2 August 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Many in our school community were saddened to learn of the recent death of Father John Kelly. Father Kelly was the first Parish Priest of the brand new parish of Sawtell from 1983 -1993. Prior to this time, Sawtell was part of the Coffs Harbour Parish. Our primary school had opened in 1980 which made a great basis for an emerging parish.
The schools of Mary Help of Christians and (St) John Paul College were blessed with his wisdom and gentle pastoral leadership during his time in Sawtell. Father Kelly was also a man of great foresight, setting up committees to build Marian Grove Catholic Care for the Aged and Mater Christi Nursing Home within the parish.
We continue to honour Father Kelly in an annual award - The Father Kelly Award - presented to a Year 6 boy and girl at the Graduation Ceremony. The school captains and I will be representing the school at Father Kelly’s funeral in Ballina on Monday and we will provide a floral wreath to lay on his coffin on behalf of our school community. Rest in peace, Father Kelly.
Congratulations to Gurnoor Thiara, the recipient of today’s Walk Worthy of God Good Citizen Award. Gurnoor’s teachers say that she is a thoughtful and caring member of Year 5. Well done, Gurnoor.
The MHOC Olympics was a resounding success! Thanks to the generous staff on the organising committee; it was a thoroughly enjoyable day!
I’m looking forward to the comfiest day of the year - Jammies for Joeys’ Day - next Thursday.
Margaret Ryan
Acting Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Term 3
- Thursday 8th August - Jammies for Joey's Day
- Thursday 8th August - Whole School Liturgy for Mary Makillop’s Feast Day
- Friday 9th August - Zone Soccer and Netball knockout
- Tuesday 13th August - Seasons programs commence
- Thursday 15th August - MHOC Science Fair Years 3-6
- Friday 16th August - Diocesan Athletics Carnival
- Friday 23rd August - Book Week dress up and parade
- Friday 30th August - Fathers' Day Breakfast
- Friday 30th August - Rugby Friendly with St Augustine's
- Friday 13th September - Polding Athletics Carnival
- Tuesday 17th September - School Disco (5 & 6)
- Wednesday 18th September - School Disco (3 & 4)
- Thursday 19th September - School Disco (K, 1 & 2)
- Monday 23rd - 24th September - Year 4 Camp
- Monday 23rd-25th September - Year 5 Camp
- Friday 27th September - Presentation of Term 3 Effort awards
- Friday 27th September - Last Day Term 3
WHAT'S THE BUZZ?
MHOC Olympics
What a spectacular day of fun and celebration for our MHOC Olympics! The day began with a brilliant opening ceremony, where the children paraded around the hall to the sound of the national anthems of their given nation. The Olympic torch arrived, carried by our sports captains, and the Olympic cauldron was lit, marking the games officially open!
The K-2 novelty events boasted events such as: sandcastle building, hobby horse races, sack races, water relays and javelin. Our little people were supported by our Year 6 helpers who did an amazing job of running the events and helping with organisation.
After lunch Years 3-6 began their events. Along with some of the same events as K-2, they also engaged in: volleyball, matrix relays, GaGa, soccer and dodgeball.
There was a whole lot of fun and laughter which would not have been possible without all of the work put into the event by Mrs Dennis and Mr Murphy. We are so grateful to have such an awesome staff body who are always willing to put in extra work for our children.
A Taste of Japan - Cultural Evening
You are invited to come along to a cultural evening - A Taste of Japan Cultural Night - to be held on Monday 19th August here at school. There will be sushi-making demonstrations, furoshiki wrapping, Japanese games and much more. A Japanese meal will be provided courtesy of the Parent Assembly.
Places are limited to 40 people in total and only one adult and one child per family. Don’t worry if you miss out this time - there will be another opportunity for families to participate in Japanese activities in Term 4.
Please click here to register.
Fathers’ Day Breakfast - Save the Date
We can’t wait to celebrate Father’s Day with all of the wonderful fathers and grandfathers in our school community on Friday 30th August from 7:30am.
LOVING LEARNING
Science Fair
Students in Years 3-6 are invited to participate in this year’s MHOC Science Fair. The theme for National Science Week this year is Species Survival: More than just sustainability.
The Science Fair will take place on Thursday 15th August.
For more details, see the note that was sent home with your child today. You can also find a copy on Compass.
Spelling Bee
This term, MHOC students have the exciting opportunity to participate in our very first MHOC Spelling Bee! This voluntary event encourages students to sharpen their spelling skills.
Starting next week, your child may bring home word lists to practice in preparation for a fun, in-class competition scheduled for Week 4.
The excitement will culminate in Week 5, when finalists from each grade will compete in a stage-based competition in the Hall. We look forward to seeing our students showcase their spelling talents!
Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition
This week, along with students from across 450 primary schools across Australia, our Stage 3 students participated in the Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition. This competition is held annually and allows students to showcase their Mathematics prowess.
