OLSH News VOL 23 Issue 18 (21 November 2019) by OLSH Alice Springs

OLSH NEWS

VOL 23 ISSUE 18 21 NOVEMBER 2019

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE BR TONY CADDY, PRINCIPAL

Our senior students have now completed their final exams and their formal schooling has just about finished. Fortunately, the whole year’s result, and their career, doesn’t just hang on one exam, but on a series of assessments over the course of a year or two. I do want to congratulate the students on the way they approached the exams. They seemed to be serious and well prepared and I hope that their results reflect that. I wish also to thank the staff for their total commitment to the good of the students. It has been obvious to me that many have gone beyond the call of duty to help our senior students do their very best. Thank you to all those teachers and other staff members as well.

GRADUATION MASS AND ASSEMBLY

On Friday this week we celebrate the year 12’s of 2019 with Mass and Assembly. The celebrant for the Mass will be Bishop Charles Gauci who has become a regular visitor to Central Australia. Bishop Charles has a passion for meeting and working with people, as did his predecessor Bishop Eugene. We have been very fortunate to have had two marvellous companions as the leaders of our diocese, both faithful to their mission as followers of Christ. I might add that both are ex students of the Marist Brothers. Because Bishop Charles cannot arrive until Friday morning, we have had to rearrange our program. The Graduation assembly will now take place at 9am, attended by Sadadeen and Traeger students, and the Mass will commence at 11am for the whole school community. Parents and parishioners are welcome to attend the events and to share in that very special moment for our finishing students. Saturday night will see the Valedictory Dinner at the Convention Centre as the students and parents let their hair down and enjoy their final gathering together.

MARIST LEADERS COURSE

Our new College leaders for 2020 have been elected and presented before the Sadadeen students. On Friday they will have the chance to be in front of the whole school and be recognised for the roles that they are about to embark upon. On Saturday two of our staff will accompany the leaders to Melbourne for a few days where they will join with other Marist schools from around the country, taking part in a Marist Conference which is designed to help prepare them for leadership in their respective schools.

CAMBODIA IMMERSION

On December 3rd, six students, Chiara Antonelli, Shari Lesiak, Amelia Materne, Chloe Sutton, Jack Van Der Geest-Hester and Tyson Usher, accompanied by two staff members, Jacinta Boniwell and Jim Sliger, will head to Cambodia for the annual immersion experience. This is a great opportunity for our College to show its support for children and young people who are much poorer than ourselves. Over recent months, they have been involved in much fund raising and, as has happened in previous years, will present the Marist Brothers Sala La Valla School with a very generous and much needed cheque. We wish them well during this experience.

STAFF CHANGES

We are still in the process of seeking some new teachers for our College, however I can confirm that we have had a good number of applicants for limited spaces. We are currently in the process of interviewing prospective teachers as well as appointing teachers to Positions of Responsibility in the school. I am very grateful to those people who have put their hands up to take on important responsibilities for the good of the students.

ENROLMENTS

Our most recent census showed that we have about 725 students currently enrolled in the College. Indications are that we are looking at an increase in student numbers in 2020. Our future sustainability depends on parents and guardians supporting our school in many ways. But it does start with numbers. If you know of any students you think would gain from being part of our school family community then encourage them to apply for a spot. Our school is a family school with a wonderful family spirit – one of the special characteristics of being a Marist school. The other characteristics are simplicity, presence, love of work and in the way of Mary. Our Marist story commenced in Alice Springs in Catholic Education in 1983. Since then a wonderful family spirit has developed and grown, this being evidenced by the great generosity and friendliness we see in our students and staff. We are only human and don’t get it right 100% of the time, but we do pretty well because of the good will of those associated with our College, parents, students and staff. Please continue to support our school and its aim to provide a quality and holistic education for the young people entrusted to our care.

MARIST NEWS

We have just received the sad news of the passing of a Marist Brother in Adelaide. Br Ken Preston (Br Baylon in a previous era) was very well known to anyone who had been in Forbes, NSW, where he had spent about 40 years. After a short illness, Br Ken died at the age of 97. May he RIP.

ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER EDUCATION KALE BIRKHOLZ, ABORIGINAL AND ISLANDER EDUCATION WORKER

During the last couple of weeks we had a lot of heartache which has saddened most of us here at school. One of our Year 12 student’s father had lost his battled due to a long illness he’d been fighting for 9 ½ years. The amazing determination she had put in over the last couple of weeks was something extraordinary that stunned everyone around her. The will power and drive to get through showed us all that we can do it! I want to send our heartfelt condolences to the Strachan family on their loss of a great man, Peter Strachan.

that a special mention be made of Lisa, thanking her for the wonderful work that has been done over the past three years. In that time, they have introduced the AIME mentoring program for aboriginal students and completed our College RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan). Thanks Lisa for all the hard work, and all the best for your work at OLSH. - Kale, Elizabeth and Ben

I also want to thank the staff for their efforts in providing a bus for students who were able to attend the funeral service that day. It was much appreciated by the family and me.

Students are on their last stretch of schooling this year. It has been an extremely long year with lots happening. Coming up at the end of this week, we will have four of our First Nations Students graduate, at our Year 12 Graduation Mass held on Friday. Then the Valedictory Dinner on Saturday night, exciting times ahead.

THANKS TO MS LISA RAYNER Lisa completes three years as Coordinator of the Aboriginal and Islander Education group, made up Lisa and the three AIEWs, Kale Birkholz (Sadadeen), Elizabeth Tilmouth (Traeger) and Ben Swan (Bath Street). The AIEWs have asked

At this year’s Graduation Mass I have organised a Smoking Ceremony. This is a ceremony we as First Nations People have been practising for over 60,000 years and will continue to do so. The Smoking Ceremony itself will help cleanse the mind and body of all the stress that these

students have had to endure this year. The smoke also helps start them fresh with new adventures as they transition through to their next stage in life - adulthood. Good luck and Best Wishes for your future. I Just want to remind you all though that we as a school are always here no matter what! Our younger students have been amazing - their hard work is starting to pay off and I want you all to know that you are doing an amazing job. Stand Tall Stand Strong Stand Proud! COMPANION PRAYER Lord, we are companions on a journey Only you dear lord Know the identity and depth of all You know our hurts and pains Those frustrations we feel in this land So please, I ask you take our hands And comfort us. Reconcile and guide us in justice and in faith Lord set us free

COLLEGE NEWS

COMING UP AT OLSH 21

Year 12 Graduation Mass Rehearsal

9:30am @ Marian Centre

Student Leaders Conference in Melbourne

Bath St Assembly 8:30am @ Bath St Hall

2 1

Bath St Assembly

Step Up Day

Transition Orientation Day and Bath St Assembly 8:30am @ Bath St Hall College Christmas Carols 6:00pm @ Bath St Hall

Cambodia Immersion Students Return

Year 12 Graduation Mass 11:00am @ Marian Centre Bath St Awards Assembly 1:20pm @ Bath St Hall

Year 9 & 10 Exams

College Finance Committee Meeting 5:00pm @ College Boardroom

Year 8 Transitioning Celebration 11:00am @ Traeger Campus College Advisory Board Meeting 6:00pm @ College Boardroom

Year 12 Valedictory Dinner and Formal

6:00pm @ Alice Springs Convention Centre

30 Gymfest

5 Year 9 & 10 Exams

Presentation Evening Transition to Year 6 5:45pm @ Marian Centre

Presentation Evening Year 7 to 12 7:10pm @ Marian Centre

Cambodia Immersion Students Depart

Assembly and Farewell 9:00am @ Marian Centre

Student Leaders return

8:30am @ Bath St Hall

22Year 12 Graduation

Bath St Awards Assembly 2:15pm @ Bath St Hall

Bath St First Friday Mass 9:00am @ OLSH Parish

Sadadeen Campus Farewell Assembly and Liturgy 2:00pm @ Marian Centre Bath St Awards Assembly 1:20pm @ Bath St Hall

Staff Conclude for 2019

Classes Conclude for Transition to Year 8

Classes Conclude for Years 9-11 6

BATH STREET

LINDA WARNER, HEAD OF CAMPUS BATH ST

RECONCILIATION SACRAMENT

On Monday all the Year 2 students celebrated the preparation, with the 19 students who are preparing to make their Reconciliation. The students enjoyed a shared Pizza lunch and had fun making a craft item together. At 5:30pm the children and families celebrated Mass together and the 19 Year 2 Students made their sacrament of Reconciliation. Many thanks to Mr Gabriel Letourneau and Mrs Janine Hayward for preparing the students and Fr Alex for celebrating the Sacrament. Please keep these students in your prayers.

