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Diocesan Theme - Let Your Light Shine
Our Diocesan theme unites us across the Port Pirie diocese, guiding us in our Liturgical Year celebrations and everyday interactions with one another. Its purpose is to help us continuously nurture our students' growth and learning. This year's theme is 'Let Your Light Shine', inspired by St. Matthew 5:16. When we shine our light, we demonstrate the character of God. By 'letting our light shine', we allow the light of God within us to shine through. This light fills us and flows from us to others. When we shine our light, we radiate the best versions of ourselves, making the world a better place. Regardless of our religion or personal faith journeys, we all possess a light to shine, and when we let it shine brightly, we contribute to the world that God desires.
Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
Next week, we celebrate the end of Ordinary Time with Shrove Tuesday and the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Mass.
Shrove Tuesday is a traditional feast day celebrated right before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During Lent, which is the 40-day period leading up to Easter, fasting is traditionally observed. On Shrove Tuesday, Christians used to go to confession and were "shriven" (forgiven for their sins). The date of Shrove Tuesday varies every year and falls between February 3 and March 9, as it always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday. Pancakes are the perfect way to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast, and Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity for people to enjoy them. On Tuesday, February 13, we will be serving pancakes to students during their recess time. We encourage parents to still send in their child's usual lunch and recess items. The pancakes are a small treat to help our students learn about our Catholic history.
We warmly invite everyone to our traditional Ash Wednesday Mass, which will be held on February 14 at 7:00 am. During the ceremony, we will introduce the school and sports captains and welcome new families into our community. We would be delighted to see many familiar faces of our current students and families at the event. After the ceremony, you are invited to join us for a shared Ash Wednesday breakfast of eggs and toast in the school courtyard. If you plan to attend the breakfast, please respond to the survey Mr. Slagter sent last week via our seesaw app, to help us with the catering arrangements.
Project Compassion
Our Lady of the River School is supporting Project Compassion during the Season of Lent. Project Compassion is an initiative by Caritas that aids long-term development programs in impoverished communities in Nepal, Australia, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, and Ukraine. This year's theme aims to remind us that the good we do today will create a lasting impact for generations to come. It invites us to step up and support those who lack essential resources for survival and those whose needs are much greater than ours. By showing our generosity and compassion, we can make a difference today and for future generations. Families will receive a Project Compassion box next week to collect donations. Each Wednesday during Lent, we will dedicate our prayers to Project Compassion, and families are welcome to send in their donations each Wednesday of Lent.
Southern Cross
The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,' The Southern Cross,' is available at; The Southern Cross February 2024.
Rosie Perre
APRIM
2024 has started really well at OLOR. Students are happy, settled into routines and learning, and beginning their journeys in their new classes. The school has a wonderful calmness about it, and the students and staff have all started the year positively. It has been great to be a part of.
This year our Diocesan theme is “Let your light shine”. We have looked at this as a way of celebrating our strengths, talents and abilities. We are encouraging everyone too look for the positives in the everyday world, and see the goodness around them. We will be working with our staff and students this year in making this theme come alive across our school.
Over the holidays our toilet renovations were completed, with thanks to Michael Kregar and his workers for all of their efforts. They are now a great addition to the school and so much brighter, fresher and nicer to use. We also had some maintenance tasks completed over the break, which has refreshed the school surroundings.
Before school started our staff were all busy preparing for the new year. Classrooms were setup and prepared, resources were organised for students and teachers began their planning for the year ahead. This involved some Professional Development with representatives from the Mathematical Association of South Australia. All of our Riverland Catholic Primary Schools were involved in this, and the learning was a great way to help us think about the Maths learners in our classes and what we need to do to support their learning.
We also had our Commissioning Mass with Bishop Karol Kulczycki, where all staff from our five Riverland Catholic schools were sent forth by the Bishop to carry out their work in a spirit of Catholic calling and mission. Bishop Karol challenged us all to listen to the call, and to act on it with faith that God is supporting the work that we do.
This year we look forward to many great opportunities and events, from camps and excursions, to events like Wakakirri and the Riverland Choir, as well as opportunities such as SAPSASA and Sports Day. The calendar of our school is always a busy one, but we believe it gives all students opportunities to let their lights shine as they find out their own strengths, talents and interests.
Thankyou to those who were able to join us for Welcome Night this week. It was an opportunity to make connections, learn more about what is happening in your child’s class and meet other families who share the OLOR journey.
2024 promises to be a great year at OLOR and we thank families for their ongoing support as they entrust us with the care and education of their children. We welcome everyone to become part of the OLOR family, as we work together for the benefit of all of our children.
Mr Michael Slagter
Principal
Wakakirri & Choir
At OLOR we value The Arts and know that participation in the Performing Arts can improve confidence, self-esteem, communication skills, co-operation, teamwork, problem solving, mental and physical health, and more! This year we will once again be offering extra-curricular opportunities in Music and Dance for students in Year 3-6, beginning early this Term.
Wakakirri Rehearsals started this week and we had lots of fun moving to music and coming up with choreography in groups. We are looking forward to travelling to Adelaide in Term 3 to perform. There will be no rehearsal next Wednesday due to our Ash Wednesday mass. Rehearsals will resume in Week 4 (Wednesday 21st).
Wakakirri rehearsals take place at 8:15am on Wednesday mornings in the Hall.
Choir will also be starting again very soon. I have been in Adelaide this week at the Festival of Music conference to learn all about our new repertoire. I can’t wait to be back next week to start teaching these songs!
Choir rehearsals take place at 8:15am on Friday mornings in the Art Room.
If students would like to be involved, please aim to arrive on time for rehearsals. Students who arrive late miss out on important warmups and information.
Please contact me if you would like any extra information.
Kind regards,
Jade De-Gregorio
Arts Coordinator
PE
R-2
This term students will be developing their fundamental movement skills and learning new games that they are able to play at Recess and Lunch times. These games help students learn about taking turns, teamwork and how to use equipment safely.
3-6
This term students will be developing their skills in Tennis and European Handball through modified games and there will be a major focus on Athletics in preparation for SAPSASA Athletics.
Health
Our topics for this term for students in Foundation to Year 2 is Nutrition, Year 3-4 Making Healthy Choices and the Year 5-6 students will be looking at Healthy Habits.
SAPSASA
We have had a great interest across the Year 4- 6 grades so far and have four SAPSASA events this term. OLOR is preparing for the Riverland district Swimming Carnival on the 20th of February (Week 4) held in Loxton.
The Boys District Football carnival is on the 5th of March (Week 6), there will be trials held for this carnival and students will receive information soon.
The Athletics Carnival will be held on the 3rd of April (Week 10) in Renmark. Our Athletics Squad will begin trials before school in the coming weeks. It is appreciated when students are willing to give up some of their time and persist in developing and preparing themselves to be selected to represent their school.
The District Hockey carnival is on the 10th of April (Week 11) and will be taking place in Berri. Students will receive more information regarding this carnival closer to the end of the term.
Thomas Smart
PE Teacher
January & February
Year 1 - Porita
Year 2 - Nirbaan, Nathan
Year 3 - Harry
Year 4 - Amanat, Irmaan, Ollie, Florence
Year 5 - Ashton, Catie
Year 6 - Cailin, Ocea