21 July 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s News

We have had busy start to the term with 3 new students enrolling Tyronne, Tyrese and Saia. We welcome them to the OLSH community.

Stephen Sedran (Yr 2/3) teacher has settled in and is impressed by our school and community. He welcomes visits from parents.

Unfortunately, Patty Nakata has accepted another position. Her new job offers her a career path in an area she wants to be in. I support her decision and was one of her referees. In our good fortune we have Donna See Kee to step into her role. Patty will be with us to the 28th of July for our community to say farewell from OLSH not from TI.

A position of Learning Support Teacher has been offered and accepted by a very well qualified person in the field. Once all parts of the application are finalised I will provide further details.

Last week we had Building and IT Services from the Catholic Education Office in Cairns visit. The Building Services have audited the school for repair and maintenance work. We are developing a systematic plan for the school with ongoing maintenance such as new furniture, painting, upgrades and larger projects during the Christmas break on a regular basis. Projects will start this term. Our new desks for Yr2/3 are on their way so I have been told.

The IT specialist brought 17 new Chrome Books and 10 laptops. 13 Chrome Books went to Hammond Island. The laptops have replaced the present teacher ones. The exchanged ones will be recycled into the upper grades to learn programming and to be linked to our new digital microscopes. He also audited the school, fixed issues on TI and Hammond and is working on a replacement phone system for the school.

Week 2 we have Occupational and Speech Therapists and a Psychologist at the school for arranged sessions with students. This is a regular service provided by Catholic Education and can be accessed through me if needed. Helping students with learning difficulties is a particular problem in remote areas due to lack of specialist staff permanently in remote towns. I have taken up this issue with CES staff and we are looking for ways to improve what we do.

Week 3 will be Parent-Teacher Interview week. Bookings can be made either at the office or by Phone with Patty from Tuesday on. These are important times to work with your child’s teacher. The best interview is the one based on what is best for the child. We are factors in making the best happen.

Home readers will begin again. All books will be based in the library to ensure that we can track them and use the ones bought by our very generous P and F. The school has purchased Maths textbooks and they will be distributed in Week 2. They are Australian Curriculum based and sequenced.

In my discussions with parents I have stressed that while we are remote we should have the same things any other school has. That spreads to our expectations as well. If we expect our students to work to their best and strive for success then the results will come. One of the 3 Respects is for our school and our school wants the OLSH students to be successful.

In the way of Mary
Paul Keenan
Acting Principal

APFL News

I would like to thank those parents and carers who have chosen to enrol their children into our Sacramental Program. We will be preparing for a visit from the Bishop in October for our Confirmations. If you wish for your child to participate in the sacraments of Reconciliation, the Eucharist or Confirmation, enrolment forms need to come in as soon as possible as they are now overdue.

The Dioceses will be holding the first Catholic Education Week Mass outside of Brisbane next week. It will take place at Saint Andrew’s College in Redlynch on Wednesday 26th July. This is a significant even for catholic schools and representatives from catholic schools across the entire state will be present. We will be represented by our student leadership at this mass. The theme for Catholic Education Week for 2017 is “Sharing the Journey”. As Catholic educators at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, we all share a journey in educating and inspiring, all for Jesus.

On another note, we are asking for volunteers to help out on our athletics day that is due to be held on 4th July. If you are interested, please let us know as soon as possible so we can include this in our planning.

Year 4/5 Class News

Welcome back to Term 3. Congratulations to our Week 1 SEL Award Winners; Lahni, Emily, Rina and Matilda for demonstrating ‘getting along skills’ and helping others.

As a class, we have had whole class discussions regarding Classroom and Behaviour Expectations. They are: Respect for Self, Respect for Others and Respect for Property and the Environment. We are striving to demonstrate these through our actions and behaviours.

We have commenced our reading and maths rotations –students are engaged and are actively participating in individual and group learning. We would love parent volunteers to read to us or to help us during maths time or yarn with us about the history and culture of the Torres Strait.

If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to come me see during school hours or contact me on bjones6@cns.catholic.edu.au

Eso for your support.
Yours in Education,
Briohny Jones

Year 2/3 Class News

Dear Parents

My name is Stephen Sedran and I am the new, year 2/3 teacher at OLSH. It is wonderful to be here on lovely Thursday Island and I have already been welcomed into the OLSH school community by the students, parents and teaching staff.

Just a little background on myself. Prior to arriving, I was living and teaching on Palm Island for a year and a half with my wife. Originally, I came from Bundaberg and I have two daughters. I like football (Go the Maroons!) and while up here want to catch a huge fish.