TRANSITION PARENT INFORMATION EVENING We had excellent attendance Tuesday evening for the 2020 Transition Parent Information evening, all very keen to begin their children’s learning journey at OLSH. These children will be joining us for our ‘Move Up Day’ on the 9th December from 8.30 – 10.30pm. More information about this will be included in our next and final newsletter for the year.

EDUCATION ADJUSTMENT PLANS

Thank you to all our parents who met to review their child’s Education Adjustment Plan. These meetings are very important as they provide strategies for their teacher this year as well as their new teacher/s next year. Having negotiated Adjustment Plans is also essential for ongoing funding for ISA support within the classroom.

GRADUATION MASS

The students at Bath St leave for the Marian Centre at 10.30am this Friday to participate in the Graduation Mass. Here we will witness the handover of a bookmark to our Year 12 students from the Transition students, before they begin their journey of life after OLSH. We congratulate all the Year 12 students upon completion of what is their hardest year of schooling. We wish them God’s blessings in whatever direction they have chosen to pursue. The Bath St students return in time for lunch.

CLASS PLACEMENT FOR 2020

Teachers have started the process of class placement for 2020, with a view to establishing balanced and equitable class groups for next year. This is a complex and challenging task for staff. Individual student class placements are based on professional judgments about the student’s educational needs, circumstances and interests. Also considered is a balance in class sizes, gender, learning, inclusion support considerations, friendships and relationships when formulating classes for next year. As you can imagine, requests for a specific teacher cannot be considered as a part of this process. Classes are reorganized at the end of each year to refresh and promote new relationships and to develop and nurture within our children, the ability to positively relate with others and to work co-operatively within a new classroom environment. These are essential life skills. We can support our children by demonstrating we have confidence in their ability to do so. If you have any queries regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact the office.

2020 SPECIALIST CLASSES AND STAFFING

We are currently in the process of interviewing for new staff for next year. Sadly, we will be losing both our Year 4 teachers, Mrs Kanwaljit Kaur and Mr Viknesh Appanasamy, as they head interstate with their families. We would like to thank them for their dedication and commitment to the students in their classes this year. We have greatly appreciated the contribution they have made to our staff as well as the OLSH community. We also farewell Sensei as she takes next year off on long service leave. We have as her replacement for next year a very experienced teacher of Japanese, Mrs Yuki McCaskill. Mrs McCaskill has been teaching in Victoria at St Augustine’s Primary School since leaving OLSH at the end of 2011. We look forward to having her on staff at Bath St next year.

YEAR 4 EVENTS

With our Year 4’s time at Bath St coming close to an end, we have a number of events they will participate in to celebrate their time here as well as to support them as they transition to the Traeger Campus. They travel to the Traeger Campus again next Friday (Week 7) to engage in their second transition day with the Year 7 leaders and a campus tour. Their final transition day is on ‘Move Up Day’, 9th December. Parents will take them directly to Traeger and then pick them up from there at the end of the day. On the 10th December they head to the Doubletree for their dinner and pool party with their families. These invites have already gone home with the students.

YEAR 4S COUNCIL CHAMBERS VISIT

Our Year 4 students visited the Alice Springs Town Council Chambers last Friday to learn how local government decisions are made. There they were made welcome by Damien Ryan. Town Council Recount by Thomas van der Geest-Hester

“Last Friday the Year Four cohort went to the Town Council to learn more about the Parliament. Firstly, we went into the main foyer and Mayor Damien Ryan talked about the past people who have been in the Town Council. Next we went into the decisions room and he talked about the different positions in the council. Mayor Damien Ryan called the house leaders and SRC’s to the front and put us in the different council positions. I was a councillor named Eli Melky. Then Mayor Damien Ryan gave us a brief summary of our positions, power, and explained about things like the Alice Springs Crest and the Mayors robe.. Finally we walked back to school debating about the amount of power we had over each other. I think it was a spectacular, educational, fun excursion and I would like to thank the school and the teachers for the wonderful opportunity.” PRESENTATION EVENING

On Thursday, 5th November, from 5.45pm to 6.40pm we have the Transition to Yr 6 Presentation Evening being held at the Marian Centre. During this evening, awards will be presented to various students for Christian Leadership, Marcellin Champagnat Medal/Certificate, Effort and Consistency Award, Indigenous Education Achievement Award, Chief Minister’s Literacy Award, Academic Excellence Award, Bath St Sports Award, Australia Day Citizenship Award, ICT Award and HOC Award for Outstanding Achievement. Students receiving an award will be notified prior to the evening. We hope to see you there.

