12 - 2nd May, 2025 - Term 2, Week 2

Principal's News

Dear Families,

I hope all families enjoyed the Anzac Day long weekend. Thank you to all students and families who attended the local march and commemorations in Merbein on Friday – your presence was much appreciated by local RSL members. Our students, as always, were extremely respectful throughout the formalities and participated with pride. This week we have had a good week of learning with very few interruptions, which is a blessing in busy classrooms! The colder mornings are a timely reminder that winter uniform is expected to be worn from Monday, so please ensure that you have the required items ready to go. All items are available in Lowes at Centro.

On Monday evening, the Tuning into Kids program will be held at our school. Our Wellbeing and Learning Diversity Leader, Jo Finlayson, will be running the program which is aimed at assisting parents to enhance their relationships with their children by helping them to manage their emotions as they develop. This is a great opportunity for parents which will allow you to listen to and talk about the challenges you may be having with your child’s behaviour or emotional wellbeing. If anything, it allows parents to see that they are not alone, and that parenting is challenging for  everyone! If you would like to know more, or would be interested in coming along, feel free to contact the school.

On Wednesday, the senior school leaders and student representative leaders will be attending the GRIP Leadership Conference at the Grand Hotel in Mildura. This is an annual gathering of Student Leaders across Sunraysia that teaches students about the skills they need to be good leaders. Mrs. Lohmeyer will attend with the OLSH crew and I’m sure they will have some good ideas to share with us all when they return. We hope they have a great day!

Our Mother’s Day liturgy, activities and morning tea will be held next Friday, May 9^th. All students are very excited about sharing some valuable time with their mums and we hope that after the activities, our mums will enjoy some time to themselves whilst enjoying the delicious morning tea in the Multipurpose Room! Thank you to those who have replied to the invitation. It’s not too late to come along, so contact the office or follow the link on the newsletter to indicate your attendance.

A reminder that the assembly on Friday will be held at 2.45pm due to the Mother's Day activities in the morning. Grade Three will be presenting and we hope to see you there.

I hope that you all have a great weekend!

Narelle Gallagher

Links:

Enrolments at OLSH:

OLSH Calendar:

Religious Education News

Sacramental Program: We have a number of children involved in the sacrament program in the coming weeks. Children are now preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation and Holy Communion, so please keep the following students in your prayers:

Confirmation: Jacinta Wagner, Sophie Barnes, Anatasia Cory, Layla Portaro, Ivie Mazza.

Holy Communion: Isaac Lohmeyer and Morgan Dowling. 

* A reminder to parents that all forms should now be returned to the parish office filled out with your child's details, Mass times you are attending and your child's sponsor name.

* Children making their first commuion need to ensure they have the passport and attend 3 Masses before making the Sacrament of Holy Communion. These need to be handed into the parish office the week before the sacrament. 

* There will be practice sessions for both sacraments the week before the sacrament. Please contact the parish office for further details.

* Lessons are online and need to be completed before making the sacraments. It's encouraged that students complete one lesson a week with their parents. 

Sacrament of Confirmation (Year 3 & Above)

• Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be held on the weekend of  Friday 30th, Saturday 31st May & Sunday June 1st.

Sacrament of Holy Communion (Year 4 & Above)

• Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be held on the weekend of  Friday 20th, Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd June.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Year 2 & Above)

There will be an opportunity for children in Grade Two or above to make their Sacrament of Reconciliation. Below are the details of the parent information night and the celebration of the sacrament. Please contact the parish office for further details if you are interested in making the sacrament. 

• Parent Information Session - Wednesday October 15th
• Celebration of Sacrament - Wednesday November 26th

Mother's Day Liturgy & Morning Tea

R.S.V.P. is due TODAY

We will be celebrating our OLSH mums with a Liturgy on Friday, 9th May at 9.15 am. Following the Liturgy in the church we will join the students in the classroom for activities and then head over to the Multipurpose room for Morning Tea. 

We would love to see you all there and we are asking you to r.s.v.p. by the 2nd May so we can organise the food and activies.

RSVP: https://forms.gle/ALHb2gKsspCfNiMg8

Tuning in to Kids - starts Monday

Tuning in to Kids is set to commence next Monday, 6th May at 6:00pm.

Cross Country

Results

Congratulations to all the children who participated in the school Cross Country race last week. It was fantastic to see so many children trying their best and completing the race. Below are our winners from each age group.

