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I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you for supporting our St. Vincent de Paul Giving Tree initiative. I was overwhelmed by your generosity, and it was lovely to have John and Judy from St. Vinnies humbly accept the donations at our school concert earlier in the week. Your big-hearted contributions will alleviate some of the pressures faced this Christmas by local families who may have otherwise had to choose between providing gifts for their children or a meal. May you find happiness in the knowledge that you have helped to brighten the Christmas of others.
I hope the Christmas season fills your homes with the peace and joy of Christ.May love come alive in your hearts and bring happiness to those you hold dear. As you look at the lights on your trees, may they remind you of the light Jesus brought to the Earth. As you open gifts and presents, may you be reminded that the presence of loved ones is the most unique gift? Dwell in each other's company and create beautiful memories to cherish through the years. Enjoy every minute of this special time. And embrace the light, hope and gift of Jesus as we embark on a whole new year.
Merry Christmas
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
This year the theme for the Diocese of Port Pirie has been “Who is my neighbour?” and it has been one which calls us to look at who we share our spaces with and how we treat those who come from outside our community. This year I have truly felt the welcome as an ‘outsider’ coming into the OLOR community. I thank all families for this welcome and look forward to continuing to build on this next year and into the future. As the restrictions due to COVID continue to diminish, we look forward to creating new opportunities for us to connect as a school community going forward.
I would like to thank Paul Bennett for his time at the school in the first semester, as well as Mel Steele for her support not only for Paul, but also for myself coming into the community. I would also like to thank all of the staff who have worked under multiple leaders in the last few years, and hope that as we head into 2023 and beyond, we have a chance to work together to make OLOR a great school and a great place to be.
2022 has brought may highlights, but also many challenges. After starting the year with only a few year levels here because of COVID restrictions, we have now settled into what is a relatively normal school program this term. This has included Class Masses and Assemblies, excursions, camps, special days like Remembrance Day, as well as recent highlights like our School Christmas Concert and Graduation. These all go towards making the school an always vibrant and special place to be. We look forward to all of the opportunities that 2023 offers and look forward to what the future holds.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank and farewell this who are leaving our school community this year. We farewell Tom Charlton and Nicolette Roberts as teachers at the school. I would like to thank them for their years of service to the OLOR community and the care and effort they have put into teaching with the classes they have had over the years. I would also like to sincerely thank Erica Kalman for her 22 years of service to the OLOR community in many different roles. Erica has left a lasting legacy on the community and will be missed. We wish her all the best for her retirement. We wish Bonnie Singh all the best as she takes a year of leave, and look forward to her returning in the future. I would also like to personally thank Fr Paul Bourke, who is moving to the Port Lincoln parish, for his support and for always being part of the OLOR community. We will miss his visits each morning and the sounds of his turkeys gobbling away next to his house. May God bless them all in their new endeavours.
Our School Christmas Concert was a wonderful evening. All classes looked full of Christmas joy with their songs and dances, and it was great to see the Nativity story, the original Christmas story, still having pride of place in the first part of the concert. It was fantastic to see all of the family support on the night and I thank families for all the positive feedback about the concert. A massive thankyou to Miss de Gregorio for her support, organization and efforts helping prepare the whole concert.
The Year 6 Graduation was also a wonderful evening, sharing the journey of our graduating class. We began with a final Mass in the church with Fr Paul, before moving to the hall for the official presentations. The students all shared the most memorable parts of their journey at OLOR, and we congratulated our award winners and all of the graduating class for their efforts. A big thankyou to Miss Roberts for her organization and for preparing the students so well.
As we head into the holidays I want to wish all families a safe, happy and joy filled Christmas season. May you be able to spend time with those you love and share in the joy that the birth of Jesus brings. I hope everyone is able to stay safe from the rising river levels and look forward to seeing you all again in 2023.
God Bless.
Michael Slagter
Principal
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, excitement, and love with family or friends
However, for some Christmas may be met with some apprehension and challenges.
Amid all the flurry of Christmas, taking time out to remember a few simple ways to protect your wellbeing could make all the difference. So here are 20 tips from HelpingMinds® to make this festive season a little more manageable.
- Make a Christmas budget and stick to it
Christmas time tends to be a time when people spend more money than they can afford. Avoid adding financial stress to your burden this Christmas time by making a budget and sticking to it.
- Only participate in activities that are significant to you
Decide which Christmas activities and traditions are most significant to you. Only participate in those activities that have significance for you and decline the activities which cause stress or are insignificant for you.
- Recognise your signs of stress and use techniques that help you relax
Relaxation techniques are useful when you begin to get irritated or upset. Take a few deep breaths, go for a walk or try some mindfulness. Whatever works for you.
