Newsletter 28 February 2018

Principal's Message

The OLG Difference
Like all Australian schools, OLG is accountable to governments and its local community for meeting all the learning and teaching requirements of the State, yet OLG also has distinctive goals and features which derive from a core of philosophical and theological foundations central to its character and mission.

Making a difference
Catholic schools are an integral part of the Church and are Christ-centred communities based on gospel values. Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of individuals and in the wider community by challenging young people, through God, to find meaning and value in their lives and reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society who are highly skilled, informed, tolerant, open and just.

OLG seeks to develop in students, communal obligations and aspirations, to espouse values which unite society and to promote citizenship infused by a commitment to social justice. We seek to instil students with faith, values and knowledge to guide and support them throughout their lives, to provide them with preparation for a life of worth, not merely a life of work.

Quality Learning and Teaching
OLG seeks to provide a high-quality academic and vocational education for all our students, giving due emphasis to the fundamental literacy and numeracy skills required for both learning and life. We deliver the Western Australian Curriculum and offer broad curriculum and co-curricular options in well-resourced and equipped classrooms.

OLG’s emphasis on respect for self and others promotes a well-disciplined environment that is conducive to quality teaching and learning; an attribute highly sought after and valued by parents. A faith and values approach underpins an OLG Catholic education and Religious Education is an integral part of life of the school and curriculum.

Affordability
The OLG School Board strives to keep fees as low as possible so that more families can choose a Catholic education for their children. Even when school fees paid by parents are included, Catholic schools, on average, operate with only about 90 per cent of the income of government schools, meaning Catholic schools consistently achieve more with less.

In keeping with Gospel values, no child is refused an OLG education due to financial inability or difficulty. New or existing parents who find themselves in this situation are encouraged to discuss fee concessions with the school principal who will treat the situation with understanding, sensitivity and confidentiality. It is the expectation that families with the capacity to contribute do so, so that our school can maintain the high quality of education that Catholic education is known for and our families rightly expect.

What we at OLG Offer

• Faith and values based learning environment
• A holistic education – academic, spiritual, social, emotional and physical development
• Welcoming, inclusive and family-oriented environment
• High standards of behaviour and respect for self and others
• Safe and caring environment
• Sense of belonging and community
• Nurturing and development of individuals and their abilities
• Quality learning and teaching
• Strong academic reputation
• Well-resourced and equipped classrooms with ICT integration
• Development of life-long skills and a love of learning
• Strong links with parents and community
• Commitment to social justice
• Preparation for a life of worth, not simply a life of work

(I give full credit to the Cairns Diocese for the content of this article for they said it better than I could have.). https://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/about/the-catholic-school-difference

Stage 8a Reaches Completion
Yesterday the grass was rolled out on what, by comparison to what it once was, is a very large area of open play space. While we will not be able to use it for six or more weeks while it establishes itself, the wait will be worth it. A large, even, open space for our children to run and play in.

Meanwhile, the nature playground is almost totally complete with just the boat installation and bridge (on the bike path) to go. Adam Gardiner from GTI WA Pty Ltd, (the father of Hudson Doherty-Gardiner in Year 3) has done most, if not all, the woodwork in this area and to a very high standard.

The south-west entrance should be completed this week, enabling parents to access the school from Wilberforce St. It is essential that parents using this entrance send their Year 1 to 6 children to the Year 1&2 courtyard and not allow them to stay in the ECE area before the 8.15 bell goes. Your cooperation in this matter will mean that we can allow access through the SW gate in the knowledge that our duty of care is being met.
Legally, once a child enters the school grounds their responsibility is transferred to the school (me!). That duty persists even when the child’s parent is nearby. For quite obvious reasons staff members are loathe to give directions to a child who may be breaching a school rule, when that child’s parent is nearby. It is awkward to tell a child to come off the grass/stop swinging from the tree/being where they are not permitted to be at that time of day, when the parent appears quite happy for their child to be on the grass/swinging from the tree/not being in the Year 1&2 courtyard.

21ST CENTURY DIGITAL LEARNERS
The school is currently in discussions with experts from CEWA as to how best and affordably we can transition to a 1 computer device per child environment at OLG.
Between currently school-supplied and devices brought in by students, we have coped well enough in the digital learning space to date.
It is now time for us to go beyond ‘well enough’ to excellence. We want our “students to learn how to work in the digital space in a safe, ethical and responsive manner as citizens of learners in the global space.” This is a matter of achieving a balance with hands-on, manipulative learning and using IT where it offers a better learning experience than can be achieved otherwise.
Having a lower ratio of devices to children (move from 1 device per 5 children to 1 device per child) will enable a significant shift in teaching practice and greatly enhanced parental knowledge of what is happening in the classroom.
Used wisely, devices have and will continue to enhance student learning and address the WA Curriculum requirements.

What we are researching:

• School infrastructure upgrade to support the dramatic increase in devices relying on connectivity - Ruckus Wireless wifi is being considered.
• What devices at which year levels best address educational requirements.
• The cost of this change for parents. How to have quality at an affordable, annual cost (taking into consideration parents of current Year Six students who will be faced with purchasing a device for secondary school, next year.)
• A program of professional learning for teachers to ensure IT becomes a normal part of every classroom’s learning experiences and how they can maximise the learning impact of having the devices in their classrooms.
• The need for increased IT technician support time.
• The financial commitment of school over a 10-year span

Ideally, our timeline to begin implementation would be this year and even this semester.
Full implementation will probably take longer.
All decisions will be made with the interests of our students’ learning, and the impact on families, at the forefront.

Realising the potential of our ability.
Our life is a gift that comes to us through a graciousness that is beyond our understanding. Every adult and every child has a talent and an ability to contribute to the good of the broader life around them. But are we daring enough to “stick our neck out” or “go out on that limb” to realise the potential of our ability?

We can “if” and “but” about life too much and before we know it, life has passed us by. As someone once put it, “Too often opportunity knocks but by the time we push back the bolt, undo the two locks, take off the three chains and turn off the alarm, it’s too late.” When attempting something new or different, we must not be afraid to make mistakes. If we want to achieve something, we have to be prepared to take the knocks and experience failure. Life is a little like playing chess; as some of the chessmen move forward they may be beaten, but they may set up a winning game.

Kiss and Drive – Safety Is No Accident – a Cooperative Activity
In truth, we would prefer you parked and came into the school on foot. That way you would have the chance to meet and catch up with other parents, speak with staff and generally be part of the school community.

The rules for the K&D zone are quite simple:

• Cars and children are a bad mix. The aim of the K&D is to strictly and safely control the interaction between young children and large machines.
• At drop-off and pick-up times, the driveway around the church is solely for those using the K&D and abiding by the spirit of its use (and, of course, parishioners accessing the church and parish centre). It is a cooperative process that sees our students enter and exit the school safely and quickly.
• Having children cross through traffic is unsafe. Children have quite poor peripheral perception and despite regular coaching, are not good at observing road-crossing rules. Yours might be, but the one who runs out in front of your vehicle may not be!
• Overtaking is not permitted, no matter how urgent your need to be on your way.
• Out of courtesy to fellow users, if your child is slow in turning up at the K&D at the end of the day, be happy to go-around.
• Left turn only at the exit.

