OLHC News Issue 16 Term 2 Week 8 - 7th June 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,
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Today, 7th June, is The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This day commemorates the love of Jesus for all of creation, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised. The following reflection explores what this commemoration may mean for Christians in the present age. Themes such as imagination and God’s transforming love, are deeply related to The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the way Christians can experience and indeed be the love of Jesus in their lives.
Let us pray with St. Teresa of Avila:
Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands.
Yours are the feet.
Yours are the eyes.
You are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Amen.
Article submitted by Jim Waight
I hope to see all the community at the upcoming 60th anniversary!
Chris McCumstie
principal@olhcmurtoa.catholic.edu.au
Thanks for the Working Bee
Thanks to the parents and students who assisted at the working bees last week. A lot was accomplished and I am so grateful for the effort and sacrifice of time that it took. Well done to the students at school, also, for their contribution to beautifying our grounds.
Our Lady's 60th Anniversary Celebration
On Saturday 15th June we are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Our Lady's. The date slipped by last year (1963 - 2023), but we are wanting to invite all past and present students, families, staff and community members to come and join us.
We would like to acknowledge the history of our school, and all the effort that went into the building of this special place, before the original building is replaced later in the year.
An event has been set up on our Facebook page and we would appreciate if you could go online and invite any of your friends who would be interested in this special day.
Catering Request:
Would all families in our community, especially those members of the P&F consider assisting with catering for the 60th. A simple cake, slice, or other sweet plate, would be a great help. These offerings could be delivered by Friday 14th June to serve on the next day. Many thanks for considering this request.
Winter
Two items in relation to the onset of Winter.
Firstly, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately in the winter school uniform. Requests for new or second-hand uniforms can come through the General Office.
Boys: school polo, grey pants or shorts, school fleece jumper or vest.
Girls: school polo or navy skivy, navy pants, or pinafore with school polo underneath it, school fleece jumper, vest or cardigan and navy tights.
Appropriate footwear (black school shoes or runners) for both boys and girls. We also allow the use of gumboots in our wet and muddy grounds, and slippers in our classrooms if the children would like to bring these in.
Secondly, it is also cold and flu season, so please ensure you are monitoring your child for contagious symptoms. We have had a lot of children presenting at school when they should probably be kept at home. It is a courtesy to staff and students alike to keep sick children home.
Outback Showcase
The children have been working hard on their outback learning, investigating many aspects of Australian history and culture. On the final day of term, parents, friends, grandparents, other relatives and the community, are invited to a showcase of the children's learning. This is a great opportunity to finish the term on high, celebrating all the hard work, creativity and passion of our students.
Friday, 28th June, 9-10:30am. All welcome!
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
Child Safe Standard 1:
OLHC welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and seeks to support them in all aspects of schooling. All children have a right to their cultural beliefs and to enjoy the freedom to express these at school. We are active in promoting inclusion in our school and making that inclusion visible and authentic.
School TV
As part of the SchoolTV initiative at Our Lady Help of Christians School, we want to highlight topics that may be especially helpful to our parent group. Parenting is not easy, and there are complex issues which parents have to navigate every day. By offering SchoolTV we hope to aid all caregivers in our community by giving practical strategies to overcome the challenges our young people face.
ONLINE GAMING
Young people might have a lot of fun playing online games, but parents and carers need to make sure they empower their child to make wise decisions and help them manage the risks. Numerous games can help your child become more coordinated, adept at problem-solving and multitasking, and help them develop social skills through online interaction with other players. However, it's also critical to comprehend what may go wrong and what might be harmful to your child. Carers need to play an active role in understanding and being aware of what their young person is playing online and who they are interacting with.
Find out more at the link below:
https://olhcmurtoa.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming
Or, explore the wide range of topics at SchoolTV by clicking on the link below.
Important Upcoming Dates:
June:
- Monday 10th June - Holiday - No school for students
- Saturday 15th June - 60th Anniversary Celebrations Open Day 12noon to 5.00pm
- Friday 21st June - Normal School Day (not a School Closure Day)
- Friday 28th June - Outback Showcase 9.00 - 10.30am
- Friday 28th June - Last Day Term 2 Early finish 2.15pm
Mass Times & Parish Information
Sunday 9th June Livestream at 9.00am St. Mary's Murtoa.
St Paul VI Parish Sacramental Preparation
~ First Holy Communion ~
Parents of those children who have celebrated their, First Reconciliation sacrament earlier this year will be notified by email in early June of an Information Session date, where resources for First Holy Communion preparation will be distributed. Initial guidance will be given at the Information Session along with the resources and two further meeting dates will follow, to complete the necessary requirements before the sacrament is received.
Celebration of First Holy Communion will occur in Sunday Masses on set dates across the parish, most
likely over August/September.
~ Confirmation ~
Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place with a similar structure (home preparation
and consolidation discussions in different churches) on a slightly later date scale.
Confirmation will be celebrated with Bishop Paul attending/visiting the parish as part of our Diocese 150th Year jubilee. Currently that timing is set for November.
All parishioners are invited to keep these children and their families in our prayers over the coming
months. May the grace of God touch their hearts and souls with the privilege of sacramental life shared with our Risen Christ. May Christ, the Good Shepherd, lead their preparation.
Parish Bulletin
Calendar Dates
Please click on the link below to take you directly to our School Calendar.