Principal's Message

Dear OLA Families,

Traditionally, Term 4 is a transitional period for our students, as they prepare to move up to the next year level and even on to Year 7. For many of us, it's hard to believe how quickly the time has flown, in particular, for our soon to be departing Grade 6s. It only seems like yesterday they were in Prep! We look forward to celebrating their journey at OLA this term, in addition to planning their Graduation, 'Big Day Out' and final assembly. The Grade 6 Graduation Assembly is on Monday 15 December at 2:00pm followed by a Guard of Honour, so be sure to mark this date in your diaries. The Grade 6's and their parents/carers then return to school at 6:00pm for their Graduation Prayer Service and Celebration.

Colour Run 

Thank you to all children and families who have registered for our 2025 OLA Colour Run which will take place at Cheltenham Park on Friday 7 November, 12.30-2.30pm. The donations are very much appreciated. We are sitting at $13,705 raised to date with 7 days of fundraising left... There are prizes for the highest fundraiser in each year level along with a prize for the class that raises the most. So far 2MV is in front with a total of $2045 followed closely by 2EB on $1895, so one of these classes is well on the way to a whole class hot food lunch from Hot Bird in Cheltenham. We also have Jai K in 2MV with sponsorship of $850 and Skylar in 3/4NC on $780. The highest fundraiser from each year level will receive a $50 Voucher and the highest fundraiser over all gets the opportunity to slime the Principal!! We look forward to this fun day. All participants enjoy wearing a white or light coloured t-shirt so they can really see all the wonderful colours they get splatted with! The main pick up for children will be from Cheltenham Park so please bring a towel or a rubbish bag to place over your car seats!! Those returning to school for TheirCare will be accompanied by the staff.

To donate please click on this Colour Run link.

'The Sound of Musicals' School Production

Preparations for our whole school production 'The Sound of Musicals' continue to be exciting. Acting, singing and dance rehearsals continue to be a highlight of the week! The show will be performed on the evening of Thursday 4 December at Kingston City Hall. Please note that the children will need to be returned to the Hall at 5.30pm in readiness for a 6pm show and the show will go for approximately two hours. Drinks and snacks like chips and chocolates will be available for sale at the bar prior to the show. More information will follow about when tickets will go on sale, but please note that there will initially be only 3 tickets available per family. If any further tickets become available we will be sure to make these available to families.

We are grateful to the volunteers who have already offered to help with costumes and lighting and the like. Please don't hesitate to email our amazing Performing Arts teacher Trish O'Gorman if you have any questions or if you would like to help out - pogorman@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au

Costumes are our next priority and we ask parents to take the next two weekends to source items outlined in the costume Operoo that went out on 20 October.  We have loved seeing the creative skills of our students who have entered the poster/front cover competition for our Program. We will announce the winning entry soon.

Student Leadership Opportunities

The beginning of Term 4 is an exciting time for our Grade 5 students as they begin to think about and prepare for the 2026 Grade 6 Leadership positions. The senior teachers have begun talking with their students about the many wonderful opportunities that await them. Please see the timeline below and keep an eye on Operoo for further information. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any queries. 

Prep 2026 Transition Dates & Times

We are excitedly preparing to welcome our 2026 Prep families and students for the Prep Orientation program. The orientation program is an exciting and enriching experience, as the children transition from a small Kindergarten setting to a larger, more vibrant school setting. 

For our new (and not so new) Prep parents, we look forward to welcoming you THIS Thursday 6 November at 7.30pm. This information evening is a wonderful opportunity to meet new families, teachers and key staff who will work with your children next year. Our orientation sessions are as follows: 

Classes - 2026

It is that time of the year again where our teachers begin to organise the classes for 2026. This is a highly structured and intensive process, as we review the academic, emotional, social and behavioural needs of all students to determine the most effective class dynamic. 

To support this process, teachers will ask children to name friends they work well with for the following year. Students will also be reminded to consider friends from the other classes in this process. Each child will have one (1) nominated friend in their class next year. Teachers work closely with School Leadership to arrange these classes, with the final decision resting with the Principal.

We know our families trust the professionalism of staff to meet the needs of all students, and we remind parents that all specific 'educational' requests were to be made to the Principal in person throughout October with requests closing today. Your understanding and support with this is appreciated.

