OLHC News Week 7 Term 1 2022

Principal Report

Dear Parents, Friends, and Carers,

School Closure Day - tomorrow Friday, 11th March

Staff will be completing their First Aid, CPR, Asthma, and Anaphylaxis training tomorrow - Friday 11th March.

No students are to come to school on Friday 11 March.

A reminder that Monday 14th March is the Victorian Labour Day holiday - this is a School Closure Day.  NO STAFF OR STUDENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL.

Tuesday 15th March - we look forward to welcoming back Mrs. Lane-Storey back from her restful Long Service Leave break.  It will be very exciting to have her back and hear about her time away.  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Paula Winsall, (Admin officer from St Mary's Warracknabeal), who supported our school in keeping all accounts and financial operations up to date during Mrs. Lane-Storey's absence.  THANK YOU, Paula!

P&F Meeting:

There will be a Parents and Friends meeting will be held on Wednesday 30th March 6.30 pm at the Railway Hotel, Murtoa.  Everyone is welcome - let's come together, kids most welcome, and have a meal and reconnect.  We need to have a representative from each family at this meeting.    We will do a brainstorm of possible family events we can hold to reconnect families and allow people to get to know each other.  Let's move the focus of the Parents and Friends to one of having fun, families engaging and interacting rather than fundraising all the time.  Our relationships with each other are far more important, especially since the impact of the global pandemic.  Details of the meeting have been posted on the P&F Facebook messenger group page.  This will be a nighttime meeting and let's aim for 100% attendance from each family.  There will also be a little bit of housekeeping to sort out eg. office bearers (as this group is a sub-committee of the SAC).  This shouldn't take too long.  This year, our school is hosting the Dunmunkle School Athletic Sports.  This means our school will be running the Canteen so we will discuss this at the meeting also.  Our school sports as mentioned in previous newsletters will be held on Friday 1st April at the Murtoa Recreation Reserve.

Working Bee - A date for all your diaries is Sunday 27th March.  We will be holding our annual working bee.  The working bee will start at 10 am and be for 2 hours.  Lunch (finger food) will be provided.  Last year, every family was represented one way or another.  Even the families that could not make the Sunday,  helped out on another day that suited them.  It was amazing what we achieved in tidying up the yard.  Closer to the date, a list will be compiled of the necessary jobs and equipment needed.  So please watch this space.

NAPLAN MAY 2022 
NAPLAN is the national literacy and numeracy assessment that our Year 3 and 5 students undertake each year in May. This year NAPLAN will be completed online and held across three days from 10th May to 12th May inclusive. A parent and carer information sheet has been given to your child today. Please take the time to read through the sheet and visit the links provided in the sheet, including the types of questions and how you can support your child through the testing days. Further information as to the scheduling of the assessments at our school will be provided to families closer to the date.

Important Dates for your diary:

• Working Bee - Sunday 27th March - 10 am start.
• 9th May to 30th May - Mrs. Bush on Long Service Leave:  Mrs. Sue Tyler will be teaching for the Senior class.
• Grade 3/4 Camp - Sunny Stones Camp  Term 3 – Wk3 on Wednesday 27^th July, Thursday 28^th July, Friday 29^th July. 
• Grade 5/6 Camp - Melbourne Urban Camp   Term 4 – Wk3 on  Wednesday 19^th October, Thursday 20^th October, Friday 21^st October.  
• School Athletic Sports - Friday 1st April at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.  Our school is hosting the Sports this year so we will be asking our Parents and Friends to run the Canteen.
• School Cross Country - Thursday 28th April beginning at Rabl Park.

More information about the above events will be in the newsletter once details have been finalized.

Until next week                                                                                                                                                                      Kind regards

Mrs. Cathy Grace                                                                                

St Paul VI Parish Wimmera-Mallee Survey

The St Paul VI Parish Council are wanting your feedback on how you, as a Parishioner, feel they are going at the moment. 

The Parish Council is hoping you may be able to find the time to complete the short questionnaire they have compiled so they can get a sense of what is working well and the areas in which they need to improve. 

To provide your feedback simply enter the following web address into your internet browser and complete the survey- https://forms.gle/8BGh1ZL9SJWffNn46 , or use the link button below.

Parishioners have until Sunday the 20th of March to provide feedback.

Positive Start

The Victorian Government has provided information on the Positive Start in 2022 initiative, which offers students in all low-fee Catholic schools a chance to reconnect with peers and enjoy the kinds of activities that many missed out on over the past two years.

With Positive Start, Victorian students will be more active, reconnect with friends, and find inspiration in new and exciting places.

Holiday camps

Eligible parents and/or carers can book a free holiday camp for their child who is in Year 3 or above.

Holiday camps give children a positive and fun experience away from the regular holiday routine.

Whether a single overnight experience or spending several nights away, taking part in a school holiday camp program is a great way for your child to try new things, make new friends and enjoy active time in the great outdoors.

If students wish to go to a holiday camp, parents and carers will need to book. Schools do not organise these camps for students.

