Term 3 Week 5 Newsletter - 23.08.24
Principal News
The Assumption of the Blessed Mary
On Thursday, 15th August, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when
according to our faith, the Holy Mother, 'having completed her course of her earthly life was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory'.
The Assumption signals the end of Mary's earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary's body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.
As the Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation, our parish school held a beautiful Liturgy led by our Year 6 School Leaders. We thank Year 6 for their beautiful readings, prayers and reverence which helped make our Liturgy so special.
Outside of School Hours Care
Just a reminder that bookings are essential for OSHC as we have a capacity of 30 students. Changes from the Department of Education and our current space available for OSHC has limited our numbers. Preference will be given to permanent bookings. Please contact Jenette in the office if you would like to try and make a permanent booking for the days required. Please don't be disappointed or angry if you can not get a casual booking spot for your child at very short notice.
Important Dates
- Thursday 29th August- 8:00am Father's Day Breakfast and Liturgy
- Wednesday 18th September- 4:30-6pm Art and Learning Showcase
- Friday 20th September- Grandparents Day
- Friday 27th September- Pupil Free Day/Last day of Term 3 (OSHC will only run between 8:30am and 3:30pm on this day due to to staffing)
Choose Kindness
Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, we can forget the impact our words and actions can have on others. It is important that we reflect on what it means to speak and act with kindness and what that may look like and sound like at home, school, sport or at work.
Bishop Greg often reminds us to have the courage to do what is right and show love to each other. Kindness is a constant focus at OLHC, and we are all in a privileged position as parents and teachers to model this life giving behaviour.
Kindness:
* is the way we speak to all people;
* is the way we act towards all people;
* helps us to show care, consideration and generosity to others;
* shows others how we like to be treated;
* is being friendly, smiling and using a kind voice;
* is noticing when others are sad, hurt or in trouble;
* is reacting positively to a situation even when we may not be happy ourselves;
Be Respectful
We are continually trying to impress upon our students the importance of being respectful. We do this because we believe that one of the most important things we can teach our students is to be respectful of others and learn how to managing their feelings and emotions.
The best way for us to teach respect to our students is to show respect. When a student experiences respect, they know what it feels like and begin to understand how important it is.
Respect is a valued attitude. Being respectful helps a student succeed in life. If students don't have respect for peers, authority, or themselves, it's almost impossible for them to succeed.
As parents, we have the most influence on how respectful our children will become. Until children show respect at home, it's very unlikely they will show it anywhere else.
So, as parents and teachers, how can we all help and what can we model?
- Be honest - If we do something wrong, admit it and apologise.
- Be positive - Don't embarrass, insult or make fun of our children. Compliment them.
- Be trusting - Let our children have a voice, make choices and take responsibility.
- Be fair - Listen to our children's side of the story before reaching a conclusion.
- Be polite - Use "please" and "thank you".
- Be reliable - Keep our promises. Show our children that you mean what you say.
- Be a good listener - Give our children our full attention when they need us.
Child Protection- Safeguarding our Children
As school communities and as individuals, we commit to fostering communities of safeguarding that recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children and young people. Our commitment is drawn from the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, in love and justice, whereby the dignity and sacredness of each child is respected.
The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools and OLHC is committed to:
- a zero tolerance to the abuse of children and young people
- a culture of openness that supports the safe disclosure of risks of harm to children and young people
- involve families and carers for input and provide open and transparent information sharing
- appropriately vetting and engaging the most suitable people to work with children
- implementing current safeguarding procedures and practices underpinned by legislation, to maintain safe and supportive physical and online environments
- listening to the voices of children and young people as we constantly strive to remain alert and make improvements
- providing continuous training and education to our staff, volunteers and partners
- adequately resourcing our child safeguarding responsibilities
- responding sensitively, respectfully and in a timely manner, to those who bring forward a suspicion, concern, knowledge or allegation of abuse of a child or young person, in line with our lawful obligations and our Child Safeguarding Policy.
The care and protection of children and young people is paramount. All staff at OLHC are Mandatory Reporters and are required to report if they have any concern regarding the safety, welfare or well-being of a student.
Our Child Protection Policy is available on our school website and in the School Office.
WHAT PART CAN YOU PLAY?
We can all play a part by creating stronger, safer neighbourhoods. This can be achieved by talking to your neighbours, checking in with friends, being a good role model, supporting and being kind to parents rather than judging or being competitive, offering to assist where possible, and speaking up if you see something that is unsafe.
It is important that we listen to, and value, what children have to say. Where possible, include their voices in decision-making and be advocates for their best interest.
By speaking regularly with children about their personal safety and how they can protect themselves, as well as “tuning in” to their worries, children are more likely to trust us and feel comfortable to talk with us when something big is going on.
Make your influence positive; start a conversation today with your colleagues and families about listening to and valuing the voice of children and young people.
Mission News
Sacrament of Confirmation
The sacrament of Confirmation marks a significant milestone in a Christian's journey, when they receive the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. This sacrament strengthens them to deepen their faith and become more Christ-like. Last week, our parish community joyfully celebrated the students who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, with Rev. Bishop Homeming leading the special ceremony. Congratulations to everyone involved. This is an important step in your journey of faith, and we are so proud of you. May the Holy Spirit guide you as you continue to learn about God's love and share it with others!
