10 - 27th October, 2023 - Term 4, Week 4
Principal's News
Dear Families,
Today is World Teacher's Day and at OLSH, we have some wonderful teachers to celebrate! Across the country, teachers like ours work extremely hard every day to not only educate our children but to ensure that all students are supported, both socially and emotionally. Teachers go above and beyond for their students a great deal of the time, sometimes putting their own families second. If you see your child's teacher today, let them know they are appreciated! It could just make their day!
On Wednesday morning we welcomed our 2024 Prep students for their first Transition visit. With a little help from some of our Grade Six students, the children did an amazing job of walking into a busy schoolyard and made their way to the classroom to meet their teacher and new classmates. There were a few nerves but excitement as well, as the new Preps navigated the morning with the help of Miss Appledore and the LSOs in the room (refer to the Grade 5 news for photos). With four more Transition days ahead before the end of the year, it won’t take long until the routines of school become second nature.
Our end of year School Concert is coming up fast! The big event will be on the evening of Thursday, 30th November and the classes have been busy practising during Performing Arts for their items. Over the next few weeks, teachers will be organising costumes and will send information about this home to families as soon as possible. We encourage families to bring along a picnic tea to have on the oval before the concert and along with our class items, we will also draw the Major Raffle and announce the 2024 School Leaders. As the concert comes closer, we will send out a more specific timetable for the night.
Hopefully families are busy selling their raffle tickets, which went home to families last Friday. We have already had several books sold and returned and families have taken extra tickets to sell. This is fantastic, as you have to be in it to win it! The more tickets you buy, the better your chances of winning one of the amazing prizes! As mentioned in the newsletter last week, we are also collecting items to put in our hampers as part of the raffle prizes. Each class has been allocated a specific type of item to contribute and we have tubs in each classroom where you can place these. We appreciate all of your donations and look forward to putting together some great hampers to give away!
Next week our Grade Three and Four students are making their way into the St. Joseph’s College Mercy Theatre to see the College’s performance of “Matilda”. The College has kindly invited students from all of our Sunraysia Catholic Schools to attend the show and coincidently, our students have just finished reading the book. They are very much looking forward to seeing the story brought to life on the stage! Please make sure you have given permission on PAM to travel to the excursion.
I have been in Horsham for the past two days attending a Diocesan Leadership Gathering of principals from our diocese of Ballarat. These termly conferences provide opportunities for professional development for principals, as well as information to assist with the day to day running of our schools. This final meeting for the year is also a chance to farewell any principals who are retiring from their positions, many after quite some time in the job. It is always great to speak with colleagues and to see that our challenges and our causes for celebration are very similar across the diocese!
A reminder that the five-day Melbourne Cup break is coming up soon. There will be no school on November 6th, 7th and 8th, as teachers complete report writing and attend the Structured Literacy Professional Development. We hope families have a chance to rest before we continue the busy term!
Congratulations to the OLSH students who took part in the sacraments last Sunday. It was a lovely celebration as the students received the eucharist for the first time.
Enjoy the weekend ahead!
Narelle Gallagher
Email:
- Narelle Gallagher: principal@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
- Office staff: admin@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Office hours: 8.00am to 4.00pm - Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 3.45m - Friday
Teachers: 8.45am to 4.00pm - Monday to Friday
OLSH School Calendar
Religious Education News
Sacrament of Reconciliation: Children in Grade Two have an opportunity to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday November 22nd. Please contact the parish office for further information. All forms and payments need to be made to the parish office on 11th Street.
The children making their sacrament are: Jacinta Wagner, Isaac Lohmeyer and Violet Dimasi. Please keep these children in your prayers.
Mission Week: Will be held from Monday November 13th - Friday November 17th. During this time we will be raising money for those in need. The week will also include a Mission Mass.
Major Raffle
Thank you to those families who have already brought books back and collected more!! The draw will coincide with our End of Year Concert on Thursday, 30th November. As you can see below 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 Raffle 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 a different selection 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 / 2 L | Cereal, Dried Fruit, Muesli Bars, Foil, Gladwrap, Lunch Bags, Freezer Bags, Jelly, Lollies, etc. |
| Grade 1 / 2 R | 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. |
2024 Paperwork
Next week families will receive a pack with an assortment of forms required for next year. We are asking for these to be returned by Monday, 13th November to assist us with a smooth transition into the 2024 school year. If you have any questions can you please call the office on 50252258.
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 17th November.
Please note that if your fees are not finalised you will not receive a magazine.
Sustainability News
Chicken Sitting - Summer Holidays
We are getting prepared for the summer holidays and seeking a nice holiday home for our five friendly, laying school chickens. We will provide the food and you will have plenty of delicious eggs to eat over the holiday period.
Could you please let the school know if you are interested in helping us for the holidays.
Thank you kindly,
Sustainability Team
2024 Prep Transition Program
Thursday 9th November 9.00 – 1.30pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
*Wednesday 22nd November 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Monday 4th December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Tuesday 5th December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
*Prep Tea on the evening of Wednesday, November 22nd. Information regarding this event has been sent out.
