Term 3 Week 3 Newsletter - 4.08.23
Principal News
St Mary MacKillop-Tuesday 8th August
Here at OLHC our heritage lies in the traditions of both the Presentation Sisters and the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Mary MacKillop was an Australian Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools throughout Australasia with an emphasis on education for the poor.
Mary’s generosity and kindness remind us that we should “Never see a need without doing something about it” (St Mary MacKillop), which we work to accomplish within our school, parish, and the wider community.
Following these traditions, we have a special concern for the disadvantaged. We treat each other with respect and compassion to maintain a positive learning environment that promotes the values of Jesus Christ.
We pray to Mary of the Cross MacKillop that we too may live with courage, trust, and openness and be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit.
Good News Story
This week our school featured in our Catholic Schools Office Curriculum Newsletter as a Good News Story. Even under challenging circumstances, we have not lost our focus and our staff has continued to work incredibly hard. It is fantastic for our team to be acknowledged for their amazing work, dedication, resilience, and willingness to do whatever it takes for our children.
I am so proud of our staff here at OLHC.
Catholic Schools Week- Living our Mission
Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate our shared faith, educational excellence and the importance of every student. Catholic Schools offer an educational foundation for living life to the full through the development of the student’s spiritual, intellectual, physical, moral and emotional growth.
We are well served by dedicated principals, teachers and support staff who are determined to provide a high-quality education and to accompany students on their faith and educational journeys.
Catholic Schools Week is a special time in the year when we celebrate and give thanks for Catholic Schools, especially our own school Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School. It is a time to give thanks for the wonderful learning and teaching that takes place each day in every classroom and celebrate together as a Parish School Community.
Schedule of Activities at OLHC-Term 3 Week 8
Monday: 9am Catholic Schools Week Prayer/Dress Up Like a Teacher Day
Tuesday: 12:45pm Whole School Bingo & Playground Dance Party
5-6:30pm Art and Learning Showcase
Wednesday: Drop Everything and Dance
2:15pm Minute to Win It - Staff V Students
Thursday: 9:15am Book Week Dress up Parade
BYO Picnic (lunch)
11:45pm Open classrooms
12:35pm Grandparents Day Liturgy
1pm Eisteddford- Dance performance
Friday: Student sauasge sizzle for lunch
Book Week-Read, Grow and Inspire
Book Week is approaching with our book fair in the library between Monday 4th September- Friday 8th September and that means plenty of fun here at OLHC. Our Book Character Parade will be at 9am on Thursday 7th September. The Book Fair will be held in the new school library and parents are more than welcome to have a look and purchase as many books as you like for your children or to donate to the school. At this stage, we are hopeful that everything will be available online also.
With all the fun things happening it is good to pause and reflect that we have this week to generate some enthusiasm for reading and the obvious benefits that can be gained from reading books. I encourage all our students to make a special effort to read a bit more during this week.
Parent Forum
I would like to personally invite you to attend our Parent Forum meeting on Monday 28th August. The meeting will be held at the school and will commence at 6pm. I thank you in advance for everything you do to support your child’s education and the school and I look forward to seeing you if you can make it.
Please find the agenda below.
- 2023 School Naplan and Achievement Data
- K-2 InitiaLit and student learning data
- Christmas Tableau and community night
- OLHC current site and improvements-What needs to happen next?
Mission News
NAIDOC Week Liturgy and Smoking Ceremony
Making Jesus Real Awards
KP
Cooper O - For helping and encouraging his peers in the playground.
1L
Felix K - For showing consideration towards others and being thoughtful in your actions. 1L is so blessed to have you in our class Felix
2L
Zarli B - for always being a polite and responsible member of our class. You consistently follow our school rules.
2P
Frankie D - For making a huge effort to ensure people feel included. We are lucky to have you in Year 2 Frankie!
3L
Issy F - For being encouraging, kind, and considerate, lighting up the lives of the others. Thank you for being a member of 3L.
3P
Hudson H - For showing consideration towards others and being thoughtful in your actions. You always put others first, just as Jesus taught. Well done.
4L
Aleena C - For being an encouraging and thoughtful friend. Keep shining your light Aleena
4P
Shelby D - for looking out for others and always making an effort to make sure everyone feels included. We are lucky to have you in our class!
Ryan B - For always looking at things from a positive point of view and helping others do the same. You are shining bright Ryan!
5L
6P
Learning & Teaching
Kindergarten are learning to identify strategies they could use to organise objects to make it easier to find the total number in a collection.
Year 1 played Battleships to help develop their understanding of how to describe locations using positional language.
Year 2 investigated how mathematicians could use number lines to explore and problem-solve with complex counting sequences.
3L- Co-constructing a writing Bump It Up wall and learning how to use it to give feedback.
3P- Co-constructing a writing Bump It Up wall and learning how to use it to give feedback.
4L-Creating Songlines in Creative Arts
4P-Creating Songlines in Creative Arts
5L- Learning about connotation in English and using the World Cafe Protocol in Science.
6P-BTN Comprehension activities.
OLHC Achievement Awards
KP
Charlotte C - For improved confidence when applying sound knowledge to your reading and writing
Tallis J- For consistent focus and effort to produce a high standard of work in all KLA’s.
Willow M - For using your sound knowledge to make great spelling attempts and using tricky words to compose great writing.
1L
Archer D - For composing a great super sentence about an ogre. Keep up the wonderful work Archer!
Wyatt P - For his detailed self portrait. Well done Wyatt
Sylvia S - For her effort and attention towards segmenting and blending new words. Keep up the great work Sylvia!
2L
Finnan M - for using adverbs and adjectives in writing and smashing your writing goals
Jack G - for focusing on being and independent learner in writing. Your writing is improving every day Jack.