- Stay active
It is important you stay healthy over the holidays and exercising can be huge mood booster and a great way get you out of your own head for a while. Sometimes finding time or motivation can be difficult, so start small and set realistic goals.
- Have a safety plan
Think about a safety plan for you and your loved ones over Christmas should anything happen. Who can you contact in case of an emergency and are they available over Christmas? What services are open over the Christmas period that could help you and your family?
- Write down your problems
If talking about your problems is overwhelming, consider writing them down. Lots of people find that keeping a journal helps. Perhaps you can email or text the important people in your life.
- Stay connected
Keep in touch with friends and family. Even if it’s just a short phone call, having people to talk and laugh with is a great protective factor for our mental health.
- Stop comparing yourself to others
Everyone has their own struggles regardless of whether you can see it or not. Comparing yourself to others may not always be helpful. Instead try to surround yourself with people who care about you and are supportive.
- Avoid activities that cause stress
Make self-care a priority by giving yourself permission to put yourself first. It will be difficult to care for others if you are feeling stressed.
- Try not to over-indulge
Christmas is full of temptations but try to enjoy everything in moderation. Overindulgence is often a result of people trying to improve their mood but you may be left with feelings of guilt and shame afterwards.
- Have realistic expectations of family and friends
Just because it is Christmas, does not mean the attitudes or behaviours of relatives and friends will change. Accept this and plan how you will respond to help keep things positive and productive.
- Try not to put too much pressure on yourself
Are you putting too much pressure on yourself this Christmas? You are not alone! Don’t take things so seriously. Be gentle with yourself and just do the best you can.
- Get involved with your community
Connecting with your community this Christmas can be a great way to give back and create feel good feelings. Join a community group, volunteer for a worthy cause, donate your resources, shop locally or even organize your own event.
- Pace yourself
Life is not a race, it’s a journey. Pace yourself this Christmas and pay attention to your energy levels. If you need a break, allow yourself to have some me-time.
- Find Gratitude. Even if it’s something small
It’s easy to focus on the negative things in life but we all have something to be thankful for. Write down or think about something you’re grateful for, even if it’s as simple as a rainbow or someone letting you in to busy traffic.
- Get enough sleep
In such a busy and stressful time, it’s important to recharge your batteries. Make sure you’re getting at least 8 hours sleep a night to avoid feeling exhausted.
- Have healthy meals planned when you aren’t celebrating
Balance all of those tasty Christmas treats with healthy meal options during your down time. Eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and quality sources of protein and dairy. A healthy body can help create a healthy mind.
- Find time to relax
The pressures of a busy holiday season can make some people feel worn-out, try not to feel guilty for putting yourself first! It could be as simple as reading a book for a while or watching your favourite movie.
- Everything doesn’t have to be perfect
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful and being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. Be kind to yourself this Christmas and know that imperfections are OK.
- It’s okay to say “no” to some things
Be assertive if you need to be and know it is OK to say no. Put your wellbeing first and don’t over commit yourself. It’s okay to decline someone’s offer or invitation without feeling guilty or shameful. It is OK to put yourself first.
Christmas Concert
On Tuesday we celebrated the year 6 graduation, and what a great night it was. It's been an honour to teach you and watch you grow. We wish you all the best in the next chapter of your lives.
At the last assembly we had a chance to farewell our Year 6 students, as well as Mr Charlton and Miss Roberts. We also awarded Movie vouchers to some lucky Rock Slip winners. Our Spirit Shield was awarded to St Mary’s for having the most points over the year. Well done everyone.
Premiers Reading Callenge Awards
Well done to all the students who participated in the 2022 Premiers Reading Challenge
RAA Road Safety Sessions
In Week 8, Sally from the RAA Road Safety Education team visited OLOR to teach students about what they need to be aware of in terms of road safety. This included information about cars, bikes, scooters and skateboards, as well as how to make sure helmets and other safety equipment is fitted right and works. These are all valuable lessons as we head into the holidays to keep students safe when they are out and about.
Band Performance
This week we were lucky enough to have the very talented music students from Nazereth College and Christian Brothers College perform for our school. They played a great range of songs that showcased a wide variety of instruments and voices. Not only was it entertaining, but we learnt a bit about some of the instruments that they use in their bands. Students in Years 3-6 enjoyed listening and joining in with the performance. You can see some clips from the performance we shared on our Facebook page earlier this week.
Berri Carols by the River
Congratulations to the following students who are having a birthday in December:
Foundation - Auriea
Year 3 - Ada
Year 4 - Bailey, Lilly A
Year 5 - Isaac
Year 6 - Cruz, Annasia
Would you mind ensuring that your child's uniform and school items are clearly named to reduce the number of children looking for lost property? If your child does access spare clothes, please return these to the school.
A reminder that school uniform items are accessible through Tri-State Graphics, 216 Renmark Avenue, Renmark Ph: 8586 5815