Principal's Message

Dear OLA Families,

We are all so very proud of the Matildas - what an amazing group of Australian women.

Thank you for inspiring us all and for especially inspiring the young girls in our community and across Australia and the world! Congratulations on making it to your first World Cup semi finals.

Our Lady of the Assumption Feast Day

We hope all in our community had a beautiful Feast of the Assumption this week and that you continue to join us along this journey of growing closer to Mary and Jesus. Tuesday 15 August was our special Feast Day. The day proved to be a beautiful reminder of how lucky we are to be part of this great community. Our day began with a beautiful prayer service in the Hall led by our School Captains. We then enjoyed our Feast Day Fun Fair where each class organised and ran a stall such as the Lucky Dip, Guess the Lollies in the Lolly Jar and the Coin Toss. All monies received will be donated to the Sacred Heart Mission. Thank you all involved in helping make this day such a beautiful and memorable one.

At OLA we are inspired by Mary on a daily basis and her Feast Day is an extra reason to be a little more like Mary in our words and actions. We had Grade 6 children taking care of their Prep buddies with such gentleness, children sharing their treats and even giving their treasures to children who had lost their ones - such great generosity, we had children so respectful in prayer and celebrating their faith. It was a day where we saw so many acts of kindness as well as moments of gentleness and compassion. This week we have also reflected in classes on ways that we have shown courage like Mary. 

Performing Arts Night

What a wonderful event! Thank you to all involved in providing our students with opportunities such as Taiko Drums, Choir and Wakakirri. All three extra curricular activities are part of our lunchtime clubs that students volunteer their time so that they can learn their part and be involved. Thank you to Sensei for leading Taiko Drums, Mrs Harrison and Mrs McDowall for leading the Choir and to Mrs Taig, Miss Turner, Miss Riley, Mrs Arthur and Miss Siracusa for their lead in Wakakirri - without your support, passion and energy these opportunities simply would not exist. We also thank Mrs O'Gorman for the role she is playing in developing a love and interest in Performing Arts at OLA.

Tonight is the Night!

Today at around 12pm our Wakakirri team travelled by bus from OLA to the Frankston Arts Centre where they will perform this evening. For those who have already had a taste of this amazing production you will very well know that it pulls on the heart strings and has left us deeply moved. We wish OLA all the very best as they compete against 6 other schools tonight and in turn many schools around this great country. We are so proud that over 60 of our 75 students in Grade 5/6 are taking part. Chookas! 

Art Show

Please save the date:

Making friends and keeping friends...

One of the most frequently discussed topics spoken about between families and the school are how can we best support our students/our children in forming kind and long lasting friendships. Here are some great questions/statements that you may like to share with your children:

School Improvement Survey

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS): Monday 28 August – Friday 15 September 2023

Throughout each year, we pause to listen to our students, families and staff to gauge how our learning community is travelling. This feedback is invaluable to our progress as effective school communities and is backed by evidence based research and best practices. A significant and formal way in which we engage and gather data is through MACSSIS, the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys. 

MACSSIS is a set of surveys that have been built specifically for Catholic schools in Melbourne by the Learning Services team at MACS, in partnership with researchers at Learning First and in wide consultation with principals in our schools. In 2023, students, families and staff are invited to participate in MACSSIS via our secure and purpose built online platform. The online platform is where our school leaders will access the summary reports that visualise the results of the student, family and staff surveys. The MACSSIS survey platform is operated by an independent supplier, ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. The platform meets with the high security and privacy standards for handling student and school data. 

Students at our school will be provided with supervised sessions, where teachers are on hand to help and answer any questions. Families and staff can complete the survey anytime over the three week window via an emailed link and password. Feedback has indicated that previous surveys were completed across a range of mobile devices and different web browsers. 

Our community’s opinions are critical to understanding how our school is performing. MACSSIS is a key data source for guiding the ongoing work to improve our school. All participation is invited, welcomed and 100 percent voluntary. The surveys are not a test; they are an inclusive way to support the work we are already doing to improve our school. Everyone has the right to refuse to participate, or withdraw from the survey at any point before, during or after completion of the survey. Check out this short video clip which explains this further:

Attendance and school start/finish times

Please ensure that your child/ren arrive for school on time (between 8.30am and 8.40am - not before 8.30am) each day and that you are at school to collect your children at 3.15pm.  There are staff members on duty from 8.30am – 8.50am each morning and after school until 3.30pm.  If you are running late to pick up your child (after 3.30pm) please contact the office as soon as possible. Please try and arrange appointments and activities around school times to minimise distractions in the classrooms and please do not be taking children out of school during assembly on a Friday afternoon - the children presenting are using all the courage they can so they do not need any other distractions.  

It is important that your children are on time every day.  Children who are late miss out socialising with their classmates and can have trouble settling in and mastering routines.  Being late can throw off their whole morning or even their day, especially if the late commute to school was stressful.  Children arriving late also interrupt their teachers and the learning and teaching of all the other children in their class.

On those occasions when you are running late to school, parents or guardians need to accompany their children into the School Office where they sign in their child on the Pass Tab iPad for each child.  Parents taking children early prior to 3.15pm must also enter via the School Office and complete the same process. 

Reporting absence and late arrivals

If your child will be absent or late for school you will need to advise the office of an explanation for your child’s absence by 8.45am. This can be done by email to attendance@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au or by calling the school 9584 9488 and leaving a message as prompted.  This is a legal requirement and should be attended to as a matter of priority. 

Attendance Guidelines - Follow up any unexplained absence

Recently a review of school Attendance Guidelines was undertaken resulting in a new requirement that schools must advise parents/guardians of unexplained absences, on the same day, as soon as practicable.  We are required to contact parents/guardians to follow up any unexplained absences.  Please support the school by notifying us before 8.45am.

PA System

This week at OLA we have had our PA System audited, serviced and improved. We have had additional speakers placed at the front of the school admin area so announcements can be heard in that area, we have replaced the extra loud speakers in Brigid Hall, tapped down the volume to a respectful and audible tone in classrooms and outdoors (which the neighbours will be extra pleased for this action) and we have ensured messages can be heard in dead spots like the corridors to keep everyone safe and well.

Calendar

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

Key dates for the next 2 weeks...

Condolences

Prayers and Thoughts

On behalf of all in the OLA community we send our love, prayers and support to the Mhanna family (Natalie 5/6SP and Zane 1/2MV). Jenny's father Paul passed away last week. May you speak of your Dad, Father inlaw and Grandad often and may you all keep his spirit alive in all you say and do.

Celebrations

District Basketball

Monday was a great day out with the kids for District Basketball. Many thanks to Mr Pertz for looking after everyone, whilst coaching and scoring and to Mrs Thompson for all the organisation required in the lead up to the day. Both teams did well and all the kids had a great day out.  The Mixed team took out third place for the district. Such a great result.

Prep 2024 Parent Information Night

On Thursday 10 August we had the great Carley McGauran at OLA presenting to our new and current families, 'How your family can thrive and not just survive' when starting school. Thank you to all who were able to attend. Josy Reeder, our Wellbeing Leader shares a summary and further information in the Wellbeing section of this edition of the newsletter.

Infinet Basketball Rings

OLA is proud to be the first school to partner with Infinet in temporalily installing the Infinet Basketball rings and having our students provide feedback on how the rings work well and what could be even better. From this trial the team at Infinet took them away and tweaked their rings further and we have recently had a couple of rings re-installed for students to experience the difference and see the improvements first hand.  We have two on order and we will also have two rings with the original nets so the children can enjoy both options.

Prep FL Prayer Service

There were prayers, singing, and yummy morning tea in our Prep FL classroom yesterday as the children hosted a prayer service for their families. As a school community, we are very proud of our youngest students….there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. 

Master Plan 

We thank the Smith and Tracey team and parents of OLA for joining us on the 7 August to share updated plans for our priority learning areas such as the junior and middle area classrooms, outdoor areas and entance to the school. We are working towards having a grant proposal together to submit by the 13 October. Lets cross our fingers!!

Congratulations

Masters Graduation at ACU

Congratulations to Mrs Thredgold on graduating last Saturday with a Masters in Education (Wellbeing) at Melbourne University. We think you are amazing juggling your day to day full time work with being a Mum, moving house and completing all your studies. We love you being part of our team and how passionate you are about continuing to learn.

Proud of our past students

One of our local girls catholic secondary schools, OLSH had their academic excellence award ceremony recently. From Year 7, 7 girls were awarded the highest academic excellence award for having results >90% in all subjects and past students Evelyn and Kara S from OLA class of 2022 were 2 of those 7. We are so very proud - congratulations girls.

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Thursday 24 August (5pm & 7pm):

We congratulate our Confirmation candidates who have been busily preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation which will be held next Thursday. The children were delighted to spend time with Bishop Tony Ireland on Wednesday. Bishop Tony will lead the celebration next Thursday. We thank Bishop Tony, along with Fr Alan, for his support of our children. Please keep these children in your prayers as they prepare to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and embark on their journey as witnesses of Christ. 

Secondary School Transition

We congratulate our Grade 6 students on opening their hearts and minds to transitioning to local secondary colleges. Next year we have 10 students attending Kilbreda and one of their leaders popped out to talk with the girls and answer any questions. There was great excitement and we were porud of all students involved and 

Principal Awards

Principal Awards go to amazing students like this who give their absolute best in presenting their work from school and home. This week we have enjoyed seeing and celebrating lots of great writing from our students. Thank you for giving your best.

Book Week

We hope each child and family have a moment to organise their Book Week dress up in readiness for next Friday's (25 August) Book Week Parade at 9.00am. Children and staff are encouraged to come dressed up as one of their favourite book characters or in the spirit of the 2023 Book Week theme, 'Read, Grow, Inspire'. 

If you have one of Felice Arena's books please bring it into school on Tuesday and he may have a moment to sign it for you. Book Week is always a special week - we love tapping into the magic of reading at OLA.

Wishing all our families a beautiful and restful weekend.

Thank you for an amazing couple of weeks at OLA.

Richard Jacques

Principal