Dear Parents and care givers

Our curriculum is a very full curriculum and it has often been criticized for being ‘over crowded’. The West Australian Curriculum taught at Our Lady of Grace School is set by the Bishops of Western Australia and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA). This is the formal and expected curriculum but we know that learning takes place in every interaction and action at our school. This year we have, as a community, consulted and developed the Our Lady of Grace School;

·         Strategic Plan for 2020 – 2023
·         Vision for Learning
·         Evangelization Plan
·         ICT Strategy
·         Wellbeing Strategy
·         The Hive.   

We’ve worked with students, staff and parents to develop these and have continued many curriculum enriching activities traditionally undertaken at Our Lady of Grace School such as; Tournament of Minds, 3 Year Old Kindy program, Rhyme Time & All about Play, Robocup, Book Week, Athletics and Swimming carnivals, Liturgies and Prayer Assemblies, Stephanie Alexander Garden, Reading Recovery, Extending Mathematical Understanding, Chaplaincy, Protective Behaviour Curriculum, Year 6 Leadership Ministry, Sacramental Program and Retreats, LAP, The Buddy system etc.

All of these activities are part of the rich tapestry of our school and they will grow and change as we grow and change. One thing that has never changed here at OLG (I’m remembering 20 years back to my time as a parent here!) is the strong parent involvement and support for our school.

This month is a time when we get to see this in full at;

·         The OLG School Community Fete Saturday 9th November 10.00  – 3.00pm. There has been significant contribution by the P&F Executive and parents to this event and I look forward to welcoming our community to our school on Saturday.

·         The Christmas Hampers, currently being organized and collected for St Vincent De Paul Society. Thank you to Mrs Christou, Year 6 Social Justice Ministry, Sister Anita and Mrs Walsham for their help with this. Please keep your donations coming.

·         Mother Foundress Day on 21 November will see us open our new school buildings at 10.00am and celebrate Mother Siedliska and all our volunteers from 1pm with a Whole School Mass and afternoon tea supplied by our amazing school staff.

·         School AGM held on 27 November, where full reports from the School Board, the P&F Association and School Principal outline what we’ve accomplished and where we are heading.

Please consider nominating for these important parent bodies (form included in this newsletter).

And this is just November!! I look forward to seeing you at these events and ask you to think and pray about how you can contribute to our community in 2020. Our Vision is to empower all children through faith, wisdom and knowledge to life fulfilling lives in an ever-changing world. We can’t do it without you.

Class Lists
There is a significant process undertaken by staff to ensure class lists are developed fairly and on an educational basis for 2020. I am impressed at the effort our teachers and the process includes; 

·         Teacher Year level discussion
·         Teacher class and playground observation
·         Learning Support Co-Ordinator discussion for student with specific needs
·         Student data collected in class
·         Gender, ability and group dynamics taken into account.   

Parents are invited to write to the Principal, if you have specific considerations for classes next year. This is not an entitlement but an opportunity to provide information to our decision making process. Please remember the important role you can play in reducing student concern around classes for 2020. They include helping your child to use positive language about 2020 and to see;

·         This is a normal part of school life
·         They are terrific young people who can make new friends
·         They will be working with all students in year levels
·         They will have a chance to meet new teachers and learn new things
·         They are capable of talking about and working through their concerns with                 positive outcomes.

We are trialling a new initiative in 2020 whereby you and your child are very welcome to come and meet your teacher on Friday 31 January 2020 from 1.30pm – 3.00pm. This will be an opportunity for you, if you choose, to pop into the classroom, meet the teacher, see what the classroom looks like and be all ready for the beginning of school on Monday 3 January 2020.

God bless

Gabrielle M Doyle
Principal

This week's assembly is presented by students in PPW.
Congratulations to the students who received a merit award at last week's assembly.

