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We are now halfway through Term One, and what a fantastic start to the year it has been! I want to take a moment to sincerely thank all our families for working in partnership with us. When parents and schools work together, we see the best outcomes for our students, and we truly appreciate your ongoing support.
Already this term, we have enjoyed a number of special events, with many more exciting opportunities still to come. One of the highlights ahead is our Cross Country, and we look forward to seeing our students challenge themselves and cheer each other on.
I would also like to acknowledge the effort the children have put into wearing the correct uniform and ensuring appropriate haircuts. These small details contribute to a strong sense of school pride and community, and we appreciate your support in upholding our expectations.
As we continue through the term, I ask parents to remind their children about appropriate behaviour during lunch and playtimes. These are moments when we often see incidents occur, and last year, we even had to pause soccer for a period due to aggressive behaviour. Just last week, concerns were raised about children slide tackling and causing injury. If your child loves playing soccer, please encourage them to play with respect and love, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the game safely.
"Let all that you do be done in love." – 1 Corinthians 16:14
As always, I look forward to seeing you around the school, whether at Meztrez Gate or the Balaclava entrance. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Respect, Love, Mercy and Community
Brendon Napier
Principal
Our Lady Help of Christians and St Gerard Majella Community Mass
It was wonderful to see so many families attending our Parish Primary schools’ mass last Sunday. It was fabulous to join with our students and families for a Sunday Mass in our church. The students who read and participated in the processions did a wonderful job and it was amazing to see them taking on these responsibilities. I’m looking forward to our next mass in Term 2.
Religious Identity and Culture
A Catholic school derives its identity and culture from gospel values as well as a rich heritage of Church tradition and practice. The effectiveness of the school’s identity and culture is its capacity to take the inspiration of Jesus Christ and to translate it from the ideal into the real. (Religion Curriculum, Archdiocese of Brisbane)
At Our Lady Help of Christians, our Catholic identity shapes everything we do. It is more than a tradition—it is a living expression of our faith, values, and mission. Our school exists to nurture students in a faith-filled environment where they can grow academically, spiritually, and morally. By embracing our religious identity and culture, we ensure that our school remains a place where Gospel values are lived out every day.
One important way we uphold our Catholic identity is by using the full name of our school—Our Lady Help of Christians—rather than an acronym. By saying Our Lady Help of Christians in full, we honour our spiritual heritage, strengthen our connection to the broader Catholic tradition, and remind ourselves of the values that define our community.
Religious identity and culture are also expressed through prayer, worship, and the way we interact with one another. Our traditions, Mercy charism, feast day, and liturgical celebrations create a strong sense of belonging and remind us that we are part of the universal church. In a world that is constantly changing, maintaining a clear and visible Catholic identity provides stability, purpose, and a deep sense of meaning for our students, staff, and families.
As a Catholic school, we welcome and respect those from all backgrounds while remaining committed to the mission that makes us unique. Let us take pride in our name, our faith, and the rich spiritual culture that unites us as a community of Our Lady Help of Christians.
Ash Wednesday
(5th of March 2025)
This Lent, we are called to Unite Against Poverty through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion. By supporting our Project Compassion fund raising efforts this Lent, you’ll be answering the Gospels’ call to care for our global family and walk alongside the most vulnerable.
Your generous support this Lenten Season will enable Caritas Australia to provide life-changing support to communities facing poverty, food insecurity, lack of education, and water shortages, while building resilience against future challenges. Together, through faith and action, we can bring hope and opportunity to those most in need.
Thank you for standing with us, as we Unite Against Poverty this Lent.
Religious Life of the School Term 1 2025
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Six |
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Eight |
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Six - Ten |
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Looking forward to beginning the Lenten season and wishing you God’s blessing for the coming fortnight.
Best wishes,
Toni Foley
Assistant Principal - Religious Education
Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we are already at the halfway mark of Term 1. I wanted to take the opportunity this week to address some topics that were raised in our Parent Information Night and again address the safety of using Stop, Drop and Go.
Parent Information Night in Week 3
Firstly, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families who attended our Parent Information Night in Week 3. The turnout was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see so many of you engaged and eager to learn more about your child’s school routines and hear from their teacher. Your participation and support are greatly appreciated.
There were a few questions raised, throughout the night regarding school excursions. I would like to take this opportunity to explain that our excursions are carefully booked based on their curriculum links to the areas being taught each term. While there is always an element of fun in these outings, the primary focus is on how they enhance and support the curriculum and teaching happening within the classroom. Additionally, this means that excursions may vary from year to year, depending on the direction of the units of work the teachers plan and implement. We believe this approach ensures that each excursion is meaningful and relevant to our students' learning experiences.
Upcoming NAPLAN Information Session
We are excited to welcome families from Year 3 and Year 5 to our NAPLAN Parent Information Session this Wednesday 26th February. This session will provide valuable insights into what NAPLAN is and how you can support your child/ren during this important time. We look forward to seeing you there and addressing any questions you may have. We do ask, if you are attending this session to please bring a device (phone or tablet) where you will be able to scan a QR code.
