sLord, as I step into a new academic year, restore my spirit, renew my passion for sharing your wisdom and nurture my compassion for those you put in my charge.

Transform me as I seek to transform, guide me as I seek to guide, open my mind and heart, as I seek to open minds and hearts to the Good News of justice and peace.

Help me listen more deeply to the world and to your Word, so I can walk with my students, attentive to the Wisdom that calls us all to the Kingdom of God.

Amen.

Dear Parents and Students,

It was an absolute delight to welcome everyone back to Our Lady of Good Counsel School last Friday. The classrooms were buzzing, with many happy (and relieved) parents introducing themselves to their child's new teacher and the students becoming familiar with their classroom, before rushing outside for a play with their friends. In particular, the turnout for our 'welcome back' assembly was such a special way to begin the school year.

Mr AM (Andreou-Mill) and I all made our way around to the classrooms and spoke to the students about the high expectations we have of them, in regards to all aspects of school life (i.e. friendships, behaviour, attitude, learning). We could not have been more impressed at how well they have taken on these expectations.

This year Our Lady of Good Counsel School will be celebrating our Centenary. There will be celebrations through the year. More information will be forthcoming soon.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Congratulations to our Year 6's on the way they participated in our senior Leadership program last week. It was a wonderful start to the year and it gave all of the Yr. 6's a great understanding of what it means to be a leader and what is expected of them. Many thanks to our wonderful senior staff Mr. Tom Brophy, Miss Chelsea Perrin & Miss Carrie Kudelka for facilitating these days.

EVENT	DATE
Swimming Trials & Training	6th, 8th, 13th, 15th & 22nd Feb 7:30-8:30am
Open of School Year Mass	Friday 9th Feb at 9:15am -ALL WELCOME
Parent Class Information Evening	Wednesday 21st Feb 7-8pm
P/T Interviews	Tues 27th & Thurs 29th Feb. 2:30-5pm
Prep Commence Full Time	Monday 26th Feb.
Parent Helpers Course	Thurs 29th Feb 9:15 - 10:15am
Staff Conference - School Closure - PUPIL FREE DAYS	Thursday 7th & Friday 8th March
Yr 3/4 Bike Ed Inspection	Monday 4th March 8:30am
Yr 3/4 Bike Ed Program	Tues 12th - Fri 15th March
End of Term 1	Thursday 28th March at 1pm
Term 2 Commences	Monday 15th April

CAMPS 2024

CAMP	DATE
Yr.5/6 Camp Alexandra	Tues 12th - Fri 15th March
Yr.3/4 Camp Mill Valley Ranch	30th Oct - 1st Nov
Prep Story Time Yr.1&2 Sleepover	TBC
Prep Story Time Yr.1&2 Sleepover	TBC

WELCOME TO OUR NEW FAMILIES

A very warm welcome to the Agu, Bagnato, Bowring, Chadwick, Chan, Fleming, Gavin, Grehl, He, Kakridas, Karapatsos, King, Lam, Le Moigne, Li, Mao, Marastics Hija, McLaughlin, Moshe, Nguyen, Nguyen-Tran, Portelli and Stavrinidis families who have joined our school community this year. We hope they have a wonderful time here and feel very much a part of the wonderful OLGC community.

BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR MASS – THIS FRIDAY 9th Feb @ 9:15AM

Our Beginning of School Mass will be held this Friday 9th Feb at 9:15am. Our 2024 Leaders will be presented with the badges and our class candle and prayer cloths will be blessed. All parents are welcome to join us.

PREP FIRST DAY

Congratulations to our gorgeous Preps and Ms Belinda Jackson on their amazing start to primary school. Thank you to the PA for organising Tears and Cheers for all our parents in the staffroom. We could not have imagined a more calm and engaging start for our prep students.

2024 PREP STUDENTS

Our Prep students will not attend school on Wednesdays until the week commencing 26th February, when they will begin full time schooling.

PARENT/TEACHER CHATS

On Wednesday Tuesday 27th and Thursday 29th February, we will host our Parent/Teacher Chats. These are a fantastic opportunity for parents to share important wellbeing and learning information with your child/ren's teacher for 2024. An Operoo will be released next week for parents to select an interview time.

PA - PARENTS ASSOCIATION

There will be a very brief informal PA meeting this Friday at 2:40pm in the staffroom. All are welcome to attend.

2024 OPEN DAYS 2024 – will be advertised soon.

AI - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Due to the many issues of facial morphing through AI (Artificial Intelligence), all social media posts from OLGC will only contain the backs of students and school advertising.

