1 March 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Today is World Day of Prayer and Mrs Biddle, the school captains and I were very pleased to mark this special day by attending an ecumenical service at Saint Nicholas’ Anglican Church in Sawtell. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the importance of prayer as a means of seeking solace, guidance and connection with the divine.

As you would be aware, our children are provided with many opportunities to pray at MHOC. I absolutely  loved listening to some of their musings today. Out of the mouths of babes…

A special prayer for The World Day of Prayer: May we embrace the spirit of love and unity, making the world a more peaceful and harmonious place for all. Amen.

Speaking of making the world a more harmonious place…Lakey Schomberg received a principal’s award this morning for coming up with a creative solution to ensure everyone is included. Check out last week’s Library Whispers for the details. Thank you, Lakey.

The Walk Worthy of God Good Sport Award was presented to Harriet Algie this morning. Mrs de Groot spoke of a team player who is always fair and kind. Congratulations Harriet.

We’ve tweaked the MHOC Uniform Policy a little bit, with special attention to jewellery. Please be sure to familiarise yourself with the policy which is included further down in the newsletter. As always, if you have any concerns, please get in touch.

We say a warm welcome to the Godara family who have joined the school community this week.

Warm Regards,

Liz

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Tuesday 12th-13th March - School Photos
• Wednesday 13th March - NAPLAN testing begins
  
• Wednesday 20th March - Years 1 & 2 Breakfast
• Thursday 21st March - Harmony day activities at school
• Friday 22nd March - MHOC Cross Country
• Sunday 24th March - Bunnings Easter Raffle and Cake Stall
• Wednesday 27th March - Years 3 & 4 Breakfast 
• Thursday 29th March - Holy Thursday
• Friday 29th March - Good Friday
• Monday 1st April - Easter Monday
• Wednesday 3rd April - Years 5 & 6 Breakfast
• Saturday 6th April- First Eucharist (Holy Communion) - 9am
• Monday 7th April-12th April - Catholic Education Week
• Monday 8th April - 12th April - Australian Dental Health Visit
• Monday 8th April - Year 3 Learning Showcase, 2pm
• Tuesday 9th April - Years 4 & 1 Learning Showcase, 2pm
• Wednesday 10th April - Years 6 & Kindergarten Learning Showcase, 2pm
• Thursday 11th April - Years 5 & 2 Learning Showcase, 2pm

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

Uniform Policy

We’ve tweaked our uniform policy a little. Probably the major change is students being able to wear white sports socks with their sport uniforms.

Clearer guidelines on the wearing of jewellery to school are also worth checking!

Click here for a full outline of the uniform policy.

Story and Song and Time 

It’s back! Friday fun for preschoolers and their carers. This year, we welcome the all-singing, all-dancing Pauline Hick back to Story and Song Time. Join us every Friday during school term from 9:30-10:15am for singing, dancing, stories and craft. See you there!

Combined School Drum Band

Saint John Paul College and Mary Help of Christians Sawtell are forming a combined school drum band. 

The drum band’s first engagement will be the Sawtell ANZAC Day March on the last Thursday of the Term 1 school holidays.

Rehearsals will take place during school hours; the first of these is at MHOC next Wednesday and the following four  practices will take place at Saint John Paul College.

The drummers will be transported to practice sessions on the school bus.

Sawtell RSL has kindly purchased lightweight harnesses for our drums. We won't be using these at the ANZAC march this year, but the goal is to move from being a standing band to a marching band. Pretty exciting!

If your child has been a member of the MHOC drum band in the past or if they are keen to join,  please complete this form by Tuesday, 5th March.

Kindergarten Class Breakfast

It was great to catch up with so many of our Kindergarten families at the class breakfast on Tuesday. Thank you to all those who helped with cooking, serving and cleaning up. 

Year 1 and Year 2, it’s your turn next!

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Class Breakfasts 

Class breakfasts will be held from 7:30am - 8:30am. Come along and meet the teachers and other parents in your child's grade.

Order now on Flexischools!

Wednesday - 20th March - Year 1 & 2

Wednesday  27th March - Year 3 & 4

Wednesday  - 3rd April - Year 5 & 6

Class Parents Meeting

Our 2024 Class Parent body met on Tuesday evening to plan for the year ahead. At Mary Help of Christians, our Class Parents work together to promote a caring, supportive and social school community. Next week, you will receive an invitation to add your contact details to a shared document that will be distributed amongst your grade to help with organising playdates and group catch-ups.

Class Parents 2024

School Photos

School photos will be taken on the following days. Children wear their full school uniform (not sport uniform) on their allocated day.

