Newsletter

Extra Curricula Activities at Our Lady’s

This week we launched our Running Club, thanks to Mrs Jane James our PE teacher and a group of wonderful parents for making this a reality. A request for a running club came from a group of boys a few weeks ago. It is always important to listen to our collective 'students’ voice' and let our kids have some agency in their education. If you would like to join our running club it is open to all students from Year 3 to Year 6 and runs every Tuesday morning at Bluebell Park starting at 8am - 8:45am.

Tennis Lessons

The students have been involved in tennis clinics as part of the PE curriculum over recent weeks and from listening to the feedback, they have embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm. In light of this, we are offering a free tennis lesson trial at Our Lady’s after school on Tuesday 19/3 and Thursday 21/3. If there is enough interest, we can host the Tennis Clinics here at school moving forward. There is more information about the time  of the trials on the flyer attached. 

Coding Club

Every Thursday, Mr Hawke is leading a Coding Club for students who have a passion for Digital Technology. This is a great opportunity for our students and I am very grateful to Brendan for his generosity of spirit.

Choir

Also on a Thursday, Mrs Hayes is conducting  a Choir for students at lunchtime – Thank you Mrs Hayes for bringing your love of music to our school!

Parent. Teacher Chats for Year 1 /2 S

Please be advised that the Parent/ Teacher Chats for Year 1/2 S can be booked via School Interviews online. Please click on the link below to make a booking.

School Interviews Online

Foundation Information Evening

Now that the foundation students have settled into school life and our mums and dads are becoming more familiar with school routines, we thought it more valuable to have the Foundation Information Evening. This opportunity will allow our Prep parents to understand and experience how learning and teaching is presented at this  level. The evening will be held in the Foundation Classroom on April 3rd at 7.00pm

Parish Education Board Meeting

Members of the PEB are advised that our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 27th March at 7.30pm 

School Vision and Logo

During the 2017 School Review, one of the strong recommendations was to revisit the school’s Vision statement as a school community and rewrite it “in more accessible language” which the school reviewer “deemed vital to renewing a shared sense of purpose and direction”.

The Vision for Our Lady’s school has served us well over many years but taking up the recommendation, much dialogue and consultation was undertaken through the course of 2018. We are very proud to present our new School Vision Statement….. 

Our Lady's Primary 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'

School Logo and Consistent Branding

The next step on our journey is to get consistency in our school branding. Our School appears to have numerous labels; Our Lady’s Wattle Park, Our Lady’s School Wattle Park/ Surrey Hills, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Surrey Hills, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Wattle Park. Consistency is important and is vital if we are to ensure the continued success of our school in regards to future enrolments. Marketing our school in a contemporary way and with a logo that clearly reflects our catholic identity is also essential.

Once again there is a process of consultation and next week you will receive an email inviting you to participate in a google survey for the selection of the new school logo.

This is a very exciting time for our school as we look forward with optimism and a clear strategic focus. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Parish Education Board and Mr. Pat Torpey who began this process several years ago.

We look forward to launching our New Vision and School Logo in the coming weeks. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Next Thursday, March 21st our Year 3 students will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We asked that students wear casual clothes and be seated with their families by 6.55pm. The liturgy will begin at 7.00pm.

In preparation, the students gathered together for a day of reflection yesterday.

Thank you to Clare Hicks our Religious Education Leader, Will Fogarty and Antonella Coloretti for their gentle and skillful support of our students.

We ask that you keep the following children in your prayers;

Alfie, Harry, Ari, James ,Charles ,Will, Jade ,Georgia ,Rhys ,Ariana ,Leena, Quinn ,Finn, Cassidy, Maeve, Scarlett, Jack ,Lior ,Samantha  ,Liam ,Nikolas and Charlie. 

Awards for the weeks beginning 4/3/19 and 11/3/19

Foundation

Lorcan – For composing great writing.

