10 November 2017
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s News
It is nearly 6 months since Santina and I came back to TI. I thanked the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart community early in our stay and we will do so once we leave. However, it will be a while after school finishes before so. We will be back to handover to Majella Lynch-Harlow in the new year and Santina is already planning to be back for the fete.
When we arrived the Wongai, beside the schoolhouse we stayed in, was in fruit and some may have been eaten. Santina brought some of our albums back including one of her Year 3 class at Bamfield Camp. There may be past students who would like to see photos.
The Torres Strait is a world treasure and each day we should take some time to stop and enjoy the view.
Students Matters
We welcome 2 new students this week Liam (Yr 1) and Jack (Yr 3) and hope their stay will be memorable.
This is testing and reporting time, so attendance is important. I would like to thank students and staff during my 6 months with the improvement in class behaviour and effort and hopefully this will show in their reports. We still have areas to work on and staff have involved in reviewing a Positive Behaviour Plan for 2018.
Next week is Wellness Week with activities being organised for students and parents. After that it is a quick countdown to the end of the year OSSH Factor Talent Show, the Christmas concert and year 6 Graduation.
School Matters
Next week our school counsellor and travelling librarian will be here. Mia Lumley will be involved in Wellbeing Week.
As I said in the last newsletter I will have details regarding classes out soon. As we have minor teacher movement there will be little change in the school. Our main focus is on ensuring the facilities are here due to increased numbers. Hammond Is. has building works over Christmas and I expect we will need similar at the Thursday Island campus next year. The aim would be to move to having single class levels for the whole school in the near future. A master plan for the school work was started in the last holiday break.
If you know of anyone considering the OLSH difference the earlier they apply, the better.
We are advertising for positions as Cale Fisher will be on leave and we will need another teacher for 2018.
Community Matters
Please consider being involved in the parent session in Wellness Week. Our world is changing and many parts of it affect how we think and act. Our children are part of this everchanging and demanding society. As a past Principal of a Secondary College during the development of Social Media developed I witnessed that ability of people to take something that could be good and use it to hurt and torment. The worst part of the of the change was when cameras and Social Media went to mobile phones.
Where does our religion fit in now? The simple guidance of Jesus in saying, “treat others as you would like to be treated yourself” is more important today than ever before.
Working in the way of Mary
Paul Keenan
Acting Principal
Year 4/5 Class News
Wow! Time flies when you are having fun! We have had a very busy last few weeks at school. Assessment is in full swing; as is report card writing. Thank you for making sure your child attends school every day.
Congratulations and Well Done to our SEL Award recipients;
Week 4 – Brendan and
Lahni
Week 5 – Abbi and Erika
Week 6 - Rina and Matilda
Students have been busy planning and creating their short story animation for English. Ms Deb the teacher librarian is going to show us how to create a story board animation with the chrome books next week. In Maths are learning about chance and probability and how to convert 12hr to 24hr time. Students have created periscopes and have been challenged to transmit light through a maze using mirrors during Science. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to come see during school hours or contact me on bjones6@cns.catholic.edu.au.
Eso for your ongoing support.
Yours in Education, Briohny Jones
Year 1 Class News
Congratulations to Julian, Bella, Estelle, Bleyn & Joseph as our award winners in year 1 these last 2 weeks. Well done!
In Year One this fortnight we have had fun with;
- Welcoming Pink and Liam as new classmates who’ve settled in well
- Discovering paint techniques with Ms Sue in art
- Earning a cupcake icing party with our fuzzies
- Going to the parish fete
- Preparing for the Christmas Concert
- Telling time as o’clock and half past the hour
- Exploring coins and Australian money/change giving
- Attending the All Saints Mass last Wednesday
- Finishing our shakers in Science with Mr Worland
- Listening to stories on the Big Felt book
Please contact us at the school/email below if you have any further queries,
Ms Helen & Ms Nadine
hosborne@cns.catholic.edu.au
Prep Class News
Congratulations to Nate & Poppy
our award winners for weeks 5 and 6. Well done!
In Prep this fortnight we have had fun with:
- Literacy and reading groups with our year 1, 2 and 3 buddies
- Clapping games and counting syllables
- Exploring what long and short means
- Counting, sorting and making patterns
- Investigating which objects roll best and conducting science experiments
- Talking about special places
- Exploring art through collage, butterfly painting, string painting, and marble painting
- Learning about the Nativity story and thinking about ways to celebrate Christmas
- Rehearsing our Christmas concert song
- Making playdough for the Church fete
- Continuing to share Lionel Bear’s adventures
- Celebrating Nate’s birthday
Please contact us at the school/email below if you have any further queries.
Miss Sue & Miss Katrina
sdale@cns.catholic.edu.au
Welfare Officer Update
What a busy time of year!
There is a hive of activity in our school community at the moment with everyone working hard.
Next week we are running an alternate activity program for all students across both campuses; Wellness week. We recognise and value the concept of wellness amongst our school community and the need to support our students, staff and families.
