News from our Principal 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the last few weeks the staff and students have certainly been "sharing the good news of joy" and using their gifts and talents in many ways. We have experienced some amazing success with our swimmers in the pool, on the rugby league field with representative selection and ET Shield, on our netball and tennis courts, our Cross Country runners who showed grit and determination, our school captains representing OLF at the St Patrick's Day Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, our Year 6 students proudly showcasing our school during our open days, the engagement with the parish in the sacramental programs, our beautiful SPAR prayers in Kindergarten with the students and parents, our Harmony Day activities and Purple Lenten day where Year 6 provided cupcakes to raise money for Caritas, the powerful learning that is happening in all the classrooms, and last but not least our impressive Ms Puskaric who achieved first place in the Shark Island swim last weekend! Wow! No wonder we are all getting ready for a term break and holiday. 

 Last week we celebrated Sabbath Week or Wellbeing Week at school with the students and teachers. It gave everyone the chance to catch their breath after a very hectic and intense start to the 2022 school year. No homework for students and no meetings for teachers!  The last two years of chronic change and uncertainty have impacted many people and affected their levels of stress in many ways so these little initiatives are a good way to address our wellbeing.  

As a Be You school, we run a number of programs that focus directly on building students' social and emotional capabilities for well-being. We take the teaching of specific social and emotional skills very seriously and aim to support students to develop these essential skills for life. Should you have any concerns about your child's well-being, the first person to speak with is your child's teacher who can then listen to your concerns and perhaps direct you to seek further help. Please be assured we care about your children at OLF and work hard to support them, nurture them, guide them and reassure them.

Every child yearns to be seen, heard, understood and valued. The more connected and safe our children feel, the better they are able to cope and behave and indeed thrive in their environment, even in schools. There are some excellent resources, books, podcasts, blogs and seminars to access by Maggie Dent who is one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators. She has a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience, and is an undisputed ‘boy champion’. She is commonly known as the "queen of common sense". 

See her invitation below to her "From Boys to Men" Seminar held next week : 

Come along to my first Sydney seminar of 2022 (in-person!) on 1st April at Kirrawee. I am delighted to be able to share insights and tips from my book, From Boys to Men: Guiding our teen boys to grow into happy, healthy men. This seminar will empower and enlighten anyone who lives or works with boys aged 10 - 25 yrs. To better understand them and support them to thrive as they progress through this often-challenging stage of development. 

I will explore how you can:

•  communicate effectively with our boys
•  teach your lad to cope with loss and failure, and recover well
•  help them foster healthy friendships and intimate relationships
•  the importance of the line in the sand
•  navigating middle school and high school
• ‘unstick’ an unmotivated son

Click on the button below for more information and to book in the seminar: 

Parent Representative Group

Today a small group of parents who nominated themselves to be part of the Parent Representative group this year met to build, strengthen and nourish the relationship between the parents and school community. These parents will represent you and communicate the school initiatives and plans put forward for the year ahead. Stay posted for more information. 

2023 Enrolment Information

The enrolment process for our Kinder students has begun. It is hard to believe as we continue to settle our current Kinder students into school that we are already looking ahead at next year’s cohort. If you have a sibling who is ready to start school next year please submit an enrolment form asap. 

Click on the links below for information on Sydney Catholic Schools' new Online Enrolment Process.

Message From Archbishop Anthony

These past weeks, the world has looked on with horror at the events unfolding in Ukraine. A brave, sovereign, peaceful and democratic country is being overrun by a rapacious, imperial power that aims to decapitate its peaceful neighbour and replace its democratically-elected government with a puppet regime. 

Thousands have died as a result and we are currently seeing the largest movement of refugees across Europe since the Second World War. Pope Francis has asked all Christians to pray and fast for an end to the war and for the safety of our sisters and brothers of Ukraine-and indeed of Russia. At St Mary’s Cathedral and in parishes across the Archdiocese of Sydney, we have joined in prayers for peace. 

Our cathedral was also lit up in Ukrainian colours, as a mark of our solidarity with the people suffering under Russia’s brutal invasion. In a very tangible way, we can also support those suffering in Ukraine through the Caritas Ukraine appeal to ensure as much humanitarian aid as possible reaches those in need. 

I encourage you to donate to this appeal if you can and you can donate online here: https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/ukraine-appeal/

Dear Lord, 

You observe all those who dwell on earth. 

Have mercy we pray on those who now suffer the miseries of a war not of their own making. 

Have compassion on the wounded and dying; comfort the broken-hearted; confound the hatred and madness of those who make war; guide our rulers, bring war to an end, bring peace across the world.  

Unite us all under the reign of your Son, the Prince of Peace, before whose judgement seat the rulers of the world will give account, and in whose name we pray. Amen. 

As we continue to live out our Lenten promises and prepare for the joy of the risen Lord let us continue to remember the mercy traditions of Our Lady of Fatima and Catherine McAuley who says 

" may we never get weary of doing what is good." 

Mrs Suzanne Clay | Principal