Kindergarten
What a week it’s been! Our Kindergarten mathematicians have been having a blast with Mathematics activities.
They've been focusing on counting on from the largest number and recording their results with numerals and pictures. They also explored sharing collections into equal groups, using trial and error to figure out the best methods. Their exciting equipment has made this learning engaging and fun.
It’s wonderful to see how much the children are enjoying their Maths adventures!
Amy Martin
Acting Assistant Principal
Learning & Teaching
FROM THE MISSION DESK
Jammies for Joeys
Next Thursday 8th August is the feast day of Australia's first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Our Junior Joeys group will help us celebrate again this year by holding a school-wide Jammies for Joeys' Day.
All children are invited to wear their Pjs next Thursday and bring in a gold coin donation for charities run by the Josephite sisters, the order founded by St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
We will also be holding a whole school liturgy in the hall from 8:50am to celebrate Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day. Parents and families are most welcome to attend.
Little Wings - Fuel our Planes Fundraiser
We are excited to announce that Mary Help of Christians School has partnered with the Little Wings Earn and Learn Program.
Little Wings is a not-for-profit organisation that provides free flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children in rural and regional NSW, ACT & QLD. They are a 90% volunteer-lead organisation, with 100% of the pilots and drivers all volunteering their time to make this incredible service available.
Next week there will be special ‘Little Wings’ bins at Mary Help of Christans. Children are encouraged to bring in their recycling - eg cans, bottles, poppers, to put in the bins. When the bins are full they will be collected and taken to the depot. All money raised will go directly to Little Wings, to fuel their planes.
Seasons For Growth
Seasons for Growth is a small group education program that supports children and young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and respond well to experiences of change, loss and grief.
Seasons for Growth supports children and young people who have experienced change and loss, including, although not limited to family separation; loss or death of someone they care about; living away in out of home care; physical or mental illness; We suggest that children and young people impacted by bereavement wait 6-12 months before participating in a Seasons for Growth program.
In Term 3, we will be offering the Seasons program at Mary Help of Christians. If you think that your child would benefit from this program, please fill in this expression of interest form.
What’s Been Happening in Religious Education in Year 6?
Our first RE unit this term looks at Mary as a faithful disciple and model for the Church. In preparation for learning more about Mary, students in Year 6 are exploring women of faith and courage. This week, students participated in a collaborative Jamboard, where they identified a woman that they admire and why. It was beautiful to see how many students chose their own mother - what a perfect segue to learning more about the mother of Jesus.
Junior Joeys
This week Junior Joeys started back for Term 4. Many thanks to Mrs Beth Schmahl (Boambee Josephite) for running the fortnightly sessions.
Junior Josephites (Joeys) is a group which gives hope for the future, keeping alive the vision and mission of Mary MacKillop, Fr Julian Tennison Woods and the Sisters of St Joseph. It is a way to foster a sense of belonging that supports and empowers the children to follow in her footsteps, responding to the needs of our time.
There are three main areas of focus for the group:
– Spiritual: coming together in the spirit of Mary MacKillop, in friendship, prayer and service
– Educational: learning about Mary MacKillop, her life and work
– Service: seeking to respond to needs within the school and the wider community
“Believe in the whisperings of God in your own heart” (Mary MacKillop)
Term 3 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 3.
Tuesday 6th August - Year 4
Tuesday 13th August - No Mass. Thursday 15th Assumption Mass at 11am. Years 5 and 6 attending.
Tuesday 20th August - Year 6 and Kinder
Tuesday 27th August - Years 1 and 2 - Liturgy
Tuesday 3rd September - Years 3 and 4
Tuesday 10th September - Years 5 and 6
Tuesday 17th September - Kinder
Tuesday 24th September - No Mass this week
Amber Biddle
Assistant Principal
Mission
Toni Fletcher
Leader of
Catechesis
MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM
Fathers' Day Stall
School Anxiety Webinar
The Parent Assembly has kindly provided MHOC families free access to a recording of the School Anxiety webinar being presented by Michelle Mitchell and Karen Young. Please see attached flyer for details.
WEBINARS FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
Breaking Point with Dr Justin Coulson
UNPACKING THE CRISIS IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
Wednesday 11 September from 7pm – 8pm
Join Dr Justin Coulson, Australia's leading parenting expert, as he unpacks the mental health crisis enveloping our kids. He'll cover:
- The root causes behind the deteriorating state of mental health, and who (or what) is responsible
- The tools you need to reverse this trend for your children
- Science-backed, relationship-focused strategies to remedy school refusal
- Realistic approaches for managing screen time in a way that protects your child's wellbeing without completely alienating them from their peers
- Creating margin in your home and family life to protect and promote mental wellness
CLICK TO REGISTER: https://ccsp.
This isn't just a workshop; it's a call to action. Join the conversation and be part of a dynamic, interactive experience where we collaborate to reshape the future of your children's mental health. Hear real stories, explore innovative solutions, and discover practical strategies to empower your kids.
