Last Sunday's Gospel ... 

Jesus made the statement that he didn’t bring peace but fire. He means that His message will challenge and divide us. The events in the NSW parliament have reflected that this week and you may have experienced it in your own discussions about the topic. Sometimes it can be hard to stand up and be counted doing as Jesus taught us and it can divide us from those close to us.

Did you know? ... 

In the Eastern churches, the colour blue symbolises humanity and red divinity. That is why in icons Mary is often depicted with a red cover over blue. She was human but became the Mother of the Divine. Jesus on the other hand is often in blue over red – he started as divine and became human.

Stewardship Thought ... 

St Paul encourages us not to grow weary or lose heart, but to persevere in following Jesus.  Our willingness to give of ourselves, even in the face of conflict and division, is one way to measure our discipleship.

Dear Parents,

We sent a letter out on Tuesday inviting you to come to a meeting at 6.30pm on Monday 2nd September. We really need one parent from every family to be there. I promise it will only go until 7.30pm. We have tried to include a number of things so you only need to come once.

Our whole student management system is changing and includes a parent portal which will replace Skoolbag and many other things you are used to like absence notes, paying fees, interviews and permission notes. Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) will be teaching parents how to use this for us. In addition we have information about social media. The diocese has a new Social Media Policy and we need to give you information on an annual basis. With the increasing number of our students having upsetting conversations online and the fact that these conversations are occurring at home, not school, we have stories and strategies to relate to you so you can help us protect your children. I know it can be hard to find the time but I believe you will find it very beneficial, enlightening, and in some cases surprising – particularly when we tell you how late students from our school are online. I don’t ask you to come very often so please do the best you can to come.

Yesterday we hosted our annual Excellence Awards. It gave us the chance to publicly acknowledge  our mission ‘to be a place of learning through striving for excellence’. We saw excellence in a variety of fields as well as in our "Striving for Excellence" awards. Bishop of Wollongong, Brian Mascord, spoke about the topic and presented the awards. He felt very welcome in our school.

On Friday we have the chance to celebrate our diversity of culture. Mrs Dew has been working with a number of students and their parents who have volunteered to teach us something about their cultural heritage. Parents and students have been working very hard on their presentations and national dress. We couldn’t do a special event like this without you so thank you all very much. A special thank you to Mrs Dew for the co-ordination, and organising music and the whole event generally.

I am looking forward to seeing you at these upcoming events.

God bless.

Michelle Rolfe

Principal

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through Term 3. It has been a very busy term so far with many excursions, gala days, great learning in the classroom and celebrations like the Saint Mary of the Cross Feast Day and the Colour Fun Run. Thank you to all of our OLHC staff, students and parents for their support of all of these things. Our students are a credit to you, as parents, as well as their teachers.

Yesterday’s Excellence Awards Ceremony was a wonderful celebration of our students and what they are achieving in the classroom and of their own accord at home. It was an absolute pleasure to witness the pride in the student’s faces when they received their excellence award and the joy of their classmates for them.   

It is important to remember how essential it is for students to attend school each day ready and organised to learn. Consistent absence and / or lateness to school will affect the student’s ability to keep up with the learning in the classroom. Of course, if your child is sick and it is deemed best for them to be at home, we understand, but ask that they bring a note to school when they return to explain their absence. We have a new Diocesan Attendance Policy and Flowchart to follow and teachers will need to contact you if your child has been absent from school for a number of days to ensure their attendance at school improves. Also try to continue to value the importance of reading each night at home and getting your child to discuss with you what they have read to show their understanding.

Alison Fazio

Assistant Principal

School-wide Positive Behaviours for Learning

When students exhibit positive behaviour, by following our school rules, their name is written on a raffle ticket and is entered into a draw where two winners are selected at flag-raising.  The students receive a voucher for use at the canteen. 

Congratulations to the following students who were drawn from the last two weeks:

  Liam Crawford (3W - Sarkis), Maximo Foeh-Pierce (6M - Sarkis),

Aleesha McVittie (1M - MacKillop), Carrington-Ann Slatter (5M - Rose) .

Excellence Awards

Congratulations to the following students on receiving an Excellence Award at yesterday's assembly:

David Abraham - Striving for Excellence

Ava Callaghan - Academic Excellence in Whole Number

Jessica Chanhdara - Striving for Excellence

Olivia Harkin - Striving for Excellence

Zali Linden - Academic Excellence in Mathematics

Nelson Martinez-Ramirez - Academic  Excellence in Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

Sue Nguyen - Striving for Excellence

Sabrina Oraz - Striving for Excellence

Michael Siroki -  Striving for Excellence

Isaac Soriano - Academic Excellence in Creative Arts (Visual Arts)

Nolan Tran - Academic Excellence in Reading

Vinhy Tran - Academic Excellence in Whole Number

Assembly

Please join us at our next assembly on Friday 30th August at 1.50pm.  Merit and Principal's Awards will be presented.  Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving a Principal's Award:

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Feast Day & Colour Fun Run

Sponsorship forms and money were due back at school today, Thursday 22nd August.

