Newsletter

WEEK 6 TERM 1 2021

From the Principal

Dear parents and members of the OLSH community and extended OLSH community,

Last Friday 26 February, the world woke up to the sorrowful news of the passing of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.  Australian news channels broadcast the news from early in the morning, paying rich tribute to an inspirational leader.

Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare (04.09.36 – 26.02.21)

Sir Michael Somare’s passing is being mourned by Papua New Guinean people who have lost a visionary leader and a man of integrity, courage and wisdom.  Papa Blo Kantri, Father of the Nation, is a title I have only heard used for the late Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi), founder of the nation of India, who gained for the people of my country of origin, independence from a colonising power, as Sir Michael Somare did for Papua New Guinea. 

Words offer little comfort at such a time of national grief, loss and mourning.  I stand in solidarity and deepest sympathy with all Papua New Guinean people as they continue to mourn Sir Michael Somare’s passing.  May the soul of this noble and inspiring leader Rest in Peace. 

The words of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in The Psalm of Life come to mind, as tribute to Sir Michael Somare, as I read about his life and legacy:

                                 “Lives of great men all remind us

                                  We can make our lives sublime,

                                  And departing, leave behind us,

                                 Footprints on the sands of time.”

Eternal rest grant unto Sir Michael Somare O Lord.  Let perpetual light shine upon him.  May his soul rest in peace, Amen.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY

  1. Friday 12 March – Public Holiday - National Day of Mourning for Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare


I reiterate my invitation from last week: Every day is Open Day at OLSH.   If you would like to book a tour of the school to see how our students learn, please feel welcome to contact Mr Patrick Baiwan, Acting Principal on 9842128 or Digicel 79532680 or at admin@olshinternational.org to arrange a tour.

SRC Retreat and Commissioning Mass

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is a very important student leadership team at OLSH.   Each year, representatives are elected by the student body to the SRC.  Formation for leadership is an important aspect at OLSH, to prepare the newly elected team to function as people who lead the student body with courage, dignity and respect, as well as through service of the school.   At OLSH, the SRC receives this formation at a Retreat Day, which is followed up by their formal commissioning at Mass.  Last week, the SRC experienced both important events.   Some members of the team reflect below on their Retreat Day:

Becoming an SRC member is important to me because I can be a good role model for OLSH students from Prep to Year 6. I would be a responsible student if I continue to look out for other students. Also it is important to me so I have the opportunity to make this school a better place to learn. I enjoyed the part where Fr Julius explained how to become a better role model and leader in the school and society. I enjoyed the part where he divided us in groups; the school captains, house captains and class captains to write down three things we would achieve when we are a SRC member of 2021. I also enjoyed knowing other SRC members in the upper grades.  I learnt that being a member of the SRC is very important because, you have the opportunity to lead other students by example. I also learnt that I myself as a SRC should be caring and responsible person to other students in the school. Most of all I learnt that when we stand as one nothing is impossible.  Anthony Vovola, Year 6

I feel that it is important for me to be part of the SRC, so I can learn new things and skills and show other students to be better in how they act in school. I loved the way they were voting and how Father Julius spoke and the advice he gave and the stories he told. I learnt that it’s better to work together than alone and working together you have more ideas.  I will remember what Father Julius showed us the video together we stand divided we fall.              Nukasa Thomas, Year 6

Being a member of SRC means I have to be a good leader which means I have to have a good character. But it doesn’t mean that I can boss other people to do my job or homework and not follow school rules. And also to help the teachers in class and around the school. During the retreat I learnt that when teams are divided they fail but when they are together they rise up and win. Father Julius also told us that if you become a leader now, in the future you might become a leader.   Mikaylah Getzo, Year 6

Being a SCR member is important to me because I get to be a role model to the other students. And also be responsible for their needs. I enjoyed how Father Julius encouraged us to become a good role model to students. I also enjoyed getting to know more about the SRC members and how they work. I loved the food that we ate at the retreat. I learnt that being a SRC member is to be responsible for students around me. I also learned to help other students. Together we stand. Joseph Timan, Year 6

Being a Class Captain is very important to me because as a SRC member I can finally make a difference in the school and in the lives of students. I can lead by example, be a good role model to our younger students and have a positive effect on the student body as a whole. For just like the saying goes, “the best teacher doesn’t teach from the book but the heart”, so also as student leaders we lead from the heart and not just by word. We show love and compassion to others and honour their wishes for us to become their leaders and represent them in the SRC.

