31 January 2018

Newsletter Articles

School Calendar

Principals Report

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

Welcome Back!

I’m looking forward to yet another new and exciting year.

Week one has begun very smoothly with all our current and new children and their families settling into their new learning environments. In conversations with the staff they are looking forward to walking with you in a spiritual and educational journey with your children. Parents, as with staff, we are all equally important in this journey together. We all share co-responsibility and must ensure that we work respectfully with each other for the benefit of all.

Our Lady of the River School is dependent upon us all being open and honest in our communication. I ask that parents please make appointments to see teachers regarding general schooling matters for their child/ren and avoid requesting pop-up meetings first thing in the morning. All class teachers this year have important morning routines involving, listening to students read and Cracking the ABC Code exercises, marking diaries and making sure the students are settled to begin their day, starting at 8.30am.

Any major issues or health concerns can be directed directly to the Principal and will be passed on after morning routines. Teachers are very happy to take text messages from parents if you have a quick message to give or to make an appointment. The other important tool of communication is for parents to use the school diary or send a note in a sealed envelope for more important matters.

The staff and I will strive to continue to make our school a safe and joyful place and a Catholic environment where the improvement of educational outcomes is a priority for all. I look forward to a year full of quality learning, a lot of fun and excitement for all.

Staff Are Learners Too…

I would like to acknowledge the dedication of all staff during the last couple of weeks. There have been endless hours of planning programs, updating information and preparing classrooms to ensure that our students have a smooth start to the 2018 school year. Staff have also been involved in professional development of ‘Cracking the ABC Code’, reflection and dialogue to identify learning priorities for this year, and we are looking forward to implementing some great new programs.

2018 Staff Changes

Welcome to Miss Kayla Jones, our new Music/Choir, Chinese and fill-in teacher for 2018. Kayla comes to us from Adelaide and has many skills and abilities to offer our school. She is especially talented in the areas of Music/Choir, Art, Drama and the Science subjects. We also welcome Melody Pfeiler, working with Mrs. Perre and Tayla Nash, working with Mr. Cotter. Both these young people are experiencing what it is like to work in a school and completing a Certificate III, Education Support Officer during their gap year, after completing Year 12 last year.

New Families

Pictured are our new students who we welcomed to our community this week. It’s exciting to have so many new faces and lovely people joining our school. Welcome to Cruz M, Gurmanpreet K, Hugo D, Riley H, Agamjot R, Trishanpreet H, Thomas M, Cailin A, Lilly G, Ocea V, Mitchell S, Lilly A, Harriet D. Absent: Bailey M.

Parent Information Night

Our meet & greet for the beginning of the year is Tuesday 13th February. The first session is 5.00 pm and the second (repeat) session is at 6.15 pm in each classroom. From 5.45 pm till 6.15 pm informal chats with teachers and a sausage sizzle organised by the school will be available near the St. Vinnie’s shed. This evening a great way to meet your child’s teacher and get to know other families. All welcome. If any parents can assist with cooking sausages, it would be greatly appreciated, please contact the Front Office on 85821128 or text the Principal.

Beginning School Mass – Ash Wednesday

All our community is invited to this special morning Mass, 14th February at 7am to celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent. The school Sports Captains will be presented to the Parish community during the Mass and both School and Sports Captains for 2018 will be presented with their school badges. We will also acknowledge and welcome our new students and families to Our Lady of the River School. Afterwards there is an invitation for everyone to join us in the school junior primary court yard for a free breakfast, including toast and eggs, tea and coffee. If your chooks are laying and you can donate some eggs for this event, it will be most appreciated. Donations can be dropped off at the front office.

‘CHOCOLATE CARNIVALE’

Proposed date for this is Saturday 24th March – 4pm till late.

Last year’s event was a great success and I need to know from the community if this proposed date, clashes with other community events. Could you please let me know via text to my mobile 0417787843, if you know of any other community event that will clash with our date and therefore dampen our fundraising efforts. This event, like last year, has a ‘Chocolate’ theme and there will be carnivale food, events, stalls, games and entertainment to be held on the OLOR site. Organisation needs to start immediately and we are in need of all families to support and help with this event. If you would like to be a team leader of a class or willing to contact people from our community to assist with stalls etc. please let the administration office know as soon as possible. Future meetings to organise this event will be text to families once we secure the date.

