OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Catholic Primary School
“Under Your Protection “
8 Cambridge Street, Epping, 2121
WEEKEND MASSES
Saturday 9.15am
Saturday Vigil: 5.00pm
Ph: 9868 3322 Fax: 9868 5035
Email: [email protected]
Sunday 8.30am, 10.15am & 6.00pm
Weekday Masses OLHC Church
After School Care: 8541 4691
www.olhcdbb.catholic.edu.au
© Our Lady Help of Christians, Epping. Material in the newsletter is not to be reproduced without the permission of the school principal.
Any attachments mentioned in this newsletter can be found on the school website under Our School - Permission Forms.
No. 2 8th February 2017 (Week 2 Term 1)
From the Principal
Beginning of the Year Mass
Thank you to the many families who joined us in celebrating the Eucharist last Friday. A special mention to
Mrs Dawson and Miss Smith for preparing the liturgy and students so competently. It was exciting to see
our talented Year 6 leaders acknowledged at Mass. They faced the congregation and recited the following
statement:
I promise that I will lead by example this year.
I will always try to do my best in class.
I will play fairly and safely in the playground.
I will treat everyone equally for the good of
Our Lady Help of Christians School.
We look forward to their contributions to our school community this year.
2017 Student Leaders at OLHC
School Captains
Colour House Captains
Red
Abbey Thomas
Charlie Morrison
Elisha Paul
Sam Wesker
Blue
Olivia Slade-Rogalewski
Tom Jordan
Green
Isabelle Hunstdale
Jack Coburn
Library Captains
Roopanshi Mehta
Claire Hogan
Technology Captains
Dylan Kerrigan
Dominic Hung
Music Captains
Sophia Menor
Lucy Micallef
Buddy Captains
Jimmy Kirkman
Vishesh Bhatia
Social Justice Captains
Lucy McLaughlin
Abtin Moghadam
Wellbeing Captains
Isabel Power
Johan Matthai
Parent / Teacher Interviews
This week all parents have had the opportunity to meet with their child / ren’s class teacher to discuss
strengths, interests and set learning goals for the coming semester and year. Thank you to all of those
parents who availed themselves of this important opportunity. If you have not scheduled your p/t
interview yet please contact the front office or your class teacher as soon as possible.
Welcome BBQ
A reminder that our WELCOME BBQ is on this Friday February 10 on the playground. This is an annual
event each year at OLHC and I know the children are always excited to come together at this celebration. It
is very important that we take this opportunity as a school community to welcome our new parents and
staff and to celebrate the beginning of our school year. You are invited to bring a share plate of your
favourite international foods. The P&F will cook sausages on the BBQ – free of charge. We need you to
complete the attached tear off slip for catering purposes. Your child is invited to wear a national dress /
favourite sporting gear / casuals.
School Calendar and Diary Dates
Please be aware that you are able to access special events through the
following two sources. Each week in the newsletter, important events over
the next couple of weeks are itemized in ‘Diary Dates.’ You are also able to
access the calendar on the OLHC website. The school newsletter on the
school website is password protected with ‘olhc2121.’ If you would like any
further information, do not hesitate to call the office.
Parent Representatives
At OLHC, we have Class Parent Representatives taking on the role of communication centres for their class.
In the past they have communicated important information for each family. They have suggested a class
get together or two during the year – a picnic at the park or a coffee catch up. If there is a family in our
school who is struggling due to family illness, bereavement or other reasons, I know that I can call on a
group of kind and compassionate parents to help with a frozen meal or picking up the children from school.
Each year, we have two CLASS PARENTS for each class. We have ONE meeting each term.
So far, Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6 are organised with two class parents. Thank you to these
parents. We still require:
- two parents for Year 2
- two parents for Year 4
- two parents for Year 5
Please, step forward and help your class by being a class parent
– mum or dad.
Teenagers
A reminder to parents of teenagers and previous Year 6 students that
CANA our parish youth group runs each Friday at St Gerard’s school hall.
This is a great way for our previous students to stay in touch with their
primary friends now that they have moved to different high schools. It is
open to any Year 7- Year 9 students. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED FLYER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
Dominique O’Sullivan
PRINCIPAL
Diary Dates - Please refer to OLHC website calendar (under News and Events Calendar can be printed as required).
