OLOG eNewsletter Term 1 Week 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

As we finish Week 6, we are well into the middle of the term!  The season of Autumn is upon us and yesterday we began the season of Lent. We gathered as a whole school to celebrate Ash Wednesday and prepare ourselves for the journey towards Easter.

During Lent, we are invited to reflect on our lives and renew our commitment to living out the Gospel values. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and giving to others, helping us grow closer to God and more aware of the needs of those around us. We embrace this journey at OLOG.

Thank you to the parents that assisted us with Shrove Tuesday to cook and share the many pancakes with all students. I encourage all families to participate in our Lenten events, including supporting Project Compassion, which allows us to make a positive difference in the lives of vulnerable communities. May this season inspire us to seek transformation and deepen our faith.

OLOG Policies and Procedures

OLOG is supported by many important policies and procedures.  Many of these are developed by Catholic Education South Australia and assist us in our important role of creating and supporting a safe environment for all.  I have shared the links to many of these below.  If you have any questions about any of these, please do not hesitate to come and speak with me.  They will soon be available on our website.

The safety and wellbeing of your child/ren is of the highest priority.  Please see the following website for more information how we, and Catholic Education SA, can support your child.  It contains great links to sites that have essential information about CyberSafety, Child Protection Curriculum and support services available to both parents and children.

https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/safe-environments-for-all

School Board and Annual General Meeting

The School Board AGM will be held on Tuesday 18^th March at 7.00pm in the Community Space.  Reports will be tabled at the beginning of the meeting and elections for new members will be held.  At the conclusion of the AGM please stay to engage with School Board Members and enjoy some nibbles.

STUDENT LEADERS at Dare to Dream Day

Our Year 6 Student Leaders attended a Student Leadership Day at the Adelaide Convention Centre with many Year 6 students from independent, government and Catholic Schools. The day provided students the opportunity to deepen the understanding of Leadership.

Strategies and tools were provided to support our Student Leaders how they can communicate effectively and respond to change. Opportunities were provided for students to connect with other Student leaders. Resilience and Self leadership where important focus for our student leaders.

Today we welcomed Sally Ryan, Year 12 Cabra College Captain and former OLOG student, who came and visited our Year 5 and Year 6 students to share her Leadership Journey and empower our students.

Peace and Blessings
Josette Charles
Principal

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. Traditionally Christians would go to church on Shrove Tuesday to confess their sins in preparation for Lent, and they would also use up indulgent foods such as milk, eggs and butter. This is why we celebrate with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.

A big thank you to our parent volunteers who help cook the pancakes for Shrove Tuesday; Rebecca Thompson, Kim Holt, Andrew Rusack and Richard Scollin.

The children certainly enjoyed eating the pancakes!

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. The season of Lent is a time of preparation for Easter when we relive the mystery of the Risen Christ and the light of hope it sheds on our whole existence.

When we speak to the children about Lent, there are three ways the Church teaches us we can truly turn our attention to God in our lives; through prayer, through ‘fasting’ or living in a way that is ‘simple’ and through giving to those in need.

On Wednesday the Reception- Year 2 children celebrated with an Ash Wednesday Liturgy. The Years 3-6 children celebrated with an Ash Wednesday Mass. It was lovely to see so many parishioners at the mass and many parents at the Liturgy and Mass. We were marked with ashes on our foreheads during the Liturgy and mass as a public expression of our faith and humility.

Please find attached the NAPLAN schedule for Year 3 and 5 students for next week and an information brochure which provides further details about the NAPLAN testing process.

Should you have any questions, please email me at sspicer@olog.catholic.edu.au

Naplan Information Brochure

Naplan 2025 Testing Schedule

FEES REMINDER

Thank you to families who have confirmed their 2025 payment plans. If you have not yet confirmed your payment arrangements for 2025 please contact Kerri Rowell finance@olog.catholic.edu.au or 81779100 to discuss. 

Up Front Payment Discount Reminder:

There is still time to access 4% off your net tuition fees
Discount applies to accounts paid in full by 31/3/2025
If you are unsure please contact Kerri Rowell - Finance Manager. 

