Principal's News

Dear Parents & Parishioners,

OHR Spring Carnival School Fete -  2 days to Go!! 

Following countless months of preparation by all the members of the organising committee, the OHR Spring Carnival Fete is now only two days away. This team of committed volunteers has dedicated an inordinate amount of their time into the planning and organisation of this event to ensure that it is a success. However, the success of the event is dependant upon the coordinated set up, which begins tomorrow, the orchestration of the actual Fete on Saturday, and the ensuing pack up and clean up.  The Spring Carnival Fete is an event genuinely designed to bring all members of our community together and communicates to the children the way we value our school.

We are extremely grateful to our generous sponsors who have supported the Fete this year.  If ever using any of the sponsors, please indicate that you are from OHR and that way they will know that the members of the school community are returning the favour.

The children are so excited about Saturday’s Spring Carnival Fete and, in recent months, have literally been counting down the days.  The day will prove to be one of the biggest highlights on the school calendar for them.  Once again, there is a great buzz throughout the broader local community and I have no doubt that the Fete will draw in an amazing number of visitors.

In addition to generating important revenue to support the school, the Fete is proving to be an integral form of marketing for OHR. Put simply, our school is on display!  Thank you to everyone who has put up their hand to assist in whatever way.  If you have yet to volunteer some time, it is still not too late, and your time will be genuinely appreciated. 

I would like to acknowldege the incredible drive and focus of this year's Fete Committee. During recent months they have met regularly and worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the first OHR fete in five years.   I am in awe of the commitment and investment of all Committee members.  Thank you to the following parents who have comprised this year's committee: Ryan Davis, Julia Buchanan, Emma Caldwell, Ben Brockhurst, Natasha O'Hanlon, Hannah Fitzgerald, Sharmila Moreland, Amy Roman and Linnea Reddie.

Make sure that you visit the PFA News page for further information, including instructions for accessing the amazing silent auction. 

Principals' Pilgrimage - Part 2

The Camino de Santiago is more than just a popular route; it’s a globally cherished treasure.  Since 1993, the Camino has been recognised as a UNESCO world Heritage Site.  The final destination for any Camino is the township of Santiago de Compostela.  In other words, all Caminos (or Ways) lead to Santiago.  The captivating tale behind this pilgrimage is truly remarkable. For it is believed that the remains of the Apostle St James the Great are at rest within the majestic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. This extraordinary find dates back to a shepherd in the 9th century. 

James took on the role of a missionary after Jesus’s crucifixion and the subsequent rise of the Christian Church. Like many apostles, he embarked on journeys to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. According to historical and ecclesiastical accounts, he travelled far and wide, even reaching modern-day Spain and Portugal to preach the Gospel. Though faced with adversity, his courage and determination never wavered.  People believe James’ remains are interred in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a revered pilgrimage site. This site has become one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the Christian world, attracting hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually.

At the conclusion of our pilgrimage the principals agreed to gather in a small square in the town of Santiago de Compostela.  Our group dribbled into the square over a period of roughly two hours during our last day of walking.  When the last arrived, we all walked as a collective group further into the town and gathered in the enormous expanse (square) in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (or the Cathedral of St James).  Here we gathered with many other pilgrims who had finished the journey for group photos.

The following day we joined many other pilgrims for midday mass in the cathedral. Prior to the mass we had the opportunity to visit the site where the remains of St James are interred.  Towards the conclusion of the mass, the Botafumeiro – an enormous incense burner – is lit and swung from the ceiling.  People had told me of its enormity but nothing prepared us for what we witnessed on the day.  The Botafumeiro is swung across the length of the naves of the church above the heads of all in the congregation.  According to legend, the first temple censer was built for hygienic reasons during the eleventh century. 

On our final day in Santiago, we drove out to Finisterre which is one of the western-most points in Spain.  For some, this is the final destination of the Camino.  This location is also referred to as the End of the World, for in medieval times the traveller could journey no further.  We were fortunate in that the hurricane-force winds that blew here in the days prior had now fully abated.  The End of the World was eerily still and calm, and for the first time in days, the sun cracked through the dark clouds.  The only sign of life – nine goats feeding themselves on a rocky outcrop that was surrounded by the swirling waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  We had made it! 

Fr Brendan's Farewell Mass

On behalf of the OHR Community, I would like to thank Fr Brendan for the guidance, pastoral support and wisdom shared with us over the past four years.  I am sure everyone will join me in wishing Fr Brendan well in his new mission.  

A special farewell Mass celebrated by Fr Brendan followed by hospitality will be held this Sunday, 27 October at 5.00 pm at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 10 Whitehorse Road, Deepdene.

For catering purposes, please contact the Parish Office on 9816 9291, if you are attending.

Parish of Our Lady of Pentecost

This Saturday, 26 October, the new Parish of Our Lady of Pentecost will come into being. On the eve of this historic occasion, it is worth pausing to reflect on how and why this new Parish has come about. There are very practical, sociological and historical reasons for this move. There are also theological and ecclesiological reasons. Let's reflect on each of these.

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.

Working Bee 

We had a great number of parent and children helpers turn up to last Sunday morning's Working Bee.  This provided a great opportunity to tidy the school gardens and surrounds in preparation for Saturday's fete.

I would like to thank Luke Torpey and Justin Bolger for overseeing this year's working bees, all of which have been successful.  A special shout out to their families who have often been there as a show of support.

School Maintenance

During the recent school holidays a number of tasks were completed including:

• Painting of both Year 5/6 classrooms and the adjacent open area;
• Painting of some sections of the Junior Fixed Play Equipment;
• Replacement of both the climbing web and climbing net on the Junior Fixed Play Equipment.

Tomorrow is World Teachers' Day

Let’s celebrate our teachers and thank them for all the work they do to educate, inspire and empower our students at OHR.  

World Teachers' Day on October 25 is an opportunity to recognise and applaud our teachers for their important role in our community and for the positive impact they have on the lives of our students.

World Teachers' Day is also an opportunity to pause and reflect on the teachers who had a genuine impact on us, as adults, when we were younger.  Who was the teacher that had the most profound impact on you?

Term 4 School Closure Days

• Melbourne Cup Weekend - Monday 4 & Tuesday 5 November
• 2025 Planning Day - Monday 2 December

Vision for Instruction

In February 2024, MACS examined the way reading, writing and mathematics are taught in its 300 primary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. 

Vision for Instruction promotes explicit instruction, a way of teaching in which complex skills are introduced to students in small steps, supported by clear explanations and demonstrations of what students are expected to learn. Students then practise what they have learned and receive feedback from their teacher until the skill is mastered. 

MACS is leading explicit instruction and evidence-based practice education in Victoria to achieve teaching and learning excellence. To find out what becoming a flourishing learner means for your child, and how you can help, read Parents Guide to Vision for Instruction and ask your child’s teacher if you have any questions. MACS also regularly posts about Vision for Instruction in social media. 

To follow MACS, please click on the following links for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank