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We warmly welcome those families who are new to our school community and pray that the decision to enrol your child at OLHC - a community of faith, love and learning, is filled with many blessings. We particularly welcome those families who have a child commencing school in Kindergarten.
Last Saturday evening, we joined together with the wider OLHC Parish Community to welcome these new families into our school community. At this special Mass, Fr Sarkis reminded us of the important role that the school and parent play in the evangelising Mission of the Church. Fr Sarkis encouraged us all to continue to follow the example of Jesus, in both our words and actions. By this example, our students will learn to follow Jesus.
Following on from this Eucharistic celebration, we had a special BBQ to welcome these students and their families into our school. It was a wonderful way to welcome our Kindergarten students and other new families. At the Mass, the students received their school badge that has been blessed by Fr Sarkis.
Special thanks to the following members of our school community who offered their support (and cooking skills!)
Mr Jon Dew (Husband of Mrs Dew 6M and father of Harrison KM), Mr Marshall (Husband of Mrs Marshall), Mr Webb (Husband of Mrs Webb), Mrs Joanna Skillen (School Office SSO), Mrs Michelle Cantrill (SSSO), Mr Cantrill (Husband of Mrs Cantrill) and Miss Bridget Daly (Teacher 3M). The BBQ would not have been possible without your assistance and support.
Also, we would like to extend our thanks to Miss Schembri (Kinder M), Mrs Hickey (Year 5M) and Mrs Marshall for preparing the Kinder and Year Five students so beautifully as they sang a special blessing hymn as part of the Mass.
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 2025. When home and schoolwork 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 to achieve excellence in a variety of areas aligned with school life. 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 2025 -
Goal 1: Students will demonstrate targeted growth in reading comprehension -
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 aligned with reading.
- Teachers engage in classroom observations and feedback conversations about improving teaching practice - particularly in English.
- Teachers engaging in Professional Learning including developing understanding of assessing analysis and improving student engagement with reading.
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 continue to engage 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 all members of the school community can articulate and connect with the school vision and mission - to be Bearer’s of Christ Love.
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. As a staff, we meet weekly on a Wednesday afternoon to engage in this professional learning.
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. As mentioned in our first newsletter, this year, we welcomed Miss Laura Anderson to the OLHC school community. Miss Anderson as indentured casual will be teaching at OLHC each day. She will replace classroom teachers who are away due to sickness, professional learning or accessing personal leave.
Laura Anderson
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
The school has a legal responsibility to keep accurate records of student attendance and all absences must be explained. Absences will be followed up and school staff will make contact when students are absent from school for more than 3 days.
Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained to the school the same way as other forms of absence. Parents are required to attend the school office give reason why students are arriving late.
Parents and carers are encouraged not to withdraw their children from school for family holidays. Families should try to arrange holidays during school vacations so that students do not miss out on important learning. If the family holiday is planned during school time, the family needs to inform the Principal and complete an Application for Extended Leave. Proof of travel arrangements is also a requirement.
Parents are asked to please have your child/ren at school by 8:25am so that they can be ready for learning at 8.30am. Being on time sets students up for a successful day.
Please read fact sheet of parents responsibilites when it comes to attendance.
Jane Webb
PRINCIPAL
NAPLAN - Year Three and Five
Our Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy) this term. This assessment is completed by all students across Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. This year NAPLAN testing will be online and as a system and as a school we have prepared for this. The teachers have begun preparing the students for this and the students will have an opportunity to have a go at some sample NAPLAN questions using the platform over the next couple of weeks. 
To be ready for this, students must come to school each day with their iPad fully charged and have their headphones at school. Please note that Year 3 and Year 5 students, who have the most recently released iPad, will need to purchase bluetooth headphones as there is no audio input port for wired headphones.
Further information about NAPLAN Online and the National Assessment Program can be found at
www.nap.edu.au/naplan and https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/naplan-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf
The dates assigned for the NAPLAN assessment this year are from 12 March - 24 March 2025.
