2 - 9th February, 2024 - Term 1, Week 2

Principal's News

Dear Families,

Today all OLSH staff took part in the first of two Structured Literacy professional development days for this year. This approach to literacy will be our main focus for the next few years and each time we attend new learning, we come away with a greater knowledge of how to best implement this program in our school. Structured Literacy is currently underway in all classrooms at various stages, so hopefully you will hear your child talking about the different parts of the literacy block in the near future.

We hope that all families are getting back into the routines of school and that students are feeling settled! Now that you have read the information slides that went home on Wednesday evening (a link went home via email on Wednesday and we have also placed it in this newsletter) we hope that you have a good idea of some aspects of your child’s day in the classroom. If you have any questions about the information, you will have an opportunity to ask these at the Parent/Teacher Interviews on February 19^th and 20^th. Bookings for these meetings can be made through PAM and are now open!

Throughout the year, OLSH holds various activities or events where parent help is appreciated. Some of these include cooking pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, assisting with excursions, and wrapping raffle prizes at Easter and Christmas, to name a few. In the coming weeks we are hoping to send out a Google Form for families to fill in if they think they could spare some time to help with any of the listed activities. Helping out is also a great way to meet new people and families! We understand that people are pressed for time these days and often don’t want to be a part of a formal committee, so we are hoping that by gathering some names of those who are interested in assisting with even just one event, that we will have a place to start when calling on families to help out.

Yesterday we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass as a school and it was a lovely way to begin our year! The participation of all students was fantastic and our new Preps took in what was a new experience for most with interest and reverence. It was also lovely to see some families joining us for mass. Apart from asking for blessings on the year to come, our School, Sport and Student Leaders were all presented with their badges, blessed by Fr. Matt. We hope that the year ahead is a good one for all of us at OLSH!

Yesterday, our Grade Five and Six students (and some keen Grade Three and Fours!) were lucky enough to receive a visit from four players from the Richmond Football Club. Nathan Broad, Kamdyn McIntosh, Nick Vlastuin and Kaleb Smith spent time answering questions prepared by our students about their careers, their lives before footy, and who influenced them as they grew up. The players were very impressed by the questions and the students really enjoyed the chat! I'm sure there would have been plenty of conversation about the visit at family dinner tables last night! Well done to our students, who conducted themselves really well and asked some great questions.

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, SchoolTV is a new platform with a wellbeing focus for families, students and staff and we are pleased to be launching this today! It was great to see that from the information that went out on Facebook this week, around 170 people took a closer look at what SchoolTV had to offer. We are hoping that the themes covered each week will provide families with evidence-based information about a variety of topics, which will at times coincide with events or phases of our school year. We look forward to hearing your feedback about SchoolTV as the year goes on.

All of our students have been proudly wearing their uniforms so far this term, which is great to see! Just a reminder to students whose hair hangs below their shoulders – your hair must be tied up. This applies to both girls and boys. We ask that all families support this rule, as head lice love long hair and once your child has lice, it can be a long and frustrating process to get rid of them! As you can imagine, head lice also spread very quickly from student to student.

School fee statements were sent out last week to all families. We thank those of you who have now paid your Student Fee or have made arrangements for payment through direct debit. The collection of fees plays an important part in running a school, as many resources come from fees.

A reminder that our Grade Three to Six students will be taking part in the Swimming Programme towards the end of February, and we ask that all permissions are completed on PAM in plenty of time.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Narelle Gallagher

OLSH School Calendar

Classroom Information Website

Below is a link to a Google website where you can access information about your child’s classroom, including classroom expectations and helpful tips to make the school day run smoothly.  We hope that you take the time to read the content provided and always, please contact us if you have any questions or queries.

Enrolment at OLSH

The link below will take you to our website where you are able to fill out the online enrolment form.  To finalise the application you will need to upload your child's Birth Certificate and Immunisation Record. 

If you have any questions please call the school or email admin@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au

Student Medical Profiles

Each year we ask parents to log on to their child's medical profile and make any changes to the record, these have now been reset for Grades 1 to 6.  PLEASE NOTE: This is the responsibility of the parent and should be done as things change as well as notifying the class teacher.

Please make sure that all forms ie: Asthma / Anaphylaxis plans are included when filling out the profile as these are only current for one year. 

Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser

This year OLSH Merbein will once again be taking part in the Banjo’s Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser. For every order made, Banjo’s Mildura will donate 20% of all sales back to OLSH Merbein.  We are yet to decide on what we put the funds towards this year. Banjo’s Hot Cross Buns are delicious and great toasted or fresh with a cuppa so we hope that all families will support this drive! 

How it will work:

• Collect your orders/money and keep a record on the form below - this will be for your records                (we will be sending these forms home on Monday)

• Log on to CDF Pay and complete your order by the following date:  Wednesday, 20th March

• All orders will be delivered to the school for collection on Tuesday, 26th March at 3.20pm on wards.

