6 December 2017

Newsletter Articles

School Calendar

Principals Report

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

Well! What a fortnight it has been. ‘Reach for the Stars’ musical was a huge success, both matinee and night performance. What budding young stars we have at OLOR throughout every grade in the school. I was just amazed at how each student embraced their part in the play both minor and major roles. Days after they were all still singing and dancing their routines in the school yard. Just an incredible sight to see.

Being our second major concert in the five years I’ve been in the school, I believe we now have a concert culture that will see us putting a similar performance together in the later part of the year, biannually. So plenty of time to prepare for the next OLOR musical in 2019. Again, thank you to all the staff, Lance Gum (staging) and Narelle James for their help in preparing for the performances. To Catherine Heuzenroeder (Director) and Roger Cross (Assistant Director) for the large amount of work and time put into this production and rehearsals. I do hope we will have their continued help and support for our next musical venture.

The main cast of ‘Reaching for the Stars’
Front: Molly W., Nathasha J., Abby F., Caicee L., Meg O., Mia S., Charlotte W.
Middle: Peter E., Layne F., Matthew S., Kye S., Francesco V., Zoe S., Tyler W.
Back: Cody N., Jamie H., Ella K., Darcy M., William H., Kaylee V.
Absent: Ross S.

Turban and Trust Day

On Friday 1st December, the school continued our annual tradition of hosting a ‘Turban and Trust’ day. We were once again fortunate to have Gurshaan Singh’s aunty, Pam Singh make the trip up from Adelaide, with her immediate family, to run their Turbans and Trust program with each of our classes in the school.

Each class had the opportunity to learn about the Sikh faith, which originated about 500 years ago in the Punjab region of northern India and has become the fifth largest religion in the world. The students also learnt about the ‘Five articles of Faith’ that male and female Sikhs wear at all times. The best part of the day for the students, is to see many of their peers wear a turban, or patkas. The headwear identifies people in the Sikh religion and our students enjoyed the experience of having the soft, colourful fabric wrapped around their heads.

A big thank you to Pam Singh, Baljit and Nav Singh for helping to organise our special day. It is so incredibly important that as a school community we continue to learn about each other and accept our unique diversities. Our session was also recorded by an ABC television presenter making a documentary about the importance of the program. I’ll let families know when the ABC intends to broadcast this show. Photos from our day are included in our Photo Album.

School Uniform

Over the next few months and Semester 1 of 2018, we will have a transition period for the introduction of our new school t-shirt and slight changes to the labelling on other uniform items once stock has run out. The new child sized t-shirts are now available from Tri-state and adult sizes will be available in late January 2018, before school begins. Those students requiring adult sized t-shirts, we encourage parents to please order what you need before the end of this term. This will ensure you have your t-shirt items ready for the beginning of the school year. We have introduced a new hooded jumper, which is thinner than the winter jumper with the yellow collar (this is still available) for those who prefer this option. Name labels on the back of the hooded jumper is a choice and additional cost. All uniform items can be ordered and purchased at Tri-state in Renmark. By the end of 2017, all uniform items can be ordered and paid for online, with local delivery or pick-up options. We will inform the community of when this becomes available. Thank you to the small uniform committee for all their work on updating our uniform items. Over the summer period we will be working on changing the style and fabric of our tracksuit pants.

Christmas Basket Raffle

REMINDER……..We are asking for Families to donate goods for our Christmas raffle. Monies raised will contribute to our OLOR fundraising account. Please bring these in before Friday 8th December.

Foundation – Christmas Decorations
Year 1 - Holiday Games
Year 2 – Art & Crafts
Year 3 and 4 – Sports & Outdoor activities
Year 5, 6 and 7 – T.V. Snacks

All Raffle books need to be returned before Wednesday 13th December. There are 4 main mixed basket prizes to be won. The raffle will be drawn at the assembly on the last day of this term. Good luck!

End of 2017

Just a friendly reminder that the last day of school for Term 4 is on Friday 15th December. Our Assembly will begin just after 1.45pm then school will conclude at 2.20pm in line with other schools in our district.

Religious Education News

ADVENT

Each year, Advent inspires us to continually welcome Jesus into our lives, so that the Gospel, through the witness of our words and actions, reaches into our world the Light of Life.

