Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School East Warrnambool eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

Our Grade 4 students have created personalised Acknowledgement of Country posters that reflect their own thoughts, feelings and wishes. We will share a new poster each week.

Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
blow away division and despair.
Light your flame of courage and hope in us
and warm our hearts with wisdom and love.
Be our Helper, as we seek your ways of justice.
Be our Comforter, as we share your peace with our wounded world.
Be our Advocate, as we call for the fullness of life for all.

Amen

Leadership & Stewardship

Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Guardians & Students,

The flu season has taken its toll on a few of us this week and it has been a challenge to keep all bases covered. Thanks to Naish for covering in my absence on Monday and Tuesday. I hope you can avoid this nasty bug that is presently doing the rounds.

If you are travelling over the long weekend, drive safely and we will see everyone on Tuesday.

Steve

Important Dates

Term 2

Monday 9th June - King's Birthday Public Holiday

Wednesday 11th June - Enrolments Close

Thursday 12th June - Girls Footy Comp

Friday 13th June - Assembly 5DJ

Tuesday 17th June - Pizza Day

Sunday 22nd June - Bunnings BBQ

Tuesday 1st & Wednesday 2nd July - Yr 5 Art Show

Friday 4th July - Assembly 6MM @ 12.30pm

Friday 4th July - Last day of Term - 2.30pm finish

Term 3

Monday 21st July - First day of Term

Teaching & Learning @ OLHC

A Message from Mr A

MILO’S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE- FOUNDATION

On Wednesday, our Foundation students were treated to a big surprise as they celebrated Milo Monkey’s birthday. Milo is the lead character as part of our Phonics program, Little Learners Love Literacy, and his surprise birthday marks the culmination of our students being introduced to the simple code as the initial stepping stones in learning to read. Students had the opportunity to dress as an animal that starts with the first letter of their name, resulting in some fantastic outfits. I’m sure the morning photos taken on parents’ phones before school will be ones treasured as a keepsake as they get older. The party food was in abundance and the excitement levels were high as our trainee Matt made a guest appearance as Milo Monkey. A big thanks to the whole Foundation team for how the day was run. Well done!

SCHOOL REPORTS

You will receive your child’s report on the last day of Term 2 via PAM. We will be conducting parent-teacher conferences at the beginning of Term 3. This is an opportunity for parents to sit with their teacher and discuss their child’s academic progress. This is also where parents and teachers can discuss any possible concerns that need to be addressed for the remainder of the year. More information to come closer to the date.

Have a great long weekend with your loved ones.

Naish

Technology Toolkit with Ms Fitzgerald and Ms O'Keeffe

A space providing weekly snapshots of student learnings, as well as online safety tips and relevant technology updates. Please reach out with any questions:

Ms O’Keeffe: nokeeffe@olhcwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au (Mon & Tues)

Ms Fitzgerald: efitzgerald@olhcwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au (Wed, Thurs & Fri)

Last year we surveyed OLHC parents to ask what type of tech-related information you would like to see in our school newsletter. “Quick tips for online safety” was most requested, so this term we’re focusing on content from www.cyber.gov.au/learn

Faith & Culture

Parish Office Hours: 9am - 4pm Monday - Friday

P: 5562 2231

E: southwestcoast@ballarat.catholic.org.au

webpage : https://www.southwestcoastparish.com.au/

Weekend Masses

Saturday Vigil

6:00pm OLHC, Warrnambool East

Sunday Morning

9:00am Infant Jesus, Koroit

9:00am St Pius X, Warrnambool West

10:30am St Joseph’s, Warrnambool

10:30am St Patrick’s, Port Fairy

6:00pm St Joseph’s Warrnambool

*11:00am St Anne’s, Purnim

2nd Sunday of the month (Eucharist)

Weekday Masses

NB: MASS OF THE DAY IS REPLACED WHEN A FUNERAL IS HELD AT THAT CHURCH

Tues 10:00am St Pius X

Wed 10:00am St Joseph’s

Thu 10:00am OLHC & 11:00am Mercy Place

Fri 10:00am St Joseph’s

Sat 10:00am OLHC

2025 OLHC SACRAMENTAL DATES

YEAR 4 FIRST EUCHARIST

TUESDAY JULY 29TH:

First Eucharist Information Evening (Parents and Children)

7pm - St Joseph's Church, Warrnambool

TUESDAY AUGUST 5TH:

Formation Day (Students and Miss Squires)
10am - 2pm at St Pius, Warrnambool

SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH:

Presentation of First Communion Candidates
6pm at OLHC Church, Warrnambool.

