Principal's Message
Richard Jacques
Principal's Message
Richard Jacques
We are delighted that our year has started in such a positive and settled way. We are very aware this does not just happen by accident. Our successful start is attributed to the significant investment from our families and staff - setting the students up for success across this first weeks back at school. We are super proud of our Preps and all students for that matter who are being kind and giving of their very best.
We value partnering with our families at OLA and it was lovely to celebrate how we helpfamilies understand and engage best with their child’s learning. We also took the opportunity to learn what our families would like to see the school do more of for
children and families. Over 90 parents joined us for the P-2 Parent Information Night and over 60 parents for the 3-6 session. It was an opportunity for me as Principal to share the vision of OLA and the direction for the year ahead as well as the parents to spend some time in their child's class. It was lovley to see parents meeting other parents and talking with the teacher about the structures and routines of the class and how we can all work together to best support the wellbeing and learning of the children in our care.
At OLA we aim to promote a faith based culture of learning through family partnerships where the focus is student engagement and agency. We use data to build teacher capacity to maximise student growth, providing a rich learning environment for all learners.
The three priorities for OLA in 2023 are:
If you have any ideas for where monies fundraised from the P&F Team could go in 2023 please feel welcome to share your wishlist ideas with your Grade Rep or the P&F Team pandf@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au
At the end of last year we took the opportunity to survey our OLA families about what they would... Families shared what they love about our school:
Not only do I value these many great strengths of our community but it is wonderful that this positive feedback was received from the families in our community. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Your feedback is very much appreciated as we continue the things that help our community to grow and we take on feedback to help us improve.
Requests for School Tours have begun already! Enrolments for Prep 2024 are now open and we encourage all families to submit their applications as soon as possible. Our families are our greatest advocates, so please keep spreading the good word about our amazing school to your friends and family. If you have a child or you know someone wanting to tour schools for their child, please encourage them to book a school tour online on the school website or call Sharan in our front office to book a school tour. If you are not able to make these tours please note that you are also welcome to call to make a time that does work for you.
On Thursday 2 March, 1.40-8.00pm, we will host our Parent/Teacher interviews. These are a fantastic opportunity for parents to share important wellbeing and learning information with your child/ren's teacher for 2023 as well as the teacher share valuable outcomes of your child's data and to set goals for the year ahead. Please check Operoo for booking information.
Our Welcome Picnic was postponed to this Friday 24 February, 5.00-7.00pm. We hope to see many of our OLA families coming together on our Oval and we are praying already for a sunny warm evening this Friday! Thank you to our dedicated P&F Team for organising this for our families. Families are to BYO food, drinks and picnic rugs.
As we begin our school year we are excited to welcome back our extra-curricular activities that we love at OLA, as well as introduce two new opportunities. OSHClub, Art, Netball, and Chess continue to be offered in 2023 with STEM Monsters and Soccer being introduced this term.
From the conversations and feedback we have received, we are always trying to improve our communication. Over the last three years we have adapted and aimed to:
This coming week we will be sending important documents that need to be viewed and/or signed off annually. We apologise for the number of permission forms needing to be obtained especially at this time, but do acknowledge that these are all part of keeping children safe at school and parents informed accordingly. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.
With our building works completed on the original school we are looking at creating a display of the last 70 years of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Primary School (OLA). We thought amongst some photos and other memorabilia items being displayed that we could have some words from past and current students or families. We would especially love to hear from families who have had 2 or 3 generations through this beautiful school. We welcome your favourite photos/artefacts/memories /why OLA holds a special place in your life. We would love to hear from you or any other person you know who may be interested by Friday 3 March. We are hoping to celebrate an official opening in the next couple of months (date TBC) and we wanted to have some of our story displayed for this special occasion and anniversary. Please include your name and the years you attended OLA. You are welcome to drop these items off at our office or email me at rjacques@olacheltenham.catholic.edu.au
Over the last couple of years we have seen an increase in visitors onsite at Our Lady of the Assumption both in the evenings and over the weekend. While many visitors enjoy our beautiful grounds we do have some visitors engaging in unsafe practices. In consultation with the police, our neighbours and members of our community we have decided to lock the pedestrian gates at the close of business each weekday as well as over the weekend with the gates being opened at the start of each school day and for Mass. We apologise for this inconvenience but please know that this decision has been made for the safety and wellbeing of all in our community. We will begin locking gates from Monday 20 February. Thank you for your understanding and support.
