Last Sunday's Gospel ... 

Zacchaeus was rather a short man who drew Jesus’ attention because he climbed a tree to be able to see him come by.  He was so struck by Jesus saying he was going to visit that Zacchaeus realised the dishonesty and corruption he engaged in needed to stop. He went further though, he promised to repair the damage he caused which was the true sign of his repentance.

Did you know? ... 

We are called to be good stewards of our personal vocations.  St Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians is therefore ours, too - "that our God may  make us worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfilment every good purpose and every effort of faith."

Dear Parents,

As we move towards the end of the year I can finally tell you some arrangements regarding staffing and classes for 2020. I know you will understand that this can be interrupted by later employment opportunities but it is accurate at the moment.

Firstly, for 2020, we will have one class in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 3. At this point those classes are 28 students or below.  Year 2 will have two classes, as will Years 4-6. I am not expecting this to change. If you know your child will not be at OLHC in 2020, can you please let us know as soon as possible? I have heard from teachers that some people are moving but need to hear from you so I can make any arrangements necessary. We also have a number of new families.

Class teachers are working on class splits because they have to be in early this year due to the changes in the system. If you want your child separated from another student for any reason, please let me know in writing – email is ok too, by this Friday. Even if you think we are aware of an issue, write to me anyway. We can sometimes forget something from earlier in the year or a previous year and it’s better to be sure. Once the classes are set, there will be no changes made. Please refrain from a request to avoid a certain teacher. If you have any problem with a teacher please come and see me about it when it arises.

With regard to teachers, our permanent staff are staying with us along with Mr Marshall, Miss Reid, Miss Cavallaro and Mrs Cotterill (formerly Miss Lockhart). Mrs Failla has accepted a position at St Paul’s, Camden and we wish her all the best. We have very much appreciated all she has contributed to our community in the two years she has been with us. Miss Ferderer is returning to us after her year at Kiama and we are very happy about that!

I wrote to you last year about reducing the number of captains due to small numbers – 38, in the grade coming through. I also spoke to the students last year so they are ready for it. We will either omit Vice-Captains and leave the rest the same, or have one House Captain per house and keep Captains and Vice-Captains. The House Captain would be determined on votes regardless of whether they are a boy or girl. If you have an opinion about this you would like to share, please do so as soon as possible. I will be speaking about it to the P&F this evening and you are welcome to attend. The procedure for voting for captains for 2020 will start as soon as we determine our future model. Of course this can change when our numbers go back up.

God Bless,

Michelle Rolfe

Principal

The students and teachers are working very hard trying to cover all of the content for the year, as well as deepen their knowledge of previous content taught. It is great to visit classrooms to see the wonderful learning that is happening and for the students to talk about how they are going with their learning and what goals they are working on. Our teachers are very busy completing Semester 2 reports and these will be released through Compass at the end of the term. We have also had some Professional Development with a new online writing platform, Scribo, which helps students with editing their writing. Students across the school will be trialling this in their classrooms this term as the teachers learn more about it as well.

The year is certainly slipping away from us, now being in Week 4 of Term 4. Despite us getting closer to the end of the year, it is still very important that your child attends school each day. Attendance at school is monitored by teachers and the office staff and we will make contact with you if the number of days your child has had away from school is increasing. At times, when your child is unwell, they cannot help being absent from school but please be mindful of the importance of school attendance. It is also important that a note is sent into school or through Compass to explain any absence from school. At the end of the year we give out Principal Awards Attendance Awards for students with outstanding attendance and we look forward to acknowledging these students later in the year. The school is more than happy to support you if you are having problems with your child attending school. Please ring the office so that we can make a time to meet with you to address any of these concerns.

 Alison Fazio

Assistant Principal

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:

 Zali Linden (1M - MacKillop), Lilly Muscat (1M - MacKillop)

Jeswin Pinto (6M - Rose), Michael Siroki (6W - Sarkis).

Please join us at our next assembly on Friday 8th November 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.

Swimming Programme - Kinder to Year 4

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.

eSafety Website

This website has been relaunched.  It comes with a PDF guide attached to lead you through the new functionality.  We urge parents to take the time to look at this site by visiting:

esafety.gov.au

School Banking

School banking is every Friday.

Facebook

www.facebook.com/olhc.rosemeadow

Skoolbag App

This app should be downloaded so you can be kept up to date with the latest events and information from the school.  This app is also used for distribution of the Newsletter.  Please download the app from your relevant store.  For more information visit "skoolbag.com.au".

Financial Numeracy Workshop

Tonight, at 6.45pm, a Commonwealth Bank representative will be presenting a Financial Literacy Workshop to parents and care-givers.  Please join us in the staff-room for this informative evening.

P&F Meeting

Please join us at our next meeting, tonight, Monday 4th November at 7.30pm in the staff-room.

P&F Chocolate Fund-raiser

Would families that have money and unsold chocolates please return them to school as soon as possible. 

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.

Information and Enrolment Night for All Sacraments for 2020

An information and enrolment night will be held on Tuesday 26th November at 7.30pm in the Parish/School Hall for any parents/care-givers wishing to present their children for any of the sacramental programmes in 2020.  It is important you attend this night for all information and dates of the programmes, as well as to enrol your children for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion (Year 3 and above) and Confirmation (Year 6 and above) in 2020.  Please bring a copy of your child's birth and baptism certificates.  If your child was baptised at OLHC or Appin you only need to bring a copy of their birth certificate.  Fees may be paid on the night ($25.00 for each sacrament).

Parish Silver Jubilee

This year is the 25th year since the church's canonical establishment as a Parish.  The celebration falls on a Sunday and to suitably celebrate there will be no 8.30am Mass,  the only Mass on Sunday 8th December will be at 10.00am (of course, the Vigil Mass will remain on Saturday).  It will be followed by a parish luncheon provided in the Hall.  Numbers are obviously not needed for Mass attendance; however, since the meal will be catered for, we need to know definite numbers attending the lunch. It will not be possible to "just turn up" for the meal - please put your name down - remember if you put your name down and do not come, that meal will have been paid for and will be wasted.  If you will be attending the lunch, please write your name, number of people attending and telephone number on the sheet at the Notice Board, or ring the Parish Office on 4628 1385.

Children's Ministry (Kids in Christ - KIC)

Children's Ministry will commence on Sunday 2nd February 2020 at 10.00am Mass and will be open to all children aged 2½ to 8 years old - they will have their own Liturgy of the Word appropriate to their age, before returning to the church for the rest of Mass.  The Parish is excited to start this ministry but need your help!  If anyone would like to volunteer their time, or help in any way, please contact Monique Mei on 0412 148 302.

Happiest of birthdays to the following students who celebrate their day of birth in November:

Emma Bolshakova, Atong Chol, Abigail Crawford, Ayrton Da Silva, Brendan D'Emanuele,

Isaac Ditotto, Lachlan Drake, Adorn George, Jason Gilbert, Lachlan Gorrie, Jack Harrison,

Andrea Joseph, Marise Kosema,  Achel Malek, Cian Meneses O'Dowd, Mia-Rose Morena,

Phillip Nguyen, Sue Nguyen, Jessica Pavan, Amelia Sculli, Sancia Shaji, Carrington-Ann Slatter,

Abigail Turner, Emelia Venegas.