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Last Sunday's Gospel ...
We heard the story of the ten lepers that Jesus cured, only one of whom came back to say "thank you". It is a story about the ‘disease’ of sin, which is why the one who showed gratitude was not only freed of the physical ailment, but also gained eternal life.
Did you know? ...
St Paul said that all women who came to church had to have their heads covered so people couldn’t see their hair. He wasn’t being sexist. It was because women involved in less respectable professions had their heads shaved in his time to show what they did, and people tried to stop them from hearing Paul’s teaching. With their heads covered, people couldn’t tell. This tradition lasted until the 70s in Australia even though the need for it had gone and still exists in some countries.
Jesus healed the ten lepers. Only one came back to say "thank you". I, too, have received many blessings from the Lord - indeed, all I am and all I have is a gift! How, and how often, have I remembered to thank him.
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to Term 4. This term begins quite steadily and then it runs away from us as we head to Christmas! It is going to be very full with G’Day, Mission Month, Hand Up for Vinnies, Talent Quest, Co-curricular Awards, Year 6 Graduation, End of Year Mass and Christmas Assembly. Not to mention teaching and learning. It is also the 25th Anniversary for our parish so watch for details of that.
G’Day is first up where we welcome particularly our grandparents to the school. We call it G’Day to include all the other Great people – godparents, good friends and giving families, in our students’ lives, who contribute to their development through love and support. On this day, as is tradition, students will be able to sit with their guests for Mass. We will be there in plenty of time to get the students to you. Once Mass has commenced students have to stay with their teacher so if you are late, please meet them after Mass. Also, please understand that the students are in the care of the school and teachers must keep track of where the students are and who they are with at all times. All the usual rules with regard to contact people apply and students cannot be given to the care of anyone who is not on their contact list. Again this is a little harder in the new church with around 600 people in attendance but I know, with your co-operation, we will be able to make sure you all have a happy time and you will wait with patience and reverence. If you have any questions regarding this, please ask the office. And if people who are coming are not usual visitors, I would appreciate you letting them know of our usual procedures so we don’t make them feel unwelcome. If we have any doubts on the day we will simply telephone parents to make sure permission is in place to allow students to leave with their ‘G’ people.
We welcome a new member of staff to our school for Term 4. Miss Florio is supporting Year 1 with their large class size, replacing Miss Reid who is on Year 3 replacing Mrs Dew. Mrs Dew and her husband are very busy at the moment looking after their new baby boy, Harrison. The new family are all doing very well and Mrs Dew will visit us soon. We are very grateful for Harrison’s safe arrival and ask God to bless them all in this new phase of their lives.
Congratulations to Carmen Camilleri, Year 6, and Mia Gemayell, Year 5, whose artworks were chosen by a diocesan panel to be displayed in the art gallery in Wollongong as part of the Christmas Art Competition and Exhibition. It is very exciting to have some of our works exhibited as the quality is very high. We are very proud of all our Stage 3 students for the work they put into this project along with their teachers.
Just a reminder – send in your ideas for the names of our two halls. We have a few suggestions but not very many.
See you all at Grandparent’s Day!
God bless.
Michelle Rolfe
Principal
Welcome back to all of the students, teachers and parents to Term 4. It is hard to believe we are in the final term of 2019 and a busy one I’m sure it will be. This week our classes are completing some assessments to check how they are tracking in different areas of both Maths and English. These results are used by teachers to analyse the growth rates of students from the beginning of the year until now. They are also used to identify areas where explicit teaching and support needs to be given. Our teachers collaborate as a grade/stage to analyse these results and to forward plan implementation of learning intents and success criteria.
Students from Kindergarten to Year 4 started the term with swimming lessons and these will continue each Monday for the rest of the term. They were very excited and seemed to enjoy their first lesson. We also have our Grandparents Day coming up next Friday, 25th October and there is certainly much excitement in the air about it. It is a lovely way for us to celebrate as a community and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
This Friday afternoon we welcome some of our Kindergarten 2020 students and families for their first transition afternoon. We can’t wait to spend time with them and show them how special OLHC is. There are a number of transition dates this term as these students prepare themselves for beginning ‘big school’ which is a huge step for both them and their families but it is hoped that this process makes this step a little smoother. Term 4 is also the last term of Primary School for our Year 6 students. They have a lot to look forward to with their In2Uni excursion, Year 6 camp and of course their Graduation at the end of the year. It is a big term for our Year 6 students, staff and parents but we look forward to supporting them as they prepare themselves for High School and celebrating with them as they reflect on all of the fantastic memories they’ve made here at OLHC.
