22 August 2025
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
The annual Book Week parade is always lots of fun and this year was no exception. Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who helped to dress their little ones as book characters. For those who couldn’t join us this morning, enjoy this snippet from today’s parade.
We hope lots of you can join us on Wednesday at 6pm for Angela Lockwood’s Parenting in the Age of Distraction live webinar. This webinar is for parents, whether their children already have a mobile phone or not. It provides some real life strategies on how to manage the implementation of, and the ongoing use of, mobile phones for the whole family. You can come along to engage in person here at school (this may particularly appeal to Stage 2 parents who will be dropping their child at the disco) or you can register and Zoom in from home. See the flyer and registration details further down in this newsletter.
Congratulations to Elsie Logan, the recipient of today’s Walk Worth of God Good Citizen Award. Mrs Thompson explained that Elsie is responsible, respectful and honest. Well done, Elsie!
Warm regards,
Margaret
Margaret Ryan
Acting Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Term 3
- Tuesday 26th August - Netball Schools Cup Regional Final
- Tuesday 26th August - Diocesan Athletics
- Tuesday 26th August - Years 5 & 6 Disco
- Wednesday 27th August - Year 3 & 4 Disco
- Wednesday 27th August - Parenting in the age of Distraction Parent Night
- Thursday 28th August - Years K, 1 & 2 Disco
- Friday 29th August - K-2 Science Fair
- Thursday 4th September - Fathers’ Day Stall
- Friday 5th September - Fathers’ Day Breakfast
- Friday 12th September - Polding Athletics
- Sunday 21st - School-Led/Parish Mass
- Monday 22nd - Wednesday 24th September - Year 5 Camp
- Monday 22nd - 23rd September - Year 4 Camp
- Monday 22nd September - Clarence Public Speaking Competition
- Friday 26th September - Last day of Term 3
Term 4
- Monday 13th October - Staff Development Day (pupil-free day)
- Tuesday 14th October - First day of Term 4 for students
- Monday 3rd - 5th November - Year 6 Camp
WHAT'S THE BUZZ?
Celebrating the Magic of Reading at Our Book Week Parade
Today, our school was transformed into a vibrant world of imagination and stories as we celebrated Book Week with our annual parade! Students and staff alike truly outdid themselves, showing off an incredible array of costumes that brought their favourite literary characters to life.
We saw everything from courageous heroes and magical creatures to mischievous villains and beloved classic characters. The enthusiasm on display was absolutely fantastic and a true testament to the power of a great book. It was wonderful to see so many families join us to cheer on the parade and share in the excitement.
A huge thank you to all the parents and carers who helped their children put together such creative costumes. Your support made the day a huge success and helped us celebrate the joy of reading in the most magical way possible. We hope everyone had a memorable Book Week!
Father’s Day Breakfast
To RSVP to the Fathers' Day breakfast, please click here.
MHOC Discos
Our school discos are this week! Keep costumes simple - it's all about the dancing fun.
LOVING LEARNING
Art Hub: What's Happening This Week?
Get ready to mark your calendars—our young artists have been working hard! We are excited to announce that their amazing fundraising artworks are close to being finished and will be available to purchase soon. There will be calendars, journals, diaries and more! This is a fantastic opportunity to bring home a piece of your child's creativity, so stay tuned for details!
On top of that, each grade level is diving deep into a new and exciting focus:
- Kindergarten is channeling their inner Frida Kahlo, exploring themes of identity and self-expression through colorful self-portraits.
- Years 1 and 2 are becoming master storytellers through their work in illustration and character animation.
- Years 3 and 4 are taking to the streets (artistically, of course!) as they explore the bold, emotional power of street art.
- Years 5 and 6 are creating deeply personal projects on spiritual art, using lines from the Apostles' Creed to inspire their own unique reflections and artistic interpretations.
We're so proud of the amazing work our students are creating. Stay tuned for more updates and a closer look at their progress!
A Day of Culture and Connection
On Thursday, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Years 3-6 had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Saltwater Freshwater Gallery. This special excursion was designed to provide a rich and immersive cultural experience that connected our students with their heritage.
The day's activities included:
- A guided tour of the Aboriginal art gallery, allowing students to explore the stories and meanings behind various artworks.
- A language and storytelling workshop, where students were introduced to Aboriginal language basics and learned how language is connected to identity.
- A hands-on art activity where students created their own artwork using traditional painting techniques, building a personal link to the stories and symbols they had learned.
We want to extend a huge thank you to Aunty Kel for her time and effort in organizing this fantastic and meaningful day for our students.
Get Ready to Speak Up!
The Public Speaking Competition is just around the corner, and we are excited to see our students shine! All the information about this year's competition, including key dates and guidelines, has been sent out on COMPASS and provided as hard copies to all students.
The in-class competitions for Years 3-6 will begin in Week 7, with our school-based finals taking place in Week 8. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to build confidence, hone their communication skills and share their unique voices. We can't wait to hear what they have to say!
