30 - 13th September, 2024 - Term 3, Week 9

End of Term 3 - 2.30 pm Finish

The VICTORIAN & NSW BUS WILL NOT be running at the earlier time of 2.30pm when Term 3 finishes next week (please see the communication attached to the newsletter).

Due to this change, we are asking that parents arrange for students who travel on these buses be collected from school at 2.30pm as staff will also finish at this earlier time on the last day of term.

We thank you for your co-operation.

Principal's News

Dear Families,

It has been a very busy week at OLSH, kicking off with the Athletics on Tuesday, followed by the Sunray Warrior exhibition on Wednesday and today, the Prep/One/Two excursion and sleepover! I think it’s fair to say that there will be some tired kids (and staff) this weekend!

With our Athletics Day at the Aerodrome Ovals for the first time, there was a little anxiety about whether the day would run smoothly, but thankfully everything went well! With great weather, plenty of space for the events and some good organisation, the day was a success, with all students giving the individual activities their best efforts. Well done to McAuley who took out the overall win once again!

Obviously, improvements can always be made, and we thank those families who have filled in the brief survey asking for feedback. We appreciate the positive comments that have been made and we received some good ideas for next year. A big thank you to our parents who cooked and served the BBQ on the day – Brett Cupper, Thel O’Shea, Josh Tassone, Allison Mazza and those who assisted on events during the day. The day would not have been a success without this help. Thank you to Mr. Breewel and our staff who have been busy with preparations for some time. It was a great day!

The Sunray Warrior excursion and the Prep/One/Two excursion were also a big success, with the students taking part in many different activities at the Precinct on Wednesday and at Woodsie’s Gem Shop today. The junior students enjoyed their pizza and pasta lunch at the Pizza Café very much (it’s incredible how much they can eat!) and our Grade Ones and Twos will be spending the night in our Multipurpose Room tonight after more activities this afternoon. Fingers crossed for the teachers and parent volunteers that everyone is so tired that they sleep well! We hope all students have had a great week!

On Monday the team from Adventure Plus will be at school to dismantle our existing junior playground and will install the new playground equipment. They are hoping this will be completed by Friday, which will cause a lot of excitement for the junior students! Unfortunately, the rubber surface underneath the playground will take a little longer to complete, but we are hoping that the playground will be ready for use shortly after we return in Term Four.

This week we received communication from CDC Buslines that they will not be running an early bus on the last day of term as they always have in the past, which usually picks students up at 2.30pm when school finishes (please see the communication attached to the newsletter). Due to this change, we are asking that parents arrange for students who travel on the Victorian bus to be collected from school at 2.30pm. Students who travel on the NSW bus will also need to be picked up at 2.30pm (they are used to this process) as staff will also finish at this earlier time on the last day of term. We thank you for your co-operation.

A reminder to families of Grade Three and Four students that payment for the Term Four camp to Swan Hill is due next Friday. Please contact the office if you have any questions or concerns about payment. School fees are also due to be paid in full by the end of October. Again, if any family is having difficulty with payment, please see me as soon as possible so that alternate arrangements can be made.

Next week we wind up the term with our Disco on Thursday night and Footy Colours Day on Friday. Information about these activities has been on the flyers in the newsletter over the past few weeks. It has certainly been a busy ten weeks!

Have a great weekend!

Narelle Gallagher

Links:

Enrolments at OLSH:

OLSH Calendar:

Religious Education News

• Sacrament of First Holy Communion (Grade 4 & above)
• First Communion Masses: Friday 25th, Saturday 26th & Sunday  27th October 2024

A reminder to parents of children making their first communion to complete all the worksheets and return them to the Parish Office ASAP. The sacrament is coming up next term and we wish those children making their communion God's many blessings. 

• Sacrament of First Reconciliation (Grade 2 & above)
• Parent Information Meeting: Wednesday October 16th at 7pm at Sacred Heart Church 
• Sacrament Masses: Wednesday 27th November 2024 at 6 or 7pm at Sacred Heart Church.

