14 February 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Our 2025 Kindergarten class has arrived and it already feels like they’ve been here forever. Well done, Kinder mums and dads! It’s a big change for little people and you are all managing this beautifully. Enjoy the sleep-in tomorrow.

We’ve been working very hard to streamline our pick-up and drop-off procedures to align with the Child Safeguarding Standards. The changes  have been shared in What's the Buzz and Compass as well. There’s a few new things to get used to so please follow the directions of staff if you are unsure about where to be. Thanks for the patience, everyone. I’m imagining there will be a few more tweaks in the future but we’ll see how we go next week!

Poor old Saint Valentine was removed from the Church calendar because so little was known about him; however, the Church still recognises him as a saint. We can still celebrate the feast and life of Valentine by:

1. Telling the people you love that you love them and

2. Eating some chocolate!!

Happy Saint Valentine’s day, everyone.

We say a warm MHOC welcome to the and the Chhina and Thang families who have joined the school community this week.

I look forward to seeing those who can make it to the  Class Breakfasts next week.

Warm regards
Liz

UPCOMING EVENTS

 2025 Dates

• Monday 10th February - Kindergarten students commence
• Tuesday 18th February - Years 4, 5 & 6 Class Breakfast
• Tuesday 18th February - First Holy Communion Parent Information Night 5:30pm
• Wednesday 19th February - Years 1, 2 & 3 Class Breakfast
• Thursday 20th February - Kindergarten Class Breakfast
• Monday 24th February - Zone Swimming Carnival
• Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd March - Presentation and Blessing of Holy Communion Candidates
• Tuesday 4th March - Diocesan Swimming Carnival
• Tuesday 4th March - Year 6 Leadership Day at Sawtell Catholic Church
• Tuesday 4th March - School Community Forum AGM, 6pm
• Tuesday 4th March- Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday
• Wednesday 5th March - Ash Wednesday
• Monday 10th March - Mini-Retreat for Holy Communion candidates
• Tuesday 11th-12th March - School Photos
• Sunday 16th March - First Holy Communion Mass 11am at Sawtell Catholic Church
• Thursday 10th April - Last day for students - Term 1
• Friday 11th April - Staff Development Day (Pupil-free day)
  

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

Class Breakfasts

Class breakfasts provide a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to catch up with other parents and meet their child’s teachers in a relaxed setting.

We are holding three breakfasts next week on the basketball court from 7:30am:

• Tuesday 18th February - Years 4, 5 and 6 families
• Wednesday 19th February - Years 1, 2 and 3 families
• Thursday 20th February - Kindergarten families

Parents and carers attending class breakfasts must sign in before coming onto the school site. QR codes are available on the door to the school office and on the gate at the administration block.

Whilst there is usually no parent access via the stairs (as per our new drop-off and pick-up plan) we have made the exception for Class Breakfast due to large numbers. There will be a QR code and sign-in table at the bottom of the stairs  on these three mornings..

Please RSVP by Monday morning for catering purposes via flexischools.com.au

Green Zone

Please see the attached information regarding changes to the drop off and pick-up procedures, commencing Monday, 17th February.

New Arrangements for Dropping-off and Picking-up Children at MHOC

As part of our commitment to Child Safeguarding, and as required by Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Ltd,  we are implementing a ‘green zone’ for drop-off and pick-up times. 

A ‘Green Zone’ is an area where parents can safely be on school grounds without signing in at the school office. Our designated ‘Green Zone’ is the pebbled area under the shade structure, outside the Kindergarten classrooms. 

This keeps our children safe by ensuring staff can easily monitor all adults coming onto the school site at these very busy times.

Morning Drop-off

You have two options for dropping your child at school:

1. Drive your car into the drop-off zone where your child will exit the car and walk down the stairs independently.
2. Park in the car park or neighboring streets. Enter the school via the gate near the administration block or walk through the re-opened gate outside the Year 1 classrooms  and proceed directly to the ‘Green Zone’. Here,  you can say goodbye and send your child/ren to independently hang their bag on their bag hooks and head out to play.

Apart from parents who are accessing the MHOC OSHC service, parents are no longer able to enter  the school via the Drop-off and pick-up zone stairs. If you are walking your child onto the school grounds, you will need to enter via the gate outside of Year 1 or the administration gate and proceed to the ‘Green Zone”.

Afternoon Pick-up

You have two options for collecting your child/ren from school:

1. Pick-up Zone at the top of the stairs in front of the school hall. 

• Between 2.45 and 3pm, parents on foot wait at the top of the stairs and, once the duty teacher arrives and opens the gate, children will be called from the waiting area to meet you.
• From 3pm- 3.20pm, cars drive through the pick-up zone where the duty teachers will ensure children get into cars safely. Ensure your child’s name is clearly visible to the teachers on duty. 