Schoolzine Newsletter and Calendar

A reminder that the calendar is only available online through the School App ‘SZapp’. Having it online will ensure that it is current and always up to date. The Newsletter will continue to highlight upcoming events to ensure that parents and families are fully aware of what is on. The newsletter is every fortnight on the odd weeks, e.g. 1, 3, 5 etc. and will come to your email inbox or ‘SZapp’ on the Wednesday of those weeks. I encourage all families to install the ‘SZapp’ on your smart phone or Tablet. To ensure you receive the newsletter in your inbox each week, please ensure the front office has your correct email addresses. If you do not have an email address, please let the front office know (this week) so that we can send paper copies home with your eldest child.

Finally, I thank you for your efforts in preparing your children so well for what has been a smooth, though exceptionally hot, start to the year. We look forward to the year ahead and I wholeheartedly offer my support to you as we work together in the education of your child.

It was once said… The beginning is the most important part of the work. Plato

Ros Oates
Principal

Religious Education News

Shrove Tuesday – 13th February

Known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Roman Catholic Church (and those Protestant churches that observe Lent). Shrove Tuesday is a reminder that Christians are entering a season of penance. The students will have the opportunity to have a pancake before lunch and we ask for a gold coin donation from each family to go towards Project Compassion.

LENT 2018

The name “Ash Wednesday” is derived from the faithful with blessed ashes as a sign of penitence and humility. The ashes that priests use on Ash Wednesday come from the remains of burned palms that were blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday. They symbolise death, mortality and sorrow for sin. The marking of ashes on the forehead in the form of a cross also symbolise that sins are forgiven through Jesus’ death and resurrection. This year Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, entrenched in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.

For Christians, the 40 days of leading up to Easter is about more than just abstaining and giving something up for Lent, it is an important time of reflection and self-discipline. These 40 days leading up to Easter are observed by the Catholic Church through prayer, fasting and giving.

Children’s Prayer for Lent

Lord, please show me what I should give up for Lent
And when I've given it up
Remind me to pray to You instead
To thank You
To love You
To hear from You
Each and every day in Lent
Amen

CARITAS

Father Paul Bourke

Project Compassion is our annual Caritas fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, which runs in Catholic Schools and Parishes throughout Australia. Project Compassion brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

Running through the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of caring supporters, all in the name of justice and peace. It is the lifeblood of Caritas Australia; without it, they could not do the vital work they do.

The Project Compassion theme for 2018 is: A Just Future. 'A just future' starts with you. What do you think makes a 'just' future? Having things we need (food, water, medicine, education). Having choices and opportunities. 'A just future' starts with us.

Our local parish priest, Fr. Paul Bourke is the Port Pirie Diocesan Director of Caritas and has been a volunteer for Caritas Australia for over 40 years. Like many others he is a hard working volunteer assisting people in need and working towards combatting social injustice across Australia. During this Lent you will be invited to contribute towards a number of fundraising activities to support Project Compassion, organised by our senior students.

School News & Events

School Uniform

Casey B, Maddison W, Kuljeet B, Amahli K

Attached for your reference is the Our Lady of the River School ‘Uniform Policy’. We are currently in a transitioning time (all of 2018) for families to change over to our new design of polo shirt. The adult sizes of these will be available from Tri-state from tomorrow.

Class Sport Days

Mr. Cotter will take Physical Education (P.E.) lessons with all classes on a Tuesday this year. Below is an outline of the other P.E. days for each class.

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

Fortnight Reminders

Canteen News

Term 1 – New items
CANTEEN FRIDAY

Canteen will begin on Friday 8th February (end of Week 2). Price list remains the same as 2017 until further notice.

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

Community Events

National Karate Academies

Attached Flyer for all interested children and adults in learning karate.

Happy Birthday!