Learning & Teaching

MACSSIS

In 2022, our school is participating in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools – School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS). MACSSIS is an annual process whereby schools listen to the thoughts and feelings students, families and staff have about how their school can improve. These surveys help inform the ongoing improvement of schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

One of the main goals of the family survey is to identify the strengths and areas for improvement in our school. MACSSIS data benefits everyone within our school and provides valuable community insights on areas that each school can focus on. Our school believes it is important to encourage families to have a voice and contribute to shaping the ongoing improvement of the school.

The survey is available online, can be accessed from Monday 29 August and needs to be completed by Friday 16 September 2022. This survey may only be completed once.

For families with more than one child attending our school, we ask that you focus on the eldest child attending the school when completing the survey. The school has invited many families to respond via this survey and participation is completely voluntary. There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers – all responses are completely anonymous and at no point are any of the responses from students, families or staff identifiable by the school.

The survey is available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Chaldean, simplified and traditional Chinese, Dinka, Falam, Hakha Chin, Karen, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Zomi.

You will receive an email next week with the website and your personal pin. 

Thank you for your support.

FETE

We are calling for donations for our OLA 2022 Fete Spinning Wheel

Literacy News

Last week we celebrated Book Week. The theme this year was  dreaming with eyes open. The students had the opportunity to join Book Week themed lunch clubs each day. They also had fun reading and celebrating books in their classrooms. Below are some pictures of OLA students reading and enjoying books. 

Our Prep students unwrapped a new book everyday and enjoyed reading and talking about it with their class.

On Friday we had a Book Week Parade. The effort that students and families made to display their favourite book characters was just amazing. We had everything from Harry Potter to Giant Dinosaurs walking around the hall!  The students, parents and teachers all enjoyed watching books and reading being celebrated. 

On Monday August 30 we had an engaging performance by Ben and Grace from the team at Perform Education. They bought 3 of the Shortlisted Books alive through singing and acting. The students went on a journey exploring the following books. 

We learnt all about how being different is okay and how important it is to be by yourself. The stories helped us reflect on how having a positive mindset and creative thinking can open new ways to solve problems and achieve goals. 

All throughout Book Week we had some fun competitions that students were encouraged to enter. They created new front covers for their favourite stories, made bookmarks, wrote blurbs for a book they have read and the senior students wrote their own stories. Well done to all the students who entered, it was very hard to choose the winners. The winners of these competitions received a new book to read, pencil, notepad and a chocolate! 

The books used for the prizes were donated by Lamont Book Fair and the Watkins Family. We thank them for their generous donations. 

The winners are……

Christine Thredgold

Gymnastics at OLA

This introductory Gymnastics unit allows children to explore a range of movement activities.  The unit is designed to introduce the Dominant Movement Patterns of Statics, Locomotion, Springs and Landings. Through these, children will participate in activities which focus on balance, strength, flexibility, coordination, spatial awareness as well as personal and social capabilities such as overcoming challenges and improving confidence. A range of teaching approaches are used: direct instruction, small group activities and circuits.  In all activities, there is an emphasis on safe movement and instructions for using equipment correctly.

Wakakirri

A HUGE congratulations to the Grade 5 and 6 students who participated in the Wakakirri Story Dance Competition this year. We are so proud of our performance and for the dedication and commitment displayed by our cast and crew. 

This week, we received more feedback and awards from our Judge and Panel Member, Kristin Wantenaar. 

Our Lady Of The Assumption School for their Story-Dance titled The Lion King

''A strong and very well rehearsed performance '' by Kristin Wantenaar 

Performance and Production awards: 

• Excellent lead cast
• Excellent group acting
• Excellent theme/concept
• Amazing lighting
• Excellent soundtrack mix

Your Story-Dance was nominated for the National Festival Award: Entertainment Story Award!

Panel feedback from Kristin Wantenaar ; 

What a fun opening! I loved the soundtrack for this performance - it was very clever and chosen very well for the theme and really assisted the story -  it was strong and powerful and very emotive.  What a great message!  All the performers gave 100% in this performance.  The costumes looked great and the lighting really enhanced the overall effects of this performance. The sets were minimal yet very effective and the group acting was very emotive. A very strong performance 

Once again a huge congratulations to everyone involved!

Caitlan Taig

Josy Reeder

Learning and Teaching Leader