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
October is Mission Month, a time where we raise much needed money for Catholic Mission to assist those living in poverty worldwide. This year we are raising money specifically for the children of Ghana for many of whom education is unavailable. The students will be given opportunities in class to learn more about their call to mission and it will become part of learning and teaching throughout the month. Please find the time to speak to your child/ren about what they are learning in regard to mission and discuss ways they can help the wider community in their own lives.
As a school we will be offering a number of opportunities for students to raise money for Catholic Mission.
- On Wednesday 23rd of October, we will be having a Wacky Wednesday fundraiser where students are allowed to have crazy hair and/or wear crazy socks for a gold coin donation. This is to fit with the theme ‘Sock It To Poverty’.
- On Thursday 31st of October, we will have a ‘Rice for Reason’ day where your child will be able to order a small cup of plain boiled rice for lunch. This initiative is to not only raise money for Catholic Mission but also raise awareness of the plight of the many desperately hungry children worldwide. Please reinforce with your child that we will eat plain rice at lunchtime on this day to remind us that for some children this might be the only meal they have all day.
With this number of opportunities for fundraising, we understand that there could be quite a burden placed financially on a number of families. We encourage you to only give what you can, when you can. It is not only about collecting funds, but also learning about mission and our call as Christians to live a life where we support those most in need. Wherever you are able to support in this is much appreciated.
St Vincent de Paul Hand Me Ups Project
The bin is here but only until Monday 21st October. If you have any household items from the following list that you could donate to St Vincent de Paul, please bring them in to school before the end of the week. We will be accepting donations of items such as: clothing & shoes, jewellery & accessories, toys & books, kitchenware & bric-a-brac, homewares & bed linen and brand new underwear (labels on).
Grandparents Day
A reminder that we will be celebrating Grandparents Day this year on Friday 25th of October, beginning with Mass at 10.00am in the Church. This will be followed by a short morning tea for the parents and grandparents and then open classrooms. We look forward to having you join us in prayer for these amazing people in our lives. Looking forward to seeing you there.
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:
Selam Besatu (1M - Sarkis), Badoui Bou Merhi (6M - Ingham),
Lucas Failla (3W - Ingham), Leo Kyselov (2M - Sarkis).
Please join us at our next assembly on Friday 25th October at 1.50pm in the hall. Merit and Principal's Awards will be presented. Congratulations to the following students who will receive a Principal's Award.
| Maci Hunter (KW) | Josephine Vagaja (KW) | Emmanuel Venegas (KW) |
| Selam Besatu (1M) | Monique Brticevich (2M) | Hannah MacDiarmid (2M) |
| Kon Kon Chol (3M) | Amou Malek (4M) | Olivia Ditotto (4W) |
| Charlotte Good (4W) | Adrianna Van Kints (4W) | Elizabeth Lisita-Cocheci (5W) |
| Maximo Foeh-Pierce (6M) | Braydon Bishop (6W) |
This programme continues every Monday of Term 4 and continues until 9th December. On swimming days students are required to wear their sports uniform to school and they will change into their swimmers at school before travelling on the bus. The students will change back into their sports uniform once they return to school. Students can bring thongs to wear to and from the pool and can also bring shorts and a t-shirt to wear over their swimmers (board shorts and rash shirts during lessons). Students are to bring their swimmers, towel and thongs in a separate bag. Goggles and swimming caps may also be packed. Please ensure your child's name is marked on all articles packed.
Student Requirements
2020 School Travel Applications
Happiest of birthdays to the following students who celebrate their day of birth in October:
Rihanna Abranches, Oscar Anderson, Bryadon Bishop, Ruby Clark, Liam Crawford, Maya Gomez, Olivia Harkin, Landon Henry, Logan Hili, Joelene Ignacio, Juan Jomon, Leo Kyselov, Zali Linden, Jonah Montano, Harry Morell, Lilly Muscat, Maleta Muscat, Jeswin Pinto, Isobel Saywell, William Shearer, Michael Siroki, Adam Steele, Oskar Vagaja, Taylee Wharton.
