28 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

School Calendar

PRAYER

Principals Report

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

I would like to thank the school community for the great support for our ‘Chocolate Carnivale’ fundraiser Saturday night. We were extremely lucky with the weather and again it turned out to be a great event. Many people visited our school who don’t have a direct connection to our students, which was pleasing. The monies raised are a credit to the joint efforts of staff, students and families working together to put on such a wonderful community event. These funds are vital to our school and support student learning. It gives us the chance to provide extra-curricular opportunities like swimming lessons and Life Education sessions at little or no cost to families.

A huge thank you to the main organising committee; Dimitria Dale, Michelle Kennedy and Cilla Marsden. They were greatly assisted by the large number of people from our school including Jayne Wishart and Effie Efthimiou on Baked Goods Stall as well as Rowan Cresp who ran the bar on the night. Again, everyone’s assistance was really appreciated.

A special mention also is extended to our major sponsors and all our families that donated their resources and time. We had many people set up on Friday and Saturday as well as pack-up on Sunday, which after such a big evening, wasn’t easy but most appreciated.

If you have any feedback that you would like to pass on please email roates@olor.catholic.edu.au before our review meeting next week.

A huge thank you to the following sponsors who assisted with donations and monetary contributions for our annual event.

Term one is always a busy one and we often try to cram so much in before the Easter break, we often don’t take the time to take stock and celebrate all the wonderful things that have happened at the school. Enjoy the happy snaps of our community enjoying the Chocolate Carnivale night.

Cracking the ABC Code for Parents

Hooking Children into Books

Once children learn to read, we need to 'hook' them into books so that they practise reading. In a 'jungle of entertainment' how do we cultivate reading? Professor Steve Mannheimer, from Indiana University makes some suggestions. Which do you agree with and do you have any of your own? Click on the link below. ‘Teaching the Art of Reading in the Digital Era’.

‘Easter Raffle & Chocolate Box’

All families have been asked to sell a Cadbury Chocolate fundraising box, with funds raised going towards paying for the expenses for the Chocolate Carnivale. All fundraising envelopes need to be handed into the main office by the end of Term 1.

The prize winners for our Easter raffle will be awarded on Holy Thursday, 29th March after our Holy Week Plays. Please make sure your raffle books are returned by Thursday, 29th March.

Prices to collect per carry box.

Thank you to the many families who have already collected and brought into the school hundreds of ‘Coles Sports vouchers’. Collection closes on Tuesday, April 3.

Easter Plays performed by OLOR students

On Thursday 29th March, each class of Our Lady of the River School will act out in short plays the different events of Holy Week, ending with the traditional presentation from our Year 6/7’s, the Stations of the Cross. This liturgy is an opportunity where we can reflect upon the events of Holy Week and prayerfully join together before breaking for Easter. All family and friends are welcome to join us in the school gym/hall at 11.00 am.

Berri Lions and Glenview Poultry 2018 Berri Easter Carnival Saturday 31st March

Our Lady of the River School is taking part again this year by cooking egg and bacon rolls. I appreciate that I’ve been asking a lot of families for donations lately but this is a fundraising opportunity for us not to miss. We are the only food stall after the free breakfast at 8am.

If you could provide a carton or two of eggs or one packet of rindless bacon it would be greatly appreciated and will keep overhead costs to a minimum. We are also looking for 4-6 workers who can assist on our stall. Please call Ros on 0417787843 if you are available to assist from 7.30 am till approximately 11.00 am.

Ros Oates
Principal

Religious Education News

HOLY WEEK in the Riverland

Last Sunday was the Passion or Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week. What we begin this week can bring each one of us face to face with the reality of those events that lie at the heart of our faith. This week is a chance to relive those events. And it all fits together so perfectly, but it must be seen as a complete whole.

On Thursday night at 6.00pm we gather and celebrate the marvellous memorial that Jesus left his people, to continue his presence with us. As we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we symbolically pledge ourselves to one another in service and then share the one bread and the one cup that brings us into the very life of God himself. On Friday we focus on the harsh reality of the cross.

At 3.00 pm on Good Friday, Barmera is hosting main liturgical ceremony where we gather for the Veneration of the Cross and we hear, once again, the story of the Passion and we are in touch with the enormity of the love that has been shown us. However, in celebrating the Lord’s Passion we realise that this is not the complete story - there is more. We leave in silence waiting and preparing for the great Easter celebration, which takes place on Holy Saturday night.

Again in Barmera at 7.00pm we return and gather in darkness to be blinded by the light of Christ’s resurrection. We hear again the story of salvation and are invited to receive the Eucharist, which is the ultimate sign of our belonging to the Church and of our participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. This reality is visibly seen clearly on Easter Sunday morning when the Lenten starkness gives way to Easter joy.