2026 Class Formation

We are so excited to see how word of mouth, the work of our teachers and the deep sense of community at OLA have all assisted in building the reputation of our school over the last 6 years.  We have grown from 18 children coming into Prep to now approximately 46 children in 2026! And across the school we are growing from around 250 to the 280. This growth is very exciting and very positive for OLA.

The staff, Leadership Team, Consultative Committee and School Advisory Council have been in consultation over class structures and numbers for 2026 and beyond. We are researching and speaking with experienced educationalists and parents, and are determining a grade structure that will best support the needs of students and the school over the coming years.  We are working with the following numbers to come up with the best class structures:

2026 Enrolments per level:  (as at 31.10.25)

Multi-level Classrooms

When enrolling families at OLA we always talk about class structures and its that time of year when we believe it is timely to once again share some of our work and research around our multi-level classrooms.  In 2020 we worked as a staff and with the students and community to grow our understanding of multi-level classrooms. Karilyn Gumley who is a passionate leader in learning and teaching worked as a consultant with OLA to create a shared understanding of the pros and cons of multi-level classrooms. At OLA we believe in making the best decisions for our students and our community.  We believe multi-level learning environments can…

• Strengthen Confidence - Multi-level grouping provides younger students with the opportunity to observe, emulate, and imitate a wide range of behaviours; older students have the opportunity to assume responsibility for less mature and less knowledgeable students.
• Offer wider friendship opportunities - In a smaller school a multi-level setting offers children greater opportunities to build relationships across age levels and within levels. Research indicates that this builds resilience and the ability to form friendships across the school learning community.
• Support academic success - Students in the lower grades can enrich their learning by attending to the material designed for the higher grades, while students in the higher grades can profit from opportunities to review the material designed for lower grades. Research also demonstrates that learning is reinforced when a peer is able to share and articulate their learning with others.
• Balance diverse learning needs - A  multi-level construct offers the opportunity for greater ability to balance out the demands of various learning needs if a particular cohort is challenged.
• Enhance the Learning and Teaching environment by providing greater access for the zone of proximal development - Current concepts of cognitive development (for example, the zone of proximal development and cognitive conflict) imply that children whose knowledge or abilities are similar but not identical can stimulate each other’s thinking and cognitive growth.
• Strengthens community - We see a positive flow on from the mixed classes within the community feel of school, with families across year levels having friendships and then able to work as a team on school wide initiatives and socially.

As a staff we have developed our vision for what we understand and believe that multi-level learning environments offer for our students: 

At OLA, children are at the heart of everything we do. We believe a multi-level learning environment allows for flexibility and differentiation in learning and teaching. We are committed to embedding the pedagogical practices that will support a range of learning results. We provide opportunities to build relationships, resilience and develop a range of social connections.

Please feel free to contact me at any time and I will happily discuss this further with you. 

Below are some recent articles which explain why our school uses multi-level class groupings, how they work, and what research tells us about them. We encourage you to read whichever you find interesting:

• What parents commonly ask: #2 & #4
• What it looks like in practice: #5
• School-leadership perspective: #6
• Why this approach works: #1 & #3

While some research is interstate or national, the principles apply in Victoria and we adapt them for our context.

Staff News

We would also like to let our community know that Miss Emilie Brady has decided, after much consideration, to take 12 months off to travel next year and will be stepping back from her role at OLA. Although it is sad to see members of our amazing staff 'leave the nest', they always go with our heartfelt blessing, knowing their dedication to the OLA community has contributed greatly to our success. We thank Emilie for the wonderful work she has done in the last two years here at OLA. 

In readiness for 2026, we are thrilled to announce that Miss Jamee Montebruno, Miss Ellie McKenzie and Miss Tess Riley will be teaching Prep. Jamee, Ellie and Tess are very much looking forward to meeting our wonderful new families and students at the upcoming orientation sessions. All other staffing allocations will be announced later this term. 

Gratitude and Best Wishes... 

This week I would like to share news about staffing changes for 2026. Mrs Ann Arthur (Learning Support Officer), Ms Emma Tiberi (Classroom Teacher 1ET) and Mrs Lara Berley (Classroom Teacher for one day in PCH, PJM & 2MV) will be finishing up at OLA at the end of this year.  We look forward to saying thank you and farewell to these staff members at the End of Year Advent Prayer Service and Assembly at 9.00am on Tuesday 16 December. I know you will join me in celebrating these staff members and showing gratitude for their amazing contributions to our community.