Term 1 2017
Week 2
Parent/teacher meetings
th
9 Feb
Kindy Information Session 2pm
th
10 Feb
Welcome BBQ 6pm
Week 3
17th Feb
Swimming Carnival Yrs 3 - 6
Week 4
22nd Feb
Second hand uniform shop 8.30 – 9am
Week 5
1st Mar
Ash Wednesday Mass 9.15am
nd
2 Mar
Year 6 Leaders Mass
Week 6
7th Mar
North Shore Cluster Swimming Carnival
th
8 Mar
Second hand uniform shop 8.30 -9am
th
9 Mar
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
th
10 Mar
OLHC Open Day 9 – 10.30am
Year 5 Reconciliation 10.15am
Week 7
Well Being Week
th
13 Mar
School Photos
Week 8
20th & 21st Mar
Years 5 & 6 Excursion Bathurst
nd
22 Mar
Second hand uniform shop 8.30 – 9am
Week 9
30th Mar
Year 6 Class Mass 10.15am
st
31 Mar
Year 4 Reconciliation
Week 10
5th Apr
Second hand uniform shop
th
7 Apr
Holy Week Liturgy
Last Day of Term 1
From the AP
Welcome to Kindergarten 2016
Last Thursday we welcomed our Kindergarten children to our community. After waving goodbye to Mums
and Dads the children had a fantastic first day at BIG SCHOOL with Miss Precious. They especially enjoyed
spending morning tea and lunch with their Year 6 buddies.
READ-A-THON
‘Read To Succeed’
Read! Read! Read! Read!
Our Read-a-thon is in full swing. The children are certainly enjoying reading and striving to reach their goal
of reading as many books as possible over the next 2 weeks. The children can read any book
including their home readers and library books. Kindergarten students can have their parents read to
them or share the reading with them.
Our Read-a-thon provides children and parents the invaluable opportunity to spend time together to sit
and enjoy engaging in texts for enjoyment.
Much loved Australian Author Mem Fox writes:
"I beg you all to read superb books aloud to your children!
Begin on the day they are born.”
When making that special time to sit and just enjoy reading with your child remember the following:
 read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don't be dull, or flat, or boring. Have fun
and laugh a lot.
 Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.
 Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same 'tune'
for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.
 Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else
connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a
bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.
 Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are
really short.
 Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish
rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child's name and yours, remembering that it's never
work, it's always a fabulous game.
 Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.
 Read aloud every day because you just love being with your child, not because it's the right thing to
do. This is as important for fathers as it is for mothers!
Thank you in anticipation of your generous support in providing outstanding reading resources for your
children and those of the future at OLHC.
Parent /Teacher Interviews
This week teachers have had the pleasure of meeting with parents which has given us an opportunity to
discuss your child/ren’s 2015 needs and goals with their individual class teachers. Thank you to all parents
for making time in your busy schedules to attend these meetings and the staff look forward to your
continued support and partnership over 2017.
School Procedures
Over the next few weeks in our newsletter we will have a few reminders of our school policies and
procedures. Please take a few moments to read theses reminders of a number of procedures and notes to
be returned to school:
School Attendance Policy
Regular attendance at school is essential if students are to maximise their potential. Our Lady Help of
Christians, in partnership with parents, is responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.
While parents are legally responsible for the regular attendance of their children, school staff, as a part of
their duty of care, monitors and records accurately all absences according to the following guidelines:
Parents/Guardians are responsible for:
 enrolling their children of compulsory school age in a government or registered non- government
school or registering them with the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES)
NSW for home schooling
 ensuring that their children attend school regularly
 explaining, to the school, the reasons for the absences of their children promptly and within seven
days
 taking measures to resolve attendance issues involving their children
 for leave (travel) greater than 10 days, parents/guardians must complete an ‘Application for
Extended Leave – Travel’ form via the school office
 ensuring that their child arrives at school on time each day
 bringing their child in to the school office if arriving after 8.45am and completing a ‘Late Arrival
Note’, if this is not completed the child’s partial absence will be marked as an unexplained absence
 collecting their child from the front office if leaving school early and filling in an “Early Departure
Note’
Travel over 10 days
 For leave (travel) greater than 10 days, parents must complete an Application for Extended Leave –
Travel Form via the front office. If the principal authorises the leave this will be recorded as L in the
roll. A copy of this will be placed in the teacher’s pigeon hole notifying them of the absence. The
teacher then places this copy in the ABSENTEE FOLDER.
Internet Access Agreement
All children have access to computers / internet at school. Each year we are required to seek parental
permission for the children to access computers / internet at school. Both parent and student need to
discuss then sign the form and return to school.
Signing in and out at Our Lady Help of Christians
All adults (16 and over) who come into our school grounds must sign in and out of the school office. This is
a very important safety procedure. We welcome all helpers and visitors to our school and want to ensure
the safety of everyone as well as monitor the people who are on the school property. Situations that would
require signing in and out are:
 Dropping something in for your child
 Canteen helper
 Assisting in the classroom
 Working in the library
On your way IN and OUT you will need to go via the school office to sign out.