To be eligible for free holiday camps, students must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• attend a school that experienced closures of five days or more due to COVID-19 in 2021
• have an approved Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) application for 2022
• have a parent who holds a valid means-tested concession card
• are Indigenous students
• reside in out-of-home care (temporary or permanent)
• are from a refugee background
• are students with a disability.

All of our students would qualify based on the first dot point listed above.  Some will meet several of the criteria listed.

More information about this initiative can be found here, or by using the link button below.

An expression of interest letter will be emailed to all families next week.  The letter outlines how families can express an interest in their child attending a free holiday camp.

Families must register their interest by Friday 25 March 2022 to be considered.

Naplan 2022

NAPLAN is the national literacy and numeracy assessment that our Year 3 and 5 students undertake each year in May. This year NAPLAN will be completed online and held across three days from 10th May to 12th May inclusive. A parent and carer information sheet is attahed. Please take the time to read through the sheet and visit the links provided in the sheet, including the types of questions and how you can support your child through the testing days. Further information as to the scheduling of the assessments at our school will be provided to families closer to the date.

Lent - Second Week

Second Week of Lent 
(Week beginning Monday 14^th March)

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Biru who lives in a rural village in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child. Biru worked as a shepherd, looking after other people’s cattle, to support his wife and four daughters. Keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.

Biru taught himself how to repair bicycles by watching other people, but he never dreamed of using those skills to start his own business. With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods training program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the support and skills he needed to start his own bicycle repair business. Now, Biru earns enough money to support his family.

Watch a short film about Biru’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Robot Collagraphs

Over the next few weeks in art, Miss Kirby is having the children design and make their own robots. Today they drew three images of robots, decided which they would like to make and what they would need to make them.

They are going to be made on paper plates with flat objects glued on, in the shape of their invention. The robots will be reproduced in a few of ways including placing a piece of paper over their robot and rubbing with a crayon, also the robot can be painted and printed on another piece of paper.

If you have any spare items around the house, such as bread ties, safety pins, buttons, paper gliders, sending them to school with your child before Wednesday's art class would be greatly appreciated.

Mass Details

Mass: St Mary's Church, Murtoa
Sunday 13th March                                                                                      Livestream viewing  10.30 am

Financial Assistance Information

DHHS Voluntary Survey re: Covid

The Victorian Department of Health has launched the first state-wide survey of parent and guardian attitudes and perceptions towards COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11 in Victoria.

 The data gathered in this survey will enhance the pathways and resources that support parents and guardians to make decisions about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination services for 5-11 year olds.

 The target audience for this survey is parents and guardians of 5-11 year old children across Victoria. We encourage all parents or guardians with 5-11 year old children to complete the survey, regardless of whether their children have or have not been vaccinated.  

The link to complete the survey is available here or via https://dhhschange.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d4ncDp5KSx8GnlA.

 The survey will be open until 5pm AEDT on 17 March 2022.

 Completion of the survey is voluntary. The survey is entirely confidential, and all data will be handled in accordance with the Department of Health Privacy Statement

 Thank you for your support.

 Naomi Bromley

Deputy Secretary COVID-19 Vaccination, COVID-19 Response                                                                Department of Health and Human Services | 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000
w. www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

Childhood Anxiety...

The below information is sourced from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/anxiety-in-children

Anxiety is a normal part of childhood. In most cases, anxiety in children is short-lived and goes away after a while. Some examples of normal worries might be:

• being shy or being worried about being laughed at
• being upset before and/or after being left at childcare or school
• worrying about schoolwork, sport, or health

But many children experience anxiety more intensely and more often than other children, stopping them from getting the most out of life.

Signs of anxiety in children

If a child is often anxious, they might:

• try to avoid the situation or issue they’re worried about
• get headaches and stomach aches often, especially when away from home
• have trouble sleeping or have vivid nightmares
• worry often
• need a lot of reassurance
• want things to be perfect and get upset if they’re not
  

Supporting children with anxiety

If you think your child has anxiety, you can support them by:

• acknowledging your child’s fears — don’t dismiss or ignore them
• gently encouraging your child to do things they’re anxious about
• waiting until your child actually gets anxious before you step in to help
• praising your child for doing something they’re anxious about
• avoiding labelling your child as ‘shy’ or ‘anxious’

Lunch Orders - Monday and Fridays

Calendar Dates

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

Schoolzine App...SZapp

To make it easier for parents to access the newsletter and other communication you can download the Schoolzine App.  It's called SZapp and it's available from the App store (Apple devices) or Google Play store (Android devices).

Please click on the link below for instructions on how to set it up on your device. 

https://www.schoolzine.com/szapp-installation

The above link has step by step instructions on how to install the app on your chosen device and how to register yourself as a user so then you can find our school.

Parent Access Module (PAM)

We strongly encourage parents to use the Parent Access Module PAM (SIMON Everywhere) to inform us of student absences. These notes can be set in advance (if, for example, you know that your child will be absent a week in the future). Notes written in the diary are for communicating with teachers. Absent notes need to be directed to the office.

Please speak with office staff if you have any questions about PAM.

Simon Everywhere APP

The Simon Everywhere app delivers instant notifications to parents' mobile phones, delivering the functionality of PAM (SIMON Parent Access Module) in an easy to navigate app.  

We request that all parents please download the Simon Everywhere app, search and add Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, Murtoa and log in using your existing PAM credentials.  

We will use Simon Everywhere for all important notifications.  

You will be able to manage all your day-to-day school needs from the Simon Everywhere app - notify us of absences, view the lunch orders menu, read the newsletter ...

Please contact the office with any questions.

COVID-19 reminders...

Our school continues to monitor and abide by all COVID safe regulations and recommendations issued by the State Government and the Catholic Education Office.

Rapid Antigen Tests - RAT Tests have been handed out to families.  Thank you to the families that have tested their children and let the school know the result.  These tests are voluntary - It is suggested children are tested twice weekly (eg. mid-week and end of the week).  We will continue to distribute RAT tests to students when they arrive.

Face Masks - Students in Year 3 and above must wear a facemask indoors, unless a lawful exemption applies - Students are not required to wear a mask outside - School staff must wear a face mask in all indoor settings, except where removal of a mask is necessary for effective communication of teaching. All visitors to the school-aged 8 or above must wear a mask unless a lawful exemption applies. Students in Prep to Grade 2 a strongly encouraged to wear a mask indoors at school.   A face mask must cover the nose and mouth. Face shields, scarves, or bandanas do not meet these requirements. (Please see information above in the Principal report).

COVID Safe requirements for visitors and volunteers performing work on school site

Visitors and volunteers performing work on school sites (both inside and outdoors) are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 25 February 2022 if they became fully vaccinated on or before 25 October 2021. For those that became fully vaccinated after 25 October 2021, the deadline is 15 March 2022, or have a valid medical exception.

This requirement applies to:

• a person contracted to work at an education facility and who will or may be in close proximity to children, students, or staff, whether or not engaged by the education operator including casual relief teachers, NDIS providers, and auditors (but does not include delivery personnel).
• the diocesan education office staff who attend an education facility (such as allied health personnel)
• the staff of any other entity who attends an education facility
• volunteers that attend an education facility and that work in close proximity to children, students, or staff (including parent helpers)
• students on placements at an education facility.

Schools must advise visitors and volunteers they must adhere to COVIDSafe requirements –
including vaccination, physical distancing, face mask requirements, cough etiquette, and good
hand hygiene. 

Other visitors to schools (not performing work)
Service Victoria QR code check-in is not required at schools. Routine school visitor record
keeping arrangements will continue to apply.
In Victorian Catholic schools, parents, carers and other adult visitors who enter school buildings must be able to show evidence of two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid medical exception.
The following limited exceptions also apply:

• when attending to administer medical treatment to their own child when the treatment
  cannot be administered by the school
• when attending to collect their child who is unwell and cannot leave the school
  building unaccompanied by their parent/carer
• when attending for a momentary period that does not involve any sustained contact
  with staff or students, for example, to collect a completed art project, collecting a
  packet of rapid antigen test or similar.
  

Proof of vaccination can be checked by a COVID-19 digital certificate (Service Victoria app or smartphone wallet) or printed copy of a digital certificate or immunisation history statement.

Community News

MINYIP MURTOA FOOTBALL/NETBALL CLUB

Hello NetSetGO families! Great news, our registrations for NSG are open! Please see the link below.NetSetGO is aimed at school aged children between 5-10. Training will start the first Thursday of term 2 on the 28th April. Kristy Davo will be taking on the SET/GO girls again and we have a few 15s girls eager to develop our NET group of girls. There’s a few changes this year, including the platform on which you register. It’s very simple but please be aware you will need to create a new user. Don’t try and use your old passwords to login! The information I have is that after you register, you will receive an email with a voucher to receive your NSG pack. So this is a little different too. Please if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to contact me.Can’t wait to see the girls on the court https://netball-registration.worldsportaction.com/userReg...

TANYA KERNIGHAN HEADLINING SENIORS CONCERT
Join Tania Kernaghan for a very special ‘up close and personal’ performance as she shares with you the stories behind her hit songs which have been instrumental in shaping her stellar career.
 
You’ll love hearing, The Verandah, Where The Murray Meets The Darling, Nine Mile Run and everyone’s favourite, Boys In Boots, along with a couple of old favourites Tania has handpicked to perform especially for this Seniors Festival concert..

Save the Date!
Yarriambiack Seniors Concert
Monday 28 March
Concert: 10:30am -11:30am
Lunch: 12pm (BBQ meat and salads)
FREE event for the Over 50s
Warracknabeal Racecourse
More details to follow in coming weeks.
For more information contact Lisa on (03) 5398 0100 or linkster@yarriambiack.vic.gov.au.

Australian Catholics Magazine

The Autumn 2022 Schools Edition of Australian Catholics is out now - at the following link:

Strengthening Parent Support Program

The Strengthening Parent Support Program encourages the families and carers of a child with a disability or developmental delay to build support networks with other families in their local area.  We provide parents with the opportunity to meet other local families in a supportive, relaxed setting where they can socialize, share information or take part in training programs to support them in their caring role.  The child is not required to have a formal diagnosis for parents and carers to attend.  We generally meet for an informal lunch (which is provided by our program) once a month but also run many other activities/events in the region which everyone can attend.