Term 1 Week 8 Newsletter 19/03/2021
Principal News
200 Years of Catholic Education
This year we celebrate 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia. Today there are 1,751 Catholic schools educating 768,000 students and employing 98,000 staff. The bicentenary will be celebrated throughout the year with a range of national and local events to be held around Australia.
Our school will be holding many of these celebrations during Catholic Schools Week in early Term 2.
Lent- A Time for Love
A reading from the first letter of John.
Dear Friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God.
Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Dear Friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and His love in made perfect in us.
Lent is calling us to renewal of ‘who we are’: people in the image and likeness of God, people who are part of the Body of Christ, people of Christian faith: are there routines and habits in me that I should give up because they are not true to who I am at least trying to be? Are there better attitudes, actions, words that I could take up in their place?
Child Protection
The Catholic Schools Office and Catholic Systemic Schools in the Diocese have certain responsibilities and expectations to ensure the safety and protection of children in their care, including supporting measures to ensure that children and young people will be taught how to protect themselves, and to seek help if they are
concerned about their safety.
Our Policy sets out the expectations required of employees in the Catholic Schools Office and in Catholic Systemic Schools of the Diocese. This document is to also inform and remind employees engaged or employed in Catholic Systemic Schools within the Diocese of Lismore of the standards of behaviour, duties, obligations and other requirements which must be adhered to when working with children.
2021 Improvement Priorities
Foundational Values for Catholic Identity & Mission-Religious Education
Goal
Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School has a strong Catholic identity and culture.
Intended Outcomes- Specific Areas for Improvement
1. Students have meaningful opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ.
2. High quality Religious Education Curriculum (Curriculum Design) that provides a deeper understanding of the Scriptures and their importance to our lives.
Learning and Teaching
Goal
All staff will utilise powerful, contemporary and rigorous approaches to learning that improve student outcomes.
Intended Outcomes- Specific Areas for Improvement
English
Improved pedagogy(how we teach) for the teaching and assessment of writing leading to improved student writing skills.
Mathematics
Professional Learning Teams teams effectively plan for and respond to formative assessment data to target individual student learning needs in our Mathematics block.
School Assemblies
Assemblies have been occuring fortnighlty throughout the term and with the recent changes in Covid Guielines, assemblies can now be attended by students, staff and families. We look forward to having you join us.
Our next Assembly will take place: Week 10 - Thursday 1st April 2021 at 2.15 pm.
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Covid Guidelines and Updates
We are now able to welcome you all back into the school grounds this week, under the reduced Covid restrictions. All parents and visitors must sign in through the school office and register that you are on the school grounds if you are attending a meeting or our school assembly. This practice of signing in and out of the school is a Child Protection requirement and also a requirement from NSW Health and will remain in place until further notice.
All parents and guardians accessing the school grounds for parent pick it in the afternoon are not required to sign in, however, you must wait in the designated zone under the library. This area is available after 2:55pm.
Mission News
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Today, 22 of our Year 4 students recieved the Sacrament of First Reconciliation with Father Peter in our Parish church. The students were wonderful in their preparation and reception of the Sacrament.
We ask that you continue to keep these children, our Year 5 students and a small number of Year 6 students in your prayers as they are now preparing to recieve their First Holy Communion next Thursday evening.
Reconciliation Preparation
As part of the preparation program for Reconciliation, the children were able to participate in a walking labyrinth. As the students walked into the labyrinth, they reflected on sin and their choices, carrying a small stone. In the centre, they laid down their stone and picked up a prayer card to recite as they journeyed out of the labyrinth. The overwhelming feedback was that it was a wonderful experience and that the students enjoyed the peacefulness, the quiet and time to reflect on their preparation for the Sacrament.
Feast of St Joseph - in the Year of St Joseph 2021
On Thursday we celebrated the Feast of St Joseph with a whole school liturgy. This year is particularly special because in December last year, Pope Francis announced a Year of Saint Joseph, to honour the 150th anniversary of the saint’s patronage over the Universal Church. Pope Francis said he was establishing the year so that “every member of the faithful, following Saint Joseph’s example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”
Saint Joseph, Pray for us.
MacKillop Youth
This week, MacKillop Youth learnt about the early days of Mary MacKillop's life as a governess in Penola, South Australia. When she had time off from being a governess, she saw the need for children living in poverty to receive an education so started to teach local children in her spare time.
The students then worked in groups to come up with some fundraising ideas for Project Compassion. We will hold a casual day on Thursday, 1st April with a gold coin donation*. Students are encouraged to dress in rainbow colours. (*See more information in School News)
Incitare 2021 - by Askel L and Marni C
In Week 6, Term 1, Askel L, Milani K, Marni C, Myka M and Ryley B got to attend Incitare at Tullara Hall, Tullara. At Incitare we got the chance to mix with other students our age from schools around the Diocese, such as St Carthages, Holy Family, St Joseph's Coraki, St Mary's Casino and St Bridget's Kyogle. We did lots of fun activities alongside Year 10 students from Woodlawn that were a part of their Ministry class.
Thank you Mrs Hague for organising the whole thing. We learnt more about our faith journeys leading up to the beginning of our high school years and the ending of our sacraments and primary school years. Some of the things we learnt are how to show people all around the world that we are Christian. Ways we show that we are Christians are by participating in Christian meditation, going to mass on Sundays and being kind and caring to others around you. We learned if people are mean to you about being Christian you can explain to them how being Christian is so amazing because you get to participate in the Sacraments Of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and the Eucharist!
Go Forth And Set The World On Fire!
Making Jesus Real Awards
KP
Spencer S - For the kind and gentle way he encourages and cheers up others when they are sad. Thank you for Making Jesus Real in our class Spencer!
