OLHC News Issue 1 Term 1 Week 1 - 2nd February 2024
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Statement of Commitment to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples...
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Principal Report
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Staff Update
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School Wide Positive Behaviour
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Welcome 2024 Foundation Class!
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Farewell Art Building
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Family Interviews
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Lunch Heat Ups and Lunch Orders
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Important Upcoming Dates:
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Mass Times & Parish Information
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Parish Bulletin
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Calendar Dates
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,
Welcome back to the new school year! It is such a joy to be back together again, renewed and refreshed after the Summer holidays. I wish all our families the very best for 2024 and thank them for continuing to allow us to be a part of their children's educational journey.
I am excited to think of the many things we have planned for 2024, including a new build, the development of our grounds, and the ongoing education and formation of the students. On Wednesday, I was incredibly impressed with the way our students returned to school, or began their time with us. Our four new Foundation students did a great job and looked as though they were already part of the furniture. Older students showed maturity and leadership in the way they modeled good behaviours, looked after younger students, and shared their ideas and enthusiasm for our year together. We truly feel blessed to have 28 amazing students in our care each day, and I look forward to seeing them grow and flourish over the next 12 months.
I shared with the students a verse of scripture from St Paul's letter to the Philippians:
"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
I asked the students to try and commit this verse to heart, as it is a consoling reminder for challenging times. We want to challenge our students to grow, both in their academic formation, but also in character. That can sometimes be difficult, so I wanted to remind students of two things. First, that they are capable ("I can do all things") and second, that they are not alone ("through Christ, Who strengthens me") When our students feel that challenge, when their lessons or interactions with each other become tough, I hope they remember that they can do it, and that Jesus is there to help them.
A final word: a good number of parents were able to drop their children off on the first day of school, so I have already had the pleasure of catching up with many of our families. I would like, at the beginning of the year, to extend a warm invitation to all the families and friends of OLHC to come and see us. We want to partner with you in the great work that is education, and your school visits will help us grow a great school community and a great school culture.
All the very best,
Chris McCumstie
principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au
Staff Update
Our Lady's School is lucky to have a great team of dedicated professionals. Below is the staff list for 2024
Principal- Chris McCumstie
Office- Joan Lane-Storey
Junior Room Teacher - Tanya Mock
Senior Room Teacher - Jordan Collie
Learning Support Officers - Mary Dalgliesh, Sarah Maher, and Catherine McCumstie
Grounds - Glenn Critchley
You will note that many of the staff are returning and are well-known to our community. We are blessed to continue to have their support, knowledge, and dedication.
We extend a warm welcome to Ms Mock who joins for four days a week in the Junior Room. Ms Mock is an amazing teacher and is already having a profound impact on our school. She and Mr Collie have brought all the students together many times in the first week and there is a great feeling of optimism about what we can all achieve together.
The school advertised over Summer for a new LSO, and we welcome Mrs McCumstie who was the successful applicant. Mrs McCumstie has previous work experience as an LSO in Queensland, as well as homeschooling for some time just before moving to the Wimmera. The school would like to thank Mr Collie and Michael Allan (P&F representative to the School Advisory Council) who assisted with interviews and were able to make a recommendation to the principal. Together with the efforts of Mrs Maher and Mrs Dalgliesh, Mrs McCumstie's contributions to the learning of our children will be hugely beneficial.
School Wide Positive Behaviour
The students have made a wonderful return to school life. Our school-wide focus has been the structures around daily routines, like entering and exiting classrooms, morning and afternoon procedures, and how students are to move around the school. We have also focused on team building, especially with a school wide buddy systems. Older students are supporting younger students, and the whole school has been working together in activities, games, sport and learning.
Fundamental to the philosophy of SWPBS is that all students are capable of positive behaviour, and that it can be taught explicitly. We would add to that, that positive behaviour should be celebrated. The students have come back so well, that we have little else to do but celebrate their efforts, praise them, and encourage them to keep it up!
Welcome 2024 Foundation Class!
Our Lady's School is so lucky to have Lilly, Felix, Ivaana, and Tommy on board for their primary education! It is not easy to start school, but our newest and littlest students did it so well. Congratulations to our Foundation class, and thank you to their families and friends who have done so much to get them to this point. Thank you for choosing OLHC and inviting us to be a part of their journey.
Farewell Art Building
In Mid January, we bid farewell to our art building. As mentioned in previous newsletters, the building has gone to be used for essential teaching and learning at another Catholic school, St. Patrick's Nhill. Whilst there is a certain sadness in seeing it go, the staff and students are excited at the possibilities left behind. We are busy planning on how to use the space most productively, to add to our already beautiful school grounds. We'll keep you updated.
Family Interviews
In Week 3, teachers will be conducting Family Interviews. The purpose of these interviews is to allow families to tell us about their child/ren. Parents are the primary educators of their children, and they know them best. Families may have particular information they wish to share with the classroom teacher, particular goals they would like their child to work towards, or questions and concerns they would like to share with staff. These interviews are an ideal time to bring all this to our teacher's attention.
Teachers will have an opportunity to share with parents how students have returned to school, goals that have been identified for student learning, or some initial academic results that indicate strengths or areas that need to become a focus.
A final reason we are conducting these interviews is to encourage strong communication between the school and the home. The better we communicate, the better the educational outcomes for the children.
Interview slots will be made available on SIMON/PAM in the coming week, and parents will be notified when they can make bookings. We look forward to seeing you all and hearing about your children.
Lunch Heat Ups and Lunch Orders
Lunch Heat ups are available everyday .
Lunch Orders are available on Fridays from Murtoa College Canteen, commencing next Friday, 9th February.
To order your child's lunch on Fridays, send their order, written out on an envelope with correct money enclosed. The order needs to be placed in the lunch order basket as soon as students arrive at school.
2024 Canteen Menu was sent home with students today.
Important Upcoming Dates:
February:
- Wednesday 7th - No School for Preps
- Week 3 Family Interviews- Dates and Times TBC
- Wednesday 14th - No School for Preps
- Wednesday 14th - Ash Wednesday
- Wednesday 21st- No School for Preps
- Wednesday 28th - No School for Preps
March:
- Wednesday 6th - No School for Preps
- Thursday 28th - Last Day Term 1
- Thursday 28th - Holy Thursday
- Friday 29th - Good Friday
- Sunday 31st - Easter Sunday
Mass Times & Parish Information
Sunday 4th February Mass at St. Mary's, Murtoa at 8.30am
Parish Bulletin
Calendar Dates
Please click on the link below to take you directly to our School Calendar.