Dear Parents & Parishioners,

Remembrance Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – Remembrance Day – is a time to not only remember those who have given their lives in service, but also to reflect on the historical events that led to this day of international significance.

This Monday is Remembrance Day, and a small Remembrance Day service will form part of our whole school assembly. Later that morning, at the invitation of Jess Wilson MP, I will be escorting our School Captains and Vice Captains to particpate in the Kew RSL Remembrance Day Service. During the ceremony, our students will lay a wreath on behalf of Our Holy Redeemer School.

Originally announced to mark the anniversary of the Armistice that ended fighting with Germany in World War I (WWI), Remembrance Day today gives us all the opportunity to acknowledge the service personnel who died while serving, whether in wars, conflicts or peacekeeping operations.

At 5am on 11 November 1918 in a railway carriage in France, representatives of France, Britain and Germany all signed a document that would put an end to four years of conflict. Six hours later – at 11am – those signatures would bring into effect the Armistice that ended WWI. Across the world, people rejoiced and celebrated the news, including in Australia. Despite the late hour of the day, school, fire station, and church bells around the country rang, waking hundreds of people to share the news that war was over.

Alongside the excitement, there was also a notable sense of loss and grief. More than 60,000 Australian soldiers had made the ultimate sacrifice, more than 150,000 had been wounded or taken prisoner and some 23,000 soldiers were missing. Very few Australian families did not have some link to the war effort.

On the first anniversary of the Armistice (11 November was known as Armistice Day until after WWII), King George V asked all the people of the British Empire to observe two minutes’ silence at 11am. It’s a tradition still honoured today during Remembrance Day services as we remember all who have served in the Australian Defence Force, in WWI and in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations since.

The Remembrance Day minute of silence was formalised in Australia in 1997 by Governor-General Sir William Deane, who issued a proclamation declaring 11 November to be Remembrance Day and urging all Australians to observe one minute of silence at 11am on 11 November each year.

With thanks to the RSL.

Christmas Drawing Competition

The students at OHR have been invited to participate in the 2024, "How my family celebrates Christmas" drawing competition. Jess Wilson MP welcomes students to submit entries that demonstrate how their family celebrates Christmas. Whether it means sun, sand and barbeques, snow or a very simple family lunch with loved ones - the competition will celebrate our wonderfully diverse nation.

One winner and three runners-up will be awarded per school, with winning entries to be judged by Jess Wilson in late November. All particpating students will receive a certificate of participation.

Students are to submit entries to the school ffice by next Friday 15 November 2024. Entiries will be proudly displayed in Jess' electorate office in Kew.

Formation of Classes

The teaching staff have begun the process of developing class placements for the 2025 school year. The construction of class lists is a process that requires teaching staff to give consideration to a great variety of factors in an effort to create a social, emotional, behavioural and academic balance within any given class, as detailed in the Rationale of our Formation of Classes Policy:

“At OHR we believe that learning is influenced by a diverse range of factors. The professional knowledge, judgement and discretion of all teachers is critical to the placement of students. The class allocation process should follow protocols which address the balance of social, emotional and academic needs of each child.”

A copy of the Formation of Classes Policy is attached below for your reference. Please take the time to read through the Policy carefully, as it clearly articulates a range of considerations that need to be factored when placing every individual child into a class. The Policy informs the decisions of staff as we collaboratively construct class lists during the current time.

Year 5/6 Living Museum

You are warmly inivted to visit the Year 5/6 Living Museum tomorrow. For details, refer to the Learning & Taching News.

Prep & New Families Welcome Mass

All OHR families are invited to the weekly parish mass in the OHR Church on Sunday 17 November at 10.30am. This is a special welcome mass for our current Prep families and all 2025 Prep families.

At the conclusion of the mass there will be hospitality.

Calling for PFA Nominations - 2025

Being a member of the PFA is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in your child’s school community, as well as play a part in initiatives that support the education and welfare of the children of OHR.

Please jump to the PFA News page for further details.

eSafety Parents

eSafety is Australia's independent regulator for online safety. eSafety educate Australians about online safety risks and help to remove harmful content such as cyberbullying of children, adult cyber abuse and intimate images or videos shared without consent.

The eSafety Commissioner's website has a great range of parent friendly resources that are easily navigable.

Select the following logo to take you to these helpful resources:

2025 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 very well-attended earlier this year.

We have currently set aside three dates for 2025.

Thank you to Tara and Adnrew Sutherland who have offered to host the Prep - Yr 2 Parent Evening.

Prep - Yr 2 Parent Evening: 21 February 2025 @ Sutherland's home
Yrs 3 & 4 Parent Evening: 14 March 2025
Yrs 5 & 6 Parent Evening: 28 March 2025

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

Skipping Club Demonstrations

Our students have been fortunate to have the opportunity to learn skipping skills and routines during their lunchtimes, with thanks to Mrs Nicki Durrant.

Mrs Durrant would like to take the opportunity to showcase what the students have learned.

Skipping Club demonstrations will be held at the following Whole School Assemblies:

Prep - Monday, 11th November
Year 5/6 - Monday, 18th November
Year 1/2 - Monday, 25th November
Year 3/4 - Monday, 9th December

Students are encouraged to wear their sports uniform on the day they are involved in their skipping demonstration.

OHR Twilight Christmas Celebration

The PFA have planned an exciting OHR Twilight Christmas Celebration to fall on the evening of Friday 29 November. The evening will commence with Christmas Carols sung by the OHR students. There are also many other events planned for the evening which the PFA will communicate over the coming weeks. So save the date!

Next School Closure Day

2025 Planning Day - Monday 2 December

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank

School Community