TRAEGER CAMPUS

WAYNE EGLINTON, HEAD OF CAMPUS TRAEGER

8s out at Ross River last Friday as they had the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God, each other and themselves. Through meditation, art, music, interactive games and time spent in nature they were able to deepen their relationships as they begin to prepare for their transition to the Sadadeen campus in 2020. Whilst the season of Advent officially begins this year on Sunday, 1st December, the Traeger Campus will begin a prayer focus on this most important time of joyful waiting on Monday, 25th November and spend time reflecting on the theme of each of the 4 weeks: hope, faith, joy and peace. Advent in 2 minutes - https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-advent-twominutes

YEAR 12 GRADUATION MASS TOMORROW We celebrate the graduation of OLSH Class of 2019 tomorrow. Congratulations and good luck from the Traeger Campus! Students are expected to wear their full school uniform tomorrow for the Mass. Water bottles, recess, lunch and hats are all required. Assembly starts at 9am and the Mass starts at 11am. The whole community is invited to this opportunity to thank and pass on your best wishes to our Year 12 class of 2019. EARNINGS SKYROCKET - YEAR 6 BUSINESS EXPO Step right up to “The Bizarre Bazaar”! Year 6s break records. Stocks on the rise. Our Year 6 entrepreneurs have done it again! An infamous event each year based on Business, Economics, English and Maths. Students create a business: advertise and supply goods and services to the Traeger Campus for a period of 2 hours. Whose business modelling, budgeting expertise and advertising creativity created the most profitable business? Amazing work students and teachers!

WELCOME - TRAEGER’S PRE-SERVICE TEACHER We welcome John Smallacombe who is completing his second year teaching practical with our Year 7 and 8s. Thank you to Mrs Ross who will be supervising his practicum. TRANSITION TO TRAEGER PROGRAM Year 4s visited Traeger last Friday as part of the Transition to Traeger Program. Our Year 7 Student Leadership Team conducted several activities with the visitors. Parents were also encouraged to attend Traeger for a tour of the campus. This program will continue on Friday Week 7. JUNIOR INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL Students from Years 3-6 represented the College with honour and performed well in the carnival. Age champions Thomas Markham and Molly Strauss are to be congratulated. OLSH finished second overall and a commendable effort by all. Thank you team and organisers. REFLECTION DAY AT ROSS RIVER A memorable day was spent by Year

Also during this time (Weeks 7 and 8) the Traeger Campus will collect donations for the annual OLSH Parish Christmas Hamper Drive. Your generous contributions will be added to those from other campuses to create hampers which will be distributed to families in need of some extra comforts during the season of Christmas. REMEMBRANCE DAY LITURGY A solemn liturgy was held at 11am on Monday November 11. Students, as always, respectfully participated in a well led liturgy. Thank you to students and organisers who led the ceremony. ACTS OF GIVING As part of the ongoing commitment to support others, the Traeger Campus ran a short Act of Giving Campaign. Year 5s have done a fantastic job supporting the RSPCA by raising funds for and volunteering. The final visit to the RSPCA was today. Well done students and Mrs Marzohl and Miss Young! Year 6s had their desk chair cinema last night. Another successful evening. These funds will be going towards toys for the Children’s Ward of the Alice Springs Hospital.