1/2S

Isabel C - For wonderful  and creative story writing

Luke M – For being an amazing teacher’s assistant

Abi P– For displaying great care and concern for her peers

Eva – For wonderful and imaginative story writing

1/2AL

Kelvin –  for working to the best of his ability and setting a fantastic example for his class. We are proud of your efforts Kelvin.

1/2JL

Ryan K – For staying focused during reading groups and modelling what a great learner does for his classmates.

Bronte – For being a great learner by putting lots of effort into your work and for helping others in your class to feel welcomed and included.

3/4C

Kallum J R - Being an enthusiastic participant in all class activities and for sharing his thoughts and opinions.

James M- Being an inquiry learner who enjoys making new discoveries. 

3/4U

Charlie C - For working hard in all curriculum areas.

Atticus - For his amazing assistance with digital technology in the year One / Two S classroom 

5/6H

Siena - For showing empathy towards others.

Zoe - For using effective adjectives during writing.

5/6L

Sophie – for displaying excellent sportsmanship during Hot Shots tennis. 

Sports Awards

Jack G- For excellent play in cricket,  great bowling and encouraging teammates.

Lena - For wonderful butterfly swimming at the District Swimming Carnival and having a great sense of team play.

Polite in the Playground Award

Alec and Ariana

Arts Awards

Isaac, Antony, George, Charlie B

Dear Parents & Carers,

It’s hard to believe that we’re already headed toward Easter and the end of Term One.  It’s been an exciting and wonderful time for me, as a new member of staff, to meet so many of you and have the privilege of teaching your children.  Being part of Our Lady’s community is every bit as joyful as anticipated!

Over the past few weeks, I have been able to see how highly skilled the students at this school are.  I am lucky to be able to continue to build on what has been established and to introduce a few new initiatives.  My hope is that this helps to broaden their performing experiences.

We have recently purchased a class set of ukuleles.  These will be used within some of the class sessions to teach either the fundamentals of music or enhance skills already underway.  Hopefully you’ll see the children playing them soon.

In the last week of term, the Year 5/6 students will be participating in Our Lady’s inaugural Busking Day.  They may have mentioned this to you. All students will perform for the school at either first or second break and the rest of the school will show their appreciation for their efforts with tokens which will be used to raise funds for Project Compassion.

They are also going to participate in ‘Wakakirri for the first time.  This is a large Performing Arts festival, where schools perform and compete in front of professional judges.  The performance night will take place in the week of 12-15th August at the Frankston Arts Centre. You can find out more about it by clicking the link.

Other opportunities will be offered to the rest of the school, including involvement in our Choir.  My background is in developing children’s choirs and we will work together on a weekly basis. Some eager participants have already been working hard!

Thank you for your welcoming words and friendly smiles and I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible over the course of the year.  May Lent be a special time for you and your families as we prepare for the joy of Easter.

Best wishes to you all,

Michele Hayes (Performing Arts teacher)

Parent Meditation Friday Mornings in the Library

It was so wonderful to meet this morning in a small group and chat about meditation and have a time of meditation together.

Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced meditator please feel welcome to come along. Come to the library, straight after drop off and give yourself a time to stop, feel refreshed and go out into your day feeling calm! Be great to see you there.

Lent- Focus on our words!

During Lent, our whole school community will focus on our calling to become people of great love. We will particularly focus on ‘using our words for good’! Lent is a time of fasting. Our challenge is to fast from negative words. We are learning about the ways that our words can build up or tear down. We will make connections to the ways our words can create great learning communities’. We are focusing on how our words can contribute to a happy environment at school, home and wider community.

We will be reflecting upon how we can live our lives on a daily basis in a way that resembles the values of Jesus. During Lent we will be making connections to our Inquiry question, ‘How can we create a great learning environment where everyone can grow?’ We will be looking at our responsibility to ensure that not only do we learn and grow, but also how can we ensure our classmates learn and grow.