 2025 Cross Country Results

6 and Under

            Girls                                                                                Boys

• 1st: Indi Meyer                                                            1st: Logan Tupperainen
• 2nd: Hannah Burns                                                  2nd: Claude McGowan
• 3rd: Milla Davis                                                          3rd: Samuel Mazza

7 Year Olds

            Girls                                                                             Boys

• 1st: Pandora Henderson                                        1st: Dusty Hallam
• 2nd: Cleo Page                                                           2nd: Parker Moule
• 3rd: Indi Walsh                                                          3rd: Kai Libchard

8 Year Olds

            Girls                                                                            Boys

• 1st: Isla McClelland                                                1st: Ledger Bell
• 2nd: Zara Russell                                                    2nd: Henry Matulic
• 3rd: Indi Barnes                                                      3rd: Julius Mazza

9 Year Olds

           Girls                                                                           Boys

• 1st: Quinn Bell                                                        1st: Morgan Dowling
• 2nd: Elki Garraway                                              2nd: Aiden Davis
• 3rd: Jacinta Wagner                                             3rd: Tommy Field

10 Year Olds

            Girls                                                                        Boys

• 1st: Summer Alderson                                      1st: Rory Cowling
• 2nd: Zahleya Grayson                                      2nd: Isaac Lohmeyer
• 3rd: Savannah Borchard                                 3rd: Toby Walsh

11 Year Olds

            Girls                                                                      Boys

• 1st: Frankie Roberts                                        1st: Levi Davis
• 2nd: Ariana Mazza                                          2nd: Aston McGowan
• 3rd: Ava Barnes                                                3rd: Beau Blore

12+ Year Olds

            Girls                                                                  Boys

• 1st: Paley Hammet                                       1st: Isaac Longeri
• 2nd: Zali Breewel                                         2nd: Phoenix McGowan
• 3rd: Alice Parker                                           3rd: Connor Pole

District Cross Country Race

The following children have been selected to represent OLSH at the District Cross Country race on Tuesday May 6th 2025. The selections were based on times required to qualify for the next level. Good luck to all those participating:

Morgan Dowling, Aiden Davis, Rory Cowling, Tommy Field, Isaac Lohmeyer, Summer Alderson, Quinn Bell, Zahleya Grayson, Elki Garraway, Jacinta Wagner, Isaac Longeri, Levi Davis, Phoenix McGowan, Aston McGowan, Connor Pole, Paley Hammet and Zali Breewel.

PROGRAM FOR THE DAY (Times are subject to change and are a guide only)

All races are combined Sunraysia and Sunraysia South Divisions.

•  9.50am Welcome and Explanation of Rules.
• 10.00am  Sunraysia 9/10 year old combined girls and boys Event 2km.
• 10.15am Sunraysia South 9/10 year old combined girls and boys Event 2km.
• 10.30am  Sunraysia 11 year old combined girls and boys Event 3km. 
• 10.50am Sunraysia South 11 year old combined girls and boys Event 3km.
• 11.10am Sunraysia 12+ year old combined girls and boys Event 3km. 
• 11.30am Sunraysia South 12+ year old combined girls and boys Event 3km.
• 12.00pm Presentations.
• 12.20pm Tidy up and Dismissal from Event Area 

Open Days - Merbein P to 10 & Henderson College

Internet Addiction

Happy Birthday

We wish the following students a Happy Birthday:

Month of May:

• 2nd - Dusty H - 7 yrs

• 4th - Evelyn L - 6 yrs

• 4th - Bailey S - 8 yrs

• 6th - Ivie M - 9 yrs

• 7th - Hunter-Rose K - 7 yrs

• 11th - Chloe SR - 12 yrs

• 14th - Meila G - 9 yrs

• 18th - Oliver L - 8 yrs

• 20th - Aysha ES - 11 yrs

• 23rd - Isla C - 10 yrs

• 25th - Harrison G - 8 yrs

• 25th - Paley H - 12 yrs

• 26th - Halle PZ - 7 yrs

• 27th - Jessica M - 11 yrs

• 27th - Harriet P - 9 yrs

• 28th - Parker M - 7 yrs

OLSH Canteen

Orders need to be completed by 9.15am every Friday.

Prep News

Don't forget that next Friday we have our Mother's Day Liturgy, Activities and Morning tea at school.

Show and Tell- Week 3's topic is 'Share your favourite toy'. Please let me know if you need a copy of the list. Students have done a great job so far with speaking loudly and clearly so all can hear about what they have to say!

This week in Prep:

Writing- We have been continuing to practise how to stretch out words and write sentences. We have been focusing on making sure we have spaces between our words.

Science- This week we started a new topic which is all about the weather. During our first lesson we learnt about  meteorologists and what they do. We also discussed the different symbols that are used for each type of weather.

History- This week we continued learning about our families. We discussed the different numbers of people we have in our families and made chains to match. See the pictures below.

Grade 1 News

The Grade 1 students have had a fantastic start to Term 2! A big well done to everyone for their enthusiasm and effort during last week’s cross country—what a great display of determination!

This week in writing, students have been exploring questions and exclamations, learning how to use the correct punctuation for different types of sentences. In mathematics, we've begun our subtraction unit, and students are already showing great problem-solving skills.

In Science, we’ve launched into an exciting new topic - Space! The students have been learning about the planets in our solar system and what makes each one unique.

Just a couple of reminders:
📚 Library day is on Mondays—don’t forget to bring your books!
✏️ Spelling homework should be completed at least three times a week in preparation for our weekly spelling test on Fridays.

Keep up the wonderful work, Grade 1!

Grade 2 News

 I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and spent some quality time with family and friends.

We have a packed alot into our first week and a half of school!

Last week I was extremely impressed with how the students behaved during our special events. They all showed resilience when competing in the cross country and gave it their best!

All our students were very respectful during out ANZAC Day ceremony at school and listened attentively to Bernadette Wells, who made special mention of our student's listening skills after her talk.

