14 - 24th November, 2023 - Term 4, Week 8
Principal's News
Dear Families,
Another week down and we are another step closer to end of the year! On Wednesday we welcomed our new Preps for their first full transition day and then enjoyed a somewhat wet, but still worthwhile BBQ and information evening on Wednesday night. It was great to see most of our 2024 Prep families present and enjoying the tea cooked and served by our staff. Our new students are shaping up to be a lovely bunch who are very settled and already enjoying school! It was also great to see our Grade Five students in attendance to support their new buddies. The students did a wonderful job of introducing themselves and taking care of their new little friends and I’m sure they will take on this special responsibility with enthusiasm next year.
Next Thursday our school concert will take place on the oval, beginning at 6.15pm sharp. We ask that all students are at school and seated with their class by 6pm. Families are welcome to bring along a picnic tea from 5.30pm onwards. We are mixing up the format this year and having our announcement of school leaders and Major Raffle draw before we start the concert. If our students do some of their best singing, we also hope to have a visit from someone special at the end of the night! Hopefully the weather will be kind to us and we can enjoy a lovely evening together!
As you know, last week we had our Mission Week where we raised funds for Caritas Australia. I am pleased to report that the efforts of our students raised a total of $859.95! Our Giving Tree is also surrounded by beautiful gifts, ready to be collected by St. Vincent de Paul and it has been truly amazing to see how generous our families are, sometimes bringing in more than one gift at a time. I am sure that the families of OLSH will have made the Christmas of other struggling families a little brighter this year. Well done to everyone on such a fantastic effort so far. We still have a little longer to go before our gifts are collected on the 8th of December.
As part of and intitiative, the state government has provided all Grade Five students with Little Angler Fishing Kits. Recreational fishing offers terrific opportunities for people of all ages, skills, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy a fun and healthy activity and build social connections. Our aboriginal heritage is also deeply linked to fishing, with thousands of years of indigenous fishing history in Victoria. The Victorian Government is committed to increasing the number and diversity of people fishing and enjoying Victoria’s local seafood, growing healthy and sustainable fisheries sectors and contributing to Victoria’s social and economic prosperity.
The Victorian Government committed $1.5 million over four years at the 2022 State election to provide 60,000 primary school-aged children with Little Angler Kits that include a fishing rod, tackle tray, some tackle and a kids' guide to fishing. The aim of this commitment is to continue to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria by actively encouraging primary school-aged children to learn more about the art of fishing, marine life and the natural environment.
Grade Five students received a Little Angler Kit. Gr Fives have been selected based on the Victorian Curriculum focus, movement and motor development, and safety considerations.
Quite a while ago, all families received pink forms to be filled in regarding information for next year. Thank you to those who have already returned these. If you haven’t, make yourself a cuppa and sit down to do them! We would appreaciate these forms as soon as possible. Our Raffle books and hamper items are also due this week, at the latest by early next week. Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
On Tuesday, 5th of December we will have our whole school orientation day, where students will work in their classes for 2024. On this day in the past couple of years, the students have worn a Christmas t-shirt with their uniform to make the day festive! We will do this again this year, so we encourage everyone to dig out their shirts and put some tinsel in their hair to add to the excitement of the day!
Class lists have gone home today with the 2024 Grade Three and FOur students. Please make sure you ask your child for this envelope.
Nomination forms for our School Advisory Council went home last week on the flyer about the Annual General Meeting, which is to be held on the 6th of December. If you would like to be part of a parent group who advise the principal on school matters and you are interested in nominating for the SAC, please send your nomination form into the school before December 6th.
Have a great weekend!
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
OLSH School Concert
We are looking forward to seeing you all there next Thursday!
Religious Education News
On Wednesday, some of our Grade Two students celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation in Mildura. We congratulate them on this next step in their faith journeys. Next year they will participate in their Confirmation, then First Eucharist. Please watch the newsletter for upcoming sacramental dates.
