Newsletter

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

PLEASE NOTE: 

At the time of despatch of this newsletter Mr Baiwan has been informed that there is a rumour in Kavieng that an OLSH staff and student have tested positive to COVID-19.  Please be informed this is NOT TRUE.  As part of OLSH’s Duty of Care of every student, we would have informed all parents promptly and taken immediate action, were this to be true.  Please do not keep your child/children from attending school without first calling the school on 9842128 and checking your concerns.  Every day of attendance counts.   Thank you, parents and guardians.

With the recent upsurge in active COVID-19 cases in Kavieng, we are once again urged to be COVID-Safe and to take more than adequate precautions to stay safe and healthy.

Last Saturday afternoon, Mr Baiwan and I worked to plan COVID-Safe measures for the school.  We immediately locked down the Boarding House to keep our 24 boarders and Boarding House Supervisors safe.  I thank Mr Baiwan for his diligence and the hours he has put in, at the weekend to ensure that the measures were adequate to guarantee our community’s health in the weeks ahead.

During the school day, OLSH will be in near lockdown mode with only the minimum of outsider visits permitted on school grounds.  Parents who deliver daily lunch to your child/children, please ensure you wear a mask and please limit your time on the school grounds. 

PE & Sport will be suspended until further notice.  Students will also cease going to the Cathedral for Friday morning Mass.   They will have Friday morning liturgy in the MSC Hall, alternating between Primary and Secondary classes each week.

Please take note of Mr Baiwan’s detailed COVID-Safe related message below.

OLSH counts on every member of our community to do the right thing as well as to seek clarification and support when in doubt.   Together we will ride the COVID-19 wave to safe health.

Arrangements for Thursday 11 March

OLSH will hold a Memorial Service to mark the life and legacy of the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in the MSC Hall.

Students at Years 7-12 are expected to wear their formal (Friday) school uniform to school due to the Memorial Service.

Please note the following changes to the timetable of the day:

    12.20 – 12.30 – P-12 Lunch time

    12.30 – 12.40 pm – Movement to MSC Hall

    12.45 – 1.30 pm – Memorial Service

    1.30 pm – All students will be dismissed from school

Friday 12 March is a public holiday.  School will be closed.

Daily Home Study Expectations

Learning-Teaching at OLSH continues to forge ahead uninterrupted.  Secondary teachers are working on preparing a Homework Timetable to ensure equitable distribution of homework across subjects.   Parents please ensure your child/children are keeping to the following prescribed hours of home study in order to improve their skills for success in their learning.

• 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.

Early Learning Centre at OLSH

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.

For the present, because we are on high COVID-Alert, tours of the school are put on hold.

COVID-Safe Measures at OLSH

We request your full attention and co-operation with the following measures to ensure the health & safety for all our students and staff.

Please understand that there may be some changes in the health requirements in the coming weeks. You may also notice some changes to school routines, timetables and programs.  We assure you this is only your child’s/children’s complete safety in mind. 

ARRIVAL CHECK-IN PROCEDURE

• The school provides the use of disinfectant gel, soap and hand washing basin at the entrance.
• The office and classroom area is totally disinfected and the students and staff comply with all the safety measures.
• For visitors, at check-in, as part of the health & safety requirements, we ask you to provide us with your telephone number and email. This is necessary should we need to contact you at any point.
• Face masks are mandatory before entry.

CLASSROOM CLEANING PROCEDURES

Specific cleaning and disinfectant products will be used during students' stay and also after they vacate the classrooms and specialist rooms.

DISINFECTING SCHOOL FACILITIES

Communal areas and all areas visited by visitors, staff and suppliers, will be cleaned and disinfected regularly throughout the day.

STUDENTS & STAFF AREAS

• Disinfectant gel, soap and hand washing basin are placed in all frequented areas for visitors, students and staff.
• Handles and hand rails are disinfected regularly.
• Communal bathrooms are disinfected and cleaned regularly.

SCHOOL ROUTINES

• Thermal scanning, cleaning and disinfection have been intensified. All students (13 years and above) and staff will wear face masks. Please assist your child/children in purchasing face masks.
• Thermal Scanning to be conducted in the morning, recess and lunch for both Primary and Secondary School.
• We encourage everyone to use email more often in communicating your concerns and needs regarding your child/children's learning and wellbeing at school

CANTEEN

• Disinfectant gel is provided at the entrance to the Canteen.
• Cleaning of all dining areas, doors and contact points touched by students and staff, is very frequent.
• New organized seating will be in place to ensure social distancing.
• All tables and chairs will be disinfected after use.
• Face masks are mandatory when entering dining areas for boarding students.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

In case of COVID-19 symptoms

• Contact Reception by dialling the number 9842128 if you have any worrying symptoms or change of health status, for the purpose of assisting the school in its drive to keep everyone at school safe and COVID-19 free.
• 14 days compulsory isolation for contact tracing or recovery is mandatory if your child/children or any member of your family has tested positive to COVID-19.
• Upon providing medical certificate to the school your child/children will be allowed to resume classes.
• If there are mild to moderate symptoms of cough, fever, dengue and malaria, staff, students, parents and visitors are reminded NOT to come near or enter the school grounds.

Term 1 Fees 2021

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

March

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

18 – SRC Quiz Night (Cancelled)

24 – Year 8 Retreat (Cancelled)

31 – P-12 Parent Teacher Interviews (To Be Confirmed)

 April

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

CATHOLIC CHURCH CALENDAR: 3rd week of Lent in the ordinary Year ‘B’ 2021

WEEK REFLECTION - John 2: 13 – 25

My House Shall Be a House of Prayer

This passage reveals not only something that Jesus did long ago; it also reveals something that He desires to do today. Additionally, He desires to do this in two ways: He desires to root out all evil within the temple of our world, and He desires to root out all evil in the temple of our hearts.

In regard to the first point, it is clear that the evil and ambition of many throughout history have seeped into our Church and world. This is nothing new.

Everyone has most likely encountered some sort of hurt from those within the Church itself, from society and even from family. Jesus does not promise perfection from those we encounter every day, but He does promise to vigorously go after evil and root it out.

As for the second and most important point, we should see this passage as a lesson for our own soul. Each soul is a temple that should be set aside solely for the glory of God and the fulfillment of His holy will.

Therefore, this passage is fulfilled if we allow our Lord to enter in and to see the evil and filth within our own souls. This may not be easy to do and will require a true humility and surrender, but the end result will be cleansing and purification by our Lord.

Reflect, today, upon the fact that Jesus desires to bring about purification in many ways. He desires to purify the Church as a whole, each society and community, your own family and especially your own soul. Do not be afraid to let Jesus’ holy wrath work its power. Pray for purification on all levels and let Jesus accomplish His mission.

Memorial Mass Service - Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare

Date: Thursday 11th March 2021

Venue: MSC HALL - OLSH International School

TIME: 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Mass Presider: Fr. Julius Poniu – OLSH CATHEDRAL ADMINISTRATOR

Offertory:  Please bring money, fruits or vegetables

•  Stations of the Cross every Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm at OLSH Cathedral
•  Remember Lent and refrain from eating meat on Fridays.

Thank you and God bless you all

Mr R. Rangatin