38 - 13th November, 2024 - Term 4, Week 6
Principal's News
Dear Families,
Our school has immersed itself in Mission activities this week, with the focus on raising money for Catholic Missions. Throughout the week there have been lots of activities taking place, but I think that the students would agree that our Colour Run on Tuesday was a highlight! With the school looking amazing with its bright decorations, the day was off to a good start. As the Colour Run got underway, the fresh white clothes that we started the day in didn’t last long as the students and staff became absolutely covered in coloured powder! On Wednesday, we saw some of the craziest hairstyles and socks you could ever imagine as we continued with our fund raising. Today the fun continued with all the classes running their own stalls at lunchtime and it was clear that all the students were enjoying themselves while also showing how generous they are. If you haven’t seen any photos of the week, check out our Facebook page and the newsletter to see how much fun it has been.
Each year the school holds its Annual General Meeting to table reports about the school year and to vote new members to the SAC. The SAC meet around six times per year on a Tuesday evening, and work together on a range of matters like improvements to the school grounds, organising the Christmas Raffle or Bingo evening, or just giving opinions or advice. The 2024 AGM will be held on Wednesday, 4th December. In past years, families have found it difficult to make it to the AGM and attendance is generally minimal. For this reason, this year the SAC will meet in their current group for the final meeting, but if you are interested in being part of the parent group who advise the principal on matters to do with the progression of the school, please contact the office for further information, or complete the google form (link below) if you are interested.
Over the past years we have been fortunate to receive a donation to our school from the local Merbein Lions Club, which is much appreciated by OLSH as we can put this toward something that the students need. The Lions Club generously donate their time to many events and activities in our community and have helped us on our Family Night over the past few years with our BBQ and we are very grateful for their support each year. Please support the Lions Club when you can.
Through an initiative involving Visy, The Exchange Depot and the Container Deposit Scheme, our school has been given the opportunity to collect recyclables that attract a 10cent refund, such as our Lencia orange juice bottles that we sell in the canteen. We will have two bins in the yard to collect these items, and the exchange will empty them for us, donating back the profits to the school. This is a great way for us to be sustainable and to raise some money at the same time! Looking after our common home is part of our Catholic Social teachings so this fits in nicely with what we teach.
Our Raffle Books are selling fast and we thank all families who have already returned their book already. If every family can sell one book, it will go a long way toward helping us raise funds for the school. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so get your tickets now! We are slowly collecting items for our hampers and hope to see more products coming in over the next couple of weeks. Thank you to those who have donated so far.
Today each child in the school will be taking home a set of story books written and illustrated by local artist Pam Warburton. These books were donated to our school and are focused on wellbeing and kindness. We hope your child enjoys these. Thanks to Mrs. Lowry for organising the distribution of the books.
I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!
Narelle Gallagher
Links:
Enrolments at OLSH:
OLSH Calendar:
Religious Education News
Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Grade 2 & above)
Sacrament Masses: Wednesday 27th November 2024 at 6 or 7pm at Sacred Heart Church.
Please keep the following children making their first reconciliation in your thoughts and prayers: Anastasia Cory, Ivie Mazza, Layla Portaro, Charlotte Primarano
Grade Six Graduation Mass: will be held on Monday December 16th at 9:15am. Everyone is welcome to attend to farewell our current Grade 6 class.
Learning and Teaching News
It has been a busy couple of weeks for staff and students with PAT and DIBELS testing taking place. Now that most of the testing is complete, we’re seeing the positive impact Structured Literacy is having. It’s wonderful to witness the continued and sustained improvement in the students at OLSH.
I’ve had the privilege of entering the PAT data and observing some fantastic improvements made by students as a direct result of targeted interventions and excellent teaching practices.
These results are not limited to Literacy. There has also been impressive growth and progress in Mathematics, an area where OLSH has consistently excelled. This progress highlights the value of a consistent program such as Stepping Stones, running across the entire school, along with the effective, explicit teaching skills of the OLSH teachers.
2025 Paperwork
Paperwork for 2025 was due back this week. If you have not returned your pack yet, we ask you do so as soon as possible.
OLSH Major Raffle
DUE BACK IN 1 WEEK!
Its not long now until we draw the Major Raffle at our End of Year Concert on the 28th November. We have been able to once again provide fantastic prizes thanks to our wonderful sponsors.
The best way to show our appreciation to the sponsors is by selling the tickets. We expect that every family sells at least one whole book (20 tickets). More books are available from the office if you would like to sell more.