KR
Willow H - For the kind and caring way she shows care and concern for her peers. You have a heart of gold Willow and we are so thankful for you.
1M
Rhett P - For being a wonderful friend to all his classmates.
Klaire R -For being a kind and considerate classmate. Thank you Klaire.
1P
Damian K - For being a wonderful friend to a classmate in need. Thank you, Damo.
Bradley B - For Making Jesus Real by being a W.E.S.T person. Thank you, Bradley.
2J
Ryan B - For being thoughtful, considerate and encouraging to others. Keep up the great work Ryan!
2O
Myla H - For always being a considerate and encouraging friend. Thanks for making Jesus Real in 2O!
3V
Holly C - For the kind and caring way she checks in on the Kindergarten children.
4B
Archer A - For excellent sportsmanship and kindness at Zone Swimming!
Harlan G - For living by the New Commandment and including others.
Jonah V - For living by the New Commandment and including others.
5I
Tyler BW - For trying his best to learn new prayers and gain understanding of our faith. Well done Ty!
6B
Marni C - For exceptional leadership and organisation of our Mackillop Youth Group.
Jordan F - For his kindness shown towards his many friends.
Learning & Teaching
Kinder P
Kinder R
Year 1P
Year 1M
Year 2
This week, Year 2 have been learning about position. They used blocks and base 10 material to make a model of their bedroom and had to use positional language to describe the location of things in their room to a partner.
2J
2O
Year 3
This fortnight in Year 3, the students have been learning about multiplication and division. Using bead strings and other concrete materials, students have been representing multiplication as groups and finding reverse multiplication facts.
Year 4
Last week, Year 4 had some great fun when learning about length. They made paper planes and measured the lengths their planes could fly. In writing, the students have worked on editing their own writing aginst the success criteria to place themselves on the Bump it Up wall.
Year 5
In Science, Year 5 have been learning about plant and animal adaptations. This week they undertook design tasks to create something to represent an animal or plant adaptation.
Year 6
This week, Year 6 have worked with their feedback buddies to give and receive feedback against the success criteria for writing. They then used their feedback to set learning goals to improve their writing.
OLHC Achievement Awards
KP
Robbie SA - For alwys being ready to learn and doing his best when completing all tasks. Keep it up Robbie.
Hudson R - For always being ready to learn and providing a great role model for our class. Thank you Hudson.
Nikki Q - For focussed attention to improve the presentation of her work. Keep up the great work Nikki.
KR
Ezekiel W - For dedicated effort in writing to successfully apply his sound knowledge and strategies. You are becoming a super writer, well done!
Nahri J - For being a happy, responsible and a positive learner who always tries her best. Nahri thank you for your beautiful smile and your hard work.
Curtis S - For his hardwork and dedication during our class phonics lessons. Curtis you are a Sounds master.
1M
Evan S - For displaying a growth mindset during Mathematics.
Heidi W - For her outstanding descriptive piece of writing about smarty pants. Well done Heidi!
1P
Noah C - For working hard on all tasks this fornight. You're a super student Noah.
Xander T - For your awesome attitude towards learning this fortnight. Well done Xander.
2J
Quintin F - For a huge improvement in his ability to stay focused in class. Fantastic Quintin!
Kaden S - For dramatic improvements in regards to effort and behaviour. Your a super star Kaden, keep it up!
2O
Archie S - For showing creative thinking while reserching Australia.
Mason B - For showing Amazing focus in writing this week. I can't wait to read your facts about Egypt!
3v
Xavier B - For hisinsightful contributions to class discussions during history.
Matilda J - For her perseverance with new and challenging tasks in all lessons.
Lexi G - For very thoughtful questions and wonderings in History.
4B
Tyson C - For perseverance in solving maths problems involving addition with trading.
Sienna S - For her efforts in measuring length accurately and converting between mm and cm.
Archer A - For using the Bump It Up Wall and the success criteria to provide feedback to others.
Levi P - For always being a responsible learner and being the perfect role model regarding classroom expectations.
5I
Tyler H - For making good choices in the classroom and looking for ways to improve his learning each day.
6B
Harley R - For his independence in his learning when writing stories and completing his mathematics.
Milani K - For her focus in learning new division and multiplication formulas in mathematics.
Jarvis RK - For his confidence in sharing his engaging and detailed writing.
Jayden B - For his enthusiasm when sharing his knowledge of bushfires.
Sports News
School News
Project Compassion - Rainbow Casual Day
On the 1st of April, a casual day will fall.
But it has a twist….
You have to dress rainbow! You can dress in crazy colours, and there are no limits, just go wild!!! (But make sure, you don’t wear a singlet and you have to wear covered shoes).
If you dress up, you have to bring a gold coin donation! All we ask is that you bring a coin, gold or silver, because we want to help Project Compassion. We will also have a game the school will host on this fun day.
They will line up all of the coins your child/ren’s class has collected, and the class with the longest line WINS a 10 minute early mark at the end of the day!
Regards, The Media Team.
OSHC News - Sergeant Constable Claire
On Monday the 8th of March OSHC had a visit from Sergeant Constable Clare from the PCYC. Clare was invited to talk to the children about safely crossing the road from the school grounds to the After School Care room. She spoke about the importance of the children listening to their teachers when crossing the road, staying together in two lines and looking out for each other. The children were very interested in what she was saying and had many questions to ask about her role as a Police Officer. If your child has any further questions I can email them to Clare and she will get back to me with the answer. Hopefully this will be an ongoing relationship with the Police in to the future.
Kate, Katie M, Emily, Katie A.
Community News