Fee Statements have been published to the Community Portal:  https://cesa-portal.civicaed.com.au/

If your invitation to the portal has expired or if you have any queries please contact our admin team olog@olog.catholic.edu.au who will be able to assist. 

Sports Day Friday, April 4th

Dear Families,

We are excited to remind our community that our annual Sports Day will take place on Friday, April 4^th at Sacred Heart College Senior School Oval. This day is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their athletic abilities, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a fun and supportive environment.

Event Structure & Schedule

The day will start at 8:45am (children need to arrive by 8.45am for roll)

Our Reception to Year 2 students will participate in a tabloid-based Sports Day, featuring a variety of engaging activities such as sack races, running relays, soccer and football kicks, 50m sprints, and more.

Our Year 3-6 Sports Day (Traditional Format)

Students in Years 3-6 will compete in a more traditional Sports Day format. Each student will participate in up to five events, including:

- Running events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 60m Hurdles and 800m races

- Field events: High Jump, Quoit-Discus Throw, and Vortex

- Relays: Year level house relays and the exciting Super Relay

The day will conclude around 1:00pm. 

Additional Information

-Students are encouraged to wear their house colours and appropriate footwear for the day. 
House coloured T-shirts can be puchased via Qkr! but be quick, as orders close shortly. 

-Please ensure your child has a hat, water bottle, recess and sunscreen to stay sun-safe.

-Families are welcome to attend and cheer on their children throughout the day.

We look forward to a fun-filled day of participation and friendly competition. We have food and drinks available to purchase at the venue. (We kindly ask students only consume food after their event). 

Thank you for your ongoing support in making this a memorable event for our students.

Regards

Mr M

Please read the latest Newsletter from Camp Australia.

Do you require OSHC on the Pupil Free Days? Please refer to the attached flyers for information about booking a place on our Pupil Free Day Friday 7th March and / or Friday 11th March.

OSHC Pupil Free Day:  7th March

OSHC Pupil Free Day:  11th April 

A few dates upcoming in the library for you to write in your calendars.  

Orders Due 21^st of March - Scholastic Book Club 

Book Club Issue 2 has been delivered and given out to families. Issue 2 orders are due to close on the 21^st of March. Order before this date so you don’t miss out! Every order made on this issue will receive a $5 promo code to be used toward Issue 3. 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! 

Wednesday 21^st 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, Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell, is now available in the library for you to read along with your child.  

Runs Until 7^th of September – Premiers’ Reading Challenge 

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now underway and will run until 7th September. Forms have been given out by your child’s class teacher to help track reading progress at home, and spares are kept in the library. This is a great opportunity to encourage reading and celebrate the love of books as a family. Please encourage your child to finish all 12 books and hand their form into the library to help their class be the first class to finish the challenge in OLOG. 

Week 8 – Harmony Week 

Celebrate Harmony Week with us in Week 8! We’re focusing on diversity and inclusion, with exciting activities in the library for all students. Join us before school and during lunch for fun, creative events that celebrate different cultures and promote understanding. Don’t miss the chance to learn, share, and make new friends in a welcoming space! 

Library Opening Hours and Borrowing Times:

Our OLOG Library is open for families to read, return or borrow books from 8:30am every morning.  Lunchtime on Monday and Tuesday we also offer games and fun activities.
Class borrowing times are posted on the Library door, and plesae remember for our younger yerars - NO BAG, NO BORROWING.

SAVE THE DATE:

P&F Cake Stall - Sports Day: Friday 4th April.  We are asking for donations of cakes, biscuits, slices and lollies which can be sold at the P&F Cake Stall on the day. 

Kindly ensure that all food products include a legible ingredient list for safety and allergy information.

Hot Cross Bun Recess : Thursday 10th April (orders will open on Qkr! shortly)

QUIZ NIGHT: mid June - Date to be Confirmed.  If you are a business or know of a business who would like to donate prizes / gift vouchers / any type of prize we would love to hear from you. Prizes will be awared to best dressed table and we are hoping to have a wine wall, plus plenty of prizes to be won on the night. 

Plesae contact Sara Cox scox@olog.catholic.edu.au if you are able to assist. 

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.