Library Roster

ENROLMENTS FOR 2020: As we are now in the process of preparing for next year’s enrolments, it is now time to advise the office if you are leaving us at the end of this year (with the exception of Year 6). We do however require notification in writing and where your child/ren will be attending next year. Please hand your letters into the office as a term's notice is required. Thank you.

INTER-SCHOOL ATHLETICS

UNIFORM SHOP
If you have received notification that your uniform order is ready for collection, can you please do so as soon as possible. The Uniform Shop is open Tuesday afternoon 2.15pm - 3.00pm and Friday 8.15am - 9.00am.  Thank you.

BOOKLISTS 2020
In our many forums for feedback this year I have heard lots of feedback about booklists from parents. Teachers are looking at booklists and using current resources to reduce impact on families whilst ensuring students have the resources they need for learning.  The ICT Strategy for Year 4 – 6 in 2020 will impacts booklists as less stationery is required. In an effort to reduce costs to families the school will bulk order specialist stationery for 2020. The booklist for 2020 will include one Mathematics text book and some year specific resources, such as a recorder for Year 3 as well as generic pencils/pens/pencil case. A letter explaining the reduced booklist, the ordering process and the payment process will go out next week.

I look forward to hearing your feedback next year once we have trialled this new system.

iPad's for  Years 4 - 6 2020
If you wish to have your iPad delivered this year you will need to order through the school portal no later than 25th November 2019 and they will be delivered to the school by 16th December.  Any purchases after this date will be delivered in 2020.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
This Christmas we will be providing hampers to those in need during Christmas. They will be going to the less fortunate in our local community and distributed through Our Lady of Grace Parish, St Vincent De Paul Society. We will be assembling the hampers with items from each class. Through your support, we can help some families have a small piece of comfort at Christmas time.

Kindy White: small Xmas Puddings, boxes of chocolates
Kindy Gold: Christmas Bon Bons, Long Life Juice
Kindy Blue: small coffee and milo jars, tea etc
PP Gold: spreads: jams, vegemite, peanut butter, Nutella.
PP Blue: soft drink, cordial
PP White: savoury biscuits and crackers
1 Gold: canned ham, tuna, turkey etc
1 White: tinned vegetables and fruit
2 Gold: pasta and pasta sauce
2 Blue: dried fruit, nuts, chips and pretzels
3 Gold: Christmas cakes, Christmas fruit mince pies.
3 Blue: powdered custard and jelly
4 Gold: candy canes, Christmas lollies and Christmas chocolates.
4 Blue: Christmas biscuits and other sweet biscuits
5 White: card games, board games ( cheap from Kmart/Big W/ Reject shop etc)
5 Blue: balls: tennis, basketball, footy, soccer, cricket etc ( cheap from Kmart/ Big W)
Teachers: stationary, Arts and Crafts sets (Kmart, Red Dot etc)

Thank you for your generosity.

This collection is not compulsory. However, if you would like to provide more than one item (even an item from a different class hamper) this is also welcome. Last collection for goods is Monday 18th November.

Any queries please contact Carla Christou  carlachristou@iprimus.com.au

Rhyme Time and It’s All About Play (0 - 4 years) 
Next session: Friday 8th November
Location : ​Pre- Kindy Room
Time: 9.15am
 
Please note that this week will be the final Rhyme Time and It's all about Play for 2019. 
We have such a busy term ahead that time and Student based commitments take up the remaining Fridays of this school year.

I would like to say a very big thank you to Simone Hampton for her help in setting up our venue and to the parents and children who attend and join in enthusiastically in our sessions. 

Hope to see you there.

If your child turns four before 30 June 2021 they are eligible to enrol in Our Lady of Grace School 2021 Kindergarten Program.

Tours, interviews and enrolment for Pre-Kindy and Kindy are now open.

