Principal's Message

Dear OLA Families

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.

Parent Information Night

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:

1. Build staff capacity and confidence to maximise learning growth for all students.
2. Empower Student Voice
3. Family Partnerships.

Plans for 2023

1. Additional specialist class in 2023 - Performing Arts
2. Peaceful Kids and Peaceful Classrooms Program is being rolled out P-6
3. Purchase and implementation of new Intervention initiatives such as MacqLit
4. Installation of Interactive Whiteboards in Grade 3-6
5. Shade Sails for the new outside learning/stage area
6. 3.6m cyclone wire fence being erected at the side of the Soccer/Football field
7. New carpet in Specialist Rooms - located on the ground level under Grade 5/6s
8. New microphones and amp in Brigid Hall

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

Feedback

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:

• warmth and welcome 
• a strong sense of belonging
• a positive vibe
• respectful relationships
• our Catholic faith as well as respecting the faith and traditions of all in our community
• our sense of community
• a strong and supportive leadership team
• a loving caring environment
• great teachers
• high expectations
• an organised and orderly environment 
• the teachers have a deep understanding of their students as individuals and of their personalities and this knowledge is used to engage the students to thrive and to be their best
• and positive partnerships with families where parents, teachers and students work together.

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.

School Tours for Enrolments 2024

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. 

Parent/Teacher Interviews

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.

Welcome Picnic

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. 

Extra Curricular Activities

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.

Operoo & Communication

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:

• send communication through one platform - Operoo
• schedule send Operoo notices for 4pm or after to reduce alerts during the day
• for ease of families finding notices keep 1 message per Operoo
• send notices in a timely manner
• Please note: Operoo sends repeated reminder alerts to ensure all responses are received.

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.

A call out to...                                                                         OLA past and current students and families

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

Security of OLA grounds and buildings

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.

Grandparent's/Special Person's Day

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.

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

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.

Celebrations 

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