Religious Education

It was wonderful to celebrate our Opening of School Year Mass last Friday. We are grateful to Father Hoang for leading the mass so gently, and being a support in the planning of these special times of celebration. It was lovely to have our choir, led by the wonderful enthusiasm of Mr Hawke. We were excited to acknowledge and bless our new school leaders and present them with their badges and jackets! It was also very special to present our Foundation students with their Guardian Angel Badges and warmly welcome them to our school. Our year 5 buddies were a great support to our Foundation students, by walking with them to the church with and sitting with them, gently explaining the mass and modeling respectful behavior.

It was also terrific to have the 5/6HH class lead us in prayer at assembly. It was and opportunity to delve more deeply into prayer, and make connections to social justice. Thanks, 5/6HH!

Our whole school meditation program is up and running again on Mondays and Fridays at 11.45. It is a wonderful time of stillness and silence throughout the school and time for our students to 'let go and just be'. 

Shrove Tuesday- Pancake Tuesday

We look forward to Shrove Tuesday next Tuesday! Traditionally Shrove Tuesday was the last chance for a spot of indulgence before 40 days of fasting, and also an opportunity to use up food that couldn't be eaten during Lent. We will celebrate this day by handing out pancakes from 8.30am! Father Hoang will also join us to burn the Palms from last year's Palm Sunday Mass, in preparation for our Ash Wednesday Mass at 9.15 on Wednesday 22nd February. Parents are most welcome to join us at this mass in the church.

Lenten Bedtime Prayers

We will be placing prayers on our Website from next Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. The childeren will be reading these prayers and asking questions about ways they can be the best person they can be during Lent. This is a wonderful opportunity to link home and school, so it would be terrific if can set up a cosy prayer space and join in the prayers each evening.

Clare Hicks - Religious Education Leader

Student Wellbeing

The ‘Real Life’ Sexuality Program is about to commence at OLPS.  This very well regarded program about human sexuality and respectful relationships, commences with a information night for parents of students from all year levels P-6. I would really encourage you to attend this session (all sessions are online) as the program will be explained in detail and any questions you may have will be answered by Sue Pain, the consultant delivering the program

Please see below for the night that is relevant for you and the zoom link you require to join in the meeting.

 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. jjames@olsurreyhills.catholic.edu.au

Parent Information Night (adults only) Parents of all level students P-6 are invited.

Our Lady's Parent information

Wednesday, February 22nd · 7:00 – 8:00pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/onq-hsos-aef

Family Evening

Family - (Parent/s or carers & child/ren) years 3 & 4

Wednesday, March 8 · 6:30 – 7:30pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jqy-zymt-jyo

Family Evening

Family (Parent/s or carers & child/ren)- years 1 & 2

Wednesday, March 1 · 6:30 – 7:30pm

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ipt-ipzs-rwg

SRC REPRESENTATIVES- SEMESTER ONE 2023

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected the SRC representatives of their class for semester one 2023. 

SRC members will assist their çlassroom teacher to run a class meeting  every fortnight. 

This is an opportunity  for all students in the school to raise and discuss concerns and praise improvements about all aspects of life at school. The SRC members then meet with the Wellbeing leader at fortnightly SRC meetings, sharing ideas, suggestions and requests from the students in their class.  Actions may then be communicated to the school leadership and instigate change/school improvements/innovations.

Prep

Sophie Brown &  Caspar Neate

1 /2 KL

Dean Madytianos. Lily Conroy

1/ 2 SL

Trinity Horfiniak Liam Hueston

 3./ 4 AMC

Bella Ibbot. Henry Monkhouse

3 /4 S

Hattie Campbell. Jasper Zowa

5/6 BH

Emilia Greening Max Greening

5/6 HH

Zoe Earl Mya D’campli

Staff First Aid

All staff at OLPS have recently completed a first aid course, including updating CPR training with a view to responding to the needs of our students and keeping our school community safe.

Jane James

Wellbeing Leader

Sexuality Education

Sexuality education begins at home and can be supported by schools as part of a broader curriculum aimed at maximising children’s health and wellbeing.

To this end, Our Lady’s Primary school has commissioned consultant Sue Pain from the company ‘About Real Life’ to offer classroom programs for students from Foundation to Year 6.

Additionally, family evenings (adult & child) sessions have been scheduled. The Year 5/6 students have 3x classroom sessions (Puberty & Reproduction) I would highly recommend families attend these online sessions as I’m sure you will find them informative of the programs at each level and also have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

The sessions are facilitated discussions between parents/carers and their children about life, bodies, safety & relationships, including one session focused on the menstrual cycle.

Please see below for dates and times for your diaries!

As mentioned, all sessions are ONLINE, the relevant links to join in these nights will be shared with parents closer to each date.

