OLOG eNewsletter Term 1 Week 2

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome to 2025 at Our Lady of Grace School! It has been a pleasure to welcome everyone—our returning families and staff, our new Reception students and families, and our new staff members.

In preparation for the school year, our dedicated staff have engaged in professional development, compliance training, planning, and classroom setup. I sincerely thank them for their hard work and commitment in ensuring a smooth and welcoming start for all our students last Tuesday.

We are excited for another year filled with exceptional learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum. We encourage you to continue working closely with us to ensure that the best interests of your children—our most precious gifts—always remain our priority.

Your support in reinforcing student responsibilities, both academically and behaviorally, is invaluable. Should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher as a first step. Open and early communication helps us address concerns before they become more significant. We are committed to ensuring that every child achieves excellence in their learning, and our teachers look forward to sharing students’ progress and celebrations with you. Please make use of SeeSaw and arrange meetings with your child’s teacher to strengthen our partnership in their learning journey.

At Our Lady of Grace, we celebrate the uniqueness of every child, nurturing their faith and fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them. We look forward to embracing the joy, excitement, and opportunities this new school year will bring.

Our school theme for this year, "Pilgrims of Hope," reflects our shared journey of faith and optimism. In 2025, the Church celebrates the Year of Jubilee, and Pope Francis has chosen this theme to encourage all people to embrace the power of hope. Hope holds a special place in Christianity and in the hearts of all humanity, guiding us to look forward with faith and confidence.

Family Engagement

We look forward to providing many opportunities for family engagement throughout 2025. All families would have received comprehensive email correspondence from classroom teachers to start the year. The Parent Information Evening held this week provided another opportunity for parent and school engagement.

Our Parent Handbook has been updated for 2025 and can be accessed online here. It’s a great resource for all families - new and returning!

Parent, Staff and Community Welcome Evening

Thursday 13th February 

6:30pm-8:30pm at OLOG

We are hoping that all parents can come along and welcome new parents .

I look forward to the evening and grateful for the support from P&F and Sara Cox for all the work behind the scenes.

Please RSVP via Audiri to assist us with catering.

We welcome the following staff to OLOG:

We are delighted to introduce and warmly welcome Ms Jen Edwards (Yr3/4) and Ashley Pett (Performing Arts) and Franca Brigante (ESO). 

Ms. Jen Edwards has been teaching in Catholic Education for nine years since completing her Bachelor of Education. Most recently, she taught at St. Augustine’s, working with students in the Early and Primary Years. Ms. Edwards is dedicated to building positive relationships with her students, nurturing their academic success, and supporting their overall wellbeing.

Ms. Ashley Pett brings a wealth of experience in Performing Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Dance and a Bachelor of Education and has taught across all year levels. Passionate about the arts, Ms. Pett inspires students to engage deeply in the world of performance and creative expression.

We welcome Franca Brigante, who many of you will recognize is our Camp Australia OHSC Coordinator. 

Franca will be working as part of our Education Support Team and is dedicated to providing classroom support with our students. 

Some interesting facts about Franca is she has a dog named George who loves going to the Beach and Franca's favouriote part about OSHC is creating and preparing the scrumptious breakfasts and afternoon teas for our OLOG students. 

Thanks Franca! 
 

Family Name Labels to use in your car for drive through pick up in the afternoon

Having your child's surname clearly printed and placed where it can be seen on the sunvisor or dash helps us find your child quickly and speed up the collection process in the afternoons.

In the past we have printed names for all families in our school – if you would like us to send home a label for your car to be used at pick up please email us and we will get one ready for you and send it home.

Email aoconnor@olog.catholic.edu.au  if you make the subject SCHOOL PICK UP SIGN we will know to make one and send it home for your use.

Welcome 2025 Reception students

Our Reception students have settled so well into school life here at OLOG. They are already making lots of new friends and learning our routines. 
We wish them all the very best with their school journey here at OLOG. 

OUR LADY OF GRACE- 2025 STUDENT LEADERS

We congratulate the following Year 6 students who have been appointed as Student Leaders

Student Voice  Leaders:

Mikayla, Isabella, Ivy, Dulcie, Tom, Lucy R, Tabatha, Mackenzie, Maddie, Teresa, Saoirse, Owen and Billie.

House Leaders:

MACKILLOP: Ollie and Olivia
AZA: Ben and Lucy T
DOMINIC: Evie and Darcy
SIENA: Finn and Sophie
 

Welcome back to Our Lady of Grace School for 2025. It has been a wonderful start to the new school year. A special welcome to our new staff, students and families. Blessings to you all.

