Term 2 Week 2 Newsletter - 09.05.25
Principal News
Pope Leo XIV: 'Peace be with all of you'
Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful and the world, invoking peace and pledging to work for a united Church faithful to Jesus and to the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV greeted the city of Rome and the world with these words at his first appearance as the Successor of Peter from the Central Loggia of St Peter's Basilica:
Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.
We pray that Pope Leo XIV be strengthened in his ministry. May he continue building bridges that connect us to one another. May he be an example of faith, hope and love. We pray that you give him joy in his work and a renewed fervor for your Gospel message. May he never lose sight of Christ who walks before us and among us — particularly in the most vulnerable, the forgotten and the outcast.
Christ Jesus, bless Pope Leo XIV — and bless us, your holy people, as together we strive to be your Body in our wounded world.
Amen.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
Congratulation to Year 2 on a wonderful Mother's Day Liturgy today, it was fantstic to see so many of you join us for this celebration.
On behalf of our school community, we pray that all our mothers have a very special Mother's Day.
2026 Enrolments
Our 2026 Kinder enrollment applications are almost due. Please take note of the timeline provided. We encourage anyone looking to enrol in Kinder for 2026 to complete the online enrolment as soon as possible.
Parent Community Group Feedback
Towards the end of last term, our next meeting will be held later this term. Confirmation of the date and time will be provided soon, along with a proposed agenda.
Following our meeting last term I wanted to take the opportunity to follow up on some of the matters discussed.
- Uniform - we have now been informed that School Locker will be moving from SCU in June. They are going to be moving to Intersport, this will provide much improved access to families for uniform purchases. We believe they will also be open on the weekend. We will keep you up to date with these changes once details have been provided to us.
- Playground - Picnic tables are now provided for eating time for students to sit at. We have made some changes to the use of equipment on the playground to reduce the number of balls being used and are currently finalising some other plans to improve the use of these spaces for students. This includes creating zones to separate areas of play, marking handball courts, and an additional small field for our younger students for example. These have been developed following feedback from students and consultation with staff, plans will be shared with students in the next couple of weeks.
Kiss and Drop Driveway Access
Thank you to all our families as we continued to improve our KISS and DROP area. While this is working well currently, we need to continue to focus on the following two points, which are mainly relevant for the afternoon:
- Cars need to continue around the block if there is no space in the Kiss and Drop Zone. We cannot park/stop on the road, this blocks through traffic and the bus zone exit.
- It is essential that cars DO NOT stop in the driveway area at any time.
This is extremely important to ensure we are not blocking the driveway should St Vincent's staff, residents or emergency vehicles need to get through. We ask you to be particularly mindful of this request while using the Kiss and Drop Zone.
We are very grateful to St Vincent's for working with us and providing this space to improve our safety around school pick-up and drop-off times.
Behaviour Expectations Policy Review
We continue to review our school Behaviour Expectations Policy. A survey link was sent to families via COMPASS to seek feedback. If you have not yet had the chance, please complete the survey to support our policy review.
Vacation Care Survey
Our Out of School Hours Care service is currently seeking feedback regarding the possibility of extending our service to provide Vacation Care for Families. To determine if there is support for providing this, a survey has been created for families to complete. We ask families who would access a Vacation Care Service to complete the survey using the following link.
Walk Safely to School Day
Now in its 26th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual campaign and event encouraging all primary school children, their parents, and carers to walk safely and regularly to school.
Walking to school is a great way to incorporate physical activity into a daily routine to support healthy development. Encouraging kids to be active daily establishes good habits that can stay with them throughout their lives.
Teach your child vital road safety rules while walking to school - free resources and information are available on Safety Town. Watch the Rockin’ Road Safety Clip by St Brigid’s Primary Kyogle.
Prohibited Weapons in School
Our school is committed to maintaining a safe, happy and supportive environment for every child. Every now and then, it’s helpful to revisit what can and can’t be brought to school. While some items might seem like harmless toys or everyday tools, they may in fact be considered dangerous or prohibited. We want to help families avoid any unintentional mistakes or avoidable situations.
A prohibited weapon includes but is not limited to knives or blades, toy guns, gel blasters, slingshots, darts or anything else that can be used as a weapon to intimidate or cause serious injury or harm.
We encourage all parents and carers to have open and ongoing conversations with your child about safety, respect, and care for others. As members of our Catholic school community, we are called to protect and nurture one another, both spiritually and physically. Your support in reinforcing these values at home helps us maintain a secure and faith-filled environment for all members of our school community.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the safety and wellbeing of all children.
How Was Your Day?
You get bored of asking it and kids get bored with hearing it so why not change up the usual end of the school day question with these alternatives?
Make getting students to school on time every day a top priority.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Ensuring that students arrive at school on time every day is crucial for their academic success and wellbeing. Parents play a crucial role in instilling the importance of punctuality in their children. Here are some strategies for parents to make getting students to school on time every day a top priority:
Establish a Consistent Routine. Set a daily routine that includes specific times for waking up, getting ready, having breakfast, and leaving for school. Consistency helps children develop good habits.
Model Punctuality. Children often learn by example. Demonstrate the importance of punctuality by being on time for family events, appointments, and other commitments.
Limit or Have No Screen Time in the Morning. Minimise distractions such as excessive screen time in the morning. This helps your child stay focused on getting ready for school without unnecessary delays.