Western Region Athletic Carnival

On Friday 9th August, over 25 students represented OLHC at the Western Region Athletics Carnival.  All students did an outstanding job demonstrating wonderful sportsmanship and team work.  Congratulations to Maka Angianga who made it to the next level for shot put.  A big thank you to Mrs Barrington and Mr Abbott for being parent helpers on the day.  Without your amazing support we would be unable to participate in these carnivals.  

Year 1 - Open Classrooms

Year 1 are holding "open classrooms" on Thursday 5th September at 2.00pm and Tuesday 24th September at 2.00pm.  We would love to see many of our Year 1 parents/carers attend.

CEDoW - NAIDOC Week Celebrations

That's a wrap! From the art room to the playground, the school grounds to the library, there has been plenty happening to mark NAIDOC Week 2019 as our schools have come together to celebrate the invaluable contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have made - and continue to make - to our communities, our families, our rich history and to our nation. 

CEDoW Schools Bring NAIDOC Week 2019 to Life 

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/aboriginal-education/yarning-circle/naidoc-week-cedow-schools-working-together-for-a-shared-future/ 

The following schools have segments within the article:

• St John’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Dapto
• John Therry Catholic High School, Rosemeadow
• St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Albion Park
• St Justin’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Oran Park
• St Pius X Catholic Parish Primary School, Unanderra
• St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
• Our Lady Help Of Christians Catholic Parish Primary School, Rosemeadow
• Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish Primary School, Eagle Vale
• St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Mittagong
• Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, Fairy Meadow
• St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Nowra
• St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School, Ruse
• Holy Family Catholic Parish Primary School, Ingleburn.

School Banking

School banking is every Friday.

Facebook

www.facebook.com/olhc.rosemeadow

Skoolbag App

This app should be downloaded so you can be kept up to date with the latest events and information from the school.  This app is also used for distribution of the Newsletter.  Please download the app from your relevant store.  For more information visit "skoolbag.com.au".

Father's Day Stall

On Wednesday 28th August the P&F will be selling gifts and cookies for Father's Day.  Gifts will range in price from $1.00-$10.00 and cookies from $2.00 - $10.00.  If you can assist with selling on the day, please meet at the office at 8.30am.

P&F Chocolate Fund-raiser

Chocolate money and any unsold chocolates need to be returned to school by Friday 6th September. Chocolates are $1.00 each.  Thank you for your support of this fundraiser.

P&F Meeting

Please join us for our next P&F Meeting on Monday 2nd September at 7.30pm in the staff-room.

Clothing Pool

The Clothing Pool is open every Wednesday from 8.00am - 8.20am.  The Clothing Pool is located between the Years 1 and 2 classroom.

If your child wishes to order food at lunch (Break 1:  10.50am - 11.30am) please write your child's name, room number and what is required on a paper bag and include the correct money, if possible.  Payment must accompany orders and treats eg. ice-creams cannot be ordered.  Normal purchasing of "treats" will still occur at Break 1.

Camp Australia

Attached is a flyer from Camp Australia regarding school holiday activities.

All interested junior cricketers are invited to register at playcricket.com.  Search for Campbelltown Collegians and follow the prompts.  Registration is $100.00 or use your Active Kids voucher.   For further details go to www.colliescricket.nsw.cricket.com.au

Saturday 24th August - Milton Park Softball Complex, 10.00am - 2.00pm - "Come and Try" tee ball and softball.  Uniforms will be available

Tuesday 3rd September - Minto McDonalds, 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Sunday 8th September - Milton Park Softball Complex, 10.00am - 1.00pm

If you cannot make it to a registration day, or if you have any questions, please contact Karen on 0422 126 735.  IRSLSC is an Active Kids Provider.

This Father's Day event is a Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria tradition - celebrated with a special mass at Rookwood Catholic, Liverpool and Kemps Creek Cemeteries, followed by morning tea for a friendly chat, food and beverages.  A service to remember and give thanks to all the wonderful fathers and father figures in your life.

10.30am - Chapel of Reflection, Liverpool Cemetery

10.30am - The Pavilion, Kemps Creek Cemetery

12.00pm - Mary, Mother of Mercy Chapel, Rookwood Catholic Cemetery.

Seating is limited in some chapels, so please arrive early.