As we near the Christmas holidays we enter into the season of Advent. Advent is a period covering the four Sundays before Christmas, during which we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth and anticipate his coming again at the end of time. On the First Sunday of Advent a new liturgical year begins in the Catholic Church. Advent is the season of new beginnings during which time we are invited to enter into a time of transformation and hope. It is the season of longing and light. Week by week, in our Sunday Masses candles are lit on the Advent wreath signifying our longing for the light of Christ, as the time of his birth draws near. There are a number of traditions associated with the Church’s celebration of Advent, one of which is the Advent Calendar on which one can mark the days of Advent. These calendars usually have a door or window to open each day to reveal an image or a prayer. The days of Advent vary each year, so store-bought Advent calendars usually have 24 doors, one for each day in December leading up to Christmas. If you are making your own calendar it may link with the symbols from the Jesse Tree or the prayers for lighting the Advent Wreath.

Years 3/4 Advent Wreaths made in class

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven,
our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour
and give us the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may find us rejoicing in his presence
and welcoming the light of his truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

In the coming weeks we will now focus on collecting toys, vouchers, non-perishable Christmas goods that can be distributed by our local volunteers to families who may otherwise miss out. In the church we will have a special tree for families to donate Christmas goodies for inclusion in the St Vincent DePaul Christmas hampers. Please feel free to drop in a donation to the front office of the school by the end of this term. We ask that monetary and voucher donations be placed in a secure and sealed envelope.

Help us make a positive difference in our community by being involved in the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

Christmas Mass Times – Our Lady of the River Parish

Sunday 24th December 6.00pm Morgan & Loxton
Sunday 24th December 7.00pm Renmark
Sunday 24th December 8.00pm Waikerie & Barmera
Sunday 24th December 9.00pm Berri
Monday 25th December 9.00am Berri
Monday 25th December 10.00 Renmark

Last Newsletter for 2017

Today’s newsletter is our last for yet another school year. I’ve only had very positive comments and feedback about our new ‘e’newsletter online and we will be launching our new website at the beginning of next year, something else to look forward to in our attempt to make communicating to our school and wider community easier into the future.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all parents and caregivers who have helped out in so many ways throughout the year. You are the vital ingredient in the success of this school, contributing greatly to the quality of what students experience here and supporting their efforts to grow and learn. The staff and I appreciate all the help and involvement, and look forward to your ongoing participation in 2018.

We extend our goodbyes and best wishes to those families leaving our community at the end of this year, including the final graduating students and those moving from the district, all the very best in your new adventures.

I would also like to thank all staff for their tireless work throughout the year. This year, like every year, has been particularly busy for them and they have worked many extra hours. We hope you enjoy the pictorial highlights of all these events in our 2018 school magazine, which will be ready for distribution in Week 9. Please use our online ordering system in this newsletter to purchase a copy or pop into the front office to buy from the administration staff. $20 per copy to be sent into the front office before the end of the year.

Staff Farewells

With the end of year at hand, we will farewell Miss Ashlee Reichelt and Kailey Waechter as they embark on the next chapters of their lives, studying for their chosen careers in Adelaide. Both of these young people have been incredible additions to our staff and we wish them well in their futures. Each of the staff finishing at the end of this year has brought with them their own gifts, talents, both personal and professional, and given generously of their time, effort and commitment to our children. As they move in new directions we wish them well and God’s blessings.

God Bless all our Year 7 students who are heading off to High School next year and welcome to our new receptions and families for 2018. Along with the staff, I wish all our parish and school community a happy and safe Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Ros Oates
Principal

Special Events

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Awards have arrived and we will be presenting these to the students who have completed the Challenge this year at our final Assembly on Friday, 15th December, at 1.45pm. Sandy Sando

Sports News!

SAPSASA Results

Mitchell Foulds and Josh Sargent represented the Riverland last week at the SAPSASA State Cricket Championships in Adelaide. The team played well in patches and Joshua performed well with the ball in a couple of matches. Unfortunately, the side got the wrong side of the weather and pitches across the week.

Congratulations to Stephen Vallelonga on his efforts in SAPSASA tennis. His team came 5th overall out of 10 other regions.

Luke Cotter - Sports pic Mitchell & Joshua

Years 3-7 Bowling

On Thursday 30th November, the Year 3-7 completed their bowling unit in Physical Education with a real life experience of playing and practising their skills on the bowling surface and using the facilities at the Berri Bowling Club, Glassy Park.

A big thank you to Mr. Paul Griffiths for taking the time out of his day to give the students instruction and the experience of using a real bowling green. Pictures of the students are in our Photo Album.

