Term 4 Week 6 Newsletter
Principal News
We often hear excuses to not help those in need: 'They made their choices!','He got what he deserved!', 'That's not my problem!', 'That's Karma for you!' But Jesus commands us to reach out to those who suffer. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me"
We are taught that humans have basic rights we must always protect. The United Nations’ lists many human rights, including rights to work, education, fair legal treatment, and ownership of property, however, with these rights also comes responsibility. Jesus challenges us to to always help those in need. Feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, tending to the sick, and so on. These are the demands of our faith. If we truly want to make our world a better place, model to our children how to treat others and most importantly, call ourselves disciples, we must let our actions speak louder than our words.
In our local community and even our school community, can the hungry receive a meal? How are housebound, elderly or terminally ill people cared for? How are refugees and the marginalised welcomed?
We are all challenged to respond to God's call. What is it that you need to do?
Semester 2 Report Cards
At the start of Week 10, reports will be sent home for every child in the school. These are important to keep parents informed about the learning that is taking place at school and how each child is progressing through the curriculum.
Reports cover a lot of what we do at school, however, it is not possible to report on all learning that takes place. Children learn so much during a semester that it would take more time to report on the learning than it would to plan the learning experience itself.
Therefore we report in the main subject areas and the main strands in each subject. Literacy and numeracy are reported on in more detail as these are the subjects to which we devote the most school time.
We are building a culture here at Our Lady Help of Christians where we view all learning as important whether we report on it or not. Indeed, not all learning can even be assessed and therefore reporting on that makes it even more difficult.
Students are encouraged to develop a love of learning where the experience of discovery is a greater reward than reading a good mark or grade. Of course good marks and grades are important but all learning is important whether it is assessed and reported on or not.
In these last few weeks of school we are still learning at school and this learning is valuable. What we learn will not appear on a report card but the knowledge and skills gained are equally as important now as at any other point during the year.
2022 Staggered Start Dates and MAI
28th January 2022- Staff Administation Day
31st January 2022- Staff Professional Learning Day
Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd February- MAI assessment for Years 1-6
Tuesday 1st-Friday 4th February- Kindergarten Best Start interviews
Children in Years 1-6 will begin school on Thursday, 3rd February.
Kindergarten students will begin school on Monday, 7th February.
Our Lady Help of Christians is part of a Diocesan project called Extending Mathematical Understanding. Part of this project into improving mathematical understanding is for all children to have a one-on-one maths interview called a Mathematical Assessment Interview (MAI). As each interview takes between 20-50 minutes depending on the child it is a time rich task. At the beginning of 2022, children have their interview on either Tuesday 1st or Wednesday 2nd February. Information for the online booking schedule will be sent home during week 9 and 10 for parents to make a booking for the start of the 2022 school year.
2022 Classes
Over the coming weeks students will be placed in classes for 2022. Teachers put a great deal of thought and planning into these placements. We take into account social groupings, academic performance, intervention needs, previous class teachers as well as other issues.
If there are genuine reasons for parent requests, these should be addressed in writing to the principal before the end of Week 8. Students are not generally moved from classes after they have been set or after the school year has begun. Thank you for your understanding and support of this aspect of school life.
Mission News
Remembrance Day Liturgy
On the 11th of November we paused with all other Australians, to remember the sacrifice of soldiers who have died fighting to protect our nation, with a beautiful liturgy prepared by Year 4.
The Liturgy was 'zoomed' to classrooms and although this presented some challenges, the students were reverent, respectful and prayerful.
Year 4 led us in prayer, asking that we create peace in our world and to recognise that peace begins in our own families, classrooms, school, community and most importantly, with us!
Thank you to Mrs Bradfield and Year 4 for a wonderful liturgy.
We will remember them. Lest we forget.
My Name is Joseph
Year 5 have outdone themselves! We are so excited to present “My Name is Joseph”, with our talented Year 5 students starring in the clip. Andrew Chinn asked our Year 5's to help him make an action clip that would share and teach actions for the song, to be performed at Christmas concerts and tableaus all over Australia and New Zealand (and some other pockets of the world!).
