13 - 17th November, 2023 - Term 4, Week 7

Principal's News

Dear Families,

Mission Week took place this week at OLSH, with students putting their best efforts into fundraising for Caritas Australia. On Wednesday, the students donated a gold coin to wear their craziest socks (there were some beauties!) and even Indi got into the spirit! We celebrated mass on Thursday to reflect on how we can live a life of mission in our everyday lives and on Friday, each class set up their own stalls with lots of fun activities for the students to take part in. There were some excellent activities, including the coin toss, lucky squares, guessing the number of lollies in the jar and lucky sticks, but I think the sponge throwing stall was the busiest! There were plenty of students willing to spend their money for a chance to hit the Grade Fives (and some teachers!) with soggy sponges!

As part of Mission Week, some students from St. Joseph’s College spoke with our students about the various activities that they are involved with to bring awareness to social justice issues. These students shared with us the ways they help out in the wider community and parish to ensure that the Mercy values of the College are being lived out. We hope it gave our OLSH students some ideas about the ways they can be kind, responsible and how they can help others in their immediate community, as well as globally.

The end of the 2023 school year is creeping up on us and the new school year will arrive very quickly once Christmas has come and gone! The structures for our 2024 classes have been decided, based on several factors, but most predominantly, on learning needs. We will have a mixture of straight and composite year levels next year for this reason. The structures and teachers for next year are below.

Grade Prep – Miss Rebecca Appledore

Grade One – Miss Grace Laity

Grade Two – Mrs. Lisa Ryan

Grade Three/Four – Mrs. Julie Phelan (Mon-Thurs) Mrs. Emma Garraway (Friday)

Grade Three/Four – Mr. Adam Lawrence (Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri) Mrs. Sophie Lohmeyer (Wed)

Grade Five – Mrs. Cheryl-Anne Courtney

Grade Six – Miss Danielle Ford

Classroom lists for the Grade Three/Four classes are currently being finalised and will be sent to families individually next week. We look forward to a great year in 2024!

As we are in the process of finalising enrolments at the moment, we ask that any family who knows they will be leaving the school at the end of the year advises the school as soon as possible. We currently have waiting lists for some year levels and knowing if there is a space available for someone else is very helpful. Contacting me in person or by phone call or email would be much appreciated.

The school’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday, December 6^th at 5.45pm in the school library. The current School Advisory Council will hold their regular meeting, then any nominations for the board will be considered and voted on by those present. Nomination forms for membership on the SAC went home on a flyer this week. If you think you have something to contribute to the school and would like to be part of an active, advisory group of parents, then please consider nominating. More information is on the flyer that went home.

School fees are now due to paid in full. Where families are separated and payment of fees are being split in 2024, we ask that you please notify Mrs. Carolyn Clementson in the school office by November 24^th with details of this arrangement. Each party is responsible for their share of the total amount. Paperwork must also be completed for a split of fees to take place. We appreciate your assistance by attending to this promptly. If we do not hear from you, fees will be billed to the family as one account.

Next week our new Prep families for 2024 will gather on Wednesday evening for a BBQ and information session at school. Our Grade Six students will be joining them to spend some more time getting to know their buddy. Any Grade Six students who have not returned their attendance slip are asked to do so as soon as possible so that we have numbers for catering.

Enjoy the weekend!

Narelle Gallagher

OLSH School Calendar

Religious Education News

Mission Week: Thank you to all families for supporting our Mission Week activities. We had great fun raising money for those in need, especially throwing wet sponges at some of the teachers! The money that we raised will be sent to Caritas Australia to support people in need around the world. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation: The children making their Sacrament of Reconciliation are: Jacinta Wagner, Isaac Lohmeyer, Morgan Dowling and Violet Dimasi. Please keep these children in your prayers. This will be held next Wednesday November 22nd 2023.

Advent: (Comes from the Latin word  ‘adventus’ which means coming). Advent is a time when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is also a period to celebrate the faith and conversion to Christianity. There are 4 themes of Advent - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd. 

Grade Six Graduation: The Grade Six Graduation Mass will be held on Thursday, December 7th at 9:15am. Please feel free to attend the Mass and farewell our Grade Six class from 2023. 

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

Eligible families can receive free home internet over the National Broadband Network by selecting the link below:

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/internet/national-broadband-network/school-student-broadband-initiative-ssbi

OLSH School Concert

OLSH Giving Tree

Please have these under our Christmas tree by Friday the 8th December

Major Raffle

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE DRAW OUR PRIZES!

