From the Principal

Christmas Carols:

Dear OLHC Community,

What a truly special evening we shared at our annual Christmas Carols Night! It was such a joy to see so many of you come together to celebrate the season with music, laughter, and the spirit of community that makes Our Lady Help of Christians so unique. Each level brought their own unique energy and charm to the stage, making the night truly magical.

I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to a few key contributors who made the night such a success:

• Crust Pizza, for their generous support with discounted pizzas.
• Our amazing PFOL team, for helping to create such a welcoming and festive atmosphere. (The raffle raised $275 and sale of drinks $155).
• A big thank you to Sue Wallace and the FIRE Carriers, who coordinated the cake stall. And to families and staff who donated goods to the cake stall and for those who purchased cakes. As mentioned all proceeds from this will go to the Open Doors Foundation, thank you for helping us support this important cause. ($779 was raised for the Foundation).
• Most importantly, to our dedicated teachers, who worked tirelessly to prepare our students and ensure every performance was a shining moment.

To our families - thank you for your ongoing support and for sharing in the joy of this wonderful event. Your presence is what makes celebrations like this so meaningful.

Staffing News

As we approach the end of the year, we are proud to share that only two staff members will be moving on from Our Lady Help of Christians. This stability is a testament to the strength of our community, the positive direction of our school, and the deep commitment our staff have to our shared long-term vision. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and passion that our team brings to OLHC every day.

On Tuesday next week, students will have the opportunity to meet their 2025 class groups. We have delayed announcing the teaching staff as we were finalising some appointments.  We are now thrilled to share the following staffing arrangements for next year:

Prep/1 - Mrs Maria Wise 

Year 1 Classroom Support - Mrs Taya Eddy and Mrs Stephanie Asdagi

Year 2/3  - Ms Laura Condon 

Year 4/5   - Mrs Susie Camilleri and Mrs Maree Rofe

Year 5/6 - Mrs Anne Askew

STEM - Mrs Stephanie Asdagi

PE - Mrs Joanna Johnson

Performing Arts - Mrs Kathryn De Wal

Italian - TBC

School Chaplain - Mrs Kathy Toomey

Staff Farewell

It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that we share some staffing updates at Our Lady Help of Christians.

Firstly, we farewell Clare Bisby, who has been an incredible asset to our community as Religious Education Leader. Clare’s dedication to organising sacramental family nights and running the sacraments has enriched the faith life of our school. As she moves on to join the community at Our Lady of the Way in Kingsbury, we know she will bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role. Clare, thank you for all you have given to OLHC, and we wish you every success in this exciting next chapter.

We also say goodbye to Olivia Tomada (Liv), who has worked as a Language Assistant and Intervention Officer at OLHC for the past six years. Liv is a talented musician, and her creative spirit has been a gift to our school. As she steps away to pursue her music career further and explore new opportunities, we want to thank her for the dedication, kindness, and energy she has brought to our community. Liv, we wish you every success as you follow your dreams!

Both Clare and Liv have made significant contributions to OLHC, and they will be greatly missed. We send them off with our prayers and best wishes for the future.

2025 Communication

As we approach the end of the year, we are preparing for a smooth and exciting start to the new school year. Early next week, we will be sharing key updates regarding:

• Class Lists: Discover which class your child will be part of in 2025.
• Beginning of Year Assessments and Wellbeing Sessions: Details about our assessment schedule and wellbeing program to ensure your child has the best possible start.
• School Fees for 2025: A breakdown of fees and payment options to help you plan ahead.

Please keep an eye out for this communication, which will provide all the information you need to prepare for a successful year ahead.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Warm regards,

Rudy Vail

Principal

Next Friday December 13th all canteen stock reduced - icy poles $1.00

Find and connect with us

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurLadyHelpElth  

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

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

Links

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people who are the traditional custodians of this land and pay respect to the elders past, present and emerging of the Kulin Nation.