Could there be a more appropriate day than Easter Sunday, 9.00 am in Berri, to renew our baptismal vows and look with hope, to the journey that lies ahead? Today we begin again the story of Holy Week. The Gospels do not explain Easter; Easter explains the Gospels.

Diocesan Assembly & Chrism Mass

On Wednesday 21st March, Ros Oates and School Leaders for 2018 attended the Diocesan Assembly Chrism Mass in Port Pirie with Bishop Greg O’Kelly as the main celebrant along with the priests and deacons from the Port Pirie Diocese. During the Mass, the priests, deacons and representatives of the entire diocesan community gathered around the Bishop, who blesses the Holy Oils for use in the coming year. These are: the Oil of the Sick: the Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism Oil. It is a wonderful celebration to conclude the Port Pirie Diocesan Assembly.

The latest edition of the Southern Cross features all the latest news and information on our Catholic community. Click on the following link below.

Year 3 Mass

Mrs Angeleski and Year 3 students were the host to our whole school Mass on Thursday 22nd March. Thank you to the many families who attended and made time to have a cuppa with us afterwards.

HOLY WEEK LITURGIES ~ Our Lady of the River Parish
Easter Mass Times

Holy Thursday 29th Loxton and Berri 6.00pm
Good Friday 30th Loxton 11.00am (Stations), Renmark 1.30pm Ecumenical in the Park, 3.00pm. Barmera 3.00pm, Waikerie 5.00pm.
Saturday 31st Easter Vigil 7.00pm Barmera
Easter Sunday 8.00am Morgan, 9.00am Waikerie & Berri, 11.00am Loxton & Renmark

School News & Events

Year 1 Class Room Activities

The year 1 class have been busy learning about lots of new things. In history we have been learning about family trees and our family backgrounds. They loved making their own family trees to keep. In literacy we have been looking at different fairy-tales. We have been discussing different characters and story elements. We read, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and discussed how each of the dwarfs had different characteristics. We then chose our favourite dwarfs to write about.

Festival Choir

Our Riverland Festival of Music Choir attended their first cluster rehearsal on Monday the 19th of March. It was a great opportunity to connect with the other schools that will be performing on the same night in August. It was also a fantastic chance for the students to showcase not only our hard work and dedication, but also our beautiful singing voices.

Talented music / dance / arts students from across the Riverland are invited to audition for a position as an Assisting Artist for the Riverland Primary Schools’ Music Festival, to be held at the Chaffey Theatre in August. Refer to the attachment below.

Harmony Day

Last Wednesday was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our students and staff. Thank you to the children who dressed up for the special occasion. Enjoy our photos from the day.

NAPLAN

Students in year 3, 5 and 7 will participate in the National Literacy & Numeracy Testing from May 15-18. NAPLAN testing provides a one off snap shot of how your child is progressing in their education. If any parents wish to withdraw their child from one or all of the tests, please advise the principal in writing before March 16th 2018.

SPORTS NEWS

SAPSASA Swimming Adelaide 23/3/2018

In Swimming news, Ella K, Oliver S, Amity K, Charlotte W & Molly W competed at the SAPSASA Country Championships held in Adelaide on Friday 23rd March.

Congratulations to all swimmers.

Results:

Oliver made the breast stroke and fly final.
Ella made the 100 freestyle final and came 4th. She also got Gold in the 50 metres back stroke and 50 metres fly (3 years running).
13 years girls relay team with Ella and Molly won Bronze.
Amity made the 50 metres final and came 5th.
12 years girls relay team with Charlotte won Gold.

On Thursday 15th March, a number of Year 4-7 students travelled to Adelaide to represent OLOR at the SACPSSA Swimming Carnival held at Magill. The students managed to place second - missing out by only 4 points! A great achievement considering we had half the swimmers of all the other schools.

A large group of senior male and female cricketers took part in a T20 Blast cricket competition held at Berri Oval on Friday 16th March. All students had a great day and we both managed to finish in Division 1, with OLOR 2 finishing in third place overall.

Upcoming we have the Riverland Footy & Netball carnivals taking place in Week 10. Good luck to those Senior girls representing OLOR at the Netball Carnival and to Matt S (Yr 6) and Tyler D (Yr 7) who are selected in the Berri Cluster side for Footy. We also keep Josh C (Yr 7) in our prayers as he recovers from a small fracture in his ankle.

Yours in Sport,
Mr. Cotter

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.

Fortnight Reminders

Happy Birthday!