December 3rd is the beginning of Advent. This is a very holy time of preparation for Christmas that goes for four weeks leading up until Christmas. At assembly today we began our celebration of Advent (a little early to fit our four weeks in) with a small liturgy and will do so for the final three weeks of school.
Major Raffle
LESS THAN ONE WEEK BEFORE WE DRAW OUR PRIZES!
RAFFLE BOOKS ARE DUE BACK TODAY.
Christmas Raffle Hampers
DONATIONS ARE DUE TODAY.
| 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 Prep Transition Program
There are two more Transition Days to go!
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)
Happy Birthday
We wish the following students a Happy Birthday:
Darcy Canning - 27th November - 11yrs
Ember Baylin - 2nd December - 12yrs
Student of the Week
| Awarded to: | For: |
| Grade Prep: Archie Milkeraitis | Always participating in classroom discussions and for always completing his work to a high standard. |
| Grade 1 / 2 L: Aiden Davis | Taking on teacher feedback and adding amazing detail in his narrative writing. |
| Grade 1 / 2 R: | |
| Grade 3 / 4 L: Harry Petty | Excellent efforts to improve his reading. |
| Grade 3 / 4 P: Chloe Shaw-Robinson | Making a wonderful effort with her "Stepping Stones" maths revision. |
| Grade 5: Able Gregg | Being a kind and considerate classmate and showing great leadership with your buddy. |
| Grade 6: Poppii Driscoll | Being a dedicated and hard working student all year. |
Prep News
Concert- This is on next Tuesday, 30th November. Students need to meet their classroom teacher at the oval and be dressed ready for the concert when they arrive back at school. Students must stay with their teacher until the end of the concert, they will not be able to go back and forth to their parents. It would be good if students could have a water bottle on this night with them and have had tea before the concert starts. At the start of the night Prep students will have a special presentation.
Library- No more borrowing. Students need to make sure all books are returned to school by the end of the year.
Art folios- Please make sure all art folios are at school. These will be sent home again in the next few weeks.
Readers- One more week of nightly and morning reading. Next Friday I will collect the black covers and word books to pass on to the student's teacher for next year.
Show and Tell- No more Show and Tell for the year.
Grade 1 & 2 News
This will be the last week of spelling homework for both grades. We will continue doing spelling in class, however there will be no more tests or homework.
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. Hamper items are now due. Wishing Tree gifts can still be brought in by 8th of December.
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
This week was the last week that students in Grade 3/4 had homework. Our homework foci this year have been reading daily and the times tables. This will continue to be a focus in the future as we have seen tremendous improvement in the students being able to recall times tables facts reasonably quickly. Students are encouraged to keep reading, however they will need to use a book from home, or elsewhere, as their ‘reader’ as our school library has finished borrowing for the year. Thankyou for your support.
Please see your child's class teacher if you have any questions regarding the Christmas Concert costume.
Julie and Adam 😊
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 week has been the week for stepping up and leading. On Monday students handed in their letters applying for the 2024 School Captain and House Captain positions. The voting will take place next week.
- On Tuesday students found out who their Prep buddy will be and then on Wednesday we spent lots of time together completing tasks and getting to know each other. The Grade 5 students showed fantastic leadership and maturity both during the day and in the evening when we met for the Prep Tea.
- This week students have applied all that they know about writing multi paragraph texts to a solar system topic of their choosing. They set themselves some focus questions and have been researching the answers and writing the information in their own words. We plan to finish this writing next week.
- Just a reminder that the concert is on Thursday. Students are encouraged to bring in their coloured shirt and blue/black shorts or skort for the dress rehearsal on Monday.
Grade Six News
- In Mathematics this week students have been working hard to calculate percentages and apply percentage discounts to work out sale prices.
- This week students have been busy writing about their time at OLSH. They have come up with something special to share with you on their Graduation Day! Check SeeSaw for more information and reminders about our upcoming Graduation celebrations.
- Just a reminder that the concert is on Thursday. Students are to wear a black top and black or dark coloured shorts/pants and suitable footwear to dance in. I need the tops in by Monday if I can please, so I can pin something on them.
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.