Ann Arthur

Each morning Ann walks the corridors and Staff Room to say "good morning" to each and every staff member and she always has a kick in her step. Please know your positive, warm and can do attitude is very much appreciated. The students love your caring and gentle encouragement to be kind and always give of their best. We thank you Ann for your 12 years of service here at OLA following 7 years as a committed and involved Mum. We wish you and your husband Michael all the very best in your retirement.

A reflection from Ann…

My journey began at OLA in 2004 when I transferred my boys here. I knew then this was a great school and community. I commenced work as an LSO in 2013, and it has been the most rewarding job that I have ever done, and I have loved working with your amazing little people.

 

It is now time for me to say goodbye and start a new chapter in my life. My husband and I have dreamt of living in Blairgowrie and the time has finally arrived for us to make that move. I am sad to be leaving this wonderful community, but also excited for the future. I will certainly miss the staff, families, but most of all the children. I wish everyone all the best for the future.

Emma Tiberi

Thank you Emma for being part of our OLA community these last two years and for sharing your passion for teaching with us. We love how you have cared for the students, helped to make learning fun and made connections with families. You have formed such a caring relationship with your students that inspires them to turn up and give of their best. We wish you all the very best as you continue your education journey at Cornish College in 2026 and beyond.

A reflection from Emma T…

As I finish up my time at OLA, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful families I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past two years. Teaching Grade 1 has been such a joy, and I’ve truly appreciated your ongoing support, kindness and encouragement. I’m excited to be starting a new adventure at Cornish College next year, but I’ll always look back fondly on my time here at OLA and the special community we’ve shared.   

Lara Berley

Thank you Lara for being part of our OLA community over the last four years and for sharing your passion for teaching in the early years with us. We love how you have helped to make learning fun and helped children feel safe, setting good routines and structures. The Junior Team have especially loved you sharing your knowledge, experience and creative ideas with them.  We wish you, and your family all the very best as you return to sunny Perth. Thanks for being part of our OLA community.

A reflection from Lara...

It has been an absolute blessing to be part of Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School. I first joined the OLA family in 2022 as a Relief Teacher, and from my very first day, I knew it was a special place. It quickly became my favourite school in the Bayside area. After seven years in Melbourne, it’s now time for me to return home to Perth to be closer to my family. 

 

It has been a privilege to teach within such a caring and supportive community. I am especially grateful to Richard, Caitlan and the leadership team for their genuine care, and I feel so fortunate to have worked alongside some of Melbourne’s most dedicated teachers. To the junior team and my teaching partners - the teamwork, laughter, and sense of belonging I’ve experienced with you have made this journey incredibly special.

 

I am also deeply grateful for the warmth and support of the OLA community and families, it has made being part of this school such a joy. I will always cherish the memories made with the students, whose kindness, energy, and enthusiasm for learning will stay with me long after I leave. OLA will always hold a special place in my heart and remain a highlight of my time in Melbourne. 

Welcome to...

In 2026 we are delighted to welcome and congratulate:

• Clara Davidson (Full Time Classroom Teacher) 
• Rebecca Nielsen (Full Time Classroom Teacher) 
• Melissa Bien-izowski (1 day Classroom Teacher releasing Leadership) 
• Sally Jeffree (1 day Classroom Teacher releasing Leadership) 
• Pilar Caivano (Spanish Teacher)
• Jovana Kelman (Learning Support Officer) 

who are joining our wonderful staff here at OLA. 

We are also very fortunate to be able to welcome back Tess Riley who will return to being on the Leadership Team and a Classroom Teacher at OLA.

Clara Davidson

Hello everyone, my name is Clara Davidson. I am so excited to be joining the OLA community in 2026 as a classroom teacher! I am originally from England and moved to Melbourne in May 2023. I have worked as an education assistant/LSO for the last three and a half years and have recently completed my teaching qualification in July 2025, with my placement being at Christ Church Grammar School. 

 

I am a huge animal lover and a proud foster carer for cats and dogs. Back in England, I had two horses and loved teaching them new tricks. Since moving to Melbourne, I’ve fallen in love with the beaches, the sunshine and the welcoming community. I am so looking forward to sharing my passion for learning and inclusion with you all next year and becoming part of the wonderful OLA family.

