Our Holy Redeemer School Newsletter

Principal's News

Dear Parents & Parishioners,

 

A standout television series I watched with my wife, Janet, during 2022 was Ted Lasso on Apple TV.   The series follows Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who is hired to coach an English soccer team with the secret intention that his inexperience will lead it to failure. However, his folksy, optimistic leadership proves unexpectedly successful.  The appeal of the series lies with the main character, Lasso, whose character offers compassion, humility and decency, even in the face of insults and abuse.  Ted Lasso leads with optimism and camaraderie even when not everybody is sure about how to take his unbridled enthusiasm and positivity. His can-do attitude creates a ripple effect, naturally pushing others to develop a soft spot for him and believe in a positive outcome.

There are many good quotes littered throughout  seasons 1 and 2.  You may be interested in the following clip, entitled, 'Final Locker room Scene', which contains lessons about loneliness and how to respond to being angry and/or sad about situations.

A New School Year

While the school staff officially resumed last Friday, many had returned throughout January to prepare their classrooms and plan for the exciting term ahead.  During Friday's meeting we took the opportunity to welcome: Mrs Christine Martinelli, who will be taking over from Mrs Fisher in the office; Mrs Lana Gill who will be working working three days per week with Mrs Lisa Canty in their 1/2 class; and Mrs Fiona MacIsaac who is taking on the role of Library Technician in the LRC.  

During the intial weeks of the school year, Mrs Josephine Harrison will be assisting in the office while Christine settles into her new role. 

It was a pleasure to visit the classrooms on Monday and see how enthusiastically the students had settled into their new learning environments.  Throughout the day we heard many stories of how the students had spent their holidays.

This Monday, Hettie and Katie W will join the students in the Year 2 classes.

Throughout both Monday and Tuesday, Mrs Michelle Hollow and Ms Mary Dening met with each of their Prep (Foundation) children in a 1:1 environment where each child received a personal orientation and completed some assessment tasks.  The parents also had the opportunity to individually meet with the teachers for a brief period of time where they shared insights about their children.

Yesterday, we officially welcomed our Prep (Foundation) students as they commenced their first day of schooling at OHR: 

Lucy A, Samuel B, Patrick C, William C, Elle F, Logan F, Charoltte G, William G, Violet G, Harvey H, Francis J, Roy L, Benjamin L, Hamish M, Sienna M, Caleb N, Xavier O, Jaden P, Sebastian P, Stella P, Louis S, Scarlett S, Paige S, Harvey T, Isabella V, Koto W, Emily Y and Oscar Y.

I encourage every current family to take the opportunity to introduce yourself to any new families and make them feel ‘at home’ and a part of our vibrant school community.

 

2023 OHR Staff

It gives me great pleasure to provide our staffing arrangements for the 2023 school year:

Prep                  Michelle Hollow   
Prep                  Mary Dening
Year 1/2          Tina Hautot (4 days) / Karen Arnett (1 day)
Year 1/2          Lana Gill (3 days) / Lisa Canty (2 days) 
Year 3/4          Esther Jackson (3 days) / Penny Hansen (2 days)
Year 3/4          Carmel Pettinato (3 days) / Aria Karagiannis (2 days) 
Year 5/6          Cara Mitchell (4 days) / Jo Golds (1day)
 
Year 3-6 Literacy Co-teacher: Karen Arnett
Yr. 3-6 Mathematics Co-teacher: Nick Byrne
 
Staff holding leadership positions in the school include:
Principal:                                   Frank Dame
Deputy Principal:                    Nick Byrne
REL / Learning & 
Teaching Leader:                    Nick Byrne
Mathematics Leader:            Penny Hansen
Literacy Leader:                       Lisa Canty
Student Wellbeing Leader:  Lisa Canty
 
Learning Diversity /
Pastoral Care Worker:          Carmel Pettinato
 
Digital Technologies 
Manager:                                  Josephine Harrison
 
LLI:                                              Meaghan King
 
Specialist Teachers:            Science: Stephanie Axon
                                                     STEM: Stephanie Axon                                                  
                                                     Phys Ed: Jo Golds
                                                     Performing Arts: Jon Bode
                                                     Languages (Mandarin): Chao-Ying Li
 
