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In last weekend's reading, the Israelites were urged to love their neighbours as themselves. In the Gospel, Jesus explains how we are to do that: to give generously to those who ask of us and not to turn our backs on those who seek to borrow.
Yesterday, Ash Wednesday (26th February) marked the beginning of Lent. This is a time of personal reflection and penance, a time for turning back to God.
During this season of Lent we are reminded that by prayer, fasting and the giving of alms we intentionally turn back and renew our relationship with God. As the Gospel reading from yesterday’s Mass says: “Be careful not to parade your good deeds before others to attract their notice; your Father in heaven who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”
Please find attached the Lenten message from His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Dear Parents and Carers,
Catholic Schools Week (CSW) will be held next week from 1 -7 March. Our theme this year is ‘Embracing our future together’. This is an opportune time to celebrate coming together as a Catholic school community. As a Catholic school community, we place our trust in asking God to be with us in all that we do.
CSW is about celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of Catholic education and is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of our school community. CSW also marks the beginning of the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong enrolment period.
To access a CEDoW school enrolment package please visit the Catholic Education Office website and download the application. Please let extended family and friends know that we are currently enrolling for Kindergarten 2020. Enrolment forms can also be collected from the school office.
The week is designed to be a lively celebration and shared with members of our parish and the wider Catholic community. Our school is planning a number of activities that showcase the wonderful teaching and learning opportunities that OLHC provides to our students. We will also focus on the ways that our school supports the more vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our wider community.
Listed below is a schedule of events for the week that families, parents and friends are invited to attend:
Saturday 29th February – Welcome Mass and BBQ. All welcome to attend 6pm Mass and stay for the BBQ afterwards.
Monday 2nd March – 8:30am Whole School Liturgy to celebrate Catholic Schools Week – St Joachim Hall
Open Classrooms from Tuesday 3rd – Friday 6th March – Class times in newsletter.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to seeing you during Catholic Schools Week 2020.
Jane Webb
Principal
Here we are in Week 5 and almost half way through the term already. It has been a wonderful start to the year and it has been lovely over the last week to have two opportunities to celebrate the Eucharist together as a school community with our Beginning School Mass last Friday and the Ash Wednesday Mass yesterday.
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, along with the points awarded for the Swimming Carnival, are totalled each week to see which house is coming first. The students were very keen to hear from Mrs Cotterill at Monday’s flag raising this week when she announced the winning house for half way through the term. Congratulations to Ingham house who were in front and won the ice block reward which they will receive tomorrow.
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. Over the last couple of weeks we have looked at our procedures for entering and leaving the Church and the St Joachim hall as well as our behaviour whilst we are there. The explicit teaching is evident in the reverent way the students entered the Church for Mass as well as through their participation throughout the Mass. The students and teachers should be very proud of themselves and it was lovely to receive comments from parishioners yesterday after Mass to say how well behaved the students were. Any parent who is able to join us for Assembly every second Friday afternoon would have witnessed the way the students follow the rules as they enter and leave the hall and the students all love it when their class are awarded the house points for how well they do this.
Just as a reminder, the students are not allowed to wear apple watches to school due to their expense and interactive capability. The teachers will follow this up with any students who are and remind them of this.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Welcome Mass and Barbecue on Saturday night. It is a wonderful way for us to welcome our new kindergarten students and families to the school community.
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
Lent
This week the season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marked the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.
Thank you for your support of our first Project Compassion fundraiser on Shrove Tuesday. In Week 8 we will be holding a coin trail and in Week 10 Year 6 will be holding a cupcake stall to further support the work of Caritas.
Catholic Schools Week
Week 6 marks the beginning of Catholic Schools week. Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of Catholic education and an opportunity to recognise the importance, the value, and the contributions of Catholic education to the Church and the world. This year we will recognise Catholic Schools Week with a liturgy at Monday Flag raising beginning at 8.30am. As part of Catholic Schools week we will also be holding open classrooms to celebrate our school and to share with you the work that is happening in classrooms.
