Last Sunday, 8th August, the universal Church celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop.

St Mary was canonised as the first saint in Australia in October 2010.

Some suggest that Mary was a woman ahead of her time, others celebrate her as a resilient, hardworking dedicated woman who saw a need and actioned a response. “Never see a need without doing something about it.”

It feels very apt to pause and reflect on Mary’s life in the year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. Whilst Mary did not begin Catholic schooling in Australia, her input was immeasurable. She recognised the fact that many children could not access this education for financial reasons and felt strongly that God’s love needed to be shared with all. She felt so strongly about this issue that she initiated a battle which would eventually enable many Australian children to access Catholic Education and in doing this, also gave them a chance for a stronger relationship with their God. To fulfill her plan, Mary surrounded herself with like-minded people who could assist with the workload. This was how the religious order, The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, first came to be. Many of our own Diocesan Schools were started by this same order, and today we are blessed to have the continued support of these sisters in three of our schools. Mary saw a need and, with much courage, acted on it. She did not do this alone, but with the assistance and collaboration of many others.

Mary’s journey was not trouble-free. She fought many battles along the way and her faith was continually tested as she walked a path that upset many. Throughout this time and with these challenges, she showed resilience and continued to fight for what she believed was right. She modelled being faith-filled for us as she lived by the mantra, “Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.” (1891)

We learn from Mary how to stay true to our convictions, work hard for what we believe to be right and show resilience when obstacles are thrown our way.  Mary modelled reaching out to those who were vulnerable and/or marginalised. 

This is a timely reminder for us as we live through the challenges that COVID-19 continues to bring.

ST MARY OF THE CROSS

You faced difficult times with a heart filled with trust,

always believing in the watchful presence of God.

Walk with us now in this difficult time,

and may we be for others,

examples of confident hope and trust.

AMEN.

Remote Learning - Week 5

​​After recently watching the Olympics in Tokyo, and joining in the quest of many athletes who were striving for a medal, I was reminded how the current lockdown can appear to be like a marathon endurance race. This has and continues to  impact each of us in many ways. 

As our current lockdown enters another week, many of us may be starting to feel like a marathon runner who has ‘hit the wall’. In general, hitting the wall happens to those engaged in endurance sports and occurs when energy stores become depleted. This condition is typically accompanied by feelings of fatigue and negativity. The condition can usually be avoided by ensuring that energy levels are high when the exercise begins, by maintaining glucose levels during exercise, or by reducing exercise intensity.

Parenting and teaching, especially during a pandemic, can be likened to participating in an endurance sport. With remote learning now well underway in households throughout our wider community we acknowledge, like the marathon runner, the difficulties that may be involved, but we wish to offer some tips to support our parents to go the distance:-

Ensuring that energy levels are high

• Prepare for home learning by creating a routine and setting aside a designated working space.
• Listen to the signals of your child and respond when they need a break.
• Accept the need for an increase of screen time and focus on effectively managing the remaining hours of the day by setting aside unplugged time for exercise, family meals, sleep and downtime.

Maintaining glucose levels

• Try to create realistic blocks of working time. Most children can only work for 20 minutes before needing a break. Parents of younger children should also not feel pressured to re-create a six-hour school day, this is impossible. For younger students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2, two to two-and-a-half hours a day, up to three for some older children, is probably enough.
• Parents must pick their battles and prioritise which tasks need a child’s attention the most. If your child really struggles with reading, for example, make sure that is the one task you focus on.
• Pre-preparing snacks and bookmarking key web pages may help the day run more smoothly, especially if parents are juggling the demands of working from home.
• Parents are encouraged to be open about their needs and to communicate with the school whenever they need additional help.
• Sitting still for long periods of time is not good for children. Developmentally, children need to have the experience of learning by doing and learning through play. Supplementing schoolwork with Lego challenges, drawing activities, building a cubby, gardening, cooking, having a conversation, visiting the park, going for a walk are highly encouraged and are acceptable alternate activities. Remember that playing is learning.

Reducing exercise intensity

• Give yourself and your child permission to stop whenever you/they are too tired or overwhelmed. If they’re struggling or you’re struggling, or they’re having trouble with a concept, put that aside and do something else.
• Please support the critical the parent-teacher partnership during remote learning. In the classroom, teachers can see when students are struggling or need work adjusted or adapted, now we must rely on feedback from parents to tell us when this may be the case.
• Please know that “doing what works” during this time is a valid strategy.

And at the beginning of each new day, like families and teachers everywhere, we pick ourselves up, adapt and strive to move forward, just like a marathon runner who moves toward a finish line that is not clearly visible.

Virtual Assembly - Friday 13th August

This Friday afternoon, students are encouraged to tune in to the Virtual Assembly that will be made available through the class online learning platforms, as well as Facebook.

This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise those students who have been working hard to be an Active Learner and  engage in remote learning experiences at a high standard.

Principal Awards will also be presented by Mrs Webb.

Special thanks to Miss Megan O’Sullivan who puts together these remote learning assemblies. The staff at OLHC are continually striving to ensure that student engagement remains high during remote learning.

Staying Connected

Staying in Touch

During this time, more than ever, it is important for our families to stay connected with one another and also to 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
• 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 and 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.

New Arrival

Congratulations are extended to Mrs and Mrs Wild on the safe arrival of Chloe Rose, who was born last Friday 6th August.

May Chloe’s life be filled with an abundance of love and many blessings.

Stay Well, Stay Safe, Stay Home.

We keep all members of our school and parish community in our prayers at this time and ask Our Lady Help of Christians to intercede for us.

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.