A Word from Justin

Dear Families of OLSC 

Welcome back to the new school year.  A special welcome to all of the new families joining the OLSC Community in 2026.  I congratulate all of the students on the impressive way that they have settled into the school year and thank the staff for supporting the community.   

Welcome Picnic

Please join us for a welcome picnic on Tuesday February 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  This is great way to get to know the families of OLSC and the staff too.  Bring along your own food and a picnic rug if you like!  Let's keep our fingers crossed for decent weather.  

Community Mass

Next Sunday the 15th February at 10:00 am we will celebrate community mass in the Sports Centre. It would be great to see as many of our families at this mass as possible.  If you are able to hang around after mass please bring a plate and enjoy some morning tea.  

Invitation to the First Parents and Friends Meeting for 2026 

On Wednesday February 11th we will have our First Parents and Friends Meeting for 2026. The meeting will be held in the staffroom at 9:00 am - all welcome!  

For new families to our school, in the past the Parents and Friends Committee has organised many celebrations and different fund raising events.  Later this year we have set aside a date for a parent event in the evening.  This will take place on Friday 21st August.  In 2024 we had a trivia night that was well attended by parents, friends and staff although there was not a lot of interest in this event last year and as a result it was cancelled.  If you have an idea for a adult event to be held at school please email the Parents and Friends Committee on - 

pandf@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au

We would ideally like an event that attracts maximum participation!  

Prep 2027 Information Night 

Just as a new year begins it's time to start planning for prep enrolments for the 2027 school year.  On Wednesday 25th February we will have a school information night for Prep 2027 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm - please pass this onto any friends and family members that have a child attending 4 year old kinder this year.   The flier below has been distributed to all of the local kinders.  

Major Dates Magnet 

By now you should have receieved a laminated copy of the school major dates.  We

introduced this last year and many people in the community found it a great point of reference.  There is a magnet on the back for you to keep on the fridge.  Our aim is to assist you all in planning for families around the school major events. 

Along with term dates, closure days and major events there is also the dates for Parents and Friends Meetings, Community Masses and School Assemblies.  This shoud have been sent home with your child / eldest child this week.  Please collect an extra copy from the office should you need.  

New Building Update 

We have finally begun our building program for our new Discovery Centre and Learning Spaces.  So far the progress has been slow, however in the next couple of weeks we should see the removal of the old portables and trees.  I am hoping the old portable buildings will be removed this weekend.  I can assure everyone that more new trees will be planted than what is to be removed from the site.  I know the division of the school yard and temporary reduced play space has and will continue to provide us challenges, at least in return we will have a very impressive facility ready later this year.  

There will be a Sod-Turning Ceremony for the new building at 12:30 pm on Thursday 26th February.  There will be more information on this closer to the event.  

Staff 2026

School Crossing Safety Awareness Day  

Today is School Crossing Safety Awareness Day.  This day is to honour all those that assist in

getting the community safely to and from school and is a day to remember Brian Beach.  On the 2nd February 2024 he was struck and killed on his crossing whilst on duty; it was the first death on a Victorian School Crossing in 50 years.  

School Crossing Supervisors were all wearing a safety ribbon.  Our School Crossing Supervisors do a wonderful job maintaining safety around schools and we wish to remind drivers to slow down in their workplace. This is aiming to help us send out the message!

Today, Our Lady of the Southern Cross joined the Wyndham Council in honouring Brain and everyschool crossing supervisor everywhere on the first Friday in February every year.  Our student leaders delivered a small token of our appreciation to the supervisors this morning on behalf of the OLSC Community.  

Thank you to our local crossing supervisors Lori (Scholar Drive) , Lucy (Howqua Way), Jervis (Scholar Drive / Howqua Way) and Mark (Manor Lakes Bvd) for safely getting us to school.  

School Crossing Supervisor of the Year Awards 

Please see the message from Shelley and Christine at Wyndham City Council - let's get voting for one of our crossing supervisors!

School Crossing’s Victoria, together with Wyndham City Council, are looking for the ‘Supervisor

 of the Year’ 2025/2026.

There are seven regions across the state. A winner will be selected in each region, and the overall winner, will be selected from the regional winners. The winner of the 2023/2024 Supervisor of the Year is Ian Hook from Maroondah City Council in Ringwood Victoria. School Crossing’s Victoria would like to enlist your help to boost this year’s nominations.

It is our goal to reach as many parents, residents and school staff as possible and by involving them in the nomination process encourage all road users to think about, and reward, the active role the Supervisors play in the safety of their children.

Your support of this program will help ensure your Crossing Supervisor is shown the appreciation they deserve. We would appreciate if you could include the attached advert in your next school newsletter.

Nominations are open now, and close on Thursday 30th April 2026. Go to the School Crossings Victoria website www.schoolcrossingsvictoria.com.au and complete an online nomination.

Share your Child's Achievements

If anyone in your family has an achievement that could be shared in the newsletter and is worthy of celebration and acknowledgement, please email Justin to be included in the next newsletter.

jhilton@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au

Thanks for a great start to the school year! 

Justin and all of the OLSC staff