STUDENT MOBILE PHONES/SMART WATCHES

We ask families to remind their children that all mobile phones (i.e. any device with cellular capacity) are to be handed in to the classroom teacher at the beginning of each school day and the WiFi on Smart Watches are to be turned off from 8:50am -3:30pm. This aligns with the Victorian State Government legislation. Thank you for your cooperation.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Parents are invited to attend an Information session in your child’s class on Wednesday 21st Feb at:

7pm for Prep and Yrs 3/4

7:30pm for Yrs 1/2 & Yrs 5/6.

These sessions are a time for the teachers to outline the curriculum being taught and other expectations. It is also a great opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have. Session will be held in classrooms

SCHOOL FEES

The school fees, levies and camps are billed for the whole year at the beginning of Term 1. Families are welcome to pay their school fees off in one of 2 methods, one annual payment or 7 monthly payments. BPAY is the preferred payment method, however payment can be made at the school office by EFTPOS or cash. Reminder statements are sent out throughout the year.

Also a reminder, if you change your email address, residential address or any contact phone numbers, please let the office know.

SCHOOL ROUTINE - REMINDERS

Please see the additional newsletter page that outlines the school expectations in regards to drop off, pick up, parent communication, basketball and other important matters.

MEDICATION

It is imperative that the office be made aware if your child needs to take any medication during school time. Children are not permitted to self-medicate without the supervision of a staff member. All medication must be in the original packaging, clearly labelled as to whom it belongs and the amount of medication and the frequency it is required. A parent or guardian must complete a Medication Permission Form, available at the office or on Skoolbag. All medication must be handed into the office prior to 8.45am. The exception to this is students with Asthma, who may keep their Ventolin or similar reliever medication with them.

Parents need to update their child’s medical plan if they have Asthma or Allergies and add to their Operoo profile. Please see your Doctor to obtain a new medical plan.

MONDAY MORNING ASSEMBLIES – Assemblies are held most Monday mornings at 8:45am (outside) to run through the weekly activities, sing the National Anthem and say our Morning Prayer.

2024 NEWSLETTERS/FRIDAY ASSEMBLIES

Newsletters will be published each fortnight from this week on a Wednesday and assemblies will be held on alternative Friday Mornings at 9am for Term 1. Our first assembly is scheduled for Friday 16th February

CANTEEN

Canteen is open on Mondays and Fridays commencing this week. Lunch orders must be submitted online by 8am through the My School Connect app. Reminders will be sent out and all order must be in by 8am Monday & Friday

ABSENT CHILDREN

Please telephone, email or use the Audiri app to notify the school if your child is going to be absent or late to school and please send a note of explanation to their classroom teacher upon their return.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Students are wear their sports uniform ONLY on the day that they have PE and class sports. All other days students are expected to be in their full Summer/Winter Uniform and school shoes are to be worn on these days. (There may be additional days where children are asked to wear their sport uniform, and we will notify you of these). A reminder that full black school shoes or runners can be worn on no sports days. If black runners are worn, they must not have different coloured logos or other features on them - they need to be totally black.

NO HAT, NO PLAY

A reminder that all children must wear their school hats at all times whilst outside during first and fourth term. New hats are available from the uniform shop. Any child without a hat will have to remain in the shaded areas of the school grounds.

Spare hats are no longer available from the office due to health regulations.

LATE ARRIVALS/EARLY DEPARTURES

Children arriving at school after 9:00am MUST be signed in on the office iPad. Legally, we require you to sign in your child/children, as they will have been marked absent on the official school roll. In the event of an emergency, the official school roll will state that your child/children are absent unless they have been signed in at the office. Once a child is signed in, the roll will be altered accordingly. Also, please come to the office to collect your child and sign them out if you are picking them up early. Any late arrival must be signed in on the iPad at the office, by their parent or guardian after 9.00am and the same if students are to be collected from class before 3.30 pm.

PARENTS, PLEASE DO NOT RING OR TEXT YOUR CHILDREN DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. ALSO, STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CONTACT THEIR PARENTS IF THEY ARE NOT FEELING WELL. THESE CALLS MUST COME THROUGH THE SCHOOL OFFICE.

2024 TERM DATES

Term 1 - 30 January – 28 March

(Easter 29 March - 1 April)

Term 2 - 15 April – 28 June

Term 3 - 16 July – 20 September

Term 4 - 7 October – 18 December

It fills me with such joy that our year has started in such a spectacular manner - this does not just happen by accident. Our successful start is attributed to the significant investment from our families and staff - setting the students up for success across this first week back at school. The Preps (and all students for that matter) could not have been more settled and have embraced the new year with vigour and gusto.

Well done everyone

Kind regards,

Erin Macdonald

Principal

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