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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the 2024 school year!
We hope that you have enjoyed a blessed Christmas and restful holiday break. It was wonderful to welcome the return of students today, Thursday 1st February. All members of our school community have returned re-energised and ready for another year filled with learning. Our students in Years 1-6 displayed great eagerness to be back at school, to resume their learning, to reconnect with old friends and to be introduced to new ones. As a staff it is our sincerest hope that all our students continue to embrace this new school year with enthusiasm, determination and a positive growth mindset. We all have so much to be grateful for, especially the great opportunities that a Catholic Education, here at Our Lady Help of Christians provides.
We especially extend a warm welcome to all the new families who have joined our school community in 2024, especially those parents who will commence the journey with their child at ‘big school’ for the very first time. Kindergarten students will be commencing their first day at OLHC next week on Wednesday 7th February. Students are completing an initial Best Start Assessment with Mrs Nowak over the coming week.
We welcome in a very special way all our new staff who are commencing at Our Lady Help of Christians in 2024.
This year we welcome -
Mrs Fatima Medina - teaching Year 2 White
Alison Stephen - New School Counsellor
Mr Jared Madsen - SSO Classroom Support
We also warmly welcome back -
Mrs Emma Cotterill - who will be teaching Year One, Year Two, Year Three and Year Five for PPT (Professional Planning Time) each week.
Mrs Gemma Wild - who will be teaching Year Six, Year Four, Year Two and Kinder for PPT(Professional Planning Time) each week.
As we welcome new members to our community, we extend our prayers to all 2023 students and staff including Miss Nancy Fajloun, Mrs Hope Prioste, Mr Jarrod Shelton and Miss Monique Fenech who are commencing new adventures in 2024. We wish them every blessing for the future and continue to be grateful for the contributions made to our community during their time here.
In our role as teachers and educators, we devise plans and make decisions that directly affect and impact on the life of your child. As a staff we willingly accept the great joy and important responsibilities that come with our chosen vocation. Please keep all our staff in your prayers over the coming months so that we can complete our work with grace, courage, compassion and faith.
In a sense, our school has a double staff; not only the staff who perform within the school, but also the very important “staff” that perform in the home. Your child’s education can be greatly enhanced by your engagement in their learning at home and through involvement in school activities. It is often the enthusiasm, support and involvement of parents that will help to inspire children to do their best.
As members of a Catholic school community, we all teach in Jesus’ name, we all have Him as a wonderful example from which to draw inspiration and confidence as we, the staff at school and the 'staff' at home, work together to create the best possible learning environment for all the students in our school.
Once again, Welcome to our New School Year!
May we enter this new adventure together in anticipation of the possibilities that lie ahead and remember our collective responsibility to Seek Wisdom Love God, a lived reality within our community each day.
Blessed are you, Lord God, Creator of body and mind and heart;
At the beginning of this new school year ask you to bless the students, staff, and families of Our Lady Help of Christians, that together we may grow in faith, love, and hope as we learn from you and each other how to follow your Son Jesus.
Expand the horizons of our minds, that we may grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge; deepen our commitment to seek the truth of your ways; and enliven our faith to reach out to those in need.
Amen
With every blessing for the school year ahead.
Jane Webb
FOOD SHARING - CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS
When students are having a birthday we look forward to celebrating with them, they are encouraged to bring in individually wrapped chocolates or treats to share with their class. This would be instead of birthday cake or cupcakes. These treats could be something like Freddo frogs or other types of individually wrapped small treats. Thank you for your support with these arrangements. No nut products.
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN 2024
Next Wednesday, 7th February, we are very excited to warmly welcome our newest members of the school community - our Kindergarten 2024 cohort.
Parents are invited to bring their child into the school and meet Mrs Nowak at the Kinder classrooms. There will be lots of opportunities for photos prior to parents leaving.
We are so excited to meet and to welcome the Kinder students for 2024!
Kindergarten will start at 8:45am on Wednesday 7th February and then will start at the usual time of 8:25am from Thursday 8th February.
SCHOOL LEADERS 2024
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected by their peers and teachers as Year 6 Student Leaders for 2024
School Captains - Zali Linden and Adwin Shiju
Vice-Captains - Teiarra Latilupe and Luka Ribicic
House Captains - Samuel Shaji (Sarkis), Miranda Martin (Mackillop),
Emma Bolshakova (Ingham) and Lachlan Drake (Rose).
These student leaders will receive their badges at the Opening School Mass in the coming weeks.
Sport and Library Days for Term 1, 2024
Students wear their sports uniform two days per week. The below table indicates the days that students participate in library and sport.
All Grades participate in sport on a Friday.
|
Classes |
Library borrowing |
Sport days (wear sports uniform) |
|
KM |
Thursday (PM) |
Wednesday (AM) and Friday |
|
1M |
Wednesday (PM) |
Wednesday (PM) and Friday |
|
2M |
Friday (AM) |
Wednesday (PM) and Friday |
|
2W |
Friday (AM) |
Wednesday (PM) and Friday |
|
3M |
Wednesday (PM) |
Wednesday (AM) and Friday |
|
4M |
Friday (AM) |
Tuesday and Friday |
|
5M |
Tuesday (PM) |
Thursday and Friday |
|
6M |
Tuesday (PM) |
Tuesday and Friday |
|
6W |
Tuesday (PM) |
Tuesday and Friday |
Online Enrolments
Starting from the beginning of Term 1, 2024, we have transitioned to a new online enrolment platform, called Funnel, removing the use of all paper forms. Please take note, particularly for sibling applications for Kinder 2025.