Don't miss out : Please contact Vicki Ryan for an enrolment package and an interview time on 6241 9500 or email: vicki.ryan@cewa.edu.au

Friday Morning Early Year Tours are now available at 9.30am

Please find attached the Canteen Menu
Ordering is available via https://quickcliq.com.au/

Alternatively you can place your child's order in the class canteen bucket. 
For existing users of Quickcliq

If your child's order does not go through and they have no lunch, we will supply them with a sandwich.  We will no longer have additional items available due to food wastage costs.
We have Gluten Free Bread, available for all sandwich fillings this year, toasted is also available.  Any queries please feel free to come and see us.

We thank you for your continued support of the canteen.

Flexibuzz - Tick Canteen Box 
This is a whole school reminder for everyone to please tick the canteen box on FlexiBuzz for all future canteen related information, including updated rosters, roster swaps and reminders. This information will only be posted on FlexiBuzz, not on Facebook, so please tick the box and tell all your friends to do the same, otherwise you'll miss out.
Thank you,
Jemima and Peta.

REQUIRED:

A NEW SACRAMENTAL TEAM MEMBER 
We are looking for an interested parent to join our Sacramental Team.  Planning for 2020 will take place over the coming weeks and the team  would like to continue to work at improving the way we support families as they bring their children to the sacraments.  If this interests you please contact Clare Broad sacramental.olg@gmail.com

Our Lady of Grace are seeking parents who may be interested in joining the ministry of the acolyte or senior altar ministers. 

Please consider before expressing your interest, your commitments with your children and family. 

Rosters are geared around masses on Saturday 6pm, and Sunday 7.30am, 9.30am and 5.30pm. You may be rostered to serve at any of these times, although preferences are at times considered. Please contact Carla Christou for more details.

0413 567462 or carlachristou@iprimus.com.au

CHURCH CLEANERS NEEDED
The current roster needs an injection of new volunteers to ensure our church is cleaned each week for the weekend masses.

We try to have groups of 4 or 5 who dust and vacuum on either Friday or Saturday mornings.  Each group is rostered on to clean about 4 times a year.  Everything you need is provided in the cleaning room at the back of the church.  Please consider joining this valued ministry.  You can join by yourself and be placed in a group, join with a friend or make up a group of your own.  

If you would like to join the roster please contact Clare Broad sacramental.olg@gmail.com or Sheralee in the Parish Office 9448 4888

OLG SCHOOL COMMUNITY FETE

SATURDAY 9th NOVEMBER

10.0am – 3.00pm

 EVERYONE WELCOME!

Tell your family, invite your friends & neighbours

Come and support your school and enjoy all the rides, stalls and activities

Get your fresh fruit & veg from our very own OLG family farmers market

Enjoy delicious food, drinks & icy treats

TICKET RIDE CARDS – NOW ON SALE VIA TRYBOOKING
Ticket ride cards have been released on Trybooking – 5 rides for $20 (save $10). On the week of the Fete the eldest child will be given the tickets. Visit Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/BGKPG

Each year group has been allocated a stall for the day. Time slots are 1 hour and we require 2-3 people per time slot to ensure the day runs smoothly. Please fill out the sheets allocated outside each year group.

Thank you to everyone who has donated items – we have some amazing things to sell. Funds raised will be going towards the resurfacing of our basketball/netball courts which will be amazing for all OLG kids.

Special call out to all dads for some help setting up on Saturday 9th in the morning from 7am!

If anyone has any questions or would like to volunteer please contact Amanda Doherty 0413 377 557.

Have a great week and see you at the Fete!

P & F Executive Committee

VacSwim 2019-20
Enrol now for VacSwim summer holiday swimming lessons!

With swimming pools and beaches a big part of the Western Australian lifestyle, it’s essential that your children learn how to swim and stay safe in the water.

VacSwim is for all children - from beginners to more advanced swimmers. Your children can start as young as five years old.

There are over 180 VacSwim locations around Western Australia, so wherever your family is spending these summer holidays, there will be lessons near you.

Enrol your children in VacSwim now at education.wa.edu.au/swimming.