Leadership Message – Issue One
Father,
you call us together at the beginning of this new school year.
We ask you to send your spirit upon us that,
as the days and terms unfold,
we may be always mindful of your presence
and alert to opportunities to see and serve you in those around us.
We pray that we may teach well by the example of our own lives,
by our knowledge and love of learning,
by our gentleness and care of the pupils entrusted to us.
In all that we do and say,
we pray that, in building up the community of our school,
we may contribute to the betterment of society
and to the Kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ,
for your greater glory.
Amen
Principal’s Message
Welcome back! It has been wonderful to see you all back at school. As you’re all aware, I have been recuperating from an illness and I am now feeling refreshed and excited about being back at our wonderful school. Thank you to all the community members, for your support, for the numerous messages, phone calls, gifts and visits. It was very much appreciated!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Michael Morris and Anella Tollis (OLA Leadership Team) for continuing with the great work at OLA during my absence. It was quite refreshing to see they carried on with the great work and that all the tasks were up to date and/or in the process of being completed when I returned. Thank you, Michael and Anella.
Wishing you all a safe and wonderful 2023!
New OLA Staff
I warmly welcome the following new staff members to OLA, in 2023.
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| Chelsea D’Arachy in 1M | James Marthins in 2G (Wed-Fri) | Taylah Ackland in 4G (Term 1) |
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| Carol Panaia Education Assistant | Riley McDonald Education Assistant | Jessica Gaffey Kindy G Education Assistant |
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| Dave Gornez PPM Assistant (Term 1) |
Induction/Commitment Mass for New Staff, Year 6 Students, OLA School Advisory Council and P&F Executive
All families are invited to the school’s Induction/Commitment Mass scheduled for Friday 10 February, commencing at 9.00am in the parish church.
During the celebration, all new staff to OLA, Year 6 students, OLA Advisory Council and P&F Executive members will be making a commitment to serve our wonderful OLA community during the year. During the celebration, all new staff, OLA Advisory Council and P&F Executive members will be presented with a religious symbol. The Year 6 Students will be presented with the blessed Ministry and Leadership Badges.
Looking forward to seeing all families at the celebration.
Wellness Dog
Please welcome our new OLA Wellness Dog, Snoopy. Snoopy is a male Cavoodle and was generously gifted to OLA by Pepper Tree Lane breeders who aptly named him Snoopy.
At OLA, we have identified an increase in the percentage of students who are exhibiting signs of anxiety and other social and emotional concerns. A Wellness Dog, common in a lot of other primary schools, will become another strategy that we can draw upon to reduce the level of anxiety in our students.
The benefits of a Wellness Dog at school are endless. They can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness and even improve the children’s cardiovascular health. Caring for a dog can help children grow up more secure and active while providing valuable companionship.
The intentions of the Wellness Dog are to try and reduce and alleviate the amount of stress, anxiety and other social and emotional concerns, as well as develop a sense of belonging within our children at OLA. We as a school, are doing everything we can to help lower the impact of these conditions by having a Wellness Dog at OLA. We know most pets are kind, non-judgmental and a great companion to share and care with. Snoopy will always be your friend.
Wellness Dog Faq
Q- Are dogs now allowed in the school?
- No dogs are still not allowed on the school grounds. The Wellness Dog is part of a training program which will take 1-2 years to be accredited.
Q- Where will the dog be during the day?
- The Wellness Dog will be at school during school hours under the care of its owner Mrs Meleca or other handlers. Over time and once Snoopy has settled and trained he can visit classrooms or spaces around the school as needed during the day. He may also spend time in the Administration and School Counsellor’s area for rests.
Q- What will be the job of the Wellness Dog?
- Some of the roles of a Wellness Dog can include:
- Being with individuals or small groups of children to provide comfort.
- Going for a walk by identified children to reduce their anxiety.
- Joining classroom sessions to listening to children’s speeches or reading.
- Supporting students in any emotional situation.
Q- What if my child is scared or has an allergy to dogs?
- Student safety is our highest priority. Prior to entering the classroom, the handler must check to see if any child is afraid or allergic to the dog. The handler will request permission from the teacher whether to enter the classroom or not and will check how long the Wellness Dog can stay for. The handler will stay for the classroom visit if requested by the teacher. The dog will not be left alone with any student at any time and all of the students from the ECE to Year Six will be explicitly taught about safety around dogs prior to being introduced to our Wellness Dog. We will enforce the Approach, Ask, Pat, Goodbye Method
Learn more about Approach, Ask, Pat, Goodbye Method
How to safely approach a dog:
Please complete and return the attached Permission Note for your child to interact with the Wellness Dog in the future.