The best thing I enjoyed about the SRC retreat was that we were all given very good advice from our beloved teachers and Father Julius. We learned and discovered many interesting things about ourselves as well as about being a leader and what it takes as well as about our responsibilities and most importantly, working together as a unit “United we stand and divided we fall”.

So from now on as part of the SRC, we won’t be the students that we once were. In order to better serve our school as well as our fellow students, we have to become someone else, we have to become something else. We have to strive hard and lead our flock. Just like Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, so too must we lead our school into the year that is 2021. Shadrach Nason, Year 10

Hearing from the others members made me more eager to be part of the SRC. On that day I learned so many things that will be used in my role. But I know that the most important thing is to be honest and to always think positive and not only that but to also put God first, because through Him everything is possible.

The day has taught me a lot. Being a leader does not mean you give orders; it is about responsibility. Being responsible is taking the lead, leading by example, being a good role model, being true to others and oneself, being a good listener, a good communicator, having courage, setting goals, making good decisions, always thinking positive and most of all putting God first in everything you do and all your goals will be achieved. As the Year Ten Class Captain, I am still not that confident to talk in front of the class even though I’ve known most of them since Prep here at OLSH. I am sometimes not always true to others and myself, so as Father Julius was stating the qualities of a leader, courage and honesty being two of them, I reflected on the times that I have not shown these qualities. This has caused me to set myself a personal goal which is to be honest and courageous no matter what others say or think. This has influenced me as a member of the SRC to perform my duties honestly and confidently. Christina Thomas Year 10

Being a member of the SRC makes us feel more responsible for our studies and also our responsibilities around the school. This retreat has taught us that if we stand together as one team or one body, we can definitely with no doubt achieve our goals. We have learnt that with the skills we already possess like being courageous and understanding, these can help us as members of the SRC. This day will be remembered because we learnt that if we are chosen as this year’s leaders, we surely have great things ahead in the future. This retreat experience has made us think and believe in ourselves that we can do this if we stand together and work together. Leon Thomas, Year 11

Early Learning Centre at OLSH

OLSH has received approval for establishing our Early Learning Centre as a “one stop facility” for parents who are considering their child’s learning and future education. 

We have the capacity to enrol 10 students at an annual fee of K 3000.00.  Interested parents please contact the school at admin@olshinternational.org or call Mr Patrick Baiwan, Acting Principal at 9842128 or Digicel 79532680.  Mr Baiwan will be happy to answer your questions and offer a tour of the school

Parents as Partners Evenings

Thank you to all Primary parents who made the time to attend the second of these evenings yesterday.  I trust all Primary parents have by now, met your child’s/children’s teachers and are satisfied with their progress or have had the opportunity to discuss your concerns and share your invaluable perspective as parents. 

Secondary parents please take note of the change of date due to the Memorial Service to be held for the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare on Wednesday 10 March.

  • Tuesday 16 March – 4.00 to 5.00 pm

Daily Home Study Expectations

Parents please support us by ensuring that the following prescribed expectations are being met to the best of your child’s ability.   These timeslots are based on a realistic appraisal of how much home study is essential for reinforcing classroom learning and developing sound study habits for the future.