Last week was a busy week with plenty of learning happening. We are learning how to write a procedure for English, measurement in maths and for history visiting significant sites around the Island, our Church being one of them.

The students did a great job and looking forward to continuing our learning journey together. Reading groups have started and I would love to have parents join us to sit with our students. This is between 8:35 to 9:15 Tuesday to Friday.

God Bless.
Mr. Stephen Sedran

Year 1 Class News

Year 1 had an enthusiastic start to the term last week and it's good to see them all ready to go this week too!

Home Readers have been sent out this week, please read with your child as often as possible, it really helps with improving their reading skills and their attitude towards learning. Reading certainly gives them more access to most of the subjects that they study and it is one of the core skills that enables children to further their learning.

We are fortunate enough to have new Math books now, that are fully aligned with the Australian Curriculum, and this should help all levels of learners with their Math!

Students will be studying Geography this Semester, as they studied History last Semester.

The students are engaged with Reading Eggs and Mathletics at school on Chrome Books, but can also access these great sites from home too, please ask us for more information if you're not already using these valuable learning tools.

We have an Athletics carnival in Week 4, please keep an eye out for the date and venue!

And we have Parent/ Teacher interviews next week, a letter was sent home today with your child. If you have any concerns, please come along and meet with me to discuss them at one of the times available to you. If you have trouble making it next week, please let us know and we'll work out a convenient time to meet. I will be absent for the first 3 days of Week 4 due to surgery in Cairns, so I am hoping to meet you next week if possible, from Monday to Thursday after school. Thanks again for your continued support in our school.

Prep Class News

Congratulations to Isabelle as our award winner this week. Well done!

In Prep this fortnight we have had fun with;

• Learning with Ms Sue as she works with us this term in the prep room
• Meeting Ms Helen’s parents from WA and beginning to make our rag rug with them
• Having a bubble party and balloon party after earning our good behaviour warm fuzzies

• Celebrating Isabelle’s early 5th birthday and sadly saying goodbye to Isabelle and the Bryce family as they move back to Wodonga for the birth of Isabelle’s new baby sister
• Exploring materials in Science
• Hearing old testament stories about Adam, Eve and Joseph
• Practising ball games and relays to prepare for the athletics carnival
• Beginning “Investigation Time” where we get to explore and investigate exciting learning areas with Ms Sue
• Playing at the dinosaur table
• Writing letters and planning a party for Lionel Bear
• Exploring memories and family celebrations in History

Please contact us at the school/email below if you have any further queries,

Helen Osborne
hosborne@cns.catholic.edu.au

Choir News

Our choir recently undertook a very successful performance trip to Cairns Eisteddfod, with concerts at schools and venues around Cairns.

With thanks to the provisions of a TSRA funding grant and much fundraising at a school level, the group of 49 travellers including staff, elders, students and parent helpers, left the Torres Strait on Sunday 18th June and returned on the afternoon of Thursday 22nd June.

The students performed a number of traditional songs, English songs and island dances with traditional instruments for the Cairns Music Eisteddfod on Tuesday June 20th. They were awarded a place in every section they sang-two second place medals and two third place medals. They also received the adjudicator’s Encouragement trophy out of all the primary school choirs for the Eisteddfod which was a great surprise and shows the students hard work and efforts.

“Our students were remarkable role models, in performance and behaviour, and it was a pleasure to see them do so well amongst other more seasoned choirs”, reports music teacher Helen Osborne. “We couldn’t have attempted the trip without the organisation and support of many people.

A Huge Eso to our organisers-Ms Chi Chi Fujii, Helen Osborne, Donna See Kee, and Cale Fisher. We are also very grateful to our dedicated elders Mrs Rita Dorante, Mr Anson Dorante, Mrs Tassie McDonald, Mr Benny Mabo and Mrs Margaret Gabey. Many thanks also to our parent/volunteers who got themselves to Cairns and tirelessly helped us with students, activities and meals etc.

• Serena Manaena
• Beryl Daniel
• Karen & Conner Maguire
• Rachelle Jia
• Chelsea Carswell
• Jodi Taylor
• Michelle See Kee
• Sook Hahn & Silva See Kee
• Marita Sagigi
• Gemma Osborne

The choir visited and performed on other days for boarders at St Augustine’s, St Andrew’s Junior school and Our Lady Help of Christians Schools in Cairns. They also provided a family concert at the Seville Mercy Conference Centre where over 60 people gathered from extended friends and family in the Cairns area.

We want to continue learning more island music and dancing, and be able to represent our community further in the future.

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