Canteen

The following is information regarding our Canteen ordering system and how to set up an account:

• Recess and Lunch orders are placed through CDF Pay only 
•  Orders need to be submitted by 9.15 am each  Friday morning.  THERE WILL BE NO LATE ORDERS.
•  Students are not able to purchase either recess and/or lunch with money.
•  Should your child have a food allergy please note this in the ‘Special Comments’ when placing the order. 

Religious Education News

Shrove Tuesday: On Tuesday February 13th 2024 we will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday. It is a day where Christians prepare for the beginning of the Lenten season. In the past, people would use up all the ingredients from their pantries that would go off during the 40 days of Lent. These ingredients were used to make pancakes, so that is how the tradition of making pancakes happened on Shrove Tuesday. 

The children will be having pancakes at school on Tuesday morning for recess. If you are available to help or your child has any dietary requirements, please let the school office know ASAP.

Ash Wednesday Liturgy: On Wednesday February 14th the children will be involved in the Ash Wednesday Liturgy. This will be held in the OLSH Church from 12:30pm. During the liturgy the children will receive the Ashes on their forehead as a sign of our commitment to our faith and to remind us of our shortcomings and help us to focus on becoming better people.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church’s season of Lent. The marking of the ashes on foreheads is a public expression of faith and humility. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through prayer, people can come closer to God to better understand how to live justly as Jesus did.

Project Compassion: Next Wednesday all families will receive a project compassion box. We are encouraging families to raise money for Caritas Australia, which is an organisation that reaches out to communities in need. This project goes for the 40 days of Lent and we will ask families to return the money to school by Thursday March 28th 2024 (final day of Term One). 

Sacrament of Confirmation (Grade 3 and above): Children in Grade 3 and above who have been baptised, have the opportunity to continue their sacrament journey by making their confirmation. Below are the dates of Confirmation and parents need to contact the parish office to register their child. 

Parent Information Meeting: 27th March 7pm, Sacred Heart Church.

The  celebration dates are as follows: Friday 17th May, Saturday 18th May and Sunday 19th May.

Learning and Teaching

Today, all staff members participated in a Structured Literacy Day, focused on further expanding our knowledge of the Structured Literacy Framework and refining our approach to implementing the curriculum for our students. The insights gained from this day will contribute to enhancing our classroom practices.

Classes across the school will once again take part in the 'Inform & Empower Digital Safety & Wellbeing' program this year. These online live streams are engaging for students, covering topics such as digital footprint & identity, passwords, internet etiquette, screen time, green time and sleep habits.

Starting on the 13th of March, students in Grades Three and Five will take part in NAPLAN. Below is an information brochure for parents and carers. If you have any concerns or questions about NAPLAN, please speak to your child's teacher.

Adam Lawrence

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)

SchoolTV

Welcome

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.

Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.

This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.

Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person's life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.

Explore SchoolTV today!

Wellbeing Barometer Survey: 2024

The Wellbeing Barometer survey has proven to be an invaluable tool for schools, providing insights into the state of youth mental health and wellbeing. 

Participating in this year's survey will assist in identifying areas of strength and concern, as well as pinpointing opportunities for early intervention. Previously gathered information has helped support families as they navigate difficult conversations that enable understanding and foster connections to build relationships.

This survey is part of an ongoing, longitudinal study, with the results being instrumental in tailoring support for students and their families. Participation is strongly encouraged, as it provides a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements over the past year. Its aim is to capture a comprehensive picture of young people's lives, allowing for a tailored approach to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.

We encourage you to take a few moments to complete a survey for each of your children. This will help us determine the nature and extent of your concerns and how best to support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

Acquiring the skills for future independence, taking healthy risks, and giving young people the opportunity to emancipate from parents, are key developmental tasks that are essential if we are to stave off the impact of mental illness in the future. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.  Select the link below to your special report:

Cyberbullying

In this edition of SchoolTV - CYBERBULLYING

With the advent of the internet, smart phones and tablets, there is now a whole new digital dimension added to traditional schoolyard bullying. There was once a time when bullying victims were given some respite outside of school hours, but sadly these days, online bullying can occur 24/7. In today’s world, teaching your child about online and cyber safety, is as important as learning to swim or cross the road!

Cyberbullying can be identified as being the repeated behaviour by an aggressor with the intent to harm or embarrass. Technology enables these aggressors to share information widely and quickly, making this form of bullying extremely dangerous and harmful. However, the answer is not to shun the internet nor social media. Instead, parents are encouraged to embrace it and instil a family internet policy to protect their children without limiting the freedom to learn, explore and communicate online.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents are provided with useful guidelines and advice on how to minimise the risks. Children have the right to feel safe, regardless of whether it is in the schoolyard or online.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

OLSH Swimming Lessons

SSG & Parent Teacher Interviews

SSG Meetings are taking place next week on the  12th & 15th February. Bookings are now closed on SIMON Everywhere, please call the office if you would like to make a change to your booking. 

Please note: If parents have attended an SSG meeting you will not be required to attend a Parent Teacher Interview.