School Happening

√   Karate is being conducted on Tuesday evenings in the MPA.
√   Acro will commence on Wednesday afternoons in the MPA.
√   Discovery Kids (after school care) has moved to B1, next to the new uniform shop.
√   A Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) professional learning course was conducted at OLG on Tuesday with educators from a number of schools in attendance.
√   Next week OLG will host a gathering of school leaders from this north west coastal region of Catholic schools.
√   Two Sydney-based Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our Order, visited the school on Friday last and met with members of the Associates of the Order on the weekend. As all the Sisters are, they were lovely. They took a brief tour of the new developments and were very happy with how their former school was looking.
√   Our student leaders, Bronte Begley and Noah Rowley, have been invited by the RSL to lay a wreath and recite the poem, “In Flanders Fields” at this year’s ANZAC Day dawn service.
√   Formal approval to go to tender for Stage 8b has been received from CEWA.
√   Dance concerts for PP, Year One and Year Two are scheduled for this Friday.
√   Dance for Years 3 and 4 starts next week.

Michael Keenan with Head Girl & Boy Bronte Begly and Noah Rowely

Important Dates

Term 1 Calendar 2018 - click here

Amendment: There was an error in the Information Sheet sent home. Term 2 finishes on Friday 29th June.

Canteen

Please contact Peta Taylor on 0419 260832 if you can help out with volunteering.

To access our online order system please visit www.ouronlinecanteen.com.au. Instructions for signing up are on the website or you can contact the Support line on 1300 116 637 for assistance.

Lent Special on Fridays

• Napoletana Sauce (meat free) with pasta spirals - $3.50
• Arancini - Mini Cheese Ball - $1.50 each

New Canteen Menu - click here

Canteen Roster Term 1 2018 - click here

Assembly

This week's assembly will be presented by students of 4B. Parents of 4B children are invited to the staff room after the assembly for a cuppa with Miss Jess Ottolini.

Congratulations to the students who received merit awards at the last assembly.

 Library Roster

Please see Trish in the Library if you would like to be placed on to the Library Roster.

Cake Stall:  The Year 6 classes will be holding a cake stall int he Multi Purpose Area on Friday 2nd March. Please come along and help support their fundraiser. A reminder to the Year 6 parents who will be baking for the cake stall that OLG has a Nut Free policy.

Swimming Carnival - 6th March

Junior Carnival 9.00 - 11.00am  Help will be required to assist children in the water. Please put your name down in the office.

Senior Carnival 10.30 - 2.30pm. Help will be required. Anybody will a pol bronze will be most welcome. Please put your name down in the office.

Winter Uniform Order Form - click here

Choir Has Started!
Welcome to all students who have come along to both Junior and Senior Choir!

Senior Choir students lead the singing in both Masses at the outset of term one and are now meeting every Wednesday morning in the music room at 7.45 am. Any student from Years Three, Four, Five or Six are welcome to come and join the Senior Choir. Please remember to bring a water bottle and a display folder.

Junior Choir has also begun with many fabulous personalities from Year's One and Two. Junior Choir meets in the music room every Tuesday afternoon from 2.50 - 3.50 pm. Please remember a small snack and a water bottle.

Instrumental Music

Instrumental music lessons have begun for the term and students have settled into a routine. We are so excited that so many children are taking up instrumental lessons. Keep in mind that we are looking for another cello student and have an instrument here at school that can be borrowed.
Please collect an enrollment form from the office if you are interested in your child learning a band or string instrument.

Christina Goldie

Congratulations to the students who have qualified, and will be competing at the Surf Life Saving WA 2018 State Championships on the 16th, 17th and 18th March.

Acro:  Come and join us for some fun & fitness right here at school!!!!

WEDNESDAYS 3.15-4.15
IN THE MPA
Classes start Wednesday 28th Feb for 7 weeks.
Just $13 per class

Strength, flexibility, balance and acro skills taught in a fun, familiar environment with their friends.
Younger kids will be collected from their classrooms so
just pick them up at 4.15!!
To register & for more information please contact
Lisa at corefitkids@hotmail.com
Or call 0404 935308

Congratulations to Nala (PPB) Priddis and family on the safe arrival of her brother Malakai.  Congratulations also to Simon (3G), Damian (KG) and Anton (STAR) Martinovich and family on the safe arrival of their little brother Leon.

