20 June 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

There have been so many happy, excited faces around the school this week as we held Learning Showcases in every grade. The joy of children sharing their learning with their favourite grown-ups was contagious and created an air of excitement.

I love this quote from Pope Francis: The joy of children makes their parents’ hearts leap and opens up the future. Children are the joy of the family and of society.

With so much conflict and bad news around the world at the moment, it’s a blessing to be able to share in the innate joy and wonder children can bring to our lives.

Congratulations to Obi Griggs who was awarded the Walk Worthy of God Leadership Star at today’s assembly. His teachers say that he leads by example and treats others with respect and kindness.

Warm regards,

Margaret

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 2

• Wednesday 25th June - Mini Vinnies Bake Sale
• Thursday 26th June - Years 2-6 Athletics Carnival
• Monday 30th June - 4th July - NAIDOC Week Celebrations
• Monday 30th June - Dental Van Visit
• Tuesday 1st July - Confirmation Mini-Retreat
• Thursday 3rd July - Mrs Watts' Farewell Liturgy and Morning Tea
• Friday 4th July - Presentation of Term 2 Effort Awards 
• Friday 4th July - Student reports available in Compass

Term 3

• Monday 21st July - Staff Development Day (pupil-free day)
• Tuesday 22nd July - First day of Term 3 for students
• Tuesday 22nd - Friday 25th July - Book Fair
• Friday 25th July - Grandparents’ Day
• Friday 8th August - Barney Barselaar Cup
• Tuesday 26th August - Netball Schools Cup Regional Final
• Tuesday 26th August - Diocesan Athletics
• Monday 22nd - Wednesday 24th September - Year 5 Camp
• Monday 22nd - 23rd September - Year 4 Camp
  

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

Mini Vinnies Bake Sale

Our Mini Vinnies team is excited to be hosting a Bake Sale next Wednesday 25th June, to support Pete’s Place, a local organisation providing care and support to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. All items will be available for a gold coin donation, and every dollar raised will go directly to helping people in need within our wider community.

We would love your help! If you’re able, please bring in your goodies next Wednesday morning to contribute to the stall. Cupcakes, biscuits, slices…anything delicious will be gratefully accepted.

Thanks for your support,
The Mini Vinnies Team

MHOC Colour Run

Get ready for an explosion of fun because our much-anticipated Colour Run is this Friday! We're bringing out the slime and vibrant coloured powder, so make sure your child comes to school dressed in clothes they don't mind getting messy and colourful!

It's going to be a fantastic opportunity for students to have a run around, get active, and enjoy a truly memorable afternoon on the oval. Refer to the poster below for run times.

Farewell Liturgy and Morning Tea for Mrs Watts

Please RSVP  here for catering purposes before 27th June.

Grandparents’ Day

We are excited to be hosting our annual Grandparents’ Day celebrations on Friday 25th July. We always align this special day with the Feast of St Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, which is held on 26th July each year.

Please RSVP for catering purposes here

Little Wings

Here's an update on the Little Wings State Vs State Challenge.

LOVING LEARNING

Learning Showcases

It was an absolute delight to welcome so many of our wonderful families into the classrooms to see firsthand the incredible work our students have been doing.

These showcases were a fantastic opportunity for you to not only view your child's achievements but also to engage directly in learning activities alongside them. From collaborative projects to creative presentations, it was truly special to witness the excitement and pride on everyone's faces as they shared their discoveries.

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who were able to attend. Your presence made these events so memorable and truly reinforced the strong partnership between home and school that we value so deeply. We hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did!

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What's been happening in Year 4?

Year 4 students have been thoroughly enjoying their round robin sports competition! Six teams are rotating through engaging games of continuous cricket, Newcombe ball, and bin ball.

Throughout these activities, students are actively developing crucial skills such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition. We're also keeping scores during games, providing a valuable opportunity for students to cultivate resilience and learn to persevere, even when their teams face challenges.

The beautiful winter sunshine has made the fields the perfect setting for these energetic and skill-building sessions.

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FROM THE MISSION DESK

World Refugee Day (WRD)

Each year on the 20th June, the world celebrates World Refugee Day (WRD). Today, we paused as a school community to acknowledge WRD. It is a time to reflect on the courage and resilience of those forced to flee their homes in search of safety, peace, and a better future.

Guided by our Catholic faith and the Gospel call to welcome the stranger, we stand in solidarity with refugees around the world. We are reminded that every person, regardless of where they come from, is made in the image and likeness of God and deserves dignity, compassion, and hope.

A Prayer for Refugees

Loving God,

You are our shelter and strength.

We pray for all those who have been forced to leave their homes because of war, violence, or fear.

May they find safety, welcome, and peace.