Theme Of The Week
“Live the Present, Dream the Future”
Our theme this week encourages the children
to live to the full the wonderful lives God has blessed them with.
At the same time, children should dream of a future where
they aim high for a life full of happiness and a faith filled relationship with Our Lord.
Each day is a blessing from God, use it well.
Nadine Smith
AP
From the REC
We celebrated the beginning of our school year with Mass last Friday. In Father
Peter’s homily he spoke of the need to make sure we nourish our school year
with kindness and compassion towards others and focused learning to ensure
we reach our full potential.
I would like to congratulate the students on their beautiful singing and
behaviour during Mass and in particular our Kindergarten students who were
very settled for their first whole school celebrations. Congratulations to our school leaders who received
their badges (blessed by Father) and committed to be strong and fair leaders during 2017.
In all grades the students have begun their RE modules in the classroom. The main focus in all modules
from Years 1-6 is about Jesus. Kindergarten is learning about belonging to God’s Family and Year 3 are
preparing for Reconciliation both in the classroom and as part of the Parish Sacramental program. Please
pray for these students as they get ready to receive this important sacrament of healing.
Tracey Dawson
REC
Sacramental Programme - First Reconciliation
The Parent Information Evening will be held on Thursday, 9th February from 7.30 to 9pm in the Parish Hall
at Our Lady Help of Christians’ in Epping. Parents who were unable to attend last Tuesday are required to
attend this meeting to confirm your child’s enrolment in the First Reconciliation programme. Children are
not required to attend this meeting. Parking is available in the school grounds (enter via Cambridge Street).
The Group Facilitator Training will be held on Monday, 13 th February. All facilitators are required to attend
one of these meetings:


9.30 to 10.30am in the Parish Meeting Room at St. Gerard’s; or
7.30 to 8.30pm in the Parish Meeting Room at Our Lady Help of Christians’.
Kindly take note that sessions will commence from Monday, 20 th February.
Should you have any queries or require more information regarding the Sacramental programme, please do
not hesitate to contact Lynn or Natasha.
Natasha Boswell & Lynn Siau
Sacramental Programme Coordinators
0407 255 593
[email protected]
Second hand uniform shop
The second hand uniform shop will open on the following dates this term:
22nd February
8th March
22nd March
5th April
Janie Kelman Smith & Megan Chiplin
Co-ordinators
Birthday Stars
Congratulations and happy birthday to the following children who celebrate their
birthday this week.
Meigo Nocedo
Massimo Agostino
Community News
Marist College Eastwood – Open Day Sunday 5th March 12 – 3pm. Enrolments are now being finalized for
Year 7 2018 and applications for 2019 and 2020 are being taken. Please download enrolment form via our
website www.mce.nsw.edu.au
Central Eastwood Rugby Union – Register now for 2017 at www.centraleastwoodrugby.com Under 6’s to
Under 12’s girls and boys. Under 6’s to 7’s no tackling and Under 8’s to Under 12’s modified rules. Rugby
union is fun, safe and focusses on team work, respect and fitness. All are equal in rugby and you’ll
experience a unique family, friendly sporting culture.
Macquarie ADHD Parent Support Group – Dr Peter Powell, psychologist and Brenda Inglis-Powell, Group
Program Coordinator, Pastoral Counselling Institute present ‘Raising Difficult Children’. Thursday 9th March
7 – 9pm at Dunmore Lang College Herring Road North Ryde. $5 for catering at the door and bookings can
be made at www.trybooking.com/257097 For more information call 9889 5977/0416 111 036 or email
[email protected]
The Acting Experience – unleash their inner spark through drama classes. Build confidence, develop acting
skills and express their creativity. Classes for infants and primary at Epping. Enrol now for Term 1 by calling
0457 574 662 or [email protected]
Helen O’Grady Drama Academy – Classes at St Aidans Church Epping. For more information call 0438 788
080 or go to www.helenogrady.com.au
Carlingford Cougars Junior Rugby League Football – players
U6 to U19 boys and girls invited to register online today at www.carlingfordcougars.com.au and follow the
‘Play NRL’ link. For more information call 0426 200 181 or email [email protected] Season
kicks off in April on Sundays and special offer for U6 free rego.
OLMC Parramatta – Open Day Sunday 12th March 10am – 2pm. Principal’s Welcome 10am and 12noon. Go
to www.olmc.nsw.edu.au for more information.