17 May 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
We celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the Church, this weekend.
May the Holy Spirit fill us with the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, so that we may lead with love in everything we do.
Congratulations to the recipient of this week’s Walk Worthy of God Good Citizen award, Isabella Greacan. Isabella’s teachers say she is friendly, responsible, considerate, encouraging, kind and a sought-after friend to many. Wow, Isabella!
Looking forward to seeing those who can make it to the Athletics’ Carnival or Feast day celebrations next week. (The teachers’ relay team is looking very strong this year…just saying...)
Warm regards,
Liz
Liz Watts
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Term 2
- Friday 17th May - 2025 Kindergarten Enrolment period closes
- Sunday 19th May - Parish Mass and Morning tea for the birth of the Church (Pentecost)
- Tuesday 21st May - Diocesan Cross Country, Grafton
- Wednesday 22nd May - MHOC Athletics Carnival, Coffs Harbour
- Friday 24th May - MHOC Feast Day celebrations
- Sunday 26th May - Parish Feast Day Picnic
- Monday 27th May - Monday 3rd June- National Reconciliation Week
- Wednesday 29th May - GRIP Leadership for selected Year 6 students
- Thursday 30th May - Staff Development Day (pupil-free day)
- Monday 10th June - Public Holiday - King's Birthday
- Friday 14th June - Year 3-6 Choir Performance at The Link
- Thursday 20th June - Wildfire visit K-6
- Monday 24th June - MHOC inaugral Rubik's Cube tournament
- Friday 28th June - K-2 Choir Performance at The Link
- Monday 1st July - NAIDOC Week commences
- Friday 5th July - Term awards
- Friday 5th July - Semester 1 Reports go home
- Friday 5th July - Last day Term 2
Term 3
- Monday 22nd July - Staff Development Day (pupil-free day)
- Tuesday 23rd July - Term 3 commences for students
- Friday 26th July - Grandparents’ Day - save the date!
WHAT'S THE BUZZ?
From the School Captains
Our 2024 school captains have taken on the task of discerning names for our colour houses. Will we use names from the school’s history? Saints’ names? Or Mrs Ryan’s idea: Red House- Ryan, Blue House- Biddle, Green House-... Hmmmmm
It’s a big and long-lasting decision to make so we have decided to consult widely.
We’d love your input so please fill in this form.
Tell Them From Me Survey
Thanks to those who have completed the Tell Them From Me survey which was sent to families via email last week. If you get a chance over the weekend, please jump online and complete the survey as it gives us valuable information as go about making plans for
Grandparents’ Day - Save the Date
Our annual Grandparents Day will be held this year on Friday 26th July.
LOVING LEARNING
Kindergarten
This week in Mathematics, Kindergarten students have been learning about measurement. They have learnt how to heft and use balance scales to estimate and measure the mass of classroom items. Our favourite activity, using the stimulus 'Who Sank the Boat?', involved measuring the weight of the animals using modelling clay and blocks. We used the vocabulary: heavier, lighter and equivalent.
We love being mathematicians! Happy hefting!
Seesaw
Seesaw is an individual online student portfolio allowing every child at MHOC to share some of their learning with their parents or carers each week. You can connect to your child's Seesaw journal via your phone, tablet or computer to see your child’s work. This provides a wonderful opportunity to start a discussion with your child about what they have been learning at school.
If you would like to know when something new has been shared, you can turn your notifications on. (See image below)
You can select to receive notifications via email, sms and/or push notifications.
If you have not yet set up your account, we will send home a personalised QR code with details about how to get started. Watch for this in your child’s bag next week.
Margaret Ryan
Assistant Principal
Learning & Teaching
FROM THE MISSION DESK
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost Sunday. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples, to help them see that they could do anything and to give them the courage to try. I encourage you to take some time to think about what the Holy Spirit does in your life.
God of all, you sent your Spirit to be with the disciples, filling them with joy, peace and courage.
May we also be filled with your Spirit
and have the courage to share your peace in our world.
Amen
What’s Been Happening in Religious Education in Year 5?
This term in Year 5, we have been exploring the concept of justice, focusing on how Jesus demonstrated its importance to others and how Mother Teresa embodied compassion and justice in her work. Additionally, we have been discussing practical ways we can help those in greatest need around the world. We are also creating a digital presentation on a person or organisation that has shown charity and justice to the people in our society who are most in need.
CSYMI (Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International) Visit
Students had a wonderful time meeting our Regional Ministry Assistants, Joey and Ashlinn on Tuesday. These two will be running a lunchtime club every second Tuesday for years 3-6. This week was full of singing, games and giggles. We can’t wait for them to come back.
Peer Groups
It was lovely to see so many positive interactions between students at Peer Groups today. They had a great time engaging in collaborative problem solving games.
Year 3 Liturgy
Our Year 3 students travelled to our parish church on Tuesday to celebrate a Liturgy of the Word with Communion. Matt Digges shared a homily on the Gospel reading, reinforcing the words of Jesus: 'Love one another as I have loved you.'
Family Connect in Schools
Our school Family Connect Worker, funded by the Catholic Education Office, is Ashleigh Howe and she is available to help all families who might be experiencing challenges to find the right support for them. Ashleigh will work with you to identify your needs, build on your family’s strengths and link you to the support you need to help your family thrive.
Mary Help of Christians Feast Day
Please note the change of time next Friday for the colour fun run - 1pm.