1. Green Zone Pick-up for all students being collected on the school grounds. The Green Zone can be found directly outside the Kindergarten rooms under the shade structure.. Parents and carers can wait here without signing in at the front office. There are a number of park benches here with more to come as the need arises. 

To ensure student safety, all walkways must be kept clear so that students can move safely to exit the school or walk to bus lines. 

Pedestrian Access

• There are two possible ways for riders and walkers and accompanying adults to safely exit the school:

1. Exit via the side gate on the edge of the ‘Green Zone’ near the school garden, walk up the driveway then follow the footpath towards the supervised crossing. 
2. Exit via the re-opened gate under the tree outside the Year 1 classroom , walk up the path and around the car park.

Please note, there is no pedestrian access in the bus zone during Bus Zone times. See below.

 Please sign in at the school office to visit the school for other reasons including:

• Friday morning assembly. Once you sign in at the office, please proceed directly to the hall. You are welcome to stay for a cuppa in the ‘Green Zone’ after assembly;.
• Pre-arranged appointments with teachers for parent/teacher interviews;
• Attending classroom events such as Learning Showcases;
• Volunteering in the canteen;
• Story and Song Time (beginning on 14th March) and
• Accessing the Pre-Loved Uniform shop in the school hall.

Please note:

• Staff members will be available to support children as we transition to this new model. Should your child require ongoing support with this process, please contact your child’s teacher or one of the Assistant Principals - Margaret Ryan or Amber Biddle.

• Please pass this information to any grandparents or carers who might drop off or collect your child from school.

• Thanks for your patience as we adjust to these changes. They are designed to keep our children and families safe. We will be closely monitoring these procedures and adjusting as necessary.

• Thank you for your cooperation. Please ensure that you follow all staff instructions and feel free to call us here at school if any of these guidelines present difficulties for you or your children.  

Garden Club

Garden Club has been buzzing with activity! We're preparing our garden beds for planting in Term 2 by pulling weeds and turning the soil. Garden Club is open during lunchtime for all students who want to dig in and lend a hand. Come join us!

LOVING LEARNING

Love of Learning

This week in Art, we are exploring the vibrant world of Australian landscapes through the lens of Ken Done. Inspired by his bold colours and dynamic compositions, students are experimenting with expressive brushstrokes and creative perspectives to bring their own unique visions of Australia to life. Most importantly, they are embracing the joy of the artistic process—playing with colour, making bold choices, and discovering that creativity is just as much about the journey as the final piece!

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Gumbaynggirr Language

Welcome back Manduway Dutton to MHOC for 2025. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enjoyed Gumbaynggirr language this week. And we look forward to working with him for the remainder of the year.

FROM THE MISSION DESK

God of new beginnings, new ideas, new creations and new hopes. 

We come to you with many choices, expectations, anxieties and dreams.

Help us to recognise that we are given daily opportunities of hope.

Help us to speak with hope-filled energy, with hope filled words.

Help us to have the strength to begin new journeys of hope.

Help us to identify signs of hope when all seems lost.

Help us to hear appeals for hope from others and act on them.

Help us to become anchored in hope to look with positivity to the future and

Influence others to do the same.

This we ask through Christ our Lord,

AMEN

Youth Group (AXIOS) and Altar Serving

We were delighted to welcome Fr Joy and Marja, our Parish Pastoral Assistant to our school this week as they visited classrooms to share the wonderful opportunities available for children at our parish. Their visit was a fantastic chance for students to learn more about how they can get involved in parish life beyond the school community.

Marja spoke enthusiastically about AXIOS  Youth Group, which meets every Wednesday at the church. Open to children from Years 3-6. AXIOS is a welcoming and engaging space where students can come together to share their faith, build friendships, and take part in a range of fun activities.

Fr Joy discussed an exciting opportunity to train as Altar Servers. This special ministry allows children to take an active role in the celebration of Mass, assisting Fr Joy and developing a greater understanding and appreciation of the liturgy. Training is available for any students who have received their First Holy Communion and are interested in deepening their involvement in parish life.

For more information, please feel free to contact the parish office on 6658 3544 or speak with Mrs Amber Biddle at school.

First Holy Communion - Important Dates

First Holy Communion is a sacred celebration in which Catholics receive the Body and Blood of Christ, deepening their connection with Jesus and the Church community. For children, their First Eucharist is a meaningful milestone, as it signifies their growing understanding and involvement in the spiritual aspects of our Catholic community.

Key Dates: 

Presentation and Blessing -  Presentation & Blessing: Saturday 1st March, 6pm OR Sunday 2nd March, 7.30am and 9:00am

Mini-retreat at Sawtell Church -Monday 10th March from 9.30am-1:00pm. More information will be sent via Compass.

First Communion Mass - Sunday 16th March at 11:00am

What's been happening in Religious Education in Year 4?

