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During this Lenten week, as we approach the Easter Triduum (Latin term meaning Three Days - Holy Thursday - Easter Sunday evening), our Catholic school community continues to reflect on the themes of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
This week, we encourage our students to deepen their relationship with God through small acts of kindness and moments of quiet prayer.
In our classrooms, we are exploring Lent at an age and stage appropriate level through the teaching of daily Religious Education lessons.
Through our Lenten promises, we are learning that sacrifice and self-discipline help us grow in faith and love for one another.
We also invite families to join us in making Lent a season of service. Whether it’s supporting a local charity, helping a neighbour, or simply sharing kind words, every good deed brings us closer to Christ.
Let us continue walking this sacred path together, preparing our hearts for the joy of Easter.
In the words of Bishop Brian, Bishop of Wollongong, in his Lenten letter
“In this Jubilee year, our Lenten journey takes on an extra significance as “Pilgrims of Hope”. Christian hope, the Holy Father reminds us, has enduring power that does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing can separate us from God’s love.”
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a wonderful fortnight we have had at OLHC! At OLHC, we have a focus on educating the whole child. Simply put, this means that we educate the students in a variety of spiritual, emotional, social, physical and academic learning opportunities to inspire growth.
Over the past fortnight our students have been involved in just some of the following:
- Our students in Year 3 and above made the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in the OLHC Parish Church with Fr Sarkis. We pray for these students as they continue to develop in their understanding in the Catholic faith and the sacramental life of the Church.
- Harmony Day - Students were invited to wear a splash of orange to celebrate Harmony Day. The theme for this year is Everyone Belongs. Guided by the teachings of Jesus, we are reminded to treat others with the same compassion and respect that we desire for ourselves. A simple smile or a kind word can brighten someone's day and foster a sense of belonging.
- NAPLAN - Students in Years 3 and 5 all completed NAPLAN assessments. The results from these assessments provide the school with valuable data in relation to student learning. This helps the school to identify areas that the school is doing well as well as areas for future learning growth. This assessment information will be available to parents when it becomes available.
Thank you to the Year Three teachers (Miss Daly and Miss Buchanan) and Year Five teacher (Mrs Hickey) along with our wonderful team of SSOs (Mrs Azzopardi, Mrs Byrum and Mrs Flegg) for their support during this assessment period. This is the only National Assessment administered in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine.
- Holy week - The events of Holy Week will be brought to life with a Remembrance Concert with Mr Andrew Chinn. We are busy with preparing for this special commemoration on Thursday 10th April. Parents will be most welcome to join us in the St Joachim Hall.
These opportunities help us to educate each OLHC student in a variety of ways.
We are also grateful to you, the parents and carers, who have continued to show support to the school in a wide variety of ways over this past term. In the true essence of the home and school partnership, it is important for both home and school to work closely together, so as to benefit the child.
We look forward to continuing to support each student at OLHC to grow in their faith and improve in their learning.
P&F EXECUTIVE 2025
The P&F are a critical part of building community in any school setting. It is the primary advisory to the principal concerning school matters. They provide a forum where matters relating to the growth and development of the school community can be explored. It is a means by which the school can also promote social contact between parents and friends of the school. The P&F is a consultative body under the auspices of the Principal. The significant role of the P&F is to support the school - in particular, the students who are the beneficiaries of fundraising initiatives.
Goal for every P&F meeting:
The quality of the relationships between parents and the school is reflected in how each member present is significant for the education of the child. Such relationships call for tolerance and mutual respect for the position and perspectives of the other person.
As mentioned in our recent Compass alert, at the AGM, all positions on the P&F executive were declared vacant. To date, these positions have not been filled. Without the filling of these positions, the P&F will not be viable.
(Vacant) - President – Preside at all Executive and Ordinary P&F meetings.
(Vacant) - Vice President – Fill in the role of President in their absence.
(Vacant) – Secretary - Work closely with President. Prepare agendas, minutes.
(Vacant) - Treasurer – Manage financials, banking, annual audit.
Therefore, we are calling for nominations to fill these roles and have attached role and responsibilities description along with the nominations form. Please put forward your nominations by Friday 4 April 2025.
If we receive nominations, an extraordinary general meeting of the P&F will be held in the school library at 7pm on Tuesday 8 April 2025 to seek nominations for the vacant positions and to discuss plans for fundraising and community engagement.
All welcome to attend and be part of decision-making process.
Parent and Friends Role Descriptions
P&F Nominations form
Any questions please contact the school office.
Jane Webb
As we progress towards the end of the term the students are continuing to try to receive House Points so that hopefully their house will be the winning house for Term 1.
There are a number of ways that students receive house points; 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 11, the winning House colour for the term will be announced. They will then be awarded with a mufti day during the last week of the term. The House Points currently sit at:
1st - Sarkis (2197 points)
2nd - MacKillop (2145 points)
3rd - Rose (1937 points)
4th - Ingham (1655 points)
Next week our PB4L focus will be the Play Equipment. The students have the option to play in the Play Equipment each day, either at Break 1 or Break 2. 30 students are allowed into this space at a time and these students are rotated out halfway through the break time so that new students can have a turn.
All students were explicitly taught how to play in this space and use all of the equipment safely at the beginning of the year and these expectations will be retaught next week. Please see the poster that is displayed in each classroom to outline the expectations for all students during this time.
