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Pope Francis’s intention prayer for February
Come and Stay
This Year our Diocesan theme is “Come and Stay”, a reference from the Acts of the Apostles, and essentially it is a theme of hospitality and welcome.
Our theme focuses our faith formation and opens up an accessible language through which to share our faith within our community. Hospitality is about opening our hearts up to people and making them feel welcome, comfortable and valued. When you enter the school office, you will see the above image. The figures were chosen because these people exemplified hospitality and are exceptional role models for our school community.
Lydia, kindly offered her home to the missionaries, passing through the town of Philippi, as they were sharing the Good News.
Jesus walked the Earth with his disciples he showed that hospitality and generosity are Godly characteristics available to all, not just people he liked or knew. His actions let people know that they are all created in love from God.
St. Mary Mackillop modelled hospitality by showing genuine openness to others, hospitality to strangers and generosity to the needed.
Hospitality is love in action. It is not a once off event, but a continuous call to ensure the dignity of each person we meet is respected. We are invited to show hospitality in our daily lives - it could be as simple as a smile, a greeting or some encouraging words.
If I were asked to list all the attributes that made my own Father the unique person he is, the list would be long.
This year Pope Francis asks us to reflect on the special qualities of St Joseph, earthly father to Jesus and husband of Mary. With the Apostolic Letter "Patris corde" ("With a Father's Heart"), Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed 2021 the "Year of Saint Joseph".
Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a creatively courageous father, a working father, a father in the shadows.
The Covid-19 pandemic has helped us see more clearly the importance of "ordinary" people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, "the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence," who nonetheless played "an incomparable role in the history of salvation."
We hope this year everyone can utilise many of St Joseph's qualities in their daily work and activities to love and serve others. https://catholic.org.au/yearofstjoseph
OPENING SCHOOL MASS: Wednesday morning 7.00 am ASH WEDNESDAY, February, 17 in the school gym. Our senior school and sports captains will receive their leadership badges and be presented to our school community.
A warm invitation is extended to all families to join with staff and the School Board for this celebration. We will serve a breakfast of toad (egg) in the holes and toast afterwards.
Beginning of the Year Commissioning Mass
We were blessed and fortunate to have Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS visit the Riverland the last Friday of school holidays to commission all staff including Mr Nathan Hayes, Principal of St Francis of Assisi College, Renmark. Our community will have the opportunity of meeting with Mr Hayes at our opening ASH WEDNESDAY Mass and breakfast on February 17, where he will join us.
God of openness and hospitality,
Guide us to be people of welcome; embracing each encounter with another as an encounter with You.
Guide us to be like Lydia, so that we welcome all to Our Lady of the River School and invite them to come and stay with us.
Guide us to be like Jesus, so that we are inclusive and ensure that everyone feels valued as a part of our community.
Guide us to be like Mary Mackillop, so that we are committed to sharing God’s love with everyone we encounter.
Teach us to be attentive; to welcome your Word, no matter how it comes to us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus your faithful son,
Amen.
May God’s peaceful Spirit be with you always,
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to the 2021 school year.
A special welcome to the staff, students and their families who are new to Our Lady of the River School.
We have started the year off on a very positive note, and all the students are settling well into new school timetable and classroom routines.
I want to take this chance to thank the staff, students and families for making me feel so special in welcoming me back to the community. I have certainly been very grateful to our staff for their commitment, flexibility and support as the year has commenced.
Thank you to those families who could make our 'Tea on the Green' on Monday. It was a fantastic way to begin the school year and for parents and carers from our community to meet our newest staff and families.
I return to Our Lady of the River, even more, committed to supporting staff, students and the school community and working with those groups to achieve the best possible outcomes for the students placed into our care. Over the coming weeks, as the term settles, I am looking forward to working closely with the School Board, reflecting upon past achievements and planning for where the future is leading us.
We also commence the year with the continuity of COVID 19 regulations. Please comply with requests: QR code, which all parents and visitors must use on entering the school for all in our school community's health. These will be located at the main two entrances of the school.
It is important to note that QR codes do not replace the regular sign-in/out procedures. The QR code exists for the expressed purpose of quick contact tracing in the event of a COVID -19 outbreak, in the same way, it operates for many businesses across the state. The standard visitor registration procedure is required for various purposes, including WHS and other safety considerations. Other requirements that remain in place include: for students and staff to stay home if they are unwell and that adults, including parents, must continue to physical distance wherever possible, including at school pick up and drop off or attending school assemblies, meetings etc. Please carefully read any updated correspondence that will be sent out as we receive it.
