Principals Report
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Students and Friends,
Welcome back to Term 4, 2021!
I would like to share some information regarding a few key events taking place this week and this term.
Term 4 is always pretty hectic, and this one is undoubtedly looking to be that and more! We begin with a new climbing apparatus in the playground, Sports Day, Socktober Challenge, Transition Days, Masses, Assemblies, Christmas Concert Farewells and Graduations. Plenty to keep us busy, so I encourage you all to read this newsletter carefully and keep up to date with classroom Seesaw posts.
As we celebrate the beauty of Spring and the wonders of nature around us, we share Pope Francis' Prayer for all of Creation:
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
As we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. Amen.
(Francis, Laudato Si’ n 246)
OCTOBER is MISSION MONTH:
As you know, Catholic Mission is Pope Francis' personal mission agency in the universal church that seeks to support those who are less fortunate to lead full lives.
Socktober is Catholic Mission's school program that helps the community engage in mission formation and curriculum education. It engages the heads, hearts, and hands of every student in issues of mission and social justice in their world through the universally accessible game of soccer.
Australian school communities, including Our Lady of the River School, will be participating in Socktober 2021 in two ways:
- Socktober Challenge: a supported journey of formation, prayer, reflection, education and action for everyone to understand why we are called to be missionary in a Catholic community.
- Socktober Shootout: A fun event as part of our Mission Day to celebrate the accomplishments of the Socktober Challenge as a school and parish community. Everyone is invited to kick some physical goals to make a difference.
Socktober Challenge
The Socktober Challenge is one of the critical components of the Socktober program taking young people on a journey in mission, bearing witness to stories of their brothers and sisters who they are supporting by participating in Socktober.
All classes will be viewing the resources, which this year focus on a community in Thailand, where funds are used to run a Kindergarten that provides quality education for the young students and allows the parents to spend time learning skills so that they can support their families.
Parents, our focus is on raising awareness of how we can help others, both locally and globally, and at the same time, we are hoping to have some fun and fundraise too. For your diaries, please be aware that in the last week of October, Week 3, we have Sports Day. We will combine our Mission month activities with wearing bright, colourful socks with our sports uniforms and conduct our Soccer Kickout event. The senior students are also planning some other stalls for fundraising on the day.
On Monday, the next week, Mass is planned for 9 am in the school gym on November 1 for ALL SAINTS DAY, with the whole school attending, followed by ice-creams in a cone for sale at lunchtime served by the senior students.
We invite our parents and friends to join us for this very special Mass that celebrates the saints in our church and all those that have attained heaven, as well as commemorating the faithfully departed, especially our family and friends.
World Teachers' Day Friday, October 29
Our staff will celebrate World Teachers' and School Staff Day with a much anticipated morning tea. A short note, email or drawing from you or your child will be sure to make any teacher or staff member at OLOR smile. Please drop these into the administration office, and we will display these during the morning tea.
More information will be shared in the coming weeks, and these plans are dependent on COVID restrictions which are changing all the time.
Parent/Teacher Meetings Term 4
Teachers have sent out to 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.
Christmas Concert Night
Our outside Christmas Concert is set for Thursday, November 18, starting at 6 pm till approximately 8 pm. A program for the evening will be sent out closer to the night. Currently, the classes are planning concert items, which will be performed on a simple stage near the cricket pitch, so family and friends can sit (COVID-19 safe) outside on deck chairs to watch the students perform. If we have inclement weather, the backup plan for the concert will be in the school gym. Mishes Kitchen – Vietnamese Food and Mr Super Soft Ice-creams will be available for purchase on the night. Each class will also have a Christmas gift stall with items for families, friends and guests to purchase outside their classrooms. Monies raised will go towards the St Vincent DePaul Christmas appeal.
Graduation Events 2021
Our Lady of the River Graduation Mass (only) is planned for Tuesday, November 30 at 6 pm in the school gym. All families are invited to attend, wishing our Year 6 and Year 7 students all the best as they graduate from primary school. After this Mass, we will thank and farewell families and staff leaving the school in a small ceremony.
Two official Graduation Speech Ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, December 1, starting at 6 pm at the Berri Hotel. There will be two separate sessions (see below) to accommodate family and friends attending during the current COVID-19 conditions. Each student is restricted to 7 people on their table, and a booking-in system will be set up closer to the date.
Wednesday, December 1 Timetable
Year 6 Graduation Ceremony and Awards - 6.00 pm till 7.15 pm (families may choose to book for dinner at the Berri Hotel afterwards).
Year 7 Graduation Ceremony and Awards - 7.30 pm till 9.00 pm (families may choose to book dinner at the Berri Hotel beforehand).
Year 6 and 7's Preparing for High School – Transition Days Term 4
St Francis of Assisi
Year 7 (current Year 6) Students 2022
Week 2 Friday 22 October 2021
Week 7 Thursday 25 November and Friday 26 November 2021
Year 8 (current Year 7) Students 2022
Week 3 Friday 29 October 2021
Week 6 Thursday 18 November and Friday 19 November 2021 Venue: Renmark Football Club. All transition days will run from 9 am – 3 pm. Students will need to bring food and drink for a recess and lunch break, there will be no canteen facilities available.
Berri Regional Secondary College
Week 5
Wednesday November 10 [Half day] - Cancelled
Week 8
Thursday December 2 [Full day] - 8:50am – 3:20pm
Friday December 3 [Full day] - 8:50am – 3:20pm
Loxton High School
Year 6 into 7 Parent Information Evening,
7.00pm Monday 8 November in the Theatre
Year 6 Back to Back Transition Days,
Tuesday 9 November and Wednesday 10 November
Year 7 into 8 Parent Information Evening,
7.00pm Tuesday 16 November in the Theatre
Year 7 Back to Back Transition Days,
Wednesday 17 November and Thursday 18 November
'Never see a need without doing something about it.' Blessed Mary Mackillop.
Ros Oates
Principal