Help Required: As we do not have a Coordinator for the Reachout as yet our freezer is bare. If you can help out with Cakes and/or meals please contact Vicki in the office. Thank you.

Parents and Friends Association

“OLG Run for Fun” is a free running club where kids of all ages and fitness levels can come together before school to run and exercise in a positive and supportive environment. Parents and grand-parents are encouraged to run with the kids and have fun.

We all know running is a great way to get fit, but it offers so much more. Kids who exercise in the morning are generally more engaged and focused during lesson time. Running clubs enable kids to build friendships and have fun. Running builds healthy hearts and minds and brings joy to children.

OLG Run for Fun is run by volunteer parents each Tuesday and Thursday morning during school terms and has now commenced. The more parents, the more fun! OLG Run for Fun will include some warm up activities and games and there will be a couple of running courses, of different lengths, around Charles Riley Reserve to suit different ages and fitness levels. There will be no free breakfast or awards - it’s just for fun.

As the club is run by volunteer parents, students in Year 3 or below must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to ensure adequate supervision. A permission slip for all students must be completed before your child can participate. Permission slips will be available for signing at the first session your child chooses to attend.

Days: Every Tuesday and Thursday morning
Start time:                         7.40am to 8.15am (volunteer parents will then walk kids to school)
Where: Meet at the south east corner of the football clubrooms at Charles Riley Reserve
What to bring:                   Drink bottle, sneakers and the right attitude
Cost:                                 Nil
Commitment: None – simply come for a run if you want to have fun
Parents:                           Please run with your kids, they (and you) will love having you involved
Remember:                      Eat breakfast at home first or bring something to eat after the run.
Volunteers:                       More parent volunteers are always required, please click on the link
below to let us know if your available to help out during the sessions.
More Info:                        Contact Dave Nelson or Ann Howard on 0412 771 741 or
email oannhoward82@gmail.com

RUN FOR FUN ROSTER 2018:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JRey7agUGdaD_mp5no9uJFAcTZ_g2D_GTJvoLIWcL_w/edit?usp=sharing

Don’t forget to add the Run for Fun Club group in Flexi Buzz

The body achieves what the mind believes.

R4F - Student Authorisation Form - click here

Netball News

OLG Netball Club is looking for anyone Year 7 and older interested in umpiring for an OLG team this season. Any queries please contact Marissa Krajcar olgncumpire@gmail.com. Thank you.

2018 OLGNC Information - click here

Year 6 Registration Details - click here

Important Dates Term 1 - click here

Years 2-5 Registration - click here

OUR LADY OF GRACE NETBALL CLUB

What a wonderful start to our 2018 season we have had. It started on Friday 16/2 with our refresher clinic for the years 4, 5 & 6 with over 50 netballers keen to brush up on their skills. It was a great session and all the girls put in a lot of work & listened well to all the coaches.
The following week saw the year 6, 5 & 4 teams participate in grading. We thank our independent graders that came along to help us with this process. They spoke very highly of the players ability and willingness to showcase their talents.
I would like to thank all our volunteers who helped coordinate the 2 events. Without these wonderful volunteers we can not run these programs.
Team announcements will be made via email after school on Wednesday 28/2. There are a few teams that still require coaches & managers. Without these, we can not register the team, so please consider taking on these wonderful & rewarding roles. Please email OLGNCpresident@gmail.com

Thank you
Carly Thomson
President, OLGNC

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR SPONSORSHIP 2018

Thank you again to our wonderful 2017 Sponsors: West Coast Turf, Pharmacy 777 Whitfords & Karrinyup Physiotherapy Centre, Kikka - Short Term Business Loans, Daniel Cassettai Design & Climb Early Learning Centres.

This year, due to our exciting building developments, we are possibly looking to find a new venue for our end of year wind-up and sponsorship would make this happen. We are also looking to provide our Year 4-6 girls with some specialty coaching clinics. We would love it if anyone out there was thinking of sponsoring, to come on board to help us out.

