Our Lady of Grace Newsletter No images? Click here For this new morning with its light, TERM 1 WEEK 4 - 26 FEBRUARY 2020 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEDear Parents, Our Lenten time begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days. This is a time when we are especially called to pray, to reflect and to look after those less fortunate. We have been incredibly lucky to have had the Our Lady of Grace Church banners provided to our school to help us mark the changes in the Liturgical Calendar. These beautifully crafted banners are in the MPA and have been changed this week to highlight the colour purple, the colour of Lent. The Parish is holding Lenten Preparation programs of informal meetings over Lent, this is an opportunity to take some time from busy lives to learn, reflect and pray with your fellow parishioners. One of the markers of Lent in our school will be the simple cross with a purple cloth displayed in the grounds, which is a visible reminder for us to ‘find God in the everyday.’ Thank you to those families who were able to join us at Mass on Wednesday. Please note, at any of our school Masses you are very welcome to sit with your child and their class. Thank you to those parents who attended the Annual General Meeting last Thursday in 'The Hive'. Elections were held for the School Board and for the Parents and Friends Association. I thank the many people who nominated or re-nominated for positions on the School Board and welcome Amanda Cumberbatch, Suvas Lobo, Daniel Simpson and Adam Wheeler to the positions. I welcome Alison Newbold, Tony Papotto, Andrea Romeo and Assunta Tricholo, to the Parents and Friends Association. I look forward to working with both these parent representative groups this year. Parent involvement and parent engagement is vital to the healthy community we have at Our Lady of Grace. It has been a strong tradition at Our Lady of Grace School and many of the facilities we enjoy are as a result of parent generosity. There are many opportunities to assist with your child’s education and to volunteer in our school. There needs to be a time in every parent’s school journey where you are able to assist or volunteer. Each and every one of our children benefit when parents and grandparents generously offer their time to canteen, library, Netball Club, Chess Club, Basketball Club, LAP, sports carnivals, P&F Events etc, etc. Please consider this year being your year to assist, you make new friends, learn new skills and get to see the work of our school up close. I understand many parents work (I was a working parent all through my children’s schooling, I understand tired!) so we offer evening opportunities and events as well. When you enrol your child into Our Lady of Grace, you agree to observe the school’s Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct outlines that respectful relationships are the basis of our interactions. Respectful relationships mean that when you are concerned or upset, conversations are conducted honestly and calmly, with a resolution in mind. We work with our children on their emotional regulation and help them learn the skills of conflict resolution and this takes time, effort and patience. Most of all, as the saying goes "it takes a village to raise a child". Teachers often meet with Assistant Principals and myself to discuss concerns and issues and we look to solutions that are long term and consistent. The process for raising parent concerns at OLG is; · Make a time and speak with your child’s teacher The Code of Conduct extends to our car park as well, and how we interact with our neighbours in our shared spaces. Thank you to those families who park in the many car park bays available to us. Using the Bowling Club Driveway as a drop off point, using the many carpark entrances as a drop off point, parking on the Bowling Club verge, roundabout verge or grassed areas around the Church is not respectful of the community we share our spaces with. We have processes designed to keep children safe including a kiss and ride area. Please work with us to be a positive member of this community. I look forward to seeing lots of energy and courage displayed at our Swimming Trial event this Friday. This event assists with the development of a team to represent our school in Interschool Swimming. Thank you for adjusting to the date change, we are holding the event at Bold Park Pool for the first time and will review the venues for both our swimming carnivals this year. A letter was sent home to families earlier this term outlining the changes to a Junior Swimming Carnival and a Senior Swimming Carnival with different locations and dates. Information regarding those carnivals is included in this newsletter. Staff will be undertaking further professional development on Tuesday 3 March in the use of IT to enhance student learning. We are using the SAMR Model for the integration of our IT, we are not looking to substitute the device for pen and paper, students will read and write everyday. Over Weeks 7,8 and 9 we will be offering interactive opportunities for parents and family members to immerse themselves in the strategies and applications that we will be using in our learning programs. Mrs Lloyd and Mrs Hardwicke will be facilitating sessions and we will hold these learning opportunities after assembly starting Friday 20 March. Flexibuzz reminders will be sent with RSVP instructions. I look forward to seeing you there. God Bless. Gabrielle Doyle Swimming Carnivals – PARENT HELP REQUIRED Please sign the sheets at the front office to volunteer for the following: Swimming Trials 4B, 5B, 6W 9.00am – 11.30am Junior Swimming Carnival (Parents will be required to be in the water with the children) Senior Swimming Carnival For those who are interested and may have forgotten to submit the library volunteer roster form – it’s not too late!!! Can you please simply email Trish Sherlock trish.sherlock@cewa.edu.au your name, best contact number and the days/times you are available and Trish will be in touch. We look forward to seeing you in The Hive. Our sincere condolences to Alessandra Luca (1B) and family on the sad passing of her Nonna. Uniform Shop PLEASE NOTE - The Uniform Shop will be open on Thursday, 9 April from 8.15-9.15am (last day of Term 1). It will not be open during the school holidays. Please find attached the 2020 canteen menu and Term 1 Roster. Ordering is available via https://quickcliq.com.au/ New P&F Executive Committee Assunta Trichilo, Andrea Romeo & Alison Newbold We are excited to be working together to make OLG the best school it can be for our kids. Our P&F calendar of meetings and events will be finalised soon and we thank you for your patience during our transition. We’re always keen to expand our support network and welcome expressions of interest from any parents who would like to volunteer and lend a helping hand this year. Please email exec@olgpf.com for more information. Welcome Back Picnic P&F Events Coordinator Role Being part of the P&F team is a lot of fun. If you think this is something you might be interested in, please contact Amanda to arrange a catch up or a chat on 0413377557 or email littlegrazingandgiftco@gmail.com OLG Business Community Good luck to everyone participating in the swimming trials this week! P&F Executive Committee Newman College Newman College is welcoming back Dr Justin Coulson, one of Australia’s most respected and popular Positive Psychology & relationships speaker, facilitator, author, and researcher (particularly in family life). The topic he will be presenting is: Inside the Mind; Raising an emotionally intelligent Child. In this session, Dr Justin will share his expertise and equip parents to become more emotionally intelligent when it comes to their child. See a short intro video by Dr Justin with more information about the session https://youtu.be/y4b_FS1yYeU The presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer session. When: Wednesday 18 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm Mercedes College Open Day Early in 2020, Mercedes College will commence interviewing Year 4 & Year 5 students who are due to start Year 7 in 2022 & 2023 respectively. If you are considering enrolling your daughter and have not yet requested a Prospectus, please contact Mrs Julie Lamb on 9323 1340 as soon as possible. Enquiries are also welcome for places in Year 7 for 2020 and 2021. For more information please refer to the College website, www.mercedes.wa.edu.au. We acknowledge the original custodians of this land, the Nyungar people, and show our respect for their ancestors and traditions. Our Lady of Grace School |