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Stewardship thought....
Yesterday, Ash Wednesday (2 March 2022) 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.”
Dear Parents and Carers,
During the season of Lent that commenced yesterday with Ash Wednesday, we are encouraged (and challenged) to consider ways that we can deepen our relationship with God, through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
Lent is a time for us to focus on creating greater time for God so that we can reach out to others. Lent is a time to consider the needs of others, before our own needs and to grow spiritually closer to God in preparation to enter into the Easter Triduum with renewed faith.
Loving God,
We thank you for the gift of our lives and
for the life of every person, both near to us and far away.
We thank you for the wonder of your creation.
Through fasting, almsgiving and prayer
may this Lent draw us deeper
into the warmth and light of God’s love.
May we see the world more clearly,
Especially those who are often overlooked.
May we come closer to your heart,
which you showed through the cross of Jesus.
May we be full of hope for future generations.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Let us journey together through this Lenten season reflecting on how we can continue to consider ways we can reach out in faith to others in almsgiving and prayer.
Jane Webb
PRINCIPAL
This week we have been able to come together as a whole school, without the need to be separated into stage groups, thanks to the easing of some of the current COVID Smart measures in place. This means that students are now able to choose which playground space they would like to play on during break times and each playground has a mixture of students from across the school playing on it. The teachers explicitly taught these procedures to the students on Monday morning so that they were ready for the changes at Break 1. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of wet weather this week and the students haven’t been able to take full advantage of these changes but hopefully they will be able to in the coming days.
From next Monday, 7 March 2022, parents will be allowed back on site for morning drop off and afternoon dismissal. It will be lovely to be able to reinstate our procedures from previously and to welcome parents onto the school grounds again. Please read the information below which explains how the morning and afternoon procedures will work.
Morning Drop Off
The Drop Off zone through the John Therry entrance will continue in the same way that it has been operating. Students will be dropped off and will walk through the gate near the St Joachim hall and down to the ampitheatre area where they assemble in the morning. Students can also enter the school grounds via the St Anne gate on Demetrius Road. Parents can continue to drop their children off outside the gate if they wish and watch them walk up the path to the ampitheatre area where they assemble. If you would like to walk in with your child to drop them off please walk up the path to the ampitheatre area and say goodbye to them from the path, staying back from where all of the students are assembled. At 8:15am all students assembled in the amphitheatre area will walk over to the basketball court area to sit down in their grade groups as they currently have been doing. They will be supervised by two staff members until the bell goes and they are collected by their classroom teacher. Please note that during wet weather the students assemble outside kindergarten where the ground is dry, so if you walk your child all the way up the path please say goodbye to them back from where all of the students are assembled.
Afternoon Dismissal
The current arrangements for John Therry dismissal remain in place, so students waiting to be picked up by their John Therry sibling will continue to wait outside the St Joachim hall where their brother or sister will walk down to collect them from. The current procedures for Pick Up via the car line will also remain in place. The students will walk up to this area in their stage groups where they will remain seated while they are waiting and watching for their car to come through and to be picked up by their parent. If you are currently picking your child up via the St Anne gate you may now come onto the school grounds and wait around the flagpole area, back from the Kindergarten classrooms, until the bell goes at 2:45pm when you will walk down to their classroom area and pick up your child.
We realise that these arrangements will take some adjustment and staff will be present in the morning and afternoon over the first few days to support these new procedures and to help parents. We thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we navigate this changing environment while also adhering to the COVID Smart measures that are in place.
Lent
Lent is a time of giving, prayer and fasting. It is through these actions that we are reminded of the sacrifice of Christ and our call to reach out in love and compassion. As a school Project Compassion is how we participate in charitable giving.
Throughout Lent we will hold a range of events to support this charitable giving. Each classroom has a Project Compassion box and this is a way for students to contribute to those in need. Students will learn about the communities that they are supporting throughout lent.
Ash Wednesday
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. We were very grateful to be able to gather as a school community for our first whole school Mass. Unfortunately, due to the timing of easing COVID restrictions this mass was only for staff and students to attend. We look forward to future occasions where we will be able to welcome parents and members of our community to join us.