Beginning of Year Mass

Yesterday we celebrated our Beginning of Year Mass in Church led by Father John. We launched our 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope”. We welcomed everybody, in particular to our new staff, new students and parents, and a special welcome to the new Reception children all of who bring new energy, gifts and life to our school community.

Father John blessed our new wooden crosses which will be used in the classroom in their sacred spaces.

The Pope has designated this year as the Jubilee Year of Hope. A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years.

A Jubilee is a time to reflect on God’s mercy and generosity, inviting believers to deepen their faith and strengthen their commitment to justice, peace and love. It gives us a chance to rediscover God’s love, reconcile with others, and contribute to building a more just and merciful world.

This year being a year of jubilee with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope” it might be useful to contemplate the richness of word “Pilgrims”.

Pilgrimage is a singular activity that is engaged with communally. People travel together, perhaps not always side by side, but there is a sense of shared endeavour and bringing each other along.

This is exactly what we strive to do in our Our Lady of Grace School community, journeying with God and with each other in hope, supporting each other in our collective travels. 

Term 1 Masses/Liturgies

5th February @ 9:15am- Beginning of Year Mass

5th March @ 9.00am- Ash Wednesday Liturgy (Reception-Year 2)

5th March @ 11.10am- Ash Wednesday Mass (Years 3-6)

Parents are most welcome to attend.

Visible Wellbeing

Strengths are positive personal characteristics, including personality traits, psychological abilities, moral qualities and talents, that feel natural and enjoyable to use.

As part of Visible Wellbeing the Year 1’s learnt about the VIA 24 Character strengths.

The children chose their top 3 and placed them on a crown above a picture of themselves.

We call it our strengths crown.

In Year 1, when someone is Star of the Day, their top three strengths are also displayed with their photo.

A wonderful way to highlight the strengths that we have.

Shrove Tuesday

As per tradition Our Lady of Grace School will provide students pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday)

The cost of the pancake will be $1.00 with money raised being donated towards Project Compassion, our Term 1 Social Justice initiative.

Orders for pancakes will be through the Qkr! App. 

The school will provide the following choice of toppings;

Lemon and Sugar
Strawberry Jam
Maple Syrup

We will provide gluten free pancakes for those who will need them.

If your child has any other dietary requirements, could you please email me on dscuteri@olog.catholic.edu.au in order for us to try and provide an alternative.

We are also seeking some parent volunteers to help cook the pancakes. We will need the volunteers from 9.00-11.00am. This includes cooking and serving time.

Thank-you in advance.

Joy and Blessings
Debbie Scuteri
APRIM/Inclusive Education Coordinator

Time is running out to RSVP for our Parent Welcome Night!

Join us next Thursday evening for a delightful night of good company, fine wine, and live music. If you enjoy a cold beer or a glass of Sidewood wine paired with delicious platters of hot and cold canapés, this is the event for you!

Our featured musician, Eva Rundle, will set the tone with beautiful tunes throughout the evening.

This is also a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow parents, caregivers, and school staff in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Details:

Date: Next Thursday 13th February 
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: School grounds
Please RSVP via the eForm below by Friday, 7th February, for catering purposes.

Note: This is an adult-only event due to the service of alcohol. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Kind Regards, 
Sara Cox 
Marketing and Enrolments Coordinator
scox@olog.catholic.edu.au 

2025 Fees

OLOG fees are billed in full at the start of the year and the 2025 Fee Statements have been published to the Community Portal.

Families should by now have established their payment plans for 2025.

Please contact the office if you have not yet established your payment plan.

Payment plan options include:

Annual up front - 4% discount applies on the annual net 2025 tuition fee for accounts paid in full by 31st March 2025.

Monthly - 10 payments payable on the 15th day Feb-Nov 2025
Fortnightly - 22 payments commencing from the 1st Feb 2025
Weekly - 42 payments commencing from the 1st Feb 2025

All accounts are to be paid in full by the 15th November in the year incurred.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Low income fees are provided to families/caregivers who are eligible for School Card.  Applications are available online via https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/financial-help-scholarships-and-grants/school-card-scheme

COMMUNITY PORTAL

The Community Portal can be accessed via the following link https://cesa-portal.civicaed.com.au/

Registration to the Portal is via emailed invitation from noreply@civicacloud.com.au 
(please check your junk or spam Inbox).

Invitations to the Portal have been issued again today.

If you are experiencing difficulty managing your fees or if you have any queries regarding your account or payment plan, please contact Kerri Rowell on 8177 9100 or finance@olog.catholic.edu.au 

Welcome to 2025 and an Exciting Year of Sport!