P&F Chocolate Fund-raiser
Thank you again to all the families that have returned their chocolate money and unsold chocolates. There is still quite a lot of money yet to be returned from the sale of the chocolates. This is now well overdue. Would families that have money and unsold chocolates please return them to school as soon as possible.
P&F Meeting
Please join us at our next meeting on Monday 4th November 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.
| Dates | Event | |
| Friday 18th October | 3M/3W Reconciliation, 9.00am | Kinder grade visit by Father, 10.00am |
| Kinder 2020 transition, 1.45pm | ||
| Monday 21st October | Swimming Programme continues K-4 | Kinder 2020 transition, 6.00pm |
| Wednesday 23rd October | Clothing Pool, 8.00am - 8.20am | Year 6 to Mass, 9.00am |
| Wacky Wednesday Fundraiser | ||
| Friday 25th October | Grandparents Day, 10.00am Mass | Assembly, 1.50pm |
| Saturday 26th October | First Holy Communion lessons commence | |
| Monday 28th October | Swimming Programme continues K-4 | |
| Wednesday 30th October | Clothing Pool, 8.00am - 8.20am | Year 5 to Mass, 9.00am |
| Thursday 31st October | Year 3 to Mass, 9.00am | Rice for Reason Fundraiser |
| Friday 1st November | All Saints Day | 4W Reconciliation, 9.00am |
| Year 1 grade visit by Father, 10.00am | Years 5, 6, 1 & Kinder, Benediction, 11.40am | |
| Kinder 2020 tranistion, 1.45pm | ||
| Monday 4th November | Swimming Programme continues K-4 | P&F Meeting, 7.30pm |
| Wednesday 6th November | Clothing Pool, 8.00am - 8.20am | Year 4 to Mass, 9.00am |
| Thursday 7th November | Kinder to Mass, 9.00am | |
| Friday 8th November | 4M Reconciliation 9.00am | Year 2 grade visit by Father, 10.00am |
| Assembly, 1.50pm |
The Canteen is open from 8.15am and breakfast items may be purchased at this time. The Canteen closes at 11.30am (the end of Break 1). Made Fresh have items for purchase that are counter sales only They are reduced portion serves of hot food and snacks. Please take note that the reduced portion sizes CANNOT be ordered as lunch orders.
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.
The Canteen is run by Made Fresh. Should you have a need to contact the Canteen, please email Maria at "made.fresh@yahoo.com" or telephone 0410 481 150.
Sacrament of First Holy Communion
This Sacrament will be celebrated on Sunday 24th November. It is available to all children in Year 3 or above who have been baptised and have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). If you wish your child to make this Sacrament and did not come to the enrolment night last year, you MUST attend the first lesson for this programme on Saturday 26th October Note: If you will be enrolling at the first lesson, please arrive at 3.45pm to the Parish Meeting Room to complete the paperwork. You are required to bring a copy of your child's Baptism and birth certificate with you to attach to the enrolment form. Lessons will commence at 4.15pm. Children will participate in lessons within the parish school classrooms whilst parents will meet with Father in the Parish Meeting Room. This is the last opportunity for you to enrol. The programme fee of $25.00 is payable at the first lesson. Thank you.
January Learning Labs - Applications Now Open
The University of Wollongong would like to invite students to Little and Early Learning Labs, an academic enrichment holiday programme. Targeted students are from Years 1 to 6 who are passionate, self-motivated and curious. Years 1 and 2 run from 6th-8th January and Years 3 to 6 from 14th - 16th January. The venue is the University of Wollongong - applications close on 6th November. For further information about workshops and the application process, please visit their website or contact the Learning Labs team via email at learning-labs@uow.edu.au or telephone 4221 5557. There is a cost involved.
The Robot Building School
This is being offered for students from 9 to 14 years of age and is an opportunity for them to learn to commuincate with robots and teach them to develop tasks, assemble, program and use sensors. There are six workshops that run each Saturday, commencing 2nd November from 10.00am to 12.00pm at Wollongong Central Library. Please note, there is a cost involved. For further information: https://gongbots.kmdosite.com/
Bradbury Cricket Club Registrations
CatholicCare Courses - Term 4 2019
Attached please find a flyer from CatholicCare detailing the courses they have on offer this term. Please take the time to read through this information as the courses are extremely worthwhile.