We are excited to announce that we are looking forward to hosting Grandparent's/Special Person's Day this year at OLA on Monday 24 July from 9.00-11.00am. Please save the date and share with these special people.
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...
Week 5 | |
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Monday 20 February | Grade 4 and 5 Bike Ed & Life Education for 3-6s at OLA |
OLA School Tour at 9.15am | |
Tuesday 21 February | Shrove Tuesday |
7.00am OLA Swim Squad | |
Grade 4 and 5 Bike Ed & Life Education for 3-6s at OLA | |
Wednesday 22 February | Ash Wednesday Mass at 9.15am & Prep Day of Rest |
Thursday 23 February | 7.00am OLA Swim Squad |
6.30pm Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop | |
Friday 24 February | 2.30 Whole School Assembly & Lenten Prayer Service |
5.00-7.00pm Welcome Picnic (please note change of date) |
Week 6 | |
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Monday 27 February | OLA Promotional Video being recorded - full school uniform |
Tuesday 28 February | Grade 6 Aspire Higher Incursion |
Intensive Support - Literacy Professional Learning at OLA | |
Wednesday 1 March | 9.15am School Tour |
2.30pm FIRE Carrier Commissioning Service | |
Thursday 2 March | 1.00pm Early Dismissal |
1.40-8.00pm Parent/Teacher Interviews - please book online | |
Friday 3 March | School Photo Day - all children in full Summer Uniform - not PE |
2.30pm Lenten Prayer Service |
We send our condolences to Noah M's family (5/6GO) on the passing of Noah and Emily's (past student) Aunty Meredith Bennett. Meredith is the sister to Brendan and sister inlaw to Melissa. Meredith is also known in Catholic Education circles as she taught for many years at St Paul's East Bentleigh and more recently Principal at St Michael's Ashburton.
Please keep Brendan, Melissa, Emily, Noah and their family in your prayers and thoughts.
Inter School Sport
Congratulations to our Grade 5/6s for being great sportsman and women last Friday and today. You represent OLA proudly and we are so grateful that you have this opportunity to participate in sport.
Library Lovers Day
Happy Library Lovers Day! Our brand new library at OLA has us feeling extra grateful! There’s no doubt Libraries help create a love of reading while having a positive impact on our wellbeing.
Opening Year Mass
Thank you to all in our parish for your support and presence at our opening of the school year Mass. It was beautiful to see children sitting amongst our parishioners, singing hymns, reading confidently, taking time to be still and praying together. It was especially lovely to welcome parishioners into our new school buildings for a tour after Mass.
Author Study
Over this past couple of weeks, our Preps have enjoyed being part of an Author Study on Julia Donaldson. They have been enjoying her books and having special visitors into their classrooms to read! Amongst the favourites so far: Gruffalo, Stickman, Zog, Rosie's Hat, Room on a Broom...
Bike Ed
Bike Ed is an amazing program initiated by our Parents and Friends Team and OSAC. This excellent program is led by our Bike Ed trained PE teacher Liz Thompson and Learning Support Officer Kelly Herat. We thank them together with fellow parishioner Peter King who has taught Bike Ed all over Victoria for many years and is now volunteering at our school. We also thank the many parents who have supported their children to ensure their child's bike and helmet are road worthy and safe and delivered to school for these sessions. The children are loving it.
Swimming
It is wonderful to see our keen swimmers in Grade 3-6 turning up for swimming trials this week and next. Thank you to our staff for making this happen from 7.00-8.00am.
May you all get the opportunity to cool off this weekend like our students did today with the Zooper Doopers from the Canteen. Thank you for your continued support and for helping create such a caring and fun community here at OLA Cheltenham.
We apologise that this newsletter was not able to be published on Friday afternoon. After the heat, MACS schools and Im sure others experienced very slow if not zero internet connection. May we back on deck with increased internet connection on Monday.
Richard Jacques
Principal