Year 5 worked diligently on preparing the right costumes, learning the actions and then performing the whole clip, in a quick 3 week turnaround. A wonderful achievement that could not have happened without the support of Mrs Innes and Miss O’Conner!
Thank you, Year 5 for your dedication, your maturity and I hope you enjoy sharing the clip with your friends and family for many years to come. Congratulations!
Christmas Tableau
Preparations for our Christmas tableau are well underway! The tableau will be filmed on Friday, 2nd December at 9.30am. Each year our students are asked to bring in a costume for their performance. These are listed below. Please label all individual items and bring them to school in a labeled plastic bag.
Thank you for your support!
Kinder | Navy shirt & school sports shorts |
Year 1 | Plain white shirt and sport shorts |
Year 2 Girls | School sport shorts - all other items will be provided |
Year 2 Boys | Plain white shirt and sport shorts |
Year 3 | Black Shirt and sport shorts |
Year 4 | Black Shirt and sport shorts |
Year 5 | plain t-shirt (no logos or pictures) - any colour & sport shorts |
Year 6 | Individuals may require a singlet/shirt/tights - all other costumes are provided. |
Student Article: Friendship
People make mistakes and that’s okay. Sometimes you get sad or your friends get sad. But if they are true friends, they will always forgive. I have lots of friendships, I probably can’t list them all.
One of them is my friendship with God. That one is so big that 1 million people connected all together would never be big enough for my friendship. I love God so much and that is all because of my Mum. I have learnt more than any teacher of school in the world. My friendship with God is so lovely.
My Mum says that everyone is connected by God because everyone is God, we all have God in us. We are just small pieces of God growing and learning about him. It is important to stay positive and even if something happens and you get angry, you must stay Godly. Make sure to always be happy, so if someone else is sad you can cheer them up.
By Holly W (Year 3)
Suitcases of Love
On Monday next week, Mr Piccoli and I, on behalf of our whole amazing parish school community, will deliver 20 full suitcases and 2 boxes, generously donated by our students, their families and our staff, to CASPA.
Over the last two weeks, students from MacKillop Youth have worked through their lunch times to ensure each suitcase has just the right items for different children from ages 0 to 12+ years old. Our aim was to provide one suitcase per class, but incredibly we doubled that and more! A big thanks to Miss Aleisha for her support also!
Our Week 8 newsletter will feature photos and further thanks to all involved. We look forward to sharing this with you, and again - thank you to everyone for going above and beyond with your kind donations.
Making Jesus Real Awards
KP
Jack G - For his cheerlful encouragement of others. You make others feel happy Jack, Thank you.
KR
Riley M - For being a kind and gentle friend to others and helping a peer in a time of need.
1M
Evan S - For showing compassion and forgiveness when faced with challenging situations.
Poppy W - For being a kind and caring friend to others.
1P
Mason E - For putting others before yourself, offering your help and support to those around you.
2J
Kaden S - For being a friendly and kind class mate and always displaying beautiful manners.
2O
Patrick C - For always being a wonderful friend to everyone. You are a great example of how to be a W.E.S.T person in our school.
3V
Marni V - For her positive attitude and 'have-a-go' work ethic. Your light is shining bright in year 3.
Rhys M - For being a kind and caring friend that is being more willing to be helpful to others.
Ruana B - For being an understanding friend and portraying forgiveness and kindness to others.
4B
5I
Jackson P - For your outrageous version of the Nutbish dance and encouraging others to have fun. Thank you for spreading your joy, Jackson!
Jimmy A - For your sense of humour! You always make me smile - Thank you Jimmy!
6B
Jake S - For being a positive role model to his peers as a teammate or learning partner.
Ryley B - For giving up her lunchtime play to assist with 'Suitcases of Love'.
Samantha S - For giving up her lunchtime play to assist with 'Suitcases of Love'.
Carmen G -For giving up her lunchtime play to assist with the 'Suitcases of Love'.
Zarli L - For thinking of the needs of others before her own, and giving up her lunchtime play to assist with 'Suitcases of Love'.