Parents & Carers of ALL year levels -Information session (ADULTS ONLY) February  22nd 7-8pm

Year 3/4 Family evening (Parents & their child.) March 8th.  6:30pm-7:30pm

Year 1/2 Family evening (Parents & their child.). March 1st   6:30pm-7:30pm

SRC Student Representative Council

All classes will be discussing the role of the SRC within the school. Each class will vote for two representatives to hold these important positions for semester one 2023.

SRC will be announced the week ending 17/2/2023. Parents of newly elected SRC representatives will be emailed.

Child Friendly Child Safe Standards.

The Child Safe Standards aim to protect children and young people, by requiring organisations to put policies, procedures and processes in place to prevent and respond to abuse. They aim to make keeping children and young people safe a key focus of organisations in Victoria.

All classes throughout our school will be learning about the Child Safety Standards using the 'child friendly' version. The link to CFCSS your children having been learning about is below, it would  consolidate your child's understanding if parents could also discuss the standards with children at home. 

Child Friendly Child Safe Standards 

Jane James

Wellbeing Leader.

Literacy News

Parent Helpers!

Parent engagement in learning is known to lead to improved outcomes for students of all ages. Parents play an essential role as the first educators of children, and ongoing, active engagement of parents, families and communities has a major impact on a child’s success at school. Teachers and schools can support parent engagement in learning by building partnerships to connect learning at home and school.

Research indicates that parental involvement in school is linked to better grades and fewer behavioural problems in students, particularly in Primary School.

Parental engagement in learning underpins children and young people’s cognitive and social and emotional development, shapes family practices and behaviours, and can impact the nature of the school community and the experience of schooling. Parental engagement is therefore a highly significant leverage point for enhancing the academic attainment and wellbeing of children and young people (Emerson, Fear, Fox & Sanders, 2012, p. 34).

But it's not just the parent helpers and their children who benefit. Helping out in class helps build a stronger school community.  It allows more children to have important one-on-one help and attention (eg with reading and maths drills). It frees the teacher up to focus on small groups or individuals.  It gives students greater social confidence and experience of diversity as they work with different adults.  

A parent helper information session will be run in the library at 9am on Wednesday the 8th of March at 9:00am. With in class parent helpers beginning on Tuesday the 14th of March. If you would be interested in helping within the classrooms please contact Stu Andreou-Mill at sandreou@olsurreyhills.catholic.edu.au with the days, time and class you could help in.

We look forward to working in partnership!

Stu Andreou- Mill

Learning and Teaching Leader

Assets for Life

"In preparing students to be active citizens in the 21st century we must do more than provide students with information. Knowledge is insufficient. It is the skills and dispositions that students learn that will transfer across learning domains and into the future. The greatest assets we can help build in young learns are the ability to think deeply and creatively, to communicate efficiently, to collaborate with others and to manage all this with initiative, confidence and independence."

- Kath Murdoch, 2012 -

Here at Our Lady's we develop students understanding and use of their Assets for Life. Through explicit teaching, modelling and reflection the students are developing their shared understanding and language across the school. Our students and teachers ensure they collaborate and communicate, research and think, and self-manage during each day. We actively encourage parents to use this shared language at home when discussing their children's day or learning and modelling the behaviours when they discuss their days and plans.

"If people are given the skills and tools to use and presented with a range of potentially powerful educative expoeriences, then given the freedom, they will almost invariably choose one and get on with it. Once learners get in touch with their own sense of personal power, get out of their way and watch in awe"

- Edwards, 2004 -

Physical Education & Sport News

SWIMMING TRIALS.

It was wonderful to take along 40 students to Aqualink Box Hill to participate in the Swimming Trials. Students swam 50m heats in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke hoping to qualify for our school representative squad.

If successful students will participate in the NBDPSSA District Swimming Carnival on Thursday March 2nd. 

The squad will be posted on the Sports Noticeboard in the next few days, an Operoo note will be sent home to parents about this event.

Good Luck Everyone!

WHOLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL- MONDAY 27TH FEBRUARY

Save the date!

We are busily planning the whole school 2023 OLPS Athletics Carnival, we would love to see all of our parents & friends joining us on this day.

We need many parents & friends to support us by taking on a job ( not difficult & will be explained) on the day. 

Please contact Mrs James if you are able to volunteer your time, it would be very much appreciated! jjames@olsurreyhills,catholic.edu.au

Interschool Sport.

Interschool Sport commences on Friday February 24th. Our first game will be against St Anne's Kew East. Parents are most welcome to come along and spectate, please see the link to the fixture below.

Interschool Sport Fixture

Mr Tony Hollamby will be coordinating this program in 2023.

Colour Run 2023 - MONDAY 20TH MARCH

More information will be posted closer to the date.

Can you assist in dispersing colour on the day...please let Mrs James know if you can assist.

Yours in Sport 

Mrs James

Physical education & Sport Coordinator.