The timetable for these assessments at OLHC is outlined below:
Wednesday 12 March - NAPLAN Writing (AM)
Friday 14 March - NAPLAN Reading (AM)
Tuesday 18 March - NAPLAN Language Conventions (AM)
Thursday 20 March - NAPLAN Numeracy (AM)
Attendance at school during this period for Year 3 and Year 5 students is very important and we recommend that leave is not taken during this time.
If your child is unwell and unable to attend school on one of these days, there will be opportunities to catch up on the days in between. The last day for this is Monday 24 March.
Throughout the term all students have been trying hard to receive House Points. There are a number of ways that they can do this; by wearing their uniform correctly, completing their homework each week and when they borrow from the library. Students are able to receive extra house points in the classroom and on the playground for following the school rules - BE SAFE, BE RESPECTFUL and BE AN ACTIVE LEARNER. The Year 6 House Captains count the House Points each week and each Monday the House Points are announced at Flag Raising. On Monday Week 6, the winning House colour for half way through the term will be announced. This house will then be awarded with an ice block at the end of Week 6.
The House Points currently sit at:
1st - MacKillop (1132 points)
2nd - Sarkis (1092 points)
3rd - Ingham (797 points)
4th - Rose (765 points)
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
Shrove Tuesday
Pancakes will be sold at break 1 on Tuesday for $2.00 each.
Week 8 - St Patrick's Day Monday 17 March, Compassion lolly bags for sale
Megan Marshall
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 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 - Pancakes for sale $2.00 Caritas Mission launch at St Francis Assisi |
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Wednesday 5 March |
Ash Wednesday Mass at 10.30am to 11.30am. All welcome. |
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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 |
St Patrick's Day - Compassion lolly bags for sale 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 - Andrew Chinn Concert |
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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 ********* |
ENROLMENT PACKAGES - KINDER 2026
Enrolment Applications for Kinder 2026 can now be downloaded from the following link;
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 enrollment applications now. These applications will be due by the end of this term - Friday 11 April 2025.
The timeline for the Kindergarten 2025 enrolment application process is as follows:
Term 1 - 30/1/2025 - 11/4/2025.- Online enrolment applications should be submitted by the end of Term 1.
Term 2 - Interviews are held during Term 2 with Fr Sarkis and Mrs Webb. Parents will receive an invitation to attend this interview when your enrolment form is submitted.
Term 2 - Week commencing 23/6/2025. Enrolment Offer of Placement letters are sent to successful applicants.
Should you have any questions about the Kindergarten application process, please contact the school office.
We would be most grateful if you could please share this information with other friends, neighbours or family who might be interested in applying for a kindergarten place in 2026.
PARENT PARTNERSHIP FRAMEWORK
We must take note of the changes that have affected both the family and the school, and renew the commitment to constructive collaboration – for the benefit of children and young people” — Pope Francis
Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) strives to create vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and believes this is best achieved when there is a genuine partnership between home and school.
The Lighting the Way Together Parent-School Partnership Framework has been developed to support the creation and maintenance of this partnership. It outlines for parents and school the principles and expectations of the parent-school partnership so that together we can create:
- identifiably Catholic communities, inspired by the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, where all strive to act with hope, integrity, justice and compassion; and
- effective schools which enhance student learning and wellbeing.
When parents enrol their child/ren at a Catholic school in the Diocese of Wollongong, they agree to uphold and support the principles outlined in the Parent-School Partnership Framework.
These principles are based on mutual trust and respectful relationships. Parents are encouraged to take the time to read through this framework and ensure that all interactions are supportive of upholding and maintaining these principles.
You can also download the Framework in the following languages -
The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and OLHC is excited to be participating!
What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?
The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and enables them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.
All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.
How many books do students need to read?
Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. 20 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books. Books can be read with a parent, carer, teacher or another student.
Students in Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.
If a book is from an approved PRC series, students can enter up to 5 books as Challenge books, and can read up to 10 other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the PRC website.
Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 22 August 2025 for their reading record to be validated and receive a certificate.
How do students log their reading?
Students can access the PRC’s Student Experience Site using their DoE username and password, or can log into the site via the Student Portal. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here.
Students will receive their log in details from their classroom teacher this week.
Students may also record their reading on the Personal Reading Log and submit it to the PRC Coordinator by 23 August 2024, who will complete the reading log on the students’ behalf.
