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Stewardship Thought ....
Dear Parents and Carers,
Our third week of remote learning is well underway and the staff are recognising many successes from the students each day. These successes continue to be built upon with the daily organisation by the teachers of the remote learning activities.
The school has had to pivot with the adjustments of the restrictions including the wearing of face masks, by all staff, whilst on the school site and when in close contact with others. I am sure that we will continue to ensure that we care for our own personal safety by the wearing of face masks and social distancing into the future.
I want to thank each of you for your commitment to supporting the learning of your child/ren at this time. The staff and I are well aware of the personal sacrifices that you and your family are making for this learning to continue in the safe environment of home. We know that you are grateful to the staff for their support and guidance during this difficult time. Our teachers are only a phone call away and remain committed to supporting the well-being and learning of each student in their class.
Class Zoom Meetings
The implementation of these meetings has been very successful. I hope that if your child has participated, they found it worthwhile. I would like to acknowledge our staff who ensured all the necessary protocols were put in place, and for being willing to give the meetings a go. In a recent report from the Victorian Student Representative Council in relation to the extensive period of remote learning they experienced in 2020, high on their list of things they missed, was feeling connected to their classmates and teachers. Our Zoom meetings go some way toward helping this. If you need any support with the meetings, please contact the school office.
It is also very pleasing to note that the students’ Zoom etiquette has also been very good, given that they have not had a lot of experience with Zoom for learning. This reflects your support as parents in reinforcing this message at home.
Teachers never cease to amaze me at their capacity to engage students with their explicit instructions and scaffolding of learning. An activity as simple as an alphabet treasure hunt, is aiming to build students’ skills of sharing ideas and effectively engaging in group discussions.
As we continue over the next weeks with remote learning, students will continue to be engaged by their teachers through ZOOM and other learning platforms, such as video recordings and lesson explanations. These will all occur at different rates across the school, based on the student needs within each class.
The weekly schedule for ZOOM meetings will be sent on a Monday to all families via COMPASS.
On behalf of the staff of Our Lady Help of Christians, I thank you for your continued support of our school in this difficult time. I encourage you to reach out if you feel there is any way the school can support you or your family.
We offer this prayer for all of our community as we continue to work remotely together.
Loving God,
You fill all things with a fullness and hope that we can never comprehend.
Thank you for leading us into a time where more of reality is being unveiled for us all
to see. We pray that you will take away our natural temptation for cynicism, denial,
fear and despair.
Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care
for one another.
May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in your eternal
presence and love.
Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our suffering world.
Knowing, merciful God, you are hearing us better than we are speaking,
we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God.
Amen.
Staying In Touch
During this time, more than ever, it is important for our families to stay connected with one another and also the school, so that we can support you and your child’s learning at home.
Here are some of the ways that you are encouraged to reach out if you need any help -
- Updates are provided regularly via COMPASS - please ensure that you have the COMPASS app downloaded onto your phone, iPad or computer
- If your child is having difficulties, please contact the school office and the office staff will email your child’s teacher to pass on this message
- Send an email to info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au with your child’s name in the subject line and this will be passed onto the class teacher.
- Remember to take one day at a time and be kind to yourself - we know that you are doing your best.
Students Attending School
Parents are reminded that students who are attending school at this time should be the children of essential workers who have no other care options.
Minimal teaching staff are on staff currently and students who attend school are being supervised in accessing remote learning from school.
A reminder that if you intend for your child to come to school to please phone the school office on Monday morning to let us know the arrangements for the week so that adequate supervision can be provided.
Thank you for your ongoing support, especially at the present time.
We pray for our school, parish and local community through the intercession of Our Lady Help of Christians.
It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of Week 3 and have survived three weeks of remote learning. We now know that we will be engaging with remote learning for at least the next four weeks, as was announced yesterday, but I’m sure, as a school community, we will work together to get through this. I wish to thank Mrs Webb for all of her guidance throughout this time and all of the teachers for their dedication and hard work. Thank you also to the students and parents who are doing their best in these difficult times, we are aware of the challenges that you are also facing as a family.
The teachers are spending a lot of time creating activities and learning tasks that the students are able to access remotely. The planning and collaborating has been amazing and I am sure you, as parents, can see the amount of work that has been put into it. The teachers are also providing daily feedback to the students, so please encourage your children to read / listen to this feedback and to try to apply it to the next piece of their work. The teachers will check all of the work the students in their class complete but they will only provide feedback on some samples of work each day. Across the week, constructive feedback will be given on elements of the student’s Religion, English and Maths work.
