36 - 1st November, 2024 - Term 4, Week 4
Principal's News
Dear Families,
As we head into an extra-long weekend, I hope that students and families will have the opportunity to rest and get ready for the last seven weeks of the school year! Those weeks will be action-packed, with Prep Transition Days, the Colour Run and Mission Week all coming up soon! Please refer to the calendar to make sure you know what’s happening and when. Following a few weeks of assessment, teachers will spend Monday beginning their end of year student reports.
Our playground is now complete, and once we return after the long weekend, it should be all systems go for the students to use it! It has been an exciting week for all of us watching the rubber being laid (I bet the contractors have never had such an audience while they worked!) and it will be great to finally get to play on it. I’m sure you will agree that it looks amazing!
During the coming weeks, the Grade Five students will be starting to write applications to become School Leaders for 2025. This includes the House Leader applications for Mc Auley and Gleeson. We have talked about the qualities that good leaders have, and the commitment it takes to lead others. Students are reflecting on their own talents and goals and will write an application from there. Once applications are in, students in Grades Three, Four and Five and the school staff will vote for the leaders. I’m sure we will have some excellent candidates who are ready to step up and lead the school in 2025!
After a tragic accident at a Melbourne school this week, we are all reminded that U-turns when leaving the Kiss and Go are not allowed. With so many people coming and going on foot after school (crossing roads, standing on the grassed areas) it is easy to see how performing a U-turn could place our students and families in danger. If you have other family members or friends collecting students for you, please inform them that no U-turns are allowed. We appreciate every family’s cooperation with this rule.
Thank you to all families who have attended to their school fees over the past few weeks, including those who pay by direct debit. Fees are due in full by the end of October. We also appreciate those who have contacted the office to discuss payment difficulties – this is good for us to know so that we can discuss a way forward. New fee information for 2025 went home last week.
Raffle books for our Major Raffle have been sent home today and this year’s raffle prizes are a great reason to buy some tickets! We hope that all families will do their bit by selling at least one book of tickets, but there are plenty of extras for those who wish to sell more! Remember, you have to be in it to win it!
I am currently in Horsham for the last of my termly Principal meetings with other principals from our Ballarat Diocese. The conversation and learning continues around developing a system of High Performing Catholic Schools in the future, which has some very interesting and innovative ideas connected to it. A draft of the strategy is almost complete and will be sent to principals in the coming weeks.
I hope you all enjoy the long weekend, and we will see all of our students on Wednesday!
Narelle Gallagher
Principal
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. We keep the following children in our prayers as they prepare to make their first communion - Ariana Mazza, Ava Dodson, Dallas East and Ryder and Violet Goldsmith.
Sacrament Masses: Wednesday 27th November 2024 at 6 or 7pm at Sacred Heart Church. Forms have been sent home to families with children making their First Reconciliation. Please fill these out and return them to the parish office ASAP to be registered.
MISSION WEEK AT OLSH
Colour Run - Tuesday November 12th
A flyer with more information regarding the Colour Run is below.
Crazy Hair/Sock Day - Wednesday November 13th
Children can come to school with crazy hair and/or wear crazy socks and donate with a gold coin donation.
Mission Liturgy - Thursday November 14th
The time will be confirmed closer to the date. This will be part of the Mission Week which focuses on raising money for those in need.
Mission Activities - Friday November 15th
Children will participate in various activities organised by all the classes for coin donations. There are lots of prizes to be won.
The class activities are listed below:
Grade Prep: Coin Line (class with the longest line made of coins wins the prize)
Grade One: Guess the Lollies in the Jar (person who can guess the correct number of lollies in the jar wins the jar of lollies)
Grade Two: Pick a Stick (Each stick has a prize on it)
Grade 3/4L: Money Slide (Money is slid across a table and try to land in a specific area to win the prize)
Grade 3/4P: Lucky Number (For $1 students select a number for a chance to win $50)
Grade 5: Sponge Throw (students throw wet sponges at different people (including teachers).
Sweet Stall: Lollies for sale for a coin donation
Grade 6: Magnetic Dartboard (students throw magnetic darts for a chance to win prizes.