Stop, Drop, and Go Safety
Lastly, I want to address an important safety matter. We are unfortunately continuing to see some families not using the Stop, Drop, and Go area correctly. For the safety of all, it is crucial that we adhere to the rules in place for the correct use of this area. If you are walking to or from school, please ensure that your child/ren are close to you and walk with you. Staff and parents share a duty of care for the children, during beginning and end of day transitions and it is essential that we work together to keep everyone safe.
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community.
Let's continue to work together to provide the best possible environment for the children.
Karina Brady
Assistant Principal - Administration
Thank you to those who make regular payments. If you have fallen behind, please contact me to arrange a payment plan as soon as possible. Please remember, direct debits may need to be increased as fees change, it is important that direct debit payments are updated to reflect the fees each year to prevent falling behind.
If you have any questions, please email: accounts.earlville@cns.
Library News
Jill Watson and Paula Tindall
Borrowing Days
Please ensure your child brings their library bag and returns ALL borrowed books at their weekly session. The class borrowing days are:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 4E | ALL Year 5 | ALL Year 6 | ALL Prep | 4L |
| 3O | 1O | ALL Year 2 | 4O | |
| 3L | 1E | |||
| 1L | 3E |
Reading Challenge Ends Friday
Our first reading challenge for 2025 finishes this Friday and we are looking forward to seeing even more bookmarks go onto the windows. In Week 2, students were given a challenge bookmark with a list of books. Once students have finished reading and ticked off their books, the bookmark can be returned to the library.
Cairns Libraries Summer Reading Club
We are delighted to announce that one of our students, Max Jervis (2E) has won the Summer Reading Club competition with Cairns Libraries. As part of this achievement, not only does Max receive a prize, but our school library will also benefit from a book donation.
We congratulate Max for his outstanding achievement in promoting reading and literacy within our community. This is a testament to his dedication and enthusiasm for learning.
We look forward to showcasing the new addition to our library and encourage all students to continue participating in such enriching opportunities.
Happy reading, everyone!
The Library Team:
Paula Tindall and Jill Watson
Enrichment Writing
Year 3 learnt how to begin a narrative with a “sizzling start” last week. Here are some of their responses to a picture stimulus of a magic house:
Growl…
“Who’s there?” said Sunny, looking as if she saw a ghost. She wandered around the most magical house in the street.
By Olivia Lee
“Help! I’m lost!” Jack screamed. “Anyone?” The poor boy thought no one would ever find him, when suddenly he came to a town.
“It looks abandoned, but why?” Jack asked himself. He knocked on one of the doors and it suddenly opened.
By Stella Townson
“Hey Luke!” said the bully.
“Yes?” said Luke as he anxiously turned around.
“I double dare you to go ding dong ditch that house,” said the bully.
“No, I’m okay,” said Luke.
By Brooklyn Peeters
Strange sounds echoed when Gary stepped into the house.
“Follow me,” said Gary. “Nothing to be scared of.”
But when he finished talking, he saw red glowing eyes in the dark. Chomp! The beast ate Gary and now it is coming right for you!
By Walter Irvin
Alison Williams
Enrichment Teacher
Carmen Mellor
Tuckshop Convenor
Dear Parents and Carers,
To ensure the safety of all students, we kindly remind you that if someone other than yourself will be picking up your child, they must be listed as an additional contact in our records. Please complete the Additional Contact Person Form to add their information.
Please note that we will request ID from individuals who are not familiar to us. Your cooperation helps us maintain a secure environment for your child.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Karina Brady | Assistant Principal Administration
The MyCE app will now be our main way of communicating with parents. If you have more than one student attending at different catholic schools, you will be able to see all of them on the one app, instead of accessing the different school portals.
Things that will be able to be seen/accessed on MyCE:
- School Reports
- Edsmart slips
- Advising of absences
- Access to newsletters
- School Calender, etc
If you require any assistance with the MyCE App, please contact the office.
Hello everyone,
Volunteer opportunities for "Cross Country" are now open.
Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do.
Thank you for volunteering!
Megan, Tiffany, Miranda and Susan
Could you use an extra $500 for education costs? The Smith Family know that cost of living pressures are continuing to put extra stress on households, with families in particular feeling the effects.
What is Saver Plus?
Saver Plus is a program for people on lower incomes. It’s about bolstering their financial skills, so they can develop (and keep) good savings habits. Since 2003, Saver Plus has supported more than 62,000 people to start saving.
It’s helped overcome the barriers around education expenses. And it’s set them up for a brighter future.
What are the eligible savings goals?
Eligible savings goals are education related products or services that:
- Assist a primary or secondary school student’s education;
Attached are some flyers that provide more information on Saver Plus.
Peta Bergan
Community Liaison, Saver Plus | The Smith Family
Darkinjung Country
Mobile: 0466 474 584
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The Smith Family QLD |
Saver Plus Matched Savings & Financial Education Program |
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