Kindergarten Liturgical Dance
With the help of Mrs Transton, Kindergarten designed and practised a liturgical dance to honour Mary our mother. They were extremely excited to dance for an audience, and performed splendidly. Well done, Kindergarten!
2024 Sacramental Program
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be on Tuesday 10th September TBC (during school hours) and the First Holy Communion will be on Thursday 12th September TBC at our Parish Church. Preparations have begun in the Year 4 classroom and we look forward to getting ready to receive the sacrament. Further information and details will follow.
Father’s Day Liturgy
A reminder that on Thursday 29th, we will be celebrating our wonderful Fathers and father figures with a liturgy beginning at 9am, after our shared breakfast. We hope that all the special men in our lives are able to join us!
Making Jesus Real Awards
KP
Frankie S - For always being a kind friend when you notice others are hurt or upset. Keep letting your light shine Frankie
1L
Milla D - For being a supportive and encouraging team mate during the Olympic activities. Keep shining bright Milla.
2P
Vera H - For your encouraging and kind words when caring for class members. You truly show the face of Jesus.
3L
Jack C - For being a supportive friend and always showing kindness towrds his peers in Year 3. Keep shining bright Jack!
4L
Braith F - For contributing to our school community in meaningful ways. Keep shining your light Braith.
4P
Isla L - For consistently demonstrating kindness, peacefulness and friendship within our classroom. Keep shining, Isla. You are appreciated by those around you.
5L
Noah M - For showing leadership qualities at our Year 5 Leadership Day.
5P
Mason B - For being a helpful and encouraging learning partner. Keep shining your light, Mason!
6P
Riley C - For teaching, supporting and encouraging your classmates at make paper cranes for our Mini Olympics. Thank you Riley!
Learning & Teaching
2024 Book Week Parade
Kinder made growing and shrinking number patterns.
Year 1 can tell the time on analog and digital clocks!
Year 2 are always working so hard during InitiaLit.
Year 3 investigating fossils in Science
Year 4 investigating multiplication facts in Maths
Year 5 are solving multiplication problems
Year 6 NRL session
Wednesday STEM Club
During lunch time on Wednesdays, students from years 3-6 are invited to join in our new STEM club. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. It's all about learning and exploring the world around us through fun experiments, cool projects, and creative problem-solving. It is way of learning that helps kids become inventors, scientists, and problem-solvers by exploring these amazing subjects! This term we are learning how to design objects in Tinkercad, ready to be 3D printed. We can't wait to see how they turn out!
OLHC Achievement Awards
KP
Vinnie B - For always giving 100% in InitiaLit. You are a superstar in segmenting and blending your sounds to read and write Vinnie. Keep it up!
Clara N - For being a great problem solver. Your work in making a variety of patterns in Maths is fantastic. Keep it up Clara.
Jaxon E - For setting an example of excellent behavior both in and out of the classroom. You consistently demonstrate fantastic attentive listening skills Jaxon.
1L
Luka O'D - For applying feedback to improve your writing to produce quality pieces. Amazing work Luka!
Nina Q - For your persistence and pushing yourself during writing tasks. Keep it up Nina!
Lucas T - For your positive, have a go attitude to every challenge during the Mini Olympics.
Marlow T - For great use of interesting vocabulary when writing to engage the reader. Great work Marlow!
2P
Archer D - For your increased focus when writing sentences and creating a paragraph. Keep up the wonderful work!
Lachlan C - For your positive attitude and increased focus when you completed your Ruby Lee character development. Well done!
3L
Cleo F - For your ability to think critically and approach problem-solving in Mathematics. Keep upi the fantastic work Cleo!
Hudson R - For your dedication and determination in writing. Your desire to succeed shines through in everything you do. Keep it up Hudson!
4L
Mason E - For using efficient strategies to solve problems involving money. Well done Mason!
Dominic R - For effective use of figurative language to create engaging pieces of writing. Keep up the great work Dom!
4P
Clancy Floyd - For your insightful contributions to our classroom discussions around our poetry unit and use of rich vocabulary in both our discussions and your writing.
Poppy W - For your insightful contributions to our classroom discussions around our poetry unit of rich and use of rich vocabulary in both our discussions and your writing.
5L
Sierra S - For your questions during class discussions that inspire a more engaging and dynamic learning environment.
Shelby D - For your determination with challenging Maths tasks.
5P
Ryder H - For effectively applying spelling techniques to spell unfamiliar words and incorporating them into his writing. Keep up the great work, Ryder!
Kaden S - For his enthusiastic attitude and accuracy when solving multiplication facts. Keep up the great work, Kaden!
6P
Cooper J - For the deadly leadership you showed during NAIDOC week. You are a superstar, Cooper!
Lacey N - For always trying your best, especially when tasks are challenging. Keep up your amazing learning, Lacey!
