Dear Parents and Caregivers

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a special day for all our mothers, grandmothers and mother figures in our community. Each year we pause to think about our mothers and those who have shaped our lives.

What I am about to share with you is the first time I have expressed my experiences with my mother, with anyone, including my own family, before she passed away. Being a private person, I haven’t spoken to anyone about my feelings with the passing of my mother and am now at peace with her passing. For those of you who don’t know, my mother passed away three years ago, during my first year at OLA and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her.

I was flicking through my photos on my phone, during the school holidays, to determine which photos I could delete and came across a ‘selfie’ photo I took with her the day she passed away. I recall the conversation we had that day, we talked about her parents, how she missed her siblings (she had 8 sisters and a brother), who all lived in Spain, and that she was grateful for what she was able to provide for her children in Australia. She made a sacrifice, as all parents do, and my mother was no exception.

As a young boy growing up, my mother would get up every day, around 4.30am in the morning, make our lunches, then went to work at 5.45am. In the afternoons, she would leave my brother and I afternoon tea for when we came home from school and went back to work at 3.00pm.

Growing up in a house where we only spoke the Spanish language, whilst conversing with my parents, I recall her saying to my younger brother and I (we were in Year 2 and Year 4 at the time) she was a teacher and she worked at Balcatta Senior High School (maybe that’s where I received the inspiration to become an educator). As a very young boy I believed every word that came out of my parents’ mouths and this was no exception.

I recall having a conversation about what she taught, and she replied, in Spanish, she taught English and I believed her so I told all my friends she was a teacher. The truth of the matter is she didn’t speak a word of English and she was a cleaner at the school. it was her way of ‘humouring’ me. We talked about this just before I took the ‘selfie’ with her that day, and we laughed so much. I went home that afternoon, went back to take over the shift from my brother at 8.30am – I was on my own. An hour later, she peacefully passed away. I sat there for a few minutes, waiting for the doctor to confirm she had passed away, and all I could think about were the times she supported me and helped me be who I am today. These are the same values I have, myself, instilled in my own children.

My mother was always adamant her children would receive a Catholic education, regardless of how much it was going to cost them. I recall conversations she had with my father stating she worked so we would be raised in the Catholic faith. And, she was always adamant the boys were going to be taught by the Christian Brothers. I have many fond memories of my mother taking me to mass so I could be an altar server and reflecting on these experiences, I believe this is the reason why I was at peace when she passed away in front of me. Knowing she had passed away, and being on my own when she left this world, I was at peace knowing she was happy in heaven with Jesus and her family. I was also at peace that she too was with me and her family, spiritually.

We don’t know what we have until it is taken from us. Treasure the moments you have with your mothers and grandmothers (only met my grandmothers once when I went back to Spain as a young boy) and enjoy every moment. Share the joys and sadness life brings us all, and always appreciate what they have done for us.

Wishing all the mothers, grandmothers and mother figures in our community a very special Mother’s Day this Sunday.

OLA Advisory Council and P&F Meetings Venue

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions (and not knowing what restrictions will be in place next week), the OLA School Advisory Council and P&F meetings will be held in the Veritas Hub (Library) next Tuesday. The main entrance gate will be left unlocked for the members to enter (push the gate).

Chisholm College Scholarships

Congratulations to Sophia Brunini and Raphael Toh in receiving Academic Scholarships to Chisholm College next year. Last year, Prashanth Sailendranath received a scholarship to Perth Modern School and the year before Michael Adams also received a scholarship to Perth Modern School. We are so proud to say Sophia and Raphael are OLA students! Well done!

Café OLA

Commencing next Tuesday (Canteen days), the canteen ladies will be selling quality coffees from the Canteen from 8.00am – 9.0am to parents. Over a period of time, they will also commence selling muffins, ham and cheese croissants etc. before school. Before purchasing a coffee from the local cafes, consider purchasing a coffee from our own canteen. A Parents’ Menu (food items only sold to parents) will be sold from 8.00am each canteen day. We will be sending out a menu to parents early next week.

Clubs

With the clubs now operating since last week, it was great to see so many children join in the groups. At OLA, we continue to ‘value add’ to what we do and I would like to sincerely thank the staff members who have volunteered to supervise the children during these sessions. For those of you who missed my Week 1 newsletter, below are the Clubs being offered at OLA this term.

Sacramental/Mass Celebrations Capacity

At this point in time, all churches are permitted to have 100% capacity, however with the instant lock downs we’ve had recently, due to COVID-19, things may change next weekend when the Year 4 students receive their First Holy Communion. The Year 4 parents will be advised if changes/restrictions are made, by the Premier Mark McGowan, prior to the events. If restrictions are placed on the capacity permitted in churches, please be advised we’re obligated, by law, to enforce these restrictions at all celebrations. Let’s pray it remains at 100% capacity.

Mother’s Day Celebrations – OLA Parish

All families are invited to join the OLA Parish for Mother’s Day Mass on Sunday 9 May at 9.30am. Bowra & O’Dea will be sponsoring a morning tea for all attendees straight after the Mass.

OLA Winter Uniform

All students are now requested to wear their winter uniform. As per previous years, all students are given a week’s grace (Week 1) to organise themselves, however, all students need to be in the new winter uniform, unless the old winter uniform is still being worn. Thank you, to all the parents, for their support with the above.

Circuit Morning Fitness

Since introducing the daily morning fitness program, students have participated actively in the program, with music playing in the background. We now would like to move to the next phase of the morning fitness program and organise circuit activities, with planned sporting activities for the students, on a daily basis. To achieve our aim of an organised circuit for the students, we require parent assistance at each station, on a daily basis. If you’re able to assist, and it doesn’t have to be every day, please email Ciaran at ciaran.allsop@cewa.edu.au who currently organises the morning fitness program. Once parents indicate their support for the program by volunteering to assist, Ciaran will coordinate a roster and distribute to all volunteers. Looking forward to your support and assistance with the above.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

Thank you.

Greg Martin, Michael Morris and Rebecca Smith

The OLA Leadership Team