Learning & Teaching
OLHC Achievement Awards
KP
Jethro P - For focused commitment and effort to apply his sound knowledge to his writing. keep up the great work Jethro.
Ned R - For outstanding effort and improvement in reading and writing. Keep up the great work Ned.
Zarli B-P - For always being ready to learn and give her best to all tasks. Great work Zarli, Keep it up.
KR
Madeleine F - For always being a positive contributor to class discussions sharing her ideas and insights with others. Well done!
Jacob P - For efforts to apply his sound and sight word knowledge to improve the texts he composes. Keep up the great work Jacob!
Darcy S - For consistently showing persistence and aiming high with all learning tasks. You're a star, Darcy!
1M
Alby S - For his thoughtful and reflective contributions to classroom discussions. Well done, Alby!
Kenzi W - For the progress she has made in maths when working on her friends of 10. Great work, Kenzi!
1P
Bradley B - For striving to do your best in all your writing tasks, it is exciting to see all you're amazing work!
Paige W - For the dedication you give in every learning task and having high expectations of yourself to produce some great work. Well done!
Harriett J - For always being ready to learn and dedication yourself to produce quality work. You are a learning super star Harriett!
2J
Isaac S - For trying really hard to smash his writing goal. Your hard work does not go unnoticed Isaac!
Tilly P - For having a happy and enthusiastic attitude towards her reading and improving out of sight. So proud of you, Till!
2O
Charlotte F - For your wonderful dedication tou your Haunted House writing! I love how proud you are of it :)
Billy M - For your amazing Haunted House writing. Keep up that wonderful focus!
3V
Holly C - For being a fabulous problem- solver and giving every task this week her absolute best efforts.
Harper J - For always answering questions, using complete sentences and producing work of a high standard.
Ava O'S - For exceptional work on completing comprhension questions using complete sentences with detail.
Toby H - For producing quality work ensuring he used complete sentences and neat handwriting.
Jack D - For taking his time to problem solve and take risks during mathematics. You did amazing, Jack!
Emily P - For amazing efforts in writing and taking the time to see what she needs to do to achieve her goal.
4B
Harrison N - For fantastic growth in Mathematics , and always applying himself to his learning.
Maggie A - For fantastic growth in all areas of reading comprehension. Well done Maggie.
Sophie N - For using imagery in her writing to engage the audience.
Sienna S - For the incredible effort you always put into your writing. Your Northern Lights text was amazing!
Riley C - For staying focused on learning and giving 100%. Well done Riley.
5I
Amber B - For working hard to develop your reading strategies. Keep up your amazing learning Amber!
Sonny B - For setting goals and responding to feedback to improve your writing. You are amazing, Sonny!
Tennyson H - For your wonderful growth in reading results. Keep up the sensational learning, Ned!
6B
James B - For always modelling effective strategies in Mathematics and supporting his peers
Marni C -For consistently challenging herself as a mature learner at school and at home
Jordan F -For his great display of persistence when reading and comprehending chapter books, and for improving his vocabulary.
Jye L -For his impressive growth in Mathematics and Reading comprehension through persistence and focus in class.
Kinder P
Kinder R
Year 1P
Year 1M
Year 2J
Year 2O
Year 3-Volume in Mathematics
Year 4
Year 4 have been learning to compose a text using imagery and other language features, to engage the audience and ‘paint a picture’ in their mind. They also created some artworks to go with it!
Many students have celebrated their writing, and have commented that they feel they have produced their ‘best ever writing’ and how proud they are of themselves.
Year 5 Writing Goals using the BIU wall & Poppy drawings
Year 6 Australian Museum of Democracy Virtual Tour
Sports News
School News
2022 school travel applications are now open
Below is some useful information to assist with student travel enquiries.
Applications for student travel in 2022 opened on Tuesday 12 October 2021.
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).
Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.
If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.
Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.
Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.
Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022.
Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.
School Student Transport Scheme site change (SSTS)
On 1 October 2021 the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) information and application portal was moved to transportnsw.info.
Access to the School Portal will also be via transportnsw.info. To navigate to the School Portal from the home page click Tickets and Opal, then School students, then scroll down to Information for school staff and select School portal.
Community News