Rebecca Nielsen

Hello everyone! My name is Rebecca Nielsen and I’m so excited to be joining the OLA community this year. I studied at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and have been teaching for the past four years. For three of those years, I taught Year 2 at St Peter’s in East Bentleigh. This year I’ve been working as a Casual Relief Teacher across a number of schools where I’ve had the opportunity to teach all year levels from Prep to Year 6. It’s been a great way to gain experience across different age groups and classrooms while also taking some time to travel and explore. Outside of school I love travelling, camping, hanging out at the beach and spending time with family. I’m really looking forward to joining the wonderful OLA community, getting to know the students, families, and staff and becoming part of such a warm and welcoming school.

Melissa Bien-Izowski

Hello everyone! My name is Melissa Bien-izowski, I am thrilled to continue teaching at OLA in 2026. Since joining Grade 5/6 SP in Term 3, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing the strong sense of care and collaboration that makes this school such a special community to be a part of. I bring 10 years of experience in education, working as a passionate and dedicated classroom teacher in Primary Schools. Outside of the classroom I am a full-time mum, a role that bring me immense joy. I also have a strong interest in wellbeing, which inspired me to further my studies and become a counsellor for children. I am passionate about supporting students’ growth and learning and I look forward to continuing to build meaningful connections with students and families.

Sally Jeffree

Hi everyone! My name is Sally Jeffree, and I am thrilled to be joining your wonderful school community in 2026.

I am an experienced teacher and a proud mother of two beautiful children. I love being active and exploring the outdoors, and I have a passion for travel and sharing new experiences with my family. I am very excited to become part of the OLA Primary School community and look forward to contributing to a positive and supportive learning environment that encourages students to be curious, confident, and engaged learners.

Pilar Caivano

Hi everyone! ¡Hola a todos! I am Pilar Caivano, and I am very excited to be joining the OLA community as the new Spanish teacher!  I have always loved learning languages and discovering the culture that comes with them. So, I cannot wait to share my passion for language learning with all my students while making our Spanish learning journey a fun, engaging and meaningful one. 

 

Outside the classroom, I love spending time with my husband and two daughters, especially at the beach. I also enjoy playing field hockey and watching sports (and how perfect is Melbourne for that!). And, of course, true to my Argentinian roots, nothing makes me happier than getting together with family and friends for a day-long asado (BBQ). I can’t wait to meet everyone and be part of this wonderful community! ¡Hasta pronto! 

Jovana Kelman

Hi everyone! I’m Jovana Kelman, and I’m so excited to be joining the OLA team as a Learning Support Officer. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of completing a four week placement here, and I absolutely loved getting to know the students, staff, and families. The warm, inclusive atmosphere really made an impression on me, and I was thrilled to be welcomed back! At home, I’m kept busy by my wonderful husband, our three kids, and a very lively household of pets —two dogs, a cat, and a Bearded Dragon. We love spending time together as a family, especially when we’re out camping and enjoying nature. I also have a passion for baking, and sourdough is my specialty! I look forward to building relationships and being part of the heart of this amazing school.

OSAC and Parents and Friends AGM

We invite you all to our AGM on Monday 8 December at 7.00pm. This will be a relaxed event, where we will share our school, P&F and School Advisory Council achievements for 2025. Light refreshments will be provided on the night and this is a way of saying thank you to all our volunteers and we will enjoy some Christmas cheer.

Calendar

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

School Term Dates - 2025

Term 4, 2025

Tuesday 7 October - Tuesday 16th December (11 weeks)

School Closure Dates

Term 4, 2025

Monday 3 November (Melbourne Cup Long Weekend) - Assessment and Reporting

Tuesday 4 November Melbourne Cup Long Weekend

Friday 21 November - Faith Formation with Gen Bryant

Friday 5 December (the day after the production) - Planning for 2026

Volunteers

OSAC

Thank you for the nominations that I have received for 

the vacancies on OSAC. The applications close  today on Friday 31 October. We look forward to securing our new members for our team whose skills compliment those of the members already on the School Advisory Council.

OLA P&F Team

We continue to look for volunteers to be P&F Chair and Deputy Chair or Co-Chairs, Second Hand Uniform Shop volunteers as well as each year level requiring two parent representatives, who are responsible for updating the parents in their year level with important information/reminders, and organising a couple of events throughout the year. We have enjoyed a great year together in 2025 and hope to continue building on this as we do each year.

