Newsletter

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

 Week 3 is almost at an end.  Term 1 is racing on and with it, is deep learning-teaching in every class, at every year level.

CATHOLIC CHURCH CALENDAR: 5th week in the ordinary Year ‘B’ 2021                   WEEK REFLECTION: READING FOR THE WEEK: Mark 1: 29-39

Message: Be a loving person

We must follow the example of Jesus by spending time in prayer and being “good news” to others. When we are friendly, cheerful, kind and helpful, we are showing that we are living out Jesus’ message, and being a good example to others.

When God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth, He sent Him as the Way, the truth and the Life. In John 14:6 Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Unlike the prophets who were just messengers, Jesus sums up everything you need to know to enter the Heavenly Kingdom.

But why did Jesus leave the wonderful, glorious and most Holy Heaven to this troublesome, sinful and chaotic earth? It is because the love that God has for us is unconditional. He would never want anybody to perish in sin.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  (John 3:14-18)

 Therefore, Jesus, from His many teachings, was sent to make sure that while we are here on earth we don’t get trapped by satan and end up in sin. Jesus also wants us to return to Heaven our original home. Jesus tells us that we fall into sin when we exploit our talents and fail to attribute our success to God. When we become successful, we start worshipping money, social status and earthly power. We forget that all that is in this earth belong to God and only Him we should give glory to.

What does Jesus Mean? He means that when you get money, praise and glorify God. Don’t praise money and an earthly king and forget God because that is sin.

 Jesus also says that God gives you money to enable you to serve Him better. But we human beings pray to God to give us money but after we get it we forget God and start worshipping money. That is the one reason Jesus told the young rich man that it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter into Heaven.

 A big welcome back to another school year to everyone and we look forward to all we have in front of us as we go through the year 2021.

 Next Wednesday 17th February (WEEK4) will be ASH WEDNESDAY. This begins the season of Lent to prepare for Easter. We will have a paraliturgy to receive the ashes in the MSC Hall in commemoration for that.

School Mass this Friday will be led by the Year 10 class at the MSC Hall at 8:20 Am.

Please come early to school before 8:00 am and bring something for offertory.

 Mr Raymond Rangatin

Thank you to Mrs Wiki Thomas for facilitating a successful event on Monday this week.  Read about it in Mrs Thomas’ words.  My thanks also to all the Primary Teachers – Mr Anthony Kavanamur, Mrs Lorena Bareng, Mr Wari Joel, Mrs Christine Luba, Miss Tabitha Kombly and Ms Maxine Moses and the Learning Support Assistants Mrs Mary-Therese Saghou, Ms Ludy Passingan, Mrs Dulcie Walut and Miss Relinda Iru for their presence and support for this important initiative.

The “Parents as Partners” concept focuses on actively involving parents in their child/children’s learning progress. Our first meeting took place on Monday 8th February. Mr Baiwan introduced all the P-6 Teachers and our P-3 Learning Support Assistants. We emphasised the importance of the 3As (Appearance, Attendance & Application) and introduced parents to the use of the Homelink Book as a way to communicate with teachers on any issues on a day to day basis.

Parents had the opportunity to meet their children’s class teacher and received the Term 1 Unit Outlines and Assessment Schedule. This document outlines the Term’s overview for the main subjects: Maths, English, Science, Health, History and Geography, as well as the assessments and the value of the assessment. We anticipate that with having this information, parents will be able to help ensure their children work towards meeting the deadlines, so as to avoid late submission of tasks.

The response and comments made were very positive and encouraging from the parents who came.  For those parents who did not make it to the meeting, we have scheduled the next meeting in Week 6 on Wednesday 3 March. All parents are welcome to attend.

Thank you all the Primary Teachers for a job well done in ensuring that the Unit Outlines & Assessment Schedules were completed on time and for taking the time to meet and discuss important learning information with parents.

Mrs Wiki Thomas

Secondary – Monday 15 February from 4 – 5 pm in the AV Room.  Mrs Rachel Baiwan, Acting Head of Secondary will address all parents about learning and assessment at Secondary.  Following this, parents will be able to meet your child’s/children’s teachers.

Last week I spoke about the first of the 3As – Appearance.  This week I revisit the second of the 3 As – Attendance.  OLSH teachers are working extremely hard to ensure your child gets the best lessons every day in every lesson.  However, they have spoken to the Leadership Team about their concerns with regard to student absence and lack of punctuality on a regular basis, by the same students.  Research shows that absence from school and lateness to lessons has a substantial impact on learning outcomes.   Some research findings:

• Missing 10 percent of school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student's academic performance. That's just two days a month and that's known as chronic absence. (Attendance Works, https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/the-problem/10-facts-about-school-attendance/)
• Achievement declines are associated with any level of absence – ‘every day counts’ (Hancock et al., 2013, (AITSL) Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership).
• Non-attendance has a variety of effects on students, both academically and socially. Absenteeism can increase social isolation, including alienation and lack of engagement with the school community and peers, leading to emotional and behavioural difficulties (Carroll, 2013; Gottfried, 2014, (AITSL) Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership).
• When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating (Attendance Works, https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/the-problem/10-facts-about-school-attendance/)

Parents please send your child to school on time every day.  We will do our best to ensure your child works to get the best results of which they are capable.

If you are interested in reading the extremely worthwhile AITSL document entitled Spotlight: Attendance Matters in more detail, it can be found at:

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/research-evidence/spotlight/11319-aitsl_spotlight_attendance_web-fa.pdf?sfvrsn=5bb0ff3c_6

Following a hugely successful Year 12 Teachers meeting on Tuesday this week, teachers at other year levels will be meeting as indicated in the calendar alongside.  Parents please feel welcome to contact Mrs Baiwan and your child/children’s teachers at any time.  They will be very happy to meet you or speak to you over the telephone to discuss matters about your child’s wellbeing for learning and the progress being made.

A further reminder that all 2021 Re-Enrolment Forms are now overdue and need to be returned as soon as possible.  This is a legal document and required by the school to maintain accurate enrolment records as well as to finalise our 2021 census.  If you require a fresh form, please request this from Student Services and comply with our request at your earliest.  Thank you.

Parents of new students are requested to submit a copy of your child’s/children’s 2020 Semester 2 report at your earliest to Student Services.   Thank you.

Tomorrow 12 February is Chinese New Year, the most auspicious festival in Chinese culture.  OLSH students and staff wish Gong hei fat choy, Gong xi fa cai and more formally Xian nian kuai le to all our Chinese students and families.  May the Year of the Ox bring much joy, good health, happiness and prosperity to you and your families.