Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Over the past five weeks, I am pleased to share that our students have consistently demonstrated adherence to our school rules, embracing values of respect, responsibility, safety, and a commitment to learning. It has been heartening to witness these positive attitudes and engagement of our students in their learning during my classroom visits.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the parents who participated in the 'Meet and Greets' with their child's teacher. Your active involvement in these sessions begins the collaborative partnership we aim to foster for your child's educational journey throughout 2024. When home and school work in close partnership with the student at the centre, great things are possible.

Every school in our diocese uses a framework that helps us to get better at what we do. This tool is called School Improvement Tool (SIT).  It is a framework which outlines what schools should be doing in order to achieve excellence in a variety of areas. Schools use this framework and data to prioritise goals for each year. 

This year at OLHC, we have two main improvement areas that incorporate learning, faith and community. We look forward to sharing with you our progress via the school newsletter and at P&F meetings throughout the year. To achieve these goals, we have committed to the following strategies: -

ANNUAL IMPROVEMENT GOALS 2024 -

Goal 1: Students will demonstrate engagement and growth in English based on their assessed need -

Teachers regularly meeting in Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) with a focus on student learning to collaboratively assess data particularly with a focus in English, identify the immediate learning needs of all students and develop whole class learning goals

• Teachers engage in classroom observations and feedback conversations about improving teaching practice - particularly in the area of English
• Teachers engaging in Professional Learning including developing understanding of assessing analysis and improving student engagement
  
  

Goal 2: By 2025, a shared Vision and Mission is visible and influences all aspects of school life -

• Our school has a Vision and Mission statement that was written by a group of staff and parents back when the school first opened in 1989.
• This year, as a staff, we will be engaging in a process that enables us to connect, reflect and engage with the school Vision and Mission statement
• This opportunity will be extended to both parents and students in 2025 to ensure that
  
  

The Importance of Staff Professional Learning

Crucial to the impact that our Annual Improvement Plan has on improving students’ faith, learning and wellbeing is rigorous professional learning for our staff. Professional learning that leads to effective teaching that in turn results in improved student learning outcomes is crucial. We have a highly effective professional learning plan for our teachers including staff meetings after school and before school, Staff Development Days, onsite professional learning (half days and whole days) as well as offsite professional learning days.

I am very conscious that teachers’ participation in professional learning will require them to be away from face to face teaching. I want to stress that continuity of learning for students will remain regardless of who is teaching them. When teachers attend professional learning, they plan the day's work and communicate with the casual teacher regarding the needs of students. With research confirming that teacher quality is the biggest in-school factor responsible for improved student outcomes, professional learning is not a choice.

Staff benefit greatly from attendance at professional learning meetings both at school and facilitated by the Catholic Education Office Wollongong. This year, we welcome Ms Emma Scott to the OLHC school community. Ms Scott is an indentured casual and will be teaching at OLHC for four days per week (Monday - Thursday). She will replace classroom teachers who are away due to sickness, professional learning or accessing personal leave. Welcome to OLHC Ms Scott!

BABY News!

We also would like to congratulate Mrs Sabrina Nowak on the news that she and her husband are expecting a baby.

This is the first baby for Mr and Mrs Nowak and we would like to wish them many blessings for the months ahead. Mrs Nowak's baby is due in August.

This means that she will be teaching Kinder Maroon until the beginning of Term Three.

A recruitment process will be undertaken to find a replacement for Mrs Nowak.

We wish her every blessing at this very exciting time.

PHOTO GALLERY - Captains afternoon tea

Please enjoy some photos from the Captains afternoon tea last Friday afternoon with their family and siblings.  

Jane Webb