Principal's News

Dear Parents & Parishioners,

Tomorrow is World Teachers' Day.  This special day on the calender provides a great opportunity to reflect on current and past teachers who have made a real impact on our lives.  I am sure that we can all reflect on at least one or two teachers who have left an indelible mark on us. 

I attended a Catholic Primary school where we were taught by nuns. Back in the late 1960's ... I'm showing my age ... we were disciplined with a strap and learned that there was little place in our classrooms for humour.  That all changed when I entered Grade 5.  A new nun was posted to our country school and her name was Sister Bernadette.  She showed that in a classroom of over 50 students (yes, that's how many we had), that there was still room for fun and laughter.  She was a magificient artist, who created oil paintings in her spare time. Through Sister Bernadette we learned how to create abstract art, crochette football scarves and screen print.  We managed to find time to wheel the black & white TV into the classroom to watch the moon landing!  Believe it or not, she even joined us in the school grounds on the odd occasion to play chasey and kick a footy!! She was a beautiful human who had a soft place in her heart for each student, even the roughest of us.  And she did all this without ever needing to give one of us the strap.  

I will never forget the one year that Sister Bernadette was at our school, and we were truly lucky enough to have her all to ourselves ... all 52 of us.

Who will you remember and give thanks for this World Teachers' Day?

School Captains & Vice Captains Report on First Prep Transition Session

Just over two weeks ago OHR held the first Prep Transition session for incoming students and their parents. As leaders of the school we were given the opportunity to talk to all the new Prep parents for 2026. We were asked different questions regarding our time at OHR.  The questions that we were asked were: 

• What do you remember about your first day of school?

• Why is the buddy program so important to you?

• What are some of the special memories that you have of your time at OHR?

• How has OHR prepared you well for secondary school?

This experience gave the parents a snapshot of our OHR journey, while providing an insight as to what leadership looks like at our school.

Social Media Age Restrictions -eSafety Commisioner Resources Release

The eSafety Commissioner has released additional resources to support educators, parents and young people to become informed and prepare for the social media age restrictions, coming into effect on 10 December 2025.

The main resource continues to be eSafety’s Social Media Age Restrictions (SMAR) Hub.

Free Social Media Age Restriction Professional Learning Webinars for educators and parents/carers have also been added to the Hub and you are encouraged to register here. Webinar dates can be viewed on the registration page.

PFA OHR Colour Fun Run - Only 2 Weeks to go!

On the day of the OHR Colour Fun Run, all students can wear their sports uniform to school accompanied by a white t-shirt to show off the colour. 

For details of this year's OHR Colour Fun Run, make sure that you head to the PFA News page.

Full Summer School Uniform Next Thursday

Next Thursday we will have School Presence onsite all day to conduct photography and video shoots.  You may recall seeing one of the team during last term's school concert. This is a professional shoot in preparation for our new school website that will be launched next year.  If your child does not have permission to be on the school's website, they will not br photographed on the day.

We ask that all students wear their full summer uniform on the day, including black school shoes.  If your child has P/E or Fitness, they can bring their runners in which to change.

2026 Parent Gatherings

As has become an OHR tradition, we invite families to open up their homes to host one of three parent gatherings that are spaced throughout Term One on Friday evenings.  These are warm and low key social events.  All Parent Gatherings were  well-attended earlier this year. 

We have currently set aside three dates for 2026:

If interested in hosting one of these evenings, please let either Heather or myself know.

Term 4 School Closure Days

• Melbourne Cup Weekend - Monday 3rd & Tuesday 4th November
• 2026 Planning Day - Monday 1st December

Wishing everyone a great long weekend,

Frank