It is with great anticipation that we are approaching the third Sunday in Advent. As we prepare for the coming of the Saviour, the students are very much anticipating the Christmas concert that will be held tonight, from 6:30pm in the John Therry Catholic College Hall. In mentioning this it would be remiss not to thank in advance the P&F and the parents who have volunteered to assist with the barbeque prior to this event. Thank you also to our wonderful staff, under the leadership of Miss O’Sullivan, who have organised the Christmas concert. Thank you to our amazing students who will lead us in our celebration. As we gather as a school family we are reminded that Christmas is a time of celebration and thanksgiving and as a school community we have much to celebrate and be thankful for during our time together during 2022. 

It is also a timely reminder, that the greatest gifts we give others, are not items that can be bought but are what we give of ourselves both in our words and in our deeds, especially through those acts of service and compassion that are given without an expectation of a reward in return. This has happened daily at Our Lady Help of Christians throughout the school year. 

Although we have the opportunity for a period of anticipation during the season of Advent we do in fact live our own lives in a constant Advent state. We are continuously waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfil, to hope, to struggle and to overcome fear. Advent invites us to prepare for the commemoration of God’s coming by taking time to have a closer look inside ourselves away from the busy world outside. This looking inside is not about remorse or regret, nor is it about listing ways life over the past year could have been different; it’s not about wishing we were better people. It’s about forward movement, getting new bearings, relying more on God for directions. It’s about hope and a fresh start. 

A driving dynamic of Advent is hope. If we had nothing to hope for, there would be no point to this season. The original hope was for a child to be born who would bring justice and peace to the world. But that larger hope is filled with smaller ones—daily hopes that can shape us as people.

Some hopes will shape our relationships. The Christ Child grew to be a man who embodied forgiveness and generosity. A life of hope sees the good in others, is patient with their shortcomings, and tenaciously envisions them at their best.

Some hopes will shape our life work. The promised Messiah proclaimed God’s realm of justice and mercy. No matter what jobs we do or work positions we hold, as hopeful people we maintain fairness and integrity as short-term and long-term goals. We make our work matter for the common good.

Some hopes will shape our character. Jesus exemplified hope that cultivates true interior freedom. A hopeful person cannot continue in anxiety, needing control, and habitually angry.

In the week ahead I invite you to consider how is hope visible in your life? Where has it possibly faded? 

As we approach the end of the school year next week, I wanted to advise of the following staffing changes that will be taking place. We wish the following staff many blessings as they prepare to leave the OLHC school community and embrace the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally in 2023. These staff leave with our prayers and gratitude

Mrs Jane Taylor - Jane was a member of the foundation staff at OLHC. For many years, she has supported the learning of a multitude of students as well as supporting individual and small groups of students who needed some additional support with their learning.

Mrs Karen Powell - Karen has been a member of the OLHC staff for a number of years. During this time, Karen supported both individual students and small groups as a SSO (School Support Officer).

Miss Hayley Gabrio - who will be joining the staff at Campbellfield Public School from 2023. Hayley has been a member of the OLHC staff for the past two years and has taught Kinder White this year.

We thank Jane, Karen and Hayley for their commitment and care for the students at OLHC. Each of them leaves OLHC with our prayers and best wishes for the future.

We congratulate Mrs Sabrina Nowak, Miss Ainsley Northey, Miss Celeste Muvceska,  Miss Nancy Fajloun and Mrs Trisha Dryden who will continue at OLHC next year. Further staff announcements will be made next week.

All 2023 staff positions will be communicated next week, after the children are introduced to their 2023 classroom teacher on Tuesday 13 December 2022.

THANK YOU AND FAREWELL

As we make preparations to begin a new school year by finalising the staff and students for 2023, we do this with the knowledge that we will be farewelling some of the existing members of our community.

We remember the students in Year Six, many of whom have been at OLHC since Kindergarten - seven years ago. As these students leave us to begin the next phase of their journey I thank them for sharing their special gifts with all of us here at OLHC, for enriching our school environment. Year 6 please be assured that each of you takes with you our love and prayers and you leave with us the memory of the special, unique person that each of you are.