Term 2 Class Masses
All parents are welcome to attend our weekly Tuesday Mass at 9:30am. These class Masses are held at MHOC Church Sawtell. Please see the timetable below for Term One.
Tuesday 21st May - No Mass. Liturgy on Friday 24th May MHOC Feast Day
Tuesday 28th May - Year 5
Tuesday 4th June - Year 2
Tuesday 11th June - Year 1
Tuesday 18th June - Kinder and Year 6
Tuesday 25th June - Year 4
Amber Biddle
Assistant Principal
Mission
Toni Fletcher
Leader of
Catechesis
MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM
Playground Redevelopment
The forum looked at a few options for the re-development of the Stage 2 playground equipment and have committed to funding the final choice. Once we’ve consulted with the Stage 2 children and school leaders, we’ll share the initial concepts and the fundraising targets.
Bunnings Cake Stall Save the Date
Speaking of fundraising… Sunday 23rd June has been locked in for our next Bunnings Cake stall. We raised close to $1K at the last one so thank you to all of the bakers and sellers. We’ll be calling for volunteers again soon so keep an eye out. Our previous volunteers said that manning the stall was a fun parent/child activity. an hour of your time will be very much appreciated.
Bingo
The rostered teams for the next few weeks' Bingo are:
- Thursday 23rd May - team no. 1 (Gemma's team)
- Thursday 30th May - team no. 2 (Kelly's team)
Jo Melinz
PSF President
SPORT NEWS
Rugby Trials
Well done to Kaidan Doust and Lucas Townsend who represented Clarence Zone in the Diocesan trials in Grafton today.
Kaidan has progressed to the next level now, trialing for a spot on the Polding team. Good luck Kaidan!
Athletics Carnival
Please say your prayers for sunshine on Wednesday for our athletics carnival. The students are all ready to run, jump, throw and have a great time … Faster, Higher, Stronger!
Nomination is required (via this form) for the 1500m races, which start at 8am. Students competing in the 1500m will need to be driven to the stadium and signed in with Mrs Bennett. The nomination form will close on Monday at 8pm, so please ensure all entries are in by this time.
Positions are still open in the Parent team for the Parents v Teachers v Captains sprint. Feel free to nominate via this form.
As always, we need helpers for timing races and helping to run the shot put and long jump. Please complete this volunteer form if you can help on the day (lunch is provided for helpers).
Rebecca Bennett
Leader of PDHPE
Geraldine Hourigan
Sports Administrator
HABITS OF MINDS AWARDS
Term 2, Week 3
Kinder | Mara Smith, Hunter Gregory, Henry O’Brien, Emma Glover |
Year 1 | Elsie Miller, Harper Hayton, Alba McCrimmon |
Year 2 | Saskia Thompson, Alexander Masefield, Adelaide Searle, Leon Martinez Melgarejo, Dean Dawson, Gurnaaz Dhadwar, Jonathan Bailey |
Year 3 | Axel Telford, Vinnie Pandelakis, Lily Walmsley |
Year 4 | Ivy Martin, Jessica Melinz, Jackson Wood |
Year 5 | Gurfateh Singh, Rue Couzens, Layla Verbruggen, Laylton Stalhut |
Year 6 | Lucas Lownsend, Faith Thompson |
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.
Helpers are needed each day this coming week. Please email sawp-canteen@lism.catholic.edu.au or phone the office if you can help.
Meba Winter
Lisa Mangan
LIBRARY WHISPERS
I attended a Library Network meeting in Port Macquarie on Monday and came away with a lot of great ideas for the library. I also came back with a better appreciation of how much books and reading are valued by all the staff in this school and how lucky we are to be in a position to stock the library with such wonderful books. It also underlined what I already knew - Mary Help of Christians is a school of readers…even those who don’t love reading (yet) appreciate being read to and looking at the books.
It was a very special occasion for these Year 1 students - they borrowed their first chapter books from the Library today! I’m expecting more will follow in the coming weeks.
Rachael Hewitt
Librarian
OSHC
What a wonderful Week 3!
We have been loving the positive feedback from both kids and parents surrounding the service, activities and opportunities provided for the kids and our OSHC community. The children have been loving having input into the activities, resources and food provided within the service and continue to amaze us with their sporting, crafting and imaginative abilities.
The new equipment and GaGa Pit have been amazing, with some afternoons having 40+ kids playing on both. We have also been loving beading and stamp art this week.
Laura McDiarmid
MHOC OSHC Coordinator
NEWS FROM OUR PARISH
This weekend we celebrate the birthday of the church with the Feast of Pentecost. At the youth group, we talked about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit and used the bubbles and parachute to remind us of how the Spirit can be at work in our lives spreading out to others and bringing people together.
This Sunday at church there will be a morning tea after the 9am Liturgy to celebrate this special day.
Sacraments
Confirmation for our parish will be celebrated on Friday evening, 2nd August with Bishop Greg. Families of children in Group 24 will receive email communication from Carolyn in the coming weeks with more details. If you are not already registered and wish to be included please contact Carolyn directly at the parish office 66583544 or via email pastoral@sawtellcatholicchurch.com.au.
Please keep an eye out for messages on parish media, school bulletin, emails and sms. If you feel you are missing messages, please contact Carolyn.
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
Carolyn Tumminello
Pastoral Associate
COMMUNITY NEWS