The teachers are also finding different ways to encourage the students with their daily work, like through reward points and sharing examples of great work for the day. It is important that the students engage with their remote learning work each day and to try to complete it to the best of their ability. We realise that supporting your children at home, to complete their learning, is not easy but the teachers are available to answer questions the students have throughout the day. Teachers are also marking student rolls for student attendance each day - if your child is engaging in their learning remotely from home, then they must have completed some of the set work by 2:30pm otherwise they will be marked as absent.
It is important to encourage your children to continue to read as well. The teachers will also be encouraging them to do this and are looking at ways to provide extra resources to them to support this. The students in Kindergarten to Year 3 now will have access to the PM Readers and Years 4, 5 and 6 have access to reading books through Sora. Please encourage your child to spend some time each day reading independently, reading to you or even you reading a favourite book to them.
I’m sure the coming weeks will bring further changes which I know we will adapt to together as the wonderful school community we are.
Take care
Attached please finds tips on supporting each other at home. I highly recommend you read this informaiton.
Assembly
Virtual assemblies will now be held in odd weeks, with the next assembly due tomorrow, Friday 29th July. Merit Awards will be presented. Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving a Principal's Award at a virtual assembly on Friday 13th August:
Jessica Chanhdara (4M), Emerson Hickey (6W),
Katrina Panikian (6W), Mariella-Rose Papoulis (2M),
Isobel Saywell (5M), Matilda Summers (4M),
Makayla Williams (6M).
Newsletter Translation
Did you realise that the Schoolzine Newsletter platform allows for the Newsletter to be translated into any language? Please follow the prompts from the attached flyer for further information.
Use of School Bubblers
School bubblers are no longer accessible to students. Students who are on-site will need to bring sufficient water for their needs each day.
Compass 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 please see the attached flyer "Accessing the Compass App".
eSafety Website
Dear Parents and Care-givers,
A number of uniform items were in the Lost Property bin - there were 34 pieces in total, mostly sport uniforms (jackets and pants), several jumpers and hats. Of the 34 items, only two were labelled with a child's name, so could be returned. The clothing has been washed and bagged x size. Please check your child's uniform/s and if you are missing an item, please contact the school on 4626 5655 or email "info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au" and advise the clothing you are missing. The claimed clothing will be kept in the office and can be collected on the return of students to school. Any clothing item that has not been claimed by Friday 6th August will be donated to the Clothing Pool. Thank you.
Connecting with Zoom
OLHC has started using the platform of Zoom as a way for students and teachers to interact with each other online. Zoom’s will continue to be a check-in point for teachers and students, an overview for the weekly Zoom Schedule has been shared with you. A big thank you to parents for supporting this platform by setting up students ready for their Zoom.
Why Zoom?
- Safe video conferencing using any device
- Teachers are able to check in with students
- Students are able to interact and collaborate with each other
As you are aware the NSW Government has announced the Greater Sydney lockdown until at least Friday, 30 July with a further review at the end of this time. After consultation and review of the complexities involved, the events listed below are now cancelled:
- Western Region Athletics Carnival (Friday 30th July)
We will continue to keep you updated about any other changes to sport events.
Congratulations to the following students who celebrate an August birthday:
Emily Antony, Robbie Barrett-Vizcaino,
Skye Bishop, Monique Brticevich,
Ethan Chew, Olivia Ditotto,
Dante Foweraker, Charlotte Good,
Isabella Hili, Sienna Holmes,
Alexis Jahshan, Orianne Lennon,
Amelia Lisita-Cocheci, Katrina Panikian,
Chris Pantoja-Rodriguez, Jordan Pantoja-Rodrigues,
Annabelle Smith, Sancia Soares,
Isaac Soriano, Peter Truong,
Leo Vagaja, Benedict Wijaya.
P&F Meeting - August
The P&F Meeting for August has been cancelled. At this stage, the next meeting will be held on Monday 6th September.
Clothing Pool
As parents can no longer enter out site, if any item of uniform is required, please contact the office and we will arrange for items to be sent home when on-site learning resumes.
School Banking
School banking will resume when on-site learning resumes.
School banking is available on Tuesday of every week. Please remember to bring the deposit book and savings in on this day.
The Canteen is not open during remote learning. Students, who are on-site, need to bring all their food and drink for the day.
On resumption of on-site learning, the Canteen will be open for over-the-counter sales of snacks and treats at Break 1 (11.00am - 11.30am). A price list is attached. Please support the Canteen in their endeavours to support our school community.
Lunch orders are required at the Canteen by 9.00am. Please write your child's name, class and what they wish to order on a paper bag and enclose the correct money, if possible.
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 0422 469 489.