Summer Uniform

As of Week 3, all students need to be wearing their full (correct) summer uniform. A school hat must be worn at break times, with a strict 'no hat, no play' rule applying. Students are required to apply their own sunscreen, as staff are not permitted to do so. We encourage families to please apply sunscreen before school and if you would like your child to apply sunscreen again during the day to have a roll on sunscreen in their school bags. 

Correct school shoes and socks must be worn and we remind students and families, when purchasing new school shoes for next year, black sneaker Asics or Nike runners are not part of the regular school uniform. If the sport shoes are black leather and black soled then they are welcome to be worn as school uniform - no branding to be visible in white or another colour other than black.We thank you in advance for your understanding. 

School Fees

Term 4 school fee statements were sent out last week. We kindly request that all families with outstanding account balances settle their payments at their earliest convenience. In the event that you did not receive your fee statement as anticipated, please reach out to Maria (mhogan@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au). Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. Please note Term 4 is the term a school relies on its cash reserves that are paid by our families and that is why our fees are due at the end of Term 3. We appreciate all families who have been at the table or in conversation and have established a payment plan with the school. For anyone who is on a payment plan we understand that payments do continue in this last term of the school year. 

Prep 2027 Enrolments

Enrolments for new and current families for 2027 are now open. We require all current families to please ensure they submit a sibling application for 2027 prior to Friday 27 March 2026 to ensure a placement in our Prep intake for 2027. The enrolment application form can be found on our website here. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any queries. 

School Operations Updates

In the new school year, we will be expanding our use of the nForma platform to include most of our school communication functions. While we already use nForma for the daily roll, first aid notifications and student reports, this transition will allow us to make full use of the additional features available within the system.

This change has been prompted in part by Operoo ceasing operations in Australia, making it timely for us to consolidate our processes within one integrated platform. Having the majority of our operations in nForma will streamline communication with families, allowing easier management of medical information, permission forms, updates and general correspondence. 

Our families do not need to take any action yet. Further updates will be provided in due course. We are confident this will make communication clearer, more consistent and more convenient for families in the long term. 

Congratulations

Prostate Cancer Fundraiser

Luke and Emma are delighted to have raised $273.35 for Prostate Cancer with the support of our generous OLA community. Luke and Emma's Dad Scott has recently undergone treatment for Prostate Cancer and is now in remission. Thank you all for your support and congratulations to Luke and Emma for your initiative and organisation of this great cause. 

Principal Awards

We all love to receive a visit from extra proud students sharing their best work. Thank you Savannah, Scarlett and Meika for sharing your writing with us and thank you for presenting your ideas to such a high standard. Your Science focus on Liquid, Gas and Solids sounds so engaging and you have lots of new learning. We are so proud of you all.

CRT Mr Greene

Today was our second visit from CRT Mr Russell Greene. There was some excitement in the air as he is a triple Hawks Grand Final Premiership Player: 1983, 1986 and 1988; VFL Players Association MVP in 1984; All Australian Team: 1983, 1984 and 1985; Peter Crimmins Medal Winner: 1984.... Mr Greene was very impressed with our school and said the children are beautiful and he loves the school.

Welcome to a new baby

Congratulations to Nikita and Christopher on the safe arrival of their beautiful baby girl Penelope Kathleen. Henry is such a proud big brother and we were delighted to see him being picked up after school by his Mum and baby sister. Henry, and River who joins us next year in Prep, absolutely adore their little sister.

Special Visit from Aki

It was the teachers turn for some 'Show and Tell' this week, with a special visit from Mr Michael Glennon, his partner Fumi and baby Aki. We love that our extended OLA staff family is growing! 

P&F Event

Please support this fun community event that is being organised by our OLA P&F.

Friday 7 November - Colour Run at Cheltenham Park for the children

Poppy Appeal

Cheltenham Moorrabin RSL have invited us again this year to raise awareness of the Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal. These items will be on sale next week up until the 11 November and can be purchased from the front office or children who are selling them before/after school. Items range from $2-$10.

May our days continue to get warmer and may we all stay healthy and strong.

Thank you for another wonderful couple of weeks. Wishing everyone a happy extra long weekend. A reminder that Monday 3 November and Tuesday 4 November that the school is closed for the Melbourne Cup Long Weekend. 

Richard Jacques

Principal