CDC Buslines Communication

School Saving Bonus

The letter below explains the new School Saving Bonus, which the Victorian government are providing next year to every child who attends a government school. Unfortunately for families in Catholic Schools, this payment will not go to every family, instead only to those who currently receive the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF). DOBCEL, our governing authority in Ballarat, has fought hard against this blatant discrimination of some families who choose to send their children to a Catholic School, but unfortunately the protests have fallen on deaf ears. We hope that if the bonus is offered again in the future, that all families will benefit.

Grandparents Day

OLSH Athletics Day - Summary

On Tuesday we all competed in our Annual Athletics Day at a new venue - The Mildura Little Athletics Club. It was a great day enjoyed by all and the weather was fantastic.

The two teams, McAuley and Gleeson, battled hard all day and the final results showed a tight contest. But McAuley did it again, for the third year in a row. Well done McAuley on a great win.  

Thank you to the parent community for getting behind the change and assisting in a variety of roles, including cooking the BBQ, assisting with events and generally supporting the new concept.

Thank you to all staff and students for embracing the Athletics Day and getting into the spirit of it. Hopefully it's the beginning of many years OLSH Athletics Days at the Little Athletics Club!

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 12

Next

OLSH Disco - 19th Sept

OLSH Footy Day - Remember to order before next Wednesday!

School TV

A Special Report: Toxic Achievement Culture

Toxic achievement culture is characterised by the entanglement of self-worth, achievement and the relentless pursuit of academic or extracurricular success - at any cost! This phenomenon goes beyond the mere quest for success. it embeds a belief in students that their merit is exclusively tied to their achievements, often propelled by intense external pressures from families, schools, and society.

Some students are overfilling their schedules with activities aimed at "getting ahead". However, the consequences are proving to be detrimental on students' mental and physical health resulting in burnout and heightened levels of stress. This culture is also being aggravated by parental expectations, peer competition and a relentless comparison ethos often driven by social media.

There is nothing wrong with having ambition, but it's crucial to ensure that this desire doesn't push our young people into a toxic cycle of achievement and make them feel that they must achieve in order to matter. The relentless drive to excel is leading many students to prioritise accolades over genuine learning and personal growth, often at the expense of their own wellbeing and interpersonal relationships. As adult carers, we need to advocate for a more balanced and holistic approach to achievement, emphasising the importance of resilience, wellbeing, and the pursuit of diverse interests.

This Special Report will help you understand the signs of toxic achievement, and how to address them so as to teach students how to adopt a better work/life balance.

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.

Here is the link to your special report:
https://olshmerbein.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-toxic-achievement-culture

Happy Birthday

We wish the following students a Happy Birthday in the coming week:

• Wyatt Field - 17th September - 10 yrs

• Zahleya Grayson - 17th September - 9 yrs

• Oscar Hensgen - 22nd September - 9 yrs

Prep News

Thank you to everyone for being so organised this week! It was been a busy one but students have managed really well and seemed to enjoy themselves at all the activities. I think they will need a very quiet weekend!

Show and Tell- Week 10’s topic is ‘Something that has a tail’. A new list will be sent home next week.

STEM-We will be completing a STEM activity in Week 10. We will need cardboard boxes for this activity (similar in size to A4/A3 paper) and bubble wrap. If you have any please send these in at any time.

Art Folios-These will be coming home next week. Please make sure you return the folios ready to be filled in Term 4.

Library Books- No more borrowing for the term. Please make sure all library books are returned before the holidays. They can be sent in any day.

Week 9 Photos

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

School Nurse

A flyer went home a couple of weeks ago with your child. We ask that these are completed by 20th September 2024.  

https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/sehq/s/

Grade 1 News

Athletics day- Well done to everyone who participated in Athletics day on Tuesday. It was great to see so many families come along and watch. All of the students did an amazing job.

Sunray Warriors- The students enjoyed an excursion on Wednesday, learning about putting rubbish in the correct bins and sharing our water around. The highlight of the day was when the students were able to hold and pet different animals, from a possum, turtle and a snake!

R U OK? Day- We spent Thursday morning learning about how to ask someone if they are ok. Students did very well with the 4 steps and acted these out in front of the class. It was great to see a pop of yellow in the classroom.

Grade 2 News

We have had a jam packed week full of fun and great learning experiences! A huge thank you to all of the parents for being organised for each day. I know it was a lot to keep track of.