A quick guide for logging books:
- Log into the Student experience site using your DoE student username and password.
- Use the blue search bar to search for books you have read.
2a. If the title appears, click “Add to Reading Log” to add it as a PRC book.
2b. If the title does not appear, you will need to enter it as a personal choice book.
To enter a personal choice book:
- Click on the icon in the top right-hand corner:
- Click on “My reading log”
3. Fill in the book details under the “Add a Personal Choice book” field and click “add”
If you have any issues with logging books, please speak to Miss Northey.
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:
Alexandros(Xander) Piipari (1M), Sarah Bulya (5M), Jacob Quesada Ayquipa (2M)
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Principal Awards |
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Class |
Student Name |
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1M |
Valentino Brar |
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1M |
Charlotte MOORE |
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1M |
Hethra Estefanos |
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2M |
Alijah MEOUSHY |
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2M |
Deena KHANARBKAEW |
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2M |
Leia PYLAK |
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3M |
Rosa MCDONAGH |
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3W |
Christibel HARB |
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4M |
Ethan CHEW |
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4M |
Jak FISHBURN |
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4M |
Leo MARTEN |
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5M |
Austin DELLIS |
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5M |
Annabelle CHAKAR |
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5M |
Makenzie WILLIAMS |
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6M |
Jordan PANTOJA RODRIGUEZ |
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6M |
Mary BOWEN |
Reminder Parent Action - Nomination for Sport Gala Days 2025. Year 3 to 6 only.
We have published an 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. Nominations will close 17 March 2025.
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
Our selected representative students listed below are competing at the Western Regional Swimming Carnival today. We wish them every success in their races and look forward to sharing results.
We would like to thank our two parent helpers, Mrs Tabone and Mrs Davies for volunteering. Also, our Year 6M leaders, Orlando, Jacob, Maci, Ezrah and Isabel for assisting on the day.
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Student Representatives |
Class |
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Khloe |
3M |
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Hartlyn |
3M |
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Hayden |
3M |
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Jesse |
3W |
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Jordan |
3W |
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Nash |
4M |
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Austin |
5M |
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Jax |
5M |
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Mary |
6M |
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Ezrah |
6M |
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Lucas |
6M |
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Jordan |
6M |
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Eloise |
6M |
CENTRALISATION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL FEE MANAGEMENT - ADVICE TO FAMILIES
From the commencement of the 2025 school year, the management of certain aspects relating to school fee accounts in Primary Schools has been transferred to the School Fees Liaison Office at the Catholic Education in Wollongong.
What does this mean for families:
- Your school’s administration office is your first place for enquiry regarding school fees. School staff will provide information regarding instalments, methods of payment, giving access to an Application for Fee Concession and attend to other general enquiries.
- If you are experiencing financial difficulty or need to make an arrangement for payment of your school fee account, please email sflo@dow.catholic.edu.au with your name and the school in which your children are enrolled. The School Fees Liaison Office will then contact you directly to offer assistance.
- Please note that each school has a dedicated School Fees Liaison Officer to provide a personalised service to individual families. This Officer will also have a close relationship with your school.
If you require further information about this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact your school’s administration office.
UPDATED MEDICAL PLANS
Please note that if your child has a healthcare plan (medical plan) e.g. Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Allergy, Emergency Medical these need to be updated annually. If you have an updated healthcare plan, can you please send a copy in to school so we can update our records as soon as possible.
Free chairs for parents
We have replaced our library chairs and are offering the old chairs to our parent community, free of charge. The chairs are plastic with gas lift function only.
Please come to school, if you would like to take them home.
Canteen News
NO MEAT - FRIDAY LUNCH ORDERS during Lent
Canteen Menu can be found on our website.
Road Safety around schools
Please be very mindful in and around school grounds for road safety.
Reminder: 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 is also below along with minutes and agenda.
Please note - Nominations for executive roles need to be present at the AGM.
We look forward to welcoming new and existing parents at the AGM.
P&F Nominations form
P&F Agenda
P&F AGM Minutes
P&F Minutes last meeting
