Dear Parents & Parishioners,

Family

“They say that times were tough then

That money was very tight

But I remember my childhood

And I know that can’t be right.

We wouldn’t eat from a microwave

Or a restaurant down the street,

We all ate mum’s home cooking

And boy, that can’t be beat.

We wouldn’t eat in front of the TV

Or with a smartphone in our hand

We weren’t plugged into Spotify

Moving to the latest band.

We laughed, we joked, we talked, we ate

We were a family don’t you see,

Though some may have been raised poor

You can see it wasn’t me.

So when you talk of family life

Or how it used to be,

Though many had more money

None were as rich as me.”

Author unknown

There is no better way for an adult to view life than though the memories of their childhood days when life was “better then”. However, the standout line from the above poem would have to be, “We were a family don’t you see”, as it was stated with passion and conviction. The family seemed to be of great importance to the writer and so it should be, for the family is the best health, education and welfare unit ever devised by humankind.

The family is important to children because, besides teaching them the truths of moral values, it forms their character and gives them the opportunity to become independent, stable and compassionate individuals. Children’s personalities are able to develop in a healthy manner, because significant people within the family care intensely about them and give them priority of attention.

A family gives children a sense of history and a secure base from which to grow and develop, and, through its discipline, helps children to internalise codes of conduct that will serve them for the rest of their lives. Within a healthy family there is a sense of giving and taking, of love, and a healthy respect for others.

“One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mum and dad.”

Jim DeMint

We wish our dads, and all father figures, a very happy Fathers’ Day this Sunday.

OHR Art Show

When: Official Opening Evening is on Thursday 12 September

Time: 7.00 – 8.15pm. Please assemble in the hall by 6.50pm for launch and keynote address.

Where: Artworks will be on display in a number of key areas, including: the Hall; Performing Arts Room; Year 3/4 learning area; and stairwell leading down to the junior area.

What else is on? A number of hampers can be won on the night. Raffle tickets will be on sale during the evening. $2 per ticket or 3 tickets for $5.

It’s important to note that the Art Show is a family affair, in other words, children should remain with their families at all times. Children should not be moving about the Art Show by themselves. Toileting facilities for children will be identified as separate to those available for adults. Teaching staff will be assigned a variety of roles on that night to assist with the smooth running of the Art Show and, therefore, will not be there in a supervisory capacity.

OHR Book Week Assembly

The grounds were filled with colourful costumes as the students entered the school on Monday morning dressed as their favourite book characters. Many parents and relatives attended the special Book Week Assembly which began the week. The senior students in the Arts/library team ran the assembly in which they invited classes, one at a time, to come onto the stage area. Each student was asked questions about their character and the book from which their character came.

Thank you to Mrs Deidre Campbell for her work in preparing the students in the Arts/Library team to run this annual event.

One of the highlights of OHR Book Week is the launch of the Year 6 picture books. For many months, the students have been guided by Mrs Campbell and Mrs Mitchell in developing a piture book from scratch. Development of text, illustrations and publishing forms part of the process. The books were officially launched at yesterday's breakfast attended by family members and staff. The Year 6 students have visited classrooms throughout the school, not to mention local kindergartens, where they have shared their books with younger audiences.

National Child Protection Week

Next week is National Child Protection Week. Please refer to the Student Wellbeing page where Lisa Canty has written more about how this fits into our approach to Child Safety.

The eSafety Commissioner has also developed a series of resources for people of all ages, which can be found on the Cyber Safety Tips page.

Fathers' Day Stall

Please refer to the PFA News page for details of this year's Fathers' Day Stall which will be held tomorrow, Friday 30 August.

Dads & Kids' Night with Kaboom Sports - 1 Day to Go!

Details regarding the Fathers' Day Sports Night can be found on the PFA News page.

Planning for 2025

We are currently in the process of finalising the student numbers in each level for the 2025 school year. If your child will not be returning to OHR next year, would you mind putting this in writing and sending this communication in an email to both Heather and myself? It would be appreciated if you could let us know by no later than Friday 13 September.

Of course, parents with students currently in Year 6 do not need to write to us.

MACSSIS

A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys.

MACSSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic schools in Melbourne by the Learning Services team at MACS, in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with principals in our schools.

Families , students (Years 4 -6) and staff are invited to complete the surveys.

I ask that you take the time to read the Letter of Informed Consent. Note: Access to the survey will be provided from this Tuesday.

OHR Spring Carnival - Only 8 Weeks to Go

The fete committee continue to meet on a fortnightly basis to plan for this year's school fete. This is a HUGE event for our school and to ensure that it is a success the fete committee will require everyone's support.

Make sure that you visit the PFA News page for further information. A link to the fete website can be found on the homepage of our school website.

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank Dame

OHR Spring Carnival Fete