Brendan Murphy
Assistant Principal
Learning & Teaching
FROM THE MISSION DESK
This morning at assembly, our Leaders of Evangelisation shared a message about the Jubilee Year of Hope. They reminded us that the Holy Spirit is our inspiration, encouraging us all to grow in faith and love throughout this special year.
Elsie and Isla explained, “The Jubilee Year is a time to open our hearts, listen closely to the Holy Spirit, and see Jesus in everyone around us. It’s about coming together as one family and walking forward with hope.”
They invited us to reflect on how we can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us through scripture, recognise Jesus in the people we meet every day, and strengthen our bonds as a faith community.
As pilgrims on this journey of hope, we are called to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, trusting in God’s love to lead the way.
Let’s keep this prayer close to our hearts as we continue:
Holy Spirit, our inspiration,
In this Jubilee year, you remind us of our call to grow in faith and love.
Help us to hear you in scripture, to see Jesus in others,
and to be united as God’s family.
Guide us on our journey as pilgrims of hope.
Amen.
Year 5 Mass: A Special Confirmation Celebration for Ollie and Harley
During the Year 5 Class Mass this week, we were delighted to celebrate the Confirmation of Ollie and Harley by Fr Joy. Earlier in the term, they were away when Bishop Greg visited for, so this Mass provided a wonderful opportunity for them to receive this important sacrament.
Fr Joy guided Ollie and Harley as they were confirmed and welcomed more fully into their faith journey. May their lives be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, guiding them with wisdom, courage, and love throughout their lives.
We congratulate Ollie and Harley on this special milestone and pray that their faith continues to grow strong every day.
What’s happening in Year 1?
This Term in Religious Education, Year 1 students have been exploring stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Students first explored parables of the Kingdom and then Joseph the Dreamer and Moses and the Burning Bush. Students made puppets to retell the story of their choice before performing it to small groups.
Last Friday, Year 1 students were reverent participants in our liturgy celebrating the Assumption of Mary. To celebrate the occasion, students created beautiful artworks of Mary.
Term 3 Class Mass Roster
All parents and carers are warmly invited to join us for our weekly class Masses at Sawtell Catholic Church at 9:30am. 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 26th August - Year 1
Tuesday 2nd September - Year 2
Tuesday 9th September - Year 4
Tuesday 16th September - Year 3
Tuesday 23rd September - Kinder & Year 6
Save the Date
Our Parish/School led Mass will be held on Sunday, 21st September at 9:00am at Sawtell Catholic Church. We hope you can join us for this special celebration with our parish community.
Amber Biddle
Assistant Principal
Mission
Toni Fletcher
Leader of
Catechesis
SPORT NEWS
Good luck to Team MHOC on Tuesday, both at Diocesan Athletics and the regional round of the Netball All Schools Cup.
On Thursday we have teams competing in a local Touch Football gala day at Rugby Park. This should be a really fun day, as long as the grounds are not too wet!
Rebecca Bennett
Sports Coordinator
Geraldine Hourigan
Sports Administrator
LIBRARY WHISPERS
Scholastic Bookclub catalogues went home this week. Don’t forget you can order and pay online or send the correct money with the completed order form to the office. Closing date for book orders is Friday 5th September. To order online, go to the Scholastic website https://scholastic.com.au/book-club/book-club-home
Book week is a wonderful week to celebrate books and is great fun for the children. For the parents, getting your children costumes for the parade can be a hassle (I know that from my own experience!), but it’s a really positive way to encourage a love of reading. Reading Australia has released new research about how early positive reading experiences can impact a child for life. If you’re interested in reading more information about Australian reading habits, and ways to encourage reading, check out the website https://australiareads.org.au/news/new-australian-research
Rachael Hewitt
Librarian
CANTEEN NEWS
Term 3 Red Day
Volunteers
We are looking for more volunteers on Thursdays. If you are able to help, please contact the school office.
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 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
Father’s Day Stall
This year's Father’s Day Stall will be held on Thursday, 4th September.
Students will have the opportunity to choose a special gift for their dad or a father figure in their life. A variety of affordable gifts will be available for purchase on the day. All orders must be made through Flexischools, so please be sure to place your order ahead of time.
Parenting in the Age of Distraction
We have a wonderful opportunity to take part in a live webinar presented by Angela Lockwood. There are two ways you can take part:
- Join with other MHOC parents to take part in the webinar here at school. You can drop your Year 3 or 4 child at the school disco first and yummy nibbles will be provided or;
- Register and Zoom in from home.
See the flyer below for more details or click here to register.
Jo Melinz
SCF President
COMMUNITY NEWS
Sawtell Cricket Club
Love Cricket? Play Cricket!
Have fun, make friends, be part of a team, keep fit, build your cricket skills.
SAWTELL CRICKET CLUB registrations are open for the 2025-26 season for U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s, Seniors.
Search ‘sawtellcricketclub.com.au’ and scroll to the ‘Registration’ link
Call Michael on 0419161903 for more information.
Building Resilience Training
The Building Resilience workshop gives participants the chance to take ownership of their mental health and build new strategies to control their thoughts and emotions. Participants reflect on the personal management of their own mental health, in collaboration with others, and end the workshop with new techniques and healthy habits.
