Dear Parents and Parishioners,

Believe it or not, tomorrow we arrive at the mid-way mark of the term. While this term is certainly progressing quickly we still have a number of major highlights ahead of us on the calendar including Book Week, the annual Fathers' Day Stall, and the Kids & Dads Night with Kaboom Sports.

Remember, that early next term we will be celebrating Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day. This event will be held on Thursday 13 October.

Mrs Fisher

After more than two and a half decades of service to the OHR community, Ms Trish Fisher has made the decision to retire at the end of the current school year. According to Trish, her health is currently in the best state that it has been for a while, so she feels that it is an appropriate time to conclude while she still has the stamina to keep up with her grandchildren.

No doubt, Trish has been contemplating this decision for some time. I am sure you can appreciate, that this is a big move in her life considering the amount of time she has dedicated to OHR. Trish began working here in a part-time capacity during 1994 and moved into the full-time position in 1997. She certainly has witnessed a lot of change in the school during this time. In more recent years, she has been noticing an ever-growing number of past students returning to the school as young parents. Trish will be leaving behind an incredible legacy.

I know that this news will be felt by many of our families – both past and present – with whom Trish has developed such a good rapport.

Trish loves a party, so I know we will celebrate her eventual departure in fine style!

Mrs Gole

Mrs Leone Gole, our wonderful Library Technician, has also announced that she will be retiring at the end of this year. Leone has been contemplating retirement for some time, but the spate of COVID lockdowns put an end to all that. Leone told me some time ago that she wanted to conclude her time at OHR with her final year being as normal a year as possible. This year has proved to be that year as it has enabled Leone to finish on a note where she is doing all the things she loves – engaging with the students on a face-to-face basis in the LRC (Library), maintaining the book stock, working with the Arts/Library Leaders, re-booting the chess program, scaffolding the Year 6 students in developing their picture books, and of course celebrating Book Week one last time.

Leone has been employed at OHR since 1993. She has developed many life-long friendships during her time here, and also leaves behind an amazing legacy. She will certainly be missed by us all.

With Sympathy

Earlier this week, the mother of Mrs Stephanie Axon (Science teacher) passed away. As you can appreciate, this has been a very difficult time for Stephanie's family.

We share in the loss as the family remembers their beautiful mother and grandmother.

Welcome

Last Wednesday we officially welcomed Cyrus R to our Prep class. We also take the opportunity to extend a warm welcome to his parents, Nora and Nima, and hope that they are beginning to feel a part of the OHR community.

Author Visit

Damian Callinan - author, actor, playwright and comedian - visited OHR last Thursday in order to run a workshop with the students in Years 3 - 6 on his children’s novel ‘Weird School’. A crazy and fun-filled session was had by all!

Here is what Damian posted after visiting our school:

Big thanks to Our Holy Redeemer Primary School in Surrey Hills for inviting me to visit & share the upside down world of Weird School. (Penguin Books Australia). I couldn't believe how creative & fun you all were. I also couldn't believe that Hagrid & Tiny Ed Sheeran were available at short notice to recreate the Sumo Wrestling bout from the Out of Bounds story. [FYI, Tiny Ed is recovering well & should be out of hospital by Christmas]. #ourholyredeemer #weirdschool #weirdschool bydamiancallinan

PFA

Be sure to check out the PFA page for the latest updates regarding the Kids Movie Night and the Kids & Dads Night with Kaboom Sports.

Working Bee this Saturday

Our third Working Bee for the year is fast approaching and will be held this Saturday 13 August between 8.30am and 10.30am. The Working Bee will be coordinated by both Luke Torpey and Justin Bolger to address the upkeep of the school grounds and minor maintenance matters. Working Bees are a cost-effective and essential means of maintaining aesthetic school grounds that afford a safe and welcoming environment for our children, parents and visitors.

Working Bees provide the opportunity to connect with other families, and the children always have a great time helping out and playing with one another.

For task planning and catering purposes, please indicate your attendance by emailing either:

Justin: justin.trees@hotmail.com or

Luke: luke.torpey@jrtpartnership.com.au

Child Safety - Repeated

As previously communicated, from 1 July 2022, 11 new Child Safe Standards (CSS) replaced Victoria’s seven previous CSS and principles. The new CSS are underpinned by Ministerial Order No. 1359: Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools and school boarding premises (MO 1359), which was released by the Victorian Government on 10 February 2022. MO 1359 defines the actions schools and school boarding premises must take to meet the requirements associated with the new CSS from 1 July 2022.

A revised Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) Statement of Commitment to Child Safety, to reflect the new CSS and MO 1359, has been published. The revised statement can be found further in today's Newsletter under the banner of Child Safety.

Child Safety - Cybersafety Parent Evening

Our school is already embracing a proactive approach to online safety through our “Every Term, Every Student” virtual incursions.

But what about a dedicated session for parents? In a 90-minute presentation our parents will hear from not one, but two, experts in online safety. Marty and Carley present two very different perspectives and will leave you feeling informed and empowered. Together they have presented to over 150 primary schools across Australia.

Raising Kids in a Digital World 202

Date: Thursday 1 September

Time: 7.30pm (90min)

Click on the button below to register for the webinar:

Once parents register (with an email address and name), you will be emailed a link to the webinar. You will also receive a reminder email on the afternoon of the webinar as well as 15min before the start time. The following day, you will receive a link to access the replay. Therefore we recommend even if parents are unable to attend the live webinar, they register to ensure they can access the replay.

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank