Principal's Message

Dear OLA Families

Happy Friday to everyone. This long weekend ahead seems to have brought a smile and extra positive energy to the children (and staff!!) today! How good is it to have the canteen open on a Friday - treats all round! 

We are finishing Week 6 of the School term and we cannot believe how fast these weeks are passing by. Over the last fortnight, we have enjoyed our first P&F and OSAC Meetings, School Tours for Prep 2026 families, Grade 3-6 Spelling Mastery off to a flying start, Grade 6 Leadership Day, Parent/Teacher Meetings, District Swimming, Preps completing their first full week, Managing Big Feelings Webinar, Lenten Prayer Services, Grade 3 Reconciliation Child/Parent Workshop and Grade 5/6 Interschool Sport. 

International Women's Day

We take a moment to honour International Women's Day which is this Sunday 8 March. We honour and celebrate all the independent, strong, bold and passionate women in our lives and especially in our OLA community. International Women's Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. May we all continue to work towards a world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive - a world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Welcome Picnic

What a wonderful gathering for our Welcome Picnic; always such a wonderful evening, held in a stunning setting on the grounds of OLA with great company. These events are an important part of building community and welcoming new families into our School. We are always thankful for the enthusiasm and inclusive support from parents.

It was an extra treat to have our P&F Team selling sausages, drinks and bubble wands as well as providing great music and face painting for some extra fun. Thank you to our wonderful P&F team for organising this event for our families. 

Parent/Teacher Meetings

Last week, parents met with teachers to discuss how their child has settled into the school year, what they hope for their child in 2026, how their child feels about school, and strengths and areas for growth. While the purpose of these meetings is largely for the parents to share information with the teacher, the families have also been very impressed with how well our teachers know their child socially, emotionally and academically. 

I would like to thank all parents who found time to attend these sessions; the working relationship between parents and our classroom teacher/s needs to be a collaborative partnership. Establishing relationships and expectations in these early weeks of the school year is so important. I thank our staff for their heavy investment in preparing for this important event - your professionalism and preparedness is second to none. 

Professional Learning

This week our leaders and teaching staff sat alongside Kate Korber, from @theinquiryproject, planning for the purposeful use of graphic organisers which will help learners classify, sort and make sense of new ideas and concepts. We also explored learning walls as the 'third teacher', celebrating what we do well, and further developing our ideas in this space. We know that reducing cognitive load helps students focus on making connections between prior knowledge and new learning.  We loved having Kate with us at OLA.

OSAC

Our Lady of the Assumption Primary School Advisory Council (OSAC)

It was lovely to have our OSAC Team together for our first meeting of 2026.

School Advisory Councils are an essential component of governing and operating Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The School Advisory Council provides a forum for discussion and discernment, where parent voice and community perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the school, where students’ wellbeing and outcomes are paramount.  

OLA School Advisory Council members for 2026:

• Lucas Ryle (Co-Chair)
• Ros Sayers (Co-Chair)
• Ella Meagher (Secretary)
• Anthony Bons
• Laura Morel
• Renee Wijesinghe
• Richard Jacques (Principal)
• Caitlan Taig (Deputy Principal)
• Fr Alan Fox (Parish Priest)

OLA Fete

Dear OLA Families,

Our School Fete is just around the corner and we need your help!

To make the day a success, we are seeking volunteers to lead and coordinate individual stalls. This is a great way to get involved in our school community, meet other families and help create a memorable event for our kids. 

As a stall coordinator, you will guide the planning and running of a stall, but please don't worry, you will not be alone! Our Fete Committee will be there to support you every step of the way. 

If you are interested, or would simply like to learn more, please reach out to our Fete Committee via email fete@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au or you are welcome to join us for our first Fete Committee Meeting on Monday, 23 March 2026 at 8:00pm.

We would be so grateful for your involvement!

Kim Barker & Rachel Leahy, OLA Fete Co-Chairs

fete@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au

2026 Wish List

It is this time of year that we ask all in our community to share ideas about what the school could benefit from and we create a ‘Wish List’ of ideas that the Parents and Friends and Fete Team could fundraise towards.  These ideas are generated by staff, parents and students with the P&F/Fete Exec working closely with the Principal and Deputy Principal to select a realistic project that is aligned to our School Improvement Plan. We are sorry that swimming pools don't pass this realistic test! Examples of other ideas shared include: Bike Ed Program, Story Dogs, upgrade bike shed and upgrade to the surface and line markings of the basketball/netball courts. Please email your ideas to pandf@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au or principal@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au or write your idea on the list at the front office.

Discussing War & Conflict with children

With the recent escalation of conflict involving Iran, children may be hearing or seeing distressing updates through the 24-hour news cycle, social media and conversations from peers at school. Even when events are geographically distant, repeated exposure to images, headlines and commentary can heighten anxiety, particularly for young people whose understanding of the world is still developing.

It is important for parents and caregivers to be mindful of overexposure, as constant coverage can amplify fear and uncertainty. Reassurance is key. Children need to feel safe and supported as they process complex global events. Before beginning these conversations, take a moment to check in with your own emotions. Children often take their cues from the adults around them. Remaining calm, listening openly and offering reassurance can help your child regulate their feelings and maintain a sense of security.

Safety

A reminder to drivers in our OLA car park to help keep our children and community safe. Please follow the arrows in the car park and drive at 5km per hour. Please remind grandparents and helpers of this as it is often those visiting our community who are not aware of our processes.

Photo Permissions

Photo Permissions can become blurry if we are saying yes for some things and no for others, so in alignment with other Catholic Schools in the South Central Zone we are simplifying the permission online form so we can have full transparency and clarity for our staff. Human error can sometimes let a photo slip through so please let us know and we will take it down or remove it immediately. As our newsletters are available online we are no longer separating this consent. Please give or decline consent via nForma before next Friday 13 March. The consent form will read...

Dear Families,

Please find below a student photography consent request.

Student Photography Consent

I consent to photographs/videos of my child being used for:

• School newsletter, social media accounts, website and promotional materials Newspapers/media coverage of school activities
• Training materials and resources
• MACS/CECV promotional/educational materials distributed to Catholic schools Australia-wide without acknowledgement or payment

Privacy note: Students are never identified by surname in any publication.

Spelling Mastery

We are pleased to inform you that our Spelling Mastery program is continuing to be implemented at OLA in 2026. Spelling Mastery is a research-based, teacher-directed program designed to help students understand the relationship between sounds, word parts, and spelling patterns. The primary goal of teaching spelling is to enable students to transfer accurate spelling to their reading and writing. While spell checkers have their place, it is crucial for students to develop a deep understanding of the structure of the English language. Spelling Mastery incorporates three distinct approaches: phonemic, whole-word, and morphemic.

Phonemic Approach: Students learn the sound-symbol relationships between letters and sounds, which helps them spell using predictable patterns. For example, words like ‘map,’ ‘tap,’ ‘fog,’ and ‘fan.’

Whole-Word Approach: This approach teaches students high frequency words and irregularly spelt words that do not follow predictable patterns. Examples include "answer," "the," and "people."

Morphemic Approach: Students learn that all words are composed of one or more morphographs or word parts. They also learn rules for combining morphographs to form words. For example, the morphograph "re-" means "again" (e.g., repack, return, rerun), and "-est" means "the most" (e.g., lightest, happiest, friendliest). These methods will be integrated into each lesson delivered in class.

We are enjoying the growth being made and look forward to seeing the progress students make in 2026 with the Spelling Mastery program.

NAPLAN

Over the next fortnight we will have our Grade 3 and Grade 5 students at OLA sitting NAPLAN and we are so proud of each and every one of them for turning up and we know they will give their absolute best. A timely reminder that NAPLAN does not measure every part of what makes our children wonderful. Please read this post on Instagram from @theinquiryproject

In the week following the Labour Day Long Weekend, our Grade 3 and 5 students will sit NAPLAN Online. All tests are completed using the school’s Chromebooks, with the exception of Grade 3 Writing, which is handwritten. The Grade 3 and 5 students will complete the following tests:

• Writing - Wednesday 11 March
• Reading - Thursday 12 March
• Conventions of Language (Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation Assessments) - Monday 16 March
• Numeracy - Tuesday 17 March

Results will be received mid-year and an individual report will be provided to families displaying your child’s achievement.

SSV Nominations             

Each year, talented Victorian School students can trial for a place in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) State team (Team Vic).  Selected students will participate in School Sport Australia Championships. These championships offer gifted and talented students the opportunity to participate in higher levels of sporting competition against students from other Australian States and Territories. Participation in a Team Vic team is self funded.  As a guide, if selected it may cost between $2,000-$3,000 to participate and likely will include uniform, host state levies, flights, transport, accommodation and meals.  Costs will vary depending on the location of the Championship. ​ 

If your child excels in a particular sport, they may be eligible to participate in trials to be selected in the 12&U primary school level team. These trials are only available for those who are elite, multi-talented, fit, and experienced performers in their chosen sport. Students must play competitively outside school and be of an exceptional standard. For example, your child must be playing at the “A Grade” representative level for the relevant sport.   

Team Vic sports include Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Basketball, Soccer, Hockey and Netball. While parents complete the nominations online, you require the support of the Principal and school. Schools may support a maximum of three students per sport. More information is available on the SSV website here.  

2026 Working Bee #1 - 16/5/2026

Like many schools, we hold 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 16 May 10am-12pm 
• Term 3 - Saturday 25 July10am-12pm
• Term 4 - Friday 30 October 4-6pm

Please find below the 2026 Term 1 Working Bee Roster - we have families from each of the grades across each of the three 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 (on average families donate $50) if you are unable to attend. If you would like to request a different date to attend a Working Bee please email Sharan at the office (office@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au) with your preference.  Thank you as always for your support of our great school.

2026 Working Bee #1 - 16/5/2026

School Tours and 2027 Enrolments 

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. If you would like a school tour please book online on the school website or call Sharan/Maria in our front office. If you are not able to make these tours please know that you are also welcome to call to make a time that does work for you. 

OLA Kinder Flyers

Over the last couple of weeks I have visited local kinders and child care centres to drop off flyers and posters promoting our OLA School Tours and our great community. If your child's kinder or child care centre does not have any flyers please pop into the school office and collect some to take in and display on behalf of our school. Thanks in advance for your support.

Attendance

Attendance and Punctuality: Whom to Contact

A strong sense of routine and consistency is vital for student wellbeing and success. If your child is absent from school, has an appointment, will be arriving late or leaving early, please follow the School’s procedures to ensure their attendance is recorded correctly.

Absences: If your child is absent this must be verified by:

• logging into the nForma Parent Portal and entering the absence online by 9.00am  

Parents are notified of unexplained student absence by SMS after 9.30am. It is then the responsibility of the parent to contact the school to let us know a reason for the absence. 

Late Arrivals: Students arriving after 8.40am must sign in (parents to sign them in) at the Office upon arrival with a reason for why they are late. Where possible, please provide detail to our office and your child's classroom teacher via the email or phone number as outlined above as to why your child is arriving late.

Early Departures: If your child needs to leave early, you must sign your child out at the Office with prior parental permission sent via the email or phone or phone call to the office.

Your support in maintaining accurate attendance records ensures the safety and wellbeing of all students. Please note that we have changed our sign in and out software at the front office to VPass which aligns directly with nForma.

School Uniforms

At OLA we pride ourselves on maintaining high standards for our school uniform and these standards are maintained by staff and leadership at the school. The students wear their school uniform 4 days per week and sports uniform 1 day per week unless they are in Grade 5/6 then that means they get to wear their PE uniform of two days. When wearing school uniform, it is expected that students will be wearing black leather school shoes, not black runners. Hair must be tied up and back if it is longer than shoulder length. The ribbons / headbands / scrunchies should only be in school colours please. Students are expected to wear the school hat until the end of April and apply sunscreen every day before coming to school. 

Student Mobile Phones / Smart Watches

We ask families to remind their children that all mobile phones and Smart Watches (i.e. any device with cellular capacity) are to be handed in to the office at the beginning of each school day. This aligns with the Victorian State Government legislation. Thank you for your cooperation. Parents who need to contact their child can do so by contacting the school office.