Christmas Hampers
For our Christmas Raffle we are asking for donations of groceries to put together a number of Christmas Hampers. Each grade has been allocated different items to bring to ensure we have a good variety. There will be a basket in each classroom to place the donated items in. The following is a list of food suggestions to donate which will be put together to make up the hampers for each class (no home brand products, thank you):
| Grade Prep | Bon Bons, Shortbread, Plum Puddings, Serviettes, Decorations, Plastic Plates, Christmas Wrap, etc. |
| Grade 1 | Cereal, Dried Fruit, Muesli Bars, Foil, Gladwrap, Lunch Bags, Freezer Bags, Jelly, Lollies, etc. |
| Grade 2 | Soft Drinks, Long Life Milk, Fruit Juices, Cordial, Fruit Boxes, Topping, etc. |
| Grade 3 / 4 L | Pasta, Rice, Flour, Coffee, Teabags, Milo, Cake Mixes, Sugar, etc. |
| Grade 3 / 4 P | Potato Chips, Dry Biscuits, Sweet Biscuits, Popcorn, Cup of Noodles, Pretzels, etc. |
| Grade 5 | Pudding Mixes, Ice-Cream Cones, Long Life Custard, Desserts, Coconut, Custard Powder, etc. |
| Grade 6 | Canned foods e.g.: Fruits, Tomatoes, Corn, Soups, Spaghetti, Baked Beans, Tuna, Beetroot, Sauces, etc. |
School Magazine
Magazine orders are included in your Family Fee payment so if this has been finalised then you will automatically receive one at the end of the school year. If you would like extra copies you will have to purchase them separately for $20.00 each. Please let the school office know by the 15th November.
Please note that if your fees are not finalised you will not receive a magazine.
2025 Prep Transition & Tea R.S.V.P.
*Wednesday 20th November 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Monday 2nd December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Tuesday 3rd December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
*We are also planning to have a Prep Tea on the evening of Wednesday, November 20th. More information about this will be sent out at a later date.
Happy Birthday
We wish the following students a Happy Birthday in the coming week:
Wyatt Laity - November 22nd - 6 years
- Erica Bloomfield - November 23rd - 9 years
Student of the Week
| Class: | Awarded to: | For: |
| Grade Prep: | Wyatt Laity | his great recount writing of the Colour Run. |
| Grade 1: | Zali Goodger | outstanding improvement with her reading. |
| Grade 2 : | Levi Pluckhan | showing great improvement in his spelling skills and hand writing. |
| Grade 3 / 4 L: | Wyatt Field | his excellent Topic Sentences and Concluding Sentences when using SPO's. |
| Grade 3 / 4 P: | Dallas East | his enthusiasm demonstrated in practising his dance moves for our Christmas concert. |
| Grade 5: | Savanah Flett | writing well organised and detailed paragraphs. Well done! |
| Grade 6: | Sophia Moroni | her enthusiasm during our concert practice and her eagerness to take on various roles. |
Healthy Study Habits
Although we all want our children to succeed academically, the foundation for that success lies not just in intelligence or motivation, but in the study habits they develop. Healthy study habits are essential for children to learn effectively, manage stress, and ultimately achieve their academic potential. Yet, in an age where distractions are plentiful and the pressure to perform is immense, it's more important than ever for us, as parents and caregivers, to guide our children in cultivating these habits. First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that good study habits aren't just about spending more time hitting the books. It's about quality over quantity. Encouraging your child to have a dedicated study space, free from distractions is the first step. Instilling the importance of a routine cannot be overstated. Regular study times help create a sense of normalcy and discipline, making studying a part of their daily life rather than a chore. Additionally, the way students approach their study sessions is just as important. Periodic breaks are vital in this process. This reinforces learning and reduces last-minute stress. Finally, balance is key. While academics are important, so too is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adequate sleep, a nutritious diet, and regular physical activity are non-negotiable aspects of a student's life that directly influence their ability to study effectively. Fostering these healthy study habits is one of the greatest gifts we can give children, setting them up for a lifetime of learning and success.
Prep News
We have had a busy week with lots of fun with Mission Activities that have kept us busy! Today was busy with class mission fundraisers and many prizes were won by lots of students! Thanks to parents for being prepared for the different events.
Concert Costume- Due at school by the 21st of November.
Show and Tell- Week 7’s Show and Tell topic is ‘Free Choice’.
Transition Day- On Wednesday students will be working in the library all day.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Rebecca Appledore- rappledore@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 1 News
What a busy week! This week has been filled with lots of fun and lots of learning. Everyone seemed to have a great day for the Colour Run, as well as crazy hair and sock day.
In Science we conducted an experiment to see what happens when water is mixed with oil. Photos of this can be seen on Seesaw.
Students love learning our weekly Idioms, so this week I decided to let them finish some of their own. We had some great ideas!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Grace Laity- glaity@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 2 News
We have had such a fun and busy Mission Week this week! The students have embraced every activity and a huge thanks must go to all of the parents for your amazing hairstyles on Wednesday as well as being organised for each day's activities.
Next week should be back to normal although we will be trying to fit in as much concert rehearsal as we can. Thank you to all the students who have been practising diligently at home - it makes a huge difference to their confidence when they know the steps. The videos are on SeeSaw so take a look if you haven't already done so.
Thank you to everyone who has brought in items for the Christmas Raffle Hampers. It's not too late to bring items in for this.
Also a reminder to return raffle books to the office.
Have a great weekend!
Lisa
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Lisa Ryan - lryan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 3 & 4 News
Well, it has been an incredibly busy week with much of our focus on Mission fundraising efforts. Well done to everyone who donated money and really got into the spirit of the moment - as you can see from the photos below!