Understanding how to support your child with online gaming
Suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and early secondary school.
Tuesday, 30 July, 12.30pm
Tuesday, 3 September, 12.30pm
Register here
Consent and online boundaries: How to support your primary-aged child
Suitable for parents and carers of children in primary school.
Tuesday, 13 August, 12.30 pm
Wednesday, 11 September, 12.30 pm
Register here
An introduction to online safety and emerging technologies
Suitable for parents and carers of children and parents in primary and secondary school.
Wednesday, 24 July, 2.30pm
Thursday, 5 September, 12.30pm
Register here
Bingo
The rostered teams for the next few week's Bingo are:
- Thursday 8th August- team no. 2 (Kelly's team)
- Thursday 15th August- team no. 3 (Catherine's team)
- Thursday 22nd August - team no. 4 (Donna's team)
Jo Melinz
PSF President
SPORT NEWS
Zone Athletics
On Tuesday, our MHOC athletes braved the cold and windy conditions at CEx stadium. We had a number of PBs, a huge amount of placings and no doubt some tired bodies after the huge efforts on the day! A big thank you to Mrs McFadden & Mrs Hourigan for all of their hard work on the day.
We are so proud of all of our competitors, who represented MHOC with grace, integrity and amazing sportsmanship. A great result for team MHOC, placing 3rd in the carnival overall.
Congratulations to the following students who will represent Clarence Zone at the Diocesan carnival on 16th August -
Selva Ponciano Maciel, Sonny Diacono, Zac Pearson, Frankie Barreto Gunn, Charlie Schmetzer, Faith McCann, Chloe Schell, Lacey Van Hoeck, Layla Verbruggen, Diezel Fell, Gabrielle Laurie, Sophie Laurie
Zone Soccer & Netball Knockout
Good luck to our soccer and netball teams who will be travelling to Yamba next week to compete against the other Clarence Zone schools in a Knockout competition. The winning teams will represent Clarence at the Diocesan Knockout later in the year.
Girls AusKick Opportunity
We love seeing girls and boys involved in any and all sports. See flyer below for girls AFL AusKick clinic opportunity.
Bec Bennett
Sports Coordinator
Geraldine Hourigan
Sports Administrator
HABITS OF MINDS AWARDS
Term 3 Week 2
Kinder | Davey Daniel, Henry O’brien, Thomas Rogers, Edric Morgan, Hunter Jones, Soichiro |
Year 1 | Lily Jones, Ivy Shanahan, Tanner Lavender, Nina Rapley |
Year 2 | Charli Morton, Willow Strazzari, Indi Verbruggen, Savannah Schweitzer |
Year 3 | Jeevan Dhami, Grace Furey, Quinn Woodgate, Emmy de Dassel, Henry Jones, Darby Hoy |
Year 4 | Cleo Ellem, Jack Petrohelos, Byron Currie, Kenzi Burrows |
Year 5 | Alyssa Brown, Layton Stahlhut, Harry Munroe, Eli Stitt |
Year 6 | Lachlan Forrest, Gabrielle Laurie |
CANTEEN NEWS
Canteen Helpers
Parent and grandparent volunteers are always needed and welcome. Please phone the school, complete this form or email sawp-canteen@lism.catholic.edu.au if you can spare some time in the canteen.
Meba Winter
Lisa Mangan
LIBRARY WHISPERS
The school book fair wrapped up on Thursday and the event was a huge success. Thank you to our grandparents and parents alike who purchased a variety of books, showing their support for young readers. It was wonderful to see students so enthusiastic about their new books. Their excitement highlighted the joy of discovering new stories. As the beloved Dr. Seuss once said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go."
Rachael Hewitt
Librarian
OSHC
This week, in celebration of the Olympics, we hosted our very own Mini Olympics! The children enthusiastically participated in a variety of events, including running races, relays, gaga competitions, obstacle course time trials, and basketball shooting championships. It was wonderful to see them display such a high level of sportsmanship and fairness towards their peers, making the event enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved. The Mini Olympics not only provided a fun and active week but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among the children.
Laura McDiarmid
OSHC Coordinator
NEWS FROM OUR PARISH
AXIOS
Axios kicked off this week & we welcomed in the new term with all-in tips, a fun drama game and we finished making a welcome back card for Bishop Greg who will be attending our parish this Friday for this years Confirmation!
We have a special gift in the works for all Axios members. Come along one week and join in the fun. It’s a beautiful way to eat some yummy snacks, play games, pray, get closer to God and make some new friends.
Don't forget Axios is on every Wednesday from 3.15pm-4.45pm
Get in touch to join our next round of Sacraments starting September or to join us at Axios Youth Group!
Don't forget Confirmation is on tonight, Friday 2nd August. Please pray for all of our candidates.
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 & Marja
COMMUNITY NEWS
