OLOG eNewsletter Term 3 Week 10

Dear Parents and Caregivers

It was wonderful to return and be welcomed back by everyone at OLOG. The students certainly made me feel that I belong here at OLOG and they couldn’t wait to share all that had happened while I was on leave. My long service leave was filled with warm weather and time for snorkling and swimming. Both my husband and myself embrace outdoor activities.

I am very grateful of the work and Leadership undertaken during my leave. Mrs McCormick truly valued the time to lead and work with everyone. She shared her rich experience at OLOG and embraced all the learning and events over the last month. I also acknowledge the work and leadership from the Leadership Team during my leave from Debbie Scuteri, Sue Brinkworth and Kerri Rowell.

As we reach the end of Term 3, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the achievements, exciting events, and memorable moments that have marked this term. It has been a busy and vibrant time for our students, staff, and families. Our Term 3 Mid-Year Reception students have successfully completed their first term of Primary Years schooling.

Congratulations to our students who have excelled academically and continued to strive to achieve their learning goals. Learning habits and expectations continued to be developed as this is evidenced throughout my learning walks and talks in classrooms. We are also particularly proud of students participating in the OLOG Debating Team who achieved a strong placement. Congratulations to our OLOG Debating Team led by Mrs MacIntosh :

Our school’s sports teams have had a fantastic term. Highlights include the OLOG Athletics Team, House Cup activities, SAPSASA Athletics representations from Iyla G and Olivia R, Music exam achievements in Piano, Touch Football, SACPSSA Cross Country, with some fantastic results across these events.

This term, we have also enjoyed Catholic Education Open Week, Reception Mid Year students starting at OLOG, Sacramental Celebrations, class liturgies, Father’s day, P & F special days, Green and Gold Day, excursions, Book Week, Child Protection Week, School Disco and more. A big thank you to all the volunteers and staff who made these events possible!

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our staff members for their dedication and hard work this term. A huge thank you to our parent volunteers and broader community for your ongoing support. Your efforts in fundraisers, classroom support and events has been invaluable. As we look forward to the next term, we are excited about the busy yet enriching term ahead.  Be sure to check out the Term 4 calendar and key dates section for a preview of what's in store in Term 4.

Please ensure that students return to school in their full uniform and having their school hats for all outdoor activities.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable term break.

Peace and Blessings
Josette Charles
Principal

HATS 

As part of our Uniform Policy all students are to wear their school hats from this week and in readiness for Term 4 where it will be NO HAT NO PLAY. Please make sure your child/children have a hat and they are named. Hats are available from the uniform shop.

eSAFETY
Parent and Carer support eSafety has a dedicated Parents section with resources and advice to help parents and carers with online safety issues and strategies to support their child. Some resources include: Cyberbullying guide: This page helps parents and carers understand how they can help their child if they are being bullied. You can also download and print our cyberbullying quick guide, which has key information and advice

Our lady of Grace School Bullying Procedures

HATS OFF TO TEACHERS - World Teacher's Day

This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to express our gratitude to the teachers who work tirelessly to support and inspire our students every day. We encourage everyone to take a moment to thank a teacher and let them know how much they are appreciated. 

Charles Young Nursing Home Visit

On Wednesday the 18th September the Year 3/4LG class visited residents of the Charles Young Nursing Home, living out our OLOG Way and the Dominican Pillars of Service and Community.

The children and residents got to know each other, read stories together and participated in yoga exercises led by a volunteer yoga instructor.

The children had a good time visiting and connecting with the residents from Charles Young Nursing Home.