Open Classrooms Week 6 March 2nd-6th
Kindergarten- Friday 6th March: 9-9.30pm
Year 1- Thursday 5th March: 9.30-10am
Year 2- Thursday 5th March: 10-10.30am
Year 3- Tuesday 3rd March: 1.30-2.00pm
Year 4- Thursday5th March: 9-9.30am
Year 5- Wednesday 4th March: 1.30-2.00pm
Year 6- Thursday 5th March: 1.30-2.00pm
Welcome BBQ and Reconciliation Lessons
This Saturday 29th February we are hosting a Welcome BBQ after the Parish Mass at 6.00pm. We invite all families to join us in welcoming our new students and celebrating the start of the school year.
This Saturday also marks the beginning of the first sacramental program for the year. If you would like further information regarding the sacramental programs please see the attached key dates letter and contact the parish office.
After we ate, we talked about what we liked about the liturgy.
Going to the Project Compassion launch was a truly inspiring experience
Opening School Mass - 2020
Last Friday 21st February we celebrated a beautiful Opening School Mass with Fr Sarkis. At this Mass new 2020 staff members received their badges.
The Year 6 leaders also had their badges blessed by Fr Sarkis.
Fr Sarkis presented the badges to the Year 6 leaders for 2020.
We congratulate these students and wish them well for their final year of primary school. They will be great representatives of our school in 2020.
Parent - School Partnership Framework
The Catholic Education Office has released a Parent-School Partnership Framework that outlines the crucial relationship between home and school. Please see below a small excerpt from the website and the link to download the framework. The framework will be included in all new enrolments from this year on. All families will receive a hard copy of the framework after its official launch in Week 6.
“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.
Please use the following link to view the framework -
https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/for-parents/parent-school-partnership-framework/Compass App
eSafety Website
| Dates | Event | |
| Friday 28th February | 6W Reconciliation, 9.00am | Year 5 grade visit by Father, 10.00am |
| Saturday 29th February | Reconciliation lessons begin, 4.15pm | K & 5 Buddy/Welcome Mass & BBQ, 6.00pm |
| Monday 2nd March | Catholic Schools Week Liturgy, 8.30am St Joachim Hall | P&F AGM, 7.30pm |
| Tuesday 3rd March | Western Region Swimming Carnival | Year 3 Open Classrooms, 1.30-2.00pm |
| Wednesday 4th March | Clothing Pool, 8.00am - 8.20am | Year 1 to Mass, 9.00am |
| Year 5 Open Classrooms, 1.30-2.00pm | ||
| Thursday 5th March | 2W to Mass, 9.00am | Year 4 Open Classrooms, 9.00-9.30am |
| Year 1 Open Classroom, 9.30-10.00am | Year 2 Open Classrooms, 10.00-10-.30am | |
| Year 6 Open Classrooms, 1.30-2.00pm | ||
| Friday 6th March | Kinder Open Classroom, 9.00-9.30am | Years 3 & 5 Benediction, 11.40am |
| Assembly, 1.50pm | ||
| Monday 9th March | Stage 1 to Mandurama Reserve | |
| Wednesday 11th March | Clothing Pool, 8.00am - 8.20am | Year 6 to Mass, 9.00am |
| Year 5 Girls to St Patrick's College | ||
| Thursday 12th March | Year 4 to Mass, 9.00am | |
| Friday 13th March | Cross Country | |
| Monday 30th March | Athletics Carnival | |
| Thursday 9th April | Last day Term 1 | |
| Monday 27th April | School resumes to Term 2 |
School Banking
School banking day is Friday. No deposit is too small. Children that have left the school are still welcome to bank, as long as they are under 18 years of age and have a sibling banking through the school. Please send their deposit wallets in with their sibling on Fridays.
