Dear Parents & Parishioners,

Last year during a school assembly, when discussing the concepts of resilience and perseverance, I shared the following story of a boy named Sparky. If anything, it demonstrates that persistence can pay off in the long run.

"For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed Physics in high school, receiving a grade of zero. He also failed Latin, Algebra, and English. Sparky didn’t do much better in sports. Although he did manage to make the school’s golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. There was a consolation match; he lost that too.

Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward socially. He was not actually disliked by the other students; it’s just that no one cared that much. He was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside school hours. There’s no way to tell how he might have gone at dating. Sparky never once asked a girl to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down.

Sparky was considered a loser. He, his classmates … everyone knew it. Sparky made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

However, one thing was important to Sparky – drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the editors of the yearbook. The cartoons were turned down. Despite this rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.

After completing high school, he wrote a letter to the Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and a subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky drew the proposed cartoon. He spent a great deal of time on it and on all the other drawings he submitted.

Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Another loss. So Sparky decided to write his autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood self … a little boy loser and chronic underachiever. That cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide.

For Sparky, the boy who had such a lack of success in school and whose work was rejected again and again was Charles M Schulz. He created the “Peanuts” comic strip and the little character whose kite would never fly and who never succeeded in kicking a football – Charlie Brown."

Years 5 & 6 Camp

The students in Years 5 & 6, along with the teaching staff had a magnificent time away last week on camp at Coonawarra Farm Resort. The setting of this outdoor activities-focused camp is nothing short of spectacular. The camp is located near the Mitchell River National Park on the road to the Dargo high plains.

Throughout the week, it gave us great joy to witness the positive way in which the students encouraged one another as they have attempted actvities that both excited and challenged them. The activities to which the students were exposed included: canoeing on the lake; walking the high and low ropes course; zipping across the lake on a flying fox (300m!); attempting the climbing wall; archery; swinging on a giant swing from a height of 18m; team raft building; conquering the Labyrinth (a maze of epic proportions); team hut building; and the list goes on.

I would like to acknowledge the staff who put life with their own families ‘on hold’ while they were away on camp, including: Cara Mitchell, Margie Maher, Katie Mackay, Declan Gulavin and Nick Byrne.

We returned on Friday afternoon having not lost one student! :)

Introducing our School Captains & Vice Captains

This year we have two School Captains and three Vice Captains working in the service of students and staff. Our two School Captains are Zoe C and Amelia L, while our Vice Captains comrpise Lachlan G, Kate M and Jacob Y.

Below, each has shared some insights about themselves and their hopes for this year.

School Captains

My name is Zoe and I have been given the privilege of being School Captain of this wonderful school in 2025. I am really excited to be School Captain and will do my best to make Our Holy Redeemer (OHR) the best school it can possibly be in 2025.

I am an only child and live with my Mum, Dad and mini cavoodle, Buddy. Outside of school I play Netball, Cricket and my favourite sport Gymnastics. In my free time I like to practice Cricket, read and draw.

This year I will try my very best to help OHR Grow, Learn and Succeed, and be a leader that upholds OHR’s brilliant values.

My name is Amelia and I have the privilege of being a school Captain of Our Holy Redeemer (OHR) in 2025. I live with my Mum, Dad and sister and we enjoy going to our beach house.

Some of my hobbies include netball, gymnastics, swimming and reading. My favourite subjects in school are Maths and English.

This year as I go on my leadership journey, I hope to encourage the students to feel safe and welcome at school. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to make OHR an even better place than it already is.

Vice Captains

My name is Lachlan and I am a school vice captain of Our Holy Redeemer in 2025. I hope to help the school maintain a kind, friendly, and inclusive environment. I will do my best to achieve this goal by setting a good example for the younger students attending Our Holy Redeemer.

I live in a family of five including my Mum and Dad. I am the middle child in my family and I have two brothers - Joe being the youngest and Pad being the eldest.

My interests are sports, math and literacy. My favourite sports to play are soccer and cricket. I love to watch the Australian cricket team.

My hopes for the year ahead include making the school the best that it can be. I also hope to lead the school in making the best decisions so that iit can be an even better place for students and all staff of Our Holy Redeemer.

My name is Kate and I am so excited to be a school vice captain of Our Holy Redeemer in 2025! I will try my best to make this school year a one to remember and help the students to strive and feel safe in this special community!

I love spending time with my friends and family. I am the youngest in my family. I live with my Mum, Dad and my sister, Anna, who is in year eight. Before I came to OHR I went to a school called St Bridgets which closed down at the end of 2023. I then joined this school and am very happy here. I am grateful for the opportunities and the friends that this school has provided.

Out of school I play Soccer, and I do Girl Guides. I like animals and I love helping other people when they need help. I like to always stay positive and see problems as opportunities!

I hope that as a school leader I will help the students to feel safe and accepted. I hope that this year I will help the students to have fun and enjoy everyday at school as much as I do!

My name is Jacob and I am a vice captain at Our Holy Redeemer. I am very excited to be a vice captain at OHR in 2025. I live in a family of five including my sister, my mum and dad, my grandma and myself. I have a pet budgie named Snowy and I enjoy hanging around my family.

I love sports and play Basketball, Cricket, Footy and swim weekly. My favourite sports are Basketball and Cricket and I love watching the NBA or Big Bash League.

I hope that I can help improve this school and make a welcoming and bright future for the children that come, and will come, to OHR.

Parent Helpers

Are you interested in becoming a parent helper this year? If the answer is 'yes', please head to the Learning & Teaching News page for details of an induction session being facilitated by Mrs Lisa Canty.

Prep - Year 2 Parent Gathering

All parents of students in Prep through to Year 2, should have recived an invitation last week containng details of the P-2 Parent Evening at the Sutherland's home. This gathering will be held tomorrow evening, Friday 21 February, commencing at 7.00pm.

Managing Big Feelings Parent Webinar

As a follow up to our Starting School presentation with Carley McGauran in 2024, we present the Managing Big Feelings webinar. This webinar is primarily targetted at parents/carers with children in Prep (Foundation) though to Year 2. This session is not to be confused with Raising Kids in a Digital World which is scheduled to be held later in March.

The Managing Big Feelings session is desgined to support parents/carers to show up in the most helpful way when your children experience big feelings. The goal is for parents and carers to feel more informed and empowered.

Managing Big Feelings

Presenter: Carley McGauran

Date: Thursday 6 March

Time: 7.30pm (75 min)

Here is the link for parents to register for the webinar :

bit.ly/bigfeelings2025

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank

Library News

Reading is Magic

Enrolments for Chess Club are now closed for Term 1