Parent Teacher interviews are taking place on the 19th & 20th February – Parents are now able to log on to SIMON Everywhere to make a booking.

Bookclub

Bookclub went home with students yesterday.  Please note that orders must be placed on line through the LOOP system and the cut off date will be the 16th February at 9:am.

Conveyance

Victoria: All children who live 4.8km away from the school, by the shortest route, are eligible for a Conveyance Allowance Bus Pass paid by the State Government. Application forms must be completed and returned to the office no later than Friday 17th February.

NSW: There is a bus travelling from Wentworth each morning and afternoon. Please contact CDC for information regarding the bus route. Applying for a bus pass is done online at http://www.transportnsw.info/school-students. If you live more than 1.6km from the pick-up/drop off area you will be eligible for a conveyance payments as well.

Happy Birthday

We wish the following students a Happy Birthday:

• 13th Feb - Dallas East - 10 yrs

• 17th Feb - Charlie Cowling - 9 yrs

• 17th Feb - Rory Cowling - 9 yrs

Prep News

We hope all parents enjoyed learning more about their child’s classroom on the Information website. This can be viewed at any time using the link below. Please remember to ask any questions on Seesaw or via email.

https://sites.google.com/olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au/2024-information-session/home

Parent/Teacher Interviews- These are coming up on the 19th and 20th of February. Please make a time to come and see your child’s teacher. You will need to book this on PAM/SIMON. 

Art smocks- Students will need an art smock at school.

Buddy Assembly- On Friday the 16th of Febrarury the Preps along with their buddies will be presenting at assembly. All parents are welocme to come along at 9am.

Next Prep Rest Day- Wednesday 14th February. Students do not come to school.

Reading- Please make sure you are listening to/reading each night.

History- We will be looking at photos of when students were babies and photos of students families. Please make sure you have supplied a photo by Friday the 16th Feb. Thanks!

This week we started reading and fine motor groups. Students have enjoyed playing games and working with different students.

Week Two Photos

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Grade 1 News

We have had another great week this week! Our class has been busy getting into the routine of Structured Literacy.

We have our assembly coming up in Week 4, the 23rd of February.

Mathematics- This week we have focused on teen numbers, using tens frames to help us count.

Science- In Science we looked at what tells us that a plant is "alive" and drew flower diagram.

Spelling- New spelling words will be sent home on Monday. Please ensure Spelling books stay in reader folders so I can check them on a Friday. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email: glaity@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au

Grade 2 News

 The students have had another great week this week! They did a great job listening and participating in our Whole School Mass yesterday.

Spelling: Spelling words went home yesterday and our first test will be on Thursday Week 3. Please ensure these are practised at home. There are ideas on how to do this stuck in the cover of your child's home spelling books. These books need to stay inside their reader covers. 

Mathematics: We have been practising counting by tens off the decade (3, 13, 23, 33, 43) and place value ( 3 digit numbers).

Science: This term we are learning about how living things change.

RE: We are beginning to learn about Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. The students are looking forward to pancakes on Shrove Tuesday next week!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email: lryan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au

Grade 3 & 4 News

We hope that everyone has had the opportunity to read over the class information that was sent out on Wednesday via google slides. Please see your child’s classroom teacher if you have any questions.

Next week we will be preparing for the season of Lent with Shrove Tuesday on Tuesday and Ash Wednesday on Wednesday. Please refer to the RE section of this newsletter for details.

For those students who have not brought back their art folios or art smocks, would you please do this asap. Thank you.

FYI: Next week, Mrs Phelan will be away on Monday and Tuesday and will be here for the remainder of the week (including Friday).

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Julie and Adam 

Grade Five News

• Yesterday we had a visit from some Richmond football players. Students enjoyed learning more about they players and about the journey they had taken to become an elite athlete. Connected to our work on commitment, students were interested to hear how the players showed commitment to their personal goals and their team.
  
• This week in Science we explored opposable thumbs and discussed why scientists believe that our opposable thumbs are an important human adaptation. You will find some photos of our experiment on Seesaw.
• Next week we will have pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and a liturgy for Ash Wednesday. Parents and families are welcome to come along to the liturgy in the Church at 12:30pm.
  
• And finally, a reminder that students are expected to read each afternoon for 20minutes and have their diary signed by a parent. Your assistance with this is appreciated. 

Grade Six News

• If you haven’t already, just a reminder to check out the Grade Six information page on the Google Site below. You can access information about your child’s classroom, including classroom expectations and helpful tips to make the school day run smoothly. https://sites.google.com/olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au/2024-information-session/home
• Yesterday we had a visit from some Richmond football players. Students were excited to ask questions about life as an AFL player and were able to find out about the dedication and commitment it takes to be an elite athlete. 
• This week students have been learning about the 1850’s gold rush and how it created an economic boom for our country. We are also learning about life in the colonies prior to federation. 
• Next week we will have pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday and a liturgy for Ash Wednesday. Parents and families are welcome to come along to the liturgy in the Church at 12:30pm. 
  

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.