Luke Cotter
Yrs. 5 & 6 Teacher/PE Teacher/SAPSASA Co-ordinator
Our Lady of the River School

Graduation /End of year Mass – Awards Presentation

Graduation Mass – Thursday 7th December – 6.30pm St Mary’s Church

A reminder: The Year 7 Graduation is marked by two events at the end of each year. This is our opportunity to wish our Senior Year 7 Students farewell and to offer them our best wishes as they enter the next phase of their education at Secondary School.
The End of Year Mass at St Mary’s commences at 6.30pm on Thursday December 7th. Following Mass there is a b.y.o. supper in the school hall and awards will be presented to those students who have shown leadership and community spirit. This will give the whole school community, including children and parents from other year levels, the opportunity to congratulate the students. Everyone is warmly invited to join us at this Mass and Awards presentation.

Photo Album

Snapshots from the past two weeks.
‘Reaching for the Stars’ Musical Photos
Bowling in Phys. Ed. Lessons 3-7
Turban and Trust Day – Friday 1st December
Years 3/4 Canoeing Excursion

Newsletter Advertising

A reminder that the newsletter advertising section provides a great opportunity for local businesses to engage with our parent community. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Schoolzine direct and discuss your sponsorship options. The company does not allow fast foods, political, gambling and adult content in the advertising. The aim is only for parent/business owners or local companies that have connections to the school to been seen as a sponsor. Please call the Schoolzine National Sales Team Manager to discuss your advertising options.

Schoolzine National Sales Team Manager

Jude Dawson
Phone Jude 07 5414 2363
jude.dawson@schoolzine.com.au

2017 Reports

A-E Rating

The ratings (grades) about a child’s performance is very different to what many of us experienced back in the late 80’s and what our own parents expected. Please see an explanation of the national approach to reporting student achievement, A-E, where a ‘C’ rating indicates that a student is performing at the standard expected of students in that year group.

A (Very High)
Evidence in a student’s work typically demonstrates a very high level of knowledge and understanding of the content (facts, concepts, and procedures), and application of skills

B (High)
Evidence in a student’s work typically demonstrates a high level of knowledge and understanding of the content (facts, concepts, and procedures), and application of skills

C (Sound)
Evidence in a student’s work typically demonstrates a sound level of knowledge and understanding of the content (facts, concepts, and procedures), and application of skills.

D (Developing)
Evidence in a student’s work typically demonstrates a limited level of knowledge and understanding of the content (facts, concepts and procedures), and application of skills.

E (Support Required)
Evidence in a student’s work typically demonstrates a very limited level of knowledge and understanding of the content (facts, concepts and procedures), and application of skills.

A “C” means that the student is doing everything required at their Year Level at school. The best description is to say that a “C” means that the student’s academic development is exactly where it needs to be. That means attaining a “C” for Achievement means you are ON TARGET for your age level.

With all of this in mind, we must accept that it may be harder to get an “A” or “B”. These grades are not awarded simply to the top students in the class. They are only given to students who show that they are independently capable of working beyond the criteria required for their Year Level.

What teachers are now looking for in an “A” student is a child who has shown a deep understanding of a topic and possesses the ability to apply that information in an unfamiliar context without adult assistance. Simply achieving 100% or close to it on a spelling or maths test doesn’t automatically equate to an “A”.

So what does all the information above mean?

Many parents are likely to see more “C” grades on their child’s report cards.

An “A” for Effort and a “C” for Achievement indicates that your child is “On Target” for their age. (This grade should be celebrated with students because it means they have worked hard to be where they need to be.)

The “Effort” grades are also really important because they are a reflection of how, in the teacher’s opinion, the student is working consistently in class in that learning area (English, Maths, Science etc).

Teachers will also often include their observations of a child’s overall achievement at school as well as their behaviours, work habits and relationships with their peers and staff to give parents a more holistic view of their child’s progress at school. You will find this information written in sections of the report, including the General Comment. Should you have anything you wish to discuss further regarding your child’s report please contact the teacher.

Fortnight Reminders

Canteen News

Term 4 – New items
NO CANTEEN FRIDAY, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

• Chicken & Corn Pie - $3.50
• Strawberry Yoghurt - $2.50
• Frozen Ice Sticks - $.50

Community Events

RYT Christmas Carol

Riverland Youth Theatre is presenting a performance Christmas Carol on Saturday 9th December at 3.00pm. Chaffey Theatre Renmark. Book your tickets through Chaffey Theatre: 8586 1800 or online at chaffeytheatre.com.au or at the box office.

Carols by the River

Sunday 10th December, the Berri Barmera Christian Churches will be hosing Carols by the River @ the Berri Riverfront. OLOR is no longer involved with this event. The event starts with a picnic at 6pm and carols will begin at 7pm. Refer to the attached flyer for further information.

Happy Birthday!