Newsletter

 Dear Parents and Friends of Our Lady’s School Community, 

On Wednesday, the Our Lady’s community came together to celebrate and give thanks for all that has been achieved in 2018. We are truly grateful to God and give thanks for Our Lady’s School and everyone involved. Thank you to families who joined us to celebrate together and farewell our leaving families and the graduating class of 2018 on Wednesday evening. I wish to express my gratitude to Lucy, Will and Tania for their gentle guidance of our Year Six students this year and to Ange for her beautiful preparation of the Mass. As we have become accustomed, Fr Mark led this occasion with an engaging homily, always planting the seeds for us to deepen our faith. Thank you to Bern and the choir for leading the singing so beautifully and to Jacinta for working with our students to prepare the artwork that was presented to our departing families. We have such wonderful traditions!

Congratulations to our School Captains for 2019, Stanley T, Sophie H, Amelie W and Noah C. I look forward to working with you next year. Well done to all the Year Five students who applied for leaders roles, their speeches were outstanding and every Year Six child is called upon to demonstrate leadership in their final year of primary school.

This time of the year for us is an ending and a beginning. The school year ends, the holidays commence and for some students and parents the new year will bring a new beginning in a different setting. We feel some sadness as we say goodbye to students and parents who have been a part of our school community, a part of the Our Lady’s story. We thank them for their generous spirit and what they have contributed to our school and wish them all the best for the next stage of their lives: Farrell-Hadwen, Jobling, Tully, Curry, MacDonald, Mc Carthy, Peeters, Quach, Buntin, Burke, Ciurleo, Costanzo, Egerton, Herring, Kershaw, Panzera, Siassios and Wheeler families. 

As the year ends I would like to acknowledge the work of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association. This dynamic group of dedicated parents attend meetings to support the school community. This year the PFA will contribute approximately $200,000 towards the redevelopment of our playground. Many thanks to our outgoing members of the PFA; Marjie, Christine, Rachel, Catherine, Viktoria, Andrew, Jim and Caroline for your generosity of time and spirit. I am grateful to the Parish Education Board which has had an extremely productive year under the direction of Rachel Macey. Our deepest gratitude is expressed to Rachel and Andrew Jobling  who have completed their two year term on the PEB. I am grateful to all of our parents for your support, co-operation and trust. It is fair to say that we could not achieve half of what we do, if education at Our Lady’s wasn’t seen as a partnership. Parental involvement in various aspects of school life and your trust in us to do our job well is greatly appreciated by the staff and students. I am grateful for the School Leadership Team: Lynette, Rose, Antonella, Ange and Bern. This group of professionals has been a wonderful support to me and I appreciate their guidance and advice in all matters of school life. It has been a pleasure to work with such dedicated leaders. I would like to acknowledge the generous contribution of our amazing teaching staff, their commitment, dedication and energy is inspiring and I thank each of them for the manner in which they have worked this year. To Julie and Fee– thank you for all you do for us and for being the welcoming face of our school. I wish the staff a well-earned, peaceful holiday.

Thank you to Fr Mark, Nanette and Kirsten for the nurturing of our whole parish community, celebrating in the life of the school this year and for their spiritual guidance. Finally on behalf of all staff, thank you to the most important people, the students of Our Lady’s.

Thank you for a wonderful year of learning, you enthusiastically entered into all parts of school life and inspired us every day. We congratulate you on your achievements throughout the year and for your friendship and cooperation every day. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you and we look forward to continuing our partnership next year. Thank you for a wonderful year.

In 2019, I am very pleased to announce that we will be working with Martin McGauran. Martin is an Educational Consultant, Google Certified Trainer and Primary Teacher. Martin works in conjunction with his sister Carley, who is a psychologist. Martin and Carley will be working with the students and teachers throughout the year in the areas of digital technologies and eLearning. Martin and Carley will be presenting an evening for parents around cyber safety in the new year. It is an evening not to be missed. Please see the details below.

Finally, I would like to announce that our new website is now live. Thank you to Caroline Siassios for working with us on this project. Our Lady's Primary School Website

I wish you all a happy and Holy Christmas and a relaxing and safe holiday. I am so excited to be working with you all in 2018.

Annie

We are excited to announce that Our Lady's  School will be embarking on a “School Identity” initiative in 2019 to ensure the school name, branding and logos represent the school’s vision for the future. Our school has a long and proud history and we remain committed to carrying this richness forward as we continue to flourish into the future in  a contemporary way.

School Vision

Our Lady's Catholic School, Surrey Hills

Guided by the life of Jesus Christ

Inspired by the Spirit of Mary

Our Lady’s is a community that ignites imagination and promotes a lifelong passion for God and learning.

Our Lady's Primary School is a place of acceptance, optimism, success, growth and challenge.

Learning together in 'Faith, Hope and Love'

Work is currently underway to consider how different branding will impact school uniforms, signage, stationery and other school imagery. During the decision-making process, we will give careful consideration to any changes to ensure minimal impact.  