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
St Patrick's Day
Andrew Chinn Concert 10 April 2025
Megan Marshall
Religious Education Coordinator
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 March |
Western Region Soccer trials - selected students 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 |
Cancelled - OLHC Athletic Carnival (stay tuned for new date) |
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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 ********* |
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Monday 28 April |
Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day |
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Tuesday 29 April |
Anzac Day Liturgy led by Year 4 at 8.25am St Joachim Hall. All welcome. |
ANZAC DAY MARCH - 25th April Mawson Park Campbelltown
We are pleased to inform our community that we will once again have the opportunity to participate in the Campbelltown RSL commemoration of ANZAC Day March and Service at Mawson Park in Campbelltown. Students are invited to join in the ANZAC Day celebrations and march with the Our Lady Help of Christians group. Students are to wear Full Summer Uniform including hat and meet at the corner of Queen and Dumaresq Streets at 8:20 am and then proceed to Mawson Park for the commemorative service.
Students will be accompanied during the march by Mrs Webb. Parents are also welcome to join in the march. Participating students will need to be collected at the conclusion of the commemorative service at approximately 9:45 am at Mawson Park.
We look forward to your attendance at this special commemoration.
WEN Day
On Thursday 20th March - four Year 5 students and Mrs Dryden attended the Wollongong Environment Network (WEN) Day at St Brigid’s PS in Gwynneville. Before the day the students created name badges which used recycling/repurposing principles. During this day Robert Servine from GREEN CONNECT talked about the importance of sustainability in our food choices, packaging and farming. The students followed a procedure to make a bag out of an old t-shirt, wrote a creation prayer and looked around St Brigid’s to see the amazing environmental initiatives they have in their school. Asher, Angelica, Annabelle and Neil were then inspired to come up with some of their own ideas for OLHC and were all presented with their WEN leader badges.
These were the students favourite parts of the day;
Asher - I got to go to another school for a day.
Angelica - We got to listen to the man talk about Green Connect and his farm and how he shares his vegetables with other people.
Annabelle - That we got to talk to other schools and see what they were doing for creation.
Neil - That we came up with a plan for our school to do a ‘Waste free Wednesday’.
Attendance is important - Arrive to Thrive
Extended Absence Flyer
The attendance record previously known as “Extended Leave”, is now referred to as Extended Absence, and there have been some changes to the process. See flyer details below.
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:
Hudson Moore (2M), Carlos Yousif (5M), Sophia Harb (1M), Charlotte Moore (1M)
Our next Assembly will be held on Friday 4 April 2025. Merit and Principal Awards will be presented. Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving a Principal's Award.
| Principal Awards | |
| Class | Student Name |
| 2M | Touline BOUTROS |
| 3M | Brooklyn KOSEMA |
| 3W | Connor BOYLE |
| 3W | Klara SMITH |
| 4M | David JOSE |
| 5M | Angelica LA ROSA |
| 6M | Resley LIJO |
| 6M | Maci HUNTER |
| 6M | Alysse HALLIDAY |
OLHC Cross Country - Held at John Therry on Thursday 3 April 2025
On Thursday 3 April 2025, OLHC will be holding our Cross Country at John Therry Catholic College school grounds. Students need to arrive at school on time as we will be making our way to John Therry immediately after the roll has been taken. The carnival will commence at approximately 9:00am and conclude at approximately 10:30am.
There is no Compass event as students will walk with their teachers to John Therry Ovals.
What to Bring:
Students will take their fruit break and water bottle with them and are encouraged to bring a towel or rug to sit on, as the grass may be wet. We will be back at school in time for Break One eating time.
Dress:
Students need to wear their sports uniform with their house coloured polo shirt or their normal sports shirt. They must wear their school hats and apply sunscreen before coming to school as there is limited shade.
Parents Helpers:
Parent helpers play a vital and much appreciated role in the success of the carnival.
If you can join the parent helper team and have completed the parent induction course or are willing to complete the parent induction course, please contact the school office by Friday 28th March 2025. If you have not completed the parent induction course, a session will occur on Friday 28th March at 8:30am in the school hall.
We award all parent helpers house points for their assistance during the day.
Parents are most welcomed to attend the Cross Country as spectators and sit in the designated area.
Next stage: Should students be selected to the next round to represent the school at Wollongong Diocesan Cross Country on 6 May 2025 held at Nowra. Parents will need to transport students to and from the event. No bus will be provided by the school.
Allied Health
Please find important information below from Allied Health Services;
Camp Australia News!
Year 7 2026 Enrolments Closing Soon - John Therry Catholic College
A reminder to families that enrolments for Year 7 2026 at John Therry Catholic College will close on Friday, 11th April. To ensure your child secures an interview, all enrolments must be fully completed by this date.
This deadline applies to new enrolments, sibling applications, and applications that have been received but are incomplete due to missing documentation. Families are encouraged to check their applications and submit any outstanding files as soon as possible to avoid delays.
All enrolments are submitted online via our website.
For further information or assistance, please visit our website (https://www.jtccdow.catholic.
School Crossing Supervisor
Vacancies for School Crossing Supervisor (Casual) positions in the Campbelltown LGA and are seeking interested applicants for the position. See flyer below;