All Maths lessons which come from our Stepping Stones books have now almost been completed. Now is a wonderful opportunity for both grades to reinforce some of the concepts that some students have struggled with in the past. Times tables homework will continue as this is a requirement.
We have been practising hard for our concert item and below are some Christmas Concert reminders:
Grade 3/4P are performing an ABBA item. If you could keep in mind suitable clothing for an ABBA costume, that would be great. As always, we ask that you utilise what you have already at home, rather than purchasing new items. Some ABBA costume ideas could include – long t-shirts with a belt, long white socks and runners (or long boots), overalls, flared pants with a tight fitting t-shirt, wigs. Google images is a great resource for ideas.
Grade 3/4L are performing a Beatles item. Please have your child wear any Beatles-inspired or 60s-era clothing. There's no need to purchase anything new. If you can’t find anything that fits this description, dark shorts and a solid, brightly coloured top (such as red, blue, purple, or yellow) will be perfect. Students need to be wearing runners.
Grade 3/4 L are building rubber band cars to learn about forces and energy. Each student needs four soft drink bottle lids to complete their cars. If you have any at home, could you please send them in? They can be from 2L, 1.25L, 600mL, etc...
MISSION WEEK
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
3/4 L: Adam Lawrence – alawrenc@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
3/4 P: Julie Phelan – jphelan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
3/4P (Friday's): Emma Garraway - ewood@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 5 News
We have had a fun and fabulous week participating in all the Mission Week activities. Today students enjoyed working together to organise and run our sweet stall and the sponge throw. Please see SeeSaw for photos of the week's activities.
We are working very hard to polish our dance for the Christmas Concert in just a few weeks. Please let me know if you need help organising your child's costume for the night.
Girls - Any top/skirt/shorts combo they like. They can wear whatever they feel comfortable dancing in.
Boys - shorts/basketball jersey with shirt underneath. They can wear a backwards cap if they would like to.
Please let me know if you need any help organising your child's costume.
Next week is the Prep and Grade 5 Tea - Wednesday 20th November.
- BBQ tea will be provided from 5.45pm
- Parent information session (prep parents only) begins at 6.45pm
- Evening concludes around 7.15pm
Please note - Current Grade 5 students: This evening is for Grade 5 students only. We ask that parents drop their child off at 5.30pm and pick up at 7.15pm from inside the school. We will not send students out to the front gate. We hope to see you there!
Have a lovely weekend!
Cheryl-Anne
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Cheryl-Anne Courtney - ccourtney@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 6 News
It has been a busy, but fun week with all of the Mission Week activities. You will see some photos below including a clean, then colourful photo from the Colour Run, as well as our crazy socks and crazy hairstyles.
Our Maths work of late has involved subtracting fractions, with the same or related denominators and using common fractions, improper fractions and mixed numerals. I imagine you would get some interesting responses if you asked your child what their thoughts on this work is!
We have been working hard on our concert practice with both performances taking shape. I am confident that the children will amaze you with their talents! I hope everyone now knows what their child needs for their costumes. Please don't hesitate to ask if you are unsure.
Have a great weekend!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Tana Lawrence - tlawrence@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
General News
School Advisory Council Members:
Thel O’Shea, Hannah Mills, Grant Finlayson, Courtney Portaro, Amy Cupper, Sandra Hammet, Lana Borchard, Adam Lawrence (Staff Rep) & Narelle Gallagher (Principal).
Change of details:
Please contact the office if you have had a change of details. Phone: 50252258 or Email: admin@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Bell Times
8.30am | Supervision of students begin. Classrooms are remained closed. |
8.45am | Classrooms are opened for reading time. |
8.55am | Organisational bell (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
9.00am | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
11.00am | Recess bell. |
11.25am | Organisational bell (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
11.30am | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
1.30pm | Lunch bell. |
1.40pm | Students are to finish eating and go and play. |
2.20pm | Organisational bell rings (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
2.25pm | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
3.10pm | NSW bus bell. |
3.25pm | End of day bell rings. |
SIMON Everywhere App
This can be downloaded from either the Google Play Store or the Apple Store. The app has been updated earlier this year and an email was sent out to parents. If you are having issues with logging in, can you please contact Mia in the office.
Student Medical Profile
Medical Profile: Please make sure that the school has been notified of any changes that have been made to your child’s Medical Profile on PAM and to also include this on the pink Parental Authority and Consent Form each year.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT TO MAKE OLSH AWARE OF ANY CHANGES.
Parent Notified Absence
If your child is unwell and will be absent from school, you are able to complete a Parent Notified Absence (PNA) on the SIMON Everywhere App or Parent Access Module (PAM) which will automatically notify the teacher and a text message will not be sent.
Newsletters
These are distributed every Friday on SIMON Everywhere and the OLSH Website. Please contact us if at any time you have any queries or require any further explanation about events, dates etc. Any items for the newsletter are asked to be handed in at the office by 9.00am on Friday.
Attendance & Sign in
A reminder to parents that the school needs to be notified of a student absence by 10 am on the day. This can be done by calling the school office or by using SIMON Everywhere or sending an email to admin@olsmerbein.catholic.edu.au.
Second Hand Uniform
Please contact the school if you require any second hand uniform.