Year 7s collected stationery to send off to a Pre-school in East Timor under guidance from Jayden Gilby. They also raised funds with the ever popular “Fish n Chip” day. Year 8s Casual and Crazy Hair day was well supported by students across all 3 campuses. Funds will go to the Make a Wish Foundation. Thank you and congratulations to all organisers and supporters. TRAEGER ASSEMBLIES Thank you 7.2 for your wonderful liturgy in Week 4. It was great to see so many awardees and family present to see their cherubs receive their certificates. The remaining Traeger Assemblies will be held on Thursday of Weeks 6 and 8. Assembly starts at 12.00pm in the Gilchrist Hall - Traeger Campus. ASSEMBLY AWARDS Congratulations to the Awards winners at assembly this week. We are all proud of your effort. You make our school an amazing place. TRAEGER LIBRARY – END OF YEAR - Mrs Weir Please note – Traeger Library is closed from MONDAY 25 NOVEMBER. Now is a good time to start looking for those overdue/lost books as all books, including textbooks, are due back FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER! Thank you!! SCHOOL RESUMES 2020 Students begin Thursday January 30 in 2020. SCHOOL STREAM - COLLEGE COMMUNICATION One of the main College communication channels is School Stream. You can download the free app from the “App Store” or the “Google Play Store”. Create an account, search for the College and VOILA! (You may need to have your account approved).

SADADEEN CAMPUS

JASMEET DHINGRA, HEAD OF CAMPUS SADADEEN

WELL DONE TO ALL OF OUR YEAR 12 STUDENTS! All our Year 12 students have completed their final assignments and final examinations. What a fantastic time of year when all of the hard work is finished and we can start to shift our energy to celebrating and recognising the l achievements of all of our Year 12 students. A reminder to Year 12s and parents: • Friday 22nd November; Graduation Assembly at 9:00am; followed by the Graduation Mass at 11am. There will be Morning tea served for parents before the Graduation Mass. • Valedictory Dinner on Saturday 23rd November, with the Red Carpet walk and Viewing commencing at 6:00pm – 6:30pm. Everyone to be seated at their tables in the Convention Centre by 7:00pm.

We wish to thank Br James for his exceptional contribution and tireless work towards our Remar Program.

REMAR GOLD DINNER On Wednesday 20th November, the Remar Gold Caravel gathered for the last time, with staff and parents, for their Graduation Dinner. Sitting for a three course meal, the Caravel reminisced about their three year journey, through their retreats and camps, service opportunities, their Solidarity camp and the many laughs and struggles they experienced together. The meal, loving prepared by Vicky Howie and Evelyn Gaces, was a triumph of culinary delight. A huge thanks goes to Courtney Redden, their Helm, who has journeyed with the group for these last three years, providing wisdom, support and creativity, excelling herself in every aspect. A real peak experience for the six Rowers, Ashleigh Sibanda, Darcy Scollen, Cody Simms, Steven Webster, Yuan Zhang and Laissa Crowby, to finish their Remar journey.

To speak on behalf of what people may be feeling, or trying to suggest an appropriate way to act or think, would be ill informed. So instead, I offer an excerpt from the novel, “Tuesday’s with Morrie”, with the hope that it provides a sense of perspective and our common humanity.

CONGRATULATIONS KHAILA MIDDLETON! Khaila Middleton (Year 11) has been shortlisted for the Bell Shakespeare Drama regional scholarship after she auditioned earlier this year. She’s one of only 20 students out of 185 from around the country. Khaila will audition again by video now, and if successful will spend a week in Sydney with the company. We wish Khaila Good Luck on this great achievement and thank Ms Nicholls for providing this opportunity to Khaila. WELL –BEING (BY MRS FLEUR SUMMERS) The past few weeks have been a very tense time in Alice Springs.

Morrie believed in the inherent good of people. But he also saw what they could become. “People are only mean when they’re threatened,” he said, “and that’s what our culture does. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself, which is why I don’t buy into it.” I nodded at him and squeezed his hand. “I don’t mean you disregard every rule of your community. I don’t go around naked, for example. I don’t run through red lights. The little things, I can obey. But

the big things—how we think, what we value—those you must choose yourself. You can’t let anyone—or any society determine those for you.” I asked Morrie why he hadn’t moved somewhere else – somewhere less selfish. “Every society has its own problems,” Morrie said. “The way to react, I think, isn’t to run away. You have to work at creating your own culture. No matter where you live, the biggest defect we human beings have is our short-sightedness. We don’t see what we could be. The problem is that we don’t believe we are as much alike as we are. If we saw each other as more alike, we might be very eager to join in one big human family in this world, and to care about that family the way we care about our own. But believe me, when you are dying, you see it is true. We all have the same beginning— birth—and we all have the same end—death. So how different can we be? “Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you. In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “But here’s the secret: in between, we need others to survive as well.”

LIFE AT OLSH

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