Principal's Message

Dear OLA Families,

It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back to OLA for Term 2, after some much needed rest and relaxation over the Easter break. The students returned to school in such a settled manner, with many staff members commenting on what a calm and happy start to the term they have had. In particular, our Preps have not missed a beat and picked up where they left off at the end of Term 1. 

We have an exciting term planned, with the OLA Athletics Carnival, the launch of our OLA Community Pantry, Grade 1 and Grade 2 Prayer Services, Mother's Day Breakfast and Stall, Inform & Empower Family Webinar,  Walk to School Safely Day, Prep 2025 Interviews, Preps in PJs Parent/Child Workshop, National Reconciliation Week, Grade 5/6 Camp, Feast of the Sacred Heart and the St Vinnies Winter Appeal, Grade 5/6 Lightning Premiership, OLA Book Fair and Parent/Teacher/Child Meetings. As always, we dearly thank our dedicated teachers for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide these important experiences for our students. 

Celebrating Baby Taig

We started this term with absolute joy in announcing Baby Taig news! Huge congratulations to Caitlan and Rick on their beautiful baby boy! Such a precious time.

We had lots of fun sharing this news with Josy and I heading straight to the Staff Room to share the news within a second of hearing about Mac . We also announced the news to the children over the PA and the whole school's cheers could be heard for miles!!  

Caitlan shared with us:

Welcoming our beautiful baby boy to the world. 

Mac (full name Mac Steve Taig) was born on Tuesday 16 April at 6:13pm 

and we are so in love already. Everyone is doing well.

ANZAC Day

The OLA community remember the fallen and the sacrifices made by those who served our country. Thank you to our School Captains, Peter, Olivia, Alessio, Bella and their families for representing OLA on Thursday at the Cheltenham Moorabbin RSL ANZAC Commemorative March and Service.

ANZAC Day Service at OLA

On Wednesday we came together to remember the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve our nation. Thank you to our Social Justice Leaders and Mrs Vella for leading this beautiful Service. Lest we forget.

Review

On Tuesday the Leadership Team met with our 2024 School Reviewer Jan Hayes and MACs Regional Leadership Consultant Simon Fitzpatrick for the 'Dialogue and Engagement' part for the Review process. We were delighted to read the excellent report and to celebrate what is going well and to discuss how we can improve - the where to next. We will share opportunities and recommendations with staff, unpack it and determine our next four year School Improvement Plan. '

Strengths:

• Students known and affirmed as individuals in a climate of possibilities and positivity
• A welcoming, inclusive learning and faith community that creates opportunities for students and families
• Communication, clarity and purpose in support of students’ individual wellbeing
• Among staff, shared ownership and responsibility for the growth and wellbeing of every student
• Connections with the parish and commitment to prayer and the celebration of liturgy.

Jan also loved sharing with us some specific student feedback:

Teachers really care about us - Wellbeing, RUOK. We know how to help ourselves - orange cards, 5 trusted adults - and to talk about these things.

Teachers have high expectations and are helpful. ‘I believe you can do it’. 

They realise we are all different.

Teachers know you and ‘expect you to do your best’

Next steps are offered - ‘not just the answer’. Goals help. 

‘It’s ok to make mistakes.’

Prayer, reflection are part of each day. 

Opinions are heard and listened to ‘respectfully’.

School is 8/10 most of the time and 10/10 on the first and last days of term!

Parent feedback:

Strengths: community, opportunity, size, environment. Students are known.

Communication. 

All staff members - welcoming, accessible.

Open to feedback - transparent, accountable.

‘Actually seeing the vision /ideas conveyed on school tours (while deciding on this school) actually happening is an ongoing validation’

Younger sisters and brothers starting in Prep 2025

Thank you to our 27 families for submitting Enrolment Application Forms for Prep 2025 online for our current families. We can't wait to welcome the siblings of our OLA students next year. We have at least one full class of siblings so it was important we have this accounted for before offering places to our new families. We will ensure these offers are made by the end of the week after applications are due on Friday 3 May.

2025 Prep Enrolments

We have one more official School Tour on Wednesday 1 May at 9:15am. If you know someone wanting to tour schools for their child, please encourage them to book a school tour online on the school website or call Sharan or Gabrielle in our front office to book a school tour.  If there are any families that are not able to make this final School Tour date, they are welcome to call to make a time that does work for you.  A reminder that the due date for Enrolment Applications is Friday 3 May. We have been delighted with the highly encouraging response to the 2025 enrolment application process. Any applications that are in progress beyond this date will result in an automatic placement onto our Waiting List.

Working Bee #2 next Saturday!

Like many schools, we hold termly Working Bees where we ask our families to commit to one rostered Working Bee a year completing basic gardening and maintenance tasks.

The Working Bees will take place on the following dates:

Term 2 - Saturday 4 May 10am-12pm

Term 3 - Saturday 27 July 10am-12pm

Term 4 - Saturday 9 November 10am-12pm (In time for the Fete!)

Please find below the Term 2 families rostered on for our Working Bee - we have families from each of the grades across each of the four Working Bees. You are welcome to bring your children to the Working Bees and they can help with tasks and/or play with other children who are also attending. The sense of pride in our school grounds and buildings is increased dramatically with engagement in activities such as this and it is a lovely informal way to get to know other families at OLA. We also ask families to bring tools along to Working Bees, (clearly named) that may be able to assist us in the tasks at hand, for example, wheelbarrows, rakes, shovels, Whipper Snippers, Hedgers, blowervacs etc.