Administration Officer:       Christine Martinelli
 
Library Technician:               Fiona MacIsaac
 
Learning Support Officer:   Deidre Campbell
Learning Support Officer:   Rosha Vincitorio
Learning Support Officer:   Lana Nikolic
Learning Support Officer:   Themi Manou

Holiday Maintenance

During the holiday break a number of maintenance tasks were completed, including:

  • Demolition of old sandpit and construction of a new sandpit, ensuring compliance with Australian Standards
  • The two Prep classrooms were entirely repainted, resulting is a much brighter and contemporary environment
  • Pruning of shrubs and other trees along Barton St, Mont Albert Rd and throughout The Reflective Garden
  • The artificial turf received its six monthly maintenance
  • All windows were cleaned and carpeted areas steam-cleaned.
  • All learning areas were hygienically cleaned in readiness for the return of students
  • The Administration Foyer was re-painted

Child Absences

  • In order that the safety of all children at OHR is met is met during school hours, it is important that student absences are reported to the school by phone or email prior to 8.45am on the day of absence. All registered schools must record student attendance twice per day and note the reason for each absence.  This is necessary to: (a) meet legislative requirements; and (b) discharge the school’s duty of care to all students.  To this end, and for your child’s safety, we ask for your assistance with this important matter.
  • The staff at the school must be able to account for the absence of a child, so please ensure that any emails providing the reason for the absence are sent to both Christine (ohradmin@ohrsurreyhills.catholic.edu.au) and the classroom teacher.

Parents will always be notified when there is an unexplained absence.   

School Photos - Monday 13 February

Make sure that you jump online to place your school photo orders.  Details can be found further in this newsletter under the School Community page.

Parent Information Evening

On Monday 13 February, class teachers will be conducting Parent Information Sessions in which teachers will outline the procedures relating specifically to their classroom and, therefore, the approach to your child’s learning during 2023.  Sessions will run for 25 minutes.  As parents and teachers share joint responsibility for the education of our children, we would expect that at least one parent attend your child’s information session.  The sessions will be conducted in your child's classroom.  At 6.30pm all parents are warmly invited to attend a special presentation in the Hall on Respectful Relationships by April Miller who is the Liaison Officer at the Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services Branch.  As some families have a number of children spread across various levels, the information session times will be staggered throughout the evening:

  • 5.30pm: Prep level
  • 6.00pm: 5/6 level
  • 6.30pm: Respectful Relationships – April Miller
  • 7.00pm: 3/4 level
  • 7.30pm: 1/2 level

Parent-Teacher Conversations

Please refer to the Learning & Teaching page further in today's Newsletter for details.

Year 5&6 Camp

There are only five more sleeps until the students in Years 5 & 6 commence their four-day camp to Coonawarra Farm Resort.  Despite what some parents may think, the camp is nowhere near the Coonawarra wine-growing district!  In fact, we will be travelling in exactly the opposite direction.  The outdoor activity-based camp is a just over a three hour drive from Melbourne in East Gippsland.  The program offers a range of exciting experiences and challenges for the students.  The school staff attending the camp include: Mrs Cara Mitchell, Mrs Jo Golds, Mr Nick Byrne and myself.  The campers depart on Tuesday morning and will return to school on Friday afternoon.

Assembly

The first whole school assembly will be held this Monday 6 February commencing at 8.45am in the hall.  Parents are warmly invited to attend.

There will be no assembly on Monday 13 February due to School Photos being taken throughout the morning.

 

Child Safe Standards

Our Holy Redeemer School has developed and actively enforces Child Safety Standards to ensure that every person involved in ‘child connected work’ is aware of their obligations and responsibilities for ensuring the safety of all children under their care.  In accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Government's Ministerial Order No 1359, Our Holy Redeemer School maintains a culture of ‘no tolerance’ to child abuse. To achieve this it has established a holistic Child Safety Strategy.  A link to Our Holy Redeemer’s Child Safety Standards is located on the School’s website.  The Standards include the School’s Child Safe Policy.

In accordance with Ministerial Order No 1359, all parent volunteers are required to complete and return to the School Office a signed copy of:

  • Child Safety Code of Conduct

This document will be emailed home tomorrow.

  • A current Working With Children Check needs to be brought to the Office in order that it can be verified and photocopied.  The Card MUST be displayed at all times when volunteering at School in any capacity.  Upon expiry of the Working With Children Check, legislation requires that you obtain a new card and have it verified at the school office

Wishing everyone a great weekend,

Frank