Welcome Liturgy
We are very excited to welcome our Kinder students and many new students to our school and parish community. The students will be presented with a school badge that has been blessed by Father Sarkis. We will share this event with our parent community on our social media platforms.
Sacramental Program
A reminder that the reconciliation Sacramental Program commences on Saturday March 5th at 4:15pm. This session will also include enrolment for the Sacrament. Please refer to the dates below:
School Swimming Carnival
On the 4 February 2022, Year 3 to Year 6 attended our annual swimming carnival. We were blessed with blue skies and warm weather. It was great to see so many students participating in all the events and trying their best.
A big thank you to all of the parent helpers on the day, we could not run the carnival without your help and support.
Congratulations to Rose house who took out the overall house point score for the 2022 swimming carnival.
We wish the OLHC swim team all the best as they compete at the Western Region Swimming carnival today.
Representative Sport
Congratulations to Mason Burke on proudly representing OLHC at Diocesan Representative Cricket Trials on the 17th of March. Mason demonstrated great skill and sportsmanship at the trials and was selected to represent the Wollongong Diocesan team at the Mackillop Trials to be held later this year.
Cross Country Carnival
The Cross Country Carnival will be held next Friday the 11 March 2022 for Kinder - Year 6.
What to Wear: School or protective hat in house colour, coloured house polo shirt and sunscreen.
What to bring:
- Water
- Towel or rug to sit on
- Munch and Crunch
Students will return to school before Break 1.
We are delighted to invite parents to spectate. We look forward to seeing you there. Spectators are asked to follow social distancing and to sign in using the schools' QR Code.
The following dates are published, but subject to NSW Health Public Health Orders.
| Date | ActivityEvent |
| Saturday 5 March |
Sacrament of Reconciliation commences |
| Monday 7 March |
P & F - Role nominations due by 3.30pm (see P&F section of this newsletter) Annual General Meeting & General Meeting - all welcome to attend 7.30pm in the school staffroom |
| Friday 25 March | Feast of The Annunciation |
| Sunday 3 April | Daylight savings finishes |
| Thursday 7 April | First Confessions from 4.15pm |
| Friday 8 April | Last day of Term 1 |
| Friday 15 April | Good Friday |
| Sunday 17 April | Easter Sunday |
| Tuesday 26 April | First day of Term 2 |
MEDICAL SPECIALIST REPORTS
At times, parents seek advice and expertise from external health professionals to support their child’s learning or wellbeing needs. To provide students with consistent support we request that copies of any reports or suggestions provided by these external professionals be provided directly to the Office either as a hard copy or via email.
The school has a process to disseminate this information to all staff involved in your child’s learning.
School staff are unable to liaise with external professionals until a Consent to Exchange Information has been completed by parents. Please contact your child’s teacher if this type of communication is required.
NATIONALLY CONSISTENT COLLECTION OF DATA ON STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY (NCCD)
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
- year of schooling;
- category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social / emotional;
- level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
- formally recognise the support and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools;
- consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools;
- develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information.
To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy(https://www.dese.gov.au/about-us/resources/department-education-skills-and-employment-complete-privacy-policy-0).
Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).
If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school to discuss this with either Mrs Cameron or Mrs Webb.
WELCOME BACK MRS CAMERON
This week, we have warmly welcomed back Mrs Winnie Cameron to our school community. Mrs Cameron has been away due to sickness this year, she is a very much valued part of our school community. Mrs Cameron will continue as part of the school leadership team as well as the Diverse Learning Support Teacher. She has decided to step away from the Learning Support Centre Teacher role, a position that she has held for many years. Our school community is enriched by Mrs Cameron’s presence and it is wonderful to have her back with us.
LUNCH ORDERS ON FRIDAYS DURING LENT
As we have now entered into the Liturgical season of Lent, parents are reminded that in keeping with Lenten traditions, meat is not consumed on a Friday during Lent.
Therefore, parents are encouraged to not order meat as part of lunch orders on Fridays during Lent. If meat is ordered, your child will be asked to choose an alternative. Thank you for your support.
DRINK BOTTLES AT SCHOOL
As the school bubblers are still non-operational due to current COVID Smart Measures all students are encouraged to bring a labelled drink bottle with water to school each day. These drink bottles are also able to go out onto the playgrounds at break times so that students can have a drink during the break.