  • Prep – Daily sight words, phonics and numbers to 20, addition and subtraction facts to 10.
  • Years 1 & 2 – Daily sight words and reading, multiplication tables
  • Years 3 and 4 -  Daily sight words and reading, multiplication tables and assessment tasks
  • Years 5 and 6 – at least 45 minutes each evening –reading, multiplication tables and assessment tasks
  • Year 7 –1 hour
  • Year 8 – 1.5 hours
  • Year 9 – 2 hours
  • Year 10 – 2.5 hours
  • Years 11 - 3 hours
  • Year 12 – 3.5 hours 

As it is possible that 3 to 3.5 hours each evening may not be achievable due to fatigue, Year 11 & 12 students are strongly advised to clock up a total of 10 hours of study time each weekend, broken up in short blocks of 1.5 – 2 hours.

Year Level Teacher Meetings at Secondary - Every Student under the Microscope

This week we concluded the last of these teacher meetings at Years 9 and 7.  Given our enrolments at Secondary school even as recently as last week, these meetings have provided a forum for team discussion about every student at each year level – their wellbeing for learning needs and how best these can be met every day in every lesson.  Mr Baiwan and I thank all secondary teachers and Head of Secondary Mrs Rachel Baiwan for their commitment to every student entrusted to the care of OLSH as well as for their participation in mapping the way forward during these meetings.

From the Acting Principal

Term 1 2021 fees are due latest by 1 April 2021.  Please contact the school office at the earliest possible, to arrange a payment plan, if you have difficulty in meeting this deadline.  We need the steady income from regular fee payment, in order to offer your daughters and sons the best education possible.

We regretfully inform parents that if Term 1 fees are not settled in full or a payment plan not arranged by Thursday 1 April, your child/children will not be able to return to school on Monday 19 April, for the start of Term 2.

Mr Patrick Baiwan

Important Calendar Dates

March

12 – Public Holiday National Day of Mourning for late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare

16 – Secondary Parents as Partners Evening

18 – SRC Quiz Night

24 – Year 8 Retreat

31 – P-12 Parent Teacher Interviews

April

1 – Holy Thursday. End of Term 1.   Boarders depart for home.

From the Head of Religious Education, Faith and Mission

CATHOLIC CHURCH CALENDAR: 2nd week Lent in the ordinary Year ‘B’ 2021                               

WEEK REFLECTION.Mathew:17:1-9: His face shone like the sun.

Today’s Bible Verse of the Day Reflections

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a very powerful moment in the course of His earthly ministry when the divine nature and glory, which He possessed prior to coming to earth in the human body, was manifested in front of the three disciples Peter James and John.

We also see that He was communicating with Elijah and Moses, people we know are in heaven.

So, why was the transfiguration important to Jesus and to the apostles?

God Himself took the form of man and came down to earth as His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He performed many miracles in front of them and the disciples also performed miracles in His name. He told them that He was the Messiah and that He came from God.

Jesus had to manifest Himself to a form that He was, He is and will always be because He is really God, so that the disciples could finally believe that He really is God and not a mortal man.

Let us therefore have an unwavering faith in Jesus because we are lucky to know that He is indeed the messiah who came to save us from our sins.

Let us also remember Sir Michael Thomas Somare in our daily prayers. For his family’s comfort at this time, as we share in this sadness with them with the rest of Papua New Guinea.  The country of which he loved so dearly. A people of a nation he believed who can make a difference in this world. A country he stood up for. Let us take advantage of the new strength of togetherness we feel, and move on with higher regard in Education, for the development of this country, Papua New Guinea.

 May he rest in God’s peace.

There will be the Stations of the Cross every Friday afternoon at 4pm at the cathedral.

Friday school mass for this week will be led by the Year 7 class here at the OLSH Cathedral at 8:30 am.  Please be at school before 8:00am and bring something for offertory.

Thank you and God bless you all

Mr Raymond Rangatin 

1. SRC Retreat and SRC Commissioning Mass

2. Year 9 and Year 7 Teacher Meetings

3. Primary Parents as Partners Evening