P&F Annual General Meeting
Please find a P&F nomination form attached to the newsletter. Please forward any nominations to the office by 4.00pm Monday 2nd March. Nominations will be announced and positions will be filled at the P&F Meeting on Monday 2nd March. The meeting will commence at 7.30pm in the staff-room.
Bakers Delight Loyalty Card
A Bakers Delight loyalty card will go home to each family next week. When used, 10% of every purchase will come back to our school. Please support this fundraiser.
Easter Egg Donations
In Week 7 there will be a mufti day for Easter egg donations! Instead of a gold coin, children can bring an Easter egg to school to wear mufti. All donated Easter eggs will go towards an Easter raffle, draw in in week 10. More information to follow in the coming week.
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.
John Therry Catholic College - Open Day
Saturday 29th February. Year 7 2021 enrolments 10.30am-12.30pm. Tour the school and see what the College has to offer. The Principal will speak at 10.30am. Back to John Therry Day will commence at 12.30pm-2.30pm. See what is new and reconnect with past students and teachers. All welcome.
Shoalhaven Bushfire Recovery Event
A Note from the School Counsellor
Hello families, just a short note to introduce myself. My name is Grace Barton and I am thrilled to be the new school counsellor at OLHC.
I am present three days a fortnight at the school - every Monday and every second Tuesday and I am contactable via the school office.
If you feel your child would benefit from seeing a school counsellor, please speak with their classroom teacher or a member of the executive. Alternatively, you may be contacted by the school staff if they feel your child might benefit from seeing me. As part of the referral process, you will need to complete and sign a CatholicCare referral form. Once I've received the form, I will contact you to arrange a meeting to discuss your child's well being. Counselling support for your child will commence afterwards. The school counselling service is generally short term. If I feel your child needs further support, I will discuss this with you and offer external referral options and information.
Lastly, I hope to include some general information and advice in the school newsletters. I look forward to meeting the wonderful children here at OLHC and you, their parents and caregivers.
Grace Barton
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 Reconciliation (Confession) 2020
This Sacrament will be celebrated on Thursday 2nd April from 4.15pm. It is available to all children who are in Year 3 or above and have been baptised. If you wish your child to make this Sacrament with the option of receiving First Holy Communion later in the year and did not come to the enrolment night last year, you must attend the first lesson for this programme on Saturday 29th February, 2020 commencing at 4.15pm. Children will participate in lessons within the parish school classsrooms and 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 is also payable at the first lesson. Note: If you are enrolling, please arrive at 3.45pm to the Parish Meeting Room before the lesson to complete the paperwork. You wil need a copy of your child's birth and baptism certificate to attach to the enrolment form. Thank you.
The Relics of St Therese of Lisieux plus Her Parents
As part of the National Pilgrimage, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Rosemeadow, will be hosting the relics of the much loved St. Therese of Lisieux, the “Little Flower”, together with the relics of her recently canonised parents, Ss. Louis and Zelie Martin in our parish church on Thursday 19 March from 4.30pm to 9.30pm. People from all parishes in our region, and indeed anyone, are welcome to come and venerate these holy and unique relics of the only family to be canonised.
The schedule will be as follows:
4.30pm: Solemn Liturgical Reception & Enthronement of Holy Relics in Sanctuary
Reflection: A Family Bringing Blessings
Silent Veneration
5.45pm: Reflection: The Relics of Ss. Louis, Zelie, & Therese Martin
Silent Veneration
6.30pm: Reflection: St. Therese of Lisieux
Silent Veneration
7.30pm: Solemn Mass
8.30pm: Silent Veneration
9.00pm: Holy Rosary
9.30pm: Final Prayers & Departure of Holy Relics
New Altar Servers
New altar server training will commence shortly. Training sessions will be each Friday from 4.00pm - 5.00pm in the Church, commencing on Friday 14th February. Those who wish to train must have made their First Holy Communion and be regular Mass attenders. A parent or guardian will need to be present at the first session to complete information details. Please ring the parish office on 4628 1385 with your name and telephone number if you wish your child to undertake this training.