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It was wonderful to come together as a Catholic community of faith at the Opening Mass last Friday. Special thanks to Fr. Sarkis and Mrs Marshall for the offering and planning of this special Mass.
We also congratulate those students who received their leadership badge at this Mass. We know that they will be great representatives of our school.
May we enter this new year 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, we ask you to bless the students, staff, and families of OLHC, that together we may grow in faith, hope, and love 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
MEET OUR OFFICE STAFF
This year, we are fortunate to have Mrs Skillen, Mrs Williams and Mrs Cantrill working in our school office. The office hours are from 8am - 4pm daily except for Tuesday which is 8am - 3pm.
In the school office, Mrs Cantrill holds the Senior School Support Officer (SSSO) position. Mrs Cantrill looks after the financial management of the school as well as managing the collection of school fee payments, first aid, parent queries and maintenance of the school site. Any queries about school fees can be directed to Mrs Cantrill.
Mrs Williams and Mrs Skillen also work in the school office. They both assist with enrolment queries, parent phone calls and over the counter queries, first aid and parent communication via COMPASS and the school newsletter.
Mrs Williams also supports our school library two days per week.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW FAMILIES
Our school community has been enriched this year by several new families joining our community. We would like to welcome the following families and trust that you are settling in well to the OLHC school family.
Welcome to the following families -
Awad, Angeleski, Aquino, Brunker, Bulya, Clark, Dew, Donnelly, D’Silva, Fitzpatrick, Gabriel, Georges, Giannetti, Godber, Isho, Jose, Joseph, Kawalya, Latulipe, Lipari, McClelland, McMillan, Mekhail, Newman, Rojas, San Gabriel, Tuang, Urquhart,
We ask God’s blessing as your child commences school at OLHC.
If the family holiday is planned during school time of greater than 5 school days, parents need to complete a Notification of Extended Absence form and submit it to the principal along with relevant travel documentation. This documentation should include: the intended dates of travel, the locations of travel, the purpose of the travel and the reasons for undertaking the travel outside the school holiday period.
Parent will be unable to log greater than 5 days leave in Compass. More information will follow in coming newsletters.Have a great fortnight ahead.
Jane Webb
PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to 2025!
I hope you all had a relaxing holiday and enjoyed the quality time you spent as a family. Already we have hit the term running with lots of great learning and wonderful opportunities and celebrations.
It was lovely to welcome new students and our 2025 Kindergarten students to our school last week. Starting school for the first time is such a huge step but we look forward to taking this step with the students and their families. Thank you to Miss Schembri for all that she is doing to make this transition to big school so smooth. These students have certainly impressed us with the way they have settled into school.
The students have been working very hard in their classrooms and on the playground to show that they are able to follow the school rules and have been awarded house points for doing so. These points are totalled each week to see which house is coming first. The first house point update was announced this week at flag raising. Congratulations to MacKillop who are currently in the lead.
1st - MacKillop (235 points)
2nd - Sarkis (228 points)
3rd - Ingham (173 points)
4th - Rose (157 points)
Before and After School Procedures
To begin the year the teachers have explicitly taught the expectations for behaviour in the classroom and in all areas of the playground. These are retaught throughout the year to remind students of what is expected and how we follow the school rules in everything we do here at OLHC.
We have particularly focused on the rules and expectations for Afternoon Dismissal and we appreciate your support in ensuring that your child uses one of the dismissal points each afternoon (Pick Up, John Therry, Bus, After School Care or Classroom Pick up). Please remember that if you plan to come into the school to pick up your child you must enter the school via the St Anne gate and not through the school car park gate.
Parents are asked not to congregate around classrooms in the morning or afternoon as independence of the children is encouraged and causes congestion at dismissal. In the morning, we ask parents to say goodbye at the pathway and allow them to sit with their friends in the amphitheatre or on Playground 2.
This is particularly important in assisting with the transition of Kindergarten children to school. In the afternoon, parents arriving early are invited to sit in the parent waiting area which is at the end of the multipurpose hall or near the flag poles.
On arrival at school, students or parents are not to use the gate in the staff car park from 8.00am until 8.30am. Parents and children are asked to use the Demetrius Road pedestrian gate, near St Anne hall.
At 2.45pm all children leave their classrooms. Those who travel on buses, or use pick up, are to move to these pick up areas under the supervision of classroom teachers. Parents may move from the seats near the flagpole, or from the parent waiting area at the hall, to their child’s classroom. Parents cannot wait for children outside the classrooms or library as it is distracting for the children. Teachers will remain in their classroom after the bell and then escort the remaining children to the office area to be supervised until they are collected by parents.
To help ensure safety, the car park is not to be accessed from 2.30pm until 3.05pm. Parents and children are asked to use the Demetrius Road pedestrian gate.We also ask that parents don’t park in the school car park and walk over to pick up their child from the Pick Up or John Therry waiting area.
If parents need to remain on the premises after picking up your child/children, we seek your cooperation by enforcing the school rules: No eating or drinking, as litter becomes a problem since bins are not easily accessible at this time. Students must remain seated.
Alison Fazio
Assistant 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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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 |
Kinder, Year 5 and 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, (online consent on Compass) 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 |
OLHC Cross Country held at John Therry grounds - Sport Uniforms and house coloured shirt and hat. |
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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 ********* |
MEET AND GREET INFORMATION SHARING
As per last newsletter, 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.
Online booking system in COMPASS will close shortly.
To support and guide this important process, parents are invited to complete the attached student 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.
ENROLMENT PACKAGES - KINDER 2026
Enrolment Applications for Kinder 2026 can now be located on our school website using the following link - Enrol now
Following the return of completed enrolment applications an interview will be organised with Fr. Sarkis and Mrs Webb next term.
