Newsletter

Principal: Ms Judeline Wadhwani, principal@olshinternational.org

Acting Principal: Mr Patrick Baiwan, admin@olshinternational.org

Head of P-6: Mrs Wiki Thomas, primary@olshinternational.org

Head of 7-12: Mrs Rachel Baiwan, secondary@olshinternational.org

Head of RE, Faith & Mission: Mr Raymond Rangatin, rrangatin@olshinternational.org

School Address: P O Box 211, Kavieng, New Ireland Province

School Telephone Number: (675) 984 2128

School website address: www.olshinternational.org

Dear parents and members of the OLSH community and extended OLSH community,

In the Way of Mary

“Let it be with me according to your Word” (Luke1:38).  With these words, Mary a young Jewish girl accepted the will of God for her life; to be the mother of the Son of God.  Mary is a role-model for us, of deep faith and trust in God.  The month of May is traditionally a month of devotion to Mary all over the Catholic world.  At OLSH, the statue of Our Lady commenced her journey last week, between each of the classrooms and involved the ritual praying of the Rosary.  I thank Mr Raymond Rangatin and all the P-6 teachers and 7-12 coaches for their support for this form of Marian devotion.  May our Blessed Mother protect, guide and inspire us to be the best person each of us has been created to be.  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.

It has been noted that some students are standing outside the school gates as early as 7.00 am.  Parents please note that there is no supervision for students before 7.30 am.  Please do not leave your child outside the school gates.  This is a hazard to their personal safety

We have been informed that one of our teachers has been asked to self-isolate due to contact tracing reasons.  She has been tested and is awaiting results of COVID-19 test.

As we want to be proactive with regard to the safety of all students and staff, the school will be deep cleaned this Saturday, 15 May.  In addition, the affected teacher’s class room has also been cleaned today.

Health and Safety is every person’s responsibility at OLSH

As the health and safety of all members of the community are paramount, I reiterate below my message to the OLSH community with regard to COVID-19 safety and Scabies Management.  All parents and guardians are asked to support the school by doing the right thing at all times. 

COVID-19 Safety

• Please do not send your child to school if they are sick or display any signs of cold and flu or have a fever.  Please get medical attention for them at the earliest and inform the school of their absence.
• All students above 12 years of age are expected to carry and wear a mask to school.
• Personal hygiene and hand hygiene are to be practised every day at home and at school.

ICT in focus at Prep

In this age of technology for rapid communication, we have focused on ICT at Prep.  We revisited the hardware parts of the computer: monitor, keyboard, mouse/cursor pad and some of the keys on the keyboard: backspace, enter, spacebar and caps lock.  Prep students are learning to switch the laptops on and off. Have a look at the Photo Gallery to see how they are on the lookout for the power icon so they can switch their laptop off.

Mrs Wiki Thomas

Head of Primary

The first round of Year 12 interviews with individual students was successful.  As I write, we aim to conclude all interviews by this afternoon.  The conversations that Mr Baiwan, Mrs Baiwan and I have had with the students have focused on their current application and progress of at Year 12 and how each student believes they are faring at this crucial period of learning in the school year.  Feedback received from teachers through Student Progress Charts was communicated to each student for reflective action.  We agreed the way forward was setting the individual bar high and working to achieve it through:

• 100% attendance
• consistent hard work every day in every lesson
• engagement in daily and weekend home study
• regular conversations with teachers and heeding teacher feedback for improvement

I look forward to the Year 10 Student Interviews commencing in Week 5.

YEAR 10

• Thursday 20 May - Written Expression Mock Examination 2
• Thursday 3 June - Written Expression Final Examination
• Friday 11 June - Science Practical Examination Mock 1
• Friday 25 June – Science Practical Examination Mock 2
• Thursday 29 July – Science Practical Final Examination (Skills)
• Friday 30 July – Science Practical Final Examination (Investigation)

YEAR 12

• Tuesday June 8 - Issue of 2019 WEX Reading Booklets to students
• Tuesday June 15 - Year 12 Written Expression Mock Exam 1

CATHOLIC CHURCH CALENDAR: 6th week Easter in the ordinary Year ‘B’ 2021. 

 MAY THE MONTH OF MARY

WEEK REFLECTION: John 15:9-17.

‘It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.’

It is of good spiritual, social, and physical practice to regularly reflect upon the fact that God chose us even before we were born. He knew us from all eternity and set His eyes upon us, longing to bring us into His fold. We need to understand this, accept it and believe it. We do belong to him.

 We are asked to face our daily reality and lives, not just with hope, but with faith and trust in the ‘RISEN JESUS CHRIST’. Through the ‘Risen Jesus Christ’, God not only chooses us to belong to Him, he also chooses us for His mission.

He wants to use us to go and bear fruit for His Kingdom. He wants to use us for a sacred purpose and a divine calling. Being a member of His “team” means that our lives have purpose and meaning. God never makes a mistake so we are not a mistake. No matter how “unqualified” we may feel at times to make a difference, we must remember that God does not see us that way. Rather, He sees the infinite potential within each of us and chooses to use that potential for the building up of His Kingdom.

Jesus Christ also reveals to us the very power that can help us to do all this. That is the power of ‘Love’. Only in the power of love will we bear the fruits for his kingdom. The power of love strengthens our faith in him. The power of love strengthens our hope in him. The power of love strengthens our trust in him. Accepting your call from God will change your life and will also change the lives of those whom you are called to serve.

It is now the month of May. The journey of the statue of Our Lady has already begun. Please follow the program which has been formulated for each class to follow.  During this month of Mary, let us pray in intercession to Mother Mary, petitioning for our own intentions, for the needs of our loved ones, and in union with all those who join us in prayer for OLSH International School.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Mr R. Rangatin