* All money raise will be donated to Catholic Missions to help those less fortunate, so please dig deep and reach out and help others,
Thanks to all families for their continued support.
2025 Paperwork
Paperwork for 2025 was sent home last week with an assortment of forms required for next year. We are asking for these to be returned by Friday, 11th November to assist us with a smooth transition into the 2025 school year. If you have any questions can you please call the office on 50252258.
Major Raffle
Tickets have been sent home to families today!
As you can see below we have been able to once again provide fantastic prizes thanks to our wonderful sponsors.
Christmas 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 different items to bring 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 | Cereal, Dried Fruit, Muesli Bars, Foil, Gladwrap, Lunch Bags, Freezer Bags, Jelly, Lollies, etc. |
| Grade 2 | 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. |
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 15th November.
Please note that if your fees are not finalised you will not receive a magazine.
2025 Prep Transition & Tea R.S.V.P.
Thursday 7th November 9.00 – 1.30pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
*Wednesday 20th November 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Monday 2nd December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
Tuesday 3rd December 9.00 – 3.25pm (Play lunch & lunch will be required)
*We are also planning to have a Prep Tea on the evening of Wednesday, November 20th. More information about this will be sent out at a later date.
Happy Birthday
We wish the following students a Happy Birthday in the coming week:
Violet Dimasi - 14th November - 9 yrs
- Matilda Field - 14th November - 12 yrs
- Cleo Page - 14th November - 6 yrs
- Levi Davis - 17th November - 10 yrs
Student of the Week
| Class: | Awarded to: | For: |
| Grade Prep: | Hunter McPherson | sounding out in his writing. |
| Grade 1: | Ledger Bell | Doing an amazing job in Mathematics and having a great understanding of fact families. |
| Grade 2 : | Evie Chirgwin | writing interesting persuasive texts with arguments and evidence. |
| Grade 3 / 4 L: | Evelyn Matulic | her excellent efforts in Reading. |
| Grade 3 / 4 P: | Lachlan Ward | for his sentence structure. |
| Grade 5: | Chloe Shaw-Robinson | having a positive attitude towards learning and confidently completing Maths decimal tasks. |
| Grade 6: | Jacob Cain | for starting to put effort into completing tasks and beginning to actively see help when needed. |
Cultural Diversity
Prep News
Enjoy your long weekend!
Show and Tell: No show and tell during Week 5.
On Thursday, the 7th of November, the 2025 Preps will be having their second Transition Day. Current Prep students will be working in the Library with Mrs Garraway. Students will need to take their bags straight to the library and go out to play.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Rebecca Appledore- rappledore@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 1 News
Another busy week of learning in Grade 1!
In Writing this week, students have revisited creating questions and statements. They have done a great job of remembering the correct punctuation to use and attempting to spell tricky words.
Mission Week is in Week 6 so please make sure you have stayed up to date with all the information about the Colour Run and other events happening this week. All information can be found in the newsletter.
Concert- I have put a post on Seesaw regarding the end of year concert costumes. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions.
There will be no spelling homework next week due to the short week.
I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Grace Laity- glaity@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 2 News
We have had a very productive week this week, with lots of learning and fun!
In Mathematics, we have been revising place value and have begun to look at four-digit place value. We also learnt about area and the students had some fun with tessellating shapes.
The students have been busy practising for our End of Year Concert. Videos of the choreography have been placed on SeeSaw so some practise at home would be very beneficial! I also sent a costume letter home this week, please let me know if you have any questions about this.
Christmas Raffle Hampers: This year the Grade Twos are collecting soft drinks, long life milk, fruit juice, cordial, fruit boxes and icecream topping. Donations can be sent in to the Grade Two room, thanks!
Mission Week is in Week 6 so please make sure you have stayed up to date with all the information about the Colour Run and other events happening this week.
Have a great long weekend!
Lisa
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Lisa Ryan - lryan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 3 & 4 News
It has been a very productive week in the Grade 3/4 Unit with most testing now completed.
Our COLOUR RUN is fast approaching. Could all money please be handed into the office ASAP. Cost is $5 per student or $10 a family.
A reminder that next week is a shorter working week than usual. There will be no homework next week.
