OLHC News Issue 10 Term 2 Week 1 - 19th April 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,
Welcome back to Term 2!
I trust that you all had a restful break and a happy Easter, enjoying time together with family and friends. It is always such a joy to see the children return from holidays refreshed and ready to learn.
The Term 2 calendar is already filling up with learning and extra-curricular activities. We have lots to look forward to, including Cross Country (today), the Shrek Musical in Horsham, the Bright Sparks program for our senior students at St. Brigids, School Athletics, School photos, and a wide range of learning across all subjects. It is certainly a lot, but we are excited to work with students in all these areas to help them grow and flourish.
As always, I encourage you to come and visit the school. Short, casual conversations with parents are a great way for me and the teaching staff to stay well-connected to the community and to the families we are here to serve.
Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with Veronica Slattery and her family after the sad passing of her son Andrew. Veronica's contributions to Our Lady's School are unsurpassed and we owe her a great debt of gratitude for her years of service, both as a teacher and principal. We will continue to keep Veronica, Andrew, and the Slattery family in our prayers during this time.
Chris McCumstie
principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au
Dunmunkle Cross Country
Today the Dunmunkle Cross Country was held at Rabl Park/ Lake Marma. Students turning 10, 11 and 12 by 31st December 2024, were eligible to run. Congratulations to Charlotte, Eimer, Kaden, Hunter, Eddie, Joey, Andre, Bethany and Luca for competing well, completing the 2km or 3km course and cheering for all Dunmunkle participants. Thank you to the Parent helpers.
Medals were presented to those students who came in first place for each age group. Students who have qualified for the next level - Black Ranges Cross Country to be held at Lord Nelson Park St Arnaud on Thursday 2nd May - will be notified next week.
School Wide Positive Behaviour
SWPBS continues to form an important part of our school life. Directly teaching and reinforcing positive behaviour is just as important as directly teaching other parts of the curriculum. This idea has been in the press lately, with many education experts and high-performing schools acknowledging that behaviour curriuclums enhance learning and well-being in schools.
An area we would like to focus on in Term 2 is Respect, and we will update the community in this space as our learning begins. Some prompts for consideration:
'How do we show respect with our words?'
'How do we show respect with our body language?'
'How might we model respect as adults?'
'How might we form our children if they do not show respect?'
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
Important Upcoming Dates:
April
- Thursday 25th April - ANZAC Day No school for students
- Tuesday 30th April - School Photos 9.00am
May:
- Tuesday 7th May - Hip Hop Dance Workshop with Justin 2-3pm
- Wednesday 8th May 'Shrek Show' at Horsham Town Hall at 11.00am
- Friday 10th May - DSSA Athletics at Rupanyup Oval
June:
- Monday 10th June - Holiday - No school for students
- Friday 21st June - School Closure Day - Teacher PD Horsham
- Friday 28th June - Last Day Term 2 Early finish 2.15pm
CEP Performance - Circus
Thank you to those families who have sent in the money - $10 per student, for the Circus performance and Workshop (Term 1). Outstanding money is welcome.
Mass Times & Parish Information
Sunday 21st April Mass at 8.30am St. Mary's Murtoa
Parish Bulletin
Farewell from Fr. Matt & Welcome to Fr. Sajan
“Dear Parishioners of St Paul VI Parish,
Thank you for welcoming me to walk with you for a little while in your local communi-ties, your families, your lives. I’ve always felt it an honour and privilege to share the faith with you, to provide the Sacraments and to proclaim the Good News in season and out. My prayer is that you as the baptised feel encouraged and empowered to share your God given gifts and talents within the Parish to ensure the Body of Christ as Church is healthy and life giving for all God’s children.
Please keep me in your prayers as our journeys of faith part a little and know that I am grateful for the past 20 months and although with a touch of sadness now, will remember with fondness the encounters in Churches, Schools, Nursing homes and family homes as the years go by.
God bless you!
Fr Matt”
``````````````````````````````````````````````````
Welcome, Fr Sajan Mathew
St Paul VI Parish gives a warm welcome to Fr Sajan as he commences his ministry with us this week. Fr Sajan arrives from his prior ministry at Bungaree (Dunnstown, Clarkes Hill). He will introduce himself around the ‘northern’ Masses this week-end and Horsham/Murtoa the following week-end. We look forward to his faith and minis-try shared amongst us, as we are reminded of God’s Word to the Church: “There are many gifts, but it is always the same Spirit, there are many different ways of serving, but it is always the same Lord. There are many different forms of activity, but in everybody it is the same God who is at work in them all.” (1COR 12:4-6)
Welcome, Fr Sajan!
Calendar Dates
Please click on the link below to take you directly to our School Calendar.