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Welcome to the 2025 school year!
We hope that you have enjoyed a blessed Christmas and restful holiday break. It was wonderful to welcome the return of students this week on Tuesday 4th 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 students 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 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 2025, 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 yesterday, on Wednesday 5th February. It was wonderful to welcome the students and their families on the first day of school. We will share some photos in the next newsletter.
We would like to welcome all our new staff who are commencing at Our Lady Help of Christians in 2025.
Miss Ellen Buchanan - teaching Year 3 White
Miss Laura Anderson - Indentured casual at OLHC
Mrs Katy Turner - who will be teaching Year Two, Year Three and Year Five for PPT (Professional Planning Time) each week.
Miss Kaitlin Kellett - SSO Classroom Support (Kinder)
Miss Abbey Newton - SSO Classroom Support (Kinder)
We also warmly welcome back -
Mrs Sabrina Nowak - who will be working in a part time capacity teaching Kinder for PPT (Professional Planning Time) each week.
As we welcome new members to our community, we extend our prayers to all 2025 students and staff including Mrs Cotterill, Miss Muvceska, Mr Myerscough and Ms Howley who are commencing new adventures in 2025. 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, hope, 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 important “staff” that perform in the home. Your child’s education can be 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, mind, and heart.
At the beginning of this new school year, we 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
PRINCIPAL
Diary dates are published on our website home page. You can also check Compass calendar and the events tab. All newsletters can be accessed on our school website.
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Friday 7 February |
Beginning of School Mass - 9.30am all welcome. (Full summer uniform, no sports uniform). Captains morning Tea celebrations after Mass |
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Monday 17 February to Friday 21 February |
Week 4 - Meet and Greet with Parents and Teachers. Bookings via Compass shortly |
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Wednesday 19 February |
Year 1 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Thursday 20 February |
Year 2 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Friday 21 February |
Year 4 Reconciliation at 9am Year 6 Classromm visit by Fr Sarkis at 10am Assembly - Merits and Awards at 2pm school hall, all welcome |
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Saturday 22 February |
New families - Welcome BBQ Mass 6pm to 7pm. |
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Wednesday 26 February |
Year 5 and 6 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Thursday 27 February |
Western Region Swimming Carnival, (more details via Compass closer to event) Year 3 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Friday 28 February |
Year 5 Reconciliation at 9am Year 1 class visit by Fr Sarkis at 10am |
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Tuesday 4 March |
Shove Tuesday Caritas Mission launch |
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Wednesday 5 March |
Ash Wednesday Mass at 10.30am to 11.30am |
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Friday 7 March |
Diocesan Swimmming selection trials Year 3 and 5 Reconciliation 11.30am Assembly - Merits and Awards at 2pm school hall, all welcome |
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Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March |
Year 4 Parish Mass Naplan commences across various dates and finishes 24 March 2025 |
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Friday 14 March |
Year 4 Classroom visit by Fr Sarkis at 10am |
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Monday 17 March |
P&F AGM Meeting at 7.30pm in school library |
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Wednesday 19 March |
Kindergarten Parish Mass at 9am |
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Friday 21 March |
Year 6 Reconciliation at 9am Year 3 class visit by Fr Sarkis at 10am Assembly - Merits and Awards at 2pm school hall, all welcome |
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Wednesday 26 March |
Year 4 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Thursday 27 March |
Year 5 and 6 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Friday 28 March |
Western Region Soccer trials Year 2 classroom visit by Fr Sarkis at 10am |
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Wednesday 2 April |
Year 3 Parish Mass at 9am |
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Thursday 3 April |
Kindergarten Parish Mass at 9am |
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Friday 4 April |
Year 4 and 6 Benediction Assembly - Merits and Awards at 2pm school hall, all welcome |
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Monday 7 April |
OLHC Athletics Carnival at Campbelltown sports stadium (more details via Compass closer to event) |
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Thursday 10 April |
Easter Concert - tbc |
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Friday 11 April |
Last Day of Term 1 |
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Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April |
******** School Holidays ********* |
OPENING SCHOOL MASS - Friday 7th February
All families are warmly invited to attend the first whole school Mass for the commencement of the school year. This will be held at 9:30am in the Parish Church. Please come along to ask God’s blessings on the year ahead.