We will also look for ways to support children throughout our global community, as we believe that all children in our world have the right to learn and grow. Our school fun run will raise funds for CARITAS, a Catholic organisation that helps the most vulnerable within our global community.

We will also be supporting ‘The Grace Orphanage’ in Uganda. Elise Nicholson is spending the next three months in Uganda teaching at the school.

The orphanage currently only has one long drop toilet, which doesn't meet the needs of the 289 students and 10 teachers - exposing them to extreme risk of preventable illness, such as diarrhoea, worm infestation, typhoid and dysentery. Not only are children getting sick, but young girls are also missing out on their education during their monthly periods - and this can all be avoided with our help.

Our donations would be hugely appreciated and make a powerful difference to the lives of children born into a challenging and difficult life.

Click on the below link to find out more.

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/lifesaving-sanitation-project-at-grace-orphanage/

Confirmation commitment masses

The confirmation candidates can choose to go to one of the following masses.

• Our Holy Redeemer- 30th March  6.00pm

• Our Lady’s Church- 31st March- 9.00am

• Our Holy Redeemer- 31st March 10.30am

Clare Hicks

Deputy Principal

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

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.

We understand there have been issues ordering tuckshop this term which has made the process frustrating! We have met with a manager from CDF this week and hopefully those issues have been rectified. However, if you have further issues, you are able to email CDF directly at support@cdfpay.org.au. Thanks for your patience, Luisa.

New Uniform Price List 2019

Please find attached 2019 updated Uniform Order form.  Due to supplier cost rises we have had to increase sell prices for selected items to keep in line with these changes and to ensure the uniform shop operates cost efficiently. Uniform order forms are available on the App or in hard copy at the school office.

For uniform enquiries please contact either Krista Conroy 0434 143 369 or Gab Sabljak 0400 651 281.

 Our Lady’s Wattle Park and staff would like to give a big ‘THANK YOU’ to the dozen families, who made the effort to attend and participate in our ‘Working Bee’ on Saturday, 2nd March, 2019. 

It was a glorious day sunny Saturday but sadly the attendance was disappointing.  As this is our fifth year as Working Bee Co-ordinators the attendance was a record low.  Only 68% of the jobs organised were completed. On the upside, the “Signup Schedule’ App created by Fi Feenaghty only days from the event, was a success in its first trial!  A sausage sizzle with refreshments at 11.30am ended the day for our busy ‘Working Bees’. 

Thank you to everyone who pulled together and battled to complete most of the heavy lifting needed to present the school with a face-lift, in preparation for the first OLWP Open Day.  Principal Annie and I were impressed by their work ethic. 

Hopefully we will get a better attendance at our next Working Bee in May. 

Our Lady’s Wattle Park Thanks:

Brendan Doyle,

Fiona Feenaghty, 

Barry, Kate, Sammy, Lucas, Kallum Johnson-Ruzicka,

Melissa Jones,

Athan, Connor Karagiannis,

Peter Magor,

Principal Annie Engellenner,

Steve, William, Sebastian Sabljak,

Sarah Strahan,

George, Fiona Tourkolias,

Andrew, Victoria, Georgina, William Wynd,

Podraig, Finn Reilly,

Jon, Yvonne, Jasper Zowa

Max & Archie

God Bless,

Nick Karagiannis & Richard Maugueret         

Working Bee Co-ordinators

Topten Tennis will run free trial lessons at Our Lady's School on Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st, March (Please see brochure below). If you would like to express interest in your child commencing lessons after these trials, please contact Mrs James in writing or by email jjames@olsurreyhills.catholic.edu.au.

Children’s Liturgy – Sunday at 9am mass at Our Lady’s – ALL CHILDREN WELCOME!  (please note that pre-school children need to be accompanied) 

We would love more volunteers (parents) to run the Children's Liturgy, please contact Joanna Kelly if you are keen to assist, it's fun and easy!

Joanna Kelly - 0422 901 894,  hughandjoanna@gmail.com