The online enrolment application can be accessed from the home page of our school website, link provided below.
NEW PLAYGROUND LINE MARKINGS
Our thanks and appreciation is extended to the P&F for their ongoing support in improving the learning experience and school environment at OLHC.
The students are very grateful for the upgrade to playground markings on the school playground and basketball and netball courts. We extend our thanks to the P&F for their co-contribution with the school to provide this update.
All parents are encouraged to join the Parents and Friends to make a positive impact to the students at OLHC. All funds raised are directed towards school initiatives.
MEET AND GREET INFORMATION SHARING -
At OLHC, our school mission statement calls us to a place of faith, love and learning and calls us to continually strive to be the best we can be.
We commit to providing opportunities for authentic engagement in student learning with key stakeholders - parents and the wider community.
In order for students to strive to be the best they can be, a strong, respectful home - school relationship is essential. Parental involvement and engagement enhances and promotes authentic student learning.
All parents are warmly welcome to attend a ‘Meet and Greet” session with their child’s 2024 classroom teacher. Students are not required to attend this meeting.
The purpose of the ‘Meet and Greet’ conversation with your child’s teacher is to -
- Meet with your child’s 2024 teacher
- Visit your child’s classroom
- For you to share information of importance in relation to your child with the teacher so that they are able to gain a holistic picture of your child’s needs as we commence the school year.
Meet and Greet sessions will be held commencing in Week Three - from Monday 12th February. All parents are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions.
If a longer conversation is required, please make an appointment for a longer meeting at another time with your child’s teacher.
An online booking system will be shared shortly via COMPASS.
NEW BABY AND WITH SYMPATHY ANNOUNCEMENTS -
As a Catholic community of faith, love and learning we would like to share in special moments such as the birth of a child and times of loss that happen as a part of family life.
If you would like to include a recent birth announcement and a special new addition to your family in the school newsletter each fortnight please email the school info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au to have this information (including your babies name) in the newsletter.
Also, at times, we also experience great loss when we lose a close relative and loved one. If you would like to share this information with the school community, please email the school info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au and we will share this information with the school community and remember your family in our prayers at this sad time.
Parent Action required in Insights: - 2024 Media Consent for use of students image and/or work. Plus Acceptable Use of Technology - Parents.
Dear Parents/Carers
The safety and wellbeing of students is always our first priority. This includes protecting their privacy and respecting the wishes of parents and carers regarding the use of student photos, images, and works at all times. Plus to ensure Parents and student understand responsible use of Technology.
At the start of each school year, you are asked to provide your consent for images of your child to appear in various places (e.g., in school newsletters, social media, and promotional material). Along with Acceptable Use of Technology by Parents.
In the same way that you provided consent for your child in 2023, you will still be able to simply reply in the Compass app; however, in 2024, this consent will be provided in a new app feature called Compass Insight. Compass’ Insights module is a tool for gathering information from staff, students and parents that can be used for a variety of purposes.
What do you need to do?
You will receive a new 2024 Media image consent and Acceptable Use of Technology Insight in the Compass app. Please click on the link provided and read the details of the Insight carefully and answer the question to either provide or decline consent.
To ensure that no child misses out on having their photo taken as part of school life and is able to use technology provided, please action this request as soon as you can or by Monday 12 February 2024.
If you have any questions of where to access Insights tab, under your childs profile in Compass, please contact the school, and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
NEW FAMILIES - PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
School Fees are invoiced as an annual account, due for payment in full 30 days after invoicing. However, many families select to pay their school fees by regular instalments and as a new family to our school, we would like to offer you this option. If you wish to take up this offer, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office.
On completion of the request, either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2024 school fees. Your school fee statements are emailed to you and they will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment e.g. Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments e.g. Weekly to Fortnightly
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2024 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2024 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen e.g. Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.
IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment e.g. Weekly, fortnightly, etc.
Diary dates are published on our website home page. You can also check Compass calendar and the events tab. Further diary dates will be added at next newsletter.
| Friday 2 February 2024 | Swimming Carnival - Years 3 to 6 Bradbury pools (details in Compass) |
| Wednesday 7 February | Welcome Kindergarten students who commence a little later at 8.45am and finish at 2.45pm * normal school starting time is 8.25am |
| Friday 9 February | Assembly 2pm - Merit and Principals Awards |
| Monday 12 February | P & F Meeting 7.30pm to 8.30pm in school library all welcome |
| Monday 12 Feb to Friday 16 Feb | Meet and Greets with Parents and Teachers over week 3, (more details to come) |
| Wednesday 14 February | Beginning of School Year Mass 2024 at 10.30am, parents welcome. |