Please let family and friends know that we are accepting enrolment applications now. These applications will be due by the end of this term - Thursday 10th April 2025.
Thank you for spreading the word about our wonderful school!
WELCOME TO OUR NEW CATHOLICCARE COUNSELLOR - Dominique Messina
We warmly welcome our new CatholicCare counsellor, Dominique Messina to OLHC. Dominique will be at OLHC each Tuesday and Wednesday. Parents of students who were seeing our previous school counsellor, Ashley, will be contacted by Dominique over the coming weeks. Dominique will work with individual students as well as small groups. Welcome to our school community Dominique!
If you would like your child to access the school counsellor, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
School Uniform Policy
The wearing of the correct school uniform is very important at Our Lady Help of Christians School as it creates a greater sense of equality among the student population. The following are some basic guidelines for following the expectations associated with wearing the correct school uniform:
- All students are to wear the full, correct uniform always.
- Uniforms are to be labelled, cleaned, pressed, properly repaired and worn neatly at all times.
- Damaged, torn, or shabby items of uniform need to be replaced.
- School uniform regulations apply equally to hair, jewellery, make-up (including false fingernails), hats and shoes.
- Classroom teachers are responsible for checking uniform on a daily basis.
- Where a uniform breach occurs a verbal reminder/warning is given.
- If a repetition of uniform breaches occurs, parents will be contacted.
- Students out of uniform, who have a valid reason, should have a note to this effect, signed by their parents.
- Where genuine financial difficulties impact a student in fully meeting all uniform requirements, the principal may provide items of uniform at the school’s expense.
- The school clothing pool is open on Tuesday morning at 8.10am and a range of uniform items are available that are free of charge.
Thank you for your support in ensuring that your child wears their uniform correctly and with pride.
Link to Uniform Policy: Uniform
PROMOTING SAFE ONLINE BEHAVIOUR
Safer Internet Day is a global initiative to raise awareness of online safety issues.
The eSafety Commissioner leads the initiative in Australia. We educate people about online safety risks, like online abuse, how to be safe online and where to go for help.
This Safer Internet Day we're encouraging you to take three simple actions when approaching online safety: Connect. Reflect. Protect.
Connect safely by keeping apps and devices secure and reviewing your privacy settings regularly.
Reflect on how your actions online may affect others or your safety.
Protect yourself and others by visiting eSafety.gov.au to find out how to stay safe online and report online abuse.
Thank you to those parents who have completed the Responsible Use of Technology Agreement via COMPASS insights.
Together, we will work together to ensure that online safety is a priority for all students.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L)
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 on a Monday morning. The students receive a voucher for the Canteen which can be used for treats or put towards a lunch order. Congratulations to these winners:
Hethra Estefanos 1M, Sarah Connellan Dizon 3W
Parent Action - Nomination for Sport Gala Days 2025. Year 3 to 6 only.
We have published and event through Compass called, ‘Nomination for Sport Gala Day 2025’.
Please complete if you wish for your child/ren to be considered for Gala Days this year.
See link to Compass events: Nominations for Sport Gala Day 2025
Any questions, please contact the school office.
Western Region Swimming Carnival - Thursday 27 February 2025
Selected representative students from Our Lady Help of Christians will attend the Western Region Swimming Carnival, held on Thursday 27 February 2025, at the Gordon Fetterplace Aquatic Centre, Bradbury.
The cost of the event is $14.00 and parents will need to give consent online via Compass events.
We wish them all the best and know that they will represent OLHC with pride. We look forward to celebrating their success!
See link to Compass events: Western Region Swimming Carnival 2025
Save the dates OLHC Sport: Term 1
Thursday 3 April 25 - Kinder to Year 6 Cross Country Carnival held at John Therry Catholic College grounds
Monday 7 April 25 - Kinder to Yaer 6 Athletics Carnival at Campbelltown Sports Club
Further information regarding the carnivals will be posted on Compass in the coming weeks including further information, parent helper expressions of interest for volunteers.
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.
Reminder to Parents, 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.
What do you need to do?
You would have received a new 2025 Media image consent and Acceptable Use of Technology Insight tab 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 17 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.
Parent Volunteers New for 2025
Important Steps for All Parents:
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Token for Onboarding Process: If you have previously provided the school with your Working With Children’s Check number you may have received an email with your token from head office. If not and you would like to be considered for volunteering, please click on the QR code provided below to complete the new onboarding process.
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Clearance for Volunteering: Once you have completed the onboarding process, you will receive clearance from the Child Protection team from the Catholic Education Office, allowing you to volunteer in our schools.
Canteen News
Parents can view Canteen Menu on our website: Canteen Menu
Flexischools have provided a cheat sheet of how to change your student classes for lunch orders in 2025.
P&F Annual General Meeting (AGM) -
The next meeting on 17th March 2025, will be the AGM. At this meeting, all positions on the P&F executive will be declared open and nominations called for. I encourage you to come along to this meeting (and all P&F meetings) so that you can be involved with and support your child’s education at OLHC.
Nomination forms will be shared via COMPASS and will be available from the school office.
Please note - Nominations for executive roles need to be present at the AGM.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank the members of the outgoing executive for their efforts in helping to build community spirit and provide support to families in 2024.
PRESIDENT – Monica Dickey (Quinn Year 6 2024)
SECRETARY – Shaun Hudson (Brooklyn Year 2 and Finn Kinder 2025)
TREASURER – Kelly Tabone (Riley Year 6 2024, Jordan and Hayden Year 3 2025)
We look forward to welcoming new and existing parents at the AGM.
SACRAMENT OF FIRST RECONCILIATION 2025
PARISH APP
Free online respect workshop for parents and carers
Please find here the link for details of a free online workshop for parents and carers.
Mater Dei School Open day
WHAT'S ON IN CAMPBELLTOWN