At this Mass, the Year Six student leaders will be receiving their leadership badges and new staff members will be welcomed.
NB: Students are to wear their full summer uniform for Mass, (no sport uniforms).
We congratulate –
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School Captains |
Isabel Martin and Ezrah Latuilpe |
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Vice Captains |
Maci Hunter and Orlando Arias |
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House Captains |
Jacob Failla - Ingham (Red House) |
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Mary Bowen - Rose (Green House) |
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Ellie Soriano - Mackillop (Yellow House) |
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Ally Vagaja – Sarkis (Blue House) |
PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE - GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHILD
All classroom teachers will be spending time over the coming weeks getting to know your child. This will include their interests and strengths as a learner as well as areas for future growth.
To support and guide this important process, parents are invited to complete the attached questionnaire that will provide your child’s teacher with valuable insights and information.
Thank you for returning this questionnaire to your child’s teacher once completed.
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.
For students to strive to be the best they can be, a strong, respectful home - school relationship is essential. Parental involvement and engagement enhance and promotes authentic student learning.
All parents are warmly welcome to attend a ‘Meet and Greet” session with their child’s 2025 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 2025 teacher.
- Visit your child’s classroom.
- For you to share information of importance in relation to your child with the teacher so that they can 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 Four from Monday 17th 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 FAMILIES WELCOME BBQ - SAVE THE DATE
Our welcome BBQ and Mass will be held on Saturday 22 February 2025 at 6pm to 7pm.
The BBQ is for Kindergarten, Year 5 buddies and new families to our school.Compass event will come out shortly with further details.
Sport and Library Days for Term 1, 2025
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.
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Classes |
Library borrowing |
Sport days (wear sports uniform) |
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KM |
Tuesday |
Thursday and Friday |
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1M |
Monday |
Wednesday and Friday |
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2M |
Monday |
Tuesday and Friday |
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3M |
Wednesday |
Wednesday and Friday |
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3W |
Wednesday |
Wednesday and Friday |
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4M |
Wednesday |
Wednesday and Friday |
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5M |
Tuesday |
Wednesday and Friday |
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6M |
Wednesday |
Wednesday and Friday |
Parent action: Are your details correct in Compass
In reference to recent Compass alert, as we begin the new school year it is important that your contact details are up to date. It would be appreciated if you could log onto the Compass Parent Portal and check that your mobile/telephone number and email address are correct.
If you find that they are incorrect, you may update them in the portal.
Please also check that your email address is reachable, we sometimes find that we receive ‘bounce backs’ due full inboxes.
Thank you for your assistance and contact the school office if unsure.
2025 Photo and Internet permissions
Parent Action required in Insights: - 2025 Media Consent for use of student’s image and/or work. Plus, Acceptable Use of Technology - Parents.
The safety and wellbeing of students is always our priority. This includes protecting their privacy and respecting the wishes of parents and carers regarding the use of student photos, images, and always works. In addition, we need to ensure Parents and students understand responsible use of Technology whilst at school.
At the start of each school year, parents 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.
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 2025 Media image consent and Acceptable Use of Technology Insight in the Compass app. Please click on the link provided in Compass 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 can use technology provided, please action this request as soon as you can or by Monday 10 February 2025.
If you have any questions of where to access Insights tab, under your child’s profile in Compass, please contact the school, and we will be happy to discuss this further with you.
SCHOOL FEES
The school fees for 2025 are now on our website for viewing by parents.
See link: School Fees 2025
REPEATED: 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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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.
All parents are encouraged to join the Parents and Friends to make a positive impact on the students at OLHC. All funds raised are directed towards school initiatives.
The first meeting for 2025 is on Monday 17th March at 7:30pm in the school library.
Please come along and be involved! At this meeting, all executive positions will be declared vacant, and a new executive committee will be elected.
Sacramental dates for 2025
PARISH APP
Camp Australia
New gate update !
Whilst to new gate is being completed for use, access to Camp Ausralia in the morning is via school main gate. In the afternoons its via St Annes gate.
Kind regards,
Camp Australia
St Patricks Day Open Day 2025
Please find attached a flyer for our Open Day on Saturday 22 February
WHAT'S ON IN CAMPBELLTOWN