Wellness week is a targeted focus week for students, staff and families of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart that addresses the following elements:
- Mental Health Literacy for students and staff
- Nourishing our mind, body and spirit
- Community Service that aligns with our school beautification plan
- Indigenous and local culture
- Transition into primary school
- Transition into high school/boarding school
- Police liaison officers and their role in the school community
Each class will have an allocated day that they will participate in the program and will be provided with a work booklet to support the activities offered.
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Grade 2/3 |
Grade 4/5 |
Grade 5/6 |
Hammond Island |
As part of this program we are offering a parent information night on WEDNESDAY 15th NOVEMBER to our school community where we are incorporating an information expo. This expo will consist of agencies and support services in our community setting up an information booth where parents and community members are able to liaise and interact with the services the facility is able to provide. Additionally, our Parents and Friends committee will also be providing information to the school community on their services and calling for nominations for roles in the 2018 committee. The expo will run from 5:30 – 6:30pm.
Additionally, we will be running a parent information session on this night from 6:30pm to 7:30pm which will be facilitated by myself and Mia Lumley (our school based psychologist from CES). This session will aim to educate parents on statistics of mental health; early warning signs for mental health; and the importance of self-care activities. It will also look at difficulties children encounter when transitioning between grades; campuses; or schools. This session will specifically be beneficial to our families with students entering school in prep, transitioning from Hammond Island campus to Thursday Island Campus, students transitioning to high school and those whose students will be transitioning to boarding school.
We feel that this evening will be very successful and will provide an opportunity to educate and support our community here at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School. We would encourage and welcome your attendance at this evening.
OLSH FACTOR
Students are now able to nominate to participate in OLSH Factor 2017. Students who wish to participate must register and those who do will receive a letter to take home. We look forward to seeing the wonderful and exciting talents of our students. OLSH Factor will take place on Monday the 20th November (the last week of term). We are very excited by the kind donation of Col Jones in vouchers as prizes for our winners and runner ups. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Col Jones for supporting this project and for their generosity.
ALTERNATE ACTIVITIES
I am so fortunate to have such a large number of students spend their lunch times with me in the Wellness Room participating in the alternate activities offered. The two activities that seem to be stand out favourites are mindfulness colouring and nature crafting. Students across all year levels are actively participating and building positive relationships which is such a pleasure to see.
STUDENT LEADERS
As the year comes to an end I have had reflection conversations with our current leaders and kindness ambassadors to assist in forming our direction in 2018. The students are very passionate about generating change and making a difference in our school community. There is such wisdom being offered by these students and I am delighted to be involved in the process of making their dreams a reality to benefit the whole school community.
I am an enthusiast of Dr Seuss and the empowering messages provided in those texts. One of my favourites that I would like to finish with for this newsletter is “Kid, you’ll move mountains – today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way” – Dr Seuss
Thank-you again for your ongoing support.
Mrs Kirsty Dunn
School Welfare Officer
Our Week 5 Award Winners
Administration News
There is only 2 more weeks of school at OLSH and they’re going to be two really busy weeks for us.
Hammond Campus are having their concert on Thursday 16th November.
Week 7 is our Wellness Week Activities where the children will learn about how to look after themselves and each other.
In week 8 TI Campus will be having the OLSH Factor Talent Quest on Monday 20th November where students and staff will be performing. Come along to support the students at this fun event.
TI Campus Concert is on Tuesday 21st November, a Christmas Bazaar will also be happening on the concert night with members of the community selling food, musical instruments, beads and handmade jewellery. Come along to see the children perform in the concert, have a feed of burgers, donuts and Churros. You will even be able to pick up some early Christmas gifts.
Christmas Bazaar Market Stalls are still available for bookings. Tables are $25 each, just contact Donna at the office if you would like book a table to sell items on the night.
Also in week 8 on Thursday 23rd November, our Seniors will be graduating with a Mass in Church, followed by Dinner with their families and Graduation Presentation at the Sasan Café at the Gab Titui. Any families with extra members attending will need to pay prior to attending the dinner at the School Office. Cost per extra person is $25 each.
Don’t forget that School will finish at 12noon on Friday 24th November 2017 after assembly at 11.30am, so collect your children at midday as the school will be closed from then.
The school office will still be open in Week 9 from Monday 27th November to Thursday 30th November from 8.30am to 3pm. Come in for a yarn or catch up with me or Paul Keenan, our Principal.
New enrolments for 2018 are always welcome, visit our school website at the link below for enrolment forms or pop into the office to collect a pack.
http://www.olsh.qld.edu.au/
I am starting a new segment in the newsletter to showcase photos taken locally. I have included a couple from my collection to start off.
If you would like to have any of your photos included, please email them to me at dseekee@cns.catholic.edu.au. I will need to make sure that the images presented to me are appropriate to the school audience, so please only send appropriate material to me. I look forward to showcasing your talents in this new section of the newsletter and will continue to put new images in in the upcoming new year as well.
Thank you, and have a great week.
Donna See Kee
School Secretary
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Christmas Appeal