So, please don't hesitate to contact our Sponsorship Co-Ordinator, Angela Todd on angela_todd@outlook.com to obtain some extra information.

On behalf of the OLGNC Committee, thank yu for your continued support.

Basketball News

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

On Sunday February 18th OLG basketball club was at the Bunnings Whitfords raising funds for the club. The club was able to raise approximately $900. These funds will be used pay for our first ever end of season players function.

Thank you to the amazing team of volunteers who gave up some of their Sunday to support the club:
Regi Walsh, Tania Sultana, Adele, Jen and Damian Hicks , Michael Halleen, Ann Howard, Kathryn and Andy, Peter Souris, Warren Williams, Monica and Paul Southern and Juliet Taylor. Thank You !
A very special thank you to Monica Southern who did an amazing job in organising us on the day and also completing all the preparations leading up to ensure that we had all that we needed to make it a success.
End of Season Players function 11th May- SAVE THE DATE
A get together is being planned for all players, coaches and managers to celebrate the finish to the season !

Regards

Tony Scaglione
OLGbasketballclub@gmail.com

Parish News

Sacramental Dates - click here

A Service of Prayer & Song in the style of Taize –
Short chants repeated give a meditative character and Peace
Candle light, prayer and silence in the presence of the cross.
Thursday 1st March 7.30pm - 8.30pm

Our Lady of Grace Church
3 Kitchener St. North Beach

Contact 9448 4888 or Joan 9448 4457
Many thanks.
Joan Burke
Our Lady of Grace parish, North Beach.

for more information about Taize community in France www.Taize.fr

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME
CONFIRMATION
FAITH FORMATION (for Parents) - 13th March Fr. Greg Donovan will be the guest speaker.
ENQUIRY WEEKEND - 17th/18th March
ENROLMENT - 24th/25th March
PARENT/CHILD WORKSHOP - 5th April
COMMITMENT WEEKEND - 7th/8th April
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION - 26th May at 6pm and 27th May at 9.30 am
THANKSGIVING MASS - 24th June at 5.30 pm

All events need to be attended if you wish your child to receive the sacrament this year.

CHURCH CLEANING

We have a dedicated team of wonderful cleaners who give of their time 4 or 5 times a year to clean the church. For those who are on the roster and perhaps are finding it hard to commit due to change in circumstances please let the Parish Office know. That way we can make adjustments to groups in order to ensure we have enough cleaners each week.

If you would like to join the cleaning roster we would love to hear from you. We have groups of 4 or 5 who clean for about an hour 4 to 5 times a year. Most groups clean on Friday afternoons at 2 pm but we do have Saturday morning groups who clean after the morning mass. If this is something you think you would like to be a part of then please contact the Parish Office or Clare Broad (sacramental.olg@gmail.com) for further information.

WEEKEND MASS TIMES
Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm
Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am & 5.30pm
Children’s Liturgy: Sunday 9.30am (During school terms)

DAILY MASS TIMES
Monday 6.45 a.m.
8.30am Communion Liturgy (Deacon Paul)
Tuesday 6.45am & 9.00am
Wednesday 6.45am & 9.00am
Thursday 6.45am
10.00am Trinity Village All Welcome
Friday 6.45a.m & 9.00am
Saturday 8.00am Please note, this is NOT a weekend Mass 

Community Notices

Iona Presentation College Scholarship - click here

Paul Litherland, from Surf Online Safe will be attending Newman College on the Monday 19 March, to conduct a presentation on the subject of cyber safety. Paul's presentations are very informative and offer some great tips and tricks on how to keep kids safe online, as well as how to stay one step ahead of them in the online world.

Iona Presentation College will be hosting two Open Mornings in March and one later in September this year. For more information click here 

Relationships Australia - Rock Water Program - click here

Relationships Australia - Understanding Step Families - click here

Relationships Australia - What's on in West Leederville - click here