Filter Content
OUR CATHOLIC FAITH
During the month of November, the Catholic Church remembers in prayer those much loved members of our families, friends and the wider community who have each gone before us to their eternal reward.
We remember those much loved members of our own families and pray that they will share in the resurrection of Jesus.
Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, May perpetual light shine upon them and May they rest in eternal peace. AMEN
Dear Parents and Carers,
It is very difficult to believe how quickly the term is progressing!
We had a wonderful celebration last week to recognise and celebrate those significant Great People in the lives of our students. This very special day in our school calendar is definitely one of the highlights of our school year. This day began with a beautiful Eucharistic celebration led by our Parish Priest - Fr Sarkis, during the Mass Fr Sarkis reminded each of us as parents and educators of the important responsibility of sowing the seeds of faith. He also reminded us to like leavened bread - bread that has a rising agent. Our shared Catholic faith is this this leaven - this allows us to respond to the needs of those around us with love and compassion.
May Our Lord be able to use us so that, placed as we are at all the cross-roads of the world - and at the same time placed in God - we become the salt, leaven and light. Yes, you are to be in God, to enlighten, to give flavour, to produce growth and new life. But don't forget that we are not the source of this light: we only reflect it. (St. Jose Maria Escriva)
Following from this Eucharistic celebration, we were able to join together for a delicious morning tea and then our special visitors were able to spend some time sharing in learning with the students.
The students will have many special memories from this day. It was really wonderful to see so many special visitors and great people in attendance.
Please enjoy our photo gallery of this memorable day -
KINDER PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
Thank you to the Kinder 2024 parents who were able to attend the Kindergarten Parent Information evening on Tuesday evening. The purpose of this evening was to allow parents to become familiar with and engage with key information in order to support their child to prepare for school.
An information pack was provided to all parents at the evening. If you were unable to attend, this information will be sent home with your eldest child (for existing parents). A Best Start Assessment will be completed with all Kinder students next year.
Mrs Sabrina Nowak
It is with great pleasure that we announced that Mrs Sabrina Nowak will be teaching Kinder next year. Mrs Nowak is really looking forward to meeting the Kinder 2024 students at the two Orientation Sessions - Tuesday 21st November and Tuesday 5th December 2023.
Please bring a water bottle and fruit for Munch and Crunch.
These sessions commence at 9am -10:30am
These sessions are compulsory for all students commencing Kinder in 2024.
STAFF NEWS
I would like to advise the school community that Mr Jarrod Shelton will not be returning to OLHC next year. Mr Shelton has been with us for this year in a part time teaching capacity. He is going to travel overseas next year. We wish him all the best for this next chapter and thank him for the contributions that he has made to our school community.
Mrs Hope Prioste has also been at OLHC this year in a part time capacity supporting Stage Two. Mrs Prioste has secured a teaching position at another school in the Diocese of Wollongong next year.
We thank Mrs Prioste for the contributions that she has made and wish her many blessings for the future.
We will farewell Mr Shelton and Mrs Prioste at the end of year Mass on 15th December.
Recruitment for staff for 2024 is still continuing. We will announce staff teaching positions following Promotions where students will meet their teacher for the 2024 school year.
I will be taking leave from 10th November - 17th November 23 inclusive. During this time, Mrs Alison Fazio will be Acting Principal supported by members of the school leadership team.
Next Tuesday 14th November, Mrs Fazio and Miss O’Sullivan will be attending a diocesan meeting of school leaders in Wollongong. We welcome Mrs Leonie Palmer as Relieving Principal next Tuesday.
Jane Webb
House Points
Congratulations to MacKillop who are leading the house points so far this term. Next week the leading house for the halfway point of the term will be announced and they will receive their ice block reward.
House points will continue to be awarded and counted throughout the rest of the term and the winning house will be announced each week at Flag Raising. In Week 10, the winning house for the term will be announced and will be awarded with a mufti day. At this point the total house points for the year will be tallied and the house to win the House Cup will be announced. The students work hard to be awarded house points by following the school rules on the playground and in the classroom, wearing the correct uniform, completing homework and borrowing from the library.
Uniform
Over the coming weeks the teachers will be paying particular attention to the way the students are wearing their school uniform and ensuring that they are following all aspects of the uniform policy. In particular, they will be focusing on making sure girls are wearing the correct earrings (plain gold or silver sleepers and studs only), students are wearing the correct socks and shoes on sports days (no ankle socks and sports shoes must be predominantly white) and they are following the expectations with their hair. The teachers will give students a reminder if they are not following the uniform expectations in some way but may need to contact you as parents if the problem continues. We thank you in advance for supporting us with this.
PB4L Focus
The PB4L focus for explicit teaching this week is Community Singing, the teachers have retaught the expectations for this and the following poster has been displayed in classrooms throughout the school.
It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the last term of 2023. The end of the year is going to come very quickly with many special events to enjoy and celebrate a wonderful year as a school community. We have the Stage 3 Surf Day tomorrow, Year 6 Camp in Week 7, the P&F Colour Run and OLHC Christmas Festival in Week 9 and Year 6 Graduation and the End of Year Mass in Week 10.
The teachers are currently assessing and preparing Semester Two reports which will be released to parents via Compass on Wednesday 6th December (Week 9).
Alison Fazio
Assistant Principal
Term Dates for 2024
Please find below Term Dates for 2024. Parents are reminded that where possible, vacations should be arranged during the school holiday periods. Any extended leave of more than 10 days requires approval by Principal, prior to the holiday. Extended leave forms can be found on our website link below:
Application for Extended Leave 10 days or more
Early next year, we will advise families what dates will be scheduled as Staff Development days.
|
Term Dates 2024 |
|
|
Term 1 |
Tuesday 30 January — Friday 12 April |
|
Term 2 |
Monday 29 April — Friday 5 July |
|
Term 3 |
Monday 22 July - Friday 27 September |
|
Term 4 |
Monday 14 October — Friday 20 December * |
* The last day of term 4 will be advised closer to the date.