2P
Nikki Q - For being a critical thinker and creative learner, who enjoys new challenges. Keep up the great work Nikki!
Charles D - For putting in a huge effort to use your InitiaLit strategies when writing. Keep working hard, Charles!
3L
Ivy W- for your growing confidence in your mathematical abilities. Keep up the hard work and growth mindset. Well done!
Taetum P - for your mathematical thinking and justifying your answers in Maths warm-ups. Well done!
3P
Kenzi W - For the courage you show everyday when facing tasks that are challenging. I am very proud of you!
Bradley B - For your perseverance and your willingness to tackle challenging mathematical tasks.
4L
Noah S - For great use of the area model to solve Multiplication problems. Keep it up Noah.
Charlotte F - For your well thought out contributions to class discussions. Well done Charlotte.
4P
Ellie B - For always displaying a positive attitude towards your learning and putting in your best effort! Keep up your amazing work, you are a star!
Malachias C - Thank you for the great contributions you are making to our class discussions, Malachias. We love to hear your voice!
5L
Flynn W - For challenging your thinking and extending your learning in all learning areas. Keep it up!
6P
Sports News
Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival
On Thursday the 27th of July, we had 43 students from OLHC attend the Richmond Zone Athletics Carnival at Woodlawn College. We were blessed with wonderful weather and it was great to see the children enjoying themselves and encouraging others. All the students represented our school with the highest of expectations and tried their absolute best.
Thank you to all the parents that managed to come and support the children and thank you to both Mr Denny and Mrs Papworth for ensuring the children were well-hydrated and ready for every event they were in.
Here are the names of the students that represented our school on the day.
8-10 Years Boy/Girl | 11 Years Boy/Girl | 12/13 Years Boys/Girls | |
Robbie Grace Hamish Johnson Brody Clapham Mason Box Braith Fing Oliver Birmingham Nash Brock Xavier Boyd Brody Berry Charles Dawson Taetum Presbury Sonntag-Boll | Harper Jasmin Bailey Newton Tilly Preston Harriett Johnston Ellie Brooker Felicity Fredericks Ivy Went Willow Hall | Jack De Giusti Ryan Fry Flynn Wiblen Henry Jenkins Harrison Newton Sophie Maher Sienna Santin Matilda Johnston Laini Lynch Lucy Fry | Kobi Preston Harlan Gannon Hugh Bashforth Tyson Cahill Levi Poole Tully Sedelaar Sophie Newton Anneliese Fifield Maggie Aylward Claire Gough Rahni Pope Laila McCluskie Pippa Tulk Milla Coronakes |
Diocesan Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to Harper Jasmin, Bailey Newton, Jack De Giusti, Robbie Grace and Harriett Johnston who were successful to be placed in the top 3 participants in their events. Anika Burt has also progressed onto DIO for Discus. They will now travel to Coffs Harbour on the 9th of August to compete at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival. We wish these students all the best.
Zone Athletics Age Champions
On the day of the Zone Athletics Carnival, the students showcased their athletic ability, and it was so wonderful to see them dig deep and do their best. A special mention goes to Harper Jasmin who was awarded the Girls 8-10 Years Age Champion and Robbie Grace who was awarded the Boys 8-10 Years Age Champion. This was an outstanding achievement for a school of our size, and it was lovely to witness the excitement from all the students when Harper and Robbie were presented with this award.
Colour House Competition
This term we have organised a Colour House Competition for our students. Students in Years 3 - 6 will walk down to Neilson Park every second Friday afternoon to participate in either soccer, touch football or social walking. We would like to encourage the students to bring along their colour shirt to wear for the competition.
This will take place on the following dates.
Week | Dates and Times |
Week 3 | 04/08/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Week 5 | 018/08/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Week 7 | 01/09/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Week 9 | 15/09/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will participate in some fun games at school. They will also be divided into their house groups and earn points every second Friday. We would like to encourage the students to bring along their colour shirt to wear for the competition.
Richmond Zone Gala Day
On Friday 11th of August, our Year 5 and 6 students will be provided with the opportunity to participate in the Richmond Zone Gala Day. This day will allow students the opportunity to participate in sports such as, soccer, netball and multi-sports. Thank you to all the students that have returned their notes. If you have miss placed your note, please see Mrs McCrathy.
Term Three - Events
- Wednesday the 9th of August - DIO Athletics Carnival - Coffs Harbour
- Friday the 11th of August - Richmond Zone Gala Day
Term Four - Events
- Thursday the 2nd of November - Richmond Zone Summer Sports Trials (Year 5 and 6 ONLY)
- Friday the 24th of November - DIO Summer Sports Trials
- Our Lady Help of Christians Swimming Carnival - Date to be confirmed
School News
2023 Premier's Reading Challenge Reminder
Just a reminder for all students participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge that the challenge closes on Friday 18 August 2023 -Friday Week 5. All books must be entered on the site by this date in order to complete the challenge and receive certificates.
ICAS Assessments
For students who have signed up to complete them, ICAS Assessments commence next week. Please see the dates of each test below. If your child is away unwell on the day, we are able to catch them up in the week of the test only as the testing period is limited.
Test | Planned test dates |
Writing (Years 3-6) | Wednesday 9th August 1:40pm |
Digital technologies (Years 3-6) | Thursday 10th August 1:40pm |
English (Years 2-6) | Tuesday 15th August 1:40pm |
Science (Years 3-6) | Tuesday 22nd August 1:40pm |
Spelling Bee (Years 2-6) | Wednesday 23rd August 1:40pm |
Mathematics (Years 2-6) | Tuesday 29th August 1:40pm (Yr 2-3) Wednesday 30th August 1:40pm (Yrs 4-6) |
Bookclub Orders need to be completed by
Friday 5th August 2023
Community News
