OLSH College Newsletter - November 2023

Vol 52. No. 11
November 2023

Dear Family and Friends of OLSH College,

At this time of the year, we find ourselves in the space of bringing to a close one school year and rapidly planning for the following year. There is much excitement in both celebrating the year that has been and looking forward to all that the next year promises. Essentially, we find ourselves living life ‘in the now, and the not yet.’ To be able to hold these moments in our hearts and minds is a delicate balancing act. Jesus’ words provide us with a way forward when he says:

So do not worry…
Set your hearts on God’s kingdom first, and on God’s saving justice…
do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself.
Matthew 6:31-34

There is a tangible feel of enthusiasm and anticipation amongst students and staff as they begin classes in their 2024 program. In many cases, students are taking on electives in subject areas that they have not studied previously. This curiosity for learning provides an atmosphere that has an energy that is delightful to observe, and the program of study provides a strong foundation for learning when the students return next year.

On Friday December 1 we will celebrate in this 85th anniversary year our annual Regnet Christus Day. This is a significant event in our calendar, and we look forward to celebrating with students, families and staff the outstanding achievements of 2023.

Parents and family members are warmly invited to the following events:

  • Regnet Christus Ceremony Friday 1 December 9.00am
  • Advent Mass Wednesday 6 December 9.00am

Both these events will be held in our newly refurbished College Hall – we look forward to officially opening the Hall on these days.

These final weeks are also uplifted with our annual Advent Festival, raising funds for local families who face financial challenges and making a difference as we enter the festive period of the year. The spirit with which the students and staff support and embrace these activities reminds us we have many reasons to feel grateful.

At this time, we pray for peace in our world.

“Peace is possible. It takes goodwill”
Pope Francis

United always in our shared OLSH Spirit,

Anne O'Loughlin
Principal

School photos 2024

Official school photos are being taken on the first day of Term 1, 2024 (31st January). Please wear your full summer school uniform including blazer.

OLSH College Bentleigh

A prayer for the end of the year

This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the church’s year, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. As the year draws to an end, we turn our thoughts to the time when Christ will return as king. 

For all those who shepherd the people of God… 
That all God’s people have the courage to reach out to help those in need…
That God’s will be felt through the actions we share with the people around us…
For all those who have died, that they will be raised with Jesus when he comes in glory…
God of love, hear us
God of love, hear our prayer. 

Advent Festival

To look after those who are struggling at Christmas time, St Vincent De Paul provides food and clothing vouchers to those in need. Our Advent Festival is well under way with each House facilitating a special activity to raise much needed funds for St. Vincent de Paul and our donations will be given to Vinnies at our Advent Mass on Wednesday 6th December. St. Vincent De Paul is very grateful for any financial support! 

College Advent Mass

Everyone is welcome to join us for our Advent Mass. Wednesday 6th December at 9am in the College Hall.

Ms Megan Donohue
Deputy Principal, Faith and Mission



Becoming Heart People: A reflection

Year 7 student Kara wrote a reflective piece on the OLSH Pillars for a Religion assignment. It is a wonderful story that captures Kara's interpretation of the OLSH Pillars and how they are put into action in our daily lives at OLSH College and beyond. We asked Kara about her inspiration for the story. 

"I wrote this story for a Religion assignment, when we were tasked to present the OLSH Pillars in a way that is creative and easy for others our age to understand. I had the idea to create different characters, who each learnt the importance of being faith-filled, pursuing excellence, touching the hearts of others, and reverencing relationships, as well as a few ways to use the OLSH Pillars in their day-to-day lives. I thought it would also be good to include how the different characters support each other as they try to apply their knowledge of the Pillars to their actions. My aim was to show characters supporting each other, in the same way that the OLSH girls care for and help their peers. At the end of the story, it shows the paintings representing the OLSH Pillars, as well as providing a fictional backstory for the beautiful artwork found in each OLSH classroom."

Australian Catholics Magazine

If you enjoy music, this month's Australian Catholics Magazine has some great articles for you. The article Soundtrack of our lives looks at how memories of music sung or played takes us back to our earlier years and Magic of Music reflects on music that heals, calms and uplifts.

You will need to log in with the email address parents@olsh.vic.edu.au and password acparents.

Australian Catholics is Australia’s only national print magazine for Catholics of all ages and all walks of life and is distributed throughout Australia to Catholic parishes and schools.

Creating impactful learning goals

With Kickstart well under way, we have seen an invigorated learning space with our students and teachers preparing for the 2024 year. Our senior students completed their exams well and have transitioned into their new classes with a determination to improve their learning processes. Over the remaining time at the College in 2023, the focus should be on creating impactful learning goals for the next year. It is important to reflect on how 2023 concludes with a view to setting new expectations for us.

One of the bigger items on the calendar for The Arts and Technology Departments is their end of year exhibition. The final product was an amazing exhibition which highlighted some wonderful talent. The students in these classes demonstrate the refinement of learning in a visible way. From the creation of the design to the final products, students need to work collaboratively with teachers and other students. While the final product is the one that is displayed, the learning and creation process should be highlighted as just as important. 

When creating impactful learning goals for 2024, students should look at creating goals around the processes of learning rather than focusing on the result at the end.

Mr Joshua Di Pietro
Deputy Principal, Learning and Teaching

Gold Award for Michaela

We were thrilled to hear that Year 10 student Michaela Knobel was awarded the 2023 Victorian Young Historian Gold Award (Indigenous History) in the National History Challenge. Michaela completed a historical inquiry on the 1970 Day of Mourning as part of her studies in Year 10 History.