RAFFLE BOOKS ARE DUE BACK NEXT FRIDAY.

Christmas Raffle Hampers

DONATIONS ARE DUE NEXT FRIDAY. 

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):

2024 Prep Transition Program

*Wednesday 22^nd November              9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)

Monday 4^th December                        9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)

Tuesday 5^th December                          9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)

*This includes the Prep Tea on the evening of Wednesday, November 22^nd. 

Happy Birthday

We wish the following students a Happy Birthday:

• Erica Bloomfield - 23rd November - 8yrs

• Pietro Dichiera - 23rd November - 12yrs

• Oliver Smith - 25th November - 10yrs

Student of the Week

Prep News

We have had a busy week with lots of fun with Mission Activities that have kept us busy! Today was extra special with our class mission fundraiser and many prizes were won by lots of students! Thanks to parents for being prepared for the different events.

Concert Costume- Due Thursday 23rd November.

Show and Tell- Week 8’s Show and Tell topic is ‘Free Choice’. This will be the last week of Show and Tell for the year.

Transition Day- On Wednesday students will be working in the library all day with Mrs Lohmeyer.

Art folios- Please make sure all art folios are at school. These will be sent home again in the next few weeks.

Science- This week in Science we worked in groups to create a house for the Three Little Pigs. Each group could only use one item (50 icy pole sticks or 50paper cards or 50straws) and their house needed to have a roof. Students worked really well together even though they found the task tricky. 

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Grade 1 & 2 News

Students returned to school refreshed and ready to learn this morning.

In Writing, we listened to the story 'Hey, Little Ant'. The students then had to decide whether the boy should squish the ant or save the ant. After some discussion, the students wrote arguments to support their opinions. It was great to read all of their ideas!

Our students have been busy practising for the end of year concert. It would be great if they could have a practise at home as well. I can tell that some students have been doing this over the weekend -they were showing off some great moves!

Thank you to everyone who has sent in donations for the Christmas Raffle hampers and Wishing Tree gifts. Please send these into the office before the 24th of November (hamper) and the 8th of December (Wishing Tree gifts). 

Grade 3 & 4 News

We have had a busy week with lots of fun with Mission Activities that have kept us busy! Today was extra special with our class mission fundraiser and many prizes were won by lots of students!

In preparation for our STRUCTURED LITERACY timetable for next year, this week we introduced PAIRED FLUENCY. When we read fluently, we read a text accurately, quickly and with appropriate expression and phrasing. As the name suggests, we have been reading an appropriate text that is relevant to what we are learning about in class, in pairs, over the duration of a week. After reading this same text for three or four days in a row, our students are generally able to read with confidence and clarity by the end of the week. Please ask your child what their PAIRED FLUENCY text was this week and give them the opportunity to explain it to you.

Christmas Concert Costume update for 3/4P – please wear runners or your black shoes. Not boots as was previously stated. Thankyou.

Christmas Concert Costume for 3/4L - plain coloured t-shirt (colours in list below) can have a small emblem or picture or be turned inside out to be plain.

Orange t-shirt:  Holly, Zali, Ariana, Isaac, Harry, Charlie, Sonny, Oliver, Dixie, Shanae

Yellow t-shirt: Ava. B, Ava. D, Evelyn, Frankie, Charlotte, Jasper, Paley, Dallas, Mason, Phoenix, Xavier

Dark (black/navy) shorts, can be dark blue denim shorts. Not too short for dancing on stage.

Footwear is runners only, with ankle or plain socks.

Julie and Adam 😊

Grade Five News

This week we had a strong focus on Mission Week and how we can work in solidarity with others to help those most in need. On Wednesday we enjoyed wearing our craziest socks (see photos in the gallery). Today was a highlight with us running the sponge throw activity at lunchtime. Lots of fun was had and we raised money to help Caritas with their important local and international projects. Thankyou Lisa Gourlay for organising the tubs and sponges for us to use.  Much appreciated!

Our concert item is coming along really well with most students knowing all the dance moves and looking amazing. Last week I sent home a note with information on the costumes. I've also posted this letter on Seesaw. Please let me know if you need any help finding what you need.

Grade Six News

• This week students attended St. Joseph's College and P-10 for a tour. Hopefully this will help them feel more prepapred for their upcoming transition day.
• Well done to the students for running our mission activity and taking part in all the mission activities this week. 
• Just a reminder to mark in Decemeber 7th in your calendars for our Grade Six Grad Mass and Morning tea. We can't wait!

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.