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,

It is World Teacher's Day today and I would like to take the time to acknowledge and thank Mr. Collie and Miss Bedford for all their hard work. Teaching is a vocation, and it is a generous response from both of our teachers to say 'yes' to their calling and to work in such a dedicated way for our students and their families.

Teachers have no small influence on their students. A teacher spends 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for up to 40 weeks a year, with their students. That is a lot of face-to-face time and the impact can be immense. I am sure all of us remember good teachers (or bad teachers!) and the influence they had on us. It is hard to forget the great kindness we were shown, or the lack of justice we received, in the earliest years of our schooling. And so it is so important to me today to say thank you to our teachers and to encourage you to do the same. There is a lot of behind the scenes work and a lot of unseen care and effort that goes into the daily practices of a teacher. Thank you Jess and Jordan!

In addition to these comments, I would like to extend thanks to our wider school staff. Education is not only about the academic formation our students receive in their various subject areas, but about the way they are formed each day in their interactions with each other and with the staff. We are so blessed to have Mrs. Lane-Storey as the point of contact for student needs. We are blessed further to have Mrs. Maher, Mrs. Dalgliesh, Mrs. Evans, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Critchley in and around our school daily. I know these staff members have a great heart for their students and go above and beyond for them every day. Whilst not every member of staff has the title teacher, every member of staff teaches. Speaking not only as a member of staff, but as school parent also, I would like to say a big thank you to these men and women.

In a year of change at OLHC, it would be remiss of me not to include Mrs. Curran, Mrs. Newton, and Mrs. Grace in my comments. Their contributions to our school and students over the years has been immense. They provided educational, practical, and pastoral care for many years for which we are very grateful.

Finally, I would like to thank our parents. Parents are the first and most important educators of their children. We may teach children during the term, but a parent teaches them from the moment they are born, and that does not stop when the child is enrolled in school. It is an endless task of love to raise and educate a child and I would like to say thank you.

If you see any of the staff today I encourage you to wish them well and to thank them for their work. When we cooperate as a community, and acknowledge the various roles we fulfill, we will bring about better outcomes for our students.

All the very best,

Chris McCumstie

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 Term 4, our focus will be CLASSROOM behaviours.

These include:

- entering and exiting in an orderly way
- moving about the room sensibly
- focusing on school work and aiming to achieve the best standard
- listening and looking at others when they speak
- following the instructions of teachers straight away
- helping others in need

We will have more to say on these and other classroom expectations in the coming weeks.

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.

Student Media Report

On Monday this week we went to Warracknabeal for a show called 'Music in My Suitcase' and they played different songs from around the world and we all got to dance and sing. We all enjoyed the performance and had a great time.

The rest of the week was a normal week except for Friday. It is National worldwide teacher day today, so thank you to all of the teachers at O.L.H.C!

Also on Friday last week the whole school went to see the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and they played all types of songs that were by Beethoven. It only lasted 45 minutes but it was very interesting and we loved the songs.

Cereal Boxes needed for Senior Class

The Senior Class require 12 cereal boxes for a project they are working on.

If you have any at home, please send them to school.

Art with Mrs. Evans

During Art over the past couple of weeks the children in the senior room have learned macrame. They all made wonderful pot holders which Mrs Evans then gave them pot plants to fill them.

Students in the junior room had to draw a plan of something they wanted to make, with a list of items they would need to build it. They had so many different ideas including tanks, binoculars, cats just to name a few.

Transition - Forward to Foundation

In the lead-up to the State-wide Orientation Day on Tuesday 12^th December, Our Lady’s School invites the kinder children who are already enrolled or who intend to enroll for 2024 to attend transition days. The purpose of transition days is to let the children become familiar with school routines and expectations including- getting to and from school, playing and learning with other children, meeting staff, and becoming familiar with the school buildings and grounds.

Our school day begins at 9.00am. The morning session has a fruit break at 10.00am and concludes at 11.00am. Children then play before eating their morning tea together. The middle session begins at 11.30am and concludes at 1.00pm. Children then play and eat their lunch at 1:30pm. School finishes at 3:15pm.

