Welcome back to Term 4. It is amazing how quickly the year is flying by! This term brings with it many exciting and new learning experiences. It promises to continue to be full and busy and we will build on the hard work and foundations already in place. This week, we look forward to welcoming our Kindergarten 2023 cohort as they begin their school journey with their first Orientation session. We look forward to warmly welcoming our new families and also siblings from our existing OLF community.

The students have been coming to school each day settled and eager to engage in their learning. Students have been reflecting on their learning and formulating new goals for Term 4, as well as participating in a number of diagnostic assessments which are utilised to plan differentiated learning for all students. There are a number of exciting experiences and events planned for all of our community to participate in as we finalise a great year of learning at OLF!

Assemblies and Awards

SPBL Awards are given out on a Friday at Assembly. If it is raining and the Assembly is cancelled we will wait until the following Friday to give out the awards. Our Monday Assembly is held to welcome the week, pray together, deliver any important messages to the students and sing the National Anthem.

This term we will also begin acknowledging a Student of the Week from each class with a merit certificate at our Friday Assembly. Please note that parents will not be notified in advance. Celebrate this special award with your child when they come home.

End of Year Liturgy and Awards

This year at our End of Year Award Assembly we will acknowledge the recipients of two awards. We will be introducing a Christian Living Mercy Award for a student in each class in K-5 as well as the existing Principal Award. These awards are significant and reflect a number of qualities that the students have displayed throughout the year. Parents will be notified in advance in order to attend this assembly. The criteria used for these awards is:

Christian Living and Mercy Award	This award recognises a student’s outstanding qualities and behaviours demonstrating Christian living and the mercy values of excellence, hospitality, justice, stewardship, service, compassion and dignity.
Principal’s Award	This award recognises a student who has consistently tried with great effort to work towards their personal best in all areas of school life. They are resilient, spirited and approach school and learning with a positive mindset.

Student Leadership

At Our Lady of Fatima, all students are provided with opportunities to display and develop leadership qualities in some way over their years at school. We offer students the chance to explore their potential for personal growth and leadership through working with others, developing teamwork and showing a commitment to their school and parish community by valuing and improving the school community.

Our School Captain and Leadership team process for our Year 5 students is currently being introduced to the students. They will undergo a nomination process and then be given the opportunity to present a short speech to their peers and teachers. It will be a privilege for them to be elected as a school captain for Our Lady of Fatima for 2023 and to aspire to lead and represent their school.

The Year 5 students are looking forward to this exciting new dimension to their leadership and we will continue to work with the students to prepare them for this process.

Staff Development Days

A reminder to please take note of the following dates that have been chosen for Staff Development Days in Term 4. These extra opportunities for professional learning for staff have been put in place aligned with what is offered with the Department of Education schools.

These dates can be found on the parent calendar on the next tab. If for any reason you cannot find supervision for your child/ren there will be supervision available for them at school on any of the following days:

Term 4

Friday 4th November - Staff Spirituality Day
Wednesday 14th December - Students' last day of school for 2022
Thursday 15th December - Staff Development Day
Friday 16th December - Staff Development Day

Parent Rep Meeting

Our final Parent Rep meeting will be held on Friday 11th November at 2:15pm in the library. At this meeting we can reflect on the year and look forward to what next year may hold. It has been a productive year in terms of building community in lots of ways and I thank all the parents who have contributed to our fundraising events with enthusiasm.

School Events for Term 4

Some of the main events and activities that will be taking place this term are:

Kindergarten Orientation sessions for 2023 students- Weeks 2 and 3
Sacrament of Reconciliation- Year 2
Swimming Lessons K-5
Swimming Carnival
Ranger Jamie Picnic Day- Year 1 and Kindergarten
Surf Awareness- Year 6
End of Year Liturgy and K-5 Awards
Year 6 Graduation Mass, Awards and Graduation Dinner
Year 6 Fun Day
Combined Christmas Carols Concert + Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Semester Two Reports available on COMPASS
Promotions Morning - Classes for 2023

See the parent calendar for dates of each event. More details about these events will be communicated as they occur.

Condolences

Please keep the Panagopoulos family in your thoughts and prayers on the passing of Aidan’s (4W) father recently. Our blessings and hearts go out to the family as they prepare to face a world without him in it. May Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. Amen

Creating Independent Children

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Mrs Sue Clay | Principal

OSHC and OLF Preschool

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