If you have a particular skill that could help the school please also let us know and we can ensure that you are able to be assigned to an appropriate task. Please note you are welcome to swap/change your days with another family or you can make a donation if you are unable to attend. If you would like to request a different date to attend a Working Bee please email Sharan Talbot at the office (office@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au) with your preference.  Thank you as always for your support of our great school.

TERM 2 - Saturday 4 May 

10am- 12 noon

Parish Amalgamation

We are currently working on an amalgamation of Highett & Cheltenham parishes. 

The second Discernment Session to discuss and plan for the forthcoming formal amalgamation of Highett & Cheltenham parishes, is as follows:  

Session 2: 7–8.30pm on Thursday 2nd May in Brigid Hall – OLA.

The invitation is open to all parishioners of OLA and St Agnes’, including the staff of both our parish schools, as well as all school families.  It would be so good to have some of our school families in attendance.

To register please visit: trybooking.com/CQYIM  

The detailed ‘Implementation Plan’ for the ‘Reconfiguration of the Bayside Parishes’, can be downloaded directly from the following link: bit.ly/47JiBHr  

Documents referred to in these sessions will be progressively added to the OLA News Page:  https://olacheltenham.org.au/2024/04/19/discernmentsessions-phase-2-documents/

Care For the Common Home

Our OLA/St Agnes Care for our Common Home Group have shared their April edition of their monthly newsletter.  Please refer to the Parish News tab.

OLA FETE - 23 November 2024 

Plants

Calling all plant lovers and green thumbs! The plant stall is one of the most successful and most loved stalls at our fete. This year we need your help to make sure it is blooming and bigger than ever.  We are looking for people who can: 

• Donate indoor/outdoor plants, indoor/ outdoor plant pots (can be creative) or source donations for the stall; or 
• Propagate plants that you may have in your garden/home to donate to the fete. Even if it is just a few – every little bit helps.  If you can assist, please contact Alysha on  0404 283 615

Jams and Preserves

Once again our Fete Cake Stall will seek donations of jams, curds, oils and preserves. These items are always very popular so please make as many jars as you can. Any questions, contact Kara on 0409 353 957.

Winter Uniform

At the start of Week 3 (29th April) students need to be in their full winter uniform. This includes navy socks with the school uniform and white socks with the PE uniform (no logos). Please also ensure sneakers and runners are not to be worn with the winter uniform and that black shoes have black soles. A full list of uniform requirements can be found under the Uniform tab. 

Calendar

Please open the ‘Key Dates and Events’ tab in this newsletter for important dates or access the OLA Calendar here. Key dates for the coming weeks...

Pupil Free Days for 2024

• Monday 15 April  RE/Inquiry with Kate Korber
• Friday 7 June Family Partnerships 
• Monday 15 July Spiritual Development/Faith Formation
• Monday 7 October Respectful Relationships 
• Monday 4 November Assessment & Reporting
• Friday 6 December 2025 Planning and Preparation 

Please note on the following dates school finish early at 1pm:

Parent/Teacher Interviews on Thursday 27 June

OLA Fete on Friday 22 November

Last day of school Tuesday 17 December

Baby news

Bessie is a Big Sister

Congratulations to Raf, Susie and Bessie (Grade 1). 

On April 6th, Arabella (Bella) Grace was born at 5:23pm followed by Lilliane (Lilly) Marguerite at 5:25pm. Lilly was a bit little weighing 1749grams. She went to NICU and had a rough time, but now breaking through all the milestones and progressing well! Lilly's identical twin, Bella, unfortunately didn't make it and we keep her in our thoughts and prayers. Raf and Susie

All of OLA have you in our prayers and thoughts. Take care.

Congratulations

Junior Mayor Head Speaker

Congratulations to Bella on her detailed and confident speech for OLA’s City of Kingston Junior Mayor Head Speaker role. We love seeing our leaders have a strong stage presence, smile, eye contact whilst also looking relaxed and comfortable. Such great passion. 

Mini Vinnies

Our Mini Vinnies Leaders were commissioned at our whole school Mass yesterday to kick start Term 2. We’re proud to cultivate the valuable life skill of empathy and caring for others here at OLA. It’s another wonderful bond our school shares with our parish.

Grade 5/6 Winter Interschool Sports

Our Grade 5/6 Winter Interschool Sport teams have been announced and teams had their first training session last Friday and first game today. Good luck to all our teams participating in Softball, Netball, Soccer and AFL. 

Cross Country Running 

Thank you to Miss Riley for continuing to offer Cross Country running before school and to Mrs Thompson for offering this during break times too. We have had some beautiful sunshine on these mornings and we congratulate all children for turning up and giving their best.

Principal Awards

It is always wonderful to have a sample of superstars visit the principal and leadership team to celebrate their learning. We recently have had Michael, Will, Frankie and Henry showcasing their robotic creations from STEM, Alastair being recognised for being such a wonderful and supportive Buddy and Henry making great gains in his fine motor skills and handwriting. We love these visits from our extra proud children. 

Thank you

OLA Second Hand Uniform Shop

We love our OLA Second Hand Uniform Shop! With winter uniform items needed it was very popular after school last week. Thank you to the many volunteers who make it happen and who provide this important service to our families.

Let's pray for good weather on Tuesday for our OLA Athletics Carnival at Duncan McKinnon Oval. We will make a decision if it is going ahead by 5pm on the Monday evening and we will communicate via Operoo if it is not going to go ahead. If we do go ahead and get rain on the day we will endeavour to push through so please send along coats and warm clothes!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Richard Jacques

Principal