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OUR DIOCESAN THEME FOR 2023: Call to Community
Our Lady of the River Community invites everyone to engage in our Called to Community Survey. We would love to feature your story in our 'Called to Community' newsletter section each fortnight.
In sharing our stories, we will get to know each family a little more and hope that in reading family stories, you may discover connections with other families and possibly even branch out to make new friendships.
The survey will be sent to families via Seesaw. You can also access the survey using the QR code below.
We look forward to Getting to know a little more about our Community.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting, and on Shrove Tuesday, Christians went to confession and were "shriven" (forgiven for their sins). Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies yearly and falls between February 3 and March 9. Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast, and pancakes are the perfect way to use these ingredients. This year Shrove Tuesday was celebrated on February 21. Thank you to Cilla Marsden and Roger Cross for your help in cooking over 100 pancakes for our school community. As you can tell from the pictures, the students thoroughly enjoyed their pancake treats.
Ash Wednesday
Our traditional Ash Wednesday Mass and shared breakfast was a huge success. It was lovely to celebrate our Ash Wednesday and School Welcome Mass in the church for the first time since the Covid Pandemic began. Thank you to Fr. Emil for presiding. Your energy was refreshing and entertaining, and we look forward to celebrating our class masses with you. Thank you to Miss Stewart and the year 5/6 class for organising and hosting a beautiful celebration. Thank you to our OLOR school and parish community. It is always lovely to celebrate together. Congratulations to each of our school captains, and a warm welcome to all of our new families. We are most excited to have welcomed 26 new families to our school community this year. I'm confident this has been our most significant influx in all of my time working at OLOR. Thank you to our incredible ESO team, who lovingly cooked up an amazing breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our 'Call to Community.'
Project Compassion
Our Lady of the River School supports Project Compassion during the Season of Lent. Project compassion is a Caritas initiative that supports long-term development programs in impoverished communities in Nepal, Australia, Zimbabwe, Vietnam and Ukraine. This year's theme reminds us that what we do today can impact All Future Generations. This message invites us to step up for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival and those whose needs at this time are far beyond ours. By living our 'Call to Community' and putting our compassion into action, we can make a difference today, For All Future Generations.
At the beginning of the week, each family received a Project Compassion box to collect donations for Project Compassion. Each Wednesday during Lent, our prayer focus will be dedicated to Project Compassion, and families are invited to send in their donations on this day.
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
It has certainly been a busy few weeks! From the football clinic and assembly with the Crows players, to the Parent info and Welcome night, the school has been buzzing with activity. We have lots of things coming up in the next few weeks, as well as all of the important day-to-day learning happening at school.
On Tuesday we shared pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. A big thankyou to the staff and Mrs Cilla Marsden for cooking them and our school leaders for serving them. It was a great way to prepare for the start of Lent and learn about the traditions of fasting that having pancakes comes from.
Ash Wednesday Mass was a wonderful way to begin the day. Fr Emil shared a story about how lucky we are in OLOR to have such wonderful facilities and staff to share with our students. We welcomed new families, congratulated our school and house team leaders, before sharing breakfast together with families and parishioners. Lent is such a wonderful time of the year, when we reflect on ourselves and think of what more we can do for others. We look forward to all of the learning about this through Project Compassion and Caritas activities.
Recently I was part of a gathering in Jamestown with the other Principals from the Port Pirie Diocese schools, our Director Nichii Mardon, and other leaders from the Catholic Education Office in Adelaide. We revisited what is happening in all of our schools and how we can become more united, as well as driving improvement in all of our schools. I look forward to sharing our journey and learning from other schools as we moved forward in coming years.
In Weeks 7 & 8 we undertake the annual NAPLAN testing with our students in Years 3 & 5. While the testing occurs each year, this is the first time it has happened in Term 1. Each year we use the data identify whole school areas for growth, and track changes over time. Some students find NAPLAN particularly stressful and get worked up about undertaking the tests. It is important that we try to allay students' anxieties about the tests, and treat them as just another day at school. If parents are particularly concerned about their child completing the tests I ask that you come to see me about this.
In the next few weeks we also look forward to SAPSASA events, a visit from the Life Ed Van, Harmony Day and the build-up to Easter during Lent. Our school is certainly a vibrant place with lots going on. We hope you can be part of our many events and celebrations this year.
God Bless
Michael Slagter
Principal
In The Arts, all students started the term by learning about Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami, who is famous for his smiling flower artworks. Our goal was to create a bright and welcoming display for our front office. Come and visit the office to see our beautiful display!
Wakakirri and Choir
Wakakirri and Choir rehearsals have begun! All students in Year 3-6 are welcome to join us.
Wakakirri (dance) rehearsals are held at 8:15am on Wednesdays in the Hall.
Choir rehearsals are held at 8:15am on Fridays in the Hall.
Please contact Miss De-Gregorio on SeeSaw if you haven’t already confirmed your involvement or if you have any questions. We would love to see you there!
Students born in 2013, 2012 and 2011 are currently beginning trials for the upcoming Riverland Athletics Carnival on Wednesday 29th of March (Week 9). It has been pleasing to see so many students trying for a place in the squad and hopefully get an event or three. Athletics Trials are currently being held before school on Thursday and Friday starting from 8.15am.
The schedule is as follows;
| Week 5 | |
| Thursday | 1500m /Shot Put |
| Friday | Discus |
| Week 6 | |
| Thursday | High Jump students born in 2011 and 2012 |
| Friday | High Jump students born in 2013. |
Football (Year 5/6)
There is an upcoming Football Carnival on Wednesday 8th of March (Week 6) at Berri Oval. The boys have recently attended trials to play in the Berri district team and OLOR will be sending one girl's team to play a modified 9-a-side competition.
Hockey (Year 5/6)
The upcoming Hockey Carnival is in Week 11 of this term. More information will be sent out to interested students soon. OLOR will be sending two teams to compete at Glassey Park on Wednesday 12th of April
SAPSASA Swimming
Our Lady of the River was represented by two students at this year’s Riverland Swimming Carnival. The competition was at the Renmark Swimming Pool on Monday the 20th of February. Charlize Camilleri-Turner and Lily Marsden competed well in a tough field throughout the day. Charlize competed in all the individual events (five in total) and Lily competed in three events. The girls were able to compete in the 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay with the help of two swimmers from St. Joseph’s Renmark. It was pleasing to see the two competitors encourage each other throughout the day. Thanks to Brad Krollig for transporting and supervising the girls at the carnival.
Congratulations to the following students who had or is having a birthday in January & February:
Foundation - Portia
Year 1 - Nirbaan, Nathan
Year 2 - Harry
Year 3 - Amanat, Irmaan, Ollie, Florence
Year 4 - Catie
Year 5 - Mitchell, Cailin, Ocea
Year 6 - Lily F, Lily M, Jasreet, Siri