In Geography in 3/4P we have been looking at the natural features of China. China is certainly an amazing place geographically with some beautiful hidden gems we were not aware of! Perhaps this could be a holiday bucket list goal! We have also been writing fantastic, expanded sentences about ULURU and we are really enjoying our current class novel – NIM’S ISLAND. If anyone has a DVD copy of this movie, could we please borrow it? I can’t seem to find it on any streaming service. Thankyou.
At next week’s assembly, both 3/4L and 3/4P will present a report on their Swan Hill camp in the form of a song and a slideshow of photos.
End of Year Concert for 3/4L - What to Wear
Please have your child wear any Beatles-inspired or 60s-era clothing if they already own it. There's no need to purchase anything new. If you can’t find anything that fits this description, dark shorts and a solid, brightly coloured top (such as red, blue, purple, or yellow) will be perfect.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
3/4 L: Adam Lawrence – alawrenc@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
3/4 P: Julie Phelan – jphelan@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
3/4P (Friday's): Emma Garraway - ewood@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 5 News
2025 Prep & Grade 5 Tea - 20th November:
On Wednesday, the 20th November, OLSH will be having a Prep/Buddy Tea and Information evening for families of our 2025 Preps. This will be an opportunity to hear some tips and information about starting the year off in a positive way for your child as they begin their education journey. It’s also an opportunity to meet other families and children who will be in your child's classroom next year, as well as your child’s buddy. At the conclusion of the brief information session, there will be a chance for you to ask questions or to clarify any worries you may have. The format will be as follows:
- BBQ tea will be provided from 5.45pm
- Parent information session begins at 6.45pm
- Evening concludes around 7.15pm
Please note - Current Grade 5 students: This evening is for Grade 5 students only. We ask that parents drop their child off at 5.30pm and pick up at 7.15pm from inside the school. We will not send students out to the front gate. We hope to see you there!
Have a lovely weekend!
Cheryl-Anne
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Cheryl-Anne Courtney - ccourtney@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
Grade 6 News
This week we took part in the final Inform & Empower session for the year. The children learned more about what to do when they meet someone online that they haven't met in person and what to do if they feel uncomfortable with something that has happened online.
With the concert fast approaching, I will be sending a note home next week about the costumes that the children will need for their performances. Please do not feel the need to buy anything especially for this.
We have our date confirmed for the Graduation Mass. It will be Monday the 16th of December. More details will be sent home when they are confirmed.
I have sent a message on Seesaw to the parents of children who did not start Prep at OLSH. I still have a few people who have not joined Seesaw. I will need a Prep photo(head and shoulders) of your child, to use in the slideshow at Graduation. You can email one to me or send in a photo. If you are not on Seesaw please join as there will be a lot of information to be sent home soon and it is the quickest and most efficient way to do this. If you need another code to join please let me know.
Have a great long weekend!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me during office hours, either the SeeSaw app or email:
Tana Lawrence - tlawrence@olshmerbein.catholic.edu.au
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
8.30am | Supervision of students begin. Classrooms are remained closed. |
8.45am | Classrooms are opened for reading time. |
8.55am | Organisational bell (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
9.00am | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
11.00am | Recess bell. |
11.25am | Organisational bell (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
11.30am | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
1.30pm | Lunch bell. |
1.40pm | Students are to finish eating and go and play. |
2.20pm | Organisational bell rings (students go to the toilet, get a drink, be in line before music ends). |
2.25pm | Teachers collect students from their line and proceed into class. |
3.10pm | NSW bus bell. |
3.25pm | End of day bell rings. |
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.
Infinity Calisthenics Club is a welcoming, friendly environment that provides an enjoyable, energetic, and safe space for the Sunraysia community to participate in group dance and exercise. As a Victorian calisthenics club based in Red Cliffs, we are dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere where all participants can thrive. At Infinity Calisthenics Club we offer a combination of dancing, singing, gymnastics and technical skills for children and adults. Calisthenics develops strong, confident performers through teamwork. Discipline and technique, grace and poise are fostered in a fun and friendly club environment. As a club, we participate in competitions within the state of Victoria, developing the self-confidence and team work skills of our club members.
