29 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

School Calendar

PRAYER

Prayer for Reconciliation

God, we believe that you have called us together to broaden our experience of
You and of each other.
We believe that we have been called to help in healing the many wounds of society and in reconciling person to person and person to God.
Help us, as individuals and together, to work in love, for peace, and never to lose heart.
We commit ourselves to each other – in joy and sorrow.
We commit ourselves to all who share our belief in Reconciliation – to support
and stand by them.
We commit ourselves to the way of peace – in thought and deed.
We commit ourselves to you – as our guide and friend.
Amen

Principals Report

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,

Sunday was National Sorry Day and is followed by National Reconciliation Week. On our pathway towards reconciliation, Sorry Day on 26th May is an important moment to remember the past policies of forced child removal. Here, we reflect on the sad and painful history of the Stolen Generations and recognise moments of resilience, healing and the power of saying Sorry.

What is National Reconciliation Week (NRW)?

The 2019 NRW theme is Grounded in Truth - Walk Together with Courage

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

School Board

Thank you to the staff and parents who attended the School Board AGM on Wednesday 22nd May at 7.00pm. I would like to thank all the Board members for the support that they have offered behind the scenes to help make things happen at our school. We are very fortunate that we have committed parents in our school community. Thank you to the following board members who have completed their term as members on the board.

• Mrs Naomi Hunt, Mrs Kelly Minchella, Ms Kelly Storer and Mr Brett Meigel
• Staff representative: Mrs. Rosemary Perre

The 2019/20 School Board

Parish Priest: Fr. Paul Bourke
Principal: Ros Oates
Parent members: Cilla Marsden, Rowan Cresp, Phil Cresp, Sarah Rothe, Tammy Kregar, Jayne Wishart, Michelle Kennedy and Chelsea Andrews.
Staff representative: Luke Cotter.

NAPLAN

I would like to congratulate the Year 3, 5 and 7 children in the way they displayed resilience and persistence in completing the NAPLAN over the last 2 weeks. They are to be commended for the way they carried on and just got the job done. Well done!

Mrs. Ros Oates
Principal

Religious Education News

Catholic Education Week 2019

Next Week, June 3rd-9th, 2019 Catholic Schools all over South Australia will celebrate Catholic Education Week. It is a great opportunity to highlight the wonderful things that are happening in every one of our schools.

In 2019, across the Diocese of Port Pirie, the theme for Catholic Education Week is Peace.

‘Peace be with you’ is the greeting of the risen Jesus. It is making peace with the past, experiencing peace in the present as the world God desires, and the gift of God giving this peace as the reality of the future. The world God desires is a reality in Jesus Christ.

Peace is much more than the absence of violence and war, it involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It is a balance of harmony where all creation experiences wholeness, completeness, prosperity and tranquillity.

In all our actions and our words, especially during Catholic Education Week we strive to promote Peace in ourselves, in our community and in our environment. Our Lady of the River school has a jam-packed week filled with activities that do just that.

Last week you would have received a flyer outlining all of the activities for the week, if you did not receive it, please contact your child’s class teacher to organise a copy to be sent home.

A couple of reminders for Catholic Education Week.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have already supported our St. Vincent de Paul drive. You can choose to donate blankets or Non-perishable food items. Please send your donation into your child’s classroom by the end of this week, Friday 31st May. I plan to present our donations to a St. Vincent de Paul member at assembly next Monday.

A reminder that orders for our Simple Soup Day are due back at school tomorrow, Thursday 30th May. This special lunch is to raise funds for Carirtas Australia, as they help support people all of the world find justice and peace. As we fill our bowls with lovely warm, we will think of those that have empty bowls.

God our Compassionate Father, We thank you for our many blessings of easily accessible food and we pray for the millions of people who go hungry every day. Inspire in us the commitment to follow your example, showing compassion in action and sharing what we have with those who have less. AMEN

Please send a small thermos, or bowl and a spoon into school with your child next Tuesday. This initiative is to promote peace with our environment.

PEACE WALK AND DRESS UP DAY.

Having fun is the perfect way to achieve peace, we simply could not let our Catholic Education Week celebrations pass by without having a dress up day. Students are invited to come to school dressed in a Peace inspired costume on Thursday 6th June. This could be something you might wear when you are finding peace (fishing gear, running gear, pyjamas), Traditional costume or clothing that displays your Cultural Heritage (embracing all cultures - peace in our world), or something fun that can show peace - a dove, a candle, a hippie, a cloud, the possibilities are endless. I am looking most forward to seeing the variety of Peace inspired ideas.

On Thursday, we will spend a day of Peace by the River. For our Peace day to be a successful event where we achieve peace with in ourselves, our community and our environment, we will need to rely on your generous donation of your time.

If you are available to help supervise on this day, could you please complete the reply slip and return it to school by Monday 3rd June, alternatively, you could email me rosemaryp@olor.catholic.edu.au

Catholic Education Week promises to be a wonderful week of celebration, outreach and fun. I am certainly looking forward to it.

A Big Thank You to our families and staff for supporting the Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea. The students certainly enjoyed their recess and it was lovely to have a relaxing cuppa with some of the parents. This money will help fund vital Cancer research programs as well as help support people whose lives have been impacted by cancer. I thank you for your time and your generosity.

Sacramental Students

Please remember to keep our Sacramental Students, pictured above in your prayers as they prepare for their special sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

You are all very welcome to join us at our sacramental celebrations.

First Reconciliation will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Berri on Monday 3rd June, 5:30pm.

First Holy Communion will be celebrated in St. Francis Xavier’s Church on Sunday 9th June at 11:00am.