Student of the Week
| AWARDED TO: | FOR: |
| Grade Prep: Julius Mazza | His amazing improvement with his spelling and writing this term. Keep it up! |
| Grade 1 / 2 L: Jacinta Wagner | Settling in well to a new school and working hard in our daily review. |
| Grade 1 / 2 R: Tommy Field | Working hard to improve his handwriting and letter formation. |
| Grade 3 / 4 L: Holly Cumming | being an excellent example of how to play corrctly in the playground. |
| Grade 3 / 4 P: Tyler Mattchoss | Having a massive improvement in his attendance these last few weeks. Well done! |
| Grade 5: Teal'c Shaw | Showing resilience when working on challenging tasks. You are making good progress! |
| Grade 6: Ember Baylin | Demonstating excellent results in all her assessen tasks. Well Done! |
Happy Birthday
We wish the following student a Happy Birthday:
Hayden Gourlay - 4th November - 11yrs
Prep News
This week has been busy with assessments, seeing the school nurse and moving out of our classroom for the kinder students first visit.
Thanks to the parents and students who are reading each night. Please make sure children are reading each night and reader diaries have been signed.
Show and Tell-Share a magic trick, joke, card trick or something else you can do.
In Writing we have been focusing on using puncuation correctly, using finger spaces, our handwriting and capital letters correctly.
During Reading we have been practising breaking up words and recognising digraphs (sh, ch, wh, th).
In Maths we have been revising some of the topics we have covered recently including teen numbers and 2D shapes.
I will be away next Friday and students will have Mrs Webb on this day.
2D Shape Pictures
Grade 1 & 2 News
We can't believe that we are at the end of Week 5 already! This week we have been completing some end of year testing and will continue these next week. Students will complete PAT Tests in Reading, Mathematics and Spelling (Grade Two only).
In Writing, we have been learning about persuasive texts. We have been identifying the opinion, arguments and language in persuasive writing. We also had a go at writing our own arguments to support our opinion.
In Science yesterday we looked at the effect of heat on frozen fruit. We recorded our observations of how the fruit changed after it had thawed in both a microwave and in the sun.
In Art, we are creating sun and moon pictures using warm and cool colours. They are looking great already!
Thank you to everyone who has brought in donations for our Christmas Hamper raffles. Donations of grocery items can be sent in with your children over the next few weeks. Please check further on in this newsletter for a list of items which have been requested for your child's class. Both classes have a container to collect the items in the classroom.
Students have been busily practising for the end of year concert. I wonder if they can share any of their moves with you at home?
Have a great weekend!
Lisa and Grace
If you have any questions you can email us at:
Prep: Rebecca Appledore - rappledore@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
1/2 L: Grace Laity- glaity@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
1/2 R: Lisa Ryan- lryan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Friday - 1/2 R contact: Emma Garraway - ewood@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 3 & 4 News
We have some exciting news! Next Thursday 2nd November, we will travelling in to Mildura to the Mercy Theatre to watch St Josephs College, live performance of Matilda! This coincides beautifully with our class novel that has been our focus this year Matilda by Roald Dahl. We really can’t believe our luck! Please have the permission form filled out on PAM to enable your child to attend this very exciting event! Thanks to those who have already done this. We will be departing school at 11.40 and returning at 2pm by bus. Students will have an early lunch before we depart and their snack on our return. Julie and Adam 😊
100% of 3/4P were at school this week! It's been a while and we were all happy to be together!
If you have any questions you can email us at:
- 3/4 L: Adam Lawrence – alawrenc@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
- 3/4 P: Julie Phelan – jphelan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade Five News
This highlight of the past few weeks has been learning how to be a Year 6 buddy. All year 5 students are putting their best effort into the lessons. On Wednesday we were able to meet with 20 enthusiastic students and begin to get to know them. As the photos show, it was a very successful first meeting.
Grade Six News
- In Mathematics this week we have been learning about reflection. Students have had to reflect shapes and label the corners to show where they would be, now they have been reflected.
- In Science this week students explored the effect of heat on the three states of matter. They viewed a dramatic video of shattering glass, which they returned to at the end of the lesson to construct an explanation with their newfound knowledge. They conducted a practical exploration of expanding and contracting gases, and used the expansion and contraction of liquids to explain how a non-digital thermometer works.
- This week in Respectful Relationships we worked on identifying and demonstrating the need for clear communication when help-seeking. We discussed the importance for clear communication in letting people know about our problems and needs. It is not enough to hint and hope. To ask for help clearly we need to be able to recognise and name the problem and actually make the request for help.
If you have any questions you can email us at:
- 5: Cheryl-Anne Courtney - ccourtney@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
- 6: Danielle Ford- dford@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
General News
School Advisory Council Members:
Thel O’Shea, Hannah Mills, Grant Finlayson, Amy Cupper, Sandra Hammet, Lana Borchard, Adam Lawrence (Staff Rep) & Narelle Gallagher (Principal)
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.