I was so impressed with how the Grade Two students participated and encouraged each other on Athletics Day. It was a bit daunting at first to have our day at a different location but I think the extra space and facilities made a big difference. We will all be used to it now for next year! 

On Wednesday, we went to 'Sunray Warriors', held at the South Mildura Sporting Precinct. The Grade Two students participated in four different activities which were based around looking after our environment. In the first activity, students learnt about the river and how we use it. We also learnt about the different animals in the river while playing a giant boardgame. The second activity focused on waste management and the students played a game of sorting rubbish into the correct bins. Our third activity was with Sarah from EnviroEDU and we met a very cute freshwater crocodile and a python. The last activity focused on the precious resource of water and we learnt about all of the things in our environment that require water to survive. The students have been working on a Google Slide presentation to display all of the new facts they learnt on the day.

On Thursday, we had RUOK? Day and the school was looking very yellow! In the afternoon we completed some learning about identifying when to ask someone if they are okay. 

Today our students are having a ball on their much anticipated Activity Day/Prep Tea/ One/Two Sleepover. We have had a lovely excursion to Woodsie's Gem Shop, lunch at the Pizza Cafe and some fun at Park for Play. I think we will all sleep well tonight (fingers crossed). Grade Two students need to be picked up between 7:30 and 8:00am on Saturday morning.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa

Grade 3 & 4 News

Hi everyone,

Well, it's been a hectic, but fun week!

It was great to see many parents at our Athletics Carnival on Tuesday and we were blessed with beautiful weather! Well done to McAuley for their win and to all students who demonstrated wonderful sportsmanship.

On Wednesday we had the Sunnray Warriors environmental excursion. Some of our highlights included discovering many water bugs in fresh water, listening to a culture talk, learning how to throw a spear and a boomerang, learning about what bin we should really be putting our rubbish in, and holding a Murray-Darling Carpet Python!

We also completed our STEM activity for the term this week which required students to work in groups and create a toy for children involving magnets.

Next Monday afternoon, Grade 3/4P will be watching the movie Charlotte's Web. We have been reading this book throughout the term. Students are welcome to bring in snacks, pillows or blankets if they wish. No obligation of course.

Next Thursday, 3/4L will be watching Nim's Island. We have been reading this book throughout this term. Students are welcome to bring in snacks, pillows or blankets.

Another reminder to please have camp fully paid by the end of this term - unless other arrangements have been made with  Mrs Gallagher.  A second camp note will be sent home today. Please check your child's bag!

Julie and Adam.

We examined water samples and discovered the types of waterbugs that live in the Sunraysia region at Sunnray Warriors.

Grade Five News

We've had a very busy and productive week! Students were enthusiastic about Athletic's Day and supported each other to do their best in all events. On Wednesday we spent the morning at the Mildura Sporting Precinct where we enjoyed learning more about our environment and how we can help keep protect our local waterways, plants and animals. Yesterday we enjoyed adding a splash of yellow to our day and learnt how we can be a good friend to someone who might be having a tough time. We're working on a 'zine' to show our understanding and commitment to making RUOK day everyday!

We have almost finished reading our Term Three novel, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and next week we will watch the movie. It is available on Disney Plus and is rated M due to the battle scenes which involve bows, arrows, swords and daggers. If you are not comfortable with your child watching the movie, please let me know and I will provide an alternative activity.

Have a great weekend!

Cheryl-Anne 

Grade 6 News

What a week!

I would like to congratulate the children on the way they participated in the Athletics Carnival with effort and enthusiasm, on Tuesday. They also did a fantastic job of cheering on their buddies.

On Wednesday we went to the Sunray Warriors. The Grade 6's represented OLSH well with positive behaviour and enthusiastic participation in the activities.

On Thursday we celebrated R U OK? Day with a splash of yellow and some classroom activities. It was pleasing to see how they approached our Conversation Bingo task, by connecting with a number of different people and really engaging with them. 

Next week we will finish our second class novel for the term, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. We will be watching the movie to do a comparison between them. I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing these novels with the children. Their engagement with the stories and understanding of them has been fantastic!

We are looking forward to entertaining everyone at the final assembly for the term. If you are able to attend, we will look forward to seeing you there.

Have a great weekend!

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

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.