Principals Report
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Students and Friends,
"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit".
This weekend, on Sunday, September 19, in our school gymnasium, there will be the special Mass and Confirmation of our Year 6 and Year 7 children from Our Lady of the River School, as well as other children from St Albert's School Loxton and Our Lady of the River parish.
The sacrament of Confirmation completes the sacrament of Baptism.
Baptism is the sacrament of re-birth to a new and supernatural life, and Confirmation is the sacrament of maturity and coming of age. It gives the strength to follow Jesus and become involved in the mission which Jesus left to the Church.
We were honoured to have Bishop Bishop Karol Kulczycki, Fr Paul, and Fr Hau guide us on Sunday through this special ceremony. Following the ceremony, we will have a confirmation cake outside under the veranda of the school gymnasium.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the children from our school and all candidates from the parish who will receive this sacrament. The students, assisted by their teachers, have been preparing throughout the term for this special occasion. We pray for them and ask God to bless them at this significant moment in their lives.
Thank you to all the teachers, especially Mrs Rosemary Perre, for her outstanding work and beautiful contributions to planning and coordination in her role as teacher and as our Religious Education Leader. Our school community is looking forward to a blessed and joyful day!
Staffing Announcement
Miss Lauren Harslett, our Foundation/Year 1 teacher, has been appointed as the Year 1/2 teacher at Redeemer Lutheran School, Nuriootpa. This appointment begins at the beginning of 2022.
We wish Lauren all the very best in her new position and thank her for her wonderful contribution to Our Lady of the River School these past two years.
Whilst 2022 may seem some time away; we start the process of planning staffing and class structures now. The school leadership team and school board work hard to employ staff, balance class sizes and support our planning for 2022. If you are considering a change in the enrolment status of your child/ren in 2022 (for work or other reasons), I ask that you let me know as a matter of urgency by contacting me via email at roates@olor.catholic.edu.au.
Parent/Teacher Meetings Term 4
Next week each teacher will send families a reply slip for Parent/Teacher meetings early Term 4. These second formal 'Learning Conversations' are an opportunity to continue understanding your child's progress. Meetings in Term 4 are not compulsory; however, a parent or teacher may request an appointment. The dates for a meeting are from Wednesday, October 13, until Friday, October 22. Each session will be 15 – 20 minutes. This meeting provides both parents/carers and teachers with an opportunity to meet and for the parents/carers to discuss their child's particular strengths and needs. There are five questions parents are encouraged to ask their child's teacher at these meetings:
- What is my child learning?
- How are they doing?
- How do you know (how they are doing?)
- How can they improve?
- What supports can I provide, and can you provide if they are struggling? When will we check again?
Teachers may also use this opportunity to discuss what will happen in the class for the remainder of the year or consult with a parent about a Personalised Plan for Learning review for those children who require curriculum differentiation or learning space.
Year 6 and 7's Prepare for High School
Many families have decided or will be making the important decision of where their child will be attending High School in 2022. A survey to indicate your choice of High School will be sent to the Year 6 and Year 7 families next week.
If you are still considering your options, please contact the Principal of St Francis of Assisi College, Mr. Nathan Hayes.
M: 0417 696 480
E: principal@assisi.catholic.edu.au
School: 258 Twentyfirst Street, Renmark, 5341 (Opening Jan 2022)
Office: 129 Renmark Avenue, Renmark
W: cesa.catholic.edu.au/assisi
'Never see a need without doing something about it.' Blessed Mary Mackillop.
Ros Oates
Principal