Transition Dates

Tuesday, 21^st November, 900am - 11.30am
Tuesday, 28^th November, 900am - 11.30am
Tuesday, 5^th December, 900am - 1.45pm
Tuesday, 12^th December, 900am - 3.15pm (State-wide Orientation Day)

What to Bring

Fruit snack, morning tea, water bottle
Sun Hat
Lunch (on 5/12 and 12/12)

The School Uniform Coordinator will display samples of the school uniform on 28^th November from 9.00 - 9.50am and 10.45 - 11.45am, for parents to view. Forms will be available for those wishing to place orders.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming your child to the OLHC school community. It is an exciting and important time for families, so we will do our best to ensure both parents and students make the transition smoothly. If you have any questions please ring our friendly staff in the General Office on (03) 5385 2526 or email principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au.

2024 Year 7 - Transition Days

Year 6 students have been invited to attend the Year 7 (2024) transition program at Murtoa College.

Day 1 Wednesday 8th November 2023 9.30am - 2.30pm. Murtoa College bus will collect Our Lady's students (from OLHC) at 9.20am and drop them off at 2.35pm

Day 2 Wednesday 22nd November 2023 9.30am - 2.30pm. Murtoa College bus will collect Our Lady's students (from OLHC) at 9.20am and drop them off at 2.35pm.

Statewide Transition Day Tuesday 12th December 2023 Full Day. Students use their normal mode of transport, getting off their normal bus at Murtoa College or walking to Murtoa College.

Students are to wear their Our Lady's uniform, take their school hat to wear in the yard and bring appropiate food and drink for Recess and Lunch - No canteen on Wednesday. Students will be returned to Our Lady's School on Day 1 and 2, to travel home at their normal time.

Next week each student will receive an information pack , containing a permission slip from Murtoa College, to be completed by parents and handed to the bus driver when getting on the Murtoa College bus.

Our Lady's Permission Form will be on Simon.

Any questions please contact the General Office.

Important Upcoming Dates:

October:

27th - National Teachers Day

November:

1st - Fr. Matt visit
6th - Pupil Free Day - No school for students - Staff PD
7th - Melbourne Cup - school closed - public holiday. No school for staff or students.
8th - Year 7 (2024) transition day at Murtoa College for current Year 6 students 9.30am -2.30pm
15th - Fr. Matt visit
21st - Kinder Transition Day 9.00am - 11.30am
22nd - Year 7 (2024) transition day at Murtoa College for current Year 6 students 9.30am -2.30pm
23rd - SAC Meeting 6.30pm
28th - Kinder Transition Day 9.00am - 11.30am

December:

5th - Kinder Transition Day 9.00am - 1.45pm
6th - Fr. Matt visit
12th - Statewide Orientation Day 9.00am - 3.15pm
14th - Graduation Mass
15th - Last Day for students
18th - Last Day for Staff

Uniform Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that most students should be wearing summer uniforms. Below are the current uniform guides:

SUMMER UNIFORM - GIRLS
• Blue and White check dress; or Light blue polo shirt, with the school logo and navy shorts/skorts
• Optional Lightweight Cardigan or Lightweight Jumper, with embroidered school logo
• Provided Navy Sun hat with embroidered school logo.

SUMMER UNIFORM - BOYS

Grey shorts and a light blue polo shirt with the school logo
• Optional Lightweight Jumper, with embroidered school logo
• Provided Navy Sun hat with embroidered school logo.

General Uniform Information
Shoes - Brown, black, or navy sandals (summer) / black lace-up school shoes
or boots.
** SNEAKERS are sports requirements only and can be worn of Health/Physical Education days and when there are other sporting events. ** NOTE: Sandals and shoes with high heels are definitely not recommended for school wear, as they are detrimental to children’s growth.
Socks - Boys: plain grey, dark blue, or black. Girls: plain white or dark blue (or navy tights).

Hats are compulsory during the months of September to May.
Navy blue hats have been supplied for each student and are kept at school. Our Lady’s is a SunSmart school and as such has made a commitment to safeguarding the children’s skin and health. The Sunsmart rule states… “No hat, no play”.