Tuesday 12th March

• Year 3
• Kindergarten
• Year 5
• MHOC Mob
• Sibling Photos

Wednesday 13th March

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 4
• Year 6

You will have received an order form via Compass.
Please contact the school office if you have any questions.

Safe on Socials - Twitch

LOVING LEARNING

The Value of Reading at Home

There is an expectation that all children at MHOC read each night. This is because reading at home is one of the most valuable things you can do with your child. Here’s why it’s so beneficial:

• It provides an opportunity to practise a skill that will benefit children in all areas of learning
• Reading a simple text aloud to a parent or carer allows children to practise fluency (the speed and flow of their reading).
• Reading picture books and novels to your child provides an opportunity to connect with your child's interests and share the joy of reading.
• When your child sees you reading and writing in everyday life – reading for pleasure, sharing a story with them, using a recipe, making a shopping list, writing a birthday card, reading street signs, or reading and writing emails – it teaches them that reading and writing are useful skills.

How you can ensure the experience is both beneficial and enjoyable at home

• Make sure that your child knows that you are confident that he/she will learn to read.
• Read aloud to your child often.
• Read to your child in your home language if your first language is not English.
• Make reading enjoyable and talk about books, magazines and computer stories that you have read together.
• Try not to let television intrude on reading time. Make a special time for reading with your child, away from interruptions.
• Listen to your child read as often as you can, every day if possible, even if only for a short time.
• Give books in print or electronic form as treats and presents.

Homework at MHOC

Just a reminder about expectations around homework at MHOC:

Kindergarten - Year 2

• Read the hard-copy, decodable reader sent home each week and access the online readers at the level recommended by your child’s teacher. You can also engage in the suggested activities found on the inside cover of the book.
• Your child’s teacher will let you know when your child no longer reads decodable texts, and may bring home other readers. 
• Remember, don’t worry if there is a number written on any of these books - these numbers are for administration purposes and do not relate to reading levels.
• Children will also borrow books from the library that are often too difficult for the child to read alone. These books are perfect for a parent, carer or older child to read to (or with) them.

Years 3-6

• Children borrow books from the library and should read for at least 20 minutes each night. Some students may also bring home easier readers to practise fluent reading.
• Learn multiplication tables to 10. The Times Tables Rockstars website will be available soon for children to access.
• Optional assigned tasks will be allocated by teachers on Maths Online (starting soon). 

Contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions. 

Maths Fun in Year 1

In Year 1 Mathematics we have been learning about patterns. We have explored patterns that have an element of repetition and learnt that this can be called the repeating core.

We created patterns using objects, pictures, words and numbers. Check out some of our wonderful patterns below:

FROM THE MISSION DESK

What’s Been Happening in Religious Education in Year One?

In Religious Education, students in Year 1 have been learning all about the Last Supper. We learnt that the Last Supper is an important event in the life of Jesus where he shared his final meal with his disciples.

We also enjoyed learning about the reasons for people coming together to celebrate special events and the things we do or have to help us remember these special celebrations.

We retold the story of the Last Supper using drama and drawing.

Year 2 Class Mass

Year 2 celebrated Mass with Father Joy on Tuesday. It was so lovely to have so many of our parents and friends join us for the special occasion.

World Day of Prayer

The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray for peace, justice and freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Their prayers specifically call us to pray with women, refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and all who are sick, dying and grieving. They also call us to confess to our collective role in causing the climate crisis, and to commit to repairing what we have destroyed. Finally, they call us, the global church, to be united in treating all with justice and love.  

“I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love”

World Day of Prayer is an annual event that brings together people to observe a common day of prayer and learn from women in different countries. 

Today our captains and vice captains attend St Nicholas Anglican church to celebrate a prayer service put together by a group of ecumenical Christian Palestinian women in response to the passage from Ephesians 4:1-7.

Term 1 Class Masses 

All parents are welcome to attend our weekly Tuesday Mass and morning tea at 9:30am. These class Masses are held at MHOC Church Sawtell. Please see the timetable below for Term One. Masses will commence in week 3.

Tuesday 5th March - Year 2

Tuesday 12th March - Year 1

Tuesday 19th March - Year 4

Tuesday 26th March - Year 5

Tuesday 2nd April - Year 3

Tuesday 9th April - Kinder & Yr 6

SENSEI'S CORNER

Bowing correctly

Remember the wet hair towel wrap?  It turns out that this is a fun way for, even those without ponytails, to learn how to bow carefully and calmly with a straight back. A towel wrap reminds us to flick your hair about as you show respect. If you can keep the position that holds the pony tail (or towel wrap) on your back, then you are bowing beautifully.  Remember to avert your eyes. Here’s a link to have a go at the various angles of bowing, showing deeper respect the lower you go. 