For many of our families their association with the OLHC community will be coming to an end. I take this opportunity to thank these families for living out their commitment to the school and for contributing to the building of this wonderful community in a multitude of ways.

We farewell to the following families at the end of 2022

Bishop, Collet, Dickens, Dowse,

Fazio, Federico, Foeh-Pierce,

Meneses O'Dowd, Mesias, Nunes,

O'Toole, Prime, Saywell and Lamont

We thank you for your contribution to your child’s learning and your support of the school.

May God continue to  bless you and your families as you leave OLHC.

STUDENT LEADERS 2023

I would like to congratulate the Year Five students who presented a Captains Speech as part of the selection process for School Captain and House Captain for 2023. I had the privilege of listening to the wonderful speeches delivered by our Year 5 students who have nominated themselves for School and House Captain for 2023. I was very impressed with our Year 5 students' understanding of leadership qualities, the importance of Christian values, being approachable and a role model for other students. In developing students as school leaders in the school community, all Year 5 students will take on leadership responsibilities and work within teams in 2023 to ensure all students are represented and have a voice at OLHC. 

We expect our school leaders to model being an active learner, be respectful and model safe behaviour at all times. They are a student leadership team that supports our Principal, staff and greater school community in delivering the school’s mission and vision.

We look forward to announcing these student leaders to the wider community over the coming week.

Students will receive their badges at the Opening School Mass in 2023.

As this is the final newsletter for 2022 it is timely to say “thank you” to many members of the Our Lady Help of Christians school community:

• To the parents and carers for all your support of the school in many ways.  We have had a challenging and unprecedented year - with the impact of COVID still impacting on the health of students, staff and the wider community, however your constant support of all that we did was very much appreciated.  Thank you for supporting us, helping us and working with us in all areas, particularly the areas focused on learning, wellbeing and safety.  We consistently worked hard in partnership with all of our families for the benefit of all students in our school.  
  

• To our Parish Priest, Fr Sarkis, who has guided us and supported us through 2022.  We say thank you for his spiritual guidance, support and assistance in many ways.

• To the students for their hard work and resilience. Throughout 2022, the students have constantly amazed us all with their willingness to learn and ability to adapt particularly to events and situations out of their control.    Our school community is fortunate to work with children who love to learn and who continued to engage with their learning.  Thank you to our students.

• To the wonderful staff of Our Lady Help of Christians.  Their professionalism and dedication to the community is inspirational.  All of our staff have ensured that the children in our care were safe and equipped to cope with all that was being asked of them. Thank you OLHC staff.

• Thank you to the parishioners of Our Lady Help of Christians, for their prayerful support, particularly with the sacramental programs for 2022.  To everyone who did anything to assist and support our great school community in 2022, we say thank you.

PROMOTION TO NEW CLASS FOR 2023

Students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher for 2023 next Tuesday 13th December 2022. The purpose of the session is to help our students get to know their new teacher and classmates a little better and feel positive about starting in a new grade in 2023. New students who will be joining OLHC in 2023 have also been invited to attend. Information about 2023 requirements will be provided to students and will be shared with parents via Compass. 

YEAR 6 FAMILIES

Please ensure that you download and print a copy of your child's school reports as access to their dashboard will no longer be available once they finish school on Friday 16 December 2022.

STUDENTS NOT RETURNING TO OLHC IN 2023

If parents are  aware that their child/ren will not be returning to Our Lady Help of Christians in 2023, we request that this information be provided to the school office as soon as possible.

This information will assist us with accommodating both new applications and students who are currently on our waiting list. 

Please send an email to info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au if your child/ren will not be returning to the OLHC school community in 2023.

IMPORTANT DATES 2023

31 January 2023 - Students in Years One - Six return

31 January 2023 - 6 February 2023 Best Start Kindergarten Assessments  (one hour session)

7 February 2023  Kindergarten commence 

Jane Webb