SATURDAY AUGUST 23RD & SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH

Sacrament of First Communion - held over two weekends
6pm at OLHC Church, Warrnambool.

Speaking the Fire
(John 20: 19 - 23)

Jesus continued, “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you.” (John 14: 25)

The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” In that sense, we are all baptised into the mission of being apostles. Our reception of the Spirit is the same commissioning the disciples received in the upper room. So what are we waiting for?

Maybe we are afraid, like the early disciples who huddled in that room. Maybe we are sceptical, like Thomas. Maybe we are waiting for an appearance, a sign, further instructions, a personal invitation.

Well, here it is! This is Pentecost, the feast day of being church. This day marks the beginning of the partnership between humanity and the indwelling Spirit. Ask God to awaken within you the power of the Spirit and to release the gifts that are uniquely yours. Make this prayer with as much passion as you dare. And stand back – such prayers are answered with more fire than you may intend.

Right Place, Right Time

Her family had moved away long before I arrived at the parish. Her last years were spent in a nursing home somewhere down south. When she died her children called the parish. We were where she wanted to have her funeral Mass celebrated. We had been her church for decades. There would only be a handful in attendance. At the funeral home, the family made clear that none of them were practicing their faith anymore. I should select all the music and read the scripture of my choosing. Nothing special to say in my homily. No eulogy. No cemetery burial.

I left the wake wondering if I had just wasted my evening. As I passed the adjacent chapel a young man stepped out calling me by name. After a few seconds I recognised his face and remembered his name – a student I had taught years ago and hadn’t seen since graduation. I saw on the sign in the chapel that the deceased was his father. Excitedly he told me that he had convinced his mother I would somehow be there, that I would never let him down. How I was able to do that, not being contacted, was a mystery to me. Calling him by his name, I assured him I was there for them. I said a prayer, comforted the family, and drove home once again appreciating the mysterious way the Holy Spirit uses us. A Pentecost moment for sure.

Wellbeing

If you want to learn to ride a skateboard or get better at maths, you need to practise. It’s the same when you want to feel happier!

Here are some easy ideas to give Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy a try every day. Because the more you practise, the better you will feel.

Let's Practice!

**A reminder to parents, carers and grandparents that SchoolTV** is a free resource.
SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource that we have to support you with the challenges relating to modern-day parenting. This award-winning resource helps build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It can assist in starting conversations on topics that are sometimes awkward or difficult to tackle.
In addition to the weekly topic we publish in our newsletter, all of the SchoolTV topics are always accessible through our school website under the Student Wellbeing section. You can also use this link: https://olhcwarrnambool.catholic.schooltv.me/category-latest-newsletter
There are videos from experts as well as a huge range of websites, books, apps, fact sheets and podcasts.
If you require any further information about SchoolTV, please contact Mel (mwillis@olhcwarrnambool.catholic.edu.au)

Tap here to access SchoolTV

The Push Up Challenge 2025

We know that there is a strong connection between physical health and mental health.

This year, we are joining the Push Up Challenge to raise awareness, foster connection and engage our staff and students in mental health AND physical health in a fun and unique way.

Often, when we think about mental health, we think of mental illness so we have a great opportunity here to reframe this perception to be more positive, and think more proactively about looking after mental wellbeing. There are many things we can all do to be proactive in optimising our wellbeing such as getting enough sleep, eating well, moving our bodies, thinking positively, finding time to do the things we love, spending time with people who make us feel good, managing our emotions and building our skills to cope when things get tough.

We are encouraging students and staff to join us each recess from June 4th - June 26th so we can push out the push ups and do something great for our wellbeing.

https://olhcwarrnambool.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

WEBINAR

SchoolTV would like to invite parents, carers, grandparents, educators and school leaders to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part II)
DATE: Wednesday, 18 June 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Join us for an exclusive session with two of Australia's leading experts in youth wellbeing and cybersafety, Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg. They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

Please note, this webinar is a one-off event and will not be available to replay later.