Calendar

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

School Term Dates - 2026

Term 1, 2026

Wednesday 28 January - Thursday 2 April (10 weeks)

Term 2, 2026

Monday 20 April - Friday 26 June (10 weeks)

Term 3, 2026

Tuesday 14 July - Friday 18 September (10 weeks)

Term 4, 2026

Tuesday 6 October - Tuesday 15 Dec (11 weeks)

School Fees 2026

Please find attached below the 2026 School Fee Information for our OLA Community together with the Direct Debit Form for you to access as and when required. Please note a slight increase in the Grade 3-6 Curriculum Levy from what was originally indicated in our November 2025 newsletter. Since publishing the original figures, we can confirm that we are continuing the Spelling Mastery Program in 2026. This has resulted in an additional $23 being added to the levy making the curriculum levy $568 for Grade 3-6 students. We believe this is a valuable program and a strong addition to our curriculum, and we are confident it will continue to benefit our students. Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

CSEF and MACS School Concession Fee

For concession card holders, Camps, Sports, and Excursions Fund (CSEF) eligibility will be subject to the parental/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink on either the first day of either Term One, (27 January 2026) or Term Two, (20 April 2026).  

Health Care Card holders may be eligible for the MACS School Fee Concession Program Application. The MACS Concessional Fee Policy is currently being reviewed by MACS Head Office, and the policy and application form will be available in Term 1 2026 which is to be submitted to the school office in Term 1 2026 (specific dates to be confirmed).

Any family wishing to discuss CSEF or MACS School Concessions Fee please contact Richard Jacques (principal@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au) or Maria Hogan (accounts@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au).

Congratulations

Grade 5/6 Interschool Sports

We are so proud of the great OLA spirit that our Grade 5/6 students, parents and staff are displaying at Friday Interschool Sports. We love that you are all having such fun and are improving your skills and being more competitive each time you play. 

School Tours

Thank you so much to our Grade 6 Leaders and OLA Leadership Team for welcoming our visitors to OLA and thank you for sharing and showing them our great school. We were so proud of the learning going on in each classroom and around our school. The school grounds and classrooms look and feel amazing.

Wedding Bells

Wishing our Grade 3/4 Classroom Teacher and Level Leader, Eliza Jones and her partner Adam all the very best for their wedding on Sunday 15 March. Not many sleeps now! We know you will have an awesome day surrounded by your loved ones. Enjoy every minute.

Welcoming our latest member of the OLA family...

A huge congratulations to Olivia and Hugo and their family on the exciting arrival of their baby brother Oscar Antonio. Born Tuesday 3 March. Please know you have all been in our thoughts and prayers. 

Thank you Vino

Last Friday we farewelled the wonderful Vino, our Parish Office Administrator / Parish Secretary for the last 4 years. Vino has been such a wonderful support to all of us here at OLA - always so caring and welcoming. In addition to her positive presence in our lives we have appreciated her administrative support, management of parish records and communications, assistance with liturgical provisions, and help with keeping the parish office running smoothly.

Thank you Santiago

Our school cleaner Santiago immigrated to Australia from Spain over 2 and a half years ago and has been cleaning at OLA for that time while he studied Aged Care. This week we said goodbye and we let him know we are grateful for the care and lengths he went to, to look after our school buildings and grounds. The sense of pride in his work has been a huge asset to us. Santiago wrote these beautiful words about our staff and speak volumes of the quality of the people we employ here at OLA.

Special Visit

Today we had a visit from the son of the builder from the original church and school which was built 1951-1953. The building company responsible was Thomas Bonnice and Co. This is the building that houses our Community Hub, Library and STEM rooms. He explained that the parishioners not only purchased the land at that time but they also each bought a brick or more to help make this school and church get built. Thomas Jnr and his wife Chris visited today and they were so proud of the spaces and how well the building was being looked after.

Prayers & Thoughts

As some of you may be aware, Clare Flood (OLA STEM teacher) has had to take some time off this year. After speaking with Clare last week, she is comfortable to now share with you that unfortunately she has been diagnosed with Cancer. Clare will take the remainder of term off to focus on her health, treatments and look after herself. 

Please know that, as always, we have worked to create as much consistency as possible in covering the STEM program. Bridgette Conway, one of our regular OLA Casual Relief Teachers, is doing a great job delivering the program that Clare has so carefully planned and prepared for our students. We thank Clare for her planning and Bridgette for continuing to cover STEM for the remainder of term. Thank you for your ongoing support and for keeping Clare in your prayers and thoughts.

We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend, we think the extra day off for the students has come at the perfect time. Please take a look at Inform and Empower's, Managing Big Feelings, Parent Workshop from earlier this week as there are some great tips about this in the Wellbeing tab of this newsletter.  Good luck with the footy tipping and may the 2026 AFL season, which kicked off last night, be an exciting one! Go Hawks!!

Richard Jacques

Principal