Dear Parents & Parishioners,

MHiPS

This year, Our Holy Redeemer is taking part in the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative. The MHiPS initiative has been expanded in recognition of the important role schools play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Under the initiative, every Victorian government and low-fee non-government primary school receives funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL). Mrs Esther Jackson will be fulflling this role. She will be joined, and supported by, Mrs Lisa Canty. With support and training, MHWLs will work in their schools to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

The Department of Education partners with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne (UoM) to provide support and training to schools.

More information about the intiative will be rolled out over the coming months.

Years 5&6 Canberra Camp

There are only four more sleeps until the students in Years 5 & 6 embark on their four-day camp to Canberra. The camp journey will commence in the early hours of this Monday morning when the group meet at OHR at 5.30am. There's nothing quite like getting up with the birds! The students and staff will then be transported by coach to Melbourne Airport where we will depart for the nation’s capital. Over the four days the group will visit destinations such as Parliament House (both old and new), the Australian War Memorial, the Electoral Education Centre, the National Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Questacon, and the AIS, to name a few. The campers will return on the evening of Thursday 5 March.

The staff attending the camp include: Cara Mitchell, Katie Mackay, Declan Gulavin, Nick Byrne and myself.

Penny Hansen and Carmel Pettinato will be responsible for the daily management of the school while we are away in Canberra.

Prep - Year 2 Parent Gathering

Thank you to Renee and Neil Shepherd for generously opening up their home last Friday evening to host the parents with students in our junior school. We had a great turn up on the night, including many of our new families.

No Assembly this Monday

Due to the fact that our students in Years 5 & 6 will be attending the Camp in Canberra, there will be no assembly on Monday morning.

Raising Kids in a Digital World

Please head to the Digital Technology and Online Safety page for details of how you can register for the live parent webinar, 'Raising Kids in a Digital World'.

Open Mornings

On Wednesday 18 March, we will host the first of two scheduled Open Mornings for prospective parents considering enrolling their children in 2027 and beyond. The school will be open to visitors, between 9:00am and 10:30am. A great morning is planned. We will commence with a gathering in the hall where the students will treat our visitors to a number of exhibitions and performances. The Year 6 students will then take on the responsibility of showing our guests around the school.. Afterwards our visitors will be invited to the foyer of the hall for a cuppa.

If you are available between 10.00 - 10.30am to talk to the visiting families over a cuppa, please don't hesitate to send me an email.

If you know of anyone considering a school for their child, please encourage them to come along to our special Open Morning and to also arrange a personal school tour.

As you can appreciate, we are working towards finalising our 2027 Prep enrolments by the middle of May.

It would be gratefully appreciated that all existing school families who have a child commencing school in 2027 complete an enrolment form and submit it to Heather.

Managing Big Feelings Parent Webinar

As a follow up to our Starting School presentation with Carley McGauran in 2025, we present the Managing Big Feelings webinar. This webinar is primarily targetted at parents/carers with children in Prep (Foundation) though to Year 2. This session is not to be confused with Raising Kids in a Digital World which is scheduled to be held later in March.

The Managing Big Feelings session is desgined to support parents/carers to show up in the most helpful way when your children experience big feelings. The goal is for parents and carers to feel more informed and empowered.

Managing Big Feelings

Presenter: Carley McGauran

Date: Tuesday 3 March

Time: 7.30pm (60 min)

Here is the link for parents to register: https://bit.ly/bigfeelings2026

Once parents register, you will be emailed a link to the webinar, reminder emails and a link to the replay. Therefore, we recommend that even if you are unable to attend the live webinar, you still register ensuring access to the replay.

No Newsletter Next Week

Due to the fact that a number of staff are off-site for a considerable part of next week, there will be no Newsletter. The next Newsletter will be published on 12 March.

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank

Camp Australia