Download the Wellness Dog Permission Note
SchoolStream
The communication from OLA will begin to occur through the SchoolSteam app, in the near future. Parents are asked to download and sign into the SchoolStream app. Instructions are included on the attached flyer. As the year progresses, weekly updates, excursion permission notes, general notices and absentee forms will be communicated through the app. Eventually there will not be a school newsletter and all correspondence will be via the OLA School App.
Welcome Back Family Night – Movie Night
As scheduled on the Term 1 school calendar, a Welcome Back Family Night – Movie Night has been scheduled for Friday 17 February (5.30 – 8.00pm). The BYO picnic movie night (Tom and Jerry Movie) promises to be an exciting evening for all families with areas set out for rugs and other areas for deck chairs. Popcorn, slushies, ice-creams and drinks will be sold at the canteen on the night. With many families attending the event, NO ball games will be permitted on the night.
Lawn and Plants
What a difference lawn and trees make to a school environment. Thank you to Mr Morris, Mrs Tollis and Ms Ann Marie Barbaro for coordinating the capital works over the Christmas break. Our next major capital works is to establish and indoor sports centre in the Goretti Hall and and the external basketball court, including the resurfacing of the surface.
OLA Faction Shields
You may have noticed our new faction shields on display on the outside wall of the Sr Goretti Hall. Throughout the year, the students will learn the significance of their own house shield and also the shields from the other houses. The shields were designed by the students and a vote was taken to select the final designs. A number of different designs were combined to create the final designs. A huge thank you to Mrs Amanda Cipriani and Mrs Karen Meleca for undertaking the selection process, designing the shield and coordinating the manufacturing and installation.
2023 Term Calendars
Attached to this newsletter is the current school calendar for 2023. Please note the interactive calendars on the website are updated regularly. I request you check the website calendar when confirming events and times.
Parent Information Evenings
As per the note that went out on Friday, to all families, the Parent information evenings have been scheduled for Monday 6th February and Tuesday 7th February. Please refer to the note sent out to all families for scheduled times and dates or the term calendar.
School Uniforms
A reminder the current changeover period will cease at the end 2023. By 2024, all students should be in their new school uniform, but I am hoping families will endeavour to change uniforms in the near future. A reminder to all parents that students are not permitted to wear free dress items. All uniform items are available at Nell Grey Uniform shop in Inglewood.
Girls Summer (Term One and Term Four)
· White unisex shirt with embroidered school crest – to be worn in or out depending on length of top
· Charcoal skirt or shorts
· White academic socks with school stripe
· Black leather school shoes (not joggers) or sandals
· Maroon, black, grey or white scrunchies/ribbons for shoulder length hair
Boys Summer (Term One and Term Four)
· White unisex shirt with embroidered school crest – to be worn in or out depending on length of top
· Charcoal shorts
· Grey academic socks with school stripe
· Black leather school shoes (not joggers) or sandals
Boys and Girls Sports
· Maroon and black unisex polo top with school crest
· Black shorts with school crest
· School tracksuit with embroidered school crest
· Sports shoes/joggers
· Short white ankle length socks
Parent Details
If your details have changed over the last six weeks, e.g. contact details, addresses work places and /or family circumstances, please email Jane at jane.sloss@cewa.edu.au and advise her of the changes so the school’s data base can be updated.
Medicare Information
It is a legal requirement that as part of the data collection that schools do upon the enrolment of a child that Medicare details are collected. We ask that you please take the time to complete the attached questions in order for us to update and complete our database. We ask that ALL families please complete the form at your earliest convenience.
Please know that your data security is of the highest priority to us and that your data will not in any way be accessible to any outside parties.
https://forms.office.com/r/aAydhgNCRm
Medical Conditions
If your child has a medical condition, e.g. anaphylaxis or asthma, please complete the required paperwork that is available from the School Office. All medications need to be left at the School Office with your child’s completed paperwork. Students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Pre-Primary will have medications stored in the classroom, however, the School Office will still need to be notified of your child’s medical condition.
Medication
If your child requires medication at school, such as Ventolins, etc, can you please ensure we receive the medication ASAP. Please pass the items on to Jane Sloss, at the front office, who will place the medication in your children’s medical boxes.
Health Care Card Concession
Parents, if you are the holder of a current Health Care Card and have not notified the front office please do so. The Health Care Card Discount Scheme, introduced in 2005, provides an automatic fee concession to the holders of eligible means-tested family concession cards (Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card). This discount applies to all year levels from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Dianella Library Carpark
We continue to be contacted by both the Library staff and City of Stirling requesting that our parents do not park allocated for the Dianella Library staff as this area (even when spots are vacant) is allocated purely for library employees.
Permission to Use Student Images 2023
If you would like to amend your child’s permission to use student images from 2021 then please contact your child’s class teacher directly. All permissions given in 2021 will rollover to 2023 unless otherwise advised. New students to OLA in 2023 have been issued consent forms to complete and return.
Thank you.
Michael Morris & Anella Tollis
OLA Leadership Team
