Our Lady Help of Christians School Murtoa eNewsletter

Our Lady Help of Christians is a Child Safe School and is committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Japagulk peoples as the traditional custodians of the land upon which our school was built.

Principal Report

Dear Parents and Friends of Our Lady's,

I wrote a few weeks ago about the importance of reading, and I want to write about it again. I have read this week with the senior class and with the junior class and I am fascinated by the sheer volume of questions and ideas and discussions that can flow from reading 1-2 pages of a text with a child. I encourage all the parents and children in our school to read aloud every day if possible, or as often as possible if not.

One way we are motivating students to read is by participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge. Today at assembly, we handed out a bunch of certificates to children who have read 5 books in the last few weeks. Three children read 15, which was very impressive! The staff room list is at 6 (mostly thanks to our librarian!) so my encouragement is for our whole school community, not just the students.

A reminder about our upcoming anniversary. On 15th of June, we gather to celebrate 60 years at Our Lady Help of Christians School. Past students, parents and teachers will join together to remember all the hard work, all the stories, all the characters and all the memories that have made our community what it is. It will be a joyful occasion and all are welcome.

All the very best,

Chris McCumstie

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

Working Bee Friday 3-5pm, Sunday 10 am -12noon

List of Jobs for Working Bee

Rake up and compost all leaves and garden matter
Rake and move sand from long-jump pit to sandpit
Pressure wash furniture
Pruning bushes/trees along northern/front fence line (branches growing through fence to be removed from inside fence line)
Weeding
Sanding and painting multi-purpose room deck and rail
Pruning trees/bushes along tennis court back to rock edge
Plant succulents and lamb’s ears in reconciliation garden
Tidy up plants around front pond & multi-purpose room pond. Refill
Trim up eastern fence line (carpark fence)
Cut tree by front flagpole

All waste that can be composted, compost. All other waste placed on burn pile in back paddock.

Bring

own tools,
whipper snippers
secateurs
shovels
rakes
hedge trimmers etc. to maximise use of time
sander
paint brushes
School will provide lunch and refreshments.
Children can assist but must be supervised by their parents.

Our Lady's 60th Anniversary Celebration

On Saturday 15th June we are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Our Lady's. The date slipped by last year (1963 - 2023), but we are wanting to invite all past and present students, families, staff and community members to come and join us.

We would like to acknowledge the history of our school, and all the effort that went into the building of this special place, before the original building is replaced later in the year.

An event has been set up on our Facebook page and we would appreciate if you could go online and invite any of your friends who would be interested in this special day.

Our Lady Help of Christians Feast Day Photos

School Saving Bonus

In the recent Victorian budget, the Allan Labor Government announced a $400 School Saving Bonus for all school students in government schools regardless of income, but only for Health Care Card holders in Catholic schools.

This is deeply unfair.

We believe the payment should apply to all students or be means-tested for all students.

It should not be based on which school you attend.

This policy punishes families for choosing to send their children to a Catholic school.

Our school, together with other non-government schools and our peak body, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, are working hard to oppose this policy and we need your help.

We need to show the Victorian Government that punishing families who choose a Catholic school is unacceptable.

Please consider contacting our local Member of Parliament, Emma Kealy, to express your concern.

Emma Kealy’s office can be contacted by calling 53820097 or by emailing emma.kealy@parliament.vic.gov.au

Template letters are available to assist you with making your voice heard.

Premier's Reading Challenge

Well done to the children who have read 5 or 15 books. Keep up the good reading, and may this list grow.

Child Safety

Our Lady Help of Christians is a Child Safe School. We implement the 11 Child Safe Standards, and work to embed these in our school culture. Our newsletter is just one place among a number where we educate our community about Child Safety. Below is a concise and helpful guide to the Child Safe Standards. The Child Safety Officer at OLHC is Chris McCumstie, and he can be contacted for information at any time.

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

CCYP_Child_Safe_Standards_Plain_Language.pdf

Child Safe Standard 1:

OLHC welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and seeks to support them in all aspects of schooling. All children have a right to their cultural beliefs and to enjoy the freedom to express these at school. We are active in promoting inclusion in our school and making that inclusion visible and authentic.

School TV

As part of the SchoolTV initiative at Our Lady Help of Christians School, we want to highlight topics that may be especially helpful to our parent group. Parenting is not easy, and there are complex issues which parents have to navigate every day. By offering SchoolTV we hope to aid all caregivers in our community by giving practical strategies to overcome the challenges our young people face.

ONLINE GAMING

Young people might have a lot of fun playing online games, but parents and carers need to make sure they empower their child to make wise decisions and help them manage the risks. Numerous games can help your child become more coordinated, adept at problem-solving and multitasking, and help them develop social skills through online interaction with other players. However, it's also critical to comprehend what may go wrong and what might be harmful to your child. Carers need to play an active role in understanding and being aware of what their young person is playing online and who they are interacting with.

Find out more at the link below:

https://olhcmurtoa.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Or, explore the wide range of topics at SchoolTV by clicking on the link below.

OLHC School TV