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The blind man was willing to let Jesus minister to him and willingly did all that Jesus asked of him. The Pharisees were more resistant to His message, spending their time and energy trying to disprove the miracle. Which am I more like, the man born blind or the Pharisees?
During this season of Lent we are called to enter into a time of prayer, fasting and alms-giving as a way of preparing for recalling the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter.
Lent is an opportune time for reflecting, pruning, forgiving, letting go and being reconciled to God and others.
This Lenten Litany from Pope Francis helps to guide our words and actions during Lent. We are ever mindful that our loving God is always with us through moments of anguish to moments of great joy.
May the words of this Litany encourage and sustain you on your Lenten journey towards Easter.
Fast from HURTING WORDS and say KIND WORDS
Fast from SADNESS and be filled with GRATITUDE
Fast from ANGER and be filled with PATIENCE
Fast from PESSIMISM and be filled with HOPE
Fast from WORRIES and TRUST GOD
Fast from COMPLAINTS and contemplate SIMPLICITY
Fast from PRESSURES and be PRAYERFUL
Fast from BITTERNESS and fill your heart with JOY
Fast from SELFISHNESS and be COMPASSIONATE to others
Fast from GRUDGES and be RECONCILED
Fast from WORDS and be SILENT so you can listen.
Dear Parents and Carers,
During these times of great and unprecedented change, as we continue to work our way through this time of adjustment in our own, and wider, community I am struck by the way in which staff and parents have worked together in understanding the position of each other. I have also watched our children who continue to be the light that brightens the path for us as we become uncertain or ask questions about the events brought about by COVID-19.
I always think it is amazing how scripture can speak to us in these times where we are challenged in the regular day to day routines that we have established for ourselves. This period of challenge can bring feelings of fear, frustration, confusion and disappointment. It is also a period where we need to be conscious that we are gathering strength, resting to be able to think clearly and make reasonable decisions and above all to be people of hope and optimism.
Recently, the Gospel spoke exactly of that - the Gospel of the Transfiguration reminds us that we can be sustained through suffering because our faith in what Jesus has planned for us will ultimately bring us great joy.
As we watch the media and witness the incredible scenes of people preparing for the unknown it is important that we take time to also think of those experiences that bring us great joy and happiness because it is this that will sustain us when we are not sure as to what the future holds. Being prepared with a heart full of hope and gladness is just as important as being prepared with a pantry stocked with all that we need.
As we continue on the journey together this week let us be reminded that our life can be filled with voices that fill our minds and hearts with hope or with despair. It is up to us to seek out that which brings light into our lives. I am in the most fortunate position of working with children who shine that light before me each and every day leading me to a place of true love, care and service of our community.
In the midst of this time of change challenge yourself to consciously make space to be able to listen and reflect so that you are filled with hope and recognise the trusting relationship you have with Jesus at this time.
I leave you this week with this prayer:
May we who are merely inconvenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.
Amen.
With grateful thanks for your support, particularly at this time.
Jane Webb
Principal
Learning Remotely at OLHC
As you are aware, our school is remaining open with teachers on site to support student learning. At this time, teachers are involved in planning to support students in engaging with remote learning opportunities.
This remote learning is via a booklet that has been emailed to K-2 parents. Students in Years 3-6 are able to access this learning by using their iPad to log into Google Classroom. Teachers in Years 3-6 are posting new work daily via Google classroom for students to either complete remotely or at school.
Teachers will be providing feedback to students as to ways that they can improve their work via Google Classroom.
As always, if you have any difficulty in accessing learning for your child to complete or need assistance in understanding the learning task please do not hesitate to make contact with your child’s teacher. At this time, teachers will also be providing feedback to students via Google Classroom if they are unsure of a learning task.
K-2 teachers are continuing to reflect on and refine their approach to the planning of remote learning experiences for students. This reflective process may eventuate in changes being made to the approach currently taken. Students in K-2 will be engaging in learning experiences via the Seesaw App. Parents will be receiving further information regarding this in the coming days via email.
Students are expected to engage in remote learning unless they are sick. Over the coming weeks teachers will be trialling different check in systems to greet students at 8.30am. Teachers will also be trialling different methods to provide feedback to students. Teachers in Years 3-6 are providing students with a day plan released each morning with the work for the day.