May God’s Gentle Peace be with you always…

Rosemary Perre
Religious Education Coordinator

Parish news!

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

Witness - Latest Addition

The Witness is a bi-monthly publication of the Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie. Issued every February, April, June, August, October and December.

School News

Pupil Free Days 2019 – Reminder school holidays at the end of Term 2 are 3 weeks.

Term 3 – Week 1 (Monday 22nd July – Friday 26th July) – Our Lady of the River, staff Josephite Retreat, Office 365 training and teacher observations in Catholic Schools in Adelaide.

These days are approved pupil free days. Please note these days in your diary.

WOOLWORTHS EARN AND LEARN

Our school will again be participating in the Woolworths Earn & Learn promotion this year. It’s easy for everyone to help collect stickers. Spread the word and get grandparents, neighbours and friends involved and collecting for Our Lady of the River School.

Between 1 May and 25 June 2019, collect as many stickers as you can and drop into school collection box in our school’s office area or the community collection box at Woolworths Berri.

The more stickers we collect the more resources we can get for our school. Woolworths is once again partnering with Australia’s biggest supplier of resources for school, Modern Teaching Aids. This means we’ll have access to a wide range of resources across every possible category including ICT, science, sports, mathematics, arts and crafts and more.

Class news

Music at OLOR

The Australian Curriculum for Music is divided into 3 areas - performing, practising and playing music. Highlights of learning so far include body percussion and rhythm practise in the year 4/5 class, deconstructing songs in 6/7 as well reading of ‘the Very Noisy Bear’ by Nick Bland in the foundation and year 1 classes.

CHOIR NEWS

It is my first year as music teacher and leading the choir. Again, the school in involved with the Primary Schools Music Festival. Choir is on Thursday afternoon and I am assisted by OLOR parent, Mrs. Catherine Heuzenroeder. This year we will join students from Berri, Renmark West, Monash, Moorook and Riverland Special School at Chaffey Theatre on Tuesday 6th August. We’ve had two wonderful cluster rehearsal’s at Berri Town Hall and the students showed exemplary behaviour and concentration. We are singing our hearts out to learn the songs (even a song in Samoan) to be ready for the concert.

Festival Solo’s

Congratulations to William H from 6/7 who will sing a solo as part of the festival. William will perform with the Loxton Cluster on Thursday 8th August. We wish him the best.

Well done also to Raahil S from 4/5. While he was not allocated a solo, he received a special mention with the audition panel saying ‘we really enjoyed his audition. If he is the future of the festival, then we are in good hands. Great work Raahil.

Literacy news

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association. Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. The main aim of National Simultaneous Storytime is to promote literacy and a love for reading Australian authors.

This year the ALIA have chosen the vibrant and funny picture book Alpacas with Maracas, written and illustrated by Matt Cosgrove. Our Lady of the River students and staff were spoilt with a visit from local alpaca, Cadbury. We thank Lara Bee for taking the time to bring Cadbury in for a visit. A big thank you also for our resident Storytime reader Mr. Preece, and his assistant Mrs. Oates.

Rosemary Perre

Sports News

Sapsasa News

Netball Carnival

Congratulations to Meg O, Abby F and Amelia M on being selected as part of the Riverland Netball Team to travel to Adelaide. Good luck in the upcoming carnival!

Cross-Country Carnival

We had a great day down at Martins Bend on Wednesday competing in the Cross Country Carnival at Martins Bend!

Well done to Slater M, Riley H, Archie K, Raahil S, Maddison W, Kuljeet B, Charlotte W, and Amelia M for participating at their best!

Well done to Charlotte W on making the Riverland squad with a strong run in the under 13’s race!

Riddle of the Week

Last newsletter: The alphabet.

A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, and I'm the torment of man. Who Am I?

Quote of the Week

Sports build good habits, confidence, and discipline. They make players into community leaders and teach them how to strive for a goal, handle mistakes, and cherish growth opportunities.

Yours in Sport,
Mr Cotter

Special Events

PLEASE REFER TO the school website or SZApp for all school year calendar dates.

REMINDERS

PLEASE READ THE NEWSLETTERS CAREFULLY. Everything you need to know about the school week and dates is on the school app. (SZapp) You can download on all smartphones and tablets for free. We get a lot of phone calls & text about events and programs that have been advertised widely.

Policy Documents

School Uniforms

We would like to make aware to OLOR families we have a large collection of second hand uniforms in good condition. If any families are interested please see Pat or Sandy in the front office.

TERM 2 Reminders

Community News

Berri Barmera Council Draft Annual Business Plan

The Draft Annual Business Plan provides details on current influencing factors, business activities and services, projects to be undertaken during the year, how the Business Plan is funded, Council’s financial position, proposed performance measures, and the Budget for 2019/2020.

To get the best outcome, we would like to engage as many residents as possible. To do this, we would appreciate it if you could share our Facebook post on our annual business plan or complete the survey via the link below. Submissions close 12.00 noon on the 12th June 2019.

All of the details, including a copy of the Draft Plan and submission can be found via our website (link as above)

Strategic Plan

Council is currently reviewing it’s Strategic Plan. The review of the Strategic Plan is a great opportunity for the community to inform Council on what's working well and what could be done better on a wide range of community, environmental and economic issues.

Would you please also share the link to our Strategic Plan survey to assist with community engagement. The survey will take approximately 7 minutes to complete.

The survey can be accessed below, or via our website link or will be live on our Facebook tonight if you would like to share in the near future.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 8582 1922.

Regards
Cathy

Happy Birthday!