Have you seen our new School website?
We invite parents to have a look at our new school website which contains a wealth of information for parents and our school community.
Parents will be able to access Compass Event Calendar, Newsletters, School policies, virtual tours of the school, link to Compass and many other features.
STUDENTS NOT RETURNING TO OLHC IN 2024
If parents are aware that their child/ren will not be returning to Our Lady Help of Christians in 2024, 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 2024.
CLASS PLACEMENT 2024
Term 4 is the time when we complete the 2023 school year as well as prepare for 2024. One of the major tasks this term is to prepare classes for 2024. Teachers and staff members utilise their professional expertise in making decisions, seeking to create equitable class groupings considering all students.
Please note - this applies to Year Two and Year Six for 2024 that will be regrouped as we have 2 classes/streams for each grade.
All other grades (Kinder, Year One, Year Three, Year Four and Year Five will be single class/stream for 2024).
Optimising the learning environment is the prime focus when forming new class groups for 2024, not forming friendship groups. The aim is to provide classes in which each child is able to continue to develop to their full potential.
If there is a particular issue regarding your child’s optimum learning for 2024, please write to Mrs Webb, via email, stating your concerns and requests. You are invited to be proactive rather than reactive.
Please note that this is not an opportunity to request individual teachers, but an opportunity to state a particular issue that might impact on your child’s learning in 2024.
All requests will be considered but NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED.
Please send your email requests to info@olhcdow.catholic.edu.au , using Class Placement 2024 as the subject line, marked to the attention of Mrs Webb by Friday 24th November 2023.
Please note: Further requests regarding class placement will not take place after this date.
ASSEMBLY
Our next Assembly will be held on Friday 17 November 2023. Merit and Principal Awards will be presented. Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving a Principal's Award.
| Principals Awards | |
| Class | Student Name |
| 2M | Adelaide DOUGLAS |
| 2M | Isabelle SIALAFAU |
| 2M | Nash SUMMERS |
| 3M | Ollie MARSHALL |
| 3M | Jax STEVENS |
| 5M | Sancia SOARES |
| 5W | Emma BOLSHAKOVA |
| 5W | Teiarra LATULIPE |
| 6M | Charles-Joseph PRZYBYLO |
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:
Parents attention: COMPASS calendar now live !
Compass school calendar is now live. Parents and Carers will be able to see all school events, assemblies, term dates, etc on demand. This will ensure parents are kept up to date with all school activities and important dates.
Having trouble getting on to COMPASS? - try installing the updates on the App. Another idea is to uninstall the App and reinstall. If you are still experiencing access issues, please call the school office.
A COMPASS parent guides:
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
Please also check Compass calendar and events tab.
| Friday 10 November |
3M Reconciliation at 9am Year 3 Classroom visit at 10am - Fr Sarkis Surf Education Day - Yr 5 and Yr 6 |
| Wednesday 15 November |
Year 5 Parish Mass at 9am |
| Thursday 16 November |
Year 6 Parish Mass at 9am |
| Friday 17 November |
6M Reconciliation at 9am Year 2 Class visit at 10am - Fr Sarkis Assembly at 2pm |
| Tuesday 21 November |
Kindergarten 2024 Orientation day 1 at 9am to 10.30am |
| Wednesday 22 November |
Year 2 Parish Mass at 9am Year 6 overnight Camp (Day 1) - Further details in Compass |
| Thursday 23 November |
Kinder Class Parish Mass at 9am Year 6 overnight Camp (Day 2) - Further details in Compass |
| Friday 24 November |
4M Reconciliation at 9am Year 5 Class visit at 10am - Fr Sarkis Year 6 Camp (Day 3) - Futher details in Compass |
| Monday 27 November |
P & F Meeting 7.30pm Library |
| Wednesday 29 November |
Year 1 Parish Mass at 9am |
| Thursday 30 November |
Stage 2, Year 3 and 4 Class Parish Mass at 9am |
| Friday 1 December |
Year 3 and 5 Benediction at 11.40am Assembly at 2pm |
| Tuesday 5 December |
Kindergarten 2024 Orientation Day 2 at 9am to 10.30am Coloured Fun Run 1.30pm to 2.30pm (Student wear White) |
| Wednesday 6 December |
Kindergarten Excursion - Calmsley Hill Farm Semester Two reports released online through Compass |
| Thursday 7 December |
Year 5 Parish Mass at 9am |
| Friday 8 December |
Year 6 Class visit at 10am - Fr Sarkis Christmas Festival (during the day, Christmas Mufti) |
| Wednesday 13 December |
Year 6 Graduation Mass 5pm to 6pm followed by dinner at 6.30pm - More details to come |
| Friday 15 December |
End of Year Mass - 9.30am to 10.30am Term 4 concludes - Last day for students |
| Saturday 16 December to Tuesday 30 January 2024 |
Summer school holidays |
| Wednesday 31 January 2024 |
Term 1 commences - Students in Years 1 to 6 return Kindergarten Best Start commences only 1 hour per student (as per times booked) |
| Wednesday 7 February 2024 |
Kindergarten commence a little later at - 8.45am* and finished at 2.45pm. (*normal school start time is 8.25am) |
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 can be located on our school website. 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.
Canteen Menu can be located on school website link below;
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.
WHAT'S ON IN CAMPBELLTOWN