Term 4 Masses and Liturgies

· Year 5/6 Mass St John Paul the second: 23rd October @ 9:15am

· All Saints Whole School Liturgy: 1st November @ 9:00am

· Remembrance Day Liturgy: 11th November @ 10:50am

· Year 3/4 Mass; The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 21st November @ 9:15am

· End of Year Whole School Mass: 4th December @ 9:15am

· Year 6 Graduation Liturgy: 10th December @ 7:00pm OLV (Our Lady of Victories Church- High St Glenelg)

Season of Creation

We are now more than halfway through the Season of Creation. The Season of Creation is an annual Christian celebration inviting us to pray and respond together to the cry of Creation. It unites our Christian family around the world to listen and care for our common home. The Season of Creation began on September 1st, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on October 4th, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology. This year’s theme is ‘To Hope and Act with Creation’.

During this Season of Creation, we are called to work together for a future of hope and action to make our world a better place. What could this action look like? Some simple ideas are:

· Go on a beach walk. Praying and give thanks for the gift of creation that God has given us

· Go on a nature work spending time to notice all the elements of creation you are grateful for

· Pack nude food lunches without any wrappers

· Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth

· Plant some seedlings or seeds

· Avoid using single use plastics

For more information and to access the official Season of Creation guide please go to this website https://seasonofcreation.org/

Visible Wellbeing

A strength is not only something that an individual is good at. Strengths have three elements; high performance, high energy (derive high energy from it’s use) and high use. There are strengths of talent and strengths of character.

Using a strengths based approach is about focussing first on what is working well with a person, before we develop their weaknesses.

The Year 1/2’s were doing a character strength spotting activity.

A child is chosen to sit on a seat without facing the whiteboard.

The other children write up strengths that they see in the chosen child. The chosen child then sees what the other children have written.

Not only do they learn to identify what strengths are, but they are learning to spot strengths in others.

Virtual Visible Wellbeing Parent Evening with Professor Lea Waters

This presentation introduces parents to Visible Wellbeing which combines the science of wellbeing with the science of learning to make wellbeing visible in all classes and across co-curricula at the school. Visible Wellbeing is the culmination of 20 years of high-impact research in psychology and education conducted and published by Lea Waters PhD. In this presentation, Lea shares a few of the Visible Wellbeing practices that can be easily used by parents to support the wellbeing of their children at home.

Date: Thursday November 7th, 2024
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom Link: Please register via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/5yrxf6fu 

Attendees: All parents, carers and any school staff are welcome to attend the evening. Please note, this evening will also be attended by other VWB Program school members.

As I reflect on the busy term, there has been many opportunities and events to be involved in the life of OLOG. We are truly blessed.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a relaxing break and hope that you enjoy spending quality time with families and friends.

Joy and Blessings
Debbie Scuteri
APRIM/Inclusive Education Coordinator

OLOG Fee Statements were issued last week via your eldest child or published to the Community Portal for those currently registered.

1. Afterschool sports charges have been added to accounts for those participating in sports this term.
2. Afterschool sports charges are due in the term incurred, please make your payments by the end of Term 3.

Remember to check your statements for these adhoc charges as your direct debits may not cover these additional charges

Please ensure your payment plans will be sufficient to clear account balances by 15th November 2024.

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 

Remember you can view your account and make payments via the Community Portal https://cesa-portal.civicaed.com.au/

Not registered yet?

Invitations have been issued again so please look out for an email sent to you from noreply@civicacloud.com.au - please check your junk or spam Inbox.

REMINDER: Swimming Week

 Grand Final Fever in the Library!

It has been a very busy term for the P&F Committee and we thank all those who have been involved.  Next term there is no slowing down with the following events planned: 

DON'T FORGET TO DONATE YOUR OLD UNIFORMS

Term 4 2024 will be the last term for the "old" uniform.  From Term 1 2025 students will be expected to be wearing the new style school uniform. 

In line with our sustainability and community values, we are proud to announce Our Lady of Grace School will donate any old uniform items to Ghana's First Women's Shelter.

We are also happy to take donations of backpacks, sneakers, and soccer boots!

We ask that all donations are clean and in good condition. 

Please bring your donations to the front office, and our P&F member Rebecca Thompson has offered to facilitate ensuring our donations are safely received in Ghana. 

Thankyou. 

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.