Dear OLOG Community,

We hope you had a wonderful break and are ready for another fantastic year of school sport! We have a busy term ahead, and we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of some key upcoming events:

Swimming Week – Week 4 (Reception - Year 3)
Year 4/5Aquatics – Week 5 (Thursday)
Year 6 Aquatics – Week 5 (Friday)
Sports Day – Week 10 (Friday)
SACPSSA Events & School Sports – Various dates throughout the term

Co-Curricular Sports – Get Involved!

This week, we will be finalizing team nominations and kicking off our Term 1 co-curricular sports program. Following our first-ever Coaching Meeting, we are still in need of Coaches and Team Managers to help support our teams. Please register your interest with us as soon as possible.

Without volunteer coaches, we cannot run our teams, so if you are able to help in any capacity, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Whether you have experience or are simply keen to get involved, we would love to hear from you!

Let’s make 2025 a great year for OLOG Sport!

For any inquiries or to express your interest in coaching or managing, please contact sports@olog.catholic.edu.au

See you at the court or ground
Mr M

Welcome back! This year we have some very exciting things coming. Some dates to remember and write in your calendars: 

Wednesday 21st of May – National Simultaneous Storytime. 

We’re excited to announce that our school will be participating in National Simultaneous Storytime again this year! This special event, where schools across Australia read the same book at the same time, celebrates the joy of reading and promotes literacy. This year’s book has been announced, and it’s Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell! A copy will soon be available in the library, so feel free to stop by and read it with your child in the morning. Stay tuned for more details. 

Week 5, Term 3 (16th- 23rd August) - Book Week 2025  

Book Week will be held in Term 3, Week 5, and this year’s theme is Book an Adventure! This week celebrates the best in Australian children's literature, with a special focus on the CBCA Award shortlisted books. Students will explore exciting stories and take part in creative activities. We can’t wait to share all the fun and adventures with you soon! 

Premiers’ Reading Challenge 

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now underway and will run until 7th September. Forms will be given out by your child’s class teacher to help track reading progress at home. This is a great opportunity to encourage reading and celebrate the love of books as a family! 

Scholastic Book Club 

OLOG is participating in Scholastic Book Club again in 2025! It’s a great way to inspire a love of reading while supporting our school. Two catalogues will be sent home each term, and you can also access them online via LOOP. Purchases can be made through the LOOP app, available on the App Store or Google Play. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or catch me in the library before school! 

Library Open Hours and Borrowing Times 

Our OLOG library is open for families to read, return, or borrow books from 8:30am every morning. It’s also open for fun activities during Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes. Class borrowing times are posted on the library door for your convenience. Please remind your child to bring their library bag - no bag, no borrowing! 

Welcome to 2025 School Year

The Parents and Friends Committee is a dedicated group of parents, caregivers, and school staff working together to create a positive and supportive school community. Our role is to foster a strong relationship between the school and families through various events, fundraising initiatives, and community-building activities.

Our Mission:

To support the school by organizing events and activities that enhance the school experience for students and families.
To raise funds for additional resources and opportunities that benefit the school community.
To provide a platform for parents and caregivers to engage with the school in a meaningful way.

How Can You Get Involved?

Attend our meetings and share your ideas
Volunteer at our events
Help with fundraising activities
Support other parents and families by being part of a welcoming community

We always welcome new members to join and contribute in any way they can. Every parent’s involvement, no matter how big or small, makes a significant difference!

Meetings:
Please check the school’s newsletter or our P&F social media for the upcoming dates (To be advised in our following newsletter). 

How to Join: If you're interested in being a part of the committee or would like more information, please contact us via scox@olog.catholic.edu.au. We would love to have you involved!

Informing the school of absences

If your child is not going to be at school due to illness, or will be late due to an appointment, it is imperative that you inform the school by:

• Phoning the 24 hour student absentee phone number: 8177 9191 before 8.55am; or
• Completing the absentee form in the Audiri app; or
• By emailing the class teacher or olog@olog.catholic.edu.au

Advance Notice of Absence / absence of more than five (5) days

For advance notice of your child’s absence, please complete the Application for Exemption from School Enrolment/Attendance Form, which is available from the Front Office.

Unexplained absence

If a child is not present and the school has not received an absentee call or email by 9:30am, the office will contact parents (generally via text) to ascertain the student’s whereabouts.

If your child is late

If your child arrives after 8:55am, they will need to enter through the Front Office and be signed in manually by a parents/caregiver via the IPAD (Passtab), then go to the classroom. If this process is not followed and the student has been marked as absent, an automated text message will be generated.

Early Departure

Should any child need to leave the school grounds during school hours e.g. dental/doctor appointment, parental permission must be given. All students must be signed out at the Front Office by their parent/caregiver before leaving the school.