During Monday's whole school assembly I took the opportunity to talk about Aunty Pam Pederson, an 83 year old Yorta Yorta woman who wanted to run a half marathon.

Aunty Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Some years later, when COVID restrictions were set in place and she was unable to work, she decided that was the time to take control of her wellbeing.

For Aunty Pam, this meant eating healthily, going to bed early and exercising, all leadeing to her ultimate goal of compelting a half marathon. She started training six days per week. Her regime included running, cycling, weights, stretching and skipping.

"Focus, train, train, train, that's all I could think about," Aunty Pam said.

Her doctors recommended slowing down and start taking it easy. By Aunty Pam's measure of taking it easy, she means 'only' training three days a week!

"When I walked out of the doctors, I remember thinking 'you don't know me!'"

With six weeks left to achieve her initial goal of running a half marathon, on a Sunday she went to suss out a marathon that was happening .. to just have a look at the course. But when she arrived, she decided on the spot to give it a go and just see how far she could get.

Three hours and 36 minutes later, Aunty Pam achieved her goal - running 21km!

"I started getting tired with 3km to go. I used an app that's helped me. Run four minutes, walk one minute."

"I was amazed! Three hours and 36 minutes! That's how long I can still run and still function and pull up well," Aunty Pam said.

"Even my husband didn't know!"

"I can't get over it, I just can't believe I did 21 km!"

Last Sunday, Aunty Pam competed in the inaugural Mothers' Day Classic half marathon, but it certainly was not her first half marathon!

The following one minute interview with Aunty Pam was shown to the students during Monday's Assembly.

Mothers' Day Breakfast & Stall

A big shout out to everyone who was involved in last Friday's Mothers' Day Breakfast. The Mothers' Day Breakfast sold approximately 300 tickets!

The Mothers' Day Stall also proved to be a great hit with the students and, of course, their mums.

Both events could not have been as successful as they were, without the assistance of so many parent helpers. A strong sense of community was on show throughout the entire morning, and in the lead-up to the day.

Importance of Punctuality: Is your child ready to learn?

At OHR, we strongly believe in the need for our students to start the day feeling calm, happy and ready to learn. Punctuality at the start of the school day is crucial as it reduces student anxiety and maximises their learning time. Arriving on time allows children to settle in, connect with peers, and avoid missing vital morning instructions, which boosts their confidence and academic performance.

Key reasons for being punctual include:

Maximising Learning Time: Even a few minutes of daily lateness can result in significant lost education hours over a school year.
Reduced Stress and Better Focus: Punctual students start the day calmly, while late arrivals cause disruption to the child, teacher, and their classmates.
Social Development: Morning routines often involve social interactions that help children build relationships and settle in before learning commences.
Improved Academic Results: Children who arrive on time are better prepared to engage with the curriculum, as they don't miss important instructions or daily routines.
Building Long-Term Habits: Consistent punctuality establishes positive routines that prepare students for future, professional, and personal responsibilities. It develops a mindset that reflects readiness and reliability.

We all experience the occasional lateness due to a traffic accident or simply an unexpected incident at home that disrupts the entire morning routine. But these are rare occurences. Consistent lateness, however, requires an intentional re-adjustment to the morning routine.

NCCD

Please refer to the Student Wellbeing page to read a parent information sheet explaining the Nationally Consitent Collection of Data (NCCD) on School Students with Diasability.

MACSEYE

As Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) prepares OHR's transition of OSHC providers, from Camp Australia to MACSEYE, we know that families are likely to have questions during this period of change. MACSEYE will be hosting online information sessions where families can meet the team, learn more about MACSEYE OSHC, and ask any questions you may have.

MACSEYE have arranged two online sessions:

• Tuesday 19 May, 6.30pm – 7.00pm

• Wednesday 10 June, 6.30pm – 7.00pm

The sessions will also be recorded and shared with you, so families unable to attend can access the information.

Details can be accessed in the below flyer.

Prep Enrolments for 2027

Enrolments for next year are soon closing. If you have a child who will be commencing school next year, please lodge an enrolment form to the office by tomorrow, 15 May. We need this information in order to ascertain student numbers for 2027. Enrolment figures are used to determine class numbers and structures. Our enrolment figures impact directly on the funding OHR receives.

Family enrolment meetings will be held in the following weeks.

Grandparents & Special Friends' Day

Only two more weeks to go until Grandparents & special Friends' Day. This special event will be celebrated on Friday 29 May. On this day we would love for either the grandparents of the children, or other special persons in their lives, to come to the school for the morning.

The day will commence with a very special whole school mass in the church, celebrating the place of these important people in the lives of the children. The visitors will then be invited to partake in various activities within the classrooms. Following the classroom activities, our special guests are warmly invited to stay on for a delicious morning tea in the Hall.

Supervision Before and After School ... repeated

The children are supervised before school by teaching staff from 8.25 – 8.40am. Commencing at 8.30am, the children may enter their classroom and begin setting up for the day as long as their teacher is in attendance. In the interest of child safety, we request that children are not dropped off at school any earlier than 8.25am. Teaching staff are not scheduled for playground supervision until 8.25am as prior to this time they are regularly involved in meetings, preparation and administration.

The children are dismissed at 3.15pm, with staff supervision in the school grounds extending from 3.15pm – 3.30pm. We kindly request that all children be collected at dismissal time of 3.15pm, and no later than 3.30pm, as staff are often involved in a variety of meetings commencing at this time.

We appreciate the fact that so many parents and/or guardians have been prompt in picking up their children at the end of the school day.

Please note the following:

Children are allowed to play on the Junior Playground equipment between the times of 8.25 – 8.40am and 3.15 – 3.30pm, but not in the sandpit nor on the Middle/Senior Playground Equipment at the Northern end of the grounds.
In the interest of everyone’s safety, ball games are not to be played before or after school between the times of 8.25 – 8.40am and 3.15 – 3.30pm.
Children should never wait to be picked up in York Street. They should always be collected by an adult from within the school grounds, if they are not exiting through the Barton Street kiss and drop-off.

Working Bee

The next Working Bee was orginally scheduled for Sunday 17 May. However, due to the fact that this falls on the morning following the PFA Carnaval, we have moved the Working Bee to Sunday 31 May.

School Closure Days

We will have one remaining school closure day this term:

Friday 5 June (leading into the King's Birthday long weekend)

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank Dame

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