Sports News
At OLHC, we love celebrating the sporting achievements of all our students. If your child has a special achievement that you would love for us to share with the school community, please send any photos and a short paragraph outlining their achievement to Mrs McCarthy - haylee.mccarthy@lism.catholic.edu.au
OLHC Mini Olympics
The OLHC Mini Olympics took place on August 9th, 2024, at the OLHC School Grounds. This event aimed to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and school spirit among students from various grades. The Mini Olympics featured a variety of events tailored to different age groups, fostering an inclusive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
The day started with the opening ceremony, which allowed the students to showcase their country’s uniforms. It sure was a spectacular showcase! The teachers were blown away by the effort and detail that the students put into this.
The children participated in a range of rotational activities which allowed them to receive a gold, silver, or bronze ticket. These tickets were placed in a box and drawn out at the end of the day.
Some of the activities included:
- The Potato Olympics
- Modified Olympics
- Olympic Torch Craft
- Bingo
- Kahoot Quiz
Congratulations to 2P (Norway) and 4P (France) for taking out the Best Dressed Country, and Kinder (Austria) and 6P (Japan) for winning the Best Olympic Door Display.
Congratulations to Maddison Currie (Gold), Charlotte Welch (Silver), and Campbell Hughes (Bronze) who were our winning athletes on the day.
A big shoutout to all the teachers for their enthusiasm and hard work which went into making this a very memorable memory for all the students at OLHC.
The OLHC Mini Olympics 2024 was a resounding success, achieving its goals of promoting physical activity, teamwork, and school spirit. The event fostered a sense of community and allowed students to engage in various activities in a fun and supportive environment.
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 coloured shirt to wear for the competition.
This will take place on the following dates.
Week | Dates and Times |
Week 5 | 23/08/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Week 7 | 06/09/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Week 9 | 20/09/23 - 1:15pm - 2:30pm |
Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will participate in some fun games at school. They will also be divided into to 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.
Diocese Athletics Carnival
On Tuesday the 20th of August, we had 9 students attend the Diocesan Athletics Carnival at Coffs Harbour. The event was extremely well organised and it ran very smoothly. Well done to all the students who represented OLHC. It was a strong competition on the day and the children gave it their all and displayed exceptional sportsmanship.
The students competed in the following events:
Milla Coronakes: 13 Years Girls 100m Spint (2nd)
Jack DeGiusti: 12 Years Boys 100m Sprint (3rd), 12/13 Years Boys 200m Run and 12/13 Years Boys Long Jump
Harper Jasmin: 11 Years Girls 200m Run (5th), 11 Years Girls 1500m Run (4th) and 11 Years Girls 800m Run (4th)
Bailey Newton: 11 Years Girls Long Jump (10th)
Robbie Grace: 11 Years Boys 100m Sprint (6th), 11 Years Boys 200m Run (6th), 11 Years Boys Long Jump (5th), 11 Years High Jump (4th), 11 Years Discus (3rd) and 11 Years Boys Shot Put (2nd)
Harriett Johnston: 8-10 Years Girls Shot Put (1st)
Anika Burt: 8-10 Years Girls Discus (3rd) and 8-10 Years Shot Put (2nd)
Alby Sedelaar: 8-10 Years Boys Shot Put (3rd)
Ezra Kowalczyk: 8-10Years Boys Discus (9th)
Congratulations to Robbie who was the 11 Years Boys Runners Up Age Champion.
Polding Athletics
Students that were placed in the top 3 will progress to the Polding Athletics Carnival on Friday the 13th of September in Newcastle. Congratulations to Milla, Jack, Robbie, Harriett, Anika and Alby. This is one of the largest groups of students that have progressed to Polding athletics and as a school, we are so proud of you all.
Richmond Zone Gala Day
On Friday 30th 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. Please ensure consent and payment is made by Friday the 23rd of August.
Term Three
- Friday the 30th of August - Years 5 and 6 Richmond Zone Gala Day
Term Four
- Monday the 4th of November - Richmond Zone Tennis Summer Sports Trials (Years 4 and 5 ONLY)
- Wednesday the 6th of November - Richmond Zone Cricket Summer Sports Trials (Years 4 and 5 ONLY)
- Thursday the 7th of November - Richmond Zone Touch Football Summer Sports Trials (Years 4 and 5 ONLY)
- Tuesday the 26th of November - DIO Tennis Summer Sports Trials, Lismore (Years 4 and 5 ONLY)
- Friday the 29th of November - DIO Cricket, Softball, Touch Football and Basketball Summer Sports Trials, Lismore (Years 4 and 5 ONLY)
- Friday the 6th of December - OLHC Swimming Carnival
School News
Invitation for Parent Helpers
Over the next two terms, Mrs Transton and Mrs Rodda will be doing Dance for Creative Arts with the students. Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 will be in Term 3 and our students in Years 3-6 in Term 4.
In order to enrich the experience, we would like to invite parents or family members with special dance talents to come and share their craft with our students. For example, you may be an Irish Dance wiz, or have Ballet or Jazz skills. If this is you and you would like to be involved, please contact Mrs Transton and Mrs Rodda via email. Thank you!
amy.rodda@lism.catholic.edu.au
lisa.transton@lism.catholic.edu.au
Community News