Help us to see your face in every person in need,

And guide us to act with compassion, love, and justice.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Year 5 Class Mass

On Tuesday, our Year 5 students celebrated Mass with Fr Joy. Fr Joy shared the Gospel reading from Matthew, where Jesus talks about loving not just our friends, but even those who might be unkind to us. He spoke to the students about how easy it is to be nice to people who are nice to us but that real love, the kind Jesus teaches, means showing kindness and forgiveness to everyone, even when it’s hard.

The students listened thoughtfully and came away with a clear message: we’re called to love like Jesus, no matter what. A big thank you to Fr Joy and the Year 5 team for a lovely celebration.

What's happening in Year 4?

Our Year 4 students have been delving into their Pentecost unit in Religious Education, exploring the incredible ways the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles and disciples to act with courage. They've been learning all about the transformative change in the disciples after their Pentecost experience and their newfound bravery in proclaiming the Good News.

Students have also been identifying the significant risks the apostles and disciples faced as they bore witness to Jesus. To bring these lessons to life, they've been working in small groups to creatively retell the story of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-22) using peg people, recording their fantastic work on iPads. It's been wonderful to see their understanding and engagement grow!

Confirmation Mini-Retreat - Tuesday 1st July

As part of the children’s preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, we have organised a mini-retreat at Sawtell church, for all candidates on Tuesday 1st July.

This retreat will offer students the opportunity to pause, reflect, and prepare for their upcoming Confirmation through a variety of activities. Students will also take part in a Confirmation practice session during the day.

Parents and carers, please check Compass to give permission for your child to attend this retreat.

Term Two Class Masses

All parents and carers are warmly invited to join us for our weekly class Masses at Sawtell Catholic Church. We’d love for you to stay afterwards for a cuppa and some morning tea. It's a great chance to catch up and connect with others in our school community.

Tuesday 24th June - Year 6

Tuesday 1st July - Year 3 (and all students making their Sacrament of Confirmation)  Confirmation Mini- Retreat

SPORT NEWS

2-6 Athletics Carnival

Our 2-6 Athletics Carnival is going ahead on Thursday next week (26th June). We are excited to see our little runners on the track (hopefully in the sunshine) and we would love to see parents there on the day, too.

A Compass event has been published which includes all the details of the day. Please direct any questions to Mrs Bennett (bec.bennett@lism.catholic.edu.au) 

Diocesan Rugby Gala

What an incredible display of skill and spirit! This past Wednesday, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Livolsi proudly took our brand-new Mary Help of Christians rugby union team to Rugby Park for the highly anticipated Diocesan Rugby Union Gala Day. This isn't just any local competition; it draws formidable teams from as far north as Yamba and as far south as Port Macquarie, making it a true test of talent.

Even when faced with very strong opposition, our students didn't just compete, they excelled! They performed with unwavering resilience and exceptional sportsmanship, truly embodying the Mary Help of Christians spirit in every tackle and every try. 

A massive round of applause and a huge congratulations goes out to Harry (Year 6), whose outstanding effort on the field earned him the well-deserved title of Player of the Day!

LIBRARY WHISPERS

OSHC

Week 8 at MHOC OSHC was full of fun, laughter, and learning! The children participated in a range of engaging, hands-on, and creative experiences that sparked curiosity and connection. From imaginative play and outdoor adventures to collaborative games and themed activities, there was something exciting happening every day!

We’re also thrilled to share our upcoming July Vacation Care program, which is packed with exciting highlights! Children can look forward to a special visit from a wellbeing support dog, test their aim with an archery incursion, dance it out in our silent disco, and take a swing at the driving range excursion. Plus, we’re bringing the fun right to us with vibrant in-centre days like Crazy Science Day and Dress Up Day!

We can’t wait to spend the holidays making memories together!

HABITS OF MIND AWARDS

Term 2 Week 8

CANTEEN NEWS

This week, our canteen had a surprise health inspection. It was no surprise, however, that they received a 5 star rating.

Congratulations to the canteen team. You are amazing!

NEWS FROM OUR PARISH

Axios 

Axios Youth group will take a break now and resume in Week 2 of term 3

Congratulations

Congratulations to Summer and Ted Bright who were received into the Catholic Church last weekend. Please keep them in your prayers

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is available to those requesting it. Please ring Jennifer at the Parish Office (66583544) or talk to Amber Biddle 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

MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM

The MHOC School Community Forum provides opportunities for families to get together across a range of social and educational activities and events throughout the year.  We would love to know which events interest you and your family to assist us with our planning. 

Please take the time to let us know your thoughts on this short survey.

An invitation

You are invited to join with parents from our local Catholic schools to the showing of the movie, Seen at SJPC.

Council of Catholic School Parents

Check out these free webinars! 

COMMUNITY NEWS