Please contact your child's teacher if you don't have access to the internet or a working device for your child to participate in remote learning
Well what a difference two weeks makes, at the moment things are changing daily. We keep all of our OLHC community in our prayers and please remember to reach out to us if there is anything we can do to help.
Our teachers have been very busy creating learning opportunities for their students via online platforms. They have collaborated extensively and shared their expertise, we have even shared ideas with staff from others schools and gained insights from them as well. It is evolving daily and we are working on new ideas each day. Your children are able to access this learning whether they are at school or at home. Years 3-6 teachers will be providing feedback to the students via the online platform they are using. Please talk to your children about reading this feedback and applying it to the next activity they complete. If your child has questions or is unsure of a task, they can also post a message for their teacher to read and respond to. It is a transition time for us all so please let us know if you have any questions or if there is any way we can support you at home.
NAPLAN
Following the Government's announcement, parents with students in Years 3 and 5 are advised that the 2020 NAPLAN assessments will not proceed.
At this time, during Lent but also with what is happening, we need to reach out in prayer to God more than ever. Remember to spend some time in prayer and to reach out if we can provide any support to you at all.
Take care.
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
Coin Trail
Thank you for your generous donations for our coin trail. We raised $566.30 and our winning house was ROSE.
Holy Week
Due to the changing state of our world we have adapted our Holy Week celebrations. For Years 3 - 6, in week 11, teachers will be sharing a google slides liturgy for Holy Week. While we can’t be together to celebrate this important week in the Church’s year we hope that this resource enables you, as a family, to take a moment to find solace in the Lord our God and give thanks for His Son, who came into this world so that we would know the love of God.
Parents with children in Kinder - Year 2 are invited to email me if you would like a copy.
ferderern02@dow.catholic.edu.au
Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers, as each day we light our prayer space candles for you and your families.
Thank you.
Natasha Ferderer
Religious Education Co-ordinator
Compass App
eSafety Website
Harmony Week
Throughout the week we celebrated Harmony Week. Harmony Week celebrates inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians who have come from many countries around the world.
Students engaged in activities that celebrated various cultures in Australia. Students crafted a unique necklace similar to that worn by Maasai people. They decorated a shamrock which is important to the Irish community because of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Students decorated hands with a form of body art called Mehndi that started in India. Children paraded around the school with elaborate and incredible masks that celebrated an Italian festival called Carnevale. Students decorated colourful Chinese lanterns that can be seen in the night sky in China on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.
It was an enjoyable week where we got to remember and appreciate that we are one community, with many stories.
Cross Country
We were so blessed to have hosted our Cross Country on Friday 13th March. Thank you to all our parent helpers and John Therry students who helped students along the course. The support and sportsmanship shown by all was great to see. We would like to congratulate all our runners on the day. It was a long course but that didn’t stop our students from crossing the finish line with a smile.
Our carnival would not go ahead without the support from all of our parent helpers. The following parents have been awarded 10 house points for their child’s house colour:
Mrs Federico, Mrs Bishop, Mrs O’Toole, Mrs Abranches, Mr MacDiarmid,
Mrs Barrington and Mrs Camoin.
We would like to congratulate Rose house on being the overall winner for the 2020 Cross Country. We would also like to congratulate the following students who placed in the 2020 Cross Country Carnival.
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7 Year Old |
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8 / 9 Year Old |
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10 Year Old |
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11 Year Old |
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12/13 Year Old |
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Swimming Selections
On Monday 9th March, Isaac Athanassiou competed in the Swimming Selections at Corrimal Pools. We would like to congratulate Isaac for his tremendous effort. He had a fantastic day and swam extremely well.
Athletics Carnival
As Mrs Webb mentioned in the note that was distributed on 17th March, we have had to cancel our 2020 Athletics Carnival. We apologise for the inconvenience.
We had such an influx of parents nominate to assist and be a parent helper on the day so would like to acknowledge the following parents:
Mrs Barrington, Mrs Billinghurst, Mrs Bishop, Mrs Ditotto, Miss Drake, Mrs Field,
Mr Summers, Mrs Turner, Mrs Venters, Mrs Abranches, Mrs Mifsud and Mrs Wijaya.
These parent helpers will be awarded 10 house points for their child’s house colour.