Michaela presented her work to a panel of judges who rated her work as outstanding and she was awarded gold at the recent awards ceremony. Congratulations Michaela on winning this very special award.

OLSH College Bentleigh

Spreading Kindness

As Christmas gets closer and the need to look out for one another draws near, we give thanks for the generosity of heart of our students. “Kindness costs nothing and means everything to those that receive it”. Zara Greco in Year 10 and her team, felt the need to look out of themselves and wanted to Share the Dignity, they wanted to make this Christmas brighter for vulnerable women and girls. We thank them for the campaign that they have run and thank all those who contributed to the Share the Dignity with their donations. Special thanks to parent Kirstyn Lentine and Hampton Beach Dentists for donations of dental products including toothbrushes and toothpaste.

We know the benefits of kindness to our health and wellbeing. Showing acts of kindness improves connections, gives us a sense of belonging, helps to keep things in perspective and can often have a contagion effect. When we receive kindness our hearts are touched. When we give kindness to others we are living out the very meaning of being a “Heart Person”.

What can we do to show kindness to others this holiday period?

  • Volunteer for a local community group
  • Check in with a friend during the holidays
  • Call someone you haven’t spoken to for a while
  • Leave a note with someone to tell them how much you appreciate them.

Ms Dina Oro
Deputy Principal, Student Wellbeing


Our first weeks as OLSH's Student Executive

As OLSH College has farewelled the graduating class of 2024, we are incredibly grateful for the legacy they have left, and the inspiration they have extended to all those across our community. As the newly elected student executive team, we are very much inspired by the amazing leaders that have stood before us, and are very excited to undertake this new journey with embrace, passion and inspiration.

Across the past month, we have stepped into our new positions; having the opportunity to start running weekly leadership meetings, facilitating initiatives and working closely with our fellow peers to begin visualizing future goals for 2024. For instance, on the 27th of October we celebrated World Teacher’s day! With the support of the amazing leaders of 2023, we planned and executed a day in which we expressed our endless gratitude towards the OLSH College staff. This was our first initiative as new leaders!

With this in mind, as the school year comes to a conclusion, we now approach the period of Advent. This will involve fundraising activities, facilitated by the four houses, to raise money for those in need this festive season. During this time, we hope to encourage our OLSH community to dig deep and reflect; keeping in our hearts and prayers those who may be less fortunate or struggling during this Christmas period.

This leadership journey ahead is one of so much excitement, enthusiasm and honor. We aspire to touch the hearts of others and continue spreading the OLSH spirit amongst our community, whilst bringing forward our own unique ideas, goals and initiatives for next year. We are extremely passionate individuals who will each bring forward a different array of strengths and qualities to their position. Yet, we all share a vision of making our school community the best it can be; advocating what we teach, what we spread and how we love!

On behalf of the student executive team for 2024, Mia Karvounaris, Emilia Brusco, Chanelle Abdulbaki and Alexandra Tzimourtas, we are really looking forward to this fantastic journey ahead; and all the smiles, happiness, challenges and blessings it brings!

Mia, Emilia, Chanelle and Alexandra
Student Executive


Deck the Stage

Last week, 40 students from year 7 and 8 presented OLSH's first ever junior Christmas Production, called Deck the Stage. This show was a collection of short plays, all of which were inspired by Christmas carols, and some fun song and dance numbers, which had the audience clapping along.

These students worked very hard in a fairly short amount of time to put this show together. They rehearsed every Monday after school and during lunchtimes, so to see it come together so well, was very rewarding. We are so pleased to have been able to offer these talented students another opportunity to shine on the stage.

Ms Lara White
Performing Arts Coordinator

Dance talent on show

The Semester 2 Dance Showcase was a spectacular showcase, bringing together the talents of 140 dedicated students whose hard work, excellent commitment, and unwavering focus was evident in the presentation of their ensemble and solo performances.

Congratulations to every student involved in the showcase. Your dedication, discipline, and artistic expression was truly commendable and the energy and enthusiasm you brought to the stage was infectious, creating a memorable experience for both the performers and the audience.

Thank you to the parents and friends who attended the performance. Your presence and support added to the joy and success of the event.

As well as highlighting the dance skills of these 140 students, the showcase emphasized the importance of collaboration, teamwork and perseverance. May this be just the beginning of a journey filled with continued growth and success in the world of dance and beyond. Congratulations on a remarkable performance!

Ms Fiona McNeil
Assistant Head of Department - The Arts

Congratulations Aria

VCE Music student, Aria Pisano was recently announced as the winner of the 2023 National Songwriting Competition. Aria won the Year 11 to 12 category and went on to win the competition overall, out of 900 entries.

Aria's song was called 'Hey Daisy'. We're so thrilled for you Aria and wish you well in your performing career in the years ahead.

OLSH College Bentleigh

Open Mornings and College Tours - 2024

We have set our dates for the first two Open Mornings and two College Tours for 2024. These are now open for bookings on our website, so if you or somebody you know are considering OLSH College for your daughter's education, we'd love to welcome you for a tour.

The dates are:

  • Tuesday 27 February - Open Morning
  • Thursday 21 March - College Tour
  • Tuesday 14 May - Open Morning
  • Thursday 13 June - College Tour

 Visit our Open Mornings and Tours page for more information. 

2023 OLSH College Yearbook

We're putting the finishing touches on the 2023 Yearbook which will be full of stories and photos from life at the College over this year. Being mindful of our commitment to sustainability, we are going to print only enough copies for those students who wish to have a hardcopy of the Yearbook. Everyone will receive a link to the digital version. 

If you would like a hardcopy of the Yearbook, please complete this form by Wednesday 6 December, so that final print quantities can be established.