Self Regulation
Being at school requires a lot from kids, particularly the ability to learn how to regulate their feelings and behaviours. Here are some tips to help your child develop self-regulation skills.
Mission News
May is the Month of Mary & Mother's Day.
Image: taken from Hallow (https://images.app.goo.gl/iRHvdS4YKX28RUy78)
Anzac Liturgy
Thank you to 6P and Mrs Innes for leading our beautiful Anzac Liturgy on our first day back this term. We were called to remember with gratitude, the men and women who served our country with courage and sacrifice and prayed that we live in peace, guided by the values of justice, compassion, and hope. Thank you also to the families who were able to join us for this special liturgy.
Mother's Day Liturgy
Year 2 led us in a beautiful Mother's Day Liturgy today. We are so grateful for our mothers, grandmothers and mother like figures who support us every day. We hope all of you have a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday.
Our Prayer for Mothers
Loving and faithful God, who is both father and mother to us, we thank you for our mothers and the people in our lives who nurture us, care for us and love us. Help us to value and appreciate those who are mothers to us and to see your presence in our lives through them.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Project Compassion
Thank you to our students and families for their generous support of Project Compassion in 2025. As a school we have raised a total of $1027.15 with our St Patrick’s Day dress up and bake sale as well as the Project Compassion boxes in our classrooms. We are so proud of the generous and servant spirit of our students.
Learning & Teaching News
Year 5
In English, Year 5 have been learning about authority in texts. They have been reading a book called "One Small Island" and have found that the author has authority because they have used facts, diary extracts and real historical events in the text. This week, they used evidence in the text to identify which genre the text is written in. The students discovered that the text is not just one genre but has some narrative, information and persuasive features.
In Music, the students are learning how to play notes on the xylophone. This week, they were composing their own music using certain notes only.
English
Music
Term 2 Extra Curricular lunchtime activities
This term, we have a number of extra curricular activities for students to participate in. Our School Choir is now up and running. the students are currently learning hymns for our Our Lady help if Christians Feast Day Mass in Week 4.
Sports News
At OLHC, we love celebrating the sporting achievements of all our students. If your child has a special achievement that you would love for us to share with the school community, please send any photos and a short paragraph outlining their achievement to Mr Denny - zachary.denny@lism.catholic.edu.au
Term 2 Sports Events Dates:
OLHC Athletics Carnival: 27th June (Riverview Park)
Diocesan Cross Country: 20th of May (McCauley College- South Grafton)
Term 3 Sports Events Dates:
Richmond Zone Athletics: 31st July (St. John’s College Woodlawn)
Diocesan Athletics Carnival: 26th August (Coffs Harbour)
Theo and Hudson (Year 3)
On Easter Sunday, two of our students, Theodore and Hudson, had an amazing experience representing their Rugby League club, Marist Brothers, at the Titans vs. Raiders match at Cbus Stadium.
Theodore and Hudson were invited to play a halftime game in front of a large crowd, showing off their skills and team spirit. It was an unforgettable experience for both boys, and a great way to celebrate Easter while being part of such a big event in the Rugby League community.
We are so proud of their achievement and thrilled to see them shine on such a big stage!
Cooper (Year 3)
We are proud to highlight the incredible accomplishments of Cooper, who has recently become a 3-time Australian Junior Dirt Track Champion, securing back-to-back titles in 2024. His success is even more impressive as he remained undefeated in the Australian Championships and claimed double titles in two classes.
Cooper will now compete in the Queensland Championships in Brisbane, followed by the final round of the Australian Long Track Championships in Canberra. If he wins all four Australian titles this year, he will join an elite group of riders, including MotoGP star Casey Stoner, who achieved this milestone in his junior career.
Though Cooper is humble about his success, we believe it’s important to recognize his dedication and hard work. To be named the #1 rider in Australia is a tremendous achievement, and we look forward to celebrating even more of his accomplishments.
Best of luck, Cooper!
Ethan, Noah and Ellie (Year 6)
Last week, Ethan and Noah travelled to Sydney to participate in the Polding Softball Trials, facing strong competition from across the region. Both boys represented our school with pride, showing excellent sportsmanship, determination, and effort throughout the event. We are incredibly proud of the way they competed and conducted themselves.
A big congratulations to Noah, who showcased his skill and talent during the trials and was selected for the Polding team. He will now travel to Woolooware to compete at the next stage of the selection process.
We’re also delighted to announce that Ellie has been invited to attend the next stage in Blacktown through special consideration. Her consistent effort, dedication, and potential have earned her this fantastic opportunity.
Well done to Ethan, Noah, and Ellie. Your hard work and achievements are something to be celebrated. We wish Noah and Ellie all the best as they prepare for the next stage of their softball journey!
Zone Cross Country
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the recent Zone Cross Country! It was a fantastic day of competition and team spirit, with many students showing great effort and determination throughout the event.
We are thrilled to announce that five of our students have qualified for the next stage of the competition. These students displayed outstanding performance and will now move on to represent our school at the upcoming Diocesan Cross Country in Grafton later this month.
A big congratulations to:
- Mason Box
- Oscar Brock
- Felicity Fredericks
- Zarli Butcher-Plim
- Hudson French
Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. We wish you all the best of luck in the next stage and look forward to hearing about your continued success!
Community News