Please ensure that all items of clothing (particularly school hats and jumpers) are clearly labelled so that these can be easily returned if misplaced.
MEET AND GREET SESSIONS
Thank you to those parents who were able to schedule a meet and greet session with your child’s teacher this week. These sessions are a great way to connect with your child’s teacher and provide insightful information about your child. Please do not hesitate to make contact with your child’s teacher during the year if you have any concerns, issues or questions that need to be addressed. Teachers can be contacted via the school office and an appointment can be made. As teachers' primary responsibility is to focus on student learning during the school day, your phone call may not be returned to later that day or the following day to arrange a meeting time.
RECONCILIATION WORKSHOPS
Parents of Year Three students (and above) are reminded that the enrolment workshop for the Sacrament of Reconciliation commences this coming Saturday 5 March 2022.
Please note that as this is a parish based Sacramental Program all enquiries need to be directed to the Parish Office - 4628 1385.
All enrolment forms need to be printed and filled in prior to the first lesson accompanied by the following:
- A copy of Birth Certificate
- A copy of Baptism Certificate if not baptised at OLHC Rosemeadow
- Cost of $25 per sacrament paid in full on the first lesson. EFTPOS available.
An overview of the dates of the workshops is included below for your information -
Reconciliation LESSONS
Week 1: Saturday 5 March at 4.15pm
Week 2: Saturday 12 March at 4.15pm
Week 3: Saturday 19 March at 4.15pm
Week 4: Saturday 26 March at 4.15pm
Make-up lesson: Saturday 2 April at 4.15pm
FIRST CONFESSIONS These will be heard on Thursday 7 April from 4.15pm
In order to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion later in the year, children need to have made the sacrament of Reconciliation.
ENROLMENT FOR KINDERGARTEN 2023
Parents and Carers are advised that the enrolment period for Kindergarten 2023 has now opened.
Please use the following link to download an enrolment application form.
Parents are asked to please return this completed enrolment form to the school office by the end of this term - Friday 8 April 2022.
Please spread the word with extended family and friends that the enrolment period is now OPEN.
POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS FOR LEARNING (PB4L)
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 on a Monday morning. The students receive a voucher for the Canteen which can be used for treats or put towards a lunch order. Congratulations to these winners:
Harvey Miller (1M) Sarkis
ASSEMBLY
Our next Assembly will be held on Friday 11 March 2022. Merit and Principal Awards will be presented. Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving a Principal's Award:
Angelique Arias (1M), Chloe Hailes (1M),
On Monday the $500 Service NSW Vouchers for families to use in OSHC became available to use, see flyer below for details.
To visit the school Facebook page, please click on the link below. When you see something you like on our Facebook page, "Please "like" us" :)
www.facebook.com/olhc.rosemeadow
eSAFETY WEBSITE
Congratulations to the following students who celebrate a March birthday:
Leo Marten, Letwin Karimusango, Ethan Lazar, Mary Lazar,
Aleesha McVittie, Amelia Meoushy, Eloise Soriano, Hannah MacDiarmid,
Kamry MacDiarmid, Charlotte Abrahams, Sophie Collet, Edward Norris,
Victor Norris, Deric Abraham, Michael Sojan, Isabelle O'Toole,
Raemon-Jr Gatehau, Alexander Jallad, Austin Dellis.
All positions of the Executive Committee are available for re-election at the AGM and nominations are now open. Nominations are required by 3.30pm on Monday 7 March 2022.
Masks are no longer required to be worn but those wearing them will be supported in doing so. We do however encourage distancing.
For further information please see the attached notice. If you have any questions or would like to find out more about these roles, please send your enquiries via the school office.
The Canteen is open for lunch orders and 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.
They may find what they are looking for in our group sessions. These face to face group sessions are available to adults who would like to strengthen relationships, support children's development and build resilience within a supportive environment, alongside others who share similar life experiences.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation all Term 1 courses have been moved online.
Click below to view our Term 1, 2022 courses.
For more information or to make a booking please contact our Intake Service on 4254 9395 or email IntakeService@catholiccare.dow.org.au
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