MHOC PARENT FORUM

Council of Catholic School Parents

Summer Family Games Night

Don't forget to register your interest in attending this fun event. 

Bingo

The rostered teams for the next few weeks' Bingo are:

• Thursday 7th March - team no. 5 (Meg's team)
• Thursday 14th March - team no. 1 (Gemma's team)
• Thursday 21st March - team no. 2 (Kelly's team)

SPORT NEWS

Kaidan!

Kaidan Doust has had a big couple of weeks. Last week he was selected to trial for a spot in the Polding AFL team at the end of term. Then on Monday, he swam at the Zone Swimming Trials and made it through to the Diocesan Championships being held today. Great all-around effort Kaidan and good luck at the further levels!

Swimming superstars

Congratulations to the MHOC Swim Team which placed second from the Clarence Schools at the Zone Trials in Maclean on Monday. Well done Team!

Special mention goes to Max Herbert who was the Clarence Zone Junior Boys Champion, earning the most points across all 9 schools in the Zone.

The following students progressed through to the Diocesan Swimming Trials held in Macksville today. We can’t wait to hear how they went.

Keeley Adamson, Frankie Barreto Gunn, Scarlett Carson, Mackenzie Carson, Tessa Chape, Kaidan Doust, Matilda Elkins-Baker, Lachlan Forrest, Grace Furey, Xavier Furey, River Griggs, Lachlan Herbert, Max Herbert, Sophie Laurie, Gabrielle Laurie, Ella Morton, Ned Raply, Ella Snow, Tommy Snow.

Winter Sports Trials

Good luck to our students trialling at the Diocesan Winter Sports Trials this week:

Hockey - Ivy Walmsley

Netball - Keeley Adamson, Maia Bennett, Gabrielle Laurie, Piper O’Sullivan

Rugby League - Cole Adams, Lachlan Forrest, Patrick Forshaw, Ashton Harding, Leo Salter, Lucas Townsend

Football - Asha Cook, Harry Munro, Lacey van Hoeck

Cross Country

It’s fast approaching - 3 weeks to go!

Thank you Highgrove Bathrooms!

This week we took delivery of 20 basketballs which were kindly donated by Highgrove Bathrooms. Thank you, Carlos, for your generosity!

HABITS OF MINDS AWARDS

Term 1, Week 5

CANTEEN NEWS

What's Cooking in the Canteen?

Canteen Roster

Parent and grandparent volunteers are always needed and welcome. Please phone the school or complete this form if you can spare some time in the canteen.

Monday 4th Mar

Tuesday 5th Mar
Hannah McDonald

Wednesday 6th Mar
Hannah McDonald

Thursday 7th Mar
Angela Thaler

Friday 8th Mar
Liz Jackson

OSHC

This week’s program theme is “Gardens” and the activities that have been programmed throughout Week 5 have been such a hit!

Some favourites have been button filled flowers, stick wands, plane flying, soccer games of course, wacky playdough fun, recycled bag craft to get the creative juices flowing and colouring pages to relax.

Our educators have been working really hard to ask the children what they would like to see in the coming weeks so that we can program their individual interests each week.

Tahlia Q

NEWS FROM OUR PARISH

AXIOS Youth Group

We have started back for 2024. There are some continuing members  from last year and some new faces as well. Looking forward to some good times together. If you are in Year 4, 5 or 6 why not come along? Bring a friend. Children from any school are welcome. You must pre register with parent permission.

This weekend the children who are preparing for their First Communion (Eucharist) will be presented to the parish and receive a blessing. Please remember the children in your prayers.

On Thursday, five children were received into our Catholic Church during the 5pm Parish Mass. Congratulations and welcome to Toby, Ella and Thomas Snow and Dean and Zoey Dawson. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers as they grow in faith and love of Jesus.

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is available to those requesting it. Please ring Jennifer at the Parish Office (66583544) or talk to Amber Biddle, Liz Watts or Margaret Ryan at school if you have any questions.  Alternatively, if you wish to register for Baptism, there is now the option of an  online request form .

Parish Website , E-bulletin & Facebook Page

For all the latest news from our parish, check out the Parish website or subscribe to our  new e-bulletin which can be sent directly to your inbox each week. Why not sign up today by entering your details in the sign up box on the Homepage or Contact page of the website!

And don’t forget to check out our FaceBook page

COMMUNITY NEWS