Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this message finds you well as we settle into the new school year. I would like to take this opportunity to share some important updates and reminders with you.

Our Lady Help of Christians Parent Information Night

This week, we are excited to invite you to the Our Lady Help of Christians Parent Information Night. On Wednesday 12th February from 5-7pm, this wonderful event will be an opportunity to come together as a community, meet your child/ren’s teacher and learn about the routines and expectations within their class. Your involvement and understanding of your child's educational environment are crucial for their success, and we look forward to seeing as many parents and carers there as possible. A friendly reminder unfortunately we are unable to provide care for the children at this event and ask for only parents or carers to attend.

NAPLAN

As we approach the NAPLAN testing period, I want to ensure that the community is well-informed of the schedule and the significance of these assessments.

“The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is a nationwide measure through which parents/carers, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

NAPLAN results allow parents/carers and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.” (National Assessment Program website, 2025) 

The NAPLAN testing period will occur from Wednesday March 12^th  – Monday March 24^th.

Please refer to the image below for the Our Lady Help of Christian NAPLAN schedule.

A PDF version of the schedule can be found here.

If you would like further information about NAPLAN, please find attached an information brochure for parents and carers from the National Assessment Program website.

NAPLAN Parent Information Session – Year 3 & 5 Parents/Carers

We will be hosting a NAPLAN Parent Information Session on Wednesday 26^th  February at 5:30pm for Year 3 and Year 5 parents and carers. The session will run for approximately 30 minutes, and we will provide further insight into what NAPLAN is, what it will look like at Our Lady Help of Christians and how we talk to and prepare the students for NAPLAN.

Year 3 and Year 5 families, please keep an eye out for an EdSmart slip that will be coming out this week. We kindly ask that you RSVP so we can prepare the correct number of handouts and take home materials.

Stop, Drop and Go Safety

We have observed some safety concerns at the Stop, Drop, and Go area on Mestrez Street. After school, some families have been allowing children to walk across Mestrez Street to their cars on their own, through the flow of traffic. For the safety of all children and drivers, we remind you to either wait your turn and pull up at the Stop, Drop, and Go lane or park and walk in to collect your child/ren. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all parents and carers for your support in transitioning back to school. Your involvement and commitment to your child/ren's education are invaluable, and we look forward to a successful and productive year ahead.