If you have any concerns or questions throughout the year, please talk to your child's teacher in the first instance. Please remember that teachers don't always have the opportunity to check their email during the day, so if you have an urgent message, please contact the Office. Teachers will endeavour to reply to emails within 48 hours.
There is a great deal of important information in the newsletter this week, so please take time to note dates and times of upcoming events as we kick off a busy start to the year. I am looking forward to a fantastic term and year.
Take care and God Bless
Ros
This year I will continue to have clear expectations when it comes to behaviour. All students should feel safe, respected, responsible and proud of who they are and what they achieve. If anything stops a student's learning or the ability for a teacher to teach, I will be involved and ensure it is resolved immediately. This is a non-negotiable. I always give a student a fair and negotiated choice. Then if the trust is broken, I will follow through with consequences of missed play times and a call to parents for a meeting. I will be firm, but fair and we want every student to be happy and have the opportunity to be ‘thriving people, capable learners, leaders for a world God desires’.
Today we welcomed Leo and Theodora to the OLOR community. These two little BRIGHT SPARKS officially began our new transition to school program, BRIGHT START. BRIGTH START provides children with a formal and extended transition program and offers familiarisation with the school environment and routines. BRIGTH START focuses on developing social connections and school readiness behaviours. It also offers each child the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Our Lady of the River School life and connect strongly with our community.
When: Wednesday mornings from 9:00 until 12:00.
This time will increase in the second Term of the Semester.
Students will need to bring: a hat, water bottle, packed fruit and lunch.
If you would like your child to participate in the Bright Start Program, pop into the school to have a chat. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
I am certainly looking forward to next week’s BRIGTH START session.
Rosie Perre
BRIGTH START Coordinator
2021 School Counsellor – Kirsty Johnson
We are very fortunate to have created a new counselling role amongst the four Catholic Schools. I am pleased to announce that Kirsty Johnson, previously at Relationships Australia, has joined us as our School Counsellor. She brings a specific set of skills which can provide high level support for our students and families. Please contact the school for details about referrals to access her services.
Our Lady of the River are excited to offer our families a substantial drop in our school fees for 2021, please find below a more simplified fee structure showing a cost per family and a cost per family with a low income, if you have any questions or to check eligibility for the low income rate please contact the school on 0885821128 or email patperre@olor.catholic.edu.au
Hello everyone and welcome to 2021,
Like previous years, OLOR intends to participate in a number of sporting events to allow our students ample opportunities to compete against other schools in the Riverland region. Our first event this year is the SAPSASA Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 16th February (week 4). We currently hold both the Uzzell Shield and Appleton Shield for this event and will try our hardest to ensure it remains here at OLOR. Attached below is a timetable outlining the sporting events OLOR aims to participate in this year.
I look forward to meeting many of you soon.
Kind regards,
Mr Thomas Charlton
Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
Tues Week 4 – SAPSASA Swimming @ Loxton |
Wed Week 4 – Cross Country @ Waikerie | Fri Week 1 – Basketball @ Loxton | Fri Week 1 – School Cricket Cup @ Berri |
Wed Week 9 – Athletics @ Waikerie |
Fri Week 5 – Soccer @ Renmark | Sun Week 2 – Golf @ Berri (students only) | Fri Week 6 – Softball (Year 5/6/7) @ Glassy Park |
Tuesday Week 11 – Football (Berri Districts)/Netball (OLOR) @ Loxton |
*Fri Week 8 – SANFL 9-aside football (TBC) | Thurs Week 5 – Tag Rugby @ Berri | |
Tues Week 9 – Hot Shots Tennis @ Berri (Year 3/4 |
Physical Education Days
In 2021, the classes will have a different day for their Physical Education lessons. This will allow our Year 7 and Physical Education teacher, Tom Charlton to spend quality learning time with his class for the first part of each day. Please read the information below carefully.
Monday: Foundation / Year 1
Tuesday: Year 2
Wednesday: Years 3/4
Thursday: Year 5
Friday: Year 6/7
Scooters
Students are permitted to bring a scooter to school to use during their playtimes. These will be stored in the school shed. All students must have a helmet and are encouraged to wear protection on their elbows and knees.