Our Year 4 students have been deepening their understanding of the Sacrament of the Eucharist in Religious Education this term. As many of them prepare to receive this sacred sacrament on Sunday, 16th March, they have been learning about its significance and the important symbols associated with it, including bread, the host, wine, the chalice, wheat, and grapes.

To reflect on their learning, students created their own ‘Eucharist People’—artworks that represent themselves, with their names at the top and surrounded by symbols of the Eucharist. These beautiful pieces will be displayed in our Church, inviting parishioners to pray for our students as they take this important step in their faith journey.

Term One Class Masses

All parents and carers are invited to attend our weekly class Masses at Sawtell Catholic church. Don’t forget to stay for a cuppa and some morning tea afterwards.

Wednesday 5th March (Ash Wednesday) - Year 5 & 6.

Tuesday 11th March - Year 1 and 2

Tuesday 18th March - Year 3 and 4

Tuesday 25th March - Year 5 and 6

Tuesday 1st April - Kinder and Year 6

Tuesday 8th April - No Mass

MHOC School Meal Register

At Mary Help of Christians, we are blessed to be part of a caring and supportive community that looks out for one another, especially during challenging times. We are reaching out to invite families to volunteer for our School Meal Register. This initiative provides meals to members of our school community who may be experiencing difficult circumstances, such as illness, loss, or other challenges. Volunteers would only be called upon once or twice a year to prepare a simple meal for a family in need.

Please register your interest here

SENSEI'S CORNER

Welcome back to school for the Year of the Snake,  also know as ‘Hebi Doshi’ in Japanese. 

Japanese joke time; What do you call 2 heavy snakes draped around your shoulders?  Sensei says, “too Hebi” 

Our snake ‘Hebi san,’ is sssso excccccited to sssstart learning in 2025.   Sssssee you ssssoon in Japanese classsses 

Janine Boyd (a.k.a. Sensei - that means teacher)

MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM

Parent (and Grandparent!) Involvement

Want to get involved? We’d love some more people to join our parent committees. 

In next week’s newsletter there will be a form to express your interest but, in the meantime, have a think about:

• Joining the Bingo Team
• Volunteering in the canteen
• Joining the Fundraising Committee
• Volunteering at the pre-loved uniform shop
• Joining our new committee: parish/school connections

From the Catholic Schools Parent Assembly

SPORT NEWS

Swimming Champions

At this morning’s assembly, our age champions from the recent swimming trials were presented with ribbons for age group winners and trophies for our overall champions. 

Congratulations to our overall champions:

Junior - Grace Furey and Ned Rapley
11 Year - Frankie Barreto Gunn & Mackenzie Carson (tie) and Max Herbert
Senior - Matilda Elkins-Baker and River Griggs

Congratulations to age group winners:

Zone WST

Clarence Zone Winter Sports Trials will be held next week for those students who have nominated in soccer and netball, and rugby union trials will be held in Week 10. Those who nominated in hockey and rugby league have progressed to Diocesan trials, as numbers fell short of the required numbers for a Zone trial. We wish all of these students well at this trial and on their pathway sport journey.

Diocesan AFL trials

Next Friday a number of athletes are attending the Diocesan AFL trials, vying for a place in the Diocesan team and progression to the Polding trials. We wish all of these athletes the best. Standby for the results!

HABITS OF MIND AWARDS

Term 1 Week 2

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.

LIBRARY WHISPERS

Recess and lunchtime in the  library has been a hub of activity all week. The kids are loving the new games I’ve got in as well as the old favourites like snakes and ladders! We’ve also had lots of quiet reading and so much colouring in that everyone wants to hang up - it’s like an art gallery in here! 

I’ve also had a lot of children come in with requests for books this week, so I’ve used more of the Scholastic Rewards points from the Book Fair to buy a bunch of books that have been recommended. 

A big shout out to my wonderful Year 5 Library Monitors who have been helping out all through the week. We’ve been organising the next Story and Songtime craft and we’re thinking of doing a craft activity for students one day a week in the library. We’re also coming up with some great display ideas that we can do through the year.

OSHC

Week 2 Fun at MHOC OSHC! 

Another fantastic week full of fun and creativity! Outdoors, we saw plenty of action with cricket and Gaga, where our older children showed incredible leadership, helping the younger ones learn the rules of cricket—what a great example of teamwork and mentorship! (MTOP 2.0 Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world)

Inside, our imaginative play spaces were a hit! The infamous hair salon and kitchen setups had everyone engaged in role-playing, while table games like Jenga brought out friendly competition. Our creative side shone through with painting at the art easels and choreographing some impressive dance routines. (MTOP 2.0 Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners)

We love seeing all the amazing ideas and energy our children bring each week—can’t wait for more fun ahead! 

Jemma

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NEWS FROM OUR PARISH

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