We have a few more special events coming up.

On Friday of Week 3 we have our Mother's Day morning tea then at 2:45pm the Grade Twos will host assembly in the MPR. I will send home reading parts early next week. There is also a song for the students to practise at home. I will send a link to this via SeeSaw.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa

ANZAC Ceremony at OLSH

Grade 3 News

This week has been a productive start to our new units of work.

In Maths, we’re learning strategies for adding one-digit numbers to three-digit numbers. Students are using number lines and breaking numbers apart to make calculations easier. We’re also revising our 'friends of ten' facts (1+9=10, 2+8=10, etc.) to help build fluency.

In History and Literacy, we’re exploring how our community has changed over time. This week, students have been reading and watching stories to learn about traditional games, daily routines, and the important role of family and culture in the lives of Aboriginal children.

In Religion, we’ve started our unit on identity. We’re looking at what makes us who we are and why it’s important to understand ourselves and our background.

Grade Three and Four Camp 2025

This year, the Grade Three and Four Camp will be held on the OLSH grounds on Tuesday, 21st October, and Wednesday, 22nd October (Week Three, Term Four).

We have planned many exciting activities, with the highlight being a visit from 'Wild Side,' an outdoor education company that will provide a range of outdoor experiences on Wednesday. On Tuesday, students will travel to Mildura to enjoy activities such as swimming at The Waves and tenpin bowling. We will be completing Day 1 with our evening meal at the Merbein Club.

We are seeking assistance from families who have tents available. If you are able to provide a tent, please let us know. Ideally, we are looking for large tents that can accommodate 6–10 children.

Further details will be provided closer to the date.

Have a lovely weekend!

Cheryl-Anne 

Grade 4 News

Hi everyone,

We have had a great start to the term with lots of productive work being done this week. We have revised the formal algorithm with multi-digit numbers for subtraction, started our new class novel (Mr Popper's Penguins), made a special 'surprise' for our mums and learnt that all living things go through changes during their lives.

Our most exciting news is that some students this week have earnt their PEN LICENCE after practicing and perfecting their handwriting skills. Congratulations to the following students: Morgan, Violet, Savannah B, Lachy,  Esther, Jacinta and Amy!

Our Mother's Day liturgy and morning tea is fast approaching and will be held next Friday 9th May. Please refer to Mrs Gallagher's section of this newsletter for details.

Grade Three and Four Camp 2025

This year, the Grade Three and Four Camp will be held on the OLSH grounds on Tuesday, 21st October, and Wednesday, 22nd October (Week Three, Term Four).

We have planned many exciting activities, with the highlight being a visit from 'Wild Side,' an outdoor education company that will provide a range of outdoor experiences on Wednesday. On Tuesday, students will travel to Mildura to enjoy activities such as swimming at The Waves and tenpin bowling. We will be completing Day 1 with our evening meal at the Merbein Club.

We are seeking assistance from families who have tents available. If you are able to provide a tent, please let us know. Ideally, we are looking for large tents that can accommodate 6–10 children.

Further details will be provided closer to the date.

Thank you for your support!

Grade 5 News

It has been a busy week in Grade Five. We have been learning about the Solar System, especially comets, asteroids, and meteors. Students also started their research project on one of the planets. In Science, we also learned about Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Sir Isaac Newton. In Literacy, the class has been learning how to note take and turn that information into a paragraph.

Well done to the students going to the District Cross Country on May 6th. Good luck!

Regards,

Adam

Grade 6 News

We’ve had a fantastic start to Term Two! Students are thoroughly enjoying our theme of Natural Disasters, which is being explored through our key texts and Science lessons. At the moment, we’re learning about earthquakes—what causes them and their impact on our earth. Next week, we’ll be learning about tsunamis.

In Maths, students have been learning how to convert kilograms to grams. In Religion, our focus is on Gratitude. We've had some great discussions about what gratitude means, how we can express it, and how it can positively influence our lives. This week, students created their own gratitude journals, which they'll be filling out daily using a variety of prompts.

We’ve also been getting creative with some art and craft projects ready to celebrate the special mums in our lives!

Looking ahead, next week is going to be busy for Grade Six: 

• Tuesday: Five of our Grade Six students—Isaac, Phoenix, Connor, Zali, and Paley—will be representing our school at the District Schools Cross Country in Mildura. We wish them luck in their 3km run! 

• Wednesday: Eight of our students will attend the GRIP Leadership Conference in Mildura. This is a valuable opportunity for our student leaders to gain inspiration and practical strategies for leading within our school.

• Friday: We’ll celebrate Mother’s Day with a special liturgy and group activities. The day will begin with a church service in the morning, followed by classroom-based activities, and will finish with a special morning tea.

Finally, we’re excited to welcome Sophie Lohmeyer back as the Grade Six teacher on Fridays for Term Two.

Have a nice weekend! 

Breanna Meyer 

Other News

General News

School Advisory Council Members:

Thel O’Shea, Hannah Mills, Courtney Portaro, Sandra Hammet, Lana Borchard, Sara McClelland, Jennifer Wilson, Jordan Wade, 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.