Principal's News

Dear Parents & Parishioners,

For those of you who may have not watched the Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive, it is described as an exclusive docuseries that takes viewers behind the scenes of the cutthroat world of the Formula 1 Championship.  In watching every season of Drive to Survive, I have learned a lot about the teams and how they go about their business to remain competitive in this lucrative sport.

One of the elements of Formual 1 Racing that never ceases to amaze me is the synchronisation of the crew, or mechanics, involved in a 'pit stop'.  During this process a team's car will pull into the pit stop where a team of around 20 mechanics will work simultaneously to change all four tyres, adjust the front wing, and inspect the car.  Drivers are required to use at least two different dry-weather tyre compounds during a race. This process must be completed fast!  A highly competitive pit stop usually takes between 2.0 and 2.5 seconds. The current world record belongs to McLaren, which completed a stop in just 1.80 seconds at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.  

Take a look at the video below of the Ferrari pit stop crew at work.  When you preview the full video, you'll see two slow-motion sequences that showcase how seamlessly the crew work together.

Last Friday our Leadership Team attended a MACS professional learning network.  Part of the day focussed on aspects of MACS Vision of Leadership.    During this time we examined the parallels between a Formula 1 pit stop and good leadership.  Both are deeply rooted in teamwork, precision, and trust. A sub-two-second pit stop, for example, is not just a mechanical feat; it is the ultimate demonstration of high-performance organisational leadership. 

Some key parallels we explored, included:

1. Extreme role clarity

2. Trust and empowerment

3. Continuous marginal gains

4. Psychological safety to own mistakes

5. Seemless cross-functional communication

6. Agility under pressure.

I am deeply proud of our school's Leadership Team, as we work consistently and collectively to drive school-wide improvement.  Just don't expect us to do it in under 2.5 seconds!

Welcome Back!

On Monday we welcomed back Scott, Paulette and their son, Teddy K (3/4JH), to the OHR community.  Teddy began his schooling at OHR, where he completed one term of Prep with Mrs Hollow, before the family had to relocate to Japan.  

After a number of years abroad we are happy to welcome back Teddy and his parents.

Supporting our staff while planning for the future

Currently, all Catholic schools are working through planning and budgeting activities, with the support of MACS staff, for 2027 to ensure we are well placed to support our staff, students and school communities in the coming year. This includes looking at how we can accommodate the changes likely to flow from a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) with school staff.

We recognise the significant financial pressures many households are facing, and we are making a conscious effort to ensure these costs are not passed on through significant fee increases.

We will continue to keep our parent community informed throughout this process. As always, our focus remains on maintaining strong school communities and continuing to deliver a high-quality Catholic education for every student.

Preparing for 2027

Currently, we are in the process of finalising student numbers for 2027 which will go a long way to determining how many classes the school will be offering next year.  If your child will be concluding their time at OHR at the end of the current school year, could you please communicate this formally in writing and email me at your earliest convenience? 

Of course, this does not apply to families who have their last child completing Year 6 at the end of this year.

100 Days Smarter

Tomorrow, Ms Dening, Mrs Hollow and their Prep students will be celebrating 100 days smarter.  An exciting and fun-filled day of learning has been planned for all the children. It It is quite astounding to witness how far our Prep children have come in the space of six months at primary school.  

Next week's Newsletter will contain images and a summary of the day's events.

OHR Art Show

The OHR Art Show is on again this year.  So, make sure you add the evening of Thursday 10 September to your calendar now. This evening is an incredible opportunity to celebrate the iamazing artwork of our students.  

Make sure that you head to the 2026 OHR Art Show page where there are further details and a competiton for the children to enter.  

On Monday, Mrs Hansen sent home details and resources to engage each family in an activity that will eventually contribute to a whole-school collaborative artwork.

Is your Working With Children Check up to date?

Parents have been notified by the school when their Working With Children Check is due to expire. Upon expiry of the Working With Children Check, legislation requires that you obtain a new card and  bring it to the Office in order that it can be verified and photocopied.    

The Card MUST be displayed at all times when volunteering at School in any capacity. Thank you for your support.

Learning Snapshots  

As part of our Family Engagement focus this year, we are implementing Learning Snapshots which will take place regularly between 8:45 - 9am (at dropoff) or 3:00 - 3:15pm (at pickup), commencing this term.  The Learning Snapshots are designed to best support you when working and guiding your child at home with their learning.  Each session runs for only 15 minutes, thereby making them accessible for busy parents (and grandparents).

Our next Learning Snapshot on Building a Growth Mindset is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 August at 8,45am.  Please refer to the Learning & Teaching News page for further details.

PFA Kids Disco

Thanks to Sasha and all the parents who volunteered their time last Friday to provide the children with a memorable night.  We know how much the kids look forward to this event!

Save the Date: OHR School Fete

Remember to save the date of Saturday 24 October in your calendar. This is the date of the OHR School Fete, branded as the OHR Spring Carnival School Fete.  

Our organsing committe has been meeting regularly on a fortnightly basis.  

Details can be found on the PFA News page.

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank Dame