th- Minyip-Murtoa Burras AFL morning
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
6th - Greater Western Region Athletics - Ballarat
23rd - 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 3rd September, 2023 Mass at St. Mary's Church Murtoa at 8.30am. First Communion Mass.

Sacramental Program 2023

St Paul VI Parish

The sacramental program continues at St Paul VI Parish. Fr Matt Restall is working with a number of children from Murtoa and the surrounding regions, preparing them for their First Holy Communion, which will be celebrated on Sunday, 3rd September at St. Mary's Church, Murtoa at 8.30am. All welcome. After Mass all are invited to a cuppa at Rabl Park, bring something to share.