Dear Families

Camp

Next week our Year 5/6 students head off to Lyrebird Camp in Yellingbo. Our campers will be gone for three days (Tuesday - Thursday) and after two years of interruptions to many of the memorable experiences primary school provides for students it is great that our 42 students will have the chance to attend.

Camp is a wonderful learning opportunity from many perspectives. Their experiences will promote a range of social situations for them to navigate and enjoy, they will test themselves with a variety of activities and being away from home in a new environment provides plenty of scope for personal development.

We wish them well on their adventure and you will be able to see some of the highlights via our social media posts (see below) and in the newsletter in coming weeks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyhelpofchristianseltham/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurLadyHelpElth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourladyhelpofchristians/

Face Masks

As you are aware face masks are required for all staff, and students from Year 3 and above. They are strongly recommended for Prep to Year 2 students. Could we please ask for your assistance to ensure your child has a suitable face mask for school each day. Whilst we do have some spares, we have limited supplies which are reserved for the odd occasion someone forgets to bring one with them.

This is a good opportunity for children to take responsibility for their own, just as they would for other school related materials, and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to encourage their child to have a face mask with them each day.

CLASS PLACEMENTS FOR 2022

In the coming weeks we will be creating class groups for the 2022 school year. There are many factors that are taken into account and I would like parents to be aware of our process for determining these groups.

It is worth noting that we do not create class lists by assigning students to teachers. Lists of student groupings will initially be created, often without knowing where all teachers will be placed for the following year. Keep in mind that sometimes teachers will be moved levels, take leave or move school. Class lists are created with priority given to the factors below.

A balance of:

gender
year levels
social / emotional / academic needs
medical considerations
sibling and relative placements
previous teachers / home group combinations
friendship groups (who they work well with in class)

Every effort is made to place students with a friend they work well with, however we strongly promote building relationships and making new friends as this helps build resilience and broadens both friendship groups and diverse learning opportunities. We pride ourselves on our community spirit at OLHC and this is another way we foster and promote inclusiveness.

Groups are formed based on the mix of students to best meet the criteria above and then teachers will be allocated to them. I am currently in the process of finalising staffing for 2022.

I ask that our judgement and professionalism be trusted in making a decision that is, on balance, in each student’s best interest.

Where sensitive circumstances exist, this should already be known to the current teacher, but it would be helpful if you could inform me of any such special considerations via direct email at patrick.green@olhceltham.catholic.edu.au with the Subject Heading of ‘Placement’.

Please do not assume that previous correspondence is considered as circumstances and relationships change over time and not all staff are privy to previous information on these matters.

In doing so, please respect that any email seeking a consideration should:

not include requests for placing children with specific friends
not include requests for children to be separated from particular students and
not include requests for children to be with/without a specific teacher

Careful consideration will be given to the information provided however not all requests can be achieved or they may not be possible or desirable due to other factors. Placement emails must be submitted by Friday 19th, November. In fairness to all, requests after this date cannot be considered.

The staff and I will do our utmost to work with you to support your child in transitioning to their next phase of learning.

If you know your child is leaving OLHC to attend a different school next year (this does not include Year 6 students) and you haven’t already informed the school in writing, could you please do so as soon as possible.

Warm regards

Patrick Green

Please see page for National Tree Day, each family is receiving a seeding today (Friday).

CONGRATULATIONS To Bree and Brie who were presented with the plaque for their "World Class Services" award which was announced term 3.

Thank you to all the parents of OLHC who rated OSHClub service, a World Class Service.

Please refer to our School google calendar for events throughout the year.

Links

COVID Safe Plan
Enrolment Form Link
Please click here for link to Asthma plan and/or Anaphylaxis plan and allergy form.
CDFpay link
Bicycle Paths
Parish Bulletin/Parish Website

NATIONAL TREE DAY - Postponed from August