OLHC News Issue 17 Term 2 Week 9 - 14th June 2024

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 hope to see many friends and families gathering tomorrow from 12pm at our school. It is important that we mark the 60th anniversary of the school to show our gratitude to those who established, developed, and continue to support Our Lady's.

I am looking forward to joining with staff, students, families, parishioners, and alumni, for conversation, lunch, the sharing of memories, and the opportunity to celebrate our school's 60-year history.

This weekend we will cast our minds back to the history of the school, but I am conscious that we are still working each day on our core business: the education and formation of our current students. May the 60th anniversary remind us of the good work done by past teachers and students, and inspire us in our continuing efforts moving forward.

All the very best, 

Chris McCumstie

principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au

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.

Winter

Two items in relation to the onset of Winter.

Firstly, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately in the winter school uniform. Requests for new or second-hand uniforms can come through the General Office.

Boys: school polo, navy track pants or grey pants, school fleece jumper or vest.

Girls: school polo or navy skivy, navy pants or navy track pants, or pinafore with school polo underneath it, school fleece jumper, vest or cardigan  and navy tights.

Appropriate footwear (black school shoes or runners) for both boys and girls. We also allow the use of gumboots in our wet and muddy grounds, and slippers in our classrooms if the children would like to bring these in. 

Secondly, it is also cold and flu season, so please ensure you are monitoring your child for contagious symptoms. We have had a lot of children presenting at school when they should probably be kept at home. It is a courtesy to staff and students alike to keep sick children home.

Outback Showcase

The children have been working hard on their outback learning, investigating many aspects of Australian history and culture. On the final day of term, parents, friends, grandparents, other relatives and the community, are invited to a showcase of the children's learning. This is a great opportunity to finish the term on high, celebrating all the hard work, creativity and passion of our students.

Friday, 28th  June,  9-10:30am. All welcome!

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

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.

Important Upcoming Dates:

June:

• Saturday 15th June - 60th Anniversary Celebrations Open Day 12noon to 5.00pm
• Friday 21st June -  Normal School Day (not a School Closure Day)
• Friday 28th June - Outback Showcase 9.00 - 10.30am
• Friday 28th June - Last Day Term 2 Early finish 2.15pm

Mass Times & Parish Information

Sunday 16th June Mass at 8.30am at St. Mary's Murtoa.

St Paul VI Parish Sacramental Preparation

~ First Holy Communion ~
Parents of those children who have celebrated their, First Reconciliation sacrament earlier this year will be notified by email in early June of an Information Session date, where resources for First Holy Communion preparation will be distributed. Initial guidance will be given at the Information Session along with the resources and two further meeting dates will follow, to complete the necessary requirements before the sacrament is received.
Celebration of First Holy Communion will occur in Sunday Masses on set dates across the parish, most
likely over August/September.

~ Confirmation ~
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place with a similar structure (home preparation
and consolidation discussions in different churches) on a slightly later date scale.
Confirmation will be celebrated with Bishop Paul attending/visiting the parish as part of our Diocese 150th Year jubilee. Currently that timing is set for November.
All parishioners are invited to keep these children and their families in our prayers over the coming
months. May the grace of God touch their hearts and souls with the privilege of sacramental life shared with our Risen Christ.  May Christ, the Good Shepherd, lead their preparation.

Parish Bulletin

Calendar Dates

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