Future Sport Notices
Unfortunately the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong have had to terminate future sporting events until further notice, so we are uncertain if gala days throughout 2020 will be taking place. We will keep you informed if anything does change.
| Dates | Event | |
| Monday 30th March | Athletics Carnival - CANCELLED | |
| Thursday 2nd April | Autism Awareness Day | |
| Wednesday 8th April | Clothing Pool, 8.00am-8.20am | |
| Thursday 9th April | Last day Term 1 | |
| Monday 27th April | School resumes to Term 2 | ANZAC Day Ceremony |
| Friday 1st May | Pupil Free Day - CANCELLED |
P&F Meeting
The P&F Meeting, which was due to take place on Monday 6th April, has been cancelled.
Easter Egg/Chocolate Fundraiser
As advised earlier, the P&F decided not to sell raffle tickets, rather put all students names in a box so they had the opportunity to win the available prizes. The lucky winners were:
Tom Abbott (5W), Deric Abraham (3W), Oscar Anderson (2W), Zerena Besatu (4M),
Ava Callaghan (2W), Ruby Clark (4M), Alexis Dellis (2W), Olivia Ditotto (5W),
Joelene Ignacio (6W), Alexander Jallad (1M), Shaun Joseph (5W),
Kamryn MacDiarmid (3W), Isabel Martin (1M), Noah Mickan (2M),
Harry Morell (6W), Celeste Moloney (KM), Roman Oraz (1M), Samuel Shaji (2M),
Adwin Shiju (2W), Jessica Tran (1W), Leo Vagaja (5M), Benedict Wijaya (2W).
Bakers Delight Loyalty Card
We apologise to all the families that are yet to receive a Bakers Delight loyalty card. We have requested more to be sent to the school.
School Banking
As previously advised via a Compass alert, school banking is suspended for the remainder of this term. We will advise a Term 2 date when known.
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.
Lenten Penance
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday all who have completed their 18th year and have not yet begun their 60th year, are bound to fast and abstinence. All who have completed their 14th year are bound to abstain from meat. Pastors, teachers and parents are to ensure that those who, by reason of their age, are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence from meat, are taught the true meaning of penance.
A Walk through Rosemeadow
A beautiful hard cover book on the theology and spirituality underpinning the design of the church, written by Father Sarkis, it contains full colour pictures of all the windows, art works and photographs from the Mass of Dedication. This book captures and explains the design and art of the church and gives simple spiritual synthesis of what we believe as Catholic Christians. Available to purchase from the Pious Goods Store - parish price $59.95 with cash or credit card only - for EFPTOS facilities, please visit the parish office during business hours. All proceeds from the book go to the church.
A Note from the School Counsellor
With the current focus on coronavirus (COVID-19) and with it talked about almost every minute of the day, our children can become quite anxious. They may worry about many different things related to the virus – whether they or their family members will get sick, whether schools will close, whether they will be asked to stay away from loved ones and friends, whether they will be safe, or whether the virus will ever end.
Naturally, children are asking questions so it is important that we provide children a comforting space to ask their questions about the issue. Children and teenagers are very observant – they see things changing, they hear the news and they talk with whoever they can about what’s happening.
Stay calm yourself - Children look to their parents to work out how to respond. When parents are not calm it sends young people the message that they too should be panicking. Pay attention to how you talk about the virus to your children, each other and other people. Stick to the facts when talking about the virus.
Limit how much time children are consuming news - Constant exposure to news broadcasting can cause additional stress – children can’t always recognise fine differences between facts and messages designed to convey exaggerated threat. Focus on the messages that are most important to children (think about what you want them to do – Regularly wash hands).
Remind your children that there are a lot of people out there working hard to keep them and their loved ones safe, and we need to help in whatever way we can. Redirect if the same questions are being asked and try to stick to your usual family routine as much as possible.
Help your young person find a strategy that works for them – practice mindful breathing, doing a craft activity, sensory play (playdoh, slime, kinetic sand). Encourage them (and all family members) to focus on other things during these activities.
Finally, remember that it is normal to feel overwhelmed by such events. Reach out and find the right support for you and your child if required.
See below for a mindfulness exercises to help calm nerves and anxiety.
Ask your children these 5 questions to refocus nervous thoughts and worries.
Assist children with this breathing exercise by tracing their finger around the 8.
For more information and resources:
kidshelpline.com.au 1800 551 800
www.parentline.org.au 1300 1300 52
COVID-19 hotline 1800 020 080
Stay safe and well,
Grace Barton
Counsellor.