Early next year, you will be invited to provide feedback on options for the new school logo, enabling work to progress on the branding initiative.  

We believe this is an exciting time for the school as we continue to position ourselves within the community as a school of learning and faith.   We look forward to updating you further in the new year.

The Parish Education Board is playing an active role in the initiative and I thank them for their contribution and support.

This year we say goodbye to several long serving PFA members: -

Marjie Langford – PFA Secretary

Christine Mathews – Treasurer

Gill Rhodes – Catering Co-ordinator

Rachel Voshege – Tuckshop

Cath Bergin & Viktoria Balderanos – Uniform

Andrew Jobling & Jim Macey – Fete Co-ordinators

Caroline Siassios – Marketing/Social Media

I wish to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to the above people for all their time and effort contributed to the Our Lady’s community over the last few years. The whole school has benefited greatly from your generosity, so thank you!

As is the Our Lady’s way we have been fortunate to have some people already step forward for some of the 2019 PFA vacant positions but there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved for 2019 if you are interested. We are looking for volunteers for Tuckshop Co-ordination, Class Reps, Catering Co-ordinator and Social Co-ordinator to name a few. There are also plenty of PFA activities throughout the year that you can also get involved in.

If you are interested in getting involved in anyway next year, please let Michelle Feltscheer (mkandmf@hotmail.com) or Annie Engellenner know.

Thank you to all families who have settled their outstanding School Fee Accounts. All accounts must be finalised by the end of term. 

Uniform Purchases - Electronic Banking is now available for the purchase of school uniforms and from the beginning of December, school uniform can only be ordered and paid for in this way. The email address for ordering uniforms is olsurreyhills.cdfpay.org.au (follow the links).

Please note that today, will be the final day to purchase any uniform for 2018. This is to enable a final stock-take, and to organise additional uniform orders for the first day back in 2019.

2018

2019

Student Awards

Student Awards are a way of acknowledging students for the effort they are applying to their learning and for examples of behaviours that are indicative of our School Vision and expectations. Congratulations to the following students on their effort and achievement.

Foundation: Grace C- for the kindness and care she shows others.

Livie E- for the detail she puts into her written pieces.

Lenny- for her amazing progress in her reading.

Chloe B- for her consistent approach to her learning.

Year 1/2H: Maddie - for working hard to be a kind and generous friend.

Year 1/2S: Quinn - for showing a random act of kindness in helping Mrs Spanti with all her heavy bag.

Alfie - for showing great initiative and generosity in selling items to give the money to the needy.

Year 3/4U: Nickie - for being a great role model and for filling everyone's bucket.

Lucas - for his increased focus and effort this semester.

Year 3/4C: Damian: for being an enthusiastic learner.

Year 5/6F:  Tino - for always bringing humour and a smile to the classroom. 

Sports Awards

James B, 5/6F - for his bike riding skills.

Grace C, Foundation - for having speed and agility running between bases in rounders. and having a wonderful awareness of others needs.

Charlotte A, 1/2S - for always having a positive attitude in Phy Ed and trying her very best.

Max T, 3/4U - for doing his best in Phy Ed class and listening well to instructions.

Max F, - 5/6L - for giving his best at the swimming trials and completing the 25m backstroke well.

Surrey Hills Wattle Park Parish provides sacramental preparation, catechist classes for children within the parish who do not attend the parish schools. 

RECONCILIATION classes, for children in Yr4+, who have been Baptised, will be held after school, at Our Holy Redeemer Church Meeting Room. Classes begin on: Thursday, 7 February 

CONFIRMATION classes, for children in Yr 6+, who have been Baptised and received First Eucharist, will be held at the same venue, beginning Wednesday, 27 March. 

EUCHARIST classes, for children who have been Baptised and received First Eucharist (First Communion) will begin Thursday, 13 June. 

For Reconciliation and Confirmation class enrolment details (Eucharist enrolment in Term 2) please contact:

Nanette Giovannini,

Parish Sacramental Coordinator. nanette.giovannini@cam.org.au Tuesdays & Wednesdays, Parish Office, (excluding school holidays) 9890 2510.

Platters

There are a number of platters and dishes belonging to parents that have been left at school from recent functions. They may be collected from the boardroom.

Uniform Purchases - Electronic Banking Available

From today, school uniform can only be ordered and paid for online.

The email address for ordering uniforms is olsurreyhills.cdfpay.org.au (follow the links).

Please note that Friday 7 December, will be the final day to purchase any uniform for 2018. This is so we can do a final stocktake, and purchase any uniform that is required for the first day back in 2019.

2019 Class Reps

Class reps play a really important role in ensuring effective communication between parents and teachers and being a welcoming and positive presence in our school community.

If you are interested in being a class rep next year would you please let Michelle Feltscheer (mkandmf@hotmail.com) or Annie Engellenner know. Although class lists have not been